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As we turn the page from fall to summer, it’s another hot (like very hot!) start to the week in Los Angeles.
From August 28 to September 1 in L.A., you’ll find music trivia at The Offbeat, a fresh edition of Culture Break LA, the Cinecon Classic Film Festival, a new exhibition by Jenny Holzer, KCRW Summer Nights at Descanso Gardens, Return of the Jedi at The Bowl, 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
My Morning Jacket + Fleet Foxes – TP > My Morning Jacket and Fleet Foxes were originally supposed to perform at The Hollywood Bowl on August 20, but Hurricane Hilary forced an emergency postponement. The new show was rescheduled to this Monday, and you can still grab tickets for as low as $15. Music starts at 7:30 p.m. More info here.
Adaptations: Monday Movie Nights at Ace Hotel Upstairs – FA > Ace Hotel Upstairs is currently hosting a weekly, poolside movie screening series featuring films adapted from books. Produced in partnership with Skylight Books, the event will run every Monday through September 25. This week, catch a screening of Pride and Prejudice. Free to attend, and complimentary popcorn provided too. 21+ only. Movies start at 8 p.m. More info here.
Summer Music Trivia – FA > Feel pretty confident in your knowledge of music history? Do you know Grammy winners like the back of your hand? Head to The Offbeat in Highland Park this Tuesday for the final edition of their summer trivia night series. Teams of up to three can compete for a weekly prize, plus you can expect tacos by Lakotacos, open turntables, and happy hour specials. Starts at 6 p.m. More info here.
Culture Break LA – M FA TP > Culture Break LA continues its weekly series of lunchtime musical and artistic performances at locations adjacent to the three new Metro stations in DTLA, all presented by the Central City Association (CCA) with a production assist from NXT Art + DTWX, and dublab. Next up in the series, the Black music ensemble Pan Afrikan Peoples Arkestra pops up at Plaza de California this Wednesday, accompanied by art works from Calder Greenwood. Runs noon to 1 p.m. Free to attend. More info here.
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Shakespeare in The Park – FA > The 2023 season of ISC’s Shakespeare in The Park comes to a conclusion this week, capping off with a Wednesday to Sunday performance of A Midsummer Night’s Dream at the Old Zoo in Griffith Park. Registration to attend (free!) is not required, but highly encouraged, as are donations. Each performance begins at 7 p.m. More info here.
Jenny Holzer: Illuminating the Information Age – FA TP > “Jenny Holzer: Illuminating the Information Age” at Hauser & Wirth – West Hollywood is a milestone in Holzer’s career. Her first major Los Angeles exhibition since 2012, it merges art and technology, prompting viewers to ponder art, language, and AI’s evolving role. The exhibit features two robotic vertical LEDs displaying AI-generated texts, challenging authorship in a tech-driven world. It all kicks off with an opening reception this Thursday (6 to 8 p.m.), and officially opens to the public on Friday. It will run through October 21, 2023. More info here.
Cinecon Classic Film Festival -> Starting this Thursday, Cinecon celebrates its 59th year this September. The five-day showcase held at Old Town Music Hall in El Segundo puts the focus on unusual, rarely seen, and otherwise out-of-the-public eye films, with packed slates of screenings interspersed by Q&A programming. A full- festival pass runs $249, or you can grab a day pass starting at $65. Get more info here.
Sizzling Summer Nights at The Autry -> Every Thursday in August, The Autry museum hosts some of L.A.’s best salsa and Latin fusion bands with free salsa lessons, access to the museum galleries and a separate children’s dance floor. This week, Ricardo Lemvo & Makina Loca perform. Runs 6 to 9 p.m. Admission cost $20 per person. More info here.
Broad Humor Film Festival -> This Thursday to Sunday, The Broad Humor Film Festival returns with a four-day event featuring a packed slate of comedic shorts, features and web series–all created by women. Special panel discussions and talks fill out the schedule of events. One-day passes start at low as $25, and a full festival pass is $100. Get more info here.
KCRW Summer Nights at Descanso Gardens – FA TP > KCRW Summer Nights swings over to Descanso Gardens this Friday, offering free admission to the garden plus evening includes sets from KCRW DJs Wyldeflower and Raul Campos, and a drop-in performance by the Bob Baker Marionette Theater puppets. Event starts at 6 p.m. Tickets must be booked in advance. More info here.
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First Fridays in Bixby Knolls – FA > Bixby Knolls gets an early start on Latinx American Heritage Month this Friday with a variety of musical performances, including Santa Ana’s own Mariachi Los Santaneros. Plus, expect the usual assortment of art, food deals, and extended hours from businesses along Atlantic Ave. Runs 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Free to attend. More info here.
Village Well Board Game Night – FA > Culver City’s Village Well Books & Coffee hosts a special board game night on the first Friday of every month. The store will stay open late, and you can expect a tavern music soundtrack, a special nighttime drink menu, plus plenty of fellow board game geeks on hand to battle against. Bring your own board games! Runs 7 to 10 p.m. Free to attend. More info here.
Return of the Jedi in Concert -> This Friday and Saturday, experience Star Wars Return of The Jedi at The Hollywood Bowl with an assist from David Newman and the Los Angeles Philharmonic, who will perform John Williams’ iconic score live to picture. Happening Friday and Saturday. Both shows start at 8 p.m. Tickets available for as low as $22. More info here.
Festival of Philippine Arts & Culture – M FA > Levitt Pavillion Los Angeles kicks off the final weekend of its 2023 summer concert schedule with a two-day (Friday and Saturday) festival celebrating the vibrant heritage of the Philippines, and featuring a marketplace made up of Filipino-American owned vendors, plus back-to-back days of performances by a diverse lineup of artists. Free to attend. More info here.
Dining & Drinking
(picks by Christina Champlin)
The Lonely Basil -> This week, Chef Dom Crisp of The Lonely Oyster, along with Chefs Deau and Joy of Holy Basil, and Chef Ai of Morihiro, unite for “The Lonely Basil,” a pop-up dinner promising to take guests on “a journey through the ocean and across the land.” This event occurs on Tuesday and Wednesday from 5 p.m. to midnight, with an à la carte menu featuring delights such as Miso Glazed Australian Wagyu, Karaage Geoduck, and Deep Fried Lacto Fermented Orata. Reservations can be made through Resy.
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Lobster Dinner for Two at The Palm -> The classic steakhouse, The Palm, is once again delighting diners with their beloved Lobster Dinner for Two. This three-course prix-fixe menu, priced at $139, can be savored at both their Beverly Hills and Downtown Los Angeles locations. Start with a choice of soup or salad, followed by a sumptuous Jumbo Nova Scotia Lobster as the main course. For an extra fee, you can elevate it to a surf ‘n’ turf experience, a tradition at The Palm since the 1940s. Complete your meal with either Tiramisu or a slice of Junior’s Cheesecake. This experience is only available Thursday through Sunday now until September 4. More info here.
BOGO Drinks at The Waterfront -> The Waterfront Venice is taking its happy hour up a notch with buy one, get one free deals on cocktails, beer, wine Wednesdays to Fridays starting at 3 p.m. until sunset. Thursdays and Fridays also feature a DJ from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m., and they’ve even added pizza to the happy hour menu. On weekends from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. guests can indulge in a bottomless brunch buffet for $40, or add unlimited drinks for $30.
Where to Find West African Vegan Cuisine in L.A. -> New Vegan West African restaurant Ubuntu has taken over the Avant Garden space on Melrose Ave. Helmed by James Beard Award semifinalist Chef Shenarri “Greens” Freeman, this restaurant marks Freeman’s West Coast debut. West African ingredients combined with locally-sourced produce and seasonal ingredients from Senegal, Nigeria and Ghana set the inspiration for the menu which includes Palm Bisque with hearts of palm to Curry Jollof Arancini with tomato and chickpea miso. More info here.
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