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How’s your week looking? If you’re on the hunt for to-dos, you’re in the right space.
In the queue this July 27-31 you’ll find How to Be a Dissident in an Age of Fear at the Hammer, Relentless Comedy in Eagle Rock, Pitch-A-Friend in Thousand Oaks, VHS & Vendors in NoHo, Sunset Concerts at the Skirball, Beach Movie Nights at Dockweiler, and more.
Things To Do This Week
M = Less than .5 miles from an L.A. Metro Station, FA = Free Admission, TP = Top Pick
How to Be a Dissident in an Age of Fear – FA > On Tuesday the Hammer Museum hosts Hammer Forum: How to Be a Dissident in an Age of Fear, a panel discussion exploring practical strategies for organizing and resisting autocracy. Authors Julia Angwin and Ami Fields-Meyer join journalist Jessica Yellin to discuss their book, On Courage, sharing lessons gathered from interviews with citizens who challenged authoritarianism. Assigned seats are available at the box office starting one hour before the event on a first-come, first-served basis, with $9 flat-rate parking available in the garage after 5 p.m. Admission is free. Panel starts at 7:30 p.m. More info here.
Relentless Comedy -> Every Tuesday evening at Relentless Brewing in Eagle Rock, catch a free night of stand-up featuring comics from SNL, Don’t Tel, Late Night, After Midnight, Netflix, and more. The lineup includes Natalie McGill, Amy Silverberg, Tyler Jackson, Mike Fellows, and Janeva Zaentz. Starts at 7:30 p.m. $5 donation suggestion. More info here.
Pitch-A-Friend – FA > For all our single friends living deep in the Valley, Pitch-A-Friend is popping up at the Pizza Cookery in Thousand Oaks this Wednesday. Friends of available singles will offer light-hearted presentation, then there will be a singles mixer to follow for meet and greets. Attendees can sign up in advance to present a short pitch introducing an eligible friend or simply drop in to socialize. Admission is free, with advance RSVP recommended for attendees and required for pitchers. It all starts at 6:30 p.m. More info here.
Sunset Concerts at the Skirball – FA TP > The Skirball Cultural Center’s annual Sunset Concerts series continues this Thursday with back-to-back performances by Tortoise and Kassa Overall. For each event, doors open at 6 p.m., with music sets to begin at 7 p.m. and 8:15 p.m. Free to attend, but parking is paid. Get all the details and see the full lineup of performers here
Echo Park Chess Club – FA > On Thursday, Heavy Manners Library hosts the next meet-up for the Echo Park Chess Club, a casual community gathering for players of all experience levels. Guests can drop in to play casual matches against friends and strangers, with complimentary donuts provided for attendees. Admission is free. Runs 4 to 7 p.m. More info here.
The Bluff -> Any close-up magic fans out there? This Thursday The Bourbon Room hosts The Bluff, an underground magic and mentalism performance making its Los Angeles debut after launching in NC. Hosted by Nadav Roet, the show features mentalist and illusionist performances by Blake Vogt and Aidan Corcoran. Guests are encouraged to arrive early for close-up table magic, dinner, and cocktails before the main act. GA tickets are $28. Doors open at 7 p.m. More info here.
Friday Art Night at LAMAG – FA > This Friday, head to Barnsdall Art Park for a Papier-Mâché Mask Making Workshop hosted at the Los Angeles Municipal Art Gallery, and co-presented b Heavy Manners Library. This week’s edition of the Art Night features clothed figure drawing, hosted by Bijou Karman. Admission is free. Runs 5 to 8 p.m. More info here.
Beach Movie Nights: Hopper – FA > Dockweiler Youth Center in Playa del Rey hosts the next installment of Beach Movie Nights this Friday, featuring a family-friendly outdoor screening of Pixar’s animated comedy Hoppers on the sand. Attendees should bring blankets. First-come, first-served seating. Admission is free. Starts at 8 p.m. More info here.
VHS & Vendors: Jaws Night – FA > This Friday, Lawless Brewing Co. in North Hollywood hosts VHS & Vendors: Jaws Night in collaboration with Wallflower Markets. The event features a beach-themed maker market, a kinetic sandcastle station, shark photo opportunities, pizza from Tramonto Pizza, and an outdoor beer garden screening of Jaws. Market entry is free, while movie seating is $7.50 for blanket lawn space or $10 for chair seating. Market opens at 5 p.m. Movie starts at 8 p.m. More info here.
L.A. Arts Activation Panel – FA > This Friday, ESMoA (the Experimentally Structured Museum of Art) in Lawndale hosts the L.A. Arts Activation Panel, an all-ages panel discussion featuring Los Angeles-based artists and arts organization founders. Moderated by 2026 Getty Marrow Intern Eva Asiddao, the conversation explores the cultural impact and ongoing role of the arts in the local community. Admission is free. The event starts at 5:30 p.m. More info here.
The Music Center’s Dance DTLA – M FA -> Free evening dance parties continue at The Music Center’s Jerry Moss Plaza every Friday through August 8. 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 week features an evening of Cumbia featuring instruction by the RF Dance Center with Andrik & Erika, plus music DJ Sizzle Fantastic. The event is always free to attend, and always all-ages. Start at 7 p.m. More info here.
Dining & Drinking
(picks by Christina Champlin)
Wildcrust (July 30) -> Highland Park’s Wildcrust welcomes Chef Paco Moran of Loreto to the patio this Thursday for a Baja-inspired seafood collaboration. The two kitchens come together on an à la carte menu of seafood specials, think bluefin tuna pizza and scallop tostada, served alongside Wildcrust’s new summer menu items that include a refreshing melon salad, and a stone fruit feta cremeux. Reservations on Resy. More info here.
Proof Bakery Pie Night (July 31) -> Proof Bakery in Atwater Village launches Pie Night this Friday from 5 to 8 p.m. with an opening lineup worth showing up for. Sweet options include a Caramel Corn Cream Pie, Passionfruit Meringue Pie, and a Peach and Pluot Double Crust Pie, alongside a savory mushroom and miso hand pie. Drip coffee, iced and hot teas, and cold brew round out the evening. More info here.
Florentine Steak Dinner Series at All’Antico Vinaio (July 31) -> All’Antico Vinaio’s Florence Underground dinner series continues at their Santa Monica location with another night centered around bistecca alla Fiorentina. For $130 per pair, the meal opens with cured meats, cheeses, and house-made schiacciata bread before the main event: a massively thick T-bone seasoned only with salt and olive oil, served slightly before medium-rare with classic sides family-style. Olive oil cake and crema close it out. Only 30 spots available. Reservations via Toast.
Woon Happy Hour (Weekly) -> Woon launches happy hour with $2 off select food and drinks, $10 glasses of wine, and $10 off bottles. At the Filipinotown location, happy hour runs Monday through Friday from 5 to 7 p.m. The Pasadena location goes longer, Tuesday through Friday from noon to 6 p.m.
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