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It’s time to get you prepped for a another red hot weekend in SoCal.
Options for this August 21-23 in Los Angeles include Celebrating Gustavo at the Bowl, the Whittier Narrows Artisan Market & Festival, KCRW Summer Nights with Taste of Downtown Long Beach, Off the 405 at the Getty, the LA Street Poetry Festival, the 23rd Annual Gardena Jazz Festival, the Nisei Week Plaza Festival, and more.
Things To Do This Weekend
M = Less than .5 miles from an L.A. Metro Station, FA = Free Admission, TP = Top Pick
Celebrating Gustavo at the Bowl – > The Hollywood Bowl honors Music & Artistic Director Gustavo Dudamel’s final summer residency with four special concerts this week. The series opens on Thursday with Dudamel leading the LA Phil and YOLA through Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, followed by Gustavo’s Fiesta on Friday with Los Tigres del Norte and Lila Downs. Foo Fighters join the LA Phil on Saturday, and the run closes Sunday with a benefit for Venezuela. Tickets start between $28 and $44. Get more info here.
Salsa Night at Ivy Station – M FA > This Friday, Ivy Station hosts its monthly outdoor Salsa Night, featuring a free, beginner-friendly dance lesson led by instructor Pepe Gonzalez followed by live music from Fermin Fusion Salsa. Attendees can purchase food and drinks on-site from vendor stalls, dine-in spots, and rotating food trucks, with complimentary two-hour parking validation available in the main garage. Admission is free. Starts at 6:30 p.m. More info here.
Whittier Narrows Artisan Market & Festival – FA > This Friday to Sunday, Whittier Narrows Recreation Area hosts the Whittier Narrows Artisan Market & Festival, a three-day outdoor gathering celebrating regional makers and small businesses. The family-friendly event features artisan booths selling handcrafted jewelry, home decor, ceramics, and specialty foods, alongside live crafting demonstrations, food trucks, games, and live music. Admission is free. Starts at 10 a.m. for all three days. More info here.
TAPE LA at Barnsdall Art Park – FA > All throughout August, TAPE LA takes over Barnsdall for Friday Art Nights. The free activations on Pine Grove and at the LAMAG gallery go full video with a tape swap, an interactive TV wall, Home Video Night, an Analog Petting Zoo, and more to be announced. Free to attend. More info here.
KCRW Summer Nights with Taste of Downtown Long Beach – M FA This Saturday, KCRW Summer Nights teams up with the Downtown Long Beach Alliance for an all-ages street festival along Pine Avenue and The Promenade. The festivities launch with the Taste of Downtown culinary showcase featuring sample bites, beer, wine, and craft cocktails from local restaurants. As night falls, KCRW DJs Nassir Nassirzadeh and Raul Campos take over the turntables to spin an outdoor dance party. Admission to the festival and dance party is free, with $1 taste tickets available on-site for food and drink purchases. Runs 2 to 10 p.m. More info here.
Grand Performances: Ritchie Forever – M FA TP > This Saturday, Grand Performances presents Ritchie Forever, a multidisciplinary tribute celebrating the 85th birthday and enduring legacy of rock ‘n’ roll pioneer Ritchie Valens. The evening honors the Pacoima native’s impact on American music and bicultural identity through live music, storytelling, and archival visuals, connecting his 1950s sound to contemporary culture. The line-up features performances from Shannon Shaw, Joey Quiñones, Bryan Ponce, Denise Carlos and Hector Flores, Angie Monroy, Irene Diaz, and Jose Varela. Free to attend. Program runs 6 to 10 p.m. More info here.
Tongva Twilight: Sounds & Cinema Series – M FA > Tongva Twilight: Sounds & Cinema brings free outdoor programming to Tongva Park in Santa Monica every Saturday from August 8 through September 12. For the third installment of the series, catch an evening of salsa from Son Mayor. Plus there will be a quick salsa lesson before the performance! Guests are encouraged to pack a picnic for the family-friendly oceanside evening. Admission is free. Starts at 7 p.m. More info here.
Off the 405 – FA > On Saturday, the Getty’s annual after-hours concerts series comes to a close with a performance by Detroit-born electronic composer and producer Laurel Halo. You’ll need to pre-register for free to attend, and remember that parking is $10 after 6 p.m. on Saturdays. More info here.
Marina Movie Night – FA > The Department of Beaches and Harbors hosts Marina Movie Nights at Burton Chace Park in Marina del Rey on select Saturdays in August and September. This Saturday, catch The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants Free to attend, with seating available on a first-come, first-served basis. Movie starts at 8 p.m. Make sure you bring a blanket for that coastal breeze! More info here.
LA Street Poetry Festival – FA > The 3rd Annual LA Street Poetry Festival comes to East Los Angeles College this Saturday, organized by the LA Poet Society. The free event features an Open Mic 4 the People, followed by main stage performances with hip-hop artist Jag Arreola, former Altadena Poet Laureate Sehba Sarwar, GETLIT Youth Poets, Traci Akemi Kato-Kiriyama, and Peter Lechuga. Attendees can stop by the LA Poet Society table to join the mailing list or offer optional donations. Programming runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. More info here.
Drunk Theatre – M > Drunk Theatre celebrates their 200th show in L.A. with a special performance at Dynasty Typewriter this Saturday. The unscripted comedy show asks one performer to down five shots of whiskey before attempting to improvise a play alongside a fully sober cast. The ensemble features Sahil Desai, Ittai Geiger, Cassie Grilley, Bri Cala, Rodd Naimi, Nate Deakers, Maria Gnoza, Bri Rodebaugh, and Oleg Trofimov. General admission starts at $20 in advance or $25 the day of the show, with an $80 VIP option for two that includes reserved seats and a turn on stage to select the designated drinker. Doors open at 8:30 p.m. More info here.
El Segundo Art Walk – FA > On Saturday, catch an indie, self-guided art event in El Segundo highlighting the creative businesses and artists throughout the Downtown area. Expect food trucks, live music, and sponsored experiences from local businesses Runs 3 to 9 p.m. More info here.
Metro Bike Share’s 10th Year Birthday Ride – FA > This Saturday, Metro Bike Share: Compton & Slauson serves as the starting point for Part Two of Metro Bike Share’s 10th Year Birthday Ride across South Los Angeles, Venice, and Santa Monica. The route includes a 4.5-mile pedal to the Vermont & Exposition station, an E Line train leg, and a final 8.5-mile ride to Downtown Santa Monica. Free bikes and helmets are available for attendees who reserve them in advance, and all participants receive a commemorative enamel pin and entry into a pass giveaway. Registration is free. Runs 9 a.m. to noon. More info here.
Nisei Week Plaza Festival – M FA > Nisei Week in Little Tokyo continues this Saturday and Sunday with the annual Plaza Festival at the JACCC Plaza. Expect two jam-packed days of live entertainmnet featuring live performances, taiko drumming, food and community vendors, and hands-on family activities. Free to attend. Starts at 11 a.m. both days. More info here.
23rd Annual Gardena Jazz Festival -> The 23rd Annual Gardena Jazz Festival returns to Rowley Memorial Park this Sunday with a lineup headlined by Lalah Hathaway, Sheléa, Jazz Funk Soul, Aneesa Strings, Monique Renee, and the Fernando Pullum Community Arts Center Jazz Band. The family-friendly event offers local food vendors on the park grounds. On-site festival parking is available for purchase on event day, and rideshare drop-offs are designated at 132nd St. and Van Ness Ave. Tickets start at $32.75, while children ages 2 and under enter for free. Runs 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. More info here.
Wellness on the Westside -> This Sunday, Santa Monica Place hosts Wellness on the Westside, an immersive outdoor health and self-care festival in Center Court. The event features a local wellness marketplace, product samplings, physical therapy assessments, IV and compression therapy, sound baths, and a lineup of seven fitness classes including Pilates, yoga, and cardio hip-hop. Attendees can complete a Wellness Passport to unlock a gift bag valued at over $300. Participants should bring a yoga mat, towel, and water bottle. General admission tickets are $40. Runs 10 a.m to 3 p.m. More info here.
Santa Monica Antique & Vintage Market -> This Sunday, the Santa Monica Antique & Vintage Market holds its bi-monthly outdoor gathering at the Santa Monica Airport, featuring hundreds of local dealers and vendors. Shoppers can explore a wide variety of goods ranging from mid-century furniture, estate jewelry, and architectural salvage to vintage couture, fine art, rare prints, and exotic plants. $5 admission. Runs 7 to 3 p.m. Leashed dogs are welcome too! More info here.
The Clock at LACMA -> Christian Marclay’s The Clock has been on view at LACMA since July 26, but this weekend will be the last chance to see the installation before it comes down indefinitely. The current month-long viewing is the first time The Clock has appeared at LACMA since 2015. It offers a 24-hour video montage synchronized to local time using thousands of film and television clips. Viewing is included with general admission to the museum, which starts at $25 for adults. More info here.
Dining & Drinking
(picks by Christina Champlin)
Rustic Canyon Happy Hour and a Half (Daily) -> Twenty years in and Rustic Canyon is still one of Santa Monica’s most essential dining destinations. The slow food institution, known for its hyper-seasonal farmers’ market produce and zero-waste approach, runs a daily happy hour at the bar and lounge from 5 to 6:30 p.m. The food menu punches well above happy hour expectations with fried vermillion tacos, chorizo-stuffed quesadillas, chips and salsa, and oysters with seaweed mignonette. Inventive cocktails and wines are $10, with $5 lagers rounding out the deals.
Rustic Canyon Happy Hour and a Half (Daily) -> As Rustic Canyon in Santa Monica gears up to celebrate their 20th anniversary some might not know that they run a happy hour every single day at their bar/lounge from 5-6:30pm. On the menu are fried vermillion tacos, chorizo stuffed blue corn quesadillas, chips salsa and oysters with seaweed mignonette. Their inventive cocktails are just $10 during this time, and so are wines with $5 lager to it off.
UO NIGIRI Two Year Anniversary Party (August 23) -> UO NIGIRI in Marina del Rey turns two and marks the milestone in style. The anniversary party features DJ TSUGU spinning Japanese City Pop, Japanese beer, premium sake, and a standing-style omakase inspired by the Edo period. Drop in for à la carte or book the special standing omakase at $70 per person, with seatings at 5:30 and 7:30 p.m. via Yelp.
Oyster Hour at The Georgian -> The Georgian in Santa Monica rolls out an oyster hour every Wednesday through Sunday in August from 5 to 7 p.m. The lineup features $2 west coast oysters, specially priced Osetra caviar, a lobster roll, and a rotating cast of classic cocktails. More info here.
The Week Ahead…
Taqueando After Dark at Level 8 (August 27–28) -> Bill Esparza, the James Beard Award-winning food writer behind LA’s most influential taco festivals, takes over Level 8 in Downtown Los Angeles for two nights of serious eating. Taqueando After Dark is an immersive celebration of the street food traditions connecting Baja California, Sinaloa, Tijuana, Valle de Guadalupe, Hermosillo, and Los Angeles, curated by Esparza alongside the Houston Brothers and Chef Ray Garcia. The talent is the real draw: Ruffo Ibarra of Michelin-recognized Oryx from Tijuana on August 27, and Tomás Gastélum and José Luis Hinostroza of Mira Fireside from Valle de Guadalupe on August 28, joined by legendary street vendors from both sides of the border.
Tickets run $60 to $145 and double as raffle entries for getaways to Tijuana and Valle de Guadalupe, complete with dinners at participating restaurants, courtesy of festival sponsor Baja California. A portion of every ticket benefits CIELO, an Indigenous women-led nonprofit supporting Indigenous communities across Los Angeles. More info here.
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