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As we breeze our way into fall, let’s consider the word “collaboration.” Right now, Los Angeles is in the midst of one of the largest artistic collaborations ever conceived (see next section on PST ART). But collaboration isn’t just about working together, it’s fundamentally an act of creation.
Our mission when we curate these lists is to facilitate your collaboration with L.A., and in so doing, to help you create a new experience of the city. How do we facilitate? By pointing you to a freight car full of free things to do, which also just happen to let you take advantage of Metro’s bus and rail system.
In the space below we’ve ticked off close to 100 ideas for your consideration, ranging from jazz concerts and art walks to political conversations, poetry readings, comics festivals, creative workshops, and yoga classes.
There’s a lot to cover, but that’s point. The beauty of Los Angeles is that it truly does have something for everyone. So let’s see if we can find you a collaboration that makes sense for you.
M = Metro Accessible
PST ART: Art & Science Collide
Formerly known as Pacific Standard Time, the PST ART initiative spear headed by The Getty has brought together over 70 SoCal institutions (plus a slew of participating art galleries) comprised of works by hundreds of artists, all built around the theme of “Art & Science Collide.” That central juxtaposition encompasses an entire universe of topics and intersections, ranging from climate and the environment to local ecologies, indigenous knowledge, the future, and the cosmos. Simply put, it’s A LOT, and it’s all unfolding over the coming weeks at iconic locales including LACMA, The Academy Museum, The Hammer, The Getty Center, Pacific Design Center, MOCA, and more.
Plus, in addition to the exhibition content, PST ART programming features dozens of special activations, ranging from large scale festivals to micro sized classes and tours. Some are ticketed, some are free and open to the public. Frankly, there is too much to adequately cover in this humble guide. Instead, we urge you to head over the PST ART events calendar to get a larger view of what’s on tap.
That said, below are just a few specific FREE activations we think you might like (all very much Metro-accessible).
September 21 – M Luckman Fine Arts Complex at Cal State LA hosts an opening reception for Sinks: Places We Call Home, which is presented as part of the PST ART: Art & Science Collide initiative. Go Metro: Take Line 76 to Valley / Block.
October 3 M – The USC Fisher Museum hosts science-fiction authors Ryka Aoki, Micaiah Johnson, and Brent Lambert for an evening of readings and a conversations revolving around the science fiction and its intersection with queer narratives, presented in conjunction with the museum’s PST-related exhibition, Sexual Science and the Imagi-Nation. Go Metro: Take the E Line to Expo Park / USC station.
October 5 M – Clockshop hosts an opening celebration for artist Rosten Woo’s binaural audio tour What Water Wants. Go Metro: Take Line 182/603 to Fletcher / Ripple.
October 13 M – Meztli Projects comes to LA Plaza’s PST Community Art Hub to lead a free garden class a on the topics of food sovereignty and delicious eats offered by the ecology of Los Angeles. Go Metro: Take the A, B or D Lines to Union Station.
October 13-20 M – In conjunction with their exhibition Breath(e): Toward Climate and Social Justice, The Hammer is hosting a “Bee Week” offering special bee talks, honey tastings, and a screening of the award-winning documentary Microcosmos. Go Metro: Take Line 20/720 Along Wilshire Blvd.
October 20 M – 18th Street Arts Center hosts an all-ages event to celebrate the exhibition An Earth Twin at the Digital Dawn: Tom Van Sant’s GeoSphere Project. Go Metro: Take the E Line to 17th St / SMC Station.
November 9-11 M – La Brea Tar Pits hosts the PST ART: Art x Science Family Festival, which will offer three days of family-focused and kid-friendly art and educational experiences (more details still to come). Go Metro: Take Line 20/720 Along Wilshire Blvd.
And with that, let’s get you into our usual “cheatsheet” of music, arts, and culture events 😉
Music & Concerts
September 20 M – KCRW Summer Nights on The Lawn at Century Park features a jazz concert plus a set by KCRW DJ LeRoy Downs. Go Metro: Take Line 4/28 to Santa Monica / Ave Of The Stars.
September 20 M – Jazz at LACMA presents a concert with the Los Angeles Jazz Treasure Award—Dr. Bobby Rodriguez. Go Metro: Take Line 20/720 along Wilshire Blvd.
September 21: M The San Pedro Festival of the Arts pops up at Peck Park for an afternoon of performances from over a dozen local dance companies. Go Metro: Take Line 205 to Western Ave / Crestwood St.
September 21 M – KCRW Summer Nights on The Lawn at Century Park features Grammy-winner LATROIT performing House Classics live with DC6 Singers Collective, Eastern Tribe Melodies from South Africa, & Special Guests. Go Metro: Take Line 4/28 to Santa Monica / Ave Of The Stars.
September 21 – The Westchester Arts & Music Block Party returns for a free day-long community event featuring live music and dance, art, vendors & community booths, kids activities, garden tours, and food trucks.
September 22 M – Americana in the Park at Gandara Park presents The Azar Lawrence Experience. Go Metro: Take the E Line to 26th St / Bergamot Station.
September 27 M – Jazz at LACMA presents a concert with Ryan Porter. Go Metro: Take Line 20/720 along Wilshire Blvd.
September 28 M – Metro Arts Presents: Salsa Night offers a performance by Gabrielito y La Verdad, led by Grammy-winning singer-songwriter Gabriel Gonzalez. Go Metro: Take the A, B or D Lines to Union Station.
September 28 M – The Watts Towers 42nd annual Day of the Drum Festival returns for an afternoon of rhythm of culture adjacent to one of L.A.’s most famous public artworks. Go Metro: Take the A Line to 103rd St / Watts Towers station.
September 29 M – Simon Rodia Watts Towers 47th annual Jazz Festival brings 8 hours of live music to the Watts Towers Arts Center. Go Metro: Take the A Line to 103rd St / Watts Towers station.
September 29 M – Americana in the Park at Gandara Park presents Airfoil. Go Metro: Take the E Line to 26th St / Bergamot Station.
October 4 M – Jazz at LACMA presents a concert with Sarah McKenzie. Go Metro: Take Line 20/720 along Wilshire Blvd.
October 5 M – Jazz Night at USC Carson Center features a performance by artist-in-residence Gerald Clayton. Go Metro: Take the E Line to Expo Park / USC station.
October 11 M – Jazz at LACMA presents a concert by the Angel City Jazz Festival with Otmaro Ruiz. Go Metro: Take Line 20/720 along Wilshire Blvd.
October 18 M – Jazz at LACMA presents a concert by Yuko Mabuchi. Go Metro: Take Line 20/720 along Wilshire Blvd.
October 25 M – Jazz at LACMA presents a concert with Rose Collela. Go Metro: Take Line 20/720 along Wilshire Blvd.
Arts & Culture
September 19 M – Every third Thursday from September to May, Locals Night brings at the Santa Monica Pier offers a free evening of youth activities, a car show, local DJs and live music from local bands, and art exhibits. Go Metro: Take the E Line to Downtown Santa Monica station.
September 21 – The Frogtown Art Walk returns for fall romp of art and activations along the L.A. River Path.
September 26-29 M – The Los Angeles Korean Festival is back at Seoul International Park, promising four exciting days of festivities. Go Metro: Take Line 206 to Irolo / San Marino.
September 28 M – Los Angeles Libros Festival brings a family-friendly, bilingual book festival to Central Library. Go Metro: Take the A, B, D, or E Line to 7th Street / Metro Center Station.
September 28 M – Vincent Price Art Museum hosts an opening reception for We Place Life at the Center / Situamos la vida en el centro. Go Metro: Take Line 106/260 to Atlantic Blvd/Avenida Cesar Chavez OR take Line 70 to Atlantic / Riggin.
October 5-6 M – The bi-annual Brewery Artwalk is back with a free two-day showcase of over 100 participating resident artists. Go Metro: Take Line 76 along N. Main St.
October 6 M – Fall Fest at One Colorado features an afternoon of live music, fall treats, games, beer garden and more. Go Metro: Take the A Line to Memorial Park station.
October 11 M – The fall edition of Pasadena’s biannual ArtNight includes free activations at myriad partner locations, including the Gamble House, Armory Center for the Arts, and the USC Pacific Asia Museum. Go Metro: Take the A Line to Memorial Park station.
October 12 M – The Getty celebrates Indigenous Peoples’ Day with a special activations, hands-on workshops, and musical performances. Go Metro: Take Line 761 to Getty Center Dr / Sepulveda Blvd.
October 13 M – Check out a Funk & Fall Festival at Van Nuys / Sherman Oaks Rec Center. Go Metro: Take Line 761 to Van Nuys / Huston OR take Line 155 to Riverside / Hazeltine.
October 13 M – CicLAvia – Heart of LA the city’s biggest open streets event to Downtown Los Angeles for a route that connects Boyle Heights, Chinatown, Downtown, Echo Park, and Little Tokyo. You’ll be able to access the event via multiple Metro stations, including the A Line to Chinatown Station, the E to Mariachi Plaza, the A or E to Historic Broadway Station, or the A, B or D to Union Station. And yes, you can bring your bike on the Metro!
October 17 M – Every third Thursday from September to May, Locals Night brings at the Santa Monica Pier offers a free evening of youth activities, a car show, local DJs and live music from local bands, and art exhibits. Go Metro: Take the E Line to Downtown Santa Monica station.
October 19 M – Latino Poetry: Places We Call Home brings a day of poetry performance to Gloria Molina Grand Park to kick GP’s Día de los Muertos programming. Go Metro: Take the B or D Lines to Grand Park / Civic Center station.
October 19 M – Grand Ave Arts: All-Access bands together over 10 arts and culture institutions along Grand Avenue for a day of art, activations, and family fun. Go Metro: Take the A or E Lines to Grand Ave Arts / Bunker Hill Station.
October 19 M – The 19th Annual Los Angeles Archives Bazaar returns to the campus of USC. Go Metro: Take the E Line to Expo Park / USC station.
October 19: M – The P-22 Day Festival honors L.A.’s most famous big cat (may he rest in peace!) with a one day, family-friendly celebration in Griffith Park. Go Metro: Take Line 96 along Crystal Springs Dr.
October 19-20 M – Fall Festival at the Original Farmers Market offers two days of a petting zoo, pumpkin patch, fall-themed games, live music, kids crafts, and photo opps. Go Metro: Take Line 16 along W. 3rd St OR Take Line 217 or 218 along Fairfax Ave.
October 19-20 M – The fall edition of the bi-annual Beverly Hills Art Show comes to Beverly Gardens Park with over 200 artists expected to participate. Go Metro: Take Line 4 along Santa Monica Blvd.
October 25 – The 7th Annual Redondo Beach Pier Halloween offers a costume contest, DJ, Halloween-themed photos, giveaways, prizes for best costumes and Trick-or-Treating on the Pier and Boardwalk at participating businesses.
October 26 M – One Colorado in Old Pasadena hosts a free one-hour performances of the Bob Baker Marionette Halloween Spooktacular. Go Metro: Take the A Line to Memorial Park station.
October 27 M – The City of Downey hosts a free Día de Los Muertos Art Festival at the Downey Theater. Go Metro: Take Lines 115 or 127 along Firestone Blvd.
October 27 M – California African American Museum hosts a Black Comics Festival featuring a marketplace of Black-owned comic vendors, special panels, and food trucks,. Go Metro: Take the E Line to Expo Park / USC station.
November 2 – The Adaptive Sports Festival returns to Brookside Park in Pasadena.
November 2 M – It’s Alive! A Plant Based Horror Marketplace returns to Common Space Brewery. Go Metro: Take Line 209/210 to Crenshaw / El Segundo
November 9-10 M – The annual Inglewood Open Studios art walk offers a mix of tours and talks at galleries and artists studios in the city of Inglewood. Go Metro: Take the K Line to Downtown Inglewood Station.
November 17 M – To celebrate the addition of The Commons at Natural History Museum Los Angeles, the museum is hosting a massive public block party. Go Metro: Take the E Line to Expo Park / USC station.
November 21 M – Every third Thursday from September to May, Locals Night brings at the Santa Monica Pier offers a free evening of youth activities, a car show, local DJs and live music from local bands, and art exhibits. Go Metro: Take the E Line to Downtown Santa Monica station.
November 23-24 -The Museum of Latina American Art in Long Beach is hosting a Latino Comics Expo over two days in November. Day one (Saturday) is included with museum admission and Sunday is free for all.
November 24 M – The Pasadena Doo Dah Parade returns for its 44th edition, featuring an irreverent and oddball cast of characters marching down Colorado Blvd in Old Pasadena. Go Metro: Take the A Line to Memorial Park station.
Movies & Screenings
September 21 M – LA Opera brings Opera at the Beach to Santa Monica Pier with a free simulcast of Madame Butterfly under the stars. Go Metro: Take the E Line to Downtown Santa Monica Station.
September 21 M – LA Opera brings Opera in the Park to El Cariso Community Regional Park in Sylmar with a free simulcast of Madame Butterfly under the stars. Go Metro: Take Line 234 to Eldridge / Pasha
September 21 M – Marina del Rey Movie Nights at Burton Chace Park screens Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. Go Metro: Take the 108 Line to Mindanao / Lincoln.
September 27 M – Hook screens at Ovation Hollywood’s monthly Friday Movie Nights series. Go Metro: Take the B Line to Hollywood / Highland station.
September 27 M – Movie Night at Ivy Station screens Selena.Go Metro: Take the E Line to Culver City station.
September 28 M – Marina del Rey Movie Nights at Burton Chace Park screens Sixteen Candles. Go Metro: Take the 108 Line to Mindanao / Lincoln.
October 3 M – BLOCtober Movie Nights presents a screening of Scooby Doo at The Bloc in DTLA. Go Metro: Take the A, B, D, or E Line to 7th St / Metro Center.
October 4 M – Splash Pad Cinema Movie Nights at Topanga Village screens Hocus Pocus. Go Metro: Take Line 164 to Victory / Topanga Canyon.
October 5 M – Marina del Rey Movie Nights at Burton Chace Park screens Haunted Mansion (2023). Go Metro: Take the 108 Line to Mindanao / Lincoln.
October 10 M – BLOCtober Movie Nights presents a screening of Hocus Pocus at The Bloc in DTLA. Go Metro: Take the A, B, D, or E Line to 7th St / Metro Center.
October 12 M – Marina del Rey Movie Nights at Burton Chace Park screens Get Out. Go Metro: Take the 108 Line to Mindanao / Lincoln.
October 17 M – BLOCtober Movie Nights presents a screening of Monsters Inc. at The Bloc in DTLA. Go Metro: Take the A, B, D, or E Line to 7th St / Metro Center.
October 19 M – Marina del Rey Movie Nights at Burton Chace Park screens Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire. Go Metro: Take the 108 Line to Mindanao / Lincoln.
October 24 M – BLOCtober Movie Nights presents a screening of The Nightmare Before Christmas at The Go Metro: Take the A, B, D, or E Line to 7th St / Metro Center.
October 25 M – Hotel Transylvania screens at Ovation Hollywood’s monthly Friday Movie Nights series. Go Metro: Take the B Line to Hollywood / Highland station.
October 26 M – Marina del Rey Movie Nights at Burton Chace Park screens Hocus Pocus. Go Metro: Take the 108 Line to Mindanao / Lincoln.
Talks, Workshops, & Classes
September 21 M – The FitspoLA series pops up at The Bloc, offering participants an hour-long session focusing on dynamic movements to increase flexibility, restore balance and strengthen core muscles. Go Metro:: Take the A, B, D, or E Line to 7th St / Metro Center.
September 21 M – Zócalo Public Square presents Are The U.S. and Mexico Becoming One Country? at LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes. Go Metro: Take the A, B or D Lines to Union Station.
September 22 M – 826LA hosts a creative workshop for kids at The Hammer where participants will craft and perform poetry on typewriters in the RENT Poet tradition. Go Metro: Take Line 20/720 along Wilshire Blvd OR take Line 761 to Wilshire / Westwood.
September 29 M – To celebrate Latinx Heritage Month, Chicanx authors Carribean Fragoza, Estella González, and Daniel Olivas come to LA Plaza for a conversation about their latest books which touch on various literary traditions. Go Metro: Take the A, B or D Lines to Union Station.
October 15 M – Self-Care Yoga at California African American Museum offers a sixty-minute flow session led by yoga and meditation teacher Constance Hartwell. Go Metro: Take the E Line to Expo Park / USC station.
October 19 M – The FitspoLA series pops up at The Bloc, offering participants an hour-long session focusing on dynamic movements to increase flexibility, restore balance and strengthen core muscles. Go Metro: Take the A, B, D, or E Line to 7th St / Metro Center.
October 23 M – As part of Cal Tech’s Watson Lecture Series, Bil Clemons, Arthur and Marian Hanisch Memorial Professor of Biochemistry, will share how viruses can help us fight bacterial infections. Go Metro: Go Metro: Take Line 267 to Del Mar Blvd & Wilson Ave.
October 27 M – “Gangsta Gardner” Ron Finley joins conceptual artist and co-curator of Breath(e): Toward Climate and Social Justice Glenn Kaino for a conversation at The Hammer. Go Metro: Take Line 20/720 Along Wilshire Blvd.
November 2 M – Pacoima Beautiful hosts a community conversation on the importance of sustainable gardening followed by cooking demo and tasting, all at PST ART community hub at LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes. Go Metro: Take the A, B or D Lines to Union Station.
November 14 M – ALOUD on Ideas presents Where Does Democracy Go From Here? at The Mark Taper Auditorium at Central Library. Go Metro: Take the A, B, D, or E Line to 7th Street / Metro Center Station.
November 20 M – As part of Cal Tech’s Watson Lecture Series, Katerina Chatziioannou, Assistant Professor of Physics, will discuss the violent collisions of black holes and neutron stars. Go Metro: Take Line 267 to Del Mar Blvd & Wilson Ave. Go Metro: Take the A, B or D Lines to Union Station.
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