BGG Weekender

The most wonderful thing about the 4th of July Holiday (besides, you know, U-S-A, U-S-A!) is that it's the one day of the year on which nothing is expected of you beyond eating, drinking and staring at shiny objects as they explode in the sky. But should you feel the desire to do more this weekend than scarf hot dogs and pledge allegiance to Old Glory (despite the fact you were Kayak'ing one-way flights to France just last week), we've come up with a few ideas that go beyond star-spangled Speedos and sparklers -- though we are opposed to neither should you want to incorporate one or both into this itinerary.

FRIDAY

5 p.m. Escape work early (it's a half-day, whether your boss likes it or not) and head to the old-Hollywood-esque Bar at the Culver Hotel for happy hour.  Stuff your face with $5 tapas, $3 beers, and $6 cocktails, or check out Fraiche's happy hour -- Truffle Burger, mmmm.  Sorry, Oscar Meyer.

7-10 p.m. Celebrate the Corey Helford Gallery’s fifth anniversary Gala Group Exhibition Zero to Sixty, featuring brand-new work from new talent and big names.

Afterward, grab a drink at the Mandrake and potentially hobnob with people who don't hold American passports. Regale them with tales of the time you burned your eyebrows off lighting cherry bombs...last year.

SATURDAY

11 a.m. Admission to both LACMA and The Hammer Museum is free for Bank of America customers.  After hours spent arguing with customer service reps about overdraft charges, you've earned the complimentary ticket.

1 p.m. O-Bar is closing after 8 years! Sadface. We've had some gay (as in happy...) times at O-Bar, and will happily day drink on this it's second-to-last day of service.

It's going to be 85 + degrees in town. Head to the nearest hotel pool -- we like the Mondrian (if you can handle a certain level of the not-so-good kind of not-from-LAery) or anything belonging to a Hollywood Hills home-owning friend.

Or, do the Hollywood Walk of Fame Red, White & Brew Pub Crawl. We seriously dare you.

SUNDAY

It's going to be 75 degrees at the beach Sunday, the warmest day of the weekend, so if you're thinking of heading west this may be the day to do it. You could follow this itinerary, or just laze in the sun wherever you happen to find a spot.  On the way back, stop at Santa Monica Place to hit up one of these deals. Valet is free.

If you can't face the deadlocked traffic (really, leave three hours before sunrise), there are plenty of things to do 'in town.'

10 a.m. Hit up the free Metro Art Tour.

3 p.m. Be selfless for a moment.  K-town newbie Beer Belly is hosting a Funk 'N Soul Fundraiser for Leukemia and Lymphoma Society's Team in Training. Craft Beers are $5.

8:30 p.m. Cozy up at the Le Spec Gallery for a Twin Peaks marathon or pack a picnic and head to the Hollywood Forever Cemetery for a Ghostbusters screening.

MONDAY

We recommend a day of relaxation and recovery at Natura Spa, our favorite Korean banya, which WILL be open, or you could always put together your own last-minute bad-a$$ bbq.

If you must see pretty sparkly things at some point before the weekend has concluded, here is a listing of uber-Fourthalicious events happening around town: The Santa Monica Parade; The Huntington Beach Parade; The Palisades Parade; The Exposition Park 4th of July Fireworks Extravaganza; The 4th of July Mr. & Mrs. Muscle Beach Competition; The Culver City Fireworks Show; The 85th Annual 4th of July Celebration at the Rose Bowl; LA Fireworks at The Hollywood Bowl; Dodger Stadium Fireworks; The Queen Mary 4th of July; and, we're certain, many, many more.

Be safe!