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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, August 5 to Friday, August 9, features Subaru Summer Jazz Nights, the Museum of Weed, 20th Anniversary Screening of The Matrix, Summer Nights at the Tar Pits, free movie night on the Battleship IOWA 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 August 5th, 2019
1. Long Beach’s annual city wide Dine LBC restaurant week August 3-11 will take you on a food exploration in numerous Long Beach neighborhoods. Dozens of participating restaurants are offering special lunch and dinner menus at a discounted price for the occasion.
2. Seven Grand in Downtown Los Angeles will host a taste through The Exceptional Whiskey a series of small batch Scotch Whiskies.
3. Calling all Godzilla, King Kong, Mothra and King Ghidorah fans, Scum and Villainy Cantina will host a Kaiju game night packed with themed food and drinks plus giveaways. FREE
4. Start your week with a free Jam Session at the Ford Theatre. This week’s focus: Caribbean Dance. FREE
5. New Beverly Cinema will screen John Waters’ Hairspray in 35mm during their Monday Matinees.
6. Glam dress designer Tadashi Shoji is having a warehouse sample sale August 5-10. Sizes run 00 to 18.
7. There’s a free Mindful Yoga on the Beach series in the South Sand of the Manhattan Beach Pier this Monday at 6:30 p.m. FREE
Tuesday August 6th, 2019
8. The Hammer museums series Celebrating John Singleton (1968–2019) will host a free screening of Boys in the Hood this Tuesday. FREE
9. The Central Courtyard at Hollywood & Highland hosts free concerts every Tuesday in July as part of the 16th annual Subaru Summer Jazz Nights. This week they close out their series with Marquis Hill Blacktet. FREE
10. Union Station partners with the Los Angeles Police Department on National Night Out, an evening of family-focused activities part of a national community-building campaign to promote police community partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie. Activities include Karaoke with a Cop, a kids zone and exploring a selection of equipment including a Mounted Police unit (2 horses), Bomb K9 unit, black and white police cruisers, police and sheriff’s department motorcycles, and a fire engine. FREE
11. Mr. C’s Poolside Cinema is back for the sixth year in a row. From June 11 through August 27 Angelenos can indulge in a luxury outdoor movie experience by the pool with a Cipriani menu, classic movie snacks and Peroni Nastro Azzurro. Mean Girls will be screened this week.
12. Think Tank Gallery is teaming up with Pizzaboyzzz and Future Fantasy Delight to present Nothing Cheezy a pizza-fueled, self-aware, selfie-themed pop-up thats a little bit satire and is intentionally too encompassing to be captured in a picture, thus forcing viewers to live inside the art. This is a ticketed experience that takes guests through the “craziest kitchen you’ve ever seen” and thirteen themed environments plus pizza of course. Open all week long.
13. 260LA will host a triple brand sample sale featuring Joie, Current Elliott and Equipment of women’s ready-to-wear and shoes from August 6-11.
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14. Moonlight Movies on the Beach brings a summer-long series of free outdoor movie screenings on the shores of the LBC to three different locations near Downtown Long Beach and Belmont Shore. The series continues with Spider-Man Into the Spider-Verse at Granada Beach on Tuesday and Incredibles 2 at Nautilus Shell Shoreline Village on Thursday. Screenings happen on select Tuesdays and Thursdays through August 20. FREE
15. Free museum days: Free Family Night at Kidspace Children’s Museum (from 4 to 8 p.m.)
Wednesday August 7th, 2019
16. The first-ever Museum of Weed debuted over the weekend. This 30,000 square foot space of ‘higher learning’ presented by WeedMaps aims to provide insight and history into marijuana through interactive exhibits, Instagram-friendly art installations and a bevy of historical artifacts. The museum is open Wednesday through Sunday. Admission starts at $35.
17. Griffith Observatory offers a Sunset Walk & Talk one evening a month led by a Park Ranger and museum guide. FREE
18. Back for the 16th year in a row, The Independent Shakespeare Co. presents Shakespeare in the Park at the Old Zoo in Griffith Park with free performances of Pericles Wednesday through Saturday and a performance of Twelfth Night on Sunday. FREE
19. A colorful, winding installation called The Second Home Serpentine Pavilion is now open at the La Brea Tar Pits for the summer and its 100% free for the public to roam and explore. The pavilion is open daily and will run through November 24. FREE
20. Shakespeare By The Sea will once again offer a ten-week program of admission-free performances with two featured productions: The Comedy of Errors and Henry V at a variety of venues across Los Angeles on Wednesday through Sunday. FREE
Thursday August 8th, 2019
21. Enjoy a vintage-style summer evening at the drive-in during San Fernando Valley Summer Drive-In Movie Nights at the Lake Balboa Complex. Each evening will offer food trucks, an arcade, live music and more. The series continues with a screening of Born in East L.A. on Thursday, The Goonies on Friday and Grease on Saturday. Check for discounted tickets before making your purchase. DISCOUNTED (via Goldstar)
22. Sizzling Summer Nights at The Autry happens every Thursday evening through August 22. Enjoy live music, dance lessons with an instructor, access to museum galleries, and a separate children’s dance floor, plus tacos, margaritas, and other light refreshments.
23. There’s a LA River Evening Nature Walk hosted by FOLAR this Thursday. The walk is an opportunity to learn and identify the various flora and fauna that can be found in the area. There is a suggested $5 donation but no one will be turned away due to lack of funds.
24. As part of Beverly Hills third annual BOLD Summer the city will host several happenings on a weekly basis every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday throughout the month. This week there will be architectural tours, temporary large art installations and live music. FREE
25. The Wiltern will host the 20th Anniversary Screening of The Matrix and throw a party with video game inspired DJs, themed cocktails and photo opps. Dressing the part is highly encouraged.
26. Lucha VaVOOM Summer Extravaganza is back for another spectacular lucha libre show. Comedians, dancers, aerialists and roller girls also make appearances on this whacky night. Check for discounted tickets before your purchase. DISCOUNTED (via Goldstar)
27. Descanso Gardens hosts Beer Garden Nights welcoming the public into their Courtyard for some brews and some wandering through the gardens during sunset. The series will happen every Thursday through August.
28. Plática: Q Youth Foundation’s Eastside Queer Stories Festival highlights emerging local LGBTQIA+ Latinx writers happening at LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes. FREE
29. Downtown Art Walk brings art enthusiasts and locals together every second Thursday of each month to take part in gallery tours, parties, food trucks, and and more in the heart of the Los Angeles Historic Core.
30. The Office trivia night is happening at Horse Thief BBQ located in Grand Central Market. $5 gets you in and you’ll receive a beer with your admission.
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31. The City of Pasadena hosts Parks After Dark a season of free activities including sports, fitness classes, arts & crafts and much more offered to youth, families and individuals every Thursday through Saturday from July 10 through August 10. FREE
32. The Skirball Cultural Center welcomes it’s twenty-third annual season of Sunset Concerts with Cha Wa on Thursday. FREE
33. Nerd Nite is a monthly event held in 100+ cities across the globe including Busby’s East in Los Angeles! Dubbed as “Discovery Channel with beer” folks will give fun and informative presentations about a variety of topics and the audience drinks along.
34. Celebrate summer as you enjoy the arts during Symphonic Thursdays, a series of free concerts taking place at Marina del Rey’s Burton Chace Park during July and August. The series continues with the Kronos Quartet. . FREE
35. Free museum days: 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 August 9th, 2019
36. Summer Nights at the Tar Pits returns for an evening party featuring DJs, cocktails, museum exploration, discussions and more. FREE
37. Board the famed Battleship IOWA Museum for free outdoor movie screenings on the ship’s fantail under the night sky. The screenings are free and open to all ages. This Friday they will screen A Dog’s Way Home. FREE
38. Head to Dodger Stadium to see the Boys in Blue take on the Arizona D-backs and stay for the Friday Night Fireworks Show. (DISCOUNTED) via Goldstar
39. The Music Center’s Dance DTLA features live music and/or DJs paired with expert dance instructors providing beginner group dance lessons for attendees. Each night has a different dance theme. The series continues with Salsa at The Music Center. Dance DTLA continues on select Fridays through August 30. FREE
40. The 626 Night Market is back at Santa Anita Park August 9-11 featuring endless vendors selling crafts, merchandise, art and a massive selection of food from local restaurants, food trucks and more.
41. Cinema Botanica: Movies in the Garden happening at Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden will feature family friendly movies every Friday in August. Attendees will receive a field guide to plants they can spot in the movies and Garden staff will discuss the plants and landscape during intermission.
42. The Hollywood Bowl Tchaikovsky Spectacular returns for the 50th year of stunning music paired with a barrage of fantastic fireworks at the iconic outdoor amphitheater. The show takes place this Friday and Saturday.
43. The 15th Annual HollyShorts Film Festival will screen over 400 films from 30 different countries during the festival’s 10-day run from August 8-17 at TCL Chinese Theatres in Hollywood.
44. Spend the season sipping wine during sunset hour at Barnsdall Art Park’s Friday Night Wine Party Series. Happening on the lawn of architectural gem the Hollyhock House, the evening features a fine selection of wines curated by Silverlake Wine, a live DJ and tours of the house. The series happens every Friday evening till September 6.
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45. Caltech Astronomy invites the public to sit in on a stargazing and lecture event this Friday at 8 p.m. FREE
46. LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes in Downtown Los Angeles continues their Summer of Salsa concert series this Friday. Dance to the sounds of some of the city’s best salsa and Cuban bands one Friday evening each month through summer. FREE
47. The Groundlings’ latest hilarious main stage show, Groundlings Treasure Hunters runs every Friday and Saturday through September 14.
48. Metro Art Presents “Movements at Union Station,” an evening featuring tropical Afro-Latin tunes by La Junta. The party will take place at the station’s South Patio. Guests can also enjoy visual projections, a photo booth, a silkscreen stencil workshop and food trucks. FREE
49. Stop by The Bazaar By José Andrés at the SLS Beverly Hills for their al fresco bubbles and seafood series Terrace Fridays: Mar x Moet. Recurring every Friday starting at 7:30 p.m. and running through the end of September, the summertime series features iced Moet cocktails as well as gin cocktails, a menu featuring local seafood and signature dishes from Miami’s Bazaar Mar.
50. Summer Friday Night Drive-In at the Roadium returns every Friday evening from June 7 to August 30 to revive your favorite films in a classic 1950’s drive-in setting. The series continues with a screening of Black Panther.
Food Pick for the Week
This week’s pick by Christina Champlin, Co-Founder of We Like L.A.
August 5 is National Oyster Day! Celebrate this shucking occasion at one of many wonderful spot highlighted in our National Oyster Day round up and take advantage of the deals around town happening for one day only.
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