Archives

Culture, Lifestyle, Things To Do

28 Things to Do in L.A. This Week [1-18-2021 to 1-22-2021]

January 18, 2021 by We Like L.A. Staff
Looking at L.A. from Griffith Park. Photo by Brian Champlin

We used to tell you about all the things you could go out and do in Los Angeles on a daily, weekly, and monthly basis. Then, the coronavirus changed life for all of us, in a thousand small and massive ways. Until the pandemic is behind us, we’ll post events that adhere to Public Health’s current protocols—including plenty of at-home and online events—every Monday and Thursday. We hope they keep you busy, make you laugh, teach you something, or help you feel less alone.

This week, we’ve got food pop-ups, online MLK Day activities, virtual art shows and concerts, cooking classes, online museum exhibits, workshops for parents, and moreHave something you want to submit for next week? Hit us up: [email protected].

At-Home & Online Events

L.A. Works has a number of free, online activities to celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr. Day on Jan. 18. They include “ a virtual exhibit of the historic 1963 March on Washington through the world of Minecraft,” and virtual workshops on the intersection of race and homelessness, food insecurity, and criminal justice. Find more info and how to stream events here.

RE:Her’s Food Festival, a 10-day event highlighting women-owned restaurants in Los Angeles, is Jan. 21-30. It involves exclusive takeout meals, menu collaborations, special offers, and panel conversations by and for women.

The Geffen Playhouse’s Bollywood Kitchen is both a cooking class and a show. You’ll receive a box of ingredients, recipe cards, and a shopping list in the mail prior to your show date. Then, Sri Rao, author and creator of the upcoming Netflix series The Actress, will teach you how to cook an Indian meal inspired by the food he ate as a child, interweaving the lesson with stories about his parents’ immigration to the U.S. and the joy Bollywood musicals brought his family. Open now through Feb. 20. Tickets start at $40 to view the stream, $175 for the interactive experience.

The Coolest Show is a new Think 100% podcast about environmental and climate justice and solutions from Hip Hop Caucus. Host Rev. Lennox Yearwood, Jr. talks to activists across the country, including Laura Cortez, Co-Director of East Yard Communities for Environmental Justice; Angelo Logan, Director of the Moving Forward Network in Long Beach; Beto Lugo-Martinez, Co-Director of Clean Air Now; Rachel Jefferson, Executive Director of Groundwork Northeast Revitalization Group; Darnell Grisby, Executive Director of TransForm, and others. Listen to episodes here.

CA Craft Beer Week takes place February 12-21, but they’re rolling out virtual events, activities, and product offerings now through February in support of the businesses struggling due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The next virtual Jewish music masterclass with Sephardic music master, guitarist, and singer Gerard Edery is on Jan. 19 at 5 p.m. The masterclass series is presented free of charge by the Lowell Milken Center for Music of American Jewish Experience at the UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music. Register here.

On Jan. 20 at 8 p.m., the Los Angeles Breakfast Club will host a virtual meeting featuring a presentation from author Danny Jensen (Secret Los Angeles, 100 Things to Do in Los Angeles Before You Die). Tickets are $5.

Holocaust Museum LA presents “Inside the Acid-Free Box: Symbols of Hate and the Nazi Propaganda Machine” on Jan. 19, at 4 p.m. This virtual show explores Nazi iconography, including the swastika and the SS skull and crossbones, and how they were used to “promote a notion of racially pure ‘Aryan’ people, while simultaneously excluding and ostracizing groups they viewed as inferior.” A minimum donation of $12 is suggested. Register here.

The Skirball’s exhibition “Tightrope: Americans Reaching for Hope” opens online Jan. 21. The free exhibit is based on the New York Times bestselling book by Pulitzer Prize-winning journalists Nicholas D. Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn, and “takes a humane approach to understanding America’s most complex problems, including the opioid epidemic, the prison industrial complex, and a lack of affordable healthcare.” See it here.

Timothy Horn’s Medusa. Photo courtesy of Craft in America Center. 

Craft in America’s new virtual exhibit Making Waves: Ocean Ecology & Craft features artists whose work explores “various ecological and human-generated threats to our oceans in a variety of media.” Select pieces are now on display in the street-facing windows of the Craft in America Center, but you can see them all online. Artists include Christopher Edwards, Linda Gass, Ana Lisa Hedstrom, Timothy Horn, Po Shun Leong, Courtney Mattison, Jennifer McCurdy, Sarah McMenimen, Blue McRight, Joan Takayama-Ogawa, and April Surgent.

On Jan. 19 at 7 p.m., The Groundlings presents “Sh!t My Folks Don’t Know,” an exploration of childhood secrets from Karen Maruyama (Nip Tuck), Jillian Bell (Bless the Harts), Michael Hitchcock (Crazy Ex-Girlfriend), Jeremy Rowley (Bless the Harts), Gary Anthony Williams (Bless the Harts), Ian Gary (Top Gun: Maverick), and Michaela Watkins (The Unicorn). Tickets are $5.

LA County Library’s Parent-Ade is a series of virtual programs to help parents handle distance learning. Programs are offered every Wednesday at 4 p.m. in English and at 5 p.m. in Spanish on Webex. They include topics such as “Socially Distant Adventures,” “Staying Connected with Family & Friends,” and “Balancing Work and Home.” Find more info here.

Take a virtual Art Deco Tour with the Los Angeles Conservancy on Jan. 20. Learn about the ‘20s and ‘30s architectural masterpieces that still exist in our city.

On Jan. 21, the Los Angeles City Planning Commission is hosting Equity Day 2021, a listening session for public input where you can share your experiences with planning and development in your neighborhood. The event is from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Register here.

Join Danish electronic music composer Trentemøller for a listening session of the artist’s hand-picked tracks from his five albums, followed by a Q&A.

Verzuz returns with a battle between two iconic songstresses, Keyshia Cole and Ashanti, streamed live on Verzuz’s Instagram on Jan. 21

There’s a free multi-course workshop on How to Grow Anything: Food Gardening for Everyone. Access anytime once you create an account.

Storybook Theatre is offering six of its children’s shows for free on YouTube. They include musical retellings of popular fairytales like Little Red Riding Hood, Jack and the Beanstalk, Sleeping Beauty, and more.

L.A. County Parks has over 175 virtual classes for all age levels. They include language, arts, computer, health, fitness, and other topics, all accessible from your home so long as you have internet access. Sign up here.

Take in some art this week by logging into a virtual gallery to explore Nancy R. Wise’s latest exhibit, Neo Pointillism.

If you’ve exhausted your current list of recipes, Baketivity offers baking kits for a variety of fun desserts and baked goods, including cake pops, cookies, and cinnamon buns. Kits are available as one-offs or subscriptions.

Board and Brush in Santa Monica helps you complete fun and useful crafts at home. You can browse the online shop to choose from one of dozens of DIY home decor kits, or sign up for an online workshop, ideal for virtual get-togethers with friends.

The Carne Asada Chow Fun from Pigeon.

Pickup & Delivery

Saikai Ramen Bar in Koreatown is offering three special bentos. The Egg Salad Sando Bento ($16), Chicken Katsu Sando Bento ($17), and the CLT ($17), a pork belly chashu version of the BLT. All are served with your choice of appetizer, a farmers market salad, pickles, and fruit. Open for takeout.

Brentwood’s Baltaire is hosting FLINT by Baltaire’s, an eight-week pop-up featuring items from Travis Strickland’s coastal Mediterranean restaurant in Phoenix. The menu features a spicy short rib hummus, Moroccan fried chicken, and a selection of wood-fired plates such as wood-grilled lamb chops, roasted chicken, and the FLINT Burger made with smoked bacon jam, white cheddar, and mayo on a poppyseed bun.

Pigeon is a wok cart pop-up at Hermanito in Sawtelle open every Saturday and Sunday in January from noon to 6 p.m. The menu consists of stir-fried Asian-Latin street food, like Kimchi Chorizo Fried Rice $13 (kimchi, Oaxacan chorizo, fried egg, pickled daikon, sesame); Carne Asada Chow Fun $15 (carne asada beef, rice noodles, bok choy, pickled onion, crispy shallot); and Sichuan Tempura Veg Fried Rice $11 (tofu, sweet potato, maitake mushroom, shiitake mushroom, Sichuan seasoning, sesame). Available for pickup.

Through Jan. 27, Randy’s Donuts in Inglewood is hosting a Snowpiercer takeover with fun photo ops and a free vanilla raised donut with coconut shavings for the first 100 guests (otherwise, $2.85 each).

Rappahannock Oyster Bar is offering a couple new meal packages priced $35, $75, and $145. The “L.A. Dinner” pack feeds two for $35 and includes oyster tacos, the lil rapp burger, truffle fries, crispy Brussels sprouts, and your choice of either two cans of Tecate or a bottle of wine (additional $10 fee). The “Fancy Comfort Food” pack feeds 3-4 for $145 and includes fresh oysters, shrimp cocktail, lobster mac & cheese, and more, along with a bottle of Cava.

Salt & Straw’s new Vegandulgence menu is back, featuring five incredibly rich and creamy dairy-free flavors. They include Peanut Butter Strawberry Crumble, Bourbon & Caramelized Honeycomb, Chocolate Hazelnut Cookies & Cream, Coconut Rice Pudding, and Banana Avocado Sorbet. Available for pickup, local delivery, and nationwide shipping through Feb. 4. 

Shiku is now open at Grand Central Market for curbside pickup and takeout of homestyle Korean food and Baroo pantry items.

Advertisements
Culture, Lifestyle, Things To Do

27 Things to Do in L.A. This Weekend [1-15-2021 to 1-17-2021]

January 14, 2021 by We Like L.A. Staff
Photo: Randy’s Donuts

We used to tell you about all the things you could go out and do in Los Angeles on a daily, weekly, and monthly basis. Then, the coronavirus changed life for all of us, in a thousand small and massive ways. Until the pandemic is behind us, we’ll post events that adhere to Public Health’s current protocols—including plenty of at-home and online events—every Monday and Thursday. We hope they keep you busy, make you laugh, teach you something, or help you feel less alone.

This weekend, we’ve got Rams donuts, takeout specials, a virtual theater fest, art and gardening workshops, storytime for kids, and moreHave something you want to submit for next week? Hit us up: [email protected].

At-Home & Online Events

The Echo Theater Company presents LABFest 2021 on Jan. 16 & 17, featuring three new plays by Brian Otaño, Roger Q. Mason, and Christopher Sullivan that were developed in the company’s 2020 Playwright’s LAB. All three are free. Get your Zoom links here.

Eschaton returns on Jan. 16 at 7 p.m. for another evening of surreal surprises. You’ll enter this virtual nightclub via Zoom, but from there, you can explore numerous pathways that lead to performances, puzzles, and much more. The experience lasts for exactly one hour before it vanishes until next month. Tickets are $13, but apt to sell out quickly.

Take a workshop with LACMA and learn how to create Pablo Picasso-inspired abstract portraiture. The two-hour online workshop takes place Jan. 16. Tickets are $25 for members and $30 for the general public.

Esotouric’s next virtual tour is John Bengtson’s Silent Echoes in Westlake: Early Los Angeles Film Locations. The webinar is based on tours Estouric conducted with author John Bengtson in March of 2019 and will explore Westlake filming locations from the silent movies of the 1920s. The event is on Jan. 16 at noon. Tickets are $10.

There’s a free multi -ourse workshop on How to Grow Anything: Food Gardening for Everyone. Access anytime once you create an account.

Storybook Theatre is offering six of its children’s shows for free on YouTube. They include musical retellings of popular fairytales like Little Red Riding Hood, Jack and the Beanstalk, Sleeping Beauty, and more.

On Jan. 17 at 11 a.m., Arena Cinematheque hosts a live Q&A with Another Round stars Mads Mikkelsen and Thomas Vinterberg. The film follows four middle-aged teachers who decide to see if maintaining a constant level of alcohol in their blood will help them find freedom and happiness. As the experiment continues, old issues emerge. RSVP here.

The City of West Hollywood’s next WeHo Sounds is on Jan. 15 at 6 p.m. The free virtual concert features classical guitarist Steve Thachuk and flutist Sarah Wass. Watch here.

L.A. County Parks is offering over 175 virtual classes for all age levels. They include language, arts, computer, health, fitness, and other topics, all accessible from your home so long as you have internet access. Sign up here.

On Jan. 16 at 8 p.m., The Wallis presents Richard Shelton: Sinatra Raw. Per a release: “May 1971 – The Purple Room, Palm Springs. Frank Sinatra prepares for his last intimate gig before his retirement. The air is electric and people jostle for position. Times are changing and the music scene is dominated by The Beatles and rock & roll. He drinks “One For My Baby” too many and starts to reminisce when things take an unexpected turn. This is the 2 AM Sinatra you dream of meeting.” Tickets are $25 per household and include streaming access for 24 hours.

Danielle Perez hosts Your Late Show Tonight! on Jan. 15 at 7 p.m. on Nowhere Comedy Club’s Zoom. Guests include Daily Show correspondent Dulce Sloan, comedian Guy Branum, and RuPaul’s Drag Race’s Meatball. Tickets are $10-$30.

Take in some art this week by logging into a virtual gallery to explore Nancy R. Wise’s latest exhibit, Neo Pointillism.

The Getty Get-Together invites the public to dive into the Getty Museum’s collection. A gallery educator will host a casual, hour-long session on Jan. 15 at 4 p.m. Advance registration is required to access the Zoom link.

Gather your little ones and join the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County on Jan. 15 at 11 a.m. for Story Time Live, a 30-minute live read of children’s books. The series continues every Friday.

If you’ve exhausted your current list of recipes, Baketivity offers baking kits for a variety of fun desserts and baked goods, including cake pops, cookies, and cinnamon buns. Kits are available as one-offs or subscriptions.

Experience the best local and international performers from the 30-year history of Sundays Live at LACMA, free online this Sunday, Jan. 17 at 6 p.m.

Join Pasadena Walking Tours on Jan. 17 as they explore the history of El Monte, the first new settlement of American Southern California. Topics include the frontier justice of the Monte boys, tourist attraction Gay’s Lion Farm, and Richie Valens and the Penguins’ performance at the American Legion Stadium.

The Valley Economic Alliance is hosting its annual gala, “Valley of the Stars…Rising,” on Jan. 15 at 5:15 p.m. Actor Jerry O’Connell will host an evening of awards and honorees. Tickets start at $50 and proceeds will benefit local small businesses, job search assistance for local residents, and advocacy for improving the quality of life in the San Fernando Valley.

Board and Brush in Santa Monica helps you complete fun and useful crafts at home. You can browse the online shop to choose from one of dozens of DIY home decor kits, or sign up for an online workshop, ideal for virtual get-togethers with friends.

Oste is now open in Beverly Grove.

Pickup & Delivery

Oste is now open in Beverly Grove, offering Roman-style pizza and Italian wines for delivery and takeout. The new venture will feature pinsa, a unique style of pizza that uses a blend of rice, soy, and wheat flours in its dough, resulting in a lower calorie, light, airy dough with a crunchy crust. Open Weds., Thurs., and Sun. From noon to 9 p.m., and Fri. & Sat. From noon to 9:30 p.m.

Pigeon is a wok cart pop-up at Hermanito in Sawtelle open every Saturday and Sunday in January from noon to 6 p.m. The menu consists of stir-fried Asian-Latin street food, like Kimchi Chorizo Fried Rice $13 (kimchi, Oaxacan chorizo, fried egg, pickled daikon, sesame); Carne Asada Chow Fun $15 (carne asada beef, rice noodles, bok choy, pickled onion, crispy shallot); and Sichuan Tempura Veg Fried Rice $11 (tofu, sweet potato, maitake mushroom, shiitake mushroom, Sichuan seasoning, sesame). Available for pickup.

On Saturday, Jan. 16, Randy’s Donuts is selling special L.A. Rams donuts to celebrate the game. They’re glazed, Bavarian cream-stuffed donuts in the shape of a football, decorated in Rams colors. Available at all locations while supplies last. 

Rappahannock Oyster Bar is offering a couple new meal packages priced $35, $75, and $145. The “L.A. Dinner” pack feeds two for $35 and includes oyster tacos, the lil rapp burger, truffle fries, crispy Brussels sprouts, and your choice of either two cans of Tecate or a bottle of wine (additional $10 fee). The “Fancy Comfort Food” pack feeds 3-4 for $145 and includes fresh oysters, shrimp cocktail, lobster mac & cheese, and more, along with a bottle of Cava.

Dominique Crenn, the first female three-star Michelin Chef in the United States, started a plant-based super foods meal delivery company during the pandemic. VitaBowl offers nourishing meals for $13 a pop. Find tasty creative options like spicy jackfruit or a lentil flax falafel on the menu. Each bowl is created with a specific health benefit in mind, such as anti-inflammatory, micro biotic, or gut health. Available on Postmates, GrubHub, and DoorDash. Mean plan delivery service Territory Foods has also recently included Crenn’s VitaBowls on its menu.

Salt & Straw’s new Vegandulgence menu is back, featuring five incredibly rich and creamy dairy-free flavors. They include Peanut Butter Strawberry Crumble, Bourbon & Caramelized Honeycomb, Chocolate Hazelnut Cookies & Cream, Coconut Rice Pudding, and Banana Avocado Sorbet. Available for pickup, local delivery, and nationwide shipping through Feb. 4. 

Shiku is now open at Grand Central Market for curbside pickup and takeout of homestyle Korean food and Baroo pantry items. 50% of the grand opening day gross sales will be donated to NAACP Legal Defense.

Thunderbolt is offering five tasty buttermilk biscuit sandwiches, including fried chicken, pork belly, and pickled fried green tomato, alongside a rotating selection of canned cocktails, beer, and wine. Available for takeout and delivery. Call them at (213) 372-5099 or find them on Postmates or GrubHub.

Advertisements
Culture, Lifestyle, Things To Do

29 Things to Do in L.A. This Week [1-11-2021 to 1-15-2021]

January 11, 2021 by We Like L.A. Staff
Urban Light Sculpture at LACMA
Urban Light at LACMA. Credit: Sarah Ackerman via flickr

We used to tell you about all the things you could go out and do in Los Angeles on a daily, weekly, and monthly basis. Then, the coronavirus changed life for all of us, in a thousand small and massive ways. Until the pandemic is behind us, we’ll post events that adhere to Public Health’s current protocols—including plenty of at-home and online events—every Monday and Thursday. We hope they keep you busy, make you laugh, teach you something, or help you feel less alone.

This week, we’ve astronomy talks, taco demos, children’s storytime, DIY baking kits, gardening webinars, new pizza and Korean restaurants, and moreHave something you want to submit for next week? Hit us up: [email protected].

At-Home & Online Events

Caltech’s Astronomy and Astrophysics Department’s popular Astronomy on Tap is now a livestream on YouTube. Before the pandemic, scientists and astronomy fans would take over local bars to hold 15-minute informal talks over beers and play astronomy-themed pub trivia. The next online iteration takes place on Monday, Jan. 11 at 7:30 p.m. Feel free to pour yourself a beer at home.

On Jan. 12 at 7 p.m., The Groundlings Theatre hosts Sister Groundling: The Ladies of the Attic Online Edition. The improv show features Samantha DeSurra, Allison Dunbar, Patty Guggenheim, Lyric Lewis, Edi Patterson, Emily Pendergast, Ariane Price, Lisa Schurga, and Annie Sertich, directed by Deanna Oliver. Tickets are $12.

Join LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes and Jonathan Perez of Macheen on Jan. 11 at 3 p.m. for an online demo on how to make tacos de suadero and salsa de aguacate taquera. Macheen was the winner of L.A. Taco’s 2020 Taco Madness tournament.

The Getty Get-Together invites the public to dive into the Getty Museum’s collection. A gallery educator will host a casual, hour-long session on Jan. 15 at 4 p.m. Advance registration is required to access the Zoom link.

Gather your little ones and join the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County on Jan. 15 at 11 a.m. for Story Time Live, a 30-minute live read of children’s books. The series continues every Friday.

If you’ve exhausted your current list of recipes, Baketivity offers baking kits for a variety of fun desserts and baked goods, including cake pops, cookies, and cinnamon buns. Kits are available as one-offs or subscriptions.

On Jan. 14 at 6 p.m., Zócalo Public Square will hold an online in-depth conversation on how to transform American higher education into a force for equity and innovation. The panel is moderated by Jennifer Ruark, Deputy Managing Editor, Chronicle of Higher Education, and features Arizona State University President Michael Crow, Pomona College President G. Gabrielle Starr, and California State University Chancellor Joseph Castro.

On Jan. 14 at 5 p.m., 18th Street Art Center presents “Come A Little Closer,” a free virtual performance from USC’s Roski School of Art and Design. Artists will use a variety of mediums to explore the concept of “online witnessing, what it means to be present with the realities of others through the screen.” Performances include an augmented reality exploration of trees, a virtual walk along the Vietnam Veterans Memorial wall in D.C., and an ASMR experience memorializing the passing of Puerto Rican astrologer, actor, and dancer Walter Mercado, among others. 

Join in on an educational livestream from NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory on Jan 13 at 3 p.m. The one-hour conversation is part of an ongoing series called “Teaching Space With NASA.” This week’s topic is “Monitoring Earth from Space.” All audiences are welcome to watch this live broadcast, which will also include a Q&A for registered participants.

On Jan. 12 at 11 a.m., The Fowler presents Séisme (Earthquake). Per a release: “On the 11-year anniversary of a devastating earthquake in Haiti, the Fowler’s Curatorial and Research Associate of Haitian Arts, Katherine Smith, and Assistant Professor of Art History and Africana Studies at Boston College, Kyrah Malika Daniels, discuss Séisme (Earthquake), a beaded flag created in 2010 by Haitian artist Evelyne Alcide. In Séisme, Alcide details the nightmarish post-earthquake landscape of Port-au-Prince. The artwork conflates city and cemetery, revealing the overwhelming presence of the dead, while Vodou spirits and angels hover above the carnage.” RSVP for the free online event here.

LACMA will host a conversation centered around artist Yoshitomo Nara on Jan. 12 at 6 p.m. via Zoom. The talk is presented by Yeewan Koon, Chair of the Department of Art History at the University of Hong Kong and author of Yoshitomo Nara, a monograph that looks at Nara’s work from the last three decades.

The Valley Economic Alliance is hosting its annual gala, “Valley of the Stars…Rising,” on Jan. 15 at 5:15 p.m. Actor Jerry O’Connell will host an evening of awards and honorees. Tickets start at $50 and proceeds will benefit local small businesses, job search assistance for local residents, and advocacy for improving the quality of life in the San Fernando Valley.

On Jan. 13 & 14, LACMA will host a screening of the documentary Crip Camp, followed by a conversation with co-directors Nicole Newnham and Jim LeBrecht moderated by NPR’s Eric Deggans. Per a release: “In the early 1970s, teenagers with disabilities faced a future shaped by isolation, discrimination, and institutionalization. Camp Jened, a ramshackle camp “for the handicapped” in the Catskills, exploded those confines. Jened was their freewheeling Utopia, a place with summertime sports, smoking, and makeout sessions awaited everyone, and campers felt fulfilled as human beings. Their bonds endured as they migrated West to Berkeley, California—a promised land for a growing and diverse disability community—where friends from Camp Jened realized that disruption and unity might secure life-changing accessibility for millions.” RSVP here.

On Jan. 13 at 5 p.m., CalTech’s next Watson Lecture is “Artificial Intelligence: How it Works and What it Means for the Future” with Yisong Yue, professor of computing and mathematical sciences in the Division of Engineering and Applied Science at Caltech. Per a release: “Over the past decade, artificial intelligence (AI) and the massive amounts of data powering such systems have dramatically changed our world. And as both the technology and the way in which scientists and engineers handle it becomes more refined, the impact of AI in society will become more profound. In this lecture, Yue will explore the key principles powering the current revolution in AI, consider how cutting-edge AI techniques are transforming how research is done across science and engineering at Caltech, and examine what all of this means for the future of material design, robotics, and big data seismology, among other areas of investigation.” Register here.

On Jan. 13 at 2 p.m., L.A. Louver hosts a virtual conversation with “45 at 45” artists with Kohshin Finley, Gajin Fujita, Patrick Martinez, and Gabriella Sanchez, moderated by Kris Kuramitsu, Deputy Director and Senior Curator at The Mistake Room. The L.A. natives will discuss how the city has influenced their work and their visions for the short- and long-term future. A Q&A will follow the discussion. RSVP here.

Join Scott Logan of the Southern California Horticultural Society on Jan 14 at 7:30 p.m. for a webinar, plant forum, lecture, and Q&A on how to cultivate native plants inside and outside of your home.

On Jan. 13 at 2 p.m., Holocaust Museum LA presents “Welcome to Paradise: Refugees at Home in LA.” The series features the inspiring stories of refugees in Los Angeles. For this event, Jordanna Gessler, Vice President of Education and Exhibits at Holocaust Museum LA, and Joe Goldman, Community Engagement Director at Western Region – HIAS, will speak to Henry Slucki. Per a release, Slucki is “a Holocaust survivor who recently retired as Professor of Behavioral Sciences at USC. After enduring an arduous escape from Nazi-occupied France, Henry’s parents sent him to the United States alone as part of First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt’s initiative to save refugee children.” RSVP here.

Society of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators celebrates queer voices with a discussion with LGBTQIA+ creators touching on the joys and challenges of queer representation in their work and the importance of telling these stories.

Board and Brush in Santa Monica helps you complete fun and useful crafts at home. You can browse the online shop to choose from one of dozens of DIY home decor kits, or sign up for an online workshop, ideal for virtual get-togethers with friends.

InFocus: Israeli Cinema is on Jan. 11 & 14 and features free screenings and discussions. The events are hosted by NewFilmmakers Los Angeles (NFMLA) and the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) with presenting partners the Consulate General of Israel in Los Angeles and the Office of Cultural Affairs, Consulate General of Israel in New York.

You can now watch the Los Angeles Fashion Festival’s 2020 film selections and submissions online here.

Salt & Straw’s new vegan offerings are available all month. Photo: Salt & Straw

Pickup & Delivery

Oste opens on West 3rd in Beverly Grove on Jan. 13, offering Roman-style pizza and Italian wines for delivery and takeout. The new venture will feature pinsa, a unique style of pizza that uses a blend of rice, soy, and wheat flours in its dough, resulting in a lower calorie, light, airy dough with a crunchy crust. Open Weds., Thurs., and Sun. From noon to 9 p.m., and Fri. & Sat. From noon to 9:30 p.m.

Salt & Straw’s new Vegandulgence menu is back, featuring five incredibly rich and creamy dairy-free flavors. They include Peanut Butter Strawberry Crumble, Bourbon & Caramelized Honeycomb, Chocolate Hazelnut Cookies & Cream, Coconut Rice Pudding, and Banana Avocado Sorbet. For something refreshing, choose the Banana Avocado. Otherwise, you really can’t go wrong with the chocolate hazelnut, which contains house-made cookies for a satisfying crunch. Available for pickup, local delivery, and nationwide shipping through Feb. 4. 

Shiku opens at Grand Central Market on Jan. 15 for curbside pickup and takeout of homestyle Korean food and Baroo pantry items. 50% of the grand opening day gross sales will be donated to NAACP Legal Defense.

Thunderbolt is offering five tasty buttermilk biscuit sandwiches, including fried chicken, pork belly, and pickled fried green tomato, alongside a rotating selection of canned cocktails, beer, and wine. Available for takeout and delivery. Call them at (213) 372-5099 or find them on Postmates or GrubHub.

Hinoki & the Bird’s Brandon Kida is delivering expertly crafted gyozas straight to your home at an affordable price. Go Go Gyoza is made with local and high-quality ingredients. Three signature fillings of vegetables, Kurobuta Pork, or Jidori Chicken are always on the menu (12 for $8 – $12). Kida has also invited a number of chefs and culinary experts to create specialty gyozas (12 for $15) for charitable causes. Available for pickup and delivery.

Santa Monica’s Birdie G’s just released Goldbars, gluten-free potato latkes with decadent fillings including buffalo chicken and liberty duck ham cordon bleu. Available for pickup and delivery on most food apps.

Creme Caramel LA is open for pickup and delivery in Sherman Oaks. Offerings include 6-ounce Crème Caramels, Upside Down Pies, Bread Pudding, and Vegan Custards, all $5 each until the pandemic ends.

Piccalilli in Culver City just launched The Banh Mi Shop, a pop-up serving an assortment of banh mi sandwiches including Crispy Pork Belly ($15), Lemongrass BBQ Chicken ($14), Crispy Tofu ($13), and Fried Egg ($12). All sandwiches include house-made chips. Additional sides and soft drinks are available. Open Tues.-Sat. from noon to 8 p.m. for takeout or delivery. 

Advertisements
Things To Do

23 Things to Do in L.A. This Weekend [1-8-2021 to 1-10-2021]

January 7, 2021 by We Like L.A. Staff
Kate Winslet and Saoirse Ronan star in ‘Ammonite.’ Image: See Saw Films

We used to tell you about all the things you could go out and do in Los Angeles on a daily, weekly, and monthly basis. Then, the coronavirus changed life for all of us, in a thousand small and massive ways. Until the pandemic is behind us, we’ll post events that adhere to Public Health’s current protocols—including plenty of at-home and online events—every Monday and Thursday. We hope they keep you busy, make you laugh, teach you something, or help you feel less alone.

This weekend, we’ve got a David Bowie tribute concert, vegan ice cream, craft classes, online art shows and tours, and moreHave something you want to submit for next week? Hit us up: [email protected].

At-Home & Online Events

There’s a David Bowie tribute concert starring Trent Reznor, Billy Corgan, Gary Oldman, Perry Farrell, Macy Gray, and more livestreaming on Jan. 8 to celebrate the late artist’s 74th birthday. Tickets are $25.

Enjoy a laugh during the virtual edition of L.A.’s very own Chocolate Sundaes Comedy Show on Jan. 10. The show is donation-based and money raised goes to the staff and comedians of the legendary Laugh Factory.

Esotouric invites you to embark on a virtual exploration of “George Mann’s Fabulous Vintage Views of Los Angeles” on Jan 9. Mann was a 6′ 5″ comedic vaudeville star who also captured candid backstage moments through photographs. He later reinvented himself by developing a custom 3-D photo viewer which gave him the opportunity to capture the vibrant scenes of the Southland. This lecture is packed with rare photos including 3-D images and conversations with George’s son Brad Smith, daughter-in-law and archivist Dianne Woods, and Chris Casady, a 3-D photographer. Tickets are $10 and include a Q&A at the end of the lecture.

You can now watch the Los Angeles Fashion Festival’s 2020 film selections and submissions online here.

Board and Brush in Santa Monica helps you complete fun and useful crafts at home. You can browse the online shop to choose from one of dozens of DIY home decor kits, or sign up for an online workshop, ideal for virtual get-togethers with friends.

Nocking Point Wines—co-founded by Arrow star Stephen Amell—is hosting a Broadway-themed, wine-infused game night on Jan. 10 at 5 p.m. in celebration of a new wine collaboration with Patti Murin and Colin Donnell. The game is the Drunken Artist Drinking Game. Amell, Murin, Donnell, and several celebrity guests will attempt to draw a picture of a Broadway title while getting everyone else to try to guess what it is. Tickets are $25 and all proceeds will benefit The Actors Fund, Black Theater United, and Project ALS. Nocking Point wines can be purchased via membership or in sets.

American Cinematheque presents a free online conversation with Elisabeth Moss, star of The Invisible Man and Shirley, on Saturday, Jan. 9. Advance registration is required to access the Zoom link.

On Sat., Jan. 9 at 10 a.m., the Culinary Historians of Southern California present “That Farm Town, L.A.,” a lecture with Charles Perry that delves into L.A.’s agricultural history. Tickets are free with RSVP. Reservations close 24 hours in advance.

On Jan. 9, join Shoebox Projects for an opening reception of artist Karen Hochman Brown’s “Animations.” The solo exhibit is viewable online and features a number of time-based works that celebrate form and movement. The reception at 3 p.m. includes a Q&A with the artist and can be accessed using this Zoom link and the passcode: 133925. See the show here.

Join Arena Cinematheque for a Q&A with writer-director Francis Lee and star Kate Winslet as they discuss Ammonite. The film tells the story of a “social boundary-defying love affair set in the wild Southern English coastline in the 1840s.” The Q&A is at 10 a.m. on Zoom and includes a free screener with RSVP.

Dance Camera West Film Festival kicks off Jan. 7-9 with International Dance: Los Angeles, a virtual film fest highlighting 19 films, primarily featuring French-language artists with Q&As also in French. The festival concludes on Jan. 30-31 at Dance Camera West Drive-In’s “Best of the Festival
at Santa Monica College.

On Jan. 8, LA Walking Tours will host a virtual Haunted Tales experience that exposes the dark side of Los Angeles: murder, mysteries, and unsolved crimes that still haunt the city today. Tickets are $10.

Rufus Wainright presents A Rufus-Retro-Wainwright-Spective: “Release the Stars” on Jan. 8. Tickets to the livestream are $20.

The 2021 Sundance Film Festival is online this year with ticket sales starting Thursday, Jan. 7 at 11 a.m. This year’s festival will feature a slate of features, shorts, episodic works, and VR/AR projects. A single ticket is $15 and a full Festival Pass to see anything and everything will set you back $350.

Salt & Straw’s new vegan offerings are available all month. Photo: Salt & Straw

Pickup & Delivery

Salt & Straw’s new Vegandulgence menu is back, featuring five incredibly rich and creamy dairy-free flavors. They include Peanut Butter Strawberry Crumble, Bourbon & Caramelized Honeycomb, Chocolate Hazelnut Cookies & Cream, Coconut Rice Pudding, and Banana Avocado Sorbet. For something refreshing, choose the Banana Avocado. Otherwise, you really can’t go wrong with the chocolate hazelnut, which contains house-made cookies for a satisfying crunch. Available for pickup, local delivery, and nationwide shipping through Feb. 4. 

Hinoki & the Bird’s Brandon Kida is delivering expertly crafted gyozas straight to your home at an affordable price. Go Go Gyoza is made with local and high-quality ingredients. Three signature fillings of vegetables, Kurobuta Pork, or Jidori Chicken are always on the menu (12 for $8 – $12). Kida has also invited a number of chefs and culinary experts to create specialty gyozas (12 for $15) for charitable causes. Available for pickup and delivery.

Santa Monica’s Birdie G’s just released Goldbars, gluten-free potato latkes with decadent fillings including buffalo chicken and liberty duck ham cordon bleu. Available for pickup and delivery on most food apps.

Creme Caramel LA is open for pickup and delivery in Sherman Oaks. Offerings include 6-ounce Crème Caramels, Upside Down Pies, Bread Pudding, and Vegan Custards, all $5 each until the pandemic ends.

Piccalilli in Culver City just launched The Banh Mi Shop, a pop-up serving an assortment of banh mi sandwiches including Crispy Pork Belly ($15), Lemongrass BBQ Chicken ($14), Crispy Tofu ($13), and Fried Egg ($12). All sandwiches include house-made chips. Additional sides and soft drinks are available. Open Tues.-Sat. from noon to 8 p.m. for takeout or delivery. 

Thunderbolt is offering comfort foods like their Fried Green Tomato Sando, Shrimp & Grits, and Buttermilk Biscuits for takeout and delivery alongside a rotating selection of canned cocktails, beer, and wine. Call them at (213) 372-5099 or find them on Postmates or GrubHub.

Micheal Mina’s Bourbon Steakhouse is hiding a hot chicken operation in its kitchen. Tokyo Hot Chicken fuses traditional fried chicken and the bold flavors of Japanese cuisine. Chicken is brined and then fried karaage style, while the skin is dashed with togarashi and other hot spices. Sides include fries and rice sprinkled with furikake, wasabi mashed potatoes, dashi braised kale, miso corn, and a variety of dipping sauces. Available for delivery and pickup.

Women-owned and operated Tlayuda L.A. in Hollywood is open for takeout and delivery offering its signature tlayudas and other Oaxacan dishes. They also have family meals, an under $5 menu, and a not-so-secret menu with enchiladas smothered in three sauces, a sweet heart-shaped tlayuda, and more.

Medan Kitchen in Rosemead offers Indonesian food for pickup, plus a mini-market stocked with snacks, ramen, and sauces. Food can run out quickly here, especially the popular Beef Rendang and Nasi Bungkus wrapped in banana leaf. The menu changes every day, so check Instagram for the latest updates. Open Thursday through Sunday.

Advertisements
Things To Do

23 Things to Do in L.A. This Week [1-4-2021 to 1-8-2021]

January 4, 2021 by We Like L.A. Staff
Insomniac’s Electric Mile. Photo: Insomniac/Facebook

We used to tell you about all the things you could go out and do in Los Angeles on a daily, weekly, and monthly basis. Then, the coronavirus changed life for all of us, in a thousand small and massive ways. Until the pandemic is behind us, we’ll post events that adhere to Public Health’s current protocols—including plenty of at-home and online events—every Monday and Friday morning. We hope they keep you busy, make you laugh, teach you something, or help you feel less alone.

This week, we’ve got online breakfast clubs, neon drive-thrus, Sundance’s virtual fest, and moreHave something you want to submit for next week? Hit us up: [email protected].

Out-of-the-House Events

Insomniac presents Electric Mile, a drive-thru festival experience inspired by the unique worlds of signature events including EDC, Beyond Wonderland, Nocturnal Wonderland, Escape, and Countdown. The event takes place at Santa Anita Park through Jan. 10 and features music, a warehouse rave, 5 million lights, installations, and more.

South Coast Botanic Garden’s GLOW is a night-time light installation set to a custom soundtrack that includes everything from classical music to electro-pop. Open through Jan. 10. Tickets are $34.95 for non-members, $24.95 for members, free for children 4 and under.

Cinelounge Drive-in in Hollywood presents Promising Young Woman, a new thriller from Emerald Fennell (Killing Eve) starring Carey Mulligan. Enjoy the film from the comfort of your vehicle, and maybe with a bag or two of Cinelounge’s flavored popcorn. Tickets are $25/person and must be purchased, along with any refreshments, online in advance.

Glendale Arts invites the public to add their wishes for 2021 to the Alex Theatre Wishing Wall, a new installation on the historic Alex Theatre’s gates in downtown Glendale. The project is inspired by Yoko Ono’s Wishing Tree project and encourages participants to share their hopes for the future. You can grab a wish tag in-person or submit your wish online, where staff will write and hang it for you. The Wishing Wall will be on view at the theater through Jan. 8 before moving around Glendale for the next year. 

Grand Park’s new public art installation, “Ground Our Present, Dot Our Future,” is available to enjoy now through Jan. 25. It consists of 74 quotes, crowdsourced from Angelenos over the past year, that line park walkways. The artwork “reinvents the current floor distancing decal culture by putting the emphasis back on how Angelenos can be socially connected—by gaining knowledge and understanding about the diverse experiences in Los Angeles County from the perspectives of those who live them.” It’s free to enjoy any time. Just take a walk in the park.

Hikari a Festival of Lights at Tanaka Farms turns the 30-acre Irvine farm into a dazzling spectacle of lights on trees, scarecrows, tractors, and even their sugarcane crop. Open nightly through Jan. 10. Tickets start at $49 per vehicle.

Descano GardensReflections at Descano is open through Jan. 10. The day-time event includes art, a Wishing Tree artist Kaz Yokou Kitajima made from a felled Oak tree, floral arches, deer sculptures, winter plantings, and more. Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, and all Reflections activities are included with general admission. That’s $15 for adults, $11 for seniors and students, $5 for children 5-12, and free for children under 5.

Tokyo Hot Chicken
Tokyo Hot Chicken

Pickup & Delivery

Micheal Mina’s Bourbon Steakhouse is hiding a hot chicken operation in its kitchen. Tokyo Hot Chicken fuses traditional fried chicken and the bold flavors of Japanese cuisine. Chicken is brined and then fried karaage style, while the skin is dashed with togarashi and other hot spices. Sides include fries and rice sprinkled with furikake, wasabi mashed potatoes, dashi braised kale, miso corn, and a variety of dipping sauces. Available for delivery and pickup.

Women-owned and operated Tlayuda L.A. in Hollywood is open for takeout and delivery offering its signature tlayudas and other Oaxacan dishes. They also have family meals, an under $5 menu, and a not-so-secret menu with enchiladas smothered in three sauces, a sweet heart-shaped tlayuda, and more.

Q Sushi, well-known for its high-end omakase experience, is now offering takeout boxes. A premium omakase sushi box for two is $400 and includes 20 pieces of nigiri and sashimi per person. Order on Tock.

Medan Kitchen in Rosemead offers Indonesian food for pickup, plus a mini-market stocked with snacks, ramen, and sauces. Food can run out quickly here, especially the popular Beef Rendang and Nasi Bungkus wrapped in banana leaf. The menu changes every day, so check Instagram for the latest updates. Open Thursday through Sunday.

Bardonna in Santa Monica is offering handcrafted chocolate bombs ($8, or 2 for $15). Each globe is filled with hot cocoa and marshmallows. You drop them into a cup of hot milk and watch them explode into a delectable mug of hot chocolate, perfect for chilly nights at home.

Roguelike Tavern in Burbank hasn’t been able to actually open, given the pandemic. However, they are currently soft-open for takeout food, cocktails, beer, wine, and spirits. Starting Dec. 29, they’re offering a puzzle box experience that comes with two meals, a flight of quality spirits, and a mystery for you to solve. Order online here.

At-Home & Online Events

The 2021 Sundance Film Festival is held online this year with ticket sales starting Thursday, Jan. 7 at 11 a.m. This year’s festival will feature a slate of features, shorts, episodic works, and VR/AR projects. A single ticket is $15 and a full Festival Pass to see anything and everything will set you back $350.

Celebrate the Year of the Ox virtually during the Japanese American National Museum’s Oshogatsu Family Festival Jan. 3-8. Activities include a peek inside the museum’s collection, storytime, crafts, and a conversation around traditional Oshogatsu foods with local Japanese restaurants.

The Los Angeles Breakfast Club has moved to Zoom meetings during the pandemic. On Wednesday, Jan. 6 at 7 a.m., join them for a presentation from Dr. Paul Koudounaris and his cat, Baba, co-authors of A Cat’s Tale. The fascinating book tells the history of cats, complete with costumes of the eras modeled by Baba herself. Tickets are $5.

You can now watch the Los Angeles Fashion Festival’s 2020 film selections and submissions online here.

American Cinematheque presents a free online conversation with Palm Springs stars Andy Samberg, Cristin Milioti, and J.K. Simmons on Wednesday, Jan. 6. Advance registration is required to access the Zoom link.

Dance Camera West Film Festival kicks off Jan. 7-9 with International Dance: Los Angeles, a virtual film fest highlighting 19 films, primarily featuring French-language artists with Q&As also in French. The festival concludes on Jan. 30-31 at Dance Camera West Drive-In’s “Best of the Festival
at Santa Monica College.

On Jan. 8, LA Walking Tours will host a virtual Haunted Tales experience that exposes the dark side of Los Angeles: murder, mysteries, and unsolved crimes that still haunt the city today. Tickets are $10.

Celebrated Israeli-American composer Shulamit Ran will continue her free virtual Jewish Music Masterclass series presented by the Lowell Milken Center for Music of American Jewish Experience at the UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music on Jan 5.

The inaugural Black & White Film Festival is a free virtual fest featuring two shorts and a full-length film. Watch on Vimeo.

From LACMA@Home: “Color in these free, printable artworks, taken from the Kurt J. Wagner, M.D. and C. Kathleen Wagner Collection of art nouveau posters that were generously donated to LACMA’s Prints and Drawings department in the 1980s.”

Advertisements
Things To Do

24 Things to Do in L.A. This Weekend [1-1-2020 to 1-3-2020]

December 31, 2020 by We Like L.A. Staff
1st Street Bridge
1st Street Bridge in Los Angeles. Photo by Diana Kuo

We used to tell you about all the things you could go out and do in Los Angeles on a daily, weekly, and monthly basis. Then, the coronavirus changed life for all of us, in a thousand small and massive ways. Until the pandemic is behind us, we’ll post events that adhere to Public Health’s current protocols—including plenty of at-home and online events—every Monday and Friday morning. We hope they keep you busy, make you laugh, teach you something, or help you feel less alone.

This week, we’ve got a drive-thru festival, online quests and variety shows, the Japanese American National Museum’s virtual Oshogatsu Family Festival, and moreHave something you want to submit for next week? Hit us up: [email protected].

Insomniac. Photo by Gabe Tiano.

Out-of-the-House Events

Insomniac presents Electric Mile, a drive-thru festival experience inspired by the unique worlds of signature events including EDC, Beyond Wonderland, Nocturnal Wonderland, Escape, and Countdown. The event takes place at Santa Anita Park on Jan. 1-10 and will feature music, a warehouse rave, 5 million lights, installations, and more.

Glendale Arts invites the public to add their wishes for 2021 to the Alex Theatre Wishing Wall, a new installation on the historic Alex Theatre’s gates in downtown Glendale. The project is inspired by Yoko Ono’s Wishing Tree project and encourages participants to share their hopes for the future. You can grab a wish tag in-person or submit your wish online, where staff will write and hang it for you. The Wishing Wall will be on view at the theater through Jan. 8 before moving around Glendale for the next year. 

Grand Park’s new public art installation, “Ground Our Present, Dot Our Future,” is available to enjoy now through Jan. 25. It consists of 74 quotes, crowdsourced from Angelenos over the past year, that line park walkways. The artwork “reinvents the current floor distancing decal culture by putting the emphasis back on how Angelenos can be socially connected—by gaining knowledge and understanding about the diverse experiences in Los Angeles County from the perspectives of those who live them.” It’s free to enjoy any time. Just take a walk in the park.

Pickup & Delivery

Vita Coco is partnering with Postmates to bring free limited-edition hangover recovery kits right to your doorstep on National Hangover Day, otherwise known as Jan. 1. The kit includes a breakfast sandwich, Vita Coco coconut water, socks, ear plugs, Banila skincare, one free month of Obé Fitness, and more. Order for contact-free delivery through the Postmates app starting at 11 a.m. on Jan. 1, while supplies last. Choose the Vita Coco National Hangover Day Recovery Kit when ordering.

Q Sushi, well-known for its high-end omakase experience, is now offering takeout boxes. A premium omakase sushi box for two is $400 and includes 20 pieces of nigiri and sashimi per person. Order on Tock.

Bardonna in Santa Monica is offering handcrafted chocolate bombs ($8 or 2 for $15). Each globe is filled with hot cocoa and marshmallows. You drop them into a cup of hot milk and watch them explode into a delectable mug of hot chocolate, perfect for chilly nights at home.

Roguelike Tavern in Burbank hasn’t been able to actually open, given the pandemic. However, they are currently soft-open for takeout food, cocktails, beer, wine, and spirits. Starting Dec. 29, they’re offering a puzzle box experience that comes with two meals, a flight of quality spirits, and a mystery for you to solve. Order online here.

At-Home & Online Events

Thickett Quests are interactive stories that feature live actors, performances, and hidden pathways. Players use an online portal to navigate an animated world, similar to a video game, interacting with characters and objects along the way. You’ll pick up items, solve riddles, chat with players, and explore. (Watch the video above to see how it works.) A holiday edition is on Jan. 3, though there are also quests on Jan. 1 and Jan. 2. Tickets are $20-$25.

Take your wine knowledge to the next level with Wine LA’s Wine Camp on Jan. 3. Enjoy a two-hour crash course on all things wine, including how wine is made, how to describe vino like the pros do, and what foods pair well with wine. The class is on Zoom and comes with wine flights.

Enjoy a laugh during the virtual edition of L.A.’s very own Chocolate Sundaes Comedy Show on Jan. 3. The show is donation-based and money raised goes to the staff and comedians of the legendary Laugh Factory.

From LACMA@Home: “Color in these free, printable artworks, taken from the Kurt J. Wagner, M.D. and C. Kathleen Wagner Collection of art nouveau posters that were generously donated to LACMA’s Prints and Drawings department in the 1980s.”

Celebrate the Year of the Ox virtually during the Japanese American National Museum’s Oshogatsu Family Festival Jan. 3-8. Activities include a peek inside the museum’s collection, storytime, crafts, and a conversation around traditional Oshogatsu foods with local Japanese restaurants.

Esotouric invites you to embark on a virtual exploration of Pershing Square on Jan 2. According to some, Pershing Square is one of “America’s most hated urban parks.” The tour explores the park’s origin, its golden age, how everything went wrong, and its future. The lecture is packed with rare photos and videos. Tickets are $10 and include a Q&A.

The Rose Parade’s New Year Celebration will be reimagined as a two-hour television special on New Year’s Day at 8 a.m. on ABC, Hallmark, KTLA, NBC, RFT-TV, and Univision. The show will feature musical and marching band performances, celebrity guest appearances, special Rose Bowl Game football highlights, spectacular floats from years past, and more.

The Robey Theatre Company recently held a competition in which playwrights submitted ideas for a play surrounding Kwanzaa. On Jan. 1 at 6 p.m., seven short scenes will air over Zoom and the public is invited to offer input that will influence which play Robey develops, produces, and premieres in 2021. Register for tickets here. The suggested donation is $10. 

The Dave Hill Goodtime Hour is hosting a watch party for the 1982 Bollywood film Disco Dancer on Jan. 2 at 4 p.m. The film will broadcast on Twitch via an Amazon Prime Watch Party. Afterward, there will be a Q&A with Dave Hill, Anuvab Pal, and Shonali Bhowmik. 

On Friday, Jan. 1 at 7 p.m., Fire Emoji is a comedy & strip variety show featuring comics Alison Stevenson, Dewayne Perkins, Ashley Ray, Dana Donnelly, Emily Whittemore, Anya Volz, and Becca O’Neal, plus dancers Onyx Black, Cera Byer, Penelope, Syn, Naomi, and Amaya J. Tickets are $10 with RSVP and will benefit the Black SW Relief Fund.

Watch Angel City Chorale’s first virtual concert free on YouTube until Jan. 7, 2021.

Tycho kicks off 2021 with Sunrise Solo Ascent, a solo performance on Jan. 1 at 7 a.m. from the wooded hills of Northern California. The stream will be available to rewatch for 48 hours following the initial broadcast.

Let chef Kuniko Yagi of Pikunico teach you how to bring a Japanese twist to a typical meal. The three-episode series is part of the Japanese Food Lab program hosted on the JAPAN HOUSE Los Angeles YouTube Channel.

See “A Time of Questioning,” a group exhibition curated by arts writer Shana Nys Dambrot, online. Artists include Alexa Druyanoff, L. Aviva Diamond, Carl Shubs, Jeannine Chanin Penn, Julie Ascher, Justin Prough, Kevin Mischler, Leslie Barton, Sharon Koppelman, and Snezana Saraswati Petrovic.

Take a pre-recorded Architectural Legacy Tour from Pasadena Heritage. Each tour offers a peek at architectural gems including craftsman bungalows, The Freeman House, and buildings along South Grand Avenue. Tickets start at $15 for non-members. Available now through Jan. 3.

Name a baby condor! The L.A. Zoo’s condor conservation program recently hatched a baby chick currently known as LA127. The Zoo is currently accepting donations for the California Condor Recovery Program (CCRP) through Jan. 7. Any amount will grant you to the opportunity to cast a vote for one of four names. Appear on the Zoo’s website starting at donations of $5, with other benefits at higher levels.

Rogue Artists Ensemble‘s “Storage Run” is an immersive holiday show where you can choose what happens. Part One kicks off on Dec. 18 at 7 p.m., while Part Two and Three post on Dec. 25 and Jan. 1, respectively. All three parts will remain online through Jan. 31. Synopsis: “With just a few weeks remaining until the holidays, Mike becomes trapped and alone in a tangled web of Rogue storage — or so it seems. Boot up and plug into a story of computer age connection and holiday whimsy, and help Mike on a quest to send a message to the world. Will you help? Y/N? Your choices build a singular and unlikely friendship and unlock a “holiday-tastic” adventure, all from the safety of your computer.” Tickets are pay-what-you-can with a suggested price of $20.

Advertisements
Things To Do

24 Things to Do in L.A. This Christmas Weekend [12-25-2020 to 12-27-2020]

December 24, 2020 by We Like L.A. Staff
venice beach canals holiday christmas
Venice Canals during Christmas. Photo by Christina Champlin.

We used to tell you about all the things you could go out and do in Los Angeles on a daily, weekly, and monthly basis. Then, the coronavirus changed life for all of us, in a thousand small and massive ways. Until the pandemic is behind us, we’ll post events that adhere to Public Health’s current protocols—including plenty of at-home and online events—every Monday and Friday morning. We hope they keep you busy, make you laugh, teach you something, or help you feel less alone.

This week, we’ve got fun food specials for pickup and delivery, outdoor art, virtual celebrations, and more. Have something you want to submit for next week? Hit us up: [email protected].

Out-of-the-House Events

Find fun holiday events for the whole family, including drive-thrus, online events, and socially distant gardens in our holiday roundup here.

Glendale Arts invites the public to add their wishes for 2021 to the Alex Theatre Wishing Wall, a new installation on the historic Alex Theatre’s gates in downtown Glendale. The project is inspired by Yoko Ono’s Wishing Tree project and encourages participants to share their hopes for the future. You can grab a wish tag in-person or submit your wish online, where staff will write and hang it for you. The Wishing Wall will be on view at the theater through Jan. 8 before moving around Glendale for the next year. 

On Dec. 25, Cinelounge Drive-in in Hollywood presents Wonder Woman 1984. Enjoy this brand new film from Patty Jenkins from the comfort of your vehicle, and maybe with a bag or two of Cinelounge’s flavored popcorn. Tickets are $25/person and must be purchased, along with any refreshments, online in advance.

Grand Park’s new public art installation, “Ground Our Present, Dot Our Future,” is available to enjoy now through Jan. 25. It consists of 74 quotes, crowdsourced from Angelenos over the past year, that line park walkways. The artwork “reinvents the current floor distancing decal culture by putting the emphasis back on how Angelenos can be socially connected—by gaining knowledge and understanding about the diverse experiences in Los Angeles County from the perspectives of those who live them.” It’s free to enjoy any time. Just take a walk in the park.

The Lil More Pep from Paper Pizza Company. Photo by Christina Champlin.

Pickup & Delivery

Newcomer Paper Pizza Company in Downey makes thin-crust pies with 00 Italian wheat flour topped with generous portions of deliciousness. The Lil More Pep is loaded with 8 ounces of mini pepperonis and comes with a side of Hawt Honey Sauce for a sweet and spicy kick. Other pizzas include the Piggy Smallz topped with Calabrese Hot Salami and the Truffle Shuffle with black truffles and lemon. Make sure to have some napkins on standby because Paper Pizza’s signature garlic butter is drizzled on every pie. Order the spaghetti and pepperoni meatballs to complete your Italian meal.

Little Tokyo’s Far Bar is doing a “Beer Tour of Japan” kit for takeaway. It features five different Japanese beers, a map to guide you on your tasting journey, a bowl from local gift shop Bunkado filled with bar snacks, and trinkets for luck from nearby Koyasan Temple. The kit costs $55 and can be purchased by filling out an online form.

Lanea Cocktail Bar in Santa Monica’s “Thirst Trap” canned cocktails are a great deal if you’re looking for a quality cocktail you don’t have to make yourself. Current specials include a four-pack for $20; the 12 Days of Christmas Pack featuring 12 cocktails and a bag of Takis for $58; and the Happy New Year’s Party Pack featuring four cocktails, a bottle of bubbles, at-home party favors, and two bags of Takis for $50. Closed on Christmas Day. Available for pickup or delivery.

Chef Jeff Meyer’s Element29 Deli in Culver City will be open during the holiday weekend. Offerings include the full-stack pastrami paired with coleslaw and swiss cheese on marble rye; a brisket melt with brisket dry-rubbed in African ‘ras el hanout’ spices, then smoked for 18 hours, and corned beef made in-house with pickling spice, then slow-simmered for four hours.

Chef Mario Christerna of recently-opened Brooklyn Ave. Pizza Co. in Boyle Heights is reimagining a traditional holiday dish in the form of a pizza. The Chile en Nogada pizza ($13) is a white pie with creamy mozzarella, ricotta, roasted poblanos, and pomegranate seeds. Available now through Christmas.

The Little Tokyo Community Council (LTCC) is relaunching Community Feeding Community (CFC) to provide free meals to those whose jobs were impacted by COVID-19 closures while also supporting small businesses in Little Tokyo. Meals are distributed every Saturday from 2-4 p.m. at 327 East Second Street. The menu rotates weekly and advanced reservations are required for pickup. Reserve a meal online at littletokyola.org/cfc. You can also use that link to donate a meal. 

At-Home & Online Events

Santasia – A Holiday Streaming Special is available to stream via the Whitefire Theatre through Dec. 27. Brothers Brandon and Shaun Loeser’s musical sketch comedy show includes “Broadway musical parodies, heartfelt sentiment, and classic Rankin and Bass inspired  Claymation movies” for the “perfect blend of Yuletide snark and sentiment.” Tickets are $30.

The Groundlings Annual Holiday Show will be available to stream online Dec. 23-Jan. 1 through Vimeo On Demand. The show is $10 for a 48-hour rental. All proceeds will support The Groundlings Theatre & School, which is a non-profit organization.

On Dec. 28 at 4:30 p.m., comedian Mike Birbiglia will host “Nowhere Comedy,” an online comedy set you can watch from home. Tickets start at $25 and Birbiglia will also be shouting out Dynasty Typewriter, an L.A. venue raising funds to stay afloat while they’re closed.

From LACMA@Home: “CEO and Wallis Annenberg Director Michael Govan and artist Roni Horn discuss how her work functions historically in an encyclopedic collection, and how it provides a window into the challenges and joys of art-making. In conjunction with View From Here: Recent Acquisitions.” Watch here.

If you have an Oculus, you can use the app VRChat to virtually visit the Austrian Alps to learn all about the Krampus. Perhaps more than you wanted to know? Runs through Dec. 27. Tickets to Krampusnacht are $20. 

Instead of Christmas cheer, what about some Christmas horror? The Residence is a live, 30-minute dark storytelling experience that takes place over Zoom on Christmas Day. Each show is about 30 minutes long and features different stories, so you can sign up for more than one. Tickets are $10 per show.

Hearts of Crane is an online performance in which co-creator Manatsu Tanaka uses origami as a meditative experience for one audience member at a time. Shows take place over Zoom through Dec. 29. Tickets are pay-what-you-can, but the suggested donation is $25. You will need paper and something to write with.

Pasadena PlayhouseLive presents an inside look at the development of a new musical starring Megan Mullally, Nick Offerman, Adam Devine, and Laura Bell Bundy. Iceboy! is about a 10,000-year-old Neanderthal who is thawed out in New York and adopted by a Broadway star only to become an acting sensation himself. Activate your free PlayhouseLive account to watch.

From Zombie Joe’s Underground Theater comes a spooky 22-minute personal visit from The Ghost of Jacob Marley, the first of many spirits Scrooge sees in A Christmas Carol. Zombie Joe himself will play Jacob Marley as he Zooms you to make sure your change your ways or whatever it is Marley is up to these days. From Dec. 16-30, you can book your personal ghost consultation for $25 at ZOMBIEJOES.COM.  

The 53rd Annual Holiday Look-In Home Tour presented by the Women’s Committee of the Pasadena Symphony is online this year. The tour “showcases the architecture and gardens of four magnificent Pasadena homes decorated for the holidays in festive floral regalia.” The event is narrated by Pasadena Symphony music director, David Lockington with music from the Pasadena Symphony Youth Orchestras. Available Dec. 5-31. Free with registration here, though donations to the Pasadena Symphony Youth Orchestras and the Pasadena Symphony will be graciously accepted.

Take a pre-recorded Architectural Legacy Tour from Pasadena Heritage. Each tour offers a peek at architectural gems including craftsman bungalows, The Freeman House, and buildings along South Grand Avenue. Tickets start at $15 for non-members. Available now through Jan. 3.

From The Wallis comes Estrella Scrooge, a musical theater retelling of A Christmas Carol that blends theater, film, and animation. It stars Betsy Wolfe as Estrella Scrooge, a descendent of Ebenezer. Per a release: “Estrella is a “modern-day Wall Street tycoon with a penchant for foreclosing. A hotelier in her hometown of Pickwick, Ohio has defaulted on his mortgage and Estella fancies the idea of lowering the boom personally. Arriving at Harthouse on Christmas Eve, Estella discovers that the defaulting party is her childhood friend Pip Nickleby (Duncan). A good and generous soul, Pip has transformed the property into a refuge for the sick, dispossessed and homeless. A freak snowstorm forces Estella to take refuge. That night, just as it happened to her ancestor Ebenezer, she is haunted by three visitations…and oh, what uninvited houseguests they are!” Available on-demand Dec. 21-Jan. 3. Tickets start at $29.99 per household.

Name a baby condor! The L.A. Zoo’s condor conservation program recently hatched a baby chick currently known as LA127. The Zoo is currently accepting donations for the California Condor Recovery Program (CCRP) through Jan. 7. Any amount will grant you to the opportunity to cast a vote for one of four names. Appear on the Zoo’s website starting at donations of $5, with other benefits at higher levels.

The Israel Film Festival is ongoing through Dec. 27, featuring several nights of Israeli cinema that you can watch from your home. Tickets are $12 for a single film, with deals on bundles of screenings. If you want to watch every film and Q&A, an all-access pass is available for $130.

Advertisements
Things To Do

30 Things to Do in L.A. This Week [12-21-2020 to 12-25-2020]

December 21, 2020 by We Like L.A. Staff
Wonder Woman 1984. Photo: Warner Bros.

We used to tell you about all the things you could go out and do in Los Angeles on a daily, weekly, and monthly basis. Then, the coronavirus changed life for all of us, in a thousand small and massive ways. Until the pandemic is behind us, we’ll post events that adhere to Public Health’s current protocols—including plenty of at-home and online events—every Monday and Friday morning. We hope they keep you busy, make you laugh, teach you something, or help you feel less alone.

This week, we’ve got drive-in cinema, audio theater, a wall of wishes, holiday takeout specials, virtual tours, and more. Have something you want to submit for next week? Hit us up: [email protected].

Out-of-the-House Events

Find fun holiday events for the whole family, including drive-thrus, online events, and socially distant gardens in our holiday roundup here.

On Dec. 25, Cinelounge Drive-in in Hollywood presents Wonder Woman 1984. Enjoy this brand new film from Patty Jenkins from the comfort of your vehicle, and maybe with a bag or two of Cinelounge’s flavored popcorn. Tickets are $25/person and must be purchased, along with any refreshments, online in advance.

Glendale Arts invites the public to add their wishes for 2021 to the Alex Theatre Wishing Wall, a new installation on the historic Alex Theatre’s gates in downtown Glendale. The project is inspired by Yoko Ono’s Wishing Tree project and encourages participants to share their hopes for the future. You can grab a wish tag in-person or submit your wish online, where staff will write and hang it for you. The Wishing Wall will be on view at the theater through Jan. 8 before moving around Glendale for the next year. 

On Dec. 23 at 6:30 p.m., Mission Tiki Drive-in in Montclair hosts a double feature of Christmas horror with Silent Night Deadly Night (1984) and Black Christmas (1974). Tickets start at $17.

Grand Park’s new public art installation, “Ground Our Present, Dot Our Future,” is available to enjoy now through Jan. 25. It consists of 74 quotes, crowdsourced from Angelenos over the past year, that line park walkways. The artwork “reinvents the current floor distancing decal culture by putting the emphasis back on how Angelenos can be socially connected—by gaining knowledge and understanding about the diverse experiences in Los Angeles County from the perspectives of those who live them.” It’s free to enjoy any time. Just take a walk in the park.

L’Antica Pizzeria da Michele Hollywood‘s new dining experience takes place in your car! Park in the private parking lot adjacent to the restaurant and enjoy TV, films, and iconic Italian football games projected when the sun goes down. Diners can order from the full menu when they get there or in advance online or by phone. Staff will deliver food directly to your car. Space is limited. Reservations through phone or email are highly recommended.

Pickup & Delivery (Holiday Edition)

Chef Mario Christerna of recently-opened Brooklyn Ave. Pizza Co. in Boyle Heights is reimagining a traditional holiday dish in the form of a pizza. The Chile en Nogada pizza ($13) is a white pie with creamy mozzarella, ricotta, roasted poblanos, and pomegranate seeds. Available now through Christmas.

Chef Travis Strickland’s Brentwood steakhouse Baltaire is offering holiday prime rib dinners and wine packages for carryout.

Genghis Cohen on Fairfax will offer takeout and delivery pre-orders for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, featuring its entire menu of Chinese dishes, plus several holiday specials including multi-course meals, cocktails, and more. Order online.

Tallula’s in Santa Monica is offering six tamales for $28, available in organic chicken guajillo or frijol negro made with black bean purée, poblano, and queso. Call (310) 526-0027 by Monday, Dec. 21 at 5 p.m. for pickup on Wednesday, Dec. 23 from 4-9 p.m.

Celestino Ristorante in Pasadena is preparing Christmas Eve dinner for takeout and delivery. Highlights include mushroom soufflé, duck-filled ravioli, osso buco, and homemade family-style lasagna.

Tacos Tu Madre’s twice-baked potato taco.

Through Dec. 24, Tacos Tu Madre’s West Hollywood location is offering several holiday dishes, including smoked ham tacos, twice-baked potato tacos (an elevated alternative for those missing Taco Bell’s potato tacos), mulled wine, boozy Mexican hot chocolate, gingerbread cocktails, and strawberry nachos. Order online for pickup and local delivery. 

The Front Yard’s holiday dinner for four is available for scheduled pickup in NoHo on Dec. 24 from 3-7 p.m. or on Dec. 25 from noon to 6 p.m. It’s $165 for biscuits, beet and fig salad, butternut squash soup, filet medallions, roasted turkey and gravy, mashed sweet potatoes, Brussels sprouts, stuffing, and cheesecake and pecan tarts for dessert. Call (818) 255-7285 to reserve.

Diageo Spirits and Pacifica Hotels host Margarita Quarantina, a virtual cocktail class, on Dec. 22 at 9 p.m. Guests can pick up cocktail kits containing everything they need to make their own tequila and mezcal cocktails beforehand on Dec. 21 or 22 at SALT Restaurant and Bar in Marina Del Rey between 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Each cocktail is paired with bites. Tickets are $75.

Roguelike Tavern in Burbank hasn’t been able to actually open, given the pandemic. However, they are currently soft-open for takeout food, cocktails, beer, wine, and spirits. Starting Dec. 22, they’re offering a puzzle box experience that comes with two meals, a flight of quality spirits, and a mystery for you to solve. Order online here.

Jane Q in Hollywood has a Very Merry Q takeout menu that includes Peking duck, braised lamb, hearty sides, DIY mulled wine kits, cookie plates, and more. The menu is only available on Dec. 23 & 24 from 3-9 p.m. Order delivery through Postmates, GrubHub, or Doordash or call (213) 279-3534 to order pickup.

The Little Tokyo Community Council (LTCC) is relaunching Community Feeding Community (CFC) to provide free meals to those whose jobs were impacted by COVID-19 closures while also supporting small businesses in Little Tokyo. Meals are distributed every Saturday from 2-4 p.m. at 327 East Second Street. The menu rotates weekly and advanced reservations are required for pickup. Reserve a meal online at littletokyola.org/cfc. You can also use that link to donate a meal. 

Carl Shubs, “Modeling.” On view through “A Time of Questioning.”

At-Home & Online Events

See “A Time of Questioning,” a group exhibition curated by arts writer Shana Nys Dambrot, online. Artists include Alexa Druyanoff, L. Aviva Diamond, Carl Shubs, Jeannine Chanin Penn, Julie Ascher, Justin Prough, Kevin Mischler, Leslie Barton, Sharon Koppelman, and Snezana Saraswati Petrovic.

Los Angeles Conservancy presents Vintage L.A. Christmas: A Live Virtual Tour on Dec. 23 with a look through the holidays of decades past, including Altadena’s Christmas Tree Lane and iconic vintage department store displays.

Darkfield Radio is an immersive audio journey performed live. With headphones on, the sound is unbelievably real. “Eternal,” for example, is a chilling horror tale that sounds like something sinister is crawling into bed with you. Check them out here.

Pasadena PlayhouseLive presents an inside look at the development of a new musical starring Megan Mullally, Nick Offerman, Adam Devine, and Laura Bell Bundy. Iceboy! is about a 10,000-year-old Neanderthal who is thawed out in New York and adopted by a Broadway star only to become an acting sensation himself. Activate your free PlayhouseLive account to watch.

Take a pre-recorded Architectural Legacy Tour from Pasadena Heritage. Each tour offers a peek at architectural gems including craftsman bungalows, The Freeman House, and buildings along South Grand Avenue. Tickets start at $15 for non-members. Available now through Jan. 3.

On Dec. 22 at 11 a.m., author Ettie Zilber will discuss her memoir about her mother, A Holocaust Memoir of Love & Resilience: Mama’s Survival from Lithuania to America. The lecture is presented by Holocaust Museum LA for a suggested donation of $10.

From The Wallis comes Estrella Scrooge, a musical theater retelling of A Christmas Carol that blends theater, film, and animation. It stars Betsy Wolfe as Estrella Scrooge, a descendent of Ebenezer. Per a release: “Estrella is a “modern-day Wall Street tycoon with a penchant for foreclosing. A hotelier in her hometown of Pickwick, Ohio has defaulted on his mortgage and Estella fancies the idea of lowering the boom personally. Arriving at Harthouse on Christmas Eve, Estella discovers that the defaulting party is her childhood friend Pip Nickleby (Duncan). A good and generous soul, Pip has transformed the property into a refuge for the sick, dispossessed and homeless. A freak snowstorm forces Estella to take refuge. That night, just as it happened to her ancestor Ebenezer, she is haunted by three visitations…and oh, what uninvited houseguests they are!” Available on-demand Dec. 21-Jan. 3. Tickets start at $29.99 per household.

Join KCET Cinema Series host Pete Hammond for a virtual screening of sci-fi film The Midnight Sky followed by a Q&A with star, director and producer George Clooney on Dec. 23 at 7 p.m.

Name a baby condor! The L.A. Zoo’s condor conservation program recently hatched a baby chick currently known as LA127. The Zoo is currently accepting donations for the California Condor Recovery Program (CCRP) through Jan. 7. Any amount will grant you to the opportunity to cast a vote for one of four names. Appear on the Zoo’s website starting at donations of $5, with other benefits at higher levels.

The Israel Film Festival is ongoing through Dec. 27, featuring several nights of Israeli cinema that you can watch from your home. Tickets are $12 for a single film, with deals on bundles of screenings. If you want to watch every film and Q&A, an all-access pass is available for $130.

Rogue Artists Ensemble‘s “Storage Run” is an immersive holiday show where you can choose what happens. Part One kicks off on Dec. 18 at 7 p.m., while Part Two and Three post on Dec. 25 and Jan. 1, respectively. All three parts will remain online through Jan. 31. Synopsis: “With just a few weeks remaining until the holidays, Mike becomes trapped and alone in a tangled web of Rogue storage — or so it seems. Boot up and plug into a story of computer age connection and holiday whimsy, and help Mike on a quest to send a message to the world. Will you help? Y/N? Your choices build a singular and unlikely friendship and unlock a “holiday-tastic” adventure, all from the safety of your computer.” Tickets are pay-what-you-can with a suggested price of $20.

From Zombie Joe’s Underground Theater comes a spooky 22-minute personal visit from The Ghost of Jacob Marley, the first of many spirits Scrooge sees in A Christmas Carol. Zombie Joe himself will play Jacob Marley as he Zooms you to make sure your change your ways or whatever it is Marley is up to these days. From Dec. 16-30, you can book your personal ghost consultation for $25 at ZOMBIEJOES.COM.  

The 53rd Annual Holiday Look-In Home Tour presented by the Women’s Committee of the Pasadena Symphony is online this year. The tour “showcases the architecture and gardens of four magnificent Pasadena homes decorated for the holidays in festive floral regalia.” The event is narrated by Pasadena Symphony music director, David Lockington with music from the Pasadena Symphony Youth Orchestras. Available Dec. 5-31. Free with registration here, though donations to the Pasadena Symphony Youth Orchestras and the Pasadena Symphony will be graciously accepted.

Advertisements
Things To Do

35 Things to Do in L.A. This Weekend [12-18-2020 to 12-20-2020]

December 17, 2020 by We Like L.A. Staff

We used to tell you about all the things you could go out and do in Los Angeles on a daily, weekly, and monthly basis. Then, the coronavirus changed life for all of us, in a thousand small and massive ways. Until the pandemic is behind us, we’ll post events that adhere to Public Health’s current protocols—including plenty of at-home and online events—every Monday and Friday morning. We hope they keep you busy, make you laugh, teach you something, or help you feel less alone.

This weekend, we have a Home Alone pizza pop-up, interactive online concerts and theater, outdoor art, a new sushi spot, and more. Have something you want to submit for next week? Hit us up: [email protected].

“Ground Our Present, Dot Our Future” at Grand Park.

Out-of-the-House Events

Find fun holiday events for the whole family, including drive-thrus, online events, and socially distant gardens in our holiday roundup here.

CVT Soft Serve has partnered with LBK Pizza in Studio City to recreate Little Nero’s from the Christmas classic Home Alone. For one weekend only (Dec. 18-20), Angelenos are welcome to stop by “Little Nero’s Los Angeles” to grab a pizza with brand-appropriate boxes made by artist Jesse Wilson. A red delivery hatchback and other themed Home Alone key moments will be displayed at LBK Pizza as well. UberEats, DoorDash, GrubHub, and Postmates are also making deliveries this weekend for those staying in.

The Alhambra is hosting an outdoor holiday stroll featuring lights and music Dec. 17-19 from 6-8 p.m. You can walk through the development’s central courtyard and encounter deer, snowmen, polar bears, penguins, a decorated fir tree, and other seasonal sights. Children may drop off pre-written letters to Santa in the mailbox. Free parking is available in the visitor lot. Social distancing and masks required. 

Barco Uniforms, a manufacturer of healthcare apparel, has commissioned artist Samir Evol to paint a mural honoring healthcare workers on the front lines of the pandemic. Evol will paint the mural at 2010 Wilshire Blvd. in Santa Monica every day through Dec. 31, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. If you’re in the area, you can check out how it’s going so far. 

Odd Market’s Los Feliz Drive-In will screen Elf on Saturday, Dec. 19. The movie starts at 7:15 p.m. Their weekly outdoor flea market is free to attend from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. every Saturday as well.

Grand Park’s new public art installation, “Ground Our Present, Dot Our Future,” is available to enjoy now through Jan. 25. It consists of 74 quotes, crowdsourced from Angelenos over the past year, that line park walkways. The artwork “reinvents the current floor distancing decal culture by putting the emphasis back on how Angelenos can be socially connected—by gaining knowledge and understanding about the diverse experiences in Los Angeles County from the perspectives of those who live them.” It’s free to enjoy any time. Just take a walk in the park.

Celebrate the Festival of Lights at LIT, a drive-thru Hanukkah experience at Stephen Wise Temple Dec. 10-20. The event includes a light show, art installations, a screening of animated short The Broken Candle, and an immersive projection tunnel.

Sunset Sushi. Photo by Fried Chicken Studios.

Pickup & Delivery

Ichijiki in Highland Park has opened a sister location in Silver Lake called Sunset Sushi. It offers carefully crafted omakase boxes, chirashi, sashimi, and kaisen don. At the helm are Tokyo-born chefs Kazuhiro Yamada and Yoshi Matsumoto, who apply traditional Edomae techniques to uniquely cure select fish on the menu including golden eye snapper and bluefin tuna. For now, the debut menu is available for take-out and delivery. You can also add on bottles of sake, canned highball cocktails, and an assortment of Japanese and local craft beers.

Gigi’s in Hollywood offers a special bucket of fried chicken for takeout every Sunday between noon and 8 p.m. You can either stop by the restaurant or pre-order on Toast. Also pick up sweets, cheese, cocktails, and wine. 

The Little Tokyo Community Council (LTCC) is relaunching Community Feeding Community (CFC) to provide free meals to those whose jobs were impacted by COVID-19 closures while also supporting small businesses in Little Tokyo. Meals are distributed every Saturday from 2-4 p.m. at 327 East Second Street. The menu rotates weekly and advanced reservations are required for pickup. Reserve a meal online at littletokyola.org/cfc. You can also use that link to donate a meal. 

Cassia Pastrami Hoagie. Photo by Bryant Ng.

Chef Bryant Ng’s critically-acclaimed Southeast Asian Brasserie Cassia has a brand-new special, exclusively available for takeout through Tock Dec. 16-30. The Cassia Pastrami Hoagie comes on a garlic-scallion roll with brown mustard, provolone and swiss cheese, thousand island dressing, coleslaw, and curried ground short rib, served with a small Caesar Salad and fries dusted with Vietnamese-Cajun seasoning for $39.

Orso Pasta delivers handmade pasta and gourmet sauces straight to your door. Current seasonal sauces include Saffron Turmeric Buttersauce, Bolognese, and Cacio E Pepe. Choose from Cavatelli, Tagliatelle, Gnocchi, and Maltagliati as pasta options. There is very little prep time. Boiling the pasta and simmering the sauce just takes five minutes, so even novices can look like a pro in the kitchen. Each order serves two and costs around $30.

Los Feliz’s Sogo Roll Bar now offers DIY Hand Roll Kits for $38. Each kit includes fresh nori, rice, garnishes, and four signature Sogo fillings of your choice including bluefin toro, crab, spicy tuna, and more. Eleven different add-ons, like fried onion or spicy mayo, are available for an additional fee. Open for pickup or delivery.

Cake Monkey recently launched a budget-friendly Pie Gram service. For $6.75, send friends mini-pies with customizable messages on the box. Flavors include Cider Roasted Apple in Double Cheddar Crust or Brown Butter Pecan with Toasted Cocoa Nibs. Pick them up at the Beverly Grove shop or North Hollywood kitchen. Local delivery is also available.

“Ebenezer,” an interactive virtual adaptation of “A Christmas Carol.” Photo: The Speakeasy Society

At-Home & Online Events

On Saturday, Dec. 19, Brian Thomas Smith (Big Bang Theory) and DJ Kooleo will host the 12th Annual Santa Monica Pub Crawl. This year, it’s a two-hour virtual holiday party with music, games, bingo, costume contests, trivia, and home scavenger hunts. Prizes will be awarded including hotel staycations, restaurant gift certificates, and canned cocktails autographed by The Chainsmokers. Proceeds benefit local bars, restaurants, and the Westside Food Bank. Tickets are $20-$55. Some ticket levels include canned cocktails to enjoy at home. 

The Ballet Spot presents a series of virtual ballet fitness classes including cardio, barre, pilates, and more taught by professional dancers. Classes cost $10 a session and new clients can take advantage of a special two-for-one promotion.

On Saturday, Dec. 19 at 7:30 p.m., Moth Virtual StorySLAM presents a night of virtual storytelling that anyone can join. The theme is “after-hours,” inspired by artist Alex Prager’s installation at LACMA, “Farewell, Work Holiday Parties.” RSVP to just listen or to share your own five-minute story here. Prager’s exhibit, which satirizes the holiday office party, is on view at the Smidt Welcome Plaza through Jan. 3.

The City of West Hollywood presents a free WeHo Sounds concert on Fri., Dec. 18 at 6 p.m. Farofa blends genres like rock, jazz, contemporary classical, and deep African rhythmic tradition with their Brazilian roots. Register to watch the free show here.

Los Angeles Tourism is bringing back “Magic Hour,” its live-streamed sunsets. Each presentation includes a view of downtown Los Angeles and music and conversation from local artists starring at 4:15 p.m. Dec. 18 features Nancy Sanchez with a mariachi performance. Dec. 19 is Strauss Shi on violin and erhu. On Dec. 20 is Kimiko Daniels, a jazz pianist who will play both original music and covers. More info here.

On Friday, Dec. 18, El Patio Tecate returns with a final night of hip-hop and R&B music from Latin artists. This virtual concert features Miguel, D-Smoke, Bo Bundy, Krystall Poppin, and MC Magic. Stream it for free starting at 6 p.m.

Martha, Lucy, and Rufus Wainwright present their annual holiday show, “A Not So Silent Night,” online on Dec. 20. Unlike in years past, where the family assembled on the same stage, they’ll now stream performances from their respective locations with household members serving as guest musicians. Watch it live on Veeps.com starting at noon. Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 day-of-show.

Immersive theater company The Speakeasy Society presents Ebenezer, a virtual adaptation of their real-life adaptation of A Christmas Carol. Guests can explore the digital world of Dickens’s famous characters in several ways: have a beer with Bob, play games with Scrooge’s nephew, or perhaps get weird with a ghost or two. Show dates are Dec. 18 and 19 at 7 p.m. Tickets are a suggested donation of $10-$20 and will benefit Mutual Aid LA. Get them here.

The Israel Film Festival is ongoing through Dec. 27, featuring several nights of Israeli cinema that you can watch from your home. Tickets are $12 for a single film, with deals on bundles of screenings. If you want to watch every film and Q&A, an all-access pass is available for $130.

The 13th annual LACLA Student Film Festival presented by the Latin American Cinemateca of Los Angeles (LACLA) is on Dec. 18 at noon, featuring a selection of short films from middle and high school students in Los Angeles. Check it out here.

Author Danny Jensen leads a virtual tour of downtown L.A.’s recently renovated Hotel Figueroa, a historic property with a fascinating past, on Dec. 18 at 6:30 p.m. The tour will include a peek at the hotel’s renovations, concluding a few hidden rooms and other surprises. Tickets are $10. 

Rogue Artists Ensemble‘s “Storage Run” is an immersive holiday show where you can choose what happens. Part One kicks off on Dec. 18 at 7 p.m., while Part Two and Three post on Dec. 25 and Jan. 1, respectively. All three parts will remain online through Jan. 31. Synopsis: “With just a few weeks remaining until the holidays, Mike becomes trapped and alone in a tangled web of Rogue storage — or so it seems. Boot up and plug into a story of computer age connection and holiday whimsy, and help Mike on a quest to send a message to the world. Will you help? Y/N? Your choices build a singular and unlikely friendship and unlock a “holiday-tastic” adventure, all from the safety of your computer.” Tickets are pay-what-you-can with a suggested price of $20.

Los Angeles Ballet’s annual fundraiser is on Sunday, Dec. 20 at 11 a.m. in the form of Clara’s Nutcracker Tea Party. The online event invites attendees to an interactive tea party with the famous ballet’s protagonist. It includes dance performances, magic, music, crafts, and more. Tickets start at $39.99.

The Elysian Valley Arts Collective presents “Postmarked with Love,” a free workshop over Zoom on Dec. 18 at 4 p.m. Families will learn how to make their own greeting cards and felt roses with artist Kait Walsh of Sealed with a Kait. The nonprofit Marked by COVID will send the cards to those who have lost love ones due to the pandemic. The roses will become part of the Rose Red Memorial installation, each rose marking someone killed by the virus. Families can send these items out after the workshop but use what they learned to make their own cards and roses in the future. RSVP online.

Antaeus Theatre Company‘s The Zip Code Plays: Los Angeles is a series of virtual, interactive tours that highlight landmarks and small businesses. Each episode is narrated by a member of the Antaeus Theatre Company and includes a map illustration from Cynthia Jacquette Art + Design. The Zip Code Plays are set in 90011 (South Central Los Angeles), 90012 (Downtown L.A.), 90024 (Westwood), 90403 (Santa Monica), 90272 (Pacific Palisades), and 91352 (Sun Valley). Listen for free at www.antaeus.org.

Red Bull is highlighting Latinx musicians from cities around the country through a series of livestreams called Estados Unidos de Bass. Dec. 18-19 will feature L.A. musicians Kali Uchis, Tomasa del Real, Bianca Maielli, Kinky, and more.

From Zombie Joe’s Underground Theater comes a spooky 22-minute personal visit from The Ghost of Jacob Marley, the first of many spirits Scrooge sees in A Christmas Carol. Zombie Joe himself will play Jacob Marley as he Zooms you to make sure your change your ways or whatever it is Marley is up to these days. From Dec. 16-30, you can book your personal ghost consultation for $25 at ZOMBIEJOES.COM.  

After Hours Theater Company is offering a virtual show with drinksA Christmas Carol Cocktail Spectacular takes guests back to the 1950s with an interactive online retelling of A Christmas Carol. The ghosts of past, present, and future each bring its own cocktail, which you’ll make along at home thanks to a kit you’ll receive in the mail. Performances are Dec. 11, 12, 18, 19, and 22 at 7. p.m Tickets are $78 for two guests, and include the live-stream and ingredients to make three cocktails (alcoholic or non-alcoholic available).

The 53rd Annual Holiday Look-In Home Tour presented by the Women’s Committee of the Pasadena Symphony is online this year. The tour “showcases the architecture and gardens of four magnificent Pasadena homes decorated for the holidays in festive floral regalia.” The event is narrated by Pasadena Symphony music director, David Lockington with music from the Pasadena Symphony Youth Orchestras. Available Dec. 5-31. Free with registration here, though donations to the Pasadena Symphony Youth Orchestras and the Pasadena Symphony will be graciously accepted.

The Soraya’s annual Christmas Eve concert Nochebuena En Casa featuring mariachi, ranchera, and ballet folklórico performances will be held online this year on Dec. 18 for free via the Northridge theater’s website.

Beatles tribute band Abbey Road will livestream Christmas with the Beatles from the Belly Up Tavern in Salona Beach, California on Dec. 18, featuring Christmas classics and Beatles songs. Tickets are $12.

Advertisements
Things To Do

31 Things to Do in L.A. This Week [12-14-2020 to 12-18-2020]

December 14, 2020 by We Like L.A. Staff
Venice Beach sunset
Credit: Amatullah Guyot

We used to tell you about all the things you could go out and do in Los Angeles on a daily, weekly, and monthly basis. Then, the coronavirus changed life for all of us, in a thousand small and massive ways. Until the pandemic is behind us, we’ll post events that adhere to Public Health’s current protocols—including plenty of at-home and online events—every Monday and Friday morning. We hope they keep you busy, make you laugh, teach you something, or help you feel less alone.

This week, we’ve got outdoor art, drive-in dining, an interactive adaptation of a holiday classic, unique to-go dinner specials, and more. Have something you want to submit for next week? Hit us up: [email protected].

Elf on the Shelf. Photo: Alex J. Berliner/ABImages

Out-of-the-House Events

Find fun holiday events for the whole family, including drive-thrus, online events, and socially distant gardens in our holiday roundup here.

Grand Park’s new public art installation, “Ground Our Present, Dot Our Future,” is available to enjoy now through Jan. 25. It consists of 74 quotes, crowdsourced from Angelenos over the past year, that line park walkways. The artwork “reinvents the current floor distancing decal culture by putting the emphasis back on how Angelenos can be socially connected—by gaining knowledge and understanding about the diverse experiences in Los Angeles County from the perspectives of those who live them.” It’s free to enjoy any time. Just take a walk in the park.

Santa’s Cinema at The Grove’s Level 8 presented by Citi includes a movie and a curated menu for two, three, or four guests from Picnic Society by Gwen and Bar Verde. On Dec. 14, it will screen How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000).

L’Antica Pizzeria da Michele Hollywood‘s new dining experience takes place in your car! Park in the private parking lot adjacent to the restaurant and enjoy TV, films, and iconic Italian football games projected when the sun goes down. Diners can order from the full menu when they get there or in advance online or by phone. Staff will deliver food directly to your car. Space is limited. Reservations through phone or email are highly recommended.

Celebrate the Festival of Lights at LIT, a drive-thru Hanukkah experience at Stephen Wise Temple Dec. 10-20. The event includes a light show, art installations, a screening of animated short The Broken Candle, and an immersive projection tunnel.

Orso Pasta

Pickup & Delivery

The Little Tokyo Community Council (LTCC) is relaunching Community Feeding Community (CFC) to provide free meals to those whose jobs were impacted by COVID-19 closures while also supporting small businesses in Little Tokyo. Meals are distributed every Saturday from 2-4 p.m. at 327 East Second Street. The menu rotates weekly and advanced reservations are required for pickup. Reserve a meal online at littletokyola.org/cfc. You can also use that link to donate a meal. 

Orso Pasta delivers handmade pasta and gourmet sauces straight to your door. Current seasonal sauces include Saffron Turmeric Buttersauce, Bolognese, and Cacio E Pepe. Choose from Cavatelli, Tagliatelle, Gnocchi, and Maltagliati as pasta options. There is very little prep time. Boiling the pasta and simmering the sauce just takes five minutes, so even novices can look like a pro in the kitchen. Each order serves two and costs around $30.

Los Feliz’s Sogo Roll Bar now offers DIY Hand Roll Kits for $38. Each kit includes fresh nori, rice, garnishes, and four signature Sogo fillings of your choice including bluefin toro, crab, spicy tuna, and more. Eleven different add-ons, like fried onion or spicy mayo, are available for an additional fee. Open for pickup or delivery.

Rustic Canyon’s new “Grin & Bear It” pop-up offers simple Southern comfort food for takeout and delivery. The menu includes Sour Corn Biscuits, Macaroni & Fancy French Cheese, Half or Whole Honey-Roasted Chicken with hot honey jus, Beef Brisket with Red Eye Gravy, Pork Ribs in Andouille Sauce, Mystery Slices of Pie, and more.

Iki Ramen collaborates with chef Yoji Tajima for a 14-item sushi omakase set with a selection of nigiri and grilled blue shrimp topped with sea urchin and fresh black truffle ($58). Available exclusively on Tock Dec. 14 & 21.

For Hanukkah, Milky Way offers its kosher dairy favorites including a Build-Your-Own Latke Platter for takeout, contactless curbside pickup, and delivery via Postmates. Entree purchases from Dec. 10-17 will include one free order of latkes when customers use code: LATKES20 to redeem via phone order. All orders also include gelt chocolate coins as a special treat for kids.  

Idle Hour in North Hollywood is offering craft cocktail kits all December. The kits include mixes, syrups, and garnishes for Idle Hour’s signature margarita ($25), mule ($30), or old fashioned ($20). Spirits are not included in the kits, but customers can add a bottle of vodka or tequila with any kit purchase.

American Beauty and Superba Food + Bread are both offering five-course, takeout Hanukkah dinners. Both are $160 and serve four. From American Beauty, get slow-cooked show rib stew, potato latkes, spiced carrots, roasted artichokes, and sufganiyot. Order on TOCK Dec. 10-18. From Superba, get beef brisket, potato latkes, haricot vert-tahini sauce, beet salad, and sufganiyot. Order on TOCK starting Dec. 10. 

Burt Bakman and the h.wood Group’s bbq concept SLAB are offering a Hanukkah Package that feeds four for $195. The feast includes half a brisket, latkes, salad, matzo ball soup, and roasted green beans. Available for pre-order (24 hours in advance) Dec. 10-18 for pick-up at 8136 W. 3rd Street.

Sixteen local chefs have collaborated on a Holiday Cookie Tin with proceeds benefitting the campaigns of Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff, two Democratic candidates for the Georgia Senate. Treats include Roxana Jullapat’s Pepperkakor, Sherry Yard’s famous Chocolate Almond Cookie, Genevieve Gergis’ Classic Spritz, Isa Fabro’s Date Walnut Blondie, Sherry Mandell’s Tehachapi Rye Chocolate Crinkle, and Shannon Swindle’s Fig and Cranberry Rugelach. The tin is $75. Sales open on Dec. 14 at noon. You can then pick your cookies up at a.o.c. or Friends and Family on Sat., Dec 19 between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. or get delivery through DoorDash. Just make sure to place your order on the a.o.c. website here.

Cake Monkey recently launched a budget-friendly Pie Gram service. For $6.75, send friends mini-pies with customizable messages on the box. Flavors include Cider Roasted Apple in Double Cheddar Crust or Brown Butter Pecan with Toasted Cocoa Nibs. Pick them up at the Beverly Grove shop or North Hollywood kitchen. Local delivery is also available.

Maple Block Meat Cohas a new drive-in and pickup lot. Guests can stay in their car and enjoy free popcorn while they wait for their order to be brought directly to their car. Items include sandwiches, salads, BBQ, daily specials, and family meal packages. For $83, get a whole smoked chicken dinner with pickles, biscuits, salad, and a side (serves four).

“Ebenezer,” an interactive virtual adaptation of “A Christmas Carol.” Photo: The Speakeasy Society

At-Home & Online Events

Immersive theater company The Speakeasy Society presents Ebenezer, a virtual adaptation of their real-life adaptation of A Christmas Carol. Guests can explore the digital world of Dickens’s famous characters in several ways: have a beer with Bob, play games with Scrooge’s nephew, or perhaps get weird with a ghost or two. Show dates are Dec. 18 and 19 at 7 p.m. Tickets are a suggested donation of $10-$20 and will benefit Mutual Aid LA. Get them here.

The Israel Film Festival is ongoing through Dec. 27, featuring several nights of Israeli cinema that you can watch from your home. Tickets are $12 for a single film, with deals on bundles of screenings. If you want to watch every film and Q&A, an all-access pass is available for $130.

The Theatre Raymond Kabbaz Young French Cinema film fest is Dec. 16-18, featuring a diverse lineup that includes a documentary, shorts, and features in French with English subtitles. You can see a single night’s programming for $10 or see all five films for $25.

On Weds., Dec. 16, Los Angeles Performance Practice presents eight L.A. artists in a virtual exchange of ideas, knowledge, and inspiration. Participants include Chloë Flores (homeLA), Daniela Lieja Quintanar (LACE), Dorothy Dubrule (Pieter), Elizabeth Cline (The Industry), John Burtle (Human Resources LA), Mandy Harris Williams (Women’s Center for Creative Work), Miranda Wright (Los Angeles Performance Practice), and Patricia Garza (Network of Ensemble Theaters). Milka Djordjevich will moderate. RSVP here.

Check out the above video from The Kollection, “Dear Los Angeles.” The short was filmed over the last year and highlights key moments, including and pandemic and BLM protests. It features projection mapping by Nate Mohler, narration from Spider Loc, and an original score by Austin Brown of Hablot Brown.

Rogue Artists Ensemble‘s “Storage Run” is an immersive holiday show where you can choose what happens. Part One kicks off on Dec. 18 at 7 p.m., while Part Two and Three post on Dec. 25 and Jan. 1, respectively. All three parts will remain online through Jan. 31. Synopsis: “With just a few weeks remaining until the holidays, Mike becomes trapped and alone in a tangled web of Rogue storage — or so it seems. Boot up and plug into a story of computer age connection and holiday whimsy, and help Mike on a quest to send a message to the world. Will you help? Y/N? Your choices build a singular and unlikely friendship and unlock a “holiday-tastic” adventure, all from the safety of your computer.” Tickets are pay-what-you-can with a suggested price of $20.

Antaeus Theatre Company‘s The Zip Code Plays: Los Angeles is a series of virtual, interactive tours that highlight landmarks and small businesses. Each episode is narrated by a member of the Antaeus Theatre Company and includes a map illustration from Cynthia Jacquette Art + Design. The Zip Code Plays are set in 90011 (South Central Los Angeles), 90012 (Downtown L.A.), 90024 (Westwood), 90403 (Santa Monica), 90272 (Pacific Palisades), and 91352 (Sun Valley). Listen for free at www.antaeus.org.

Age Before Beauty is an online exhibition of LeRoy Neiman’s sketches from the set of the Rocky, featuring 25 sketches staged throughout the historic Gleason’s Boxing Gym in Brooklyn.

MASH Gallery hosts “Saffa,” a new online photographic exhibit from Adel Yaraghi. Per a release: “Curated by MASH Gallery’s Haleh Mashian, Yaraghi’s momentous photographic series tells the story of the women rice farmers of the coastal regions of Northern Iran. Yaraghi documents it all—the families who farm together, the multi generations of women minding the fields, the songs that the women sing as they work—a matriarchy that is the backbone of the land.” See it now online through the end of the year here.

From Zombie Joe’s Underground Theater comes a spooky 22-minute personal visit from The Ghost of Jacob Marley, the first of many spirits Scrooge sees in A Christmas Carol. Zombie Joe himself will play Jacob Marley as he Zooms you to make sure your change your ways or whatever it is Marley is up to these days. From Dec. 16-30, you can book your personal ghost consultation for $25 at ZOMBIEJOES.COM.  

After Hours Theater Company is offering a virtual show with drinksA Christmas Carol Cocktail Spectacular takes guests back to the 1950s with an interactive online retelling of A Christmas Carol. The ghosts of past, present, and future each bring its own cocktail, which you’ll make along at home thanks to a kit you’ll receive in the mail. Performances are Dec. 11, 12, 18, 19, and 22 at 7. p.m Tickets are $78 for two guests, and include the live-stream and ingredients to make three cocktails (alcoholic or non-alcoholic available).

Breathe.” Is a live-streamed multimedia interactive theater event from artist Philicia Saunders, in which she’ll play 20 characters. Per a release: “Breathe. is based on the life-changing personal journey towards activism after a chance trip to a Civil Rights monument during a civil rights tour in Alabama and mentorship by a luminary of activism, Sweet Alice Harris, one of Watts’ most beloved community organizers and whose Parents of Watts organization was created as a result of the Watts unrest of 1965.” It streams Dec. 11-18. Find tickets and times here.

The Groundlings Annual Holiday Show goes virtual this year with three weekends of original sketches and interactive improv every Friday and Saturday from Dec. 4-19.

The 53rd Annual Holiday Look-In Home Tour presented by the Women’s Committee of the Pasadena Symphony is online this year. The tour “showcases the architecture and gardens of four magnificent Pasadena homes decorated for the holidays in festive floral regalia.” The event is narrated by Pasadena Symphony music director, David Lockington with music from the Pasadena Symphony Youth Orchestras. Available Dec. 5-31. Free with registration here, though donations to the Pasadena Symphony Youth Orchestras and the Pasadena Symphony will be graciously accepted.

Advertisements
Culture, Lifestyle, Things To Do

63 Things to Do in L.A. This Week [12-10-2020 to 12-16-2020]

December 10, 2020 by We Like L.A. Staff
Micah Johnson’s “sä-v(ə-)rən-tē” on display now in DTLA.

We used to tell you about all the things you could go out and do in Los Angeles on a daily, weekly, and monthly basis. Then, the coronavirus changed life for all of us, in a thousand small and massive ways. Until the pandemic is behind us, we’ll post one list of events that adhere to Public Health’s current protocols—including plenty of at-home and online events—every Thursday morning. We hope they keep you busy, make you laugh, teach you something, or help you feel less alone.

This week, we’ve got Hanukkah events and food specials, holiday markets, a Pawliday Zoom party at PetSpace, virtual performances and tours, and more. Have something you want to submit for next week? Hit us up: [email protected].


Out-of-the-House Events

Find fun holiday events for the whole family, including drive-thrus, online events, and socially distant gardens in our holiday roundup here.

L’Antica Pizzeria da Michele Hollywood has a new daily drive-in dining experience in the private parking lot adjacent to the restaurant. Expect TV shows, films, and iconic Italian football games projected when the sun goes down. Diners can order food from the full menu upon arrival or in advance via the website or over the phone. Staff will deliver food directly to your car. Space is limited, reservations through phone or email are highly recommended.

The Odd Market’s Downtown Drive-In & Night Market kicks off on Dec. 13 across from L.A. Live with a screening of Scrooged. Screenings include food trucks and a night market with local arts and crafts vendors. Future screenings include Home for the Holidays on Dec. 20 and Mixed Nuts on Dec. 27. Tickets are $20 per car, plus $12 per person. Get them online here

Santa’s Cinema at The Grove’s Level 8 presented by Citi offers two weeks of Monday movie nights. Each includes a curated menu for two, three, or four guests from Picnic Society by Gwen and Bar Verde. On Dec. 14, they’ll screen How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000). See Elf on Dec. 21.

Art Angels and former MLB player and artist Micah Johnson have partnered on a billboard featuring Johnson’s art, visible at the Courtyard Marriott at 901 W. Olympic Blvd. in DTLA through Jan. 10. Per the release: “ˈsä-v(ə-)rən-tē (pronounced “sovereignty”), a time sensitive programmable photograph by Micah Johnson. The digital photograph features two real subjects (Jacque 8, Rayden 7) who have faced an adverse situation at a young age in a scene with an astronaut suit on one side of the door and the boys on the other. The mission of this work started by simply wanting to empower them by letting them see themselves in high art, but quickly turned into one of the most impactful use cases for art. Johnson’s use of the astronaut in his works represents the dreams children aspire to.”

From the team behind Nights of the Jack comes Holiday Road. The illuminated drive-thru includes large-scale holiday installations, thousands of Christmas lights, and Santa and all his cheerful friends. Open Dec. 4 through Jan. 10 at King Gillette Ranch in the Santa Monica Mountains. Tickets start at $75 per vehicle.

Christmas Tree Lane returns Dec. 7 in Altadena with a one-mile stretch of fully decorated houses and trees on Santa Rosa Ave., between Woodbury Ave. and Altadena Dr. Take a drive with the people in your household for some holiday cheer. This year marks their 100th anniversary!

Celebrate the Festival of Lights at LIT, a drive-thru Hanukkah experience at Stephen Wise Temple Dec. 10-20. The event includes a light show, art installations, a screening of animated short The Broken Candle, and an immersive projection tunnel.

Hikari a Festival of Lights at Tanaka Farms turns the 30-acre Irvine farm into a dazzling spectacle of lights on trees, scarecrows, tractors, and even their sugarcane crop. Open nightly through Jan. 10, but Santa also makes an appearance every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Tickets start at $49 per vehicle.

The Pacific Opera Project‘s drive-in season features three live shows at Camarillo Methodist Church in Ventura County through Dec. 13. Guests will remain in their cars throughout each two-hour performance. Live video with supertitles will be projected above, while sound will come through FM radio. Each performance accommodates about 90 vehicles. 

Manuela. Photo: Cara Harman

Pickup & Delivery

Rustic Canyon’s new  “Grin & Bear It” pop-up offers simple Southern comfort food for takeout and delivery. The menu includes Sour Corn Biscuits, Macaroni & Fancy French Cheese, Half or Whole Honey-Roasted Chicken with hot honey jus, Beef Brisket with Red Eye Gravy, Pork Ribs in Andouille Sauce, Mystery Slices of Pie, and more.

Iki Ramen collaborates with chef Yoji Tajima for a 14-item sushi omakase set that includes a selection of nigiri and grilled blue shrimp topped with sea urchin and fresh black truffle. Available exclusively on Tock for $58 Dec. 14 and Dec. 21.

For Hanukkah, Milky Way is offering kosher dairy favorites including Build-Your-Own Latke Platters for takeout, contactless curbside pickup, and delivery via Postmates. Entree purchases during Dec. 10-17 also come with one free order of latkes when customers use the code: LATKES20 to redeem via phone order. Gelt chocolate coins will also be included in all orders during Hanukkah as a special treat for kids.  

Manuela’s supper-for-two menu is back. For $48, get an entree, seasonal salad, vegetable sides, two biscuits, and dessert, with enough to serve two people. The menu changes nightly, so check Instagram to see what’s on special this week. Curbside pickup and delivery are available via Tock and Postmates.  

American Beauty and Superba Food + Bread are both offering five-course, takeout Hanukkah dinners. Both are $160 and serve four. From American Beauty, get slow-cooked show rib stew, potato latkes, spiced carrots, roasted artichokes, and sufganiyot. Order on TOCK Dec. 10-18. From Superba, get beef brisket, potato latkes, haricot vert-tahini sauce, beet salad, and sufganiyot. Order on TOCK starting Dec. 10. 

Burt Bakman and the h.wood Group’s bbq concept SLAB are offering a Hanukkah Package that feeds four for $195. The feast includes half a brisket, latkes, salad, matzo ball soup, and roasted green beans. Available for pre-order (24 hours in advance) Dec. 10-18 for pick-up at 8136 W. 3rd Street.

Superfine Pizza and Skid Row Housing Trust have a new special going on. Any time you order for pickup or delivery, you can add a $1 or $5 donation to bring meals to residents at The Rossmore House. On Saturdays, Superfine will match donations.

The Little Tokyo Community Council (LTCC) is relaunching Community Feeding Community (CFC) to provide free meals to those whose jobs were impacted by COVID-19 closures while also supporting small businesses in Little Tokyo. Meals are distributed every Saturday from 2-4 p.m. at 327 East Second Street. The menu rotates weekly and advanced reservations are required for pickup. Reserve a meal online at littletokyola.org/cfc.  You can also use that link to donate a meal. 

Idle Hour in North Hollywood is offering craft cocktail kits all December. The kits include mixes, syrups, and garnishes for Idle Hour’s signature margarita ($25), mule ($30), or old fashioned ($20) Spirits are not included in the kits but customers can add a bottle of vodka or tequila with any kit purchase.

Cake Monkey recently launched a budget-friendly Pie Gram service. For $6.75, send friends mini-pies with customizable messages on the box. Flavors include Cider Roasted Apple in Double Cheddar Crust or Brown Butter Pecan with Toasted Cocoa Nibs. Pick up orders at the Beverly Grove shop or North Hollywood kitchen. Local delivery is also available.

Maple Block Meat Co. has a new drive-in and pickup lot. Guests can stay in their car and enjoy free popcorn while they wait for their order to be brought directly to their car. Items include sandwiches, salads, BBQ, daily specials, and family meal packages. For $83, get a whole smoked chicken dinner with pickles, biscuits, salad, and a side (serves four).

Michelin-starred Chef David Myers’s pop-up ADRIFT Burger Bar features burgers, fried sides, and milkshakes for delivery (GrubHub) or pickup in Venice. Hours are daily, 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. The signature DM Burger is a medium-rare patty with Vermont Cheddar Cheese, shaved onion and lettuce, and secret sauce on a brioche bun. Other options include Curry Leaf Fries and Matcha & White Chocolate Milkshakes.  

Hotel Figueroa is hosting a pop-up event with local bakeshop Flouring LA on Dec. 12 and 19. Each dessert box includes gingerbread cake bars, peppermint meringue-topped brownies, cinna-sugar donuts, and Belgian sea salt chocolate chip cookies ($44 for eight pieces). Available for pre-order and pickup each Saturday of the pop-up from 1-3 p.m., along with other Flouring LA items available at the hotel. Email [email protected] to place an order. 

Foo Fighters and Casa Vega have teamed up for a limited-edition taco collaboration that benefits No Us Without You. Available all month, The Foo Fighters taco ($7) features smoked brisket in a Mexican spice rub, backbeat BBQ sauce, Mexican coleslaw, pickled onions, and cilantro, on a homemade flour tortilla. A Foo Fighters cocktail called Los Luchadores Foo ($14) made with La Gritona Reposado tequila is also available. The Foo Fighters taco is only available for take-out (online ordering) at Casa Vega’s drive-thru. In addition, there will also be a special Foo Fighters x Casa Vega tee shirt sold on Casa Vega’s website, with the proceeds donated to No Us Without You.

Chef Jordan Kahn of Vespertine is recreating items Chicago’s Alinea for a special eight-course menu available for pickup Thurs.-Sun. through Dec. 20. Guests can either order ready-to-eat, individually plated small dishes ($115 per person) or a DIY family-style format with directions to reheat and plate at home ($95 per person). Two order minimum. Order via Tock.  

LeRoy Neiman, Sylvester Stallone in Rocky IV, May 1 1985

At-Home & Online Events

Antaeus Theatre Company‘s The Zip Code Plays: Los Angeles is a series of virtual, interactive tours that highlight landmarks and small businesses. Each episode is narrated by a member of the Antaeus Theatre Company and includes a map illustration from Cynthia Jacquette Art + Design. The Zip Code Plays are set in 90011 (South Central Los Angeles), 90012 (Downtown L.A.), 90024 (Westwood), 90403 (Santa Monica), 90272 (Pacific Palisades), and 91352 (Sun Valley). Listen for free at www.antaeus.org.

Age Before Beauty is an online exhibition of LeRoy Neiman’s sketches from the set of the Rocky films. It features 25 images staged throughout the historic Gleason’s Boxing Gym in Brooklyn.

Annenberg PetSpace is hosting kid-centric Pawliday Zoom party this Saturday, Dec. 12 starting at 4 p.m. The hour-long online event features a puppet show, a cooking segment and lots of virtual meet-and-greets with adoptable pets and critters. You can register to attend for free here.

Cyndi Lauper’s annual Home for the Holidays concert this year features appearances and performances from Cher, Henry Rollins, Billie Eilish, Taylor Swift, Billy Porter, Dolly Parton, and more. The show will premiere on TikTok on Friday, Dec. 11, then re-air on YouTube and Facebook on Sunday, Dec 12. The concert is free to view and supports True Colors United, which works to end homelessness among LGBTQ youth.

Celebrate Hanukkah with the Skirball on Dec. 13. Register for a sweet and savory cheese pancake workshop or celebrate the Festival of Lights online with a free streaming event that includes a community candle lighting, a lively sing-along, and a puppetry performance that tells the Hanukkah story.

#WomxnCrush Music (#WCM), a non-profit arts organization dedicated to creating opportunities for rising womxn songwriters, hosts the “WomxnCrush Music On Tour: Spotlight On Los Angeles” showcase to benefit local venues on Dec. 10 at 6:30 p.m. The show features Esbie Fonte, Rivita, and Sydney Ranee.

From The Wallis’s Sorting Room Sessions on Dec. 12, Magic Castle members Elizabeth Messick, Michealann Awesome, Patricia Magicia, and Simone Turkington offer an on-demand, all-ages virtual performance of music, comedy, and magic. Tickets are $25.

Gorillaz will perform Song Machine Live from London on Dec. 12 and 13. The virtual global tour will blend the live performance with animated visuals by Jamie Hewlet. Tickets start at $15.

A virtual table reading of “It’s a Wonderful Life” benefitting The Ed Asner Family Center is on Dec. 13 at 5 p.m. Per a release: “Karolyn Grimes, the original 6 year old Zuzu Bailey featured in the motion picture “It’s a Wonderful Life ” will relive the classical holiday story as she joins Ed Asner, Pete Davidson, Ellie Kemper and a star-studded team of actors—including Mia Farrow, Maude Apatow, Carol Kane, Ed Begley Jr., Diedrich Bader, Bill Pullman, Richard Kind, and BD Wong—for a one-night-only, live virtual table read of the 1946 holiday classic.” Tickets are $50 per household or five tickets for $200.

MASH Gallery hosts “Saffa,” a new online photographic exhibit from Adel Yaraghi.

MASH Gallery hosts “Saffa,” a new online photographic exhibit from Adel Yaraghi. Per a release: “Curated by MASH Gallery’s Haleh Mashian, Yaraghi’s momentous photographic series tells the story of the women rice farmers of the coastal regions of Northern Iran. Yaraghi documents it all—the families who farm together, the multi generations of women minding the fields, the songs that the women sing as they work—a matriarchy that is the backbone of the land.” See it online through the end of the year here.

The gift shops of four downtown institutions come together Dec. 12-13 for Gifts on Grand. Buy gifts from The Shop at The Broad, MOCA Store, The Library Store, and LA Phil Store online, then pick up your items the same weekend. As a bonus, get a free mug (while supplies last) when you spend $50 at each participating store.

The Gay Men’s Chorus of Los Angeles Holiday Spectacular goes online this year with a one-hour virtual concert on Dec. 12. The free event features brand-new performances as well as the best performances from past Holiday Spectaculars.

Downtown Culver City and Amazon Studios host a virtual tree-lighting celebration on Dec. 10 at 6 p.m. The show includes the lighting of a 22-foot Rocky Mountain Pine, performances by Invertigo Dance Theater and Lesili Beard, a visit from Santa, and more. 

A Current Affair goes virtual Dec. 11-13, allowing people to shop from dozens of the top vintage retailers safely and from the comfort of their homes.

On Dec. 12 at 10:30 a.m.. join the Culinary Historians of Southern California for “The Culinary History of Disneyland and Walt Disney,” hosted on Zoom by Marcy Carriker Smothers. “Per a release: “Marcy Carriker Smothers explores Walt Disney’s “Kingdom of Good Eating” at Disneyland. While mid-century fare in America may have been humdrum, Walt’s world of food was filled with fantasy and color; he was committed to making the dining experience at Disneyland entertaining—just like the rides. He was among the first in the world to have a themed restaurant and we take a look at his unexpected role of restaurateur. Marcy will also probe into what Walt ate at home.” The event is free, but you must RSVP 24 hours in advance to get the Zoom link.

The Tom of Finland Foundation’s 25th Art and Culture Festival: Plugged In will be held online Dec. 11-13, highlighting fringe erotic works from dozens of artists. 2020 also marks the centennial of Tom!

NewFilmmakers Los Angeles host a virtual edition of its annual Film Festival InFocus: Middle Eastern, Arab & Dutch Cinema program Dec. 11-12 featuring an international lineup of virtual screenings, filmmaker Q&As, and industry panels. An All-Access Pass is $30. Single tickets are $10 per film program.

The Robey Theatre Company hosts a free virtual Kwanzaa celebration on Dec. 11 at 6 p.m. Festivities include musical performances from Robey artists including Cydney Wayne Davis, Julio Hanson, Marva Smith, plus the Hearts On Fire Choir, and the young artists of The Amazing Grace Conservatory. There will also be comedy performances by Jason Mimms, Vanja Renee, and Stevie Mack. Register for tickets here.

Join KCET Cinema Series host Pete Hammond for a virtual screening of The Prom followed by a Q&A on Dec. 11 at 7 p.m. Register by Dec. 9 at noon.

LA Plaza’s 100th virtual program is on Dec. 11 at 7 p.m. They’ll look back at all of their “En Casa con LA Plaza” online offerings, featuring highlights dating back to April 27. Register to view on Zoom or watch on Facebook

Union Station’s Tinsel on the Tracks is online this year, featuring a tree lighting under the stars on the station’s South Patio and a performance from the Grand Arts Chamber Singers. Watch on Dec. 11 at 7 p.m. on Facebook or YouTube.

From Zombie Joe’s Underground Theater comes a spooky 22-minute personal visit from The Ghost of Jacob Marley, the first of many spirits Scrooge sees in A Christmas Carol. Zombie Joe himself will play Jacob Marley as he Zooms you to make sure you change your ways or whatever it is Marley is up to these days. From Dec. 16-30, you can book your personal ghost consultation for $25 at ZOMBIEJOES.COM.  

Sofitel LA’s annual dog-friendly event is on line year. The hotel will partner with Wagmor Pets Dog Rescue on a meet and greet with rescue dogs.

After Hours Theater Company is offering a virtual show with drinks. A Christmas Carol Cocktail Spectacular takes guests back to the 1950s with an interactive online retelling of A Christmas Carol. The ghosts of past, present, and future each bring their own cocktail, which you’ll make along at home thanks to a kit you’ll receive in the mail. Performances are Dec. 11, 12, 18, 19, and 22 at 7 p.m Tickets are $78 for two guests, and include the live-stream and ingredients to make three cocktails (alcoholic or non-alcoholic available).

UCLA’s Center for the Art of Performance (CAP UCLA) presents the Pomegranate Arts production Taylor Mac’s Holiday Sauce…Pandemic! on Dec. 12 at 7. p.m. Per a release: “Conceived as a virtual vaudeville, Holiday Sauce…Pandemic! blends music, film, burlesque, and random acts of fabulousness. Tickets are available for a minimum $25 donation.

Welcome to Meadowlark Falls – Christmas At Home is a story told through the mail and online from Tin Can Telephone. It’s a holiday rom-com that begins when you receive a letter from Jenny Snow, a friend you met at baking camp. Jenny needs your help to make sure the holidays in Meadowlark Falls are as merry as possible. Tickets are $40. Get them by Dec. 11.

Breathe.” Is a livestreamed multimedia interactive theater event from artist Philicia Saunders, in which she’ll play 20 characters. Per a release: “Breathe. is based on the life-changing personal journey towards activism after a chance trip to a Civil Rights monument during a civil rights tour in Alabama and mentorship by a luminary of activism, Sweet Alice Harris, one of Watts’ most beloved community organizers and whose Parents of Watts organization was created as a result of the Watts unrest of 1965.” It streams Dec. 11-18. Find tickets and times here.

On Dec. 12 at 10:30 a.m., author Danny Jensen presents a virtual tour of Catalina Island. Learn about its free-roaming bison, Hollywood connections, and other fascinating tidbits of history, plus get tips on the best things to do when you’re able to visit in the future. Tickets are $10.

On Site Opera is offering something unique for opera fans with The Beauty That Still Remains: Diaries in Song. It consists of three diary-based shows that you can listen to in your home while sifting through a package of letters, photos, and other ephemera related to the story The package will arrive in the mail, consisting of a handwritten libretto, access codes to the performance, invitations to virtual events, and other insights. Shows include The Diary of One Who Vanished, From the Diary of Virginia Woolf, and A World Turned Upside Down (based on the diary of Anne Frank). Diaries are $45 each or $120 for all three.

The Groundlings Annual Holiday Show goes virtual this year with three weekends of original sketches and interactive improv every Friday and Saturday from Dec. 4-19.

The 53rd Annual Holiday Look-In Home Tour presented by the Women’s Committee of the Pasadena Symphony is online this year. The tour “showcases the architecture and gardens of four magnificent Pasadena homes decorated for the holidays in festive floral regalia.” The event is narrated by Pasadena Symphony music director, David Lockington with music from the Pasadena Symphony Youth Orchestras. Available Dec. 5-31. Free with registration here, though donations to the Pasadena Symphony Youth Orchestras and the Pasadena Symphony will be graciously accepted.

FORT:LA has a new VR experience recreating the Dodge House by Irving Gill, which was demolished in 1970. Per a release: “The house was built in 1916 and represented a pivotal moment in architectural history- a hybrid style that blended the indigenous culture of the southland with the first inklings of European modernism.” 

UCLA’s Center for the Art of Performance (CAP UCLA) presents A Thousand Ways (Part One): A Phone Call by 600 HIGHWAYMEN Dec. 13 and Jan. 24 at various times PST. Per a release: “The experimental A Thousand Ways, which will ultimately comprise three parts, plumbs the essence of theater—bringing people together in the creation of a moving live experience—to counteract social isolation exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. In Part One: A Phone Call, two audience members—nameless strangers to one another—follow a carefully crafted set of directives, revealing things about themselves and their lives. Over the course of the hourlong journey, a portrait of the other emerges through fleeting moments of exposure and the simple sound of an unseen voice.” Tickets are $25 per person here.

Explore handmade products including home décor, food, housewares, fashion accessories, and body products during the Jackalope Virtual Holiday Market Nov. 28 through Dec. 13.

The Groundlings Theatre hosts an interactive improv show on Dec. 4, 5, 11, 12, 18 & 19 at 7 p.m. It’s directed by Groundlings Main Company Member Leonard Robinson (Insecure) with cast including Robinson and fellow Groundlings Lauren Burns (This Is Us), Michael Churven (Modern Family), Samantha DeSurra (Yeoja), Chris Eckert (Empty Space), Ryan Gaul (The Last O.G.), Kiel Kennedy (Robot Chicken), and Ariane Price (Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar). Tickets start at $25.

The William Turner Gallery hosts Andy Moses’s “Recent Works” Dec. 5 through Feb. 10. Per a release: “Implementing techniques that utilize the artist’s almost obsessive study of the alchemical properties of paint, Moses’s work blurs the line between abstraction and a new kind of pictorialism.” By appointment and at williamturnergallery.com.

Corey Helford Gallery’s seventh annual Art Collector Starter Kit group show highlights affordable 12” x 12” works from new contemporary artists, giving new art collectors and enthusiasts a chance to buy an original piece from artists. The show will be on view Nov. 14, 2020 through Jan. 9, 2021.

The Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County (NHM) and Nickelodeon will explore the Science of Slime through videos, DIY activities, and weekly live programs with NHM scientists. Check out new programming here every Monday and Thursday (except Thanksgiving) through Dec. 14.  

The Music Center’s digital series, For the Love of L.A., “celebrates the creativity of Los Angeles and supports L.A.-based artists representing the disciplines of music, dance, visual culture, and more.” See it every Tuesday through Feb. 9 on Instagram.

Advertisements
Food

16+ Great Holiday Gifts For Your Foodie Friends

December 4, 2020 by We Like L.A. Staff
Pez Cantina Holiday Box.

You may not be able to share a meal across the table from your friends and family this holiday season, but you can still share a gift with your foodie friends, be it canned cocktails, sweets, or even a candle that smells like an ice cream shop. Check out our picks of food & bev gifts below and for more ideas, see our local L.A. gift guide here.

Photo: Home Assembly

Home Assembly 

Chefs Niki Nakayama and Carole Iida-Nakayama of n/naka have partnered with artist Glenn Kaino, DJ Liza Richardson, and nonprofit Active Cultures on Home Assembly, a cook-at-home meal box that pairs art objects with recipes and seasonal ingredients. The kit includes everything one needs to cook a three-course meal for two, candle artwork, and a curated playlist. The meal includes a seared albacore sashimi salad, kelp-roasted branzino with udon vongole, and yuzu pound cake. The box is $175 (serves two) and is available for pickup in Los Angeles.  

Esters Wine Shop 

Esters has a holiday guide for quick, easy gift shopping. Choose among DIY tasting packages, single bottles in cute wine bags, or bundles that include chocolates, nuts, and other snacks.

Salt & Straw

Ice cream innovators Salt & Straw partnered with Portland-based perfumery Imaginary Authors on a new scent designed to make you feel like you’re in an ice cream shop. A Whiff of Waffle Cone is available as both a candle ($30) or a perfume ($28-$65). Notes of vanilla, heavy cream, and salted caramel, with a little cinnamon, orgeat, and amyris make up this very delicious aroma. You can also order ice cream for national shipping.

Cake Monkey

Send a gift box full of sweet treats. Cake Monkey offers 11 options suitable for both people with diet restrictions and those who have no limit. Boxes include themed samplers for chocolate lovers, plus folks who love cake, cookies, or pies. There’s also an epic tribute to Hostess treats. Boxes start at $43, pickup, delivery and nationwide shipping is available. In addition, the bakery recently launched a budget friendly Pie Gram. For $6.75, send friends mini pies with customizable messages on the box. Flavors include Cider Roasted Apple in Double Cheddar Crust or Brown Butter Pecan with Toasted Cocoa Nibs. Pie grams can either be picked-up at the Beverly Grove shop or North Hollywood kitchen, local delivery is also available.

Photo: Pez Cantina Holiday Box

 Pez Cantina

Send someone a cocktail, chips, and salsa kit. Downtown’s coastal Mexican restaurant Pez Cantina is offering a holiday box with a 32 oz bottled cocktail of your choice, a trio of Pez Powder, Pez Tamarind Chamoy Cocktail glass rimmer, and a cocktail shaker. The restaurant’s signature chips and a jar of salsa also come in the box, along with Loteria cards. The box is $75 plus shipping costs.

Destroyer

Jordan Kahn’s Destroyer is offering coffee and tea gift boxes for $60 each. Both boxes include a pair of cups from Match Stoneware, a custom blend of caffeine from Destroyer, and the option to add Whiskey Glazed Almond Biscotti for an additional $8 or a Destroyer tote bag for $12. All items are available for pickup and delivery.

Now Serving

Help friends and family up their cookbook game. Now Serving is a bookstore in Chinatown completely dedicated to literature on cooking and food. The store is so beloved that their book drops are sometimes as popular as sneaker drops.

Banh Oui

Chef Casey Felton of Hollywood’s Banh Oui offers everything you need for a beautiful charcuterie board. The hosting bag ($65) comes with Jidori chicken liver paté, marinated cow’s milk cheese, bread and butter pickles, pickled Fresno chili, buckwheat honey, and a bottle of wine.

Golden Road

LA-based Golden Road Brewing is offering three curated holiday boxes to celebrate the holidays. The Cookie & Cocoa Box ($18), the Hoppy Holidays Box ($25), and the Beer Lovers Box ($30), with the option to add on a guided virtual tasting with a Golden Road beer ambassador. Available for online order and delivery via Toast, and all three kits can be pre-ordered and picked up at the breweries Atwater, Huntington Beach, or Anaheim locations. The last day to order is Thursday, December 17 and the last day to pick up is the following Wednesday, December 23.

Photo: Verve’s WFH Bundle

Verve

Verve Coffee has a number of holiday gift bundles available. The Craft Coffee bundle includes a 12 oz. bag of Verve’s Holiday Blend and a Kinto diner mug ($30), while the Cozy Coffee bundle ($50) includes the coffee and mug, plus a soy candle and a Verve knit beanie. Other options include a bundle for camping and one ideal for working from home.

 1933 Group

1933 Group, the folks behind several local watering holes, have a new online store featuring vintage-inspired collectibles for the holidays. Gift ideas include tiki mugs from Formosa Cafe, a limited edition bowling gear collab between Sanrio Gudetama and Highland Park Bowl, plus lots of apparel options repping all their bars.

Bar Keeper (Silver Lake)

Every household could do with some proper bar tools and glassware. You can find just that at Bar Keeper in Silver Lake. Other gift options include small-batch spirits and vintage bar accessories.  

Art of Tea

This Monterey Park tea purveyor hand-blends and custom crafts some of the world’s finest organic teas and botanicals. Their tea gifts page features tea sampler sets, specialty holiday teas, and gift boxes. Their beautifully packaged gift box set includes a tin of loose-leaf Earl Grey Creme tea, a journal, an Earl Grey Creme candle, and matches in a reusable wooden box ($75).

Photo: Flouring LA’s dessert box.

Hotel Figueroa x Flouring LA

Hotel Figueroa is hosting a pop-up event with local bakeshop Flouring LA on Dec. 5, 12, and 19. Traipse through this historic hotel’s winter decorations before picking up a dessert box that includes gingerbread cake bars, peppermint meringue-topped brownies, cinna-sugar donuts, and Belgian sea salt chocolate chip cookies ($44 for eight pieces). Available for pre-order and pickup each Saturday of the pop-up from 1-3 p.m., along with other Flouring LA items available at the hotel. Email [email protected] to place an order. 

Playa Provisions

Playa Provisions has a selection of beer, wine, merch, bottled house-made hot sauce, and specialty canned cocktails. The new line of cocktails includes a chai-spiced Paloma, spiked seltzers in flavors like grapefruit and mango tajin, and more ($7-$12). It’s a perfect way to invite your friends to a Zoom happy hour, if you’re not totally Zoomed out. Available on Postmates.

Akasha Restaurant

Akasha Restaurant in Culver City is now offering gift baskets for takeout featuring DIY masala chai and hot toddy kits, jams, chutneys, snacks, ceramic dishes, and more. You can pre-order online for pickup and delivery. 

Big Bar

Throughout the entire pandemic, Big Bar has been offering creative cocktail kits that are perfect for a night in. Their current lineup includes tasting flights and DIY kits for Manhattan or Old-Fashioned lovers. Each one comes in a cute package and contains everyone one needs for a great cocktail. Order online for takeout or delivery. 

Sky’s Gourmet Tacos

Barbara “Sky” Burrell released a full line of sauces and an all-purpose seasoning. The special holiday bundle includes four sauces and the seasoning delivered in a gift box for $34.95. Available on their website.

Madre

Madre Restaurant & Mezcaleria is offering mezcal gift boxes online and at its locations in Torrance, Palms, and West Hollywood. Each box features a selection of mezcals curated by owner Ian Vasquez, copitas (a cup for sipping mezcal) by Omar Hernandez, and chapulines. Prices start at $85. 

Advertisements