Griffith Observatory. Photo by Frank Steele, via flickr cc
Salsa dancing, gin making, indie theatre, drag queens and the vastness of space: it’s all happening in Los Angeles over the next week.
From July 15-19, LA will host the SheLA Summer Theatre Festival, Griffith Observatory’s “All Space Considered,” a new season of Skirball’s Sunset Concerts, The Broad’s Summer Concerts, RuPaul’s DragCon at the LA Convention Center, and more. Check out the full list below and have a great week ahead.
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What to do this week
M = Within 0.5 miles of an LA Metro station, FA = Free Admission, TP = Top Pick
Moonlight Movies on the Beach – FA > Long Beach’s signature beachside summer cinema series returns in 2024 with screenings at two locations in July. This week, catch “The Princess Bride” on Tuesday at Granada Beach. The movie starts around sunset (8-8:30pm). Admission is free and parking is free after 6pm but spaces are limited. Click here for more details.
SheLA Summer Theatre Festival -> Starting on Tuesday, the SheLA Summer Theatre Festival will be held at the Zephyr Theatre for six days of new and original work by gendered playwrights and composers from Los Angeles. Tickets start at $30 per show, or you can buy a three-show pass for $75. For more information on the lineup, click here.
Hollywood Bowl Jazz Orchestra at Grand Park – M > Take your lunch break in the heart of DTLA with free jazz tunes from some of the best performers in town. The Hollywood Bowl Orchestra, conducted by Charlie Harrison, will perform a free one-hour concert this Tuesday from 12pm to 1pm at Gloria Molina Grand Park. There is no charge to attend. Click here for more information.
Shakespeare in the Park – FA > The Independent Shakespeare Company will again present its summer Shakespeare in Griffith Park, but unlike past years, the 2024 season will focus on one production. From 10 July to 1 September, catch performances of As You Like It, Wednesday to Sunday, in the familiar space of the ISC near the Old Zoo. The main show starts at 7pm, and you can watch an immersive pre-show prologue from 6pm. Entry is free, but donations are warmly welcomed. Find out more here.
Comedy Patio – M FA > Grand Central Market is bringing you free stand-up comedy this Wednesday as the Comedy Patio. The showcase will be held on the Maple Block. Jeff Buck will host and Mike Glazer, Alexa Loftus, Darran Davis, Trent Manning and Terrence Murphy will perform. Admission is free, but donations are welcome. The show starts at 7pm. More information here.
Shakespeare by the Sea – FA > Shakespeare by the Sea’s 27th anniversary season continues this week at Manhattan Beach’s Polliwog Park with Thursday’s performance of Cardenio and Friday’s performance of Henry IV. All shows are free to attend, but donations are welcome. Performances run through August 3 at venues across Los Angeles and Orange County. Click here for more information.
Sunset Concerts at the Skirball – FA TP > Skirball Cultural Center’s annual Sunset Concert Series returns this Thursday with a performance by Afro-Puerto Rican bomba fusion ensemble El Laberinto del Coco. All concerts include free gallery access, and doors open at 6:30 pm. Free walk-up tickets will be sold on a first-come, first-served basis. Parking is available for $15-20. More information here.
PLAYING AT JANM – M > The Japanese American National Museum’s monthly artist showcase and interactive demonstration series takes a bit of a zine-inspired turn this Thursday. Maia Worrell will host a zine-making session using a single sheet of paper. Guests can enjoy a signature cocktail or mocktail from Wolf & Crane, or a beer from Brewyard Beer Company. The evening will also feature drinks and other snacks from Sanzo, or you can bring your own food. Tickets are $10. 7-9 p.m., 21 and older only. Learn more.
Griffith Observatory presents “All Space Considered” – FA TP > Join the Griffith Observatory curators for a monthly discussion of the latest phenomena and news in the world of astronomy during this evening presentation this Thursday in the Leonard Nimoy Event Horizon Theater (also streamed live on the website). The June program will feature special guest Dr. Gabriel Vagente (Associate Chief Engineer, LIGO Laboratory) who will speak about “Gravitational Wave Astronomy: Listening to the Dark Side of the Universe”. The program runs from 7-8:30 pm. More information here.
Dance at the Music Center DTLA – M FA > Dance at the Music Center DTLA will be hosting a night of Colombian Cumbia this Friday. Instructors will show guests easy-to-follow steps to get everyone moving in no time. The event will run from 7pm to 11pm. As always, there is no charge to attend. Find out more here.
Salsa Night at Ivy Station – M FA > Enjoy a night of salsa this Friday at Ivy Station in Culver City. Dance instructor Pepe Gonzalez will lead an introductory salsa lesson from 6:30-7:00 PM, then you can put what you’ve learned into practice with a live Fermin Fusion Salsa set from 7:00-8:45 PM. Free. Outdoor. Open to the public. Learn more here.
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RuPaul’s DragCon -> RuPaul’s DragCon brings all things drag to the LA Convention Center this Friday and Saturday. There will be a variety of panels, shopping, performances and meet and greets with the stars of RuPaul’s Drag Race. Single-day tickets range from $25 to $150. More info here.
The Broad Summer Concerts – M > This Friday and Saturday, The Broad will perform two nights of outdoor concerts at East West Bank Plaza. Tickets include admission to the special exhibit, “Mickalene Thomas: About Love,” and to the third floor galleries during After Hours events. General admission is $50, VIP admission is $75. More info here.
Friday Night Wine Tastings at Barnsdall Park – M > After a five-year hiatus, Friday night wine tasting events are back on the Barnsdall Art Park West Lawn. A $45 ticket gets you access to a selection of wines from Silverlake Wines and a rotating food truck session. Enjoy music from local DJs and beautiful sunset views of the Hollywood sign and Griffith Park Observatory. The series will run every Friday through August 30. Find out more here.
Jazz at LACMA – FA > The Los Angeles County Museum of Art’s annual Friday Night Jazz Series is back for a season of free weekly concerts through November in Smidt Welcome Plaza. This week, the Marvin “Smitty” Smith Septet is performing. LACMA is free for LA County residents (with ID) weekdays after 3pm. Seating is first come, first served. Music begins at 6pm. More info here.
Food and Drink
(Selected by Christina Champlin)
Arroyo Club’s Burcato Amaro Cocktail. Photo credit: Arroyo Club Instagram.
Brucato Amaro Tasting at Arroyo Club -> On Tuesday, July 16, Brucato Amaro will partner with Highland Park neighborhood bar, Arroyo Club, to host a free amaro tasting from 6-8pm. The event is free to attend and will feature Brucato Amaro specialty cocktails available for purchase on the Arroyo Club menu. More info here.
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Grilled Cheese & Beer Night at Andrew’s Cheese Shop -> This Friday, Santa Monica’s Andrew’s Cheese Shop will host a delicious Grilled Cheese & Beer Night. This family-style dinner will pair a curated menu of decadent open-faced grilled cheese sandwiches with a selection of artisanal beers from around the world. The evening will begin with a refreshing salad, followed by four of the shop’s signature grilled cheeses paired with four specialty beers, and conclude with a dessert course of Imperial Stout Float with French Vanilla Ice Cream. Tickets are $81.88 per person. Click here for more information.
Alta Adams x Crossroads Dinner -> On Tuesday, July 17, Alta’s celebrity chefs Daniel Patterson and Keith Corbin are collaborating with Tal Ronnen to serve up a Southern-inspired, plant-based dinner at Crossroads on Melrose. For $98.54 per person, the multi-course menu includes deviled eggs, heirloom tomato and peach salad, barbecued lion’s man mushrooms, candied yam gratin, collard greens, cornbread, baked beans and hummingbird cake. Tickets are on sale now on OpenTable.
Garibaldi at the Corner Door -> Garibaldi will host its first-ever pop-up event at the Corner Door in Culver City on Monday, July 15. Guests can enjoy an evening of inventive cocktails ranging from refreshing sugarcane rum to savory drinks inspired by pozole. Enjoy a drink selection from the food menu, which includes kasuzuke-style crispy chicken sandwich, yellowtail sashimi tostada and braised pork belly sandwich. Doors open at 6pm. More details here.
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