This is a favorite of mine, a local institution. If you haven’t been, get there. I have great memories of this as a kid. My dad raced cars and seeing these guys lap the track at unbelievable speeds, on a closed course, with all that power and noise has to be seen to be believed.

The Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach is an open-wheel race held on a street circuit in Long Beach. The Long Beach Grand Prix is the longest running major “street” race held on the North American continent.

Ticket prices vary depending on date and seating, but you can check it out with the kids on the cheap side.  General admission tickets for adults start at $28, and kids 12 and under are free with a ticketed adult.

I got tired just reading through the website about all the activities going on at this fair, this one’s a keeper!

This year authors  include Jon Klassen (This is Not My Hat), Oliver Jeffers (The Day the Crayons Quit), Levar Burton does Reading Rainbow Live!, David Shannon (Bugs in My Hair), and kids friendly cooks and sports stars and more. And in between readings and book signings with these authors, cool music acts for kids will take the stage.  Don’t miss Lucky Diaz and the Family Jam Band, Jose Luis Ortega, and more.  There are tons more authors on this stage alone – remember to check the schedule so you don’t miss your favorites. Oh yeah, there’s some other stuff for grown ups, too.

The event is free. Parking at the USC campus is $10.

Open April 13 through September 1, 2014

The Whaddup:

More than 30 native North American butterfly species and an array of plants take up residence every summer for our much-anticipated living habitat, the Butterfly Pavilion. Wander through a unique changing ecosystem, witness free-flying creatures interacting with plant life, and emerge with a better understanding of the environment needed for the survival of these spectacular animals.

Tickets  Click here.

Showcase for Butterflies

The Butterfly Pavilion showcases hundreds of butterflies and the plants that surround them, each visit to the Butterfly Pavilion throughout the summer can be a different experience!

Butterflies from Near and Far

• 20 species of California natives such as the Monarch, Mourning Cloak, and Buckeye
• 10 species of subtropical varieties from south Florida and Texas, such as the Malachite and the Grey Cracker

Chumash Day Powwow and Intertribal Celebration

2nd Saturday at the Adobe

Saturday, April 12

The Whaddup:

Critters n’ Kids: Loveable Lemurs @ LA Zoo

Monday, April 7 through Saturday, April 12

A shaded path (Photo by David Schless via the LAist Featured Photos pool on Flickr)

The Whaddup:

La Placita Olvera is located right across the street from Union Station and one block from Chinatown.
It’s the host of many beautiful traditions held by our Latin Community. Also known as El Pueblo de Los Angeles is a traditional Mexican style plaza area with shops for handcrafted Mexican souvenirs. Olvera Street is the birthplace of the City of Los Angeles in 1781.The avocado fruit was introduced from Mexico to California in the 19th century. Some 90% of United States avocado production is located in Southern California, with 60% in San Diego County.While dozens of cultivars are grown, the Hass avocado is today the most common. It produces fruit year-round and accounts for 80% of cultivated avocados in the world. Peru, Chile and Mexico are the avocados exporter to USA.

The avocado is very popular in cuisine dishes, meats, sandwiches, Seafood, California sushi rolls, salads as well as a spread on corn tortillas or toast served with spices like the Mexican dip known as guacamole.

Generally, avocado is served raw and is also often eaten as a fruit, eaten alone, or mixed with other fruits. They are generally available throughout the year, they are the most abundant and at their best during the beginning of spring in California.

At the “Los Angeles AVOCADO Festival” (free entrance to the public) in La Placita Olvera more than 15,000 people will taste a variety of Dishes serve with lots of Avocado or Guacamole provided by all type of ethnicity food vendors and local Restaurants of Los Angeles area. Attendants can also enjoy Crafts, live entertainment, free ruffle to win gifts, cooking recipe books, Commercial Products, free health screenings, services and information provided by all type of exhibitors.

Official Website

Sunday, April 13, 2014 10:00am-6:00 pm 

Olvera Street

845 N Alameda St

Los Angeles, CA 90012

DESPICABLE ME MINION MAYHEM:

Universal Studios Hollywood is debuting its splashy ride for the warm-weather season.  By the way, expect to see minions. Personally I’d wait a couple of weeks to check this one out, for two reasons.

1. Crowds are brutal when this sort of thing first opens.

2. Wait for the heat, any wet ride is best tried when it’s hotter than 80 degrees out.

DEATH VALLEY FLOWERS:

The national park is expecting a much bigger wildflower bloom than expected, right now, this minute, so if you want to see petals in the desert, go, go, go.