Best things to do this weekend in LA and SoCal: May 15-17

So many of us have stories about secret shows, celeb sightings and special guests showing up at the intimate Hotel Cafe over the past 26 years. The venue’s Instagram has a bevy of famous well-wishers popping into the chat. So it’s truly the end of an era as the iconic night spot hosts its final shows at the Cahuenga location, wrapping things up with a party called Last Dance at the Hotel Cafe featuring Sara Bareilles and many more on Friday.

But if you can’t score a ticket, fear not, because there’s plenty more music on the agenda for this weekend. Licorice Pizza’s Lyndsey Parker recommends Friday shows St. Lucia at the Fonda; Santigold at the Bellwether; Alejandro Sanz at the Greek; and Desert Daze’s Microdazing at the Bellwether, featuring various DJs, including KCRW’s Travis Holcombe and Beastie Boys producer Mario C. Saturday, Demi Lovato is at the Forum, friend-of-LAist Flea plays the Fonda and the big Japanese music festival Zipangu is at Brookside at the Rose Bowl, featuring Atarashii Gakko!, Ado and many more. And on Sunday, Echo & the Bunnymen are at the Greek, and Father John Misty plays the Fox Theater in Pomona.

Elsewhere on LAist, you can get a behind-the-scenes look at historic Santa Monica music store and venue McCabe’s Guitar Shop, find out what gets left behind at Metro’s Lost & Found and get tickets for next week’s LAist x Moth StorySlam at Los Globos.

Events

Los Angeles Old Time Social

Friday and Saturday, May 15 and 16 
Velaslavasay Panorama 
1122 W. 24th Street, University Park
COST: SUGGESTED $20; MORE INFO

The 16th annual Los Angeles Old Time Social celebrates the vibrant old-time music scene in Southern California. A kickoff concert on Friday is followed by a full day of activities on Saturday, May 16 at The Velaslavasay Panorama in West Adams. Attend workshops and jams for banjo, fiddle, guitar, singing and dancing. The event is capped off on Saturday night with a big square dance and musical cakes from 7:30 to 10 p.m. No experience or partner is needed. The square dance caller walks everyone through the moves before every song, so it’s easy to follow along in a fun and no-pressure environment.

As LAist’s Roy Lenn notes, the Old Time Social serves as a lead-up to the Topanga Banjo Fiddle Contest & Folk Festival on Sunday, May 17 at King Gillette Ranch.

David Lebovitz book signing x Now Serving

Saturday, May 16, 10 a.m.
Friends & Family Bakery
5150 Hollywood Blvd., East Hollywood
COST: FROM $30; MORE INFO

Chocoholics and ice cream fiends will know pastry chef David Lebovitz’s work well. The Paris-based dessert king is in town promoting his cookbooks, The Great Book of Chocolate and Ready for Dessert with a special event at Friends & Family. His ice cream book is the bible for anyone who’s tried their hand at making ice cream at home, and his other desserts also stand up to the test. Yum.

The Giving Trees

Saturday, May 16, 3:30 p.m. 
John Rowland Mansion 
15959 E. Gale Ave., City of Industry
COST: FREE; MORE INFO

The John Rowland Mansion is the oldest extant brick building in Southern California, and has a unique history that the House Museum has recently been instrumental in preserving. Spend some time at the Greek revival building with the whole family for The Giving Trees, a reading of children’s books to trees (with gratitude to Shel Silverstein!) in the garden at the permanent installation Let’s Make a Garden From Old Wounds.

Celebrity-Owned Private Collection Arcade and Pinball Auction

Sunday, May 17, 9 a.m. preview
Captain’s Auction Warehouse
4421 E. La Palma Ave., Anaheim
COST: FREE TO PERUSE; MORE INFO

File this one under weird and wonderful. Head down to Anaheim to check out (and maybe bid on) your next game room addition. Ryan Adams — yep, that’s the one, former Mr. Mandy Moore and indie rocker royalty of the early 2000s — is apparently a big arcade collector, and he’s auctioning off much of his collection. There’s a wide range of arcade games and pinball machines on view to the public, plus opportunities to play, meet collectors and see the warehouse.

Red Bull Soapbox Race

Saturday, May 16, 11 a.m.
Gloria Molina Grand Park
200 N. Grand Ave., Downtown L.A.
COST: FREE; MORE INFO 

Daredevils will have a field day at Red Bull’s Soapbox Race, which will transform Grand Park into a cinematic racecourse, where 30 teams, selected from more than 400 applicants, will compete with gravity-powered, homemade crafts for ultimate bragging rights.

Black Association of Documentary Filmmakers: Day of Black Docs

Saturday, May 16, 12 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. 
American Film Institute
2021 North Western Ave., Los Feliz
COST: FROM $23; MORE INFO

Check out documentaries from Black filmmakers that “explore themes of social justice, self-determination, and community, highlighting the revolutionary leaders and movements that can help inform our present moment.” The day includes three feature-length films and one short film, with two that focus on L.A. history. Q&As will be moderated by journalist and AirTalk film critic Tim Cogshell.

Balboa Island Art Walk

Sunday, May 17, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
South Bayfront Promenade
Newport Beach
COST: FREE; MORE INFO

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Courtesy Balboa Island Artwalk

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Is there a more idyllic corner of SoCal than Balboa Island? Stroll the promenade and enjoy the art and the views at the 31st annual Balboa Island Art Walk. There’s live music and more than 90 artists showing their work with an ocean backdrop.

AAPI Market at Yama Sushi Marketplace

Through Saturday, May 30 
Various locations (West L.A., San Gabriel and Koreatown)
COST: VARIES, MORE INFO 

A rotating lineup of makers featuring Asian-owned brands is popping up at Yama Sushi Marketplace throughout May. This weekend, Omiso founder Ai Fujimoto will be sampling her yuzu miso paired with Yama’s black cod; also available for purchase as a frozen item. On May 30, DoShop Cookies will be available with baker Thy Do sampling her fan-favorite cookies, debuting new flavors and hosting a raffle.