27 Things to Do in L.A. This Week [12-28-2020 to 1-1-2020]

We used to tell you about all the things you could go out and do in Los Angeles on a daily, weekly, and monthly basis. Then, the coronavirus changed life for all of us, in a thousand small and massive ways. Until the pandemic is behind us, we’ll post events that adhere to Public Health’s current protocols—including plenty of at-home and online events—every Monday and Friday morning. We hope they keep you busy, make you laugh, teach you something, or help you feel less alone.

This week, we’ve got NYE streams and takeout specials, public art, free food and self-care kits, and more. Have something you want to submit for next week? Hit us up: [email protected].

Out-of-the-House Events

Local health-minded snack company That’s it will sponsor a food distribution with the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank on Dec. 30 from 9 a.m. to noon at Athens Park (12603 South Broadway, Los Angeles, CA 90061). They’ll distribute 50-80-pound food kits that include protein, fresh produce, shelf-stable items, and a selection of That’s it’s all-natural, plant-based super snacks.

Glendale Arts invites the public to add their wishes for 2021 to the Alex Theatre Wishing Wall, a new installation on the historic Alex Theatre’s gates in downtown Glendale. The project is inspired by Yoko Ono’s Wishing Tree project and encourages participants to share their hopes for the future. You can grab a wish tag in-person or submit your wish online, where staff will write and hang it for you. The Wishing Wall will be on view at the theater through Jan. 8 before moving around Glendale for the next year. 

Grand Park’s new public art installation, “Ground Our Present, Dot Our Future,” is available to enjoy now through Jan. 25. It consists of 74 quotes, crowdsourced from Angelenos over the past year, that line park walkways. The artwork “reinvents the current floor distancing decal culture by putting the emphasis back on how Angelenos can be socially connected—by gaining knowledge and understanding about the diverse experiences in Los Angeles County from the perspectives of those who live them.” It’s free to enjoy any time. Just take a walk in the park.

Pickup & Delivery

Big Bar in Los Feliz brings its signature around the world-themed New Year’s Eve party to your home this year with four destination cocktails in one kit. Bid farewell to 2020 as you sip on drinks inspired by Kyoto, Paris, Oaxaca, and Louisville. Packages are $50 and come with NYE hats and noisemakers. Order by phone (323) 644-0100, online, or through Toast.

Vita Coco is partnering with Postmates to bring free limited-edition hangover recovery kits right to your doorstep on National Hangover Day, otherwise known as Jan. 1. The kit includes a breakfast sandwich, Vita Coco coconut water, socks, ear plugs, Banila skincare, one free month of Obé Fitness, and more. Order for contact-free delivery through the Postmates app starting at 11 a.m. on Jan. 1, while supplies last. Choose the Vita Coco National Hangover Day Recovery Kit when ordering.

Bardonna in Santa Monica is offering handcrafted chocolate bombs ($8 or 2 for $15). Each globe is filled with hot cocoa and marshmallows. You drop them into a cup of hot milk and watch them explode into a delectable mug of hot chocolate, perfect for chilly nights at home.

Roguelike Tavern in Burbank hasn’t been able to actually open, given the pandemic. However, they are currently soft-open for takeout food, cocktails, beer, wine, and spirits. Starting Dec. 29, they’re offering a puzzle box experience that comes with two meals, a flight of quality spirits, and a mystery for you to solve. Order online here.

Chef Jordan Kahn’s New Year’s Eve menu at Vespertine in Culver City will be an expanded version of the popular Alinea tribute menu. For $250 a person, the menu includes a half bottle of Krug Grande Cuvée, king crab, caviar, and more. Available for pickup on Dec. 31 and Jan. 1. Order on Tock.

Rossoblu’s New Year’s Eve dinner includes antipasti, two pastas, braised veal cheek, and dessert for $198 (serves two), plus an optional happy hour over Zooom from 6-7 p.m. with cocktail demos, a wine talk, and giveaways. Wine add-ons available. Order on Tock.

Baltaire in Brentwood is offering a carryout NYE dinner package that serves four. The package includes a four-course prix fixe menu with beef cheek bourguignon as the main, a bottle of bubbly, and party favors for $375.

At-Home & Online Events

Pacific Park on the Santa Monica Pier has a New Year’s Eve livestream to help you count down from home. From11 p.m. on Dec. 31, the Pacific Wheel will feature a colorful light spectacle culminating in an animated 60-second countdown and banners that say “Happy New Year” in 16 languages. Watch it here. 

On Friday, Jan. 1 at 7 p.m., Fire Emoji is a comedy & strip variety show featuring comics Alison Stevenson, Dewayne Perkins, Ashley Ray, Dana Donnelly, Emily Whittemore, Anya Volz, and Becca O’Neal, plus dancers Onyx Black, Cera Byer, Penelope, Syn, Naomi, and Amaya J. Tickets are $10 with RSVP and will benefit the Black SW Relief Fund.

A Curated Situation’s Dark Corners: Hotel NYE is an interactive Zoom party. Use the livestream’s many breakout rooms to discover DJs and performances before counting down to a brand new year. The event begins at 8 p.m. Tickets are free, though a suggested donation of $10 is encouraged. 

Cameron Esposito’s  online event “New Year’s Steve” includes comedy sets, special guests, a ball drop, and more. The show begins at 6 p.m. and is tailored to those who don’t like to stay up late. It’s free with RSVP and donations will benefit L.A. venue Dynasty Typewriter and the show’s performers. 

Alamo Drafthouse and Legion M present “2020 Uncaged,” a New Year’s party on Gather. With Gather, you create an 8-bit avatar that you can use to navigate the digital space. At 2020 Uncaged, different rooms offer attractions including DJs, magicians, poets, comedy, karaoke, tarot readings, art shows, photo booths, games, and more. The event is on Dec. 31 from 6 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. Tickets start at $25.

Grand Park’s “NYELA” is online this year, featuring appearances from Steve Aoki, Bia, Andrekza, and more. Watch on Fuse, YouTube, or The Music Center Offstage on Dec. 31 from 11 p.m. to 2 a.m.

On Dec. 31 at 8 p.m., Snoop Dog hosts a New Year’s special with music, performances, and special guests. Appearances include DJ Cassidy and DJ Battlecat, sword swallower Andrew Stanton, Bert Kreischer, Rosario Dawson, Jennifer Nettles, and Cody Rhodes. Free with RSVP.

Los Angeles Women’s Theatre Festival presents a virtual holiday celebration on Dec. 30 at 6 p.m. The show features musical performances from Freda Payne, DeBorah Sharpe-Taylor, and Kamakshi Hart; a sing-along; a New Year’s toast, and a raffle for prizes. The event is free, but a donation of $5 is encouraged. Register online.

Tycho kicks off 2021 with Sunrise Solo Ascent, a solo performance on Jan. 1 at 7 a.m. from the wooded hills of Northern California. The stream will be available to rewatch for 48 hours following the initial broadcast.

Let chef Kuniko Yagi of Pikunico teach you how to bring a Japanese twist to a typical meal. The three-episode series is part of the Japanese Food Lab program hosted on the JAPAN HOUSE Los Angeles YouTube Channel.

See “A Time of Questioning,” a group exhibition curated by arts writer Shana Nys Dambrot, online. Artists include Alexa Druyanoff, L. Aviva Diamond, Carl Shubs, Jeannine Chanin Penn, Julie Ascher, Justin Prough, Kevin Mischler, Leslie Barton, Sharon Koppelman, and Snezana Saraswati Petrovic.

Darkfield Radio is an immersive audio journey performed live. With headphones on, the sound is unbelievably real. “Eternal,” for example, is a chilling horror tale that sounds like something sinister is crawling into bed with you. Check them out here.

Take a pre-recorded Architectural Legacy Tour from Pasadena Heritage. Each tour offers a peek at architectural gems including craftsman bungalows, The Freeman House, and buildings along South Grand Avenue. Tickets start at $15 for non-members. Available now through Jan. 3.

Name a baby condor! The L.A. Zoo’s condor conservation program recently hatched a baby chick currently known as LA127. The Zoo is currently accepting donations for the California Condor Recovery Program (CCRP) through Jan. 7. Any amount will grant you to the opportunity to cast a vote for one of four names. Appear on the Zoo’s website starting at donations of $5, with other benefits at higher levels.

Rogue Artists Ensemble‘s “Storage Run” is an immersive holiday show where you can choose what happens. Part One kicks off on Dec. 18 at 7 p.m., while Part Two and Three post on Dec. 25 and Jan. 1, respectively. All three parts will remain online through Jan. 31. Synopsis: “With just a few weeks remaining until the holidays, Mike becomes trapped and alone in a tangled web of Rogue storage — or so it seems. Boot up and plug into a story of computer age connection and holiday whimsy, and help Mike on a quest to send a message to the world. Will you help? Y/N? Your choices build a singular and unlikely friendship and unlock a “holiday-tastic” adventure, all from the safety of your computer.” Tickets are pay-what-you-can with a suggested price of $20.

From Zombie Joe’s Underground Theater comes a spooky 22-minute personal visit from The Ghost of Jacob Marley, the first of many spirits Scrooge sees in A Christmas Carol. Zombie Joe himself will play Jacob Marley as he Zooms you to make sure your change your ways or whatever it is Marley is up to these days. From Dec. 16-30, you can book your personal ghost consultation for $25 at ZOMBIEJOES.COM.  

The 53rd Annual Holiday Look-In Home Tour presented by the Women’s Committee of the Pasadena Symphony is online this year. The tour “showcases the architecture and gardens of four magnificent Pasadena homes decorated for the holidays in festive floral regalia.” The event is narrated by Pasadena Symphony music director, David Lockington with music from the Pasadena Symphony Youth Orchestras. Available Dec. 5-31. Free with registration here, though donations to the Pasadena Symphony Youth Orchestras and the Pasadena Symphony will be graciously accepted.