L.A. Cinco de Mayo: Think beyond the Mexican restaurant

While revelers shuffle into every Mexican restaurant and bar in town to shoot Patron and shovel in enchiladas this Saturday, the following alternatives — all happening May 5 — promise to be just as festive and maybe even more feliz!

Beastie Boy Mike D’s Transmission LA: AV exhibition and festival at MOCA’s Geffen Contemporary has been getting tons of buzz both for its vibrant art and for its music offerings (opening night with Santigold, last week’s DJ set by Thom Yorke). This Saturday should be no exception when Diplo and decksmen from his Mad Decent label offer a “dubby reggae lazer set” (as the superstar producer described it on Twitter this week). Free admission but reserve tickets (www.brownpapertickets.com). 152 N. Central Ave. (www.moca.org)

Leave the sombreros at home and rock a colorful mane instead at the opening bash for the My Little Pony Project at Toy Art Gallery. The series of events from Hasbro and Mighty Fine features customized ponies from 25 renowned artists in the gallery and a host of events celebrating the beloved current cartoon and its subtitle, “Friendship is Magic.” 7571 Melrose Ave. (323) 653-8697 (www.welovefine.com)

If you’re gonna get liquored up, might as well get loud too. At Lucha VaVoom, Mexican wrestlers and burlesque collide (sometimes literally) for a celebration that’s as vociferous as it is bodacious. The Mayan, 1038 S. Hill St. (213) 746-4674 (luchavavoom.com)

Traditionalists who simply must get their tacos and tequila on can do it with a more authentic, cool and colorful crowd. El Chavo in Silver Lake always throws down bueno bashes, with things getting liveliest in the outdoor back patio and adjacent bar, El Chavito. This year, they’ve got DJ Cyrano (KXLU-FM) and great taco and drink deals. 4441 Sunset Blvd. (323) 664-0871 (www.elchavorestaurant.com)

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