Posted by 
Photo booths, shark drawings, and algo-driven karaoke. It’s all on deck for this week in Los Angeles.
From July 21-25 in L.A., check out Photomatica’s Photo Booth Museum in Silver Lake, a new & Juliet exhibit at the GRAMMY Museum, Watch Watts Happen Live, Robot Karaoke at The Elysian, the Long Beach Walls x Art Renzei festival, week two of Sunset Concerts at the Skirball, a fresh edition of Dine LA, Night Dive at the Aquarium of the Pacific, and more.
Things To Do This Week
M = Less than .5 miles from an L.A. Metro Station, FA = Free Admission, TP = Top Pick
Photomatica’s Photo Booth Museum – FA > Analog excellence or gimmicky nostalgia bait? Photomatica’s Photo Booth Museum has landed in Los Angeles after taking off with an original location in San Francisco’s Castro District this past December. The Silver Lake location offers an awesome array of fully functional retro photo booths that you can peruse, with options to shoot and print strips starting at $6.50. The good news it’s free admission and no reservations are required. However, based on early reports, the lines are pretty epic. Maybe wait till things cool down for a beat? Open daily from 1 to 9 p.m. Get more info here.
Sketch Party at Benny Boy Brewing: Shark Edition – FA > Sketch Party’s twice-monthly drawing/drinking meet-up comes to Benny Boy Brewing this Tuesday, but this time with a toothy twist. To celebrate Shark Week, Sketch Party is inviting participants to wear any shark/beach attire to the event… and then draw lots of sharks! They’ll hook you up with sketch paper, pens, pencils, and markers, then it’s up to you to create, mingle, hang out, and enjoy BB’s solid lineup of craft beers and ciders. Jay’s Tacos will be serving food as well. All artistic levels welcome. Free to attend. Runs 7 to 11 p.m. 21+ only. More info here.
VHS Dreams: The Art of Ghana’s Mobile Cinema – FA > Beyond the Streets’ latest exhibition offers an immersive celebration of Ghana’s hand-painted movie poster tradition. VHS Dreams: The Art of Ghana’s Mobile Cinema curates an expansive set of colorful, surreal posters that remix imagery from some of the most iconic films of the 80s, 90s, and 2000s (think The Terminator, The Matrix, Lord of the Rings, and many more), all through a distinctly West African lens. Honestly, you just have to see it to understand how cool these posters are! Gallery hours are Wednesday to Saturday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. The exhibition remains on view through August 23. Free to visit. More info here.
& Juliet: The Music of Max Martin And Friends -> In advance of & Juliet coming to the Ahmanson Theatre next month (shows start August 13), the GRAMMY Museum is hosting a the new exhibit that includes original props and costumes from the hit Broadway musical including signed sheet music from the cast, and performance outfits from Brittney Spears’ Baby One More Time and Dream Within A Dream tours. & Juliet: The Music of Max Martin And Friends officially opens this Wednesday. Adult tickets for the museum start at $22.50 Get more info here.
Shakespeare in the Park – FA > The Independent Shakespeare Co. continues their summer of theatre at Griffith Park this week. From July 2 to July 27, catch Wednesday to Sunday performances of Love’s Labour’s Lost at ISC’s familiar space near the Old Zoo. Performances begin at at 7 p.m. Make sure to arrive early to grab a spot. More info here.
Watch Watts Happen Live – M > This Wednesday at Dynasty Typewriter, Watch Watts Happen Live brings Reggie Watts surrealist energy to the stage in a talk show-style improv complete with a monologue, interviews, guest performers, clips and bits, all turned on their head. This week’s show features special musical guest Goon plus appearances from comedians Atsuko Okatsuka and Jeremy Culhane. Tickets are $25 pre-sale, or $30 the day-off. Show starts at 7:30 p.m. More info here.
Sunset Concerts at the Skirball – FA > The Skirball Cultural Center’s annual Sunset Concert series continues this this Thursday, with co-headliners La Perla and Meridian Brothers to play back-to-back sets. Free walk-up tickets will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. Parking is available for $20. Doors open at 6 p.m. More info here.
Long Beach Walls x Art Renzei – FA > The Long Beach Walls and Art Renzei Festival (formerly POW! WOW! Long Beach) is a week-long (July 20-26) event, that brings together muralists and artists to activate the streets of Long Beach with murals and art installations. Headed into the weekend, you’ll also find special programming/activations including a Moonlight Mash Bike Mural Tour (Thursday), special exhibition in collaboration with Thinkspace Gallery, (Thursday and Friday), and a Night Market (Friday). Get more info here.
The Music Center’s Dance DTLA – M FA > Free evening dance parties return to The Music Center’s Jerry Moss Plaza every Friday from June 21 through August 16. At Dance DTLA, instructors will be on hand to teach guests easy-to-follow steps, allowing everyone to get into the groove right from the jump. This Friday, the series continues with an evening of Reggaeton. The event is always free to attend, and always all-ages. Runs 7 to 11 p.m. More info here.
Night Dive at AoP -> The Aquarium of the Pacific’s signature adults-only, after-hours series returns this Friday with an late-night party featuring food trucks, cash bars, DJs throughout the Aquarium galleries, and a live band playing in the Great Hall of the Pacific. GA tickets are $44.95 per person. Runs 7:30 to 11 p.m. More info here.
Movie Night at Ivy Station -> Culver City’s Ivy Station is hosting a summer movie night on the lawn this Friday with a showing of Clueless beginning at 8:30 p.m. Blankets and low-back chairs are fine, but remember seating is first-come, first-served. Lawn opens at 7:30 p.m. Free to attend. More info here.
Robot Karaoke -> Robot Karaoke bee-boo-bops back to the Skunk Room at the Elysian Theater this Friday night. The monthly karaoke shindig takes the lyrics any song with words from a specific text, then syncs each line syllable-for-syllable using a totally fancy algorithm. Think something like a Yelp review for psychics to the tune of Total Eclipse of the Heart. Each song has never been heard before and will never be heard again. Singers will include local comedians, karaoke ringers and audience volunteers (sing as a group too!). Tickets are $10. Show starts at 8 p.m. More info here.
Summer of Salsa at LA Plaza -> LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes’ Summer of Salsa will host a second July event this Friday with programming that was originally scheduled for June 13 but then postponed due to the increased immigration raids. For this edition of the event, the Echo Park Project will perform with a supporting set from Super DJ Robby. Free to attend. Starts at 6 p.m. More info here.
Dining & Drinking
(picks by Christina Champlin)
Dine LA Restaurant Week (July 25 – August 8) -> The summer edition of Dine LA Restaurant Week returns on Friday, July 25, offering two weeks of prix-fixe menus across Los Angeles County. Participating restaurants feature meals ranging from $15 to $65+, spanning casual daytime fare to multi-course experiences at fine dining destinations. Highlights include a six-course $55 menu at Uchi in West Hollywood, a four-course $99 tasting at the Michelin-starred Citrin in Santa Monica, and a $35 weekend brunch set at a.o.c. in Brentwood, complete with a glass of cava. More accessible options include a $25 seafood set at Mariscos Za Za Za in Frogtown and $15 specials from Grand Central Market vendors like Miznon, Maple Block, and McConnell’s, which is offering a five-scoop ice cream flight. Menus and pricing vary by location and day, so visit the official DineLA website for details before planning your visit.
MARA Beauty x Sushi Roku (July 24) -> In honor of International Self Care Day, MARA Beauty and Sushi Roku are launching a special one-day collaboration. On Wednesday, July 24, order a limited-edition sushi box for delivery through Uber Eats or Sushi Roku’s website. Each $48 box includes edamame, dressed nigiri, a spicy tuna cut roll, and a baked crab hand roll. You’ll also get a 5ml sample of MARA’s award-winning Universal Face Oil, plus a 20% discount code to shop MARA. Orders via Uber Eats receive 30% off.
JOEY Restaurants Launch New Happy Hour Combos (ongoing) -> JOEY, with locations in Manhattan Beach, DTLA and Woodland Hills, now offers daily happy hour combos pairing food and drinks at one set price. Options include truffle fries with a mini martini for $18, a JOEY Cheeseburger with wine or beer for $28, and roasted corn guac with a margarita for $16–$20. Available from 3–6 p.m. at the lounge, bar, and patio.
Want to get the best things to do in L.A. sent straight to your inbox? Join over 60,000 Angelenos who subscribe to our twice weekly email newsletter!
