My big weekend? My nontriumphant return to a certain downtown bar, the chocolate salon in Pasadena (anyone else going?) and attending yet another wedding. Oh yeah, and all these. I wish!

Friday, October 3

Free Gelato from N’Ice Cream
You scream, I scream, we all scream for free N’iceCream! The new natural gelato and sorbet shop on Abbot Kinney is celebrating its recent opening by giving away two scoops of its fancy gelato or sorbet free to anyone who wants ’em. Flavors range from hazelnut and mint chocolate gelato to raspberry and kiwi sorbet.

• 12pm-4pm. N’Ice Cream, 1410 Abbott Kinney Boulevard, Venice (map).

Irregular Wine Tasting at the Echoplex
These informal tastings at the back end of live music venue, The Echo, are always fun and even bizarre. For the 41st edition of this tasting, they’ll be sampling six wines from Astica Winery of Argentina — Torrontés, Sauvignon white, Chardonnay, Malbec, Syrah, & Sauvignon red. And of course there will be some nosh provided by sponsor Gelson’s.

• 8pm. $20. The Echoplex, 1154 Glendale Boulevard, Echo Park (map). RSVP irregularwinetasting@yahoo.com or on MySpace.

Saturday, October 4

3rd Annual LA Weekly Detour Festival
Twenty-five musical acts, including The Mars Volta and Gogol Bordello, on four outdoor stages within a four-city-square block village make this one hot all-day event. Break up the day by checking out the vendors, art installations, silent disco and dj area.

• 12pm-12am. $40.50. Los Angeles City Hall, 200 N Spring Street, Downtown (map). (213) 485-2121.

10th Annual Eagle Rock Music Festival
Oh yeah, Detour Festival? Well Eagle Rock’s music fest has been around for 10 years AND it’s free. This community event features almost 60 of L.A.’s diverse, cutting-edge acts as well as Eagle Rock eateries, including The Oinkster, Panang Thai, the Coffee Table and more.

• 5pm-12am. Free (but donations can be made here). Eagle Rock Boulevard and Colorado Boulevard, Los Angeles (map).

Monday, October 6

Philippe the Original’s 10-Cent Sandwich Special
Has it already been 100 years, Philippe? Guess so, cuz the historic L.A. restaurant will be selling its famous French Dip sandwiches (roast beef, lean ham, turkey, lamb or pork) at only 10 cents, what it originally went for way back in 1908. And you can wash it down with their 10-cent coffee, which will sell for 5 cents. One sandwich per customer.

• 4-8pm. Philippe the Original, 1001 N Alameda Street, Los Angeles (map).