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Every week in Los Angeles there are tons of great things to do (even before the weekend gets started) that we think you ought to have on your radar. With that in mind, we put together a list every Monday through Friday morning to keep you in the know about what’s happening in the city you love (or maybe just like).
This week, from Monday, August 19 to Friday, August 23, features Astronomy on Tap, Twilight Concerts at The Pier, movie night at the Queen Mary, L.A. Food & Wine, DTLA Proud, and MUCH more.
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Remember you can always go to our L.A. events calendar page to get an updated rundown of what’s happening around the city.
Hope you find the rundown useful and, as always, enjoy your week!
Keep in mind that while we retain complete editorial control of our content, for some of the ticketing options provided we utilize affiliate links and receive a commission if you purchase through our links.
Monday August 19th, 2019
1. Pennywise returns to Hollywood with a second terrifying, immersive event. The Derry Canal Days Festival will open to the public on August 15 at the corner of Hollywood and Vine, drawing from the forthcoming IT Chapter Two, which hits theaters on September 6. There will be 10 different interactive spaces over the course of a whole 40 minutes for each guests to enjoy. The event runs August 15 through September 8 with daily hours from 2 to 11 p.m. Reservations are free and can be made online. You may join the standby line outside the attraction as well. The event is open to those 18+ or 17-year-olds who are accompanied by an adult. FREE
2. BH90210: Now Wear This, comes to the Westfield Century city with a panel discussion featuring Beverly Hills 90210 costume designer Mandi Line plus Executive Producers & Actresses, Jennie Garth and Tori Spelling. FREE
3. During the month of August Skyspace’s The Garden Bar will host TAP TAKEOVERS where your admission between the times of 4 p.m. to 1 a.m. will include a free craft brew. This week guests can sip on a beer from Lagunitas from August 19-20.
4. Poolside is a new immersive abstract painting show at Rhythm Visuals gallery in Downtown L.A. The exhibition features multiple rooms and visual experiences, including one where guests throw water balloons at a white wall to reveal a hidden painting. The exhibit is open Sundays, Mondays and Thursdays from noon to 4 p.m. through September 5. FREE
5. On Monday there’s a KCON After Party at The Hammer Museum highlighted by a concert featuring K-Pop stars ATEEZ, Balming Tiger, Grace Kelly Music, JuNCurryAhn, and 마마무 Mamamoo in the Hammer’s courtyard.
6. A colorful, winding installation called The Second Home Serpentine Pavilion is now open at the La Brea Tar Pits for the summer and its 100% free for the public to roam and explore. The pavilion is open daily and will run through November 24. FREE
7. Astronomy on Tap hosted by Caltech Astronomy happens once a month at Der Wolf in Pasadena. Professionals will give informal talks about a variety of topics while enjoying German beers with the public.
Tuesday August 20th, 2019
8. The Hammer museums series celebrating John Singleton (1968–2019) will host a free screening of Rosewood this Tuesday. FREE
9. Screamfest Horror Film Festival presents A Nightmare on Elm Street 35th Anniversary screening with a Q&A with actress Heather Langenkamp, Amanda Wyss and additional cast. Your tickets includes a complimentary beer for guests 21+.
10. The Santa Monica Conservancy will host an open house at the Preservation Resource Center during Food Truck Tuesday happening at the California Heritage Museum lot. During the event conservancy docents will offer free tours of the 1897 Shotgun House, the last intact one in Santa Monica.
11. Moonlight Movies on the Beach brings a summer-long series of free outdoor movie screenings on the shores of the LBC to three different locations near Downtown Long Beach and Belmont Shore. The series concludes with Ferris Bueller’s Day Off at Granada Beach on Tuesday. FREE
12. Mr. C’s Poolside Cinema is back for the sixth year in a row. From June 11 through August 27 Angelenos can indulge in a luxury outdoor movie experience by the pool with a Cipriani menu, classic movie snacks and Peroni Nastro Azzurro. Avengers: Infinity War will be screened this week.
13. Free museum days: Los Angeles County Arboretum (note: the tram doesn’t run on this day), South Coast Botanic Garden and Descanso Gardens
Wednesday August 21st, 2019
14. Twilight Concerts return on August 21 for the start of six consecutive Wednesdays of free music on the Santa Monica Pier. Kicking off the series is Rostam, Dijon and Jen Awad. FREE
15. Join the Los Angeles Conservancy for a walking tour of City Hall.
16. The first-ever Museum of Weed is now open in Los Angeles. This 30,000 square foot space of ‘higher learning’ presented by WeedMaps aims to provide insight and history into marijuana through interactive exhibits, Instagram-friendly art installations and a bevy of historical artifacts. The museum is open Wednesday through Sunday. Admission starts at $35.
17. Experience a sound bath surrounded by giant, life size, and small ancient Buddhas sculptures at Barakat Gallery this Wednesday. Led by Roxie Sound Healing, the experience will reverberate through the 7,000 square foot two floor gallery. The 12 room gallery will also be open after hours for this special event.
18. Due to popular demand, the Annenberg Space for Photography’s exhibit – Contact High: A Visual History of Hip-Hop – is extending its run through Sunday, August 25. Free and open to the public, the exhibit includes photos of hip-hop icons like Notorious B.I.G. and Jay-Z, an interactive record shop, and a documentary on the history of this popular music genre. FREE
19. FLIX at FIG screens Crazy Rich Asians at FIGat7th in DTLA. The free movie screenings happen every third Wednesday of the month. A live DJ and happy hour kicks off the night at 6 p.m. and the film begins at 7 p.m. FREE
20. Back for the 16th year in a row, The Independent Shakespeare Co. presents Shakespeare in the Park at the Old Zoo in Griffith Park with free performances of either Pericles or Twelfth Night Wednesday through Sunday. FREE
Thursday August 22nd, 2019
21. L.A. Food & Wine 2019 kicks off on Thursday with a selection of special dinners at restaurants across the city. August 23-25 the focus shifts to the Barker Hangar at Santa Monica Airport for three days of themed-out events and tastings hosted by top chefs.
22. On Thursday there’s a double feature of Beetlejuice & Edward Scissorhands at the Queen Mary summer movie night series. FREE
23. Sizzling Summer Nights at The Autry concludes this week. Enjoy live music, dance lessons with an instructor, access to museum galleries, and a separate children’s dance floor, plus tacos, margaritas, and other light refreshments.
24. Plática: The Role of LGBTQIA+ Social Media Influencers in Today’s World, a panel discussion with queer influencers that looks into the affects of today’s social media-driven society. Happening at LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes. FREE
25. The Skirball Cultural Center concludes it’s twenty-third annual season of Sunset Concerts with Josef Leimberg on Thursday. FREE
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26. Night Market is back on the hilltop of the iconic Yamashiro restaurant every Thursday all summer long. Angelenos can enjoy boutique vendors, food vendors, a concert series, cocktails at Yamashiro’s Pagoda Bar and an unbeatable view of Hollywood. This event is also kid friendley. Please note this year the organizers are charging $10 to park at the shuttle location. Shuttles are free and so is admission.
27. Celebrate summer as you enjoy the arts during Symphonic Thursdays, a series of free concerts taking place at Marina del Rey’s Burton Chace Park during July and August. The series continues with a fully staged production Cole Porter’s Kiss Me, Kate. An encore show will take place on Saturday. FREE
28. Free museum days: Japanese American National Museum (from 5 to 8 p.m.), MOCA Grand (from 5 to 8 p.m.), Skirball Cultural Center (noon to 5 p.m.), Long Beach Museum of Art (3 to 8 p.m.) and USC Pacific Asian Museum (5 to 8 p.m.)
Friday August 23rd, 2019
29. DTLA PROUD Festival 2019 returns August 23 to 25 to celebrate the culture, history, and diversity of the LGBTQ+ community in Downtown Los Angeles and beyond. There will be a lineup of local stage talent, community booths, art installations, retail vendors, interactive exhibits, food trucks, a pop up water park, and more.
30. It’s a Kill Bill Movie Night at the Wiltern this Friday with a double feature screening of Kill Bill I and II with movie-inspired drinks, a DJ spinning the RZA produced soundtrack, Tacos 1986 in the outdoor patio and photo ops. DISCOUNTED (via Goldstar)
31. Summer Nights at the Tar Pits returns for an evening party featuring DJs, cocktails, museum exploration, discussions and more. FREE
32. Ensemble Shakespeare Theater returns to Descanso Gardens Friday and Saturday for an immersive theater production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream that will have guests weaving through the Gardens to follow the magical and adventure filled production.
33. Friday Night Block Party at L.A. LIVE presented by Absolut features 20+ pop-up shops, live art and street performers and select $5 food and drink menus at participating L.A. LIVE restaurants. FREE
34. Cinema Botanica: Movies in the Garden happening at Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden will feature family friendly movies every Friday in August. Attendees will receive a field guide to plants they can spot in the movies and Garden staff will discuss the plants and landscape during intermission.
35. Asian AF Los Angeles comedy show at the Upright Citizens Brigade Sunset is a night of stand-up, sketch, improv, storytelling, and more by the best comedic Asian American talent in our city.
36. Spend the season sipping wine during sunset hour at Barnsdall Art Park’s Friday Night Wine Party Series. Happening on the lawn of architectural gem the Hollyhock House, the evening features a fine selection of wines curated by Silverlake Wine, a live DJ and tours of the house. The series happens every Friday evening till September 6.
37. Pink Martini will take the stage of the Hollywood Bowl this Sunday with orchestra support.
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38. 4th Fridays on 4th Street activates the “Retro Road” business district in Long Beach on the fourth Friday of every month from 6 to 10 p.m. through extended hours, dining specials, discounted merchandise, pop up shops, art shows, live music, double decker bus rides and more.
39. Summer Friday Night Drive-In at the Roadium returns every Friday evening from June 7 to August 30 to revive your favorite films in a classic 1950’s drive-in setting. The series continues with a screening of Coco.
40. The Groundlings’ latest hilarious main stage show, Groundlings Treasure Hunters runs every Friday and Saturday through September 14.
41. The Department of Beaches and Harbors presents Beach Movie Nights at Dockweiler Youth Center every Friday. This week they will screen Ralph Breaks the Internet. FREE
Food Pick for the Week
This week’s pick by Christina Champlin, Co-Founder of We Like L.A.
This week’s pick is a four-for-one, with four different specials we want to call out to for the week to come:
- Chef Margarita Manzke welcomes May Chow, Asia’s Best Female Chef 2017 of Hong Kong’s Little Bao to Grand Central Market for a two day pop-up (August 23-24) at Filipino concept Sari Sari. The special menu will include Fried Chicken Bao, Pork Belly Bao, Impossible Bao, Beef Tartare, Szechuan Fried Mushrooms and Little Ice Cream Bao. No reservations required. Keep in mind the regular Sari Sari menu will not be available throughout the pop-up. –> More information
- Santa Monica’s Historical Landmark Chez Jay celebrates their upcoming 60th anniversary by opening up The Backyard at Chez Jay. The space features plenty of seating including picnic tables, couches, and Adirondack chairs for a relaxed alfresco gathering. Guests can dine on the Good Eats menu where shared places of Peppercorn Maple Bacon, Southwest Steak Nachos and Kimchi Guacamole can be found. Those looking for a larger meal can find items like Crispy Calamari Salad, Mahi Mahi Sandwich, Chez Burger and the Jay Dog a grilled 10-inch Wagyu hot dog on a split-top brioche on the entree menu. No meal is complete without a cocktail. Signature drinks such as the Hotel California made of Bombay Sapphire, grapefruit, lemon and rosemary or the Chevy To The Levy made of mezcal, pineapple, Ramazzoti Rosato, lemon and sage are just some of the drinks on the menu. –> More information
- Head to Chinatown’s old school bar General Lee’s to sip on the new Fables Cocktail menu. Named after Chinese fables like “Goddess of the Moon,” “Elixir of Immortality”, “The Moon in the Well”, “The Empty Pot”, and “Dragon Fire.” Your cocktail might come with an interesting story to contemplate as you drink. –> More information
- Oaxacan restaurant, Madre located in Torrance is hosting a three course meal paired with brand new releases of La Luna Mezcal on Thursday, August 22nd from 7 to 9 p.m. La Luna Mezcal originates from Michoacan, Mexico where most artisanal mezcal is produced. –> More information
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