It’s hard to go back to work after a long weekend, and perhaps just as hard to break out of your routine and start going to new places to meet singles. Luckily, summer offers a lot of options. No more boring bar pick-ups. It’s time to mix it up.

Following are some events happening around L.A. this week:

The Grove is hosting a SummerTaste event on the main lawn outside Nordstrom’s on Wednesday June 1st from 7-9pm. Instead of battling traffic after work, why not stop by and enjoy some wine tasting, DJ music, and the outdoors? Plus, your admission goes towards the TJ Martell Foundation which helps children’s cancer and AIDs research. Purchase tickets in advance for the discount.

This Saturday June 4th, Sierra Club singles is leading an afternoon hike to the gardens of Griffith Park. (Don’t worry, this is an easy trail for all the beginners out there.) They also plan to stroll through the old L.A. Zoo and check out Bee’s Rock. For those of you who haven’t been to Griffith Park in a while, this covers many of the highlights. See their website for details.

Feeling retro these days? Join Cupid’s Coach for a cocktail mixer and disco this Sunday June 5th at The MARK on Pico Blvd. It’s a dress-up event, folks…they encourage disco attire to meet other singles ages 30-50. They plan a “rapid mixer” to help people meet, as well as offering appetizers, cocktail specials, and lots of music to get your boogie on. Proceeds benefit the Red Cross and victims of the Japanese tsunami. Check their website for details.

And remember, it's good to be creative in planning first dates this time of year. Stay tuned for my upcoming post on summer date ideas to help you get started.