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Fresh weekend. Fresh to-dos. Fresh… attitude? Eh, let’s not get carried away…
On deck for this August 23-25 in Los Angeles, you’ll find The Natural World of Studio Ghibli at The Ford, Tryst & Nomad Art Fair in Torrance, El Segundo Art Walk, LA Chinatown Hungry Ghost Festival, Festival Chapin, Happy Sundays in Long Beach, and much more. Take a look at all that’s in store via the list below.
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Make Metro Part of Your Weekend
FitspoLA @ The Bloc – M FA > FitspoLA returns to The Bloc this Saturday with what will be the first in a trio of free monthly yoga classes presented by UCLA Health, focusing on dynamic movements to increase flexibility, restore balance and strengthen core muscles. The hour-long session starts at 10 a.m. Free to attend, but pre-registration required. Parking validation for attendees $12. More info here.
Go Metro: Take the B, D, A, or E Line to 7th Street / Metro Center.
Things To Do This Weekend
M = Less than .5 miles from an L.A. Metro Station, FA = Free Admission, TP = Top Pick
The Natural World of Studio Ghibli at The Ford – TP > This Friday to Sunday at The Ford, The Natural World of Studio Ghibli celebrating the legendary animation studios’ thematic explorations of natural environments, our relationship with nature, and the spiritual aspect of the natural world through a trio of Miyazaki film screenings, including Princess Mononoke (1997), Spirited Away (2001), and Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind (1984). Tickets are available for individual nights or you can save on fees by purchasing the entire three-evening run. More info here.
Movie Night at Ivy Station – M FA > Ivy Station’s monthly night move night returns this Friday with a screening of Jurassic Park. Free to attend as always. Expect complimentary popcorn plus a selection of movie candy for purchase from Motion Fli. Lawn seating opens at 7:15 p.m. The move starts at 8 p.m.. More info here.
Tryst & Nomad Art Fair – FA > A double helping of artist pop-ups comes to the Torrance over one packed weekend this August. TRYST is a new art fair bringing the world’s largest international exhibition of alternative and artist-run galleries (some 500 artists) to Del Amo Crossing. Plus, down the street, Torrance Art Museum’s contemporary art pop-up Nomad returns for its third installment with contributions from over 175 artists from Southern California and beyond. The Friday through Sunday events are all free to attend. More info here.
Sunset Swim at Annenberg Community Beach House -> This Friday, take a swim in the historic pool of the former oceanfront estate of actress Marion Davies. Enjoy the water, hang out with friends, and make new ones poolside. S’mores and pool floaties will be provided. Access costs $10 per person (ages 18-59) and $5 for anyone over 60. More info here.
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Friday Night Wine Tastings at Barnsdall Park – M > 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.
Off the 405 – FA > On Saturday, Off the 405 the Getty’s annual after-hours summer concerts series concludes with a performance by Woods. You’ll need to pre-register for free to attend, and remember that parking is $10 after 6 p.m. on Saturdays. More info here.
El Segundo Art Walk – FA > This indie, self-guided art walk highlights dozens of creative businesses throughout Downtown El Segundo while showcasing local artists. Expect food trucks, two stages of live music, and family-friendly activations including interactive art from ESMOA. Runs 3 to 9 p.m. More info here and check out a full map of the art walk here.
Dance DTLA Birthday Bash – M > To celebrate the end of Dance DTLA’s 20th season, The Music Center is throwing a benefit birthday bash under the stars this Saturday featuring local DJs, dance instructors, plus plenty of food and dessert. Tickets are $60, with net proceeds to go to the The Music Center’s free and low-cost programs that serve an estimted 400,000 Angelenos a year. More info here.
LA Chinatown Hungry Ghost Festival – FA TP > On Saturday, LA Chinatown Hungry Ghost Festival honors the past and present of Chinatown with an afternoon of celebration offering two stages of performances with dragon and lion dance, shadow puppet (YingXi) shows, zodiac and monkey king performances, Kung Fu demonstrations, fan dancers, and local musicians. Plus you can check out ancestral altar installations, cultural crafting, a scavenger hunt, and more. It’s all happening at 817 Yale St. from 4 to 7 p.m. More info here.
Souk D’été at Zizou -> This Saturday, Lincoln Park’s Moroccan-French hotspot Zizou is launching its first-ever evening market night. The event promises a vibrant mix of local artisan shopping in the parking lot, followed by dinner and drinks at the restaurant. As the night progresses, the festivities continue with a late-night party featuring music from Raphael Futura. More info here.
Endless Summer C.A.M.P. – M FA > Santa Monica’s second annual Endless Summer C.A.M.P. series brings four weeks of family-friendly entertainment to Tongva Park, celebrating everything from world music and dance to puppetry and animal ambassadors. This Saturday, the fun continues with a Puppet show from the Bob Baker Marionette Theater along with a performance by Grammy-nominated family artists Andrew & Polly. The free programs runs 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. More info here.
KCRW Summer Nights – M FA > KCRW’s summer of free programming promises another exciting month of music events popping up at iconic venues and cultural institutions around Los Angeles. This Saturday the party continues at KCRW HQ with a performance by Dehd, bookended by DJ sets from Novena Carmel and Tyler Boudreaux. Event kicks off at 7 p.m. Get more info here.
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LACMA Latin Sounds – FA > LACMA is bringing a series of Saturday evening, outdoor concerts at Dorothy Collins Brown Amphitheater (just north of the La Brea Tar Pits Museum) in celebration of the exhibition Painting in the River of Angels: Judy Baca and The Great Wall. For the penultimate event of the season, catch a performance by Luis Conte Band. Latin Sounds concerts are free to attend, and run 5 to 7 p.m. More info here.
Levitt Pavilion Los Angeles Concerts – M FA > Levitt Pavilion Los Angeles continues this Saturday with a performances The Do-Over, Karriem Riggins, Rocc, The Beat Junkies & Friends. Show starts at 7 p.m. Free to attend. More info here.
Grand Performances – M FA > The 2024 finale of Grand Performances is this Saturday at California Plaza, featuring a headline performance by Chucho Ponce y Los Daddys. As always, free to attend with seating first-come, first-serve. Event starts at 6 p.m. More info here.
NoHo Summer Nights – FA > NoHo Summer Nights continues with a screening of Coco at North Hollywood Recreation Center, alongside interactive arts activities with local artists. Free to attend, and no RSVP required. Movie starts at 8 p.m. More info here.
Happy Sundays – FA TP > Happy Sunday, the free music, comedy and space festival, takes over Long Beach’s Zaferia District this Saturday and Sunday with a smorgasbord of performances and activations across multiple venues in the neighborhood. The musical lineup includes Mike Watt & The Missingmen, Shamon Cassette, Soft Palms, Sego, Jagged Baptist Club, Dream Phases, Fartbarf, Pop Hysteria, Decent Times, and Buzzed Lightbeer. Intermingling the music will be comedy and DJ sets, plus live discussions including SPACE TALKS, where local aerospace companies will engage the community about new projects in the city. The festival is also teaming up with the Long Beach Symphony for an “instrument petting zoo,” offering hands-on experiences with classical instruments. And did we mention, it’s all free to attend! More info here.
Festival Chapin – FA > This Saturday and Sunday, Festival Chapin Los Angeles returns for the largest Guatemalan festival outside the country. Held at Lafayette Park, this 8th annual edition celebrate Guatemalan culture through traditions, marimba music, folk groups, crafts, and Guatemalan gastronomy. Admission is free, with food and drink for purchase. More info here.
Roll @ Santa Monica -> A new pop-up skating park “rolls” into Santa Monica for the summer and through October 14. Catch themed skate nights every 2nd Wednesday of the month, plus there are group skating lessons offered every Saturday and Sunday morning for both adults and children. Open daily starting at noon. Regular admission is $15 (plus fees), which also include skate rental. More info here.
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Gardena Jazz Festival -> This Sunday the Gardena Jazz Festival is back at Rowley Memorial Park for its 21st installment. Expect a packed lineup of musical entertainment that includes performances from Mindi Abair, Take 6, Maysa, and the Inner-City Youth of Los Angeles Jazz Ensemble. Runs 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. GA tickets are $32.75 including fees. More info here.
Shakespeare in the Park – FA > 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 show starts at 7 p.m. but you’ll want to come at 6 p.m. to enjoy the immersive prologue. More info here.
Dining & Drinking
(picks by Christina Champlin)
Black Restaurant Week Is Back -> The 7th annual Black Restaurant Week kicks off this Friday, August 23, running through Sunday, September 1. This national event celebrates Black-owned businesses and showcases the rich flavors of African, African American, and Caribbean cuisines. In Los Angeles, participating spots include World Wide Tacos, Harriet’s Cheesecakes, Fixins Soul Kitchen, Sky’s Gourmet Tacos, Dulan’s Soul Food, Axiom Kitchen, and more.
Smorgasburg’s BBQ All Stars -> This Sunday, Smorgasburg’s BBQ All Stars event is bringing back some heavy hitters to fire up the grill. Expect a mouthwatering lineup, including Oakland’s Matt Horn, the soul-style BBQ from Watts’ Locol, and BBQ Brawl finalists Smoke Queen from Orange County and Zef BBQ from Simi Valley. Regular vendors are also participating with some fun promos including Battambong BBQ giving away a Tomahawk steak every single hour, Evil Cooks offering a suckling pig special, Dumpling Dream collaborating with Moonbridge Donuts from Long Beach for something special and more. As always, entry to Smorgasburg is free, so come hungry and ready for some serious barbecue action. More info here.
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