Three Recommendations For A Militant Weekend!

It's Friday. What to do? The Militant will show you! And in true Militant fashion, he'll show you how to get there without all that gas/parking hassle!

The 2008 Lotus Festival, Echo Park: So there may or may not be any flowering lotuses (loti?) on the lake this year, but don't let that stop you from enjoying one of the City's best cultural festivals, with Angelenos from all over just enjoying themselves. The real reason for the festival is to celebrate Los Angeles' Asian and Pacific Islander cultures, and Echo Park's proximity to the City's Little Tokyo, Chinatown, Historic Filipinotown, Koreatown and Thai Town neighborhoods made it a prime location for this festival, which has been a local institution for over 30 years. Last year, the Militant covered all three days of the festival, which includes food, entertainment and a Saturday night fireworks show that will make Echo Park live up to its name.

Where: Echo Park (as in the park), Glendale Blvd. and Park Ave., Echo Park (duh).

When: Friday, July 11, 5-9 p.m. (evening jazz concert); Saturday, July 12, 12-9 p.m.; Sunday, July 13, 12-8:30 p.m.

Get There: Ride your bike on the Sunset Blvd. bike lane to Echo Park or ride Metro Bus lines 2/302, 4 and 704 (Echo Park Ave stop); 92 (Park Ave stop). Or ride the (M) Red Line (Westlake/MacArthur Park station), transfer to Metro Local line 200 northbound (Sunset Blvd. stop) and walk three blocks to the park.

Grand Opening of the San Bernardino History and Railroad Museum, San Bernardino: You all know by now that the Militant digs history and thinks trains are cool, so he may or may not check out this event out in San Berdoo to soak in some more SoCal history. The event takes place at that city's historic, Moorish-style Santa Fe station - once the largest train station west of the Mississippi River - which also celebrates its 90th anniversary. And what better way to get there than to ditch the car (or at the very least park it at a station) and take da Link!

Where: 1170 W. Third Street, San Bernardino.

When: Saturday, July 12, 9 a.m. - 1 p.m.

Get There: Metrolink's San Bernardino Line to the San Bernardino station takes you, like, RIGHT THERE!


BBQ Adventures In Thai Town, Thai Town: The organization LA Commons have been doing some great events called Trekking LA, teaching people how to explore the real Los Angeles through its ethnic and arts communities. This year they explore the various communities' approaches to barbecue. On Saturday, Thai-American Chef (and native Angeleno) Jet Tila (pictured right) will explore the cuisine of his northern Thai heritage, and provide some culinary demonstrations as well. It costs $20 per person, but the Militant has been on one of their food tours before and trust him, the price is more than worth it.

Where: Various restaurants in Thai Town in East Hollywood. Meet at Thailand Plaza Restaurant, 5321 Hollywood Blvd., at 4 p.m.

When: Saturday 4-8 p.m.

Get There: (M) Red Line (Hollywood/Western station).