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First things first. With stunning rainfall totals over the past 24 hours and flash flood warnings still in effect, the priority is to stay safe out there. So if that means staying off the road and in the comfort of your (hopefully) dry home, then good. Priorities people. Now as for to-dos once the deluge lets up… we’ve got you covered.
This February 5-9 in Los Angeles., you’ll find the return of the Benson Movie Interruption, a free Watson lecture at Cal Tech, a new outdoor art exhibition at The Music Center, the Valley Food Truck Festival, the Santa Monica King Tides Celebration, Mardis Gras at the Original Farmers Market, and more. Have a great week, and stay safe out there!
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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
Benson Movie Interruption – M TP > What’s better than seeing a terrible/awesome movie with your friends and making fun of it while you watch it? One word: Celebrities! This Tuesday at Dynasty Typewriter, Doug Benson hosts a “your choice” version of his Movie Interrupted series with special guests including Mae Martin. Guests are invited to bring in a Blue Ray / DVD of their choice, and the audience will vote on what to watch before the show begins. Doors open at 6:30 p.m., and the show starts at 7. Tickets are $20 in advance, or $25 the day-of. More info here.
Shochu Night at Redbird-> The third annual Shochu Month in Los Angeles is celebrating the Japanese spirit with a series of speciality cocktails and live programming at nine of L.A.’s top bars, including Accomplice Bar, Death&Co LA, Employees Only LA, Gold Line, Redbird, Steep LA, The Lincoln, The Semi-Tropic, and Thunderbolt. The next live activation is a special Shochu Night at Redbird on February 6, featuring award winning mixologist Takuma Watanabe. $35 reservations get you 2 cocktails at the bar plus passed hors d’oeurves. You can get more info and reserve your slot here.
First Wednesday Lecture at The AoP -> Every first Wednesday evening of the month, the Aquarium of the Pacific hosts a guest lecture and cocktail reception at the Pacific Visions Theater. For February 7, join them for a special presentation from Bonnie Nixon, Director of ESG and Sustainability at Long Beach Container Terminal (LBCT). Tickets are $5 in advance, or $10 the day of. More info here.
First Wednesday Comedy at Common Space – FA > Common Space Brewery’s monthly comedy night takes place on the first Wednesday of every month. Hosts Dave Williamson and Sean McBride host a cozy show in the Brewery’s gallery space, and it’s free to attend. Runs 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. More info here.
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Criminal Live -> The true crime podcast, Criminal, is marking its 10-year anniversary this February with a 13-city live tour. They’ll be making a stop in Los Angeles this Wednesday at the Theatre at Ace Hotel. Expect an evening filled with brand new stories narrated live by the show’s host, Phoebe Judge, and co-creator Lauren Spohrer. Tickets for the event start at $20. More info here.
The Watson Lecture Series – FA TP = > Caltech’s Watson Lecture Series returns this Wednesday with a focus on the Zwicky Transient Facility (ZTF), a robotic camera based at Caltech’s Palomar Observatory. Shri Kulkarni, ZTF’s principal investigator and the George Ellery Hale Professor of Astronomy and Planetary Science, will drop knowledge on how the cutting-edge instrument works and what phenomena it has helped to discover. Free to attend. Starts at 7:30 p.m. More info here.
Grounded in Creative Practice – M FA > Starting this Thursday, a new exhibition on Jerry Moss Plaza at The Music Center highlights works by local young photographers who have intimately captured older Angelenos in joyful moments of creative happiness. Grounded in Creative Practice will be on display from February 8-25. Free and open to the public. More info here.
Valley Food Truck Festival – FA > This Thursday at the Westfield Topanga, catch the latest edition of the Valley Food Truck Festival, a recurring event which wrangles 10 local food trucks along with live music, and special entertainment, all presented at the Topanga Social parking lot. Admission is free (but not the food!). Runs 6 to 9 p.m. More info here.
Eataly’s Notte Italiana: Valentine’s Edition -> The Valentine’s edition of Eataly’s late night tasting experience pops up this Friday with 20+ all-you-can-eat Italian bites and libations, live entertainment, a photo booth and more. Tickets cost $99 a person. This event is 21+. More info here.
The Troubies Present: Cupid’s Eros -> The Getty Villa’s Valentine’s presentation, “Cupid’s Eros,” is a family-friendly musical performance that brings characters from antiquity to life. From Medusa & Perseus, Achilles & Patroclus to Pandora and her Box see the stories unfold with a live Troubadorchestra providing sounds from the 1970s and ’80s. Performances run this Friday to Sunday at 7 p.m. Tickets are priced at $35 per person. . More info here.
Santa Monica King Tides Celebration – FA TP > “King tides” occur when the orbits and alignment of the Earth, moon, and sun combine to produce the greatest tidal effects of the year. Climate Action Santa Monica is organizing a morning meetup at Heal The Bay Aquarium this Friday to mark the annual occurrence, discuss the relevancy of rising tides in consideration of climate change, and collect images for scientific documentation of the tides for the Coastal Commission. Starts at 7:30 a.m. and free to attend. More info here.
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Mardi Gras at The Original Farmers Market – FA > Mardis Gras festivities at The Original Farmers Market kick off this Friday with a performance by Alligator Beach on the West Patio. Weekend events include the annual Mutti Gras Pet Parade & Costume Contest on Saturday, plus a lineup of themed activities, including jester puppet-making and more live music. The slate of activities comes to a close with a Fat Tuesday celebration on February 13. All free to attend. More info here.
Rooftop Cinema Club DTLA Fireside Films Series -> Rooftop Cinema Club DTLA is set to kick off Fireside Films, a limited-run series, starting this Friday on the fourth floor of the LEVEL Hotel. The outdoor area will be transformed into a warm and inviting cinematic experience, complete with wood-burning patio heaters. Attendees can enjoy complimentary hot beverages such as hot cocoa and spiced apple cider, along with the option to purchase spirits from the on-site bar. This weekend’s featured film is “10 Things I Hate About You,” and tickets are available in the $30-$40 range. More info here.
Dining & Drinking
(picks by Christina Champlin)
As we head into the peak of the Lunar New Year season, we’ve got a few suggestions to help you dive into delicious customs, whether it’s indulging in noodles for longevity, fish for abundance, or glutinous rice balls for a sense of togetherness. Some ideas below:
Special Lunar Dishes at Woon -> Experience a laid-back Lunar New Year celebration at Woon from February 7 to 11. Each day, the first 100 guests will be treated to a red envelope containing lucky prizes, which may include a complimentary drink, free noodles, or a free t-shirt. The menu will feature a variety of food specials, including stir-fried rice cakes, longevity string beans, and Honey Walnut Shrimp Baos. Additionally, a limited edition t-shirt will be available for purchase. More info here.
Bistro Na’s Imperial Chinese Culinary Experience -> Bistro Na’s, celebrated for its exquisite imperial court cuisine hailing from the Qing Dynasty, offers an ideal venue for hosting a truly special Lunar New Year celebration. Running from February 9 to 24, guests can feast on curated dinner sets featuring Bistro Na’s renowned Crispy Shrimp dish, complemented by new additions such as Stewed Crab Meat and Fish Maw. The ambiance, designed to emulate a traditional Chinese courtyard, immerses patrons in the splendor of the last imperial dynasty of China. With opulent bamboo trim, high-hanging lanterns, and elegant decor, the setting serves as a nostalgic journey through time. These exclusive dinner sets are designed for groups of six and include over ten dishes, with prices ranging from $500 to $900. For larger parties of ten, there are options with 16 dishes or more available at $888, $988, $1,288, and $1,588. More info here.
Joseon’s Korean Royal Family Tasting Menu -> Celebrate the Lunar New Year by dining as if you’re part of the Royal Family of Korea’s last dynasty, the Joseon Dynasty. Chef Debbie Lee’s beautiful Silver Lake concept skillfully interprets Northern Korean cuisine, originally crafted for the royal family, now reimagined for contemporary palates. Noteworthy dishes on the menu include Galbee Jjim paired with wasabi cauliflower puree, market vegetables, and puffed vermicelli. Other highlights include Kalguksu, a Korean gnocchi in a light broth featuring manila clams, seafood fume, zucchini blossom, and bottarga, as well as Perilla Cured Tasmanian Sea Trout served with edamame cream and a yuzu jalapeno gelee. Choose from a tasting menu offering either a five-course option priced at $79 or a more extensive seven-course option at $99. More info here.
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Melody’s Korean Classics Pop-Up -> Justin Min, previously of Hanchic, will be popping up at Melody in Virgil Village from Tuesday, February 6 to Saturday, February 10. The Lunar New Year menu promises Korean classics like kimchi mandu, bulgogi, and mandu-guk. Complementing these dishes is Melody’s regular wine selection. More info here.
Meet Fresh x Bistro Na’s Dessert for a Good Cause -> Bistro Na’s has partnered with Taiwanese dessert brand, Meet Fresh to offer an exclusive dessert just in time for Lunar New Year. From February 10-24, indulge in Chef’s Tian creation – a delectable Black Sesame Soup with Tofu Pudding and potaro balls, priced at $8.5. What makes this treat even sweeter is that for every purchase of the Chef’s Tian dessert, $5 will be donated to the No Kid Hungry Charity. More info here.
Sprinkles Lunar New Year Cupcakes -> Celebrate the Year of the Dragon with Sprinkles’ Gold Dragon Bruce Lee Cupcake. This delectable treat features red velvet cake swirled with almond slivers on an almond cookie crust, topped with almond cream cheese frosting, and adorned with a custom Bruce Lee Dragon decoration. Get a dozen of these delightful cupcakes packaged in a special Lunar New Year box, accompanied by eight traditional red envelopes for gifting to your loved ones during the holiday season. These limited-edition cupcakes are available now until February 11, 2024. More info here.
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