TAKE A HIKE but watch out for wildlife: Stoney Point in Chatsworth has long been a local mecca for hikers and rock climbers.

MAY DAY MAYDAY: We haven't seen anyone dancing around the Maypole but there are loads of Spring-filled events that will leave you kicking up your heels.

• Recreation
• Music & Concerts
• Art
• Shopping
• Tours & Excursions 

MAY DAY MAYHEM: Did you know that May 4th is the unofficial worldwide Star Wars Day? We didn't either but we think "these aren't the droids you're looking for..." (sorry, our inner Jedi came over us) what we meant to say is...we think the force will be with you at Festivals and Free Events even Jabba the Hut would approve.   

MAY DAY SUNDAY: Cinco de Mayo is on Sunday and that means that the fiesta is all weekend-long. Get into the spirit with tequila tastings and parties on our Nightlife page. 

MAY DAY FUNNIES: Creepy shows or oddball performances can tickle your funny bone or leave your hair standing on end. Your choice on our Comedy page or

MAY DAY MOTHER'S DAY ALERT: Moms deserve more than one day for families to show their appreciation but that holiday is fast-approaching. Do something special for Mom this year by taking her out to brunch on our Restaurants & Cafes page or explore more on our Things to Do section. Visit our May Calendar for all monthly events.  

Want more creatively inclined events? Check out new exhibits on our Museums page. You can also find a broad range of alternative shows on our Entertainment page. This is a Film town but Theater can hold its own here too as you can see below by all our Eyes Up recommended reviews (all of these live productions have been extended).

SUMMER SCHOOL: Get a jump on the summer semester with our Classes & Seminars. Take note that some Kids programs enroll early. Now is a good time to plan ahead.

TIP: you can find events and other things to do near you - you'll find neighborhood and regional calendar links at the bottom of all Eye Spy LA web pages.

Have a Happy Cinco de Mayo!

The Kiss Method...Keep It Simple Smart in "Years to the Day" 

by M.R. Hunter

The world premiere of Allen Barton's two-hander play epitomizes the KISS Method (otherwise known as 'keep it simple stupid') but in this case it is actually quite smart. Smart enough not to need any window dressing in the sense of a set beyond a table and two chairs; smarter still, director Joel Polis wisely keeps both men's butts in seats almost throughout the 90 minutes. The script is also smart enough to hold the audiences' attention because the actors Jeff LeBeau and Michael Yavnieli dig into their characters with gusto and realism, sniping at each other while maintaining a precarious balance of friendly rapport given the simple but logical premise.

Two guys get together for a coffee four years to the day since last they've seen each other. Their relationship dates back to their college days. Jeff (LeBeau) meets and later marries his college sweetheart and life keeps on trucking with the two getting together less and less over the years. Their only bond is the history and connectedness they share to their former selves...

 READ THE FULL REVIEW

Penguins, Seahorses and Jellyfish, Oh My! Monterey Bay Aquarium 

by M.R. Hunter

An easy weekend getaway is heading up the 101 North and stopping along the way at beach towns like Pismo, wineries in Paso Robles, or John Steinbeck's stomping grounds in Salinas. Those who wish to push further but stay just shy of San Francisco won't be disappointed by visiting Monterey. This area is concentrated with sightseeing excursions from the comfort of your own vehicle like the 17-Mile Drive in Pebble Beach, to winding around the quaint beachfront villas in Carmel and is half an hour away from Santa Cruz.

On the west end of Cannery Row is the world famous Monterey Bay Aquarium. With an emphasis on conservation this state of the art facility offers guests an opportunity to get up close and personal with sea life ranging from exotic seahorses, penguins and sea otters to sharks. The spacious exhibits accommodate large groups and tours with several aquariums for visitors to peer into within each room....

Thomas the T-Rex and Friends in Their Expanded Digs at the NHM 

by M.R. Hunter

Bigger is better. Just ask Thomas the T-Rex and his extinct friends at the Dinosaur Hall in the L.A. County Museum of Natural History. Judging by those big, toothy millions of years old grins, T-Rex, Triceratops, Stegosaurus and Struthiomimus seem very happy with their new digs.

The newly expanded Dinosaur Hall opened in July, 2011 and at 14,000 square feet is twice the size of the former galleries. Centered on the growth of the T-Rex from its infancy to its juvenile (and we're sure quite the rebellious teenager) stages up through adulthood, the Hall includes 300 fossils, some found within rock, as well as unusual aquatic life.

It's difficult to top the Dinosaur Hall but Age of Mammals is definitely not one to miss and the tranquil space encourages visitors to closely examine the detailed illustrations and elegantly displayed recreated scenes...

Happy birthday to these celebrity May Taurus: Tim McGraw (5/01), David Beckham (5/02), Eric Church (5/03), Lance Bass (5/04), Adele (5/05), George Clooney (5/06), Alexander Ludwig (5/07), Melissa Gilbert (5/08), Billy Joel (5/09), Bono (5/10), Cory Monteith (5/11), Tony Hawk (5/12), Steve Wonder (5/13), Miranda Cosgrove (5/14), Emmitt Lewis (5/15), Megan Fox (5/16), Nikki Reed (5/17), Tina Fey (5/18), Grace Jones (5/19), Cher (5/20), Mr. T (5/21)

GEMINI - Get in Touch
CANCER - Drop Down
LEO - Adoring Fans
VIRGO - Up and Down

LIBRA - Brainstorming

SCORPIO - Fight

SAGITTARIUS - Done to Perfection
CAPRICORN - Springing Up

AQUARIUS - Checklist

PISCES - Krazy Glue

ARIES - Off and Running  

This is a time for clarity and introspection. Most signs will be doing a lot of soul-searching now. Unresolved issues cannot continue to be avoided. Unpleasant tasks should be dealt with soon. Health and fitness will be at the forefront of those who'd like to shed those stubborn pounds. This is a good time to get in shape and add variety into workouts by being active outdoors too. There could be minor conflicts with how we perceive ourselves or the image we wish to portray and our internal motivations. We need to be mindful of how we come across. Be authentic!

Read your full EYESTROLOGICAL Forecast 

There's something for everyone playing live on stage this weekend. We've covered the best that is spooky, gritty, silly and downright magical. 

These shows are EyeSpyLA APPROVED & STRONGLY RECOMMENDED!!!

Urban Death at Zombie Joe's Underground Theatre in North Hollywood Saturdays 11pm - "Pregnant women and those suffering from heart conditions should probably pass on this immersive sensory experience as total darkness precedes each scene. For everyone else who enjoys things that go bump in the night, you won't be disappointed..." Read our REVIEW 

Trainspotting at the Elephant Theatre in Hollywood - "Aboot fuckin time n aws thit, likesay, director Roger Mathey remoots his belter 2002 production based oan the novel by Scottish punter, Irvine Welsh....you just need to get up off of your ass and see it because it is a night of total licentious enjoyment. Read our  REVIEW 

Smoke and Mirrors at the Road Theatre in North Hollywood -"The multi-dimensional show touches on a myriad of emotions without any guile and sleekness. It is at times, almost raw, spontaneous and chockfull of unexpected surprises." Read our REVIEW  

Paradise: A Divine Bluegrass Musical - "...a kicky bluegrass musical at the Ruskin Group Theatre in Santa Monica delivers corn spun humor and wit with the refined subtleness of biscuits and gravy..." Read our REVIEW 

Eye Spy LA has been the online Local's Guide to L.A. since 2003. Content is written, edited and maintained by locals and focuses on local and nearby events and the local creative community.

Editorial policy: Eye Spy LA editorials are stories written about places, entertainment and events that we go to. The opinions are those of our editorial staff and the writer of the piece. Calendar listings are ads posted by the people producing events and activities in the local area. Each week we pick and recommend events and other things to do based on our experience or sometimes because they look particularly unusual, unique or in some other way interesting. We do not recommend them based on any fees they may or may not have paid us for advertising.

You'll always find the latest events & activities plus commentary about where we've been at eyespyLA.com - updated daily. 

Andrea Kirk, publisher (editor@eyespyLA.com)

 EYE SPY LA CONTRIBUTORS:

M.R. Hunter - editorial and reviews

Mark Share - reviews

Kelly Hargraves - dance and reviews

Abby Abanes - food adventures

Charles Phoenix - retro slide of the week