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Storytelling, space talks, public dialogue, new art exhibitions, and a battle of the bands. It’s all on offer as we unfold another week in Los Angeles.
This August 19-23 in L.A., you’ll find Astronomy on Tap in Pasadena, When Does Protest Make a Difference? at, The Natural World of Studio Ghibli at The Ford, the Tryst & Nomad Art Fair in Torrance Zócalo Public Square, Eagle Rock Brewery’s 10th annual Battle of the Bands, and more. Check out the full list below, and enjoy your week!
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Things To Do This Week
M = Less than .5 miles from an L.A. Metro Station, FA = Free Admission, TP = Top Pick
Funny Games at The Skunk Room – FA > Every Monday evening, the Elysian Theater hosts a combo curated comedy show / open mic in their Skunk Room, a flex space across the parking lot from the main theater that hosts workshops and special events. Kate O’Connor, Jo Scott, and Meaghan Strickland co-host. Free to attend. Starts at 7:30 p.m. More info here.
Astronomy on Tap – M FA > Astronomy on Tap returns on Monday with a pair of scientific talks (helped along by trivia, live music, and beer) at Dog Haus Biergarten in Pasadena. For the August event, catch talks from NASA scientist Catherine Clark on “Two Is Better Than One: Binaries Across the Universe” as well as Caltech PhD student Nicholas Rui discussing “Starquakes and Stellar Surprises.” Starts at 7:30 p.m. Seating is first-come, first-serve. More info here.
Roll @ Santa Monica -> A new pop-up skating park is now available in Santa Monica for the end of 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. Roll is open daily starting at noon. Regular admission is $15 (plus fees), which also include skate rental. More info here.
Moonlight Movies on the Beach – FA > This Tuesday, Long Beach’s signature beachside summer cinema series continues with a screening of A League of Their Own at Granada Beach. Movies starts around sunset (8 to 8:30 p.m.). Free to attend, and parking is free after 6 p.m., though spots are limited. More info here.
The Moth StorySLAM -> Don’t call it a comeback? Yes, definitely call it that at this Wednesday’s edition’s The Moth at Los Globos. Performers will present five-minute come-from-behind tales of redemption.. clinching victory from the jaws of defeat and so forth. Tickets are $17.50 including fees. 21+ only. The show starts at 7:30 p.m. 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.
Zócalo Public Square: When Does Protest Make a Difference? – M FA TP > As we enter the final months of a hotly contested election season, Zócalo Public square is dialing into the moment with an evening of back-to-back panels moderated by KQED correspondent and “The California Report” cohost Saul Gonzalez to discuss when and how protest makes a difference. The talks take place this Thursday at the ASU California Center in DTLA beginning at 7 p.m. Stay after for complimentary bites and reception. More info here.
Eagle Rock Brewery Battle of the Bands – TP > This Thursday, Eagle Rock Brewery spearheads their 10th annual Battle of the Bands, which brings the L.A. beer community together to judge which brewers can rock out the hardest. This year’s show is at Teragram Ballroom. Tickets are $20, and the show starts at 7 p.m. More info here.
Taste of RUNWAY -> Runway Playa Vista’s annual food sampling event is back for its fourth installment this Thursday. There will be sample bites from 8 of the on-site restaurants plus specialty drinks from Joliet and live music on The Turf. A $44.52 ticket (fees included) gets you 8 bite tickets. Starts at 5:30 p.m. More info here.
Sizzling Summer Nights at The Autry -> Every Thursday in August, The Autry museum hosts some of L.A.’s best salsa and Latin fusion bands with free salsa lessons, access to the museum galleries and a separate children’s dance floor. Admission cost $25 per person. More info here.
Sunset Music Series in Culver City – M FA > Culver City continues it’s summer-long series of outdoor concerts this Thursday with a night of world music featuring Afro Cuban acts Ricardo Lemvo & Makina Loca. Event starts at 7 p.m. All seating is first-come, first-served. Free to attend. More info here.
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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.
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.
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Dining & Drinking
(picks by Christina Champlin)
Barney’s Beanery WeHo x Lei’d Cookies x Sad Girl Creamery -> This Friday, stop by Barney’s Beanery in West Hollywood for a delicious deal. From 5 to 8 p.m., enjoy half-off Juicy Lucy burgers and treat yourself to custom ice cream sandwiches made with Sad Girl Creamery’s guava jam ice cream, paired with Lei’d Cookies flavors like chocolate chip, ube matcha, and guava goat cheese.
Openaire Exclusive Guest Chef Dishes -> This Monday, Koreatown’s Openaire kicks off its guest chef series with a special treat from Josiah Citrin. For one week from August 19-25, you can enjoy his exclusive French Dip “Tongue and Cheek” sandwich during lunch and dinner. Inspired by a dish Citrin had at Chef Thomas Keller’s French Laundry in 1994, this sandwich features braised beef cheek, pickled tongue, and a slathering of Thousand Island dressing on a toasted hoagie roll. It’s served with au jus and slaw, all for $26.
BOA Manhattan Beach Happy Hour -> The Manhattan Beach location of BOA hosts a daily happy hour from 3-5 p.m. at the bar. Score $12 raw bar bites like Tuna Tartare, King Crab Tacos and Hamachi Crudo. Small plates ranging between $9-$14 are also available like the Boa Burger & Fries, Fish & Chips and White Bean Hummus with lavish chips. A seasonal Summer Steak and Salad special priced at $35 also offered at this time. A selection of cocktails are $12 and wines by the glass are $10. More info here.
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