As always, Venice will be lighting up on this First Friday of May, but the rest of the weekend will be packed with things to do as well.
The weather is expected to be a little bit cooler than the early part of the week, with highs in the mid-60s. It should be sunny Friday and Saturday, with some clouds (but no rain) Sunday.
On Friday, head over to Abbot Kinney Boulevard and celebrate First Friday with all your favorite merchants, bars and, yes, food trucks. Be sure to check out the opening of "Photo:Japan" at J1 Studio (1118 Abbot Kinney Blvd.), an exhibit inspired by a photography wall in Otsuchi, Japan, that was badly damaged in the March 11 earthquake and tsunami. The opening will benefit Save the Children's relief efforts in Japan.
Also on Friday, the WE Garden at Westminster Avenue Elementary School . Don't forget to think of Mom! Drop by and be ready for Sunday.
Between 6 p.m. and 8 p.m., will have a preview for the 2011 Student Culminating Exhibition, which opens this weekend and features students' films, photographs, animations, and mixed- and multi-media pieces from the 2010-11 Art Mentoring workshops.
Venice Arts brings us to Saturday's events as well. The official opening reception for the above exhibit will be Saturday from noon to 2 p.m. The organization invites you to join it for a "family-friendly potluck celebration of the students and the beautiful work that they created this year."
The headliner event for Saturday, though, will be the Spring Fling. From 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Windward Plaza Park (the west end of Windward Avenue, between the boardwalk and the bike path), there will be music, belly dancers, costumes, and all of Venice coming out to enjoy the show.
Saturday is also Kentucky Derby day. NBC will have live coverage of the pre-race spectacle (you thought the royal wedding hats were good?) beginning at 1 p.m. The race gets under way shortly after 2 p.m.
Sunday is Mother's Day. If your mom is local, take her out for a nice brunch at one of Venice's amazing restaurants. If she's far away, don't forget to call.
Have a great weekend, Venice!
As always, you can add your own events to our calendar here.
