Posted by Every week in Los Angeles there are tons of great things to do (even before the weekend gets started) that we think you ought to have on your radar. With that in mind, we put together a list every Monday through Friday morning to keep you in the know about what’s happening in the city you love (or maybe just like).
This week, from Monday, October 15 to Friday, October 19, features Spa Week, the Art of Tech, films under the stars at The Getty, Front Porch Cinema, Long Beach Zombie Fest, and MUCH more.
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Remember you can always go to our L.A. events calendar page to get an updated rundown of what’s happening around the city.
Hope you find the rundown useful and, as always, enjoy your week!
Keep in mind that while we retain complete editorial control of our content, for some of the ticketing options provided we utilize affiliate links and receive a commission if you purchase through our links.
Monday October 15th, 2018
1. On the third Monday of each month Alcove hosts a free movie screening under the stars with themed food and drinks. This week it’s SCREAM. No reservations are needed but guests are encouraged to arrive early. FREE
2. Los Angeles’ favorite pampering bi-annual event, Spa Week, is back, with some of the best relaxation and self-care deals to be found from top spas for just $50.
3. Pumpkin Nights at Fairplex feature over 3,000 carved pumpkins across eight pumpkin-themed lands accompanied with special pumpkin fire and magic shows, carvings, and plenty more. Happening October 12 through November 4.
4. Head to Frogtown’s artist-run space Tin Flats every Monday and Tuesday now until Nov. 27 for a free drive-in movie screening curated with some very special programming. Presented by The French Los Angeles Exchange, this project presents films, performances and exhibitions from artists in the program, as well as a film that echoes their own work. FREE
5. Head to the Golden Road Brewery this Monday for Trivia Night presented by Geeks Who Drink.
6. L.A.’s pop-up museum catalogue is growing larger this fall with The Pizza Experience – a multi-sensory pizza themed walkthrough. Explore giant installations, an oversized cheese pool, a pizza hall of fame, pizza theme-flavored snacks throughout, actual pizza slices and more. The Pizza Experience runs through January 29. Check for discounted tickets before making your purchase. DISCOUNTED (via Goldstar)
7. Rooftop Cinema Club returns to the rooftops of LEVEL in DTLA and NeueHouse in Hollywood with multiple screenings this week that include Lock, Stock, And Two Smoking Barrel, Crazy Stupid Love, Jurassic Park and more.
8. There’s a Great Pumpkin Hunt happening at the South Coast Botanic Garden daily featuring an imaginative scavenger hunt, light hiking, a pumpkin shop and access to the gorgeous 87-acre grounds. Great for families. Halloween costumes are welcome. DISCOUNTED (via Goldstar)
9. Bring a little meditation to your Monday at the Eastside/Hollywood Forever Cemetery Sitting Group
10. Take a break from your dietary restrictions at Cheat Day Land, Los Angeles’ newest pop-up museum celebrating the snacks and treats that we dream of during our workouts. Featured installations and experiences ranging from a donut gym with pastry dumbbells to a life-size cereal bowl, an art gallery, and much more. Cheat Day Land is here for an entire month, from October 1-31. Check for discounted tickets before making your purchase. DISCOUNTED (via Goldstar)
11. E.P. & L.P. in West Hollywood continues their stylish cinema series Melrose Rooftop Theatre with a screenings of Scary Movie and The Blair Witch Project this week.
Tuesday October 16th, 2018
12. Step into the future at The Rose Room, during The Art of Tech an artistic gathering of VR experiences, live music, projection mapping, immersive art, and much more. To top it off, tacos and cocktails by The Venice Ale House will be available to enjoy during a quick break from the fun.
13. Stop by the Alexandria Hotel in DTLA and walk into The Wolves, Los Angeles’ most interesting cocktail bar to date. The ever-changing menu has a whole host of ingredients made in-house including bitters and vermouths.
14. Dance Films On The Lawn curated by L.A. Dance Shorts Film Fest will take place at the California Heritage Museum this Tuesday. FREE
15. Do yoga in a truly unique space this Tuesday when the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach host a morning yoga session in front of their three-story tall Honda Blue Cavern Habitat.
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16. Contemporary designer and typographer Jessica Hische has a new children’s book, ‘Tomorrow I’ll Be Brave.’ She’ll stop by The Last Bookstore for a talk an to sign copies of her book.
Wednesday October 17th, 2018
17. Critically acclaimed, avant-garde haunt Creep returns with ‘Awake.’ The walkthrough thrusts participants through a 75-minute series of horrific situations in a shockingly cinematic fashion. As a result, you are placed face-to-face with your worst fears, presenting an incredibly unique and intimate horror experience. Happening at ROW DTLA on select Wednesdays through Sundays.
18. Griffith Observatory offers a Sunset Walk & Talk one evening a month led by a Park Ranger and museum guide. FREE
19. Visit the Annenberg Space for Photography as it welcomes its newest exhibit The National Geographic Photo Ark, a multi-year project led by Joel Sartore to photograph every living species throughout the world’s zoos and wildlife sanctuaries. The exhibit opens on October 13 and continues through January 13. Hours for the space are Wednesday and Friday through Sunday. FREE
20. Nights of the Jack is a half mile trail filled with thousands of hand-carved and illuminated Jack O’Lanterns. Family friendly and located in Calabasas, the experience is filled with pumpkins carved into notable animated characters, movie stars, sports heroes, and many more. Happening Wednesday through Sunday.
21. The Super Serious Show is a comedy event produced by CleftClips featuring both established and up-and-coming talent performing an array of stand-up, sketch and musical comedy. Happening at The Virgil.
22. DTLA Film Fest (Oct. 17-21) happening at Regal L.A. LIVE and various other venues near by will screen 31 feature films, 77 short films, TV pilots and webseries episodes. This year will also mark the launch of Immersive, the festival’s first VR-AR series.
23. Every Wednesday The Continental Club in DTLA features live jazz hosted by Matthew Yeakley plus complimentary mini cupcakes from Big Man Bakes. No cover!
24. The Garvey Ranch Observatory will host an evening of astronomy with members of the Los Angeles Astronomical Society. Guest will have a chance to go into the dome to view the stars, enjoy a star party on the lawn, and learn how to build their own telescope. The observatory is open to the public on Wednesday nights only. FREE
25. It’s trivia night at Grand Central Market this Wednesday on the Broadway side of the food hall.
Thursday October 18th, 2018
26. Enjoy a film screening under the stars at The Getty’s famous courtyard. Put on in part by Studio 54, the event will screen Eyes of Laura Mars as well as a few other experimental and fashion-centric shorts. FREE
27. Celebrate the best of modern design, furnishings and more at the WestEdge Design Fair (October 18-21) with over 200 exhibitors, classes, demonstrations and much more.
28. Front Porch Cinema (October 18-21) offers four straight days of classic films screened at the Santa Monica Pier, with access to all the fun amenities and attractions the pier has to offer including rides, games, food and more. FREE
29. Face your fears during Universal Studios Hollywood Horror Nights happening Thursday through Saturdays till November 3. This year, the Stranger Things maze is the main attraction. You’ll also get to experience bone chilling attractions by American Horror Story, The Shining, Halloween, Krampus, Ash vs. The Evil Dead and Walking Dead. Check for discounted tickets on select days. DISCOUNTED (via Goldstar)
30. Every first and third Thursday of the month Brennan’s in Marina Del Rey hosts their famous turtle races. Since 1974, this tradition brings these little speedsters out of their sanctuary (located in the bar) for an exciting game that support charities. Race starts at 9 p.m.
31. Unbound Productions’ site-specific Wicked Lit returns to the Mountain View Mausoleum, offering the perfect setting for all new tales of horror. This year, guests will enjoy two theatrical adaptations: Charles Dickens’ The Chimes: A Goblin Story, and Ernest Rhys’ Teig O’Kane and the Corpse. Guests will walk through the mausoleum as they follow both chilling tales. Happening Thursday through Sunday.
32. Dry River Brewing will host a talk on the dark history of women, witches and beer. Actual witches will be in attendance for tarot card readings, limpias, healing crystals and some homemade good for sale. Dry River will also release bottles of Aurantia, a dry hopped golden sour cuvee starting at 5 p.m.
33. The Queen Mary’s Dark Harbor will transform into a seaport of the damned for the Halloween season with terrifying mazes and monsters at every turn. Happening Thursdays and through Sundays through Nov. 2. Check for discounted tickets before making your purchase. DISCOUNTED (via Goldstar)
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34. Alpine Village Oktoberfest celebrates 50 years! The fun kicks off this Friday with traditional Bavarian fun like Oom Pah Pah party bands, German fare, and delicious cold German beers. Oktoberfest runs Fridays and Saturdays September 7 through October 27.
35. The Haunted Hayride returns September 29-October 31 at The Old Zoo in Griffith Park featuring four different Scare Zones, including trick or treating in a blood-curdling neighborhood and riding on the Scary-Go-Round and taking a ride on the main attraction the Haunted Hayride. Check for discounted tickets on select days. DISCOUNTED (via Goldstar)
36. Knott’s Scary Farm is back with their signature haunted attractions, mazes and thousands of monsters ready to scare the living day light out of you and your crew. Happening Thursdays through Sundays. Check for discounted tickets before making your purchase. DISCOUNTED (via Goldstar)
37. Free museum days: Pasadena Museum of California Art (from 5 to 8 p.m.), Japanese American National Museum (from 5 to 8 p.m.), MOCA Grand & MOCA Geffen (from 5 to 8 p.m.), Skirball Cultural Center (noon to 5 p.m.), Long Beach Museum of Art (3 to 8 p.m.)and USC Pacific Asian Museum (5 to 8 p.m.)
Friday October 19th, 2018
38. Notorious RBG: The Life and Times of Ruth Bader Ginsburg opens at The Skirball Cultural Canter this Friday. From October 19, 2018 to March 10, 2019 guests are invited to explore the life and career of Ruth Bader Ginsburg through a collection of contemporary art, archives, interactives, archival photographs and more. Each gallery section will allude to a song by the Notorious B.I.G. as the name of the exhibit suggests, and will playfully bring out the similarities between the two.
39. One of the biggest electronic acts in the world, The Crystal Method is set to play under LA’s oldest bridge this Friday! Presented by KCRW, the night will also include curated food vendors, a craft bar, performance poetry and opening act LondonBridge!
40. The Triforium is a huge public art piece with colorful glass panels located in Fletcher-Bowron Square. It was meant to perform light and music shows but due to a plethora of issues, it was never executed, and it has stood silent for decades, that is until now. Experience The Triforium restored and modernized to react to real time live performances! Happening Oct 19, 26 and November 2 artist like Reggie Watts, the LA Opera, Taikoprojects and more will all perform. FREE
41. Long Beach Zombie Fest returns Oct. 19 – 21 and invites guests to dress as corpses and shuffle down Rainbow Lagoon Park in a massive crowd of fellow undead. The festival also includes an assortment of activities like an interactive maze, a scavenger hunt, a Michael Jackson Thriller dance workshop, costume contest, art installations, music, a Little Shop of Horrors marketplace and more.
42. Head down to OC Fair & Event Center from Oct. 19-21 for to experience Japan right here in California! Now in it’s 9th year, OC Japan Fair will include a wide variety of Japanese food, art, pop culture, music and much more throughout its 3-day run.
43. Zombie Joe’s Underground Theatre in North Hollywood presents their annual Halloween iteration of Urban Death. Guests will wind through a short maze before entering a darkened theater where series of disturbing vignettes will be presented one after another. Happening Friday and Saturday. Check for discounted tickets on select days. DISCOUNTED (via Goldstar)
44. Americana and Blues fans rejoice can head over to The Theatre at Ace Hotel this Friday for “Across the Great Divide” a benefit concert featuring John Prine, Lee Ann Womack, Bob Weir, Lucinda Williams, Larkin Poe and more.
45. The Fairplex transform into a German playground for Oktoberfest on October 19-20. Expect Bavarian music, chicken dancing, bratwurst and pretzels while knocking back some authentic German beers. DISCOUNTED (via Goldstar)
46. Haunted Little Tokyo is presenting a series of Japanese horror films from some of the best horror visionaries this month. The series continues with a screening of Mary and the Witch’s Flower (Hiromasa Yonebayashi) at Japanese Village Plaza.
47. The Groundlings’ Halloween Show returns with plenty of blood, gore, creepy clowns, severed body parts and most importantly laughter. DISCOUNTED (via Goldstar)
48. Drive to the Peterson Automobile museum and head straight to parking level P3 for a special 25th anniversary screening of Jurassic Park.
49. HorrorWorld is a collection of three separate haunts in one location presented by horror FX company Bone Yard Effects. Mazes include Into the Black, The Psycho Sanitarium, and The Fleshyard.
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50. Two Bit Circus a new “Micro Amusement Park,” inside a 50,000-square-foot warehouse in the Arts District hosts a wide range of gaming activities including VR experiences, classic arcade games, and Story Rooms.
51. Los Angeles County Museum of Art hosts free jazz performances on Fridays through November. Concerts take place at the main entrance. FREE
52. The 19th Annual Reign of Terror is one of the largest haunted houses in Southern California, containing a total of eight unique themes spread among 105 separate rooms in over 23,000 square foot space.
53. Get spooked during Paramount Pictures After Dark Tour: Tales From The Other Side where you’ll hear scandals of yesteryear and the lost souls who haunt the studio lot by moonlight. The tour starts at dusk with champagne as you head into the studio lot where you’ll weave in and out of sound stages and the darkest corners of the infamous backlot. You’ll end the night next door at Hollywood Forever Cemetery. Happening Fridays and Saturdays. DISCOUNTED (via Goldstar)
54. Six Flags Magic Mountain in Valencia has transformed into Fright Fest, offering six mazes, multiple scare zones, and the chance to ride some of your favorite coasters—including Twisted Colossus and Full Throttle—in the dark. Happening Friday through Sunday.
Food Pick for the Week
https://www.instagram.com/p/BoMxo-nHYmd/?taken-by=acehotel
This week’s pick by Christina Champlin, Co-Founder of We Like L.A.
Matty Matheson, chef and host of Viceland’s It’s Supper Time, is stopping by Ace Hotel Downtown Los Angeles for a two night collaboration with Michelin-starred Chef Michael Cimarusti to celebrate his debut cookbook, Matty Matheson: A Cookbook. Guests will get a chance to meet Matheson and indulge in two awesome culinary themed nights. On October 17, Upstairs at the Ace will host a kick off night ($55) with a cocktail hour and oyster bar featuring East and West Coast Oysters, Middle Neck Clams, Fried Clam Rolls, Shrimp Tacos, Japanese Sweet Potato Tacos and Pickled Chanterelle Tacos with Kasundi crema. Starting at 7 p.m. the event opens to the public with a la carte ordering available. Guests who purchase an $8 food ticket can choose from three oysters, two tacos or a clam roll. On Thursday, October 18, Matheson and Cimarusti will host The Greatest Lobster Supper at Best Girl. The prix fixe menu ($65) will include Seafood Chowder, Lobster with boiled potatoes and corn, and warm Apple Pie with Cheddar Cheese. Reservations are required and can be made by calling 213-235-9660.
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