Jonathan Gold Public Memorial, Guatemalan Pride at Lafayette Park, South L.A. PowerFest, Remembering Meltdown Comics & More ~ GTFO LA!

This weekend get out of the f*cking house to celebrate culture, diversity, and empowerment! Start the weekend off in DTLA at a Pride celebration, remember Meltdown Comics with a special party, pay tribute to Jonathan Gold with tacos, or cruise over to the Hammer next week for a screening of ‘Afro-Punk.’

Friday, August 24

DTLA Proud Fest

[dropcap size=big]C[/dropcap]elebrate the diverse LGBTQ+ community of L.A. at the DTLA Proud Festival at Pershing Square. This three-day event will kick off Friday with a set by DJ WillYouAreNot. Drag Queen Story Hour will follow and the night will continue with speakers, a trans chorus, and performances by Enyce, Banjee Ball, and Tigerheat. Check out Saturday and Sunday for mariachi performances, a Janet tribute and more. Friday night’s events are free – and alcohol free – but you still need to reserve a ticket here.

Saturday, August 25

South L.A. PowerFest

[dropcap size=big]A[/dropcap]t the South LA PowerFest, empowerment, celebration, and joy are taking over. Head to the fest as early as at 4 pm to catch Aponte, followed by sets from Queens of the New Age DJ Collective, a dance performance by Contra-Tiempo, Earth Arrow, Quetzal, Rapsody, and more. The free event will also feature a performance by Get Lit Poets and a special art workshop by Barrio Mobile Art Studio. Multiple interactive experiences will allow community members to act on social issues like gentrification, safety, and homelessness. It wouldn’t be a summer festival without the food — this fest has its very own Food Truck Garden that will include food from Billionaire Burger Boyz, I Love Funnel Cakes, and Pocho Pops. There will also be a health tent and a kids zone. More info here.

Festival Chapin

[dropcap size=big]G[/dropcap]uatemalan flavor and culture is gathering at Lafayette Park this Saturday as part of a weeklong celebration of the Central American country and you’re invited to celebrate. For the second year, Guatemala’s L.A. community will be celebrated and festivities could not go on without a community party to showcase Guatemala’s culture. A little piece of the country will come to L.A. via music, games, and vendors. Don't miss Folklorico de Inguat, marimba performances, and music by Chinito Catu, Miguel Jimenez y Su Cumbia Show, FM de Zacapa-La Reunion, El Twanguero, and more. Stop by the food area for some of the best Guatemalan traditional foods. More info here.

Sunday, August 26

Jonathan Gold Public Memorial

[dropcap size=big]F[/dropcap]ans of the late Jonathan Gold will have a chance to remember the acclaimed writer Sunday at a public event hosted by Los Angeles Times staff writer Carolina A. Miranda. The free event will start at 5:30 pm at Grand Park Performance lawn on Hill Street in downtown, where attendees will get an opportunity to eat, hear remembrances from friends and family, and watch previously unreleased footage from City of Gold, the documentary about his love of L.A. food, people, and culture. Prior to the event, the city and Grand Central Market owners will unveil a plaque installed as a tribute to the Pulitzer-prize winner on the Broadway side of Grand Central Market. For more info go here.

Matcha Fest

[dropcap size=big]Y[/dropcap]ou’ve tried a matcha latte here and there, but have you experienced a full-blown matcha fest? The first matcha festival ever in L.A. is happening this weekend and it’s a must if you are a die-hard lover of the finely ground green tea leaves. According to Saint Matcha, the only two previous matcha festivals in the U.S. have happened in San Francisco. The two-day festival is taking place in Miracle Mile and will feature more than 20 vendors, exclusive giveaways, matcha treats, matcha-themed photo operations, and a live DJ. Tickets will not be sold at the door, but you can get them here.

Made at Meltdown

[dropcap size=big]T[/dropcap]he beloved comic book store and live event space closed its doors in March after more than 20 years, but the community that was built around it is still keeping Meltdown Comics alive. This Sunday, a party at A Shop Called Quest will feature beer, food, signings, panels, and podcasts in honor of the comic book store. Many of the writers and comics that came out of the shop landed their first deals with publishing companies like DC and more. The event will feature many writers and creators that either started their journeys at Meltdown or passed through to get where they are now. Speakers include Rylend Grant, a screenwriter whose "created at Meltdown" comic series Aberrant is now being published by indie publisher Action Lab and has been optioned for TV. They will also include Mike Levine, a contributor to The Onion and Meltdown class alum who has since published stories in Phantasmic's Strange Romance anthology, and Jeff Leeds, a former business journalist who has (since starting at Meltdown) helped drive a number of successful Kickstarter comic campaigns that raised more than $30,000. More info here.

Wednesday, August 29

‘Afro-Punk’ Documentary

[dropcap size=big]A[/dropcap]s a part of their The Black Book Series, the Hammer museum presents a screening of Afro-Punk, James Spooner’s rock documentary that follows four black artists’ experiences in the overwhelmingly white punk scenes in their respective cities. The documentary features performances by Bad Brains and Cipher. It also features interviews with Fishbone, Dead Kennedys, and Candiria. A Q&A with director James Spooner will follow the screening. More info here.