56 Totally Fun Things To Do in L.A. This Week You Need to Know About [10-1-18 to 10-5-18]

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, October 1 to Friday, October 5, features Philippe the Original with $1.10 French Dips, The Pizza Experience, Yoga at Aquarium of the Pacific, LA Korean Festival, Dumpling & Beer Fest, Adult Swim Festival, California Avocado Festival, Cal Jam 18 Music Festival 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!

Vista Hermosa Park
Posing for a pic at Vista Hermosa Park. Photo credit: Brian Champlin / We Like L.A.

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 October 1st, 2018

1. WDCH Dreams covers the Walt Disney Concert Hall as part of the LA Philharmonic’s centennial kickoff celebration from now through October 6.. The installation projects images from the past and possibly the future of the concert hall. Free viewing nightly starting at 7:30 p.m. FREE

2. Philippe the Original celebrates 110 years in business with the French Dip turning 100 on October 1. Head to the Chinatown storefront from 4 to 8 p.m. and get yourself a French Dip sandwich for just $1.10.

3. Head to Frogtown’s artist-run space Tin Flats every Monday and Tuesday now until Nov. 27 for a free drive-in movie screening curated with some very special programming. Presented by The French Los Angeles Exchange, this project presents films, performances and exhibitions from artists in the program, as well as a film that echoes their own work. FREE

4. L.A.’s pop-up museum catalogue is growing larger this fall with The Pizza Experience – a multi-sensory pizza themed walkthrough. Explore giant installations, an oversized cheese pool, a pizza hall of fame, pizza theme-flavored snacks throughout, actual pizza slices and more. The Pizza Experience runs through January 29. Check for discounted tickets before making your purchase. DISCOUNTED (via Goldstar)

5. Beyond Fest, Los Angeles’ strangest, scariest, and largest genre film festival returns Sep. 26 to Oct. 9 with another year of bold programming. Sharing a newfound partnership with Hulu and Shudder, 2018’s program boasts an absolutely massive lineup – the festival’s biggest yet – of fan-favorites, nightmares, and oddities, along with bold premieres.

6. Take a break from your dietary restrictions at Cheat Day Land, Los Angeles’ newest pop-up museum celebrating the snacks and treats that we dream of during our workouts. Featured installations and experiences ranging from a donut gym with pastry dumbbells to a life-size cereal bowl, an art gallery, and much more. Cheat Day Land is here for an entire month, from October 1-31. Check for discounted tickets before making your purchase. DISCOUNTED (via Goldstar)

7. There’s a Great Pumpkin Hunt happening at the South Coast Botanic Garden daily featuring an imaginative scavenger hunt, light hiking, a pumpkin shop and access to the gorgeous 87-acre grounds. Great for families. Halloween costumes are welcome.

8. Coco will return to the big screen at the El Capitan Theatre for a special limited screening (all week) that includes live performances by Grammy Award-winning musicians Mariachi Divas along with Ballet Folklórico de Los Ángeles. DISCOUNTED (via Goldstar)

9. The Spider Pavilion at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County  is a special seasonal exhibit that runs now through November 25.

Tuesday October 2nd, 2018

10. There’s an L.A. Taco Tour where participants embark on bike and make stops at great taco stands along the way while learning a bit about the history of the surrounding neighborhoods. UPDATE: This event was taken down from Eventbrite.

11. Do yoga in a truly unique space this Tuesday when the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach host a morning yoga session in front of their three-story tall Honda Blue Cavern Habitat.

12. Oktoberfest takes over The Standard in DTLA with German inspired happy hours, a specialty menu and daily beer selections. Available at 24/7 Restaurant, the Fire Pit, and Lobby Lounge.

13. Get some adult crafting in and learn to make your very own “good intentions” Voodoo Dolls hosted by Krimsey’s Cajun Kitchen in North Hollywood.

14. Rooftop Cinema Club returns to the rooftops of LEVEL in DTLA and NeueHouse in Hollywood with multiple screenings this week that include Steel Magnolias, Rushmore and more.

15. Down some tacos, drink some locally brewed beers and test your trivia skills this Tuesday during Tacos & Trivia night at Angel City Brewery in DTLA.

16 Free museum days: Natural History MuseumPage Museum at La Brea Tarpits and Kidspace Children’s Museum (from 4 to 8 p.m.)

Wednesday October 3rd, 2018

17. Head to NeueHouse Hollywood for a special night of programming, drinks and networking during Online/Offline. Billed as a “first-of-its-kind” screening, the event will feature a specially curated selection of Webby winning films spanning humor, animation, music, and much more. FREE

18. Be transported half way around the world thanks to Passport to South Africa presented by Time Out Los Angeles and the South African Tourism. Immersed yourself in the sights, sounds and flavors of the region through a pop up jazz lounge, delicacies by Chef Hugo Uys and more. Taking place at the Mayfair Hotel. DISCOUNTED (via Goldstar)

19. See comedians recreate Hocus Pocus live onstage while drunk at Black Rabbit Rose in Hollywood.

20. Idiots Comedy Show is back at The Clubhouse featuring free beer and comedy (donation based) with Johnny Pemberton, Frankie Quinones, Jamie Loftus and more.

21. The Garvey Ranch Observatory will host an evening of astronomy with members of the Los Angeles Astronomical Society. Guest will have a chance to go into the dome to view the stars, enjoy a star party on the lawn, and learn how to build their own telescope. The observatory is open to the public on Wednesday nights only. FREE

22. It’s trivia night at Grand Central Market this Wednesday on the Broadway side of the food hall.

23. Head over to Santa Monica for Twilight on the Pier. This fall a wide range of musical groups and artists will performance across different stages, transforming the pier into a festival, complete with art, a beer and spirits garden, games, and interactive activations. FREE

Thursday October 4th, 2018

24. Tito’s Handmade Vodka and Tito’s Tacos are teaming up to celebrate National Vodka Day and National Taco Day, which happen to occur on October 4 this year! Head down to Tito’s Tacos in Culver City, to indulge in award winning tacos paired with specialty vodka cocktails while Folklórico and Mariachi entertain. All proceeds will go on to benefit The Culver City Cultural Affairs Foundation.

25. Zombie Joe’s Underground Theatre in North Hollywood presents their annual Halloween iteration of Urban Death. Guests will wind through a short maze before entering a darkened theater where series of disturbing vignettes will be presented one after another. Happening Friday and Saturday.

26. The LA Philharmonic kicks off LA Fest with a performance of Salonen’s breakthrough work, LA Variations at the Walt Disney Concert Hall. DISCOUNTED (via Goldstar)

27. Critically acclaimed, avant-garde haunt Creep returns with ‘Awake.’ The walkthrough thrusts participants through a 75-minute series of horrific situations in a shockingly cinematic fashion. As a result, you are placed face-to-face with your worst fears, presenting an incredibly unique and intimate horror experience. Happening at ROW DTLA Thursday through Sunday.

28. Head to Seoul International Park from October 4-7 to experience the 45th year of the LA Korean Festival. Savor Korean street food, enjoy live performances, art exhibitions, and shop from local vendors and businesses. Acts performing this year include KSHMR and Dean. The festival is free to attend. Concerts are ticketed.

29. Nat Geo Live: Social By Nature is a talk that will display how truly similar we are to animals, as well as what we can learn from them. Led by biologist-turned-photographer Ronan Donavan. Happening Oct. 4 and 5, at the Broad Stage. Check for discounted tickets before making your purchase. DISCOUNTED (via Goldstar)

30. FounderMade will host a Consumer Discovery Show highlighting some of the best and cutting edge brands in food, beauty and wellness. The summit will host 200+ consumer brands, panels with thought leaders, networking opportunity and much more.

31. The 4th Annual Dumpling & Beer Fest takes over the San Gabriel Valley for a night of highlighting amazing dumplings spots as well as the craft beer scene of the SGV.

32. Unbound Productions’ site-specific Wicked Lit returns to the Mountain View Mausoleum, offering the perfect setting for all new tales of horror. This year, guests will enjoy two theatrical adaptations: Charles Dickens’ The Chimes: A Goblin Story, and Ernest Rhys’ Teig O’Kane and the Corpse. Guests will walk through the mausoleum as they follow both chilling tales. Happening Thursday through Sunday.

33. Chinatown After Dark going down at Far East Plaza happens every first Thursday of the month and is a testing ground for chefs in our city as well as a place to enjoy local music.

34. Face your fears during Universal Studios Hollywood Horror Nights happening Thursday through Saturdays till November 3. This year, the Stranger Things maze is the main attraction. You’ll also get to experience bone chilling attractions by American Horror Story, The Shining, Halloween, KrampusAsh vs. The Evil Dead and Walking Dead. Check for discounted tickets on select days. DISCOUNTED (via Goldstar)

35. The Queen Mary’s Dark Harbor will transform into a seaport of the damned for the Halloween season with terrifying mazes and monsters at every turn. Happening Thursdays and through Sundays through Nov. 2.

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36. Knott’s Scary Farm is back with their signature haunted attractions, mazes and thousands of monsters ready to scare the living day light out of you and your crew. Happening Thursdays through Sundays.

37. 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 October 5th, 2018

38. Adult Swim is bringing its own festival to Row DTLA, including a lineup of artists and activities over the course of three days. The schedule features musical acts like Thundercat, Run the Jewels, Neko Case and more, as well as comedians like Hannibal Buress and Nick Rutherford. The fest will also feature a variety of games, food, drinks, previews of upcoming shows, and more. This Friday is preview night for festival goers to experience what the fairgrounds have to offer before the weekend and live acts begin.

39. Get spooked during Paramount Pictures After Dark Tour: Tales From The Other Side where you’ll hear scandals of yesteryear and the lost souls who haunt the studio lot by moonlight. The tour starts at dusk with champagne as you head into the studio lot where you’ll weave in and out of sound stages and the darkest corners of the infamous backlot. You’ll end the night next door at Hollywood Forever Cemetery. Happening Fridays and Saturdays. DISCOUNTED (via Goldstar)

40. The 32nd Annual California Avocado Festival returns to Carpinteria October 5-7. This free event features live entertainment, the world’s largest vat of guacamole, avocado dishes for sale, avocado agricultural photos, historical photos, lessons in avocado grafting, FFA restored antique tractors, and the Largest Avocado Contest. Admission is free!

41. The Groundlings’ Halloween Show returns with plenty of blood, gore, creepy clowns, severed body parts and most importantly laughter. DISCOUNTED (via Goldstar)

42. Haunted Little Tokyo is presenting a series of Japanese horror films from some of the best horror visionaries this month. Kicking off the series is a screening of John Carpenter’s Prince of Darkness at Union Center for the Arts.

43. The Cal Jam 18 Music Festival comes to Glen Helen Regional Park and Festival Grounds in San Bernardino on October 5-6 for a wild weekend of rock and roll headlined by Foo Fighters with 20+ of their musician friends. Carnival rides, comedy, food vendors, alcohol vendors, and even a Foo Fighter Museum are also part the festivities.

44. The Haunted Hayride returns September 29-October 31 at The Old Zoo in Griffith Park featuring four different Scare Zones, including trick or treating in a blood-curdling neighborhood and riding on the Scary-Go-Round and taking a ride on the main attraction the Haunted Hayride. Check for discounted tickets on select days. DISCOUNTED (via Goldstar)

45. Two Bit Circus a new “Micro Amusement Park,” inside a 50,000-square-foot warehouse in the Arts District hosts a wide range of gaming activities including VR experiences, classic arcade games, and Story Rooms.

46. Festival M.A.R.S will highlight immersive performance making use of musical compositions, virtual reality, audio-reactive visuals that surround both performers and audience, and much more. Taking place on Oct. 5, 6, 7 and 13 the festival varying each night in artistic representations to tell a multiverse story.

47. The Fairplex transform into a German playground for Oktoberfest on October 5-6. Expect Bavarian music, chicken dancing, bratwurst and pretzels while knocking back some authentic German beers. DISCOUNTED (via Goldstar)

48. HorrorWorld is a collection of three separate haunts in one location presented by horror FX company Bone Yard Effects. Mazes include Into the Black, The Psycho Sanitarium, and The Fleshyard.

49. Celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month at Sabor De Mexico Lindo Downtown Festival (Oct 5-7). Honoring the state of Jalisco, Mexico this year, the event will feature a massive lineup of entertainment and offerings, including over 140 commercial and sponsor booths, a plethora of food around the world, a health fair, petting zoo, as well as live entertainment across three stages. FREE

50. The 19th Annual Reign of Terror is one of the largest haunted houses in Southern California, containing a total of eight unique themes spread among 105 separate rooms in over 23,000 square foot space.

51. Los Angeles County Museum of Art hosts free jazz performances on Fridays through November. Concerts take place at the main entrance. FREE

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52. The L.A. Greek Festival returns Oct. 5 -7 for a big fat block party featuring delicious Greek food, live music, dancing and more. Now in its 20th year, the event is a popular one, drawing over 15,000 each year.

53. Alpine Village Oktoberfest celebrates 50 years! The fun kicks off this Friday with traditional Bavarian fun like Oom Pah Pah party bands, German fare, and delicious cold German beers. Oktoberfest runs Fridays and Saturdays September 7 through October 27

54. The Griffith Observatory hosts a monthly forum where some of the most amazing phenomena in the known universe are explained and discussed. It’s called All Space Considered and it takes place on the first Friday of every month. FREE

55. Six Flags Magic Mountain in Valencia has transformed into Fright Fest, offering six mazes, multiple scare zones, and the chance to ride some of your favorite coasters—including Twisted Colossus and Full Throttle—in the dark. Happening Friday through Sunday.

56. Since its the first Friday of the month check out all the cool events happening around town including block parties and art walks for First Fridays.

Food Pick for the Week

honeynut-squash-farmhouse
Photo Credit: Christina Champlin // We Like L.A.

This week’s pick by Christina Champlin, Co-Founder of We Like L.A.

Farm to table is a trendy restaurant term often without much meaning behind it. On the other hand, seed-to-table is an ingredient driven farm-traceable dining concept focused on helping people know more about where their food comes from. The duo at the forefront of this new movement is Executive Chef Craig Hopson and Executive Farmer Nathan Peitso of FARMHOUSE. Every season they work together to create new dining experiences that highlight Southern California’s current agricultural landscape. During Autumn you’ll dine on Whole Roasted Honeynut Squash, a type of shrunken squash that carries a hint of sweetness. At FARMHOUSE the squash is lightly stuffed with pomegranate seeds. Nathan (the farmer) will also hand mill the wheat for your Ricotta Gnocchi. The pillowy dumplings of dough are paired with chanterelle mushrooms and a well balanced tarragon pesto. There’s also a Beef Short Rib from Creekstone Farm, a comforting combo of marbled short rib dressed in its own au jus, shiitake mushroom and sweet bermuda onions. Since dessert never goes out of season, their fruit harvest can mostly be found on the dessert menu. Choose from a refreshing Trio of Grape Sorbets featuring Concord, Princess and Autumn Harvest grapes. Or warm up with a Pear Crostata with a side of Golden Balsamic Ice Cream all made from scratch. No matter what you try, the meal at FARMHOUSE will leave you wondering, “How come other restaurants don’t have an Executive Farmer?”

FARMHOUSE is located at 8500 Beverly Boulevard Suite 113, Los Angeles, CA 90048


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