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Whether embracing your inner child at an ice-cream festival, reliving your high-school years at a screening of Dazed and Confused, or commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Civil Rights movement, this week’s events give you a chance to revisit the past. As always, check Groupon for even more great things to do in Los Angeles. Street Food Cinema Exposition Park | Saturday, August 2, 5:30 p.m. If seeing Richard Linklater’s much-lauded new film Boyhood has you jonesing for some of his cult classics, this outdoor screening of Dazed and Confused should do the trick. Come early for food-truck fare and indie-rock tunes from local band Speardane, before settling in for the 8 p.m. screening. (700 Exposition Park Dr.; $6–$17; children 5 and younger are free; buy tickets here) People Get Ready: A Soundtrack of the Civil Rights Movement Downtown | Saturday, August 2, 8 p.m. Commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Civil Rights movement, this concert features modern soul and world-music singers performing freedom songs by Billie Holiday, Nina Simone, Bob Dylan, Stevie Wonder, and other legends. The lineup includes French favorites Les Nubians, as well as Sam Cooke’s granddaughters, who’ll likely be covering their grandad’s classics. (350 S. Grand Ave.; free) Once Hollywood | Through August 10 This Oscar-, Grammy-, and Tony-winning story may have moved from Off-Broadway’s modest theaters to the Pantages’ grand stage, but it still centers on the original songs Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová wrote for the film. If you get there early enough, you can even grab a drink from the onstage bar before the show begins. (6233 Hollywood Blvd.; $32.25–$140.70; buy tickets here) Ice Cream Festival Downtown | Through August 24 At Rosa Mexicano, chefs are throwing a month-long Ice Cream Festival, during which they’re making scoops inspired by their savory, south of the border foods. Flavors include avocado, cinnamon-chili-spiced chocolate, and sweet-corn-and-caramel. If you’re worried how these concoctions might taste, don’t be—Martha Stewart once said the restaurant serves “the best guacamole in the world.” (800 W. Olympic Blvd.; free) Jack & the Giant Sawtelle | Through August 24 In this reimagining of the classic fairy tale, kids in the audience decide the characters' fates by helping them make decisions along the way. The Little Theater's intimate, 49-seat setup eases the interactive process, but come early for a good seat as the venue is first come, first serve. (12420 Santa Monica Blvd.; $10–$15; buy tickets here) Photos courtesy of the Dazed and Confused Facebook page and Rosa Mexicano.

I must confess: I am a slave to fashion, I adore shopping, I try to buy at least one or two on- trend fashion items each season and oh yeah, I’m on a budget! Although it might be easy to shop for the latest and greatest fashions at designer boutiques, most of us can’t afford it. So over the last several years, especially since the recession, I have made it my mission to scout fabulous and fashionable stores throughout LA that carry a plethora of swoon-worthy fashion trends for under $100. While many of the items in these stores are very affordable at under $100, you can also find many treasures for well under $50. When you step into these boutiques, you don’t feel like you are sacrificing anything at all because they have a wide variety of well-made on-trend clothing and accessories to choose from, the salesgirls are fashion forward and super nice (not snooty) and my favorite part about shopping in these budget friendly stores is that you can afford to buy a few trendy pieces, without killing your budget. So here are some of my favorite budget friendly boutiques to shop at in LA (most have multiple locations) and the noteworthy neighborhoods that you will find them in: 1.Blush Calabasas & Encino Blush has two convenient locations in pedestrian shopping centers in the San Fernando Valley. It has been my fav go-to on trend fashion store for years because the owner has a curvy body type just like mine, an amazing eye for figure flattering clothing and great prices. Frequent shoppers even earn points/dollars towards future purchases. 2. Veronica M Los Angeles, Santa Monica & Pasadena Veronica M stores are all located along some of the hippiest shopping streets in LA. Veronica M is an LA based designer best known for her figure flattering cuts, fabrics and gorgeous show stopping prints. I am beyond obsessed with her curve-loving maxi dresses that I buy in multiples every year at her end of the season sale (most items cost  $40 or less on sale!) and everyone always asks where I shop. 3. DNA  Venice & Hollywood DNA stores are located in two artsy areas of LA, which totally fits this hip, urban retail clothing outlet for men and women. I love the comfy edgy clothing that DNA carries and like it even better because I can shop for my hubby there too. They have a fabulous selection of hip shirts for men typically $50 or less. 4. Soto Woodland Hills, Westlake & Sherman Oaks You will find Soto (which stands for South of Topanga, home of the first location) in some of the most desirable suburban shopping locations in Los Angeles. Soto carries a fun variety of fashionable and comfortable clothing for women and teens. Recently, Soto opened a pair of fab Lifestyle accessory stores next door to a couple of their stores, making it also a great place to shop for affordable gifts!

Sharks, bank robbers, roller derby—this upcoming week is distinctly fierce. Kick it off with the Shark Week finale at the Cabrillo Marine Aquarium, which includes a dissection and live feedings, then ride the high-octane wave through a derby bout and a screening of a documentary about the Dog Day Afternoon bank robber. And as always, check Groupon for even more great things to do in Los Angeles. Shark Week San Pedro | Saturday, August 9 Though it's the last day of Cabrillo Marine Aquarium's Shark Week celebration, Saturday is arguably the most eventful, with a screening of the short film Surviving Sharks, live feedings, and a dissection and specimen display. (3720 Stephen M. White Dr.; $1–$5) LA Derby Dolls Baby Doll Brawl Echo Park | Saturday, August 9 There’ll be plenty of action on the track during this matchup between the Bad Hatters and the Cheshire Cats, but come early to hear live music, grab slices of Garage Pizza, shop Stila Cosmetics, and sip craft beers from Golden Road Brewing before the Filipinotown venue possibly closes this fall. (3720 Stephen M. White Dr.; $15–$40; buy tickets here) Rose Bowl Flea Market Pasadena | Sunday, August 10 Forty-five years in, this monthly market has become one of the country’s most popular, currently attracting upwards of 2,000 vendors and 20,000 shoppers. Pay extra for varying levels of early VIP admission, and get first dibs on this month’s wares. (1001 Rose Bowl Dr.; $8–$20; free for kids 12 and younger) The Dog Melrose | Through August 14 Nearly 40 years after the release of Dog Day Afternoon comes this documentary about the late John Wojtowicz, the bank robber who inspired the Oscar-winning feature film. The doc captures the 10 controversial years leading up to the robbery, including interviews and archival footage that chronicle Wojtowicz’s role in the gay-liberation movement. (611 N. Fairfax Ave.; $12; free for Cinefamily members) Echo Park Rising 2014 Echo Park | Through August 17 This three-day indie-music fest kicks off on August 15, giving attendees the chance to say “I saw them before they were big” about more than 200 bands. Headliners include local garage punks Together Pangea, and digging through the lineup unearths quality acts such as San Francisco alt-rockers The Fresh & Onlys and the experimental Nebraskan pop of The Mynabirds. (Multiple locations; free; VIP passes for $12–$30; buy tickets here) Photos courtesy of Cabrillo Marine Aquarium’s Facebook page and the Cinefamily Theater