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The Pineapple Express is on the way, and we’re not talking about Seth Rogen here. But before an atmospheric river drenches SoCal, let’s see if we can’t squeeze in a to-do (or three) for the week to come.
From January 29 to February 2 in L.A., catch Astronomy on Tap in Pasadena, free chili day at Philippe The Original, Fred Armisen’s Playlist, Queer LA Live, First Fridays in Chinatown, a free tour series by Clockshop, and more. Hope you have a great week!
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Things To Do This Week
M = Less than .5 miles from an L.A. Metro Station, FA = Free Admission, TP = Top Pick
Astronomy on Tap – M FA > Astronomy on Tap returns on Monday with a pair of scientific talks (helped along by trivia, live music, and beer) at Dog Haus Biergarten in Pasadena. For the January event, the topics for the two talks are “Planetary Paparazzi: Engineering Telescopes for Exoplanet Close-Ups” and “The Starry Tapestry: Myths and Legends of the Night Sky.” The event is free and open to all ages. Runs 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. More info here.
DESIGN MUSEUM JAPAN – M FA > The newest exhibition at Japan House Los Angeles feature’s six of Japan’s top creators, each selected to research and exemplify “design treasures” native to specific regions of their home country. The result of these investigations is at the heart of the exhibition, offering various display cubes, documentary videos, and an interactive “workshop” that encourages visitors to contribute to the gallery. DESIGN MUSEUM JAPAN is free to visit daily. More info here.
Queer LA Live: Joyful Music – M FA > The latest edition of Queer LA Live returns to the Crawford Family Forum in Pasadena this Tuesday with a focus on on indie artists from L.A.’s LGBTQ music scene. Performers/panelists for the evening include Brittany Campbell and Candace Quarrels (aka Mermaid), Danielle Lande, and DJ Funky Caramelo. Free, pay-what-you-will seating is first-come, first-served. Reserved seats are available for $15. Starts at 7 p.m. More info here.
Fred Armisen’s Playlist – TP > Once upon a time, Saturday Night Live and Portlandia star Fred Armisen was the drummer for Chicago punk band Trenchmouth This Wednesday, Armisen comes to Permanent Records Road in Cypress Park for an evening of punk covers including tunes from The Damned, The Stranglers, The Clash, Devo, Husker Du and others. Tickets are $5.67. Starts at 6 p.m. More info here.
Free Pinball Play at Gin Rummy -> Wednesday night is free pinball play at Gin Rummy bar in Venice. From 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. the tiki inspired bar welcomes players in. Take advantage of their happy hour which runs daily from 4 to 6 p.m. More info here.
Nam June Paik: Moon Is the Oldest TV – FA > This Thursday, The Hammer screens a documentary about the life and work of Nam June Paik, a Korean artist known as the father of video art who predicted that the future would include a world where “everybody will have his own TV channel.” The film is narrated by Oscar® nominee Steven Yeun. Starts at 7:30 p.m. Free to attend. More info here.
Sip & Paint Party @ Good Clean Fun -> Good Clean Fun’s Sip & Paint Party returns this Thursday for a crafty night with wine. For a fee of $30, participants will receive a wine glass to paint during the event (which they can take home) and a complimentary pour of the house wine. More info here.
DTLA Art Night – FA > DTLA ArtNight runs every first Thursday of the month, activating 25+ galleries along Downtown’s Historic Core all free to attend. More info here.
Free First Fridays at Norton Simon – FA TP > Pasadena’s Norton Simon Museum offers free admission every first Friday of the month from 4 to 7 p.m. In addition to the museum’s permanent galleries, visitors can check two temporary exhibitions: Benevolent Beings: Buddhas and Bodhisattvas from South and Southeast Asia and Word as Image. More info here.
First Fridays in Chinatown – M FA > L.A.’s Chinatown stays open late on Friday for an evening of exploring the unique small businesses and contemporary art and culture spaces that make up the historic neighborhood. West Plaza and Chungking Road will activate local pop-up vendors, DJ-spun music, and area galleries with extended hours. The December edition of First Fridays runs from 6 to 9 p.m., and is free to attend. More info here.
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Bixby Knolls First Friday – FA > The February edition of First Fridays along Atlantic Ave in Long Beach doubles as a Black History Month celebration, with an evening of live music, extended hours at participating businesses, and special discounts. Runs 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. More info here.
What Water Wants – FA > A new collaboration between artist Rosten Woo and Clockshop puts L.A.’s waterways in focus, investigating issues of water treatment, water modeling, and habitat creation through a series of in-person tours and conversations with conversations with local watershed experts. The tour series kicks off this Friday with an event at the Sepulveda Basin ceneterd on “capture and quality.” Free and open to the public Runs 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. More info here.
A Century of Film Music – M TP > As part of the John Williams Spotlight series at Walt Disney Concert Hall, this Friday to Sunday you can catch A Century of Film Music. The concert takes guests through some of the greatest musical moments in cinematic history, including selections from The Godfather, Batman, Back to the Future, and Close Encounters of the Third Kind, all performed by the Los Angeles Philharmonic and conducted by David Newman. At the time of this post, available tickets start as low as $94. Get more info here.
Dining & Drinking
(picks by Christina Champlin)
All-You-Can-Eat Wagyu Shabu Experience at Mikiya -> Chubby Group, the organization that owns Niku X and Wagyu House, is also the proprietor of the upscale all-you-can-eat shabu-shabu restaurant, Mikiya. This establishment offers a diverse selection featuring seven varieties of sliced Wagyu, platters of premium seafood, and upscale appetizers such as foie gras toast, Wagyu nigiri, and bone marrow. The menu is structured with a four-tiered pricing model, offering options at $45, $55, $78, and $98. These options encompass a wide range of offerings, from Jidori Chicken, Karobuta Pork to domestically nurtured Wagyu and Australian Wagyu to the highly sought-after Japanese A5 Wagyu. Mikiya operates multiple locations in California, including the recently opened Cerritos branch. More info here.
Lunetta Tapas Tuesday -> Lunetta in Santa Monica offers a tapas menu every Tuesday from 4 to 6 p.m., available at both the all-day dining room and the bar. The offerings include Spanish wines and cocktails like the Espritzer, crafted with chilled wine, sparkling lemon-lime, and vermouth. The concise food menu features delights such as Pan con Tomate + Jamon, Ceviche, and Rosemary Citrus Olives. More info here.
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The Return of Free Chili Day at Philippe The Original -> After a four year hiatus, Philippe’s brings back Free Chili Day this week on Tuesday, January 30. Starting at 10:30 a.m. the first 500 people will be treated to a complimentary cup of Dolores Chili. Expect a line! More info here.
Looking Ahead
Ayara Thai Dessert Tasting Menu -> Westside favorite Ayara Thai introduces a dessert-centric dining experience starting this weekend, with Chef Cathy Asapahu crafting a prix fixe menu spotlighting sweets as the main course. Her expertise, honed at Michelin-starred restaurants like The Musket Room and Providence, shines through with each bite defying expectations. Priced at $92 per person, the experience includes a savory dessert, palate cleanser, chocolate dessert, and Petit Fours. Seating begins at 8 p.m., with the option to add an alcoholic or non-alcoholic drink pairing for $33. Reservations and more info here.
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