MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND 2026, WITH PREVIEWS OF TWO UPCOMING CHARITY EVENTS
Even though I don’t work regular 9-5 five-days-a-week hours, I actually work really hard just about every day. Therefore, I do enjoy three-day holiday weekends. They’ve just always felt special to me.
This says it all.
But, as I try to remind everybody each year, Memorial Day is special unto itself because it’s a holiday with the purpose of honoring the members of the armed forces who have lost their lives in service to our country. That deserves at least a modicum of seriousness on the actual day, which is this Monday, of course.
Since “memorial” is actually its title, I also spare a thought for my own loved ones who have gone before, especially my little mother.
And I’m also using today to make my SoCal readers aware of a couple of worthwhile charity events that I think will be fun.
The first one is a special one-night-only, open to the public, event that is taking place on June 4th, after the holiday, as one of the local celebrations of this country’s 250th Anniversary. It looks to be super-fun and educational, and it’s affordable and at one of the easiest theatres in town, (NoHo’s El Portal.) On top of all that, we get to dress up a bit. But much more important than anything is the charity it will benefit—the Mendez National Institute of Transplantation Foundation, which raises awareness for kidney disease and organ donation, and advances research, education, and awareness around those situations.
It’s a fabulous fundraising event which goes like this: First up is a cocktail and food reception in the big lobby, which is always adorned with interesting art pieces. Then we go into the theatre to see a forty-minute show, The Fighting Quaker. It tells the story of Timothy Matlack, the man who hand-inscribed the final official copy of the Declaration of Independence in 1776, (when penmanship was important!) What an appropriate presentation to see exactly one month before this nation’s big birthday!
An example of a few of this company’s gifts. Photo courtesy of Susan von Seggern.
As if all that would not be enough, everyone leaves with a gift bag. And VIP tickets also include a gifting suite after the show!!! Now everyone can have the fun of participating in the type of gifting event that I’ve been writing about for years! (I actually attended one of this producer’s gifting suites way back in the day, when I was doing my TV show! So I’m really looking forward to being at another one of hers again during this very special evening.)
I hope to see you all there!
For more info and tickets to The Fighting Quaker, click here: www.mnitf.org/the-fighting-quaker-play.
The second one actually comes first on the calendar, on May 30th, and fits in with this weekend’s theme of “memorial” because it celebrates the late Jesse Colin Young of The Youngbloods singing group, whose big hit was Get Together, a song which has been much-played ever since. The event is the Get Together Now concert at the Orpheum Theatre in downtown LA.
The best part, of course, is that 100% of the proceeds will benefit charities that serve local Los Angeles communities, supporting vulnerable individuals and families in need. (I’m sorry that I don’t know exactly which charities they are.) For more info on this one, click here: www.rockcellarproductions.com/get-together-now.
Now getting back to this weekend, and especially Monday, I wish you all a happy, safe, and especially reflective Memorial Day.
