Things To Do This Weekend in L.A. [2-3-2023 to 2-5-2023]

Raise your hand if you’re ready for the weekend!

This February 3-5 in Los Angeles, check out First Fridays at NHM, a Celebration of Life for P-22, Chinese New Year at The Huntington, the SoCal Museums Free-For-All, a Puppy Bowl Rally, Listening By The Moonrise, and more.

Things To Do This Weekend

Try/Step/Trip at The Wallis -> In Try/Step/Trip, Writer/Composer Dahlak Brathwaite takes inspiration from his own personal experience as a Black man exposed to the American criminal justice system to create a powerful and poetic spoken-word, musical told through the language of step dance. Part hip-hop and part dramatic performance, the show runs this Thursday through Sunday at The Wallis. Tickets start at $40. More info here.

Designing with Disaster -> Designing with Disaster: Stories from Seven Regenerative Cities is the latest exhibition at Japan House LA. Inspired by the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami, the exhibit introduces the concept of “Regenerative Urbanism” through interactive illuminated wells that envisioning seven hypothetical regenerative cities. Designing with Disaster runs through April 2. Free to visit. Open daily from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. More info here.

11th Annual San Pedro Film Festival -> This Thursday to Sunday, screen a number of diverse films that celebrate the culture and community of San Pedro. Artist MOBY will also make his directorial debut during this time with Punk Rock Vegan. Free to attend. All tickets can be reserved online. More info here.

First Fridays at NHM -> Natural History Museum’s signature monthly series returns for 2023 on February 3 with Dragons, Lore, and More, a discussion between Dr. Yewande Pearse and Rebecca C. Thompson, author of Fire, Ice, and Physics; The Science of Game of Thrones. The pair dissect the fantasy world’s made-up science and see how it matches up to the real-world. The evening also includes live music by Black Belt Eagle Scout and Ari Rivera, DJ sets in the nature garden, and pop-up experiences throughout the museum. Runs 5 to 9 p.m. Tickets are $20. Cosplay definitely encouraged! More info here.

“We The People” Billboard Exhibition -> Starting Friday, February 3, The Billboard Creative opens a new exhibition curated by Mona Kuhn that turns billboard advertising spaces into an open-air art for all to enjoy. The project features the work of 30 emerging and established artists working in a broad range of media – photography, painting, drawing, mixed media, and collage. We The People runs February 3­–28. More info here.

Abruzzo Wine Tasting with Ciavolich Winery -> Stop by Eataly this Friday for an Abruzzo Wine Tasting with Ciavolich Winery. Tickets cost $65 a person and include the wine tasting, food pairings and a discount to the wines featured. More info here.

Grand National Roadster Show -> The O’Reilly Auto Parts Grand National Roadster Show is the longest-running indoor car show in the world, and this Friday to Sunday the event returns to the Fairplex in Pomona for its 73rd season of showcasing the country’s top custom cars. Expect over 1,000 of the best hot rods, customs, low riders, muscle cars, trucks and motorcycles from across the nation on display. Tickets start at $30 for a one-day pass. More info here.

First Fridays in Bixby Knolls -> First Fridays along Atlantic Ave in Long Beach have returned, featuring an evening of pop-up activities, and a celebration of Black History Month with the “Strength Behind us, Greatness Ahead of Us” exhibit at Expo Arts Center plus live live music, art and special promotions at breweries and restaurants. More info here.

Chinese New Year Festival at The Huntington -> Celebrate the Year Of The Rabbit this Saturday and Sunday at The Huntington’s serene Chinese Garden with a packed slate of traditional entertainment. Enjoy lion dancers, mask-changing performances, martial arts demonstrations, live music, arts and craft demos, and dining specials throughout the two-day event. Runs 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days. Tickets start at $29 for adults. More info here.

San Gabriel Lunar New Year Festival -> The City of San Gabriel celebrates the Lunar New Year this Saturday with a packed slate of cultural events in the Mission District, including traditional lion dancing, live performances, balloon art, guided walks, over 80 food and artisanal booths, and a kids zone. Events and activities run from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Get more info here.

Puppy Bowl Pup Rally -> This Saturday, The Wallis Annenberg PetSpace, Grounds & Hounds Coffee Co., and Animal Planet will host the official Los Angeles Puppy Pup Rally with sports-themed activations for dogs to enjoy ahead of Animal Planet’s Puppy Bowl XIX Sunday airing. Grounds & Hounds Coffee Co. will also be providing complimentary coffee and pup cups for all attendees. Stadium snacks, dog bandanas and photo ops are in the mix as well. The event runs 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tickets start at $10. More info here.

Lunar New Year at the Original Farmers Market -> This Saturday’s LNY celebration at the Original Farmers Market includes lion dances, arts and crafts, balloon twisting and red envelope giveaways. Run at the plaza from 2 to 4 p.m. Free to attend. More info here.

Dumpling Day at Santa Anita Park -> On Saturday, Smorgasburg curates a unique dumpling experience at Santa Anita Park featuring pop-up dumpling vendors Shirley Chung, Mao’s Bao, Cali Dumpling and dumpLins. A dumpling starter pack cost $34 and the VIP version coast $55. More info here.

Celebration of Life for P-22 -> Saturday’s community celebration of life for P-22 at the Greek Theater is sold out, but you can head to Angel City Brewery during the event to catch a livestream of the service (noon to 2 p.m.) and get $2 off all 12oz pours of P-22 beer. Sounds like a great way to toast to the most famous cat that ever prowled the streets of Los Angeles! Oh, and if you’re looking for other options for where to watch the stream with a group, the Los Angeles Public Library will host community watch gatherings at 11 branch locations beginning at noon. More info on ACB’s event here.

Hike to Yoga -> On the first Saturday of each month, Hike to Yoga organizes a free beginner-friendly walk at Kenneth Hahn Recreation Area followed by a group breath and movement session. Free to attend. The group meets at  the East Trailhead of Kenneth Hahn at 8 a.m. More info here.

SoCal Museum Free-For-All -> This Sunday, 30+ museums and cultural institutions around Southern California band together to offer a free day of admission on February 5 during the SoCal Museums Free-For-All. Participants include museums that are free year-round (The Getty, Hammer Museum, Fowler Museum) along with many others that normally charge admission fees (The Academy Museum, La Brea Tar Pits Museum, Descanso Gardens). Get more information here.

Listening By the Moonrise ->  Clockshop’s quarterly cultural series Listening By Moonrise returns on Sunday to the green space of L.A. State Historic Park as a collaboration with Earth Sessions. The February edition features readings by environmentalist writer Leah Thomas and multimedia artist Mandy Harris Williams, plus a performance by vocalist/bassist Tonina. Runs 3 to 5 p.m. Free to attend. More info here.

Nightmare Market LA -> This Sunday’s edition of Nightmare Market LA is a Valetine’s Day tribute bringing together 50+ vendors offering dark art-themed illustrations, paintings,, wet specimens, taxidermy, fine jewelry, fashion goods, merchandise, and oddities. The event also features DJ sets (mostly goth and industrial tunes) plus bites for purchase via Fuego Tacos and drinks from Barmaid Beauties. Runs noon to 6 p.m. at Monarch Studios in the Arts District. Tickets are $10. More info here.

Dining & Drinking

Free Wraps At All Five Kebab Shop Locations This Sunday -> Fast-casual Mediterranean cafe The Kebab Shop celebrates its rapid expansion by giving away free wraps on Sunday, February 5 from noon to 2 p.m. at all five Los Angeles locations of The Kebab Shop (El Segundo, Burbank, Northridge, Encino, and Cerritos). The freebie offered is the most popular wrap on the menu, the “San Diego Wrap” stuffed with a Kebab choice (carved chicken or lamb and beef doner), fries, feta, greens, tomato-cucumber, red onion, and garlic yogurt sauce. No purchase is necessary to receive the complimentary wrap. More info here. 

Lucky 8 Specials at The Original Farmers Market -> Merchants at The Original Farmers Market are currently offering “Lucky 8” specials in honor of Lunar New Year. Happening now through February 5 the public can take advantage of $8 food and drink deals, $8 butcher promos to .88 cent produce from farm stands. 

Sunday Supper Series at Botanica -> Botanica in Silver Lake is launching a monthly Sunday Supper series featuring a vegetable focused multi-course menu. Kicking things off is a mushroom-themed dinner on Sunday, February 5 highlighting fungi producer Smallhold. Prepared by Botanica’s Chef Alex Weston Barkley, ‘shrooms will be front-and-center from appetizer to dessert. Two special cocktails made with Isolation Proof’s mushroom gin will also be available for the evening. The five-course supper costs $60 a person and reservations can be made through Resy or by calling the restaurant. Future guest chef collaborations for Sunday Suppers this year will include Bridgetown Roti, Woon, and Fly by Jing. 

My Lai Kitchen Anniversary Party -> Modern Vietnamese eatery My Lai Kitchen celebrate four-years of success in Mar Vista with a party on Saturday, February 4 from 4 to 6 p.m. The public can stop by for free banh mi sandwiches, giveaways, music, and other celebratory surprises. More info here. 

Looking ahead…

Mort and Betty’s Tu Bishvot Menu at Jewel ->  Mort and Betty’s Chef Megan Tucker will pop up at Jewel in Virgil Village on Monday, February 6 for a special Seven Spices menu in celebration of the Jewish holiday, Tu Bishvot (celebration of trees.) The a la carte menu includes Mort and Betty’s vegan creations such as a seasonal raisin, barley and olive Challah and Broccoli Knish, to classics like Matzo Ball Soup, Dill Pickle Latkes and Reuben Tacos made with seared beets. Reservations can be made on Resy. More info here. 

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