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Summer is full swing, Team USA is still alive, and the event calendar is jam packed.
This July 6-10, expect more World Cup watch parties, Shakespeare in the Park, the Big Bar + Alcove Summer Party, Cinema Botanica, Summer of Salsa, A “Chucky” Celebration at Boomtown, Dance DTLA, a Sunset Swim at the Annenberg Beach House, and more.
Things To Do This Week
M = Less than .5 miles from an L.A. Metro Station, FA = Free Admission, TP = Top Pick
World Cup Watch Parties for Team USA – FA > Team USA faces off against Belgium in the World Cup round of 16 at 5 p.m. on Monday, and there are bunch of larger venues screening the game for free if you want to watch with a crowd. Options include Galaxy Park at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Third Street Promenade in Santa Monica, Grand Central Market in downtown Los Angeles, the The Atrium at the Westfield Century City, the Pasadena Civic Auditorium Plaza, and Ovation Hollywood. Go USA!
Double-Feature at Oxy Arts -> On Tuesday, Oxy Arts hosts a double-feature film screening presented by the National Museum of the Aftermath. The evening features Kevin Jerome Everson and Claudrena N. Harold’s Foosball: U. of Virginia Charlottesville, VA 1976, a poetic 11-minute short examining the interiority and communal spaces of Black student life. It is paired with Andrea Fraser’s This meeting is being recorded, a 99-minute performance-based video where Fraser portrays seven white women grappling with unconscious racism and white supremacy using psychoanalytic group methods. Seating is available on a first-come, first-served basis. Admission is free. Program begins at 6 p.m. More info here.
The Benson Movie Interruption – M > What’s better than seeing a terrible/awesome movie with your friends and making fun of it while you watch it? How about live commentary from some of entertainment’s funniest movie lovers. This Tuesday at Dynasty Typewriter, Doug Benson hosts a “your choice” version of his Movie Interrupted series with special guests including Randy and Jason Sklar, Ellory Smith, plus a surprise mystery guest.Attendees are invited to bring in a Blue Ray / DVD of their choice, and the audience will vote on what to watch before the show begins. Doors open at 6 p.m., and the show starts at 7 p.m. Tickets are $20 in advance or $25 the day-of. More info here.
Shakespeare in the Park – FA > The Independent Shakespeare Co.’s annual Shakespeare in the Park series, held at the Old Zoo in Griffith Park, is now back for the summer. For the first half of the season (through July 26), catch a production of Coriolanus, a gripping political thriller examining power cycles, civilian riots, and the deep divide between the wealthy and the working class. Performances run every Wednesday to Sunday beginning at 7 p.m. Get more info and register to attend for free here.
Big Bar + Alcove Summer Party – FA TP > The annual Big Bar Alcove summer party is back on Thursday and this year’s theme is Fun & Games. Expect larger-than-life games, themed cocktails, and the kind of immersive, over-the-top experience this team is known for delivering. The 7 games themed cocktails/bars for the evening include Clue Bar, Barcraft Carrier Bar, Thirsty Thirsty Hippo Bar, Candyland Peppermint Forest and Lollipop & Gum Drop Bar, Backyard Games Bar, and Rodeo Bar. Party runs from 7 p.m. to midnight. Get more info here.
Cinema Botanica -> This summer the California Botanical Garden in Claremont hosts nature-themed outdoor film screenings in the Forest Pavilion. Each screening features pre-movie crafts and themed trivia, and every paid ticket comes with admission to the Garden and a free popcorn with optional native plant toppings. Up next in the series, this Thursday they’ll screen Little Shop of Horrors, with trivia and craft activities beginning at 7 p.m. Tickets cost $21 for adults and $7 for children. More info here.
Summer of Salsa at LA Plaza – M FA > LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes’ Summer of Salsa hosts another edition of their monthly dance this Friday. Roosevelt Cordova, aka El Presidente de la Salsa will headline the music with Super DJ Robby spinning tunes in between sets. Free salsa dance classes precede the show from 6 to 7 p.m. by Dancing 101 with Roberto. Free to attend as always. More info here.
Sunset Swim at the Annenberg Beach House -> Sunset Swim at Annenberg Community Beach House invites adults to enjoy an evening of swimming, relaxing, and connection at the historic site. Float under the evening sky, unwind with friends old and new, and enjoy complimentary s’mores and pool floaties while taking in the ocean air and sunset views. Starts at 6 p.m. Pre-purchase your Sunset Swim pool passes online ($10) or purchase at the door on the day of the event, subject to availability. More info here.
World of Japanese Hip-Hop and Breakbeats – M > This Friday, the James Irvine Japanese Garden at JACCC hosts a Japanese Hip-Hop and Breakbeats listening party in collaboration with In Sheep’s Clothing. The outdoor session features a deep dive into classic atmospheric instrumental albums by Nujabes, Force of Nature, and Haruka Nakamura, including the Samurai Champloo soundtrack. Attendees can purchase a curated selection of Japanese whiskey, beer, and wine, alongside signature ramen from Kyoto’s Michelin Bib Gourmand-recognized Ramenya Fujitora. Tickets are $15. 21+ only. Runs 7 to 10 p.m. More info here.
GOOD GUYS: A Chucky Celebration – FA > This Friday at Boomtown Brewery, GOOD GUYS: A Chucky Celebration, an immersive, industrial-themed horror social honoring the iconic slasher franchise. The event screens the original Child’s Play alongside fresh independent horror shorts across multiple venue displays, accompanied by live filmmaker Q&As, horror trivia games, prize giveaways, and a red-carpet photo backdrop. Attendees can explore a specialized marketplace featuring local horror merchants selling custom artwork, collectibles, apparel, and horror memorabilia alongside the brewery’s craft beer offerings. Admission is free. Runs 5 to 11 p.m. More info here.
The Music Center’s Dance DTLA – M FA -> After a 4th of July weekend break, free evening dance parties return to 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, it’s all about salsa! 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)
Max & Helen’s Blue Plate Specials -> Max & Helen’s brings back one of America’s greatest diner traditions: the Blue Plate Special. A hearty daily prix-fixe of a main and sides, inspired by the beloved discount meals that fueled diners and railway cars from the 1920s through the 1950s. The weekly lineup reads like a greatest hits of American comfort food. Monday kicks off with a catch of the day, Tuesday brings brisket pot roast, Wednesday is fried chicken, Thursday goes eggplant parm, Friday lands a pork chop, Saturday serves up sloppy joes, and Sunday closes the week with spaghetti and meatballs. Seven days, seven reasons to show up hungry.
Wine Wednesdays at Santa Monica Proper Hotel -> Santa Monica Proper Hotel makes Wednesdays worth planning around with a weekly Wine Wednesday from 5 to 10 p.m. Rotating wine selections come at $10 happy hour pricing alongside specialty tapas including Pan Con Tomate, Chicken Croquetas, and a Cheese and Charcuterie Platter, with a live DJ setting the mood all evening.
Bruce Pop-Up at Cafe Tondo (July 8-9) -> Three ex-Three Horses chefs joined forces to create Bruce, an LA pop-up that has been quietly making the rounds across the city with custom menus at rotating locations. This week they land at Cafe Tondo in Chinatown with a menu featuring their signature saffron-laced Pastina, a tomato onion anchovy sandwich, tuna carpaccio, sweetbreads, and a lemon milk cake. Reservations on Resy.
Majordomo Launches Dōmokase -> Majordomo opens a new chef’s counter experience this Tuesday. Executive Chef James Bailey takes the eight-seat counter and builds a 10-course ssäm-driven menu rooted in the history of Majordomo and Momofuku. The progression moves through Hwe Fish Ice Box, Grilled Dorade with fish sauce vinaigrette, Cold Fried Chicken and Caviar, and Smoked Duroc Pork Belly before landing on the Beef Ssam Board: smoked short rib, grilled and braised chuck, and beef fat rice with market lettuce and condiments. Dinner is $175, with wine and sake pairings at $85, N/A pairings at $45, or a mix of both for $65. Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays at 7 p.m. Reservations via OpenTable.
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