This Week's Picks: Marionettes and Meteors, August 4 - 8

8/3/14 - By Roberta B

They just don't make summer vacation the way they used to - by which I mean it didn't used to end in the middle of August. But since you get what you get and you don't get upset, it's time to make the best out of the small amount of summer left to us. Catch some free movies; dance at some free concerts, and indulge in some beach shack food and ice cream. This week there are meteor showers and campfires worth staying up late for, so long live summer break!

OUR LATEST VIDEOS

1. Charlotte's Web - Monday
Pack a picnic or buy dinner at the Brentwood Country Mart while you enjoy a free family movie screening in the outdoor courtyard of this popular Westside marketplace.

2. National Night Out - Tuesday
Communities all over the country join together for a safer America by sponsoring block parties and other local celebrations to "take back the night." Some local events include Beverly HillsBurbankSanta Monica, and Studio City.

3. Bob Baker's Marionettes – Wednesday
Pasadena's Levitt Pavilion offers weekly entertainment for families all summer long, and this week's featured act is the legendary Bob Baker and the troupe of puppets that he's been stringing along for more than 50 years. This is a great opportunity to see an LA institution for free.

4. Summer Evening Campfire – Thursday
You can't let summer end without one good campfire - and the rangers at Temescal Gateway Park put on one good campfire. Let someone else do the work (they even bring some s'mores fixings); gather round the ranger-led family fire, armed with blankets, flashlights, and treats for kids and grown-ups alike. Nothing could feel more like summer.

5.  Sidewalk Astronomers – Friday
Burbank's Sidewalk Astronomers meet monthly, but the Perseid Meteor Shower only happens one week out of the year, and this is it. Seems like a great month to take up these friendly volunteers on the use of their telescopes. While your eyes are trained on the sky, you might see something cool.