Things To Do

36 Totally Fun Things To Do in L.A. This Week [8-3-15 to 8-7-15]

August 3, 2015 by Christina Champlin

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 morning to keep you in the know about what’s happening in the city you love (or maybe just like).

This week includes free film screenings at The Hammer, the Brew at The Zoo, The Matrix in Silver Lake, Hershey Felder as Irving Berlin, the Nike 3-on-3 basketball tournament, First Fridays, and tons more.

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Hope you find the rundown useful and, as always, enjoy your week!

[RELATED: The Best Way to Find Discount Events in Los Angeles]

Echo Park Lake and Downtown Los Angeles

Echo Park Lake. Credit: collectmoments via flickr

[REMINDER: In some cases We Like L.A. does receive revenue when visitors click on ticket links and make purchases, however we maintain complete editorial control over the events we suggest. Basically, it only makes it on to the website if we think it is cool!]


Monday August 3rd, 2015

1. Wine & Cheese Night At Bow & Truss

Starting August 3rd, and on the first Monday of each month through November, latin-inspired restaurant Bow & Truss will be serving up wine and cheese pairings with flavors from around the world. This specialty event will feature wine expert Chuck Novak who will guide guests through the experience. The pairing will consist of five two-ounce pours of wine and five half-
ounce servings of gourmet cheeses for $25. The event is first come, first served based with limited seating.

2. Gamble House Brings Back its Popular ‘Upstairs Downstairs’ Tour

For a limited time this summer the Gamble House will once again open its servants’ quarters for exclusive 90-minute “Upstairs Downstairs” tours. Visitors to the Gamble House from July 30 through August 16 will be able to compare the living quarters of the served with those “in service.” New information recently emerged about the Gamble family and their servants allowing the curators to share more of the personal history of those who lived and worked at 4 Westmoreland Place in Pasadena. Learn just how the Gambles lived in, maintained and appreciated their beautiful Greene & Greene house.

3. LF Just Opened A Permanent Outlet Store On Melrose Avenue 

Attention all LF fans out there! The LF outlet is now open on Melrose Avenue next to American Apparel. Everything is under $45 like EVERYTHING including Jeffery Campbell shoes, vintage denim and so much more. Racked has all the info here.

4. The 13th Annual Los Angeles Improv Comedy Festival

This week long event of comedy mixes established and newbies together for some LOL’s. The festival runs till the 9th of this month.

5. To Live and Dine in L.A.

The latest exhibition to hit the Los Angeles Central Library: To Live and Dine in L.A. is one for the foodie nostalgic. Come celebrate the history of food in Los Angeles and view a massive collection of rare, first-edition menus from restaurants that have long since closed. The exhibit aims to promote the historical significance of LA’s food culture, and will feature over 50 food and menu related programs, including lectures, cooking demos and nutrition workshops. Check out more information, times and dates on their offical page.

Tuesday August 4th, 2015

6. Hershey Felder as Irving Berlin At The Geffen Playhouse

Having broken Geffen Playhouse season production box office records, Hershey Felder as Irving Berlin returns to the Gil Cates Theater at the Geffen Playhouse for two weeks only, August 4-16, 2015. In the show, Felder brings to life the remarkable story of Irving Berlin, long thought of as America’s composer, who enjoyed 232 top-10 hits and 25 number-one songs. Featuring the composer’s most popular and enduring songs from “Alexander’s Ragtime Band,” “There’s No Business Like Show Business,” to “White Christmas,” and the score of “Annie Get Your Gun,” Felder’s signature creation of character and musical performance will make this evening an unforgettable journey. Tickets run $50-$70 but Goldstar has a limited amount for 50% off.

7. Moonlight Movies on the Beach: 101 Dalmatians

This season’s FREE Moonlight Movies on the Beach series at Granada Beach in Belmont Shore continues with a screening of animated version of 101 Dalmatians on Tuesday evening. Movie starts at 8:00pm!

8. Free Night At Kidspace Children’s Museum

Free family nights at the Kidspace Children’s Museum happen’s every first Tuesday of the month from 4:00pm. to 8:00pm. This month discover famous Italian architecture, create works of art inspired by Leonardo Da Vinci, and help build a kid-sized version of the Italian Alps. You also check out a special performance in the Stone Hollow Amphitheater at 6:00 & 7:00 pm.

9. Sip Cocktails, See The Sights With The Historic Hollywood: Stars & Bars Gang!

Get a taste of Old Hollywood sip on classic cocktails as an awesome guide share history tidbits, celebrity stories and more on Urban Adventures tour of Historic Hollywood. Usually tickets are $79 but Goldstar is hooking people up with $47.40 tickets.

10. Grand Park’s Boot Camp

From 5:30pm to 6:30pm enjoy a sundown work session curtesy of Grand Park’s Boot Camp. This is a great way to spend rush hour if you work in DTLA! To get your sweat on meet at Grand Park’s Event Lawn between Spring and Broadway.

11. Food Truck Bazaar at California Heritage Museum

Every Tuesday night California Heritage Museum holds a Gourmet Truck Night at the museum showcasing a select of gourmet truck eateries. Happening from 5:30pm – 9:30pm.

12. David Hockney At LA Louver

David Hockney’s work is being shown jointly by L.A. Louver and London’s Annely Juda Fine Art together they present “David Hockney: Painting and Photography,” an exhibition of brand-new works all made in the last two years by the prolific artist.

13. FIDM Museum Hosting Outstanding Art of Television Costume Design Exhibition 

The 9th Annual Exhibition: The Outstanding Art of Television Costume Design will display about 100 costumes created by costume designers, supervisors, and this year’s Emmy Nominees® at the FIDM Museum in DTLA. Costumes include Gotham, Peter Pan Live! Wolf Hall and more. In addition you might want to view Helen Larson’s historic fashion collection with beautiful dresses and hats dating back to 1760! Both exhibits are free to the public and available Tuesday through Saturday 10:00am to 5:00pm.

Wednesday August 5th, 2015

14. A Look Back at Eddie Murphy

The Hammer Museum is screening Eddie’s Murphy’s Delirious to be followed by a critical discussion lead by UCLA professor Uri McMillian. Starts at 7:30pm. You can reserve tickets up to one hour before the event starts. Free to the public.

15. Tour and Taste at Hollywood’s Hot Restaurants & Famous Sights

This four hour tour of the sites and taste of what Hollywood has to offer will take you to The Roosevelt Hollywood to the iconic Capital Records and even Melrose avenue. You will make several stops at some of Los Angeles’ most talked-about restaurants for a variety of savory and sweet tastings. Half price tickets are available via Goldstar. Bon appetit!

16. Shakespeare By The Sea

This week of the summer free slate of Shakespeare performances come with an ocean view and back to back performances of The Tempest at Encinos State Historic Park on the 5th and 6th. Show starts at 7:00pm.

Thursday August 6th, 2015

17. Escape Room LA: The Cavern

Play Indiana Jones for a day with Escape Room LA! Find clues and solve puzzles to get your hands on a lost civilization’s ancient treasures hundreds of feet below Downtown Los Angeles! You’ll have less than an hour to escape, working with your team to solve challenging puzzles to break free. Get more info and discount tickets for this Wednesday via our friends at Goldstar.

18. Twilight Summer Concert Series: Ben Browning Of Cut Copy & DMA’s

An L.A. summer tradition the Twilight Summer Concert Series takes place right on the Santa Monica pier. This week Ben Browning of Cut Copy and DMA’s will take the stage. Don’t forget to RSVP for this free event. Just an FYI, KCRW has free events all over the city this summer so take full advantage!

19. LA’s First Saks Off 5th Outlet Opens

Saks Fifth Avenue Off 5th will open at a prime corner space at the Beverly Connection. This Thursday, at 9:30am. Arrive at 8:30am to take advantage of the early bird festivities like $50 gift cards being handed out every 10 minutes with one lucky winner who will walk away with a $500 shopping spree. The party will continue throughout the weekend and Who What Wear will be hosting a special preview party open to the public from 5pm to 9pm the night before, where guests can shop, enjoy refreshments, meet industry experts, and be styled head to two by Sak’s style experts!

20. San Gabriel Summer Nights

San Gabriel Summer Nights  a series of free street parties will be closing out it’s summer series this Thursday with a movie at the Mission Playhouse.

21. Moonlight Movies on the Beach: Maleficent

This season’s FREE Moonlight Movies on the Beach series at Granada Beach in Belmont Shore will screen Maleficent. Movie starts at 8:00pm!

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22. Game Night At Grand Central Market

Eat, drink and play every Thursday at Grand Central Market. Grab dinner and cocktails then top the night off with an assortment of games from Jenga to ping pong. The festivities end at 9:00pm for all the early risers out there!

23. Silver Lake Picture Show Screens The Matrix

Back for its fourth consecutive year, The Silver Lake Picture Show is a free, summer-long community event that screens popular films in a picnic-like setting at Sunset Triangle Plaza. This week The Matrix will be screened!

24. MOCA Free Night

Every Thursday evening from 5:00pm – 8:00pm admission is free to both the MOCA on Grand and The Geffen Contemporary.

Friday August 7th, 2015

25. Brew at the Zoo

Go to the L.A. Zoo after-hours to sample some 60 local and craft breweries , listen to live music, check out pop-up zookeeper talks, and taste delicious food trucks all as part of the Brew at the Zoo on Friday, August 7. Get more information and discount tickets for the Brew at the Zoo via our friends at Goldstar (while supplies last).

26. Summer Garden Party at The Natural History Museum

Great music, garden-inspired cocktails, hands-on garden and science projects, botanical tours, food trucks, and more at the NHM’s Summer Nights in the Garden. Guest can part take in a butter making class, potting succulents, bundling up some herbs to take home from the NHM garden, go on a botanical tour of the Nature Gardens led by NHM staff even sample smoke flies with NHM Citizen Scientists! Bring a picnic or enjoy the food trucks, just make sure you RSVP for free admission.

27. Sundance NEXT FEST: Mistress America x Sky Ferriera 

Got a craving to go see some fresh indie films straight from Sundance? Well now is your chance. NEXT FEST is a weekend-long celebration of film and music (August 7-9) that will feature the Los Angeles premiere of six select films showcased at the Sundance Film Festival. Each film screening is accompanied by a specially paired musical performance or a filmmaker conversation. Things kick off with a screening of Mistress America and a performance by Sky Ferriera at The Ace in DTLA.

28. The Nike 3-on-3 Tournament

The Nike Basketball 3-on-3 Tournament at L.A. Live is one of the largest hoops tournaments and basketball related fanfests in the world, with an annual participation that exceeds 1,200 teams, 4,500 players and 25,000 spectators. Whether you choose to compete (still plenty of time to register) or just watch, this three-day hoops extravaganza taking place from August 7-9 is sure to be quite the spectacle.

29. Bring Your Own Dance Moves

Get your boogie on at this FREE weekly summer dance party hosted by the Music Center in Downtown Los Angeles.

30. Barnsdall Park’s Friday Night Wine Tasting

All summer long Barnsdall Art Park has a weekly fundraiser to benefit Barnsdall Art Park Foundation programs and projects. Perched on a hill with a gorgeous panoramic view of Hollywood, guests will enjoy fine wine and art in the gardens of Frank Lloyd Wright’s newly restored architectural gem, Hollyhock House. Silver Lake Wine will curate fine selections of boutique, small production, artisanal wines for park-goers as well as local gourmet cheese shop, Say Cheese.

31. FIGat7th Downtown Festival

The Plaza Level at FIGat7th in DTLA invites the public for a free night of music with Peanut Butter Wolf, Dam Funk, Mayer Hawthorne (DJ Set) and Mild High Club. Explore the bars and restaurants at Fig during the Taste happy hour starting at 4:00pm! Doors open at 7:00pm for the Plaza Bar and the show starts at 8:00pm.

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32. First Friday Freebie Night At The Pasadena Museum Of California Art

Take advantage of First Fridays at The Pasadena Museum of California Art. Starting at noon and ending at 5pm.

33. Summertime Cinema Returns To Westfield Culver City and Westfield Fashion Square

Westfield Culver City and Westfield Fashion Square in Sherman Oaks are bringing back Summertime Cinema, a summertime family fun movie screening series. Every Friday, starting July 10th through August 7th, beloved movies will be screened outdoors at both centers allowing attendees to relive the magic of the big screen. The movies are free to the public and viewers will enjoy various special goodies at the event.

34. Grand Performances

Grand Performances has a summer-long concert series that brings Angelenos together with an eclectic mix of musical performances at a unique setting in Downtown L.A.

35. First Friday at Bixby Knolls

An artwalk, dining and shopping experience where participating businesses in the Long Beach neighborhood of Bixby Knolls businesses unite to promote local artists and musicians through extended operating hours. Fun for all-ages… and free! 630pm-930pm this Friday.

36. Alien vs. Musical

Straight from the Hollywood Fringe Fest after winning several awards, including “Best World Premiere Production” and “Outstanding Songwriting” comes a special encore production of Alien vs. Musical. Set in an imaginary world where characters from Broadway’s biggest hits like Grease, The Sound of Music and Wicked live out their day-to-day lives until one day a strange egg amongst them, suddenly hatch and the famous creature from Alien is born. Comedy and horrific deaths soon ensue all in musical form taking the audience on a journey of  sci fi puppetry and effects mash ups. Tickets are usually $20 but our friends at Goldstar have them for just $10.


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