Feel like shopping, but having  cash flow issues?  So long as you can barter, “Forget about it”.  Actor/comedian Russell Brand is hosting a pop up exchange shop today at the Beverly Center and money is no good.  The goal is to promote the reuse surplus products in our consumer driven society.   Why? Money can’t buy everything.

Location: Beverly Center 8500 Beverly Blvd.  Los Angeles, CA 90048  Date/Time: Thursday, May 27th from 2 to 6 p.m.  Web:  http://www.buylovehere.com/

JazzReggae Festival 2010

Spend weekend lounging in the grass,  listening to the sounds of Nas & Damian “Jr. Gong” Marley, Q-Tip, Nneka and more.  Check out an array of eclectic vendors, international food and  be sure to take note of the green initiatives, such as sustainable art exhibits, a solar-powered stage and “effective recycling and waste programs.” Why? We be jammin’.

Location: UCLA’s Intramural Field, 405 Hilgard Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90025. Click here for directions/parking info. Date/Time: Sun, May 3o/ Mon, May 31 from 12 p.m. to 7 p.m. Cost: Single day $26 and two days $45   Web: http://jazzreggaefest.com/

Last week Silver Lake hosted  its annual Jubilee. You however, were just too busy catching up on episodes of LOST before this week’s season finale (sigh). Luckily for you, the Silver Lake Arts* Craft & Vintage Food Truck Block Party takes place this weekend (& on the last weekend of every month). The streets will be lined with local vendors selling vintage and hand-crafted items and food trucks will be offering hungry attendees tasty meals. Why? The islanders are “LOST” no more, so step away from the T.V.

Location: 1511 Micheltorena Street (Cross St. Sunset Blvd.), Los Angeles CA 90026 Date/Time: Last weekend of every month, Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.  Web: http://www.silverlakeartcraftvintage.com.

Summer and its flavors only happen once a year, so we encourage you to take full advantage of them now.  Learn how to preserve your favorite summer foods at The Road Less Traveled’s “Summertime Food Preserving” class. Cost of the class includes appetizers, recipes and several jars of “goodies” (think BBQ sauce and berry-lemonade concentrate). Why? Don’t let those berries pass you by.

Location: The Road Less Traveled Store, 2204 N. Main St., Santa Ana, CA 92706. Date/Time: Saturday, May 29 from 1 p.m. to 4p.m. Cost: $70 Web: http://www.roadlesstraveledstore.com/shop/home.php

You’ll find it in your backyard and everywhere else for that matter. So for a resource that seems so plentiful, how has it become such a controversial topic? Directed and produced by Bill Benenson and Gene Rosow, Dirt! The Movie attempts to answer just that. Why? We want the dirt.

Location: Caltech, 1200 East California Boulevard, Pasadena, CA 91125-0001 Noyes Hall, Room 147 Date/Time: Friday, May 28. Movie starts at 7:30 pm. Discussion will follow. Cost: Free.  Web: See the trailer

You enter the festival giddy with anticipation. To your right, a group of women capture your attention as they dance with fire. You look to the left just in time to see a man on stilts disappear into the crowd. Unsure if your mind is playing tricks on you, you attempt to jolt yourself back into reality only to realize that you are actually there: the Lightning in a Bottle Festival. Why? It’s sure to put a unique spark in your weekend.

Location: Oak Canyon Ranch, 5305 Santiago Canyon Rd., Irvine, CA (directions) Date: Friday, May 28 to Monday, May 31 Cost: Please see website for ticket information Web: http://lightninginabottle.org/.