Hammer Projects commissioned work by Colectivo Cherani inside Hammer Museum. Photo by Christina Champlin.
Got a plan for this week in L.A.? No plan yet? Not a problem.
In the queue for this August 18-22 in Los Angeles you’ll find 818 Day celebrations in the San Fernando Valley, Open Mike Eagle at Hammer Summer Concerts, the Eastside Mariachi Fiesta at LA Plaza, Fiesta La Ballona in Culver City, and more.
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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
818 Day – TP > This Monday, our friends at My Valley Pass our celebrating 818 Day (an ode to the San Fernando Valley) with a pair of evening activations at Valley Hotspots. Universal CityWalk will host live DJs, Supercharged Bingo, and special prize giveaways. And over at Sherman Oaks Castle Park you’ll find discounted miniature golf, arcade games, food, and more live DJ performances. Both events run 6 to 9 p.m. More info here.
A Love Letter to The Valley at Valley Relics Museum -> Catch another 818 Day celebration on Monday over at the Valley Relics Museum this Monday. Expect slew of live performances, food trucks, special vendors, and an appearance by the SFV Roller Derby. Tickets are $10 Event runs 3 to 9 p.m. More info here.
Read to a Dog at Whittwood Library – FA > Bring your little reader to the library on Monday where they can practice their skills as they read aloud to certified therapy dogs. And remember, dogs make the best listeners because… well… no judgment! Session runs from 6 to 7 p.m. The branch is located at 10537 Santa Gertrudes Ave. in Whittier. More info here.
Hammer Summer Concerts – FA > This Tuesday, The Hammer wraps up their trio of free summer concerts in the courtyard with performances by Open Mike Eagle, Jordan Patterson and J.Rocc. Expect Enjoy happy hour drinks and bites, late gallery hours, art-making, and more. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and performances start at 7:30 p.m. More info here.
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LAST CHANCE: VHS Dreams: The Art of Ghana’s Mobile Cinema – FA > Beyond the Streets’ latest exhibition offers an immersive celebration of Ghana’s hand-painted movie poster tradition. VHS Dreams: The Art of Ghana’s Mobile Cinema curates an expansive set of colorful, surreal posters that remix imagery from some of the most iconic films of the 80s, 90s, and 2000s (think The Terminator, The Matrix, Lord of the Rings, and many more), all through a distinctly West African lens. Honestly, you just have to see it to understand how cool these posters are! Gallery hours are Wednesday to Saturday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. The exhibition will be ending on August 23. Free to visit. More info here.
Shakespeare in the Park – FA > The second half of the Independent Shakespeare Co.’s summer theater festival in Griffith Park continues this week as the ISC brings performances of Christopher Marlowe’s Doctor Faustus. Shows will run Wednesday to Saturday through August 31, all beginning at 7 p.m. Make sure to arrive early to grab a spot. Picnics encouraged. More info here.
Dance at the Museum -> The Museum of Latin American Art in Long Beach is hosting series of dance classes bringing art and movement come together, with an assist from the professional instructors at Cielo Dance Events. Next up, this Wednesday they’ll offer an evening of Cumbia. Good for both beginners or experienced dancers. Event starts at 7 p.m. Tickets are $20. Space is limited. More info here.
Eastside Mariachi Fiesta – M FA TP > This Thursday, the Queer Mercado is wrangling Latinx LGBTQIA+ talent from all over California to energize a night of music, drinks, food, and community at LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes. Queen Angelina hosts a lineup headlined by Mariachi Arcoiris de Los Angeles and the San Jose’-based Ensamble Folclórico COLIBRI. There will be plenty of special vendors on hand to shop as well. It all runs from 6 to 9 p.m. Free to attend. More info here.
Data + Donuts – FA > Data + Donuts is a morning speaker series and networking meet-up that features “makers and doers that are changing local government from the ground up by harnessing technology and data to drive meaningful change.” This Thursday, the next installment of the series features Jon Neill of LA County who will lead a discussion titled: AI Context Simulator – Delivering More Accurate and Relevant Results. The event takes place at LA Cleantech Incubator at the La Kretz Innovation Campus in the Arts District beginning at 8 a.m. Free to attend with advance registration. 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. For this week, catch a sals performance by Conjunto Oye! Admission is $22 per person. Event runs 6 to 9 p.m. More info here.
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Art Days at Earl Burns Miller Japanese Garden -> Every third Thursday, the Earl Burns Miller Japanese Garden at Cal State Long Beach hosts Art Days—a self-guided, one-hour creativity session. This month’s focus is on colored pencils. Limited supplies are provided, but guests are encouraged to bring their own. Admission is $2. More info here.
Fiesta La Ballona – FA > Culver City’s annual summer festival returns this Friday to Sunday at Veterans Memorial Park, featuring live performances, carnival rides, pool movie screenings, games, a beer and wine garden, food trucks, and a vendor village with local groups and artisan wares. More info here.
Family Movie Night at Kelly Park – FA > This Friday, Compton Parks & Recreation hosts a free, family-friendly screening of Lilo & Stitch at Kelly Park. The movie starts at 5:30 p.m., and free popcorn will be provided. More info here.
Friday Night Wine Tastings at Barnsdall Park – M > Friday night wine tasting continue at the Barnsdall Art Park West Lawn this week. Now in its 16th season tickets cost $45 and get you a flight of wines 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 September 26. All proceeds support programming within the Park. Starts at 5:30 p.m. More info here.
Jazz at LACMA – FA > The Los Angeles County Museum of Art’s Friday Night Jazz series continues this week with another concerts at Smidt Welcome Plaza. For this installment, catch a performance by trumpeter Gilbert Castellanos. PLUS: Remember that LACMA is free to visit for L.A. County Residents (with I.D.) on weekdays after 3 p.m. Concert starts at 6 p.m. More info here.
Beach Movie Nights at Dockweiler – FA > LA County Beaches & Harbors has been hosting free summer movie nights at Dockweiler Youth Center every Friday evening, and the series continues this week with a screening of Ferris Bueller’s Day Off at 8 p.m. All seating is first-come, first-served. Blankets and low-back chairs welcome. More info here.
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Dining & Drinking
(picks by Christina Champlin)
Japanese American Cultural & Community Center in Little Tokyo. Photo courtesy of the JACCC.
Izakaya Sunsets at JACCC (Begins August 20) -> Starting Wednesday, August 20, the Japanese American Cultural & Community Center in Little Tokyo transforms its garden oasis into Izakaya Sunsets, a Japanese pub-inspired lounge. Chef Gary Matsumoto (formerly of Azay, Hansei, and Alan Wong’s Honolulu) serves izakaya-style plates paired with beer, sake, shochu, and whiskey. Each month through November brings a new lineup of seasonal otsumami (Japanese bar snacks). August’s theme, “Chill,” features wagyu beef tataki, smoked potato salad with ikura, and classic summer bites like hiyashi chuka and tofu hiyayakko topped with dashi gelée. September highlights yakitori and kushiyaki, while October focuses on braises and noodle soups. Lanterns, furin wind chimes, hand-painted noren curtains by artist Hirokazu Kosaka, and a rotating Asian American DJ soundtrack set the mood. Reservations ($5) are required, and each guest is welcomed with an otoshi—a complimentary small dish with the first order. More info here.
American Beauty Wine Dinner Series at The Grove ( August 21) -> American Beauty at The Grove continues its wine dinner series with a five-course SoCal-inspired menu from Chef Elisha Ben-Haim, paired with pours by James Sparks of Liquid Farm and Kings Carey. The event costs $135 and dinner begins at 6 p.m. Reservations via Resy are strongly encouraged as there are only 24 seats available.
Flamenco & Tapas Night (August 19) -> Telefèric’s monthly Olé! Flamenco & Tapas Night returns on Tuesday, August 19, bringing the sights, sounds, and flavors of Spain to life. A bailaora and live musician set the stage with an electrifying flamenco performance, while guests savor a festive menu of Spanish tapas. Reservations are available via OpenTable.
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