While the annual Venice Garden & Home Tour is taking a break this year, there's another design-inspired fundraiser that debuts Saturday for your consideration. The Venice Design Series will showcase special events over three weekends including intimate salons, home tours, luncheons and dinners, hosted by some of the area’s best architects and landscape designers including Jay Griffith, who co-founded the event with Venice Community Housing's Linda Lucks. The series benefits VCH, a nonprofit that's been supporting low-income children, families and individuals since 1988. Take a look at the events and sponsorship options here. You can also get a jump start checking out featured artwork at the upcoming Venice Art Walk & Auctions. It's not until May 17, but you can preview some art online starting today on Paddle8.

Before we get to First Friday festivities next weekend, there's reason to get out and enjoy Last Fridays too. Tonight, the Venice Symphony Orchestra presents 99 Problems + Bach Aint One, a JAY-Z and Bach Mashup, at Danny's Venice at 7:30 p.m. And if you're over on Abbot Kinney, stop into Stag for whiskey cocktails as it welcomes a new shop-in-shop, Hill-Side.

Paste gallery on Lincoln continues with another Saturday night art party, this time with Gabriella Fash. 

For those in need of a spring refresh, take advantage of all the sales and shopping events this weekend. The Golden State Store relocates from Rose Ave. and debuts in its new location on 1916 Lincoln Blvd. (right next to Superba Food & Bread) with a soft opening Saturday at 10 a.m.. Its former next-door neighbor ME & Blue is also closing up shop on Rose Ave. and will be hosting a sale through the end of May. The good news for ME & Blue loyalists is that the groovy boho prints will still be available online.

Live Style on Lincoln is also hosting a moving sale party with up to 75% discounts along with snacks and fresh juices. Hip'tique on Main is hosting a Tavik swimwear trunk show with cocktails, giveaways and complimentary facials courtesy of M. Steves Beauty Cottage. And there's going to be one mega community yard sale with more than 80 participating homes on Sunday. 

For weekend reading, check out the latest issue of Cancello magazine online, and if you'd like to get involved and meet up with fellow writers, check out Cancello's first Creative Lounge on Sunday. Creative Lounge is designed as a venue for artists, writers, and thinkers to come together and connect on a particular aspect of creativity and process. Each Lounge will center on a different theme and will be moderated by Cancello Venice.

Looking ahead, Cinco de Mayo is right around the corner. We're rounding up the best tacos in town, so look out for that. There's going to be a special Cinco de Mayo dinner at the Rose Room, and speaking of tacos, guess who's moving into The Brickhouse Kitchen? 

Walgrove Elementary will also soon be hosting its annual Walkathon Fundraiser to give kiddos phys ed for a year, but you don't have to wait to help out, you can donate here. 

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