Things To Do This Week in Los Angeles [7-29-2024 to 8-2-2024]

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The Happy Lion shop stays open after hours for Chinatown First Fridays. June 3, 2023. Photo by Christina Champlin.

Alright, let’s dial things up with a brand new list as we roll on through to a new month. You ready?

From July 29 to August 2 in Los Angeles, you’ll find a Donald Sutherland screening series at American Cinematheque theaters, new exhibitions at the Torrance Art Museum, JazzPOP at The Hammer, Summer Roller Disco in Mar Vista, First Fridays, the Tchaikovsky Spectacular with Fireworks, and more.

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Things To Do This Week

M = Less than .5 miles from an L.A. Metro Station, FA = Free Admission, TP = Top Pick


Donald Sutherland RememberedTP > American Cinematheque is paying tribute to the 7-decade career of the late Donald Sutherland through a select a series of the actor’s finest films now through August 18. This week, catch screenings of National Lampoon’s Animal House on Monday at the Los Feliz 3, Ordinary People on Wednesday at the Los Feliz 3, and Mash on Friday at the Aero Theatre. Tickets are $8 per screening. More info here.

New Exhibitions at TAMFA > This past weekend, the Torrance Art Museum opened a pair of of new exhibitions, including a solo exhibition of paintings by Mexican artist, Guillermo Mollinedo, plus GREENHOUSE: Houseplants in contemporary Art on display in the Main Gallery. TAM is free and open to the public Tuesday to Saturday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. More info here.

Help Yourself at The Elysian -> This Tuesday at The Elysian Theater in Frogtown, Jacob Tobia and Jeffrey Marsh team up for Help Yourself, a new comedy show pitching itself as an advice column doubling as a trans-positive musical review. Tickets are $20. Show starts at 7:30 p.m. More info here.

The Comedy PatioM FA > Free standup comedy comes to Grand Central Market this Wednesday in the form of The Comedy Patio, a showcase taking place at Maple Block. The lineup includes Melissa Villaseñor, Rachel Scanlon, Nina Nguyen, Terrence Murphy, and Jeff Buck. Free to attend, but donations happily accepted. Show starts at 7 p.m. More info here.

Shakespeare in the ParkFA > The Independent Shakespeare Co. is once again bringing a summer of the Bard to Griffith Park, but unlike in past years, the 2024 season will focus on a single production. From July 10 to September 1, catch Wednesday-through-Sunday performances of As You Like It at ISC’s familiar space near the Old Zoo. The main show starts at 7 p.m., and you can catch a pre-show, immersive prologue at 6 p.m. Free to attend, but donations heartily encouraged. More info here.

Goddesses Night Mercado M FA > The Goddess Mercado swings over to LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes this Thursday in a partnership with the American Cancer Society. Mercado boutiques will help style, beautify, and glam up a panel of cancer survivors, who will then participate in a fun fashion show featuring all of the Mercado wares. Free to attend. Starts at 6 p.m. More info here.

JazzPOP at Hammer MuseumFA TP > The Hammer’s JazzPOP series returns for its 17th season this Thursday with a kickoff performance by Jamael Dean and the Afronauts. Concerts continue on August 8 with Beth Schenck Quintet and on August 15 with Dan Rosenboom’s Polarity Quintet. All are free to attend, and all start at 8 p.m. Seating is first-come, first-served. More info here.

Sunset Concerts at the Skirball FA > The Skirball Cultural Center’s annual Sunset Concert series continues this Thursday with the ancestral Haitian rhythms of Waahli. All concerts include complimentary gallery access, with doors opening at 6:30 p.m. Free walk-up tickets will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. Parking is available from $15-$20. More info here.

Sunset Music Series in Culver CityM FA > Culver City continues it’s summer-long series of outdoor concerts this Thursday with a Latin Music Showcase featuring performances by Carlos Y Charlos, Boleros with Attitude and Los Angelenos. Event starts at 7 p.m. All seating is first-come, first-served. Free to attend. More info here.

Summer Roller Disco -> Skate Hunnies presents a Summer Roller Disco on Thursday from 6 to 10 p.m. at Mar Vista Roller Hockey Rink. Admission is free, there will be a DJ and skate lessons. All ages are welcomed and skate rentals for $10 if you need them. More info here.

Dance DTLA at The Music CenterM FA > The Music Center’s Dance DTLA hosts an evening of Samba this Friday, with instructors will be on hand to teach guests easy-to-follow steps, allowing everyone to get into the groove right from the jump. Event runs from 7 to 11 p.m. Free as always to attend More info here.

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Friday Night Wine Tastings at Barnsdall ParkM > After a five-year hiatus, Friday night wine tasting events are back at the Barnsdall Art Park West Lawn. A $45 ticket gets you a flight of wine curated by Silverlake Wine, plus access to a rotation of food trucks, all supported by tunes from local DJs and sweet sunset views of the Hollywood Sign and Griffith Park Observatory. The series continues every Friday through August 30. More info here.

Jazz at LACMA – FA > The Los Angeles County Museum of Art’s annual Friday Night Jazz series is back for a season of free weekly concerts at Smidt Welcome Plaza through November. This week: a performance by Joshua White Quintet. Remember that LACMA is free to visit for L.A. County Residents (with I.D.) on weekdays after 3 p.m. Seating is first come, first serve. Music begins at 6 p.m. More info here.

First Fridays in Bixby KnollsFA > The August edition of First Fridays in Bixby Knolls arrives this Friday with a theme built around a singular musical icon: David Bowie. The evening includes Bowie-themed food and drink specials at local restaurants, a Bowie tribute concert by MOVE in the Bixby Joe parking lot, and a costume contest with a special prize. Runs from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. More info here.

First Fridays in FrogtownFA TP > Frogtown First Fridays is taking back to the 80’s with a themed evening of family-friendly activations this Friday, featuring participating 16 venues including galleries, restaurants and shops, all adjacent to the L.A. River Path in Elysian Valley. Guests can see new art exhibits, enjoy free or low-cost art activities, giveaways, DJ’s and live music. Runs 4 to 9 p.m. Free to attend. More info here.

First Fridays in ChinatownM FA > L.A.’s Chinatown stays open late on Friday for an evening of exploring the unique small businesses and contemporary art and culture spaces that make up the historic neighborhood. West Plaza and Chungking Road will activate with local pop-up vendors, DJ-spun music, and area galleries with extended hours. The June edition of First Fridays runs 6 to 10 p.m. Free to attend, as always. More info here.

Tchaikovsky Spectacular with Fireworks -> The Hollywood Bowl’s annual Tchaikovsky Spectacular returns this weekend for a two-night celebration of classical music paired with booming fireworks. Otto Tausk conducts the L.A. Philharmonic, and Uzbek pianist Behzod Abduraimov stops by as well. The evening caps off with the 1812 Overture performed by the LA Phil with an assist from the USC Trojan Marching Band. Shows start at 8 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. More info here.

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Dining & Drinking

(picks by Christina Champlin)
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Soban & Budonoki pop-up flyer.

Soban Budonoki Collab -> Los Angeles Korean restaurant Soban is teaming up with Japanese Izakya Budonoki in Virgil Village for an exciting collaboration on Tuesday, July 30. The special menu blends the unique flavors of both eateries, offering innovative takes on traditional Korean dishes and bar food. Highlights include stone fruit kimchi, Galbi Jim French Dip, a Spicy Jowl Ssam set, pressed sushi, and Chilled Somen Noodles with corn. Reservations can be made through Resy, while walk-ins will be seated at the bar. More info here.

A Cuban Sandwich & Beer Deal at Tabula Rasa -> On the first day of every month, Tabula Rasa, the natural wine bar in Hollywood, will serve their beloved Cuban sandwich with an Open Beer Lager on draft for just $18. This sandwich, a staple from their opening menu in 2016, has become a fan favorite and just recently made its return to the menu. Stop by on Thursday, August 1 to get the deal. More info here.

Neighborhood Winery’s Summer Sessions Pop-up at La Sabina Wine Bar -> This Friday, Neighborhood Winery is popping up at  La Sabina Wine Bar in Culver City at MillCross for their exclusive ‘Summer Sessions’ release. These limited-run bottles feature unique blends you won’t find anywhere else, and once they’re gone, they’re gone for good. Stop by La Sabina between 5 to 11 p.m. for a sidewalk tasting, with music by Cole Thompson and delicious bites from Comal. More info here.


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