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What’s your game plan for the week to come?
From September 8-12 in Los Angeles, catch Synth Club at Commonspace, Black Movie Soundtrack at the Bowl, Classic Cinema Nights at the Hollywood Roosevelt, The Nikaido Experience at Prank Bar, Manhattan Beach Food & Wine, the Hola México Film Festival, Oktoberfestat at Ivy Station Night Market, and more.
Things To Do This Week
M = Less than .5 miles from an L.A. Metro Station, FA = Free Admission, TP = Top Pick
Synth Club – FA > After taking a Labor Day pause, LA Synth Club hosts thieir monthly meet-up and jam session at Common Space Brewery in Hawthorne on Monday. Musicians are invited to bring their favorite synthesizers, drum machines, or any other electronic instruments to experiment / jam with. Runs 6 to 10 p.m. More info here.
Dance Revolution in DTLB – M FA > Every Tuesday in September, the Downtown Long Beach Alliance hosts a free dance party / tutorial session on the promenade between The Ordinarie Tavern and ISM Brewing. For September 9, catch an evening of Line Dancing.. Runs 6 to 8 p.m. Free to attend. More info here.
Black Movie Soundtrack at The Bowl -> This Wednesday evening, Black Movie Soundtrack V puts the music from iconic black films on center stage at the Hollywood Bowl with. The lineup features tributes to Quincy Jones and Prince, a live performance by Sinners’ Miles Caton, classic hots from D-Nice keeping, plus Derrick Hodge and Color of Noize Orchestra. Tickets start as low as $12. Get more info here.
Classic Cinema Nights at the Hollywood Roosevelt – M > The Hollywood Roosevelt’s Cinegrill Theater will screen Casablanca this Wednesday as part of their Classic Cinema Night series. Film Critic and Wine Maker José Ignacio Cuenca hosts the event, which also feature wine from Little Boat winery (first glass is complimentary). Tickets start at $22.09. Movie begins at 7 p.m. More info here.
The Nikaido Experience: LA Izakaya Night – M > Downtown’s Prank Bar hosts a lively night of shochu and izakaya flavors this Wednesday, featuring Nikaido Shochu cocktails by award-winning mixologist Kendra Hada and bites from Budonoki, OTOTO, Shirube, Taberu, and Tonchin. DJ Tsugu sets the mood with Japanese City Pop tunes. Tickets are $35 on Eventbrite ($40 at the door) and include two cocktails plus one tasting from each participating restaurant. More info here.
Dance at the Museum -> The Museum of Latin American Art in Long Beach is hosting series of dance classes bringing art and movement come together, with an assist from the professional instructors at Cielo Dance Events. Next up, this Wednesday they’ll offer an evening of Bachata. Good for both beginners or experienced dancers. Event starts at 7 p.m. Tickets are $20. Space is limited. More info here.
Autry After Hours -> The Autry continues its series of Thursday evening events this September with after-hours museum access and live talks, plus special activations for each night that range from live readings and panels to silkscreen printing workshops. For this week’s edition, the SAG-AFTRA Radio Players will present two lively examples of old-time radio, performed on the Autry plaza. Admission is $19 for adults. Runs 6 to 9 p.m. More info here.
Pacific Opera Project Presents Pagliacci at Heritage Square – M > This Friday to Sunday, POP continues performances of their 15th Anniversary season opener with an immersive production of Leoncavallo’s Pagliacci accompanied by live orchestra and surrounded by the Victorian houses and historic setting of the Heritage Square Museum. Tickets start as low as $15. More info here.
Ivy Station Night Market: Oktoberfest – M FA > Ivy Station’s monthly night market leans into the Oktoberfest season this Friday with special pop-up vendors, food, beer, Oktoberfest games and contests, and live polka music. Runs 5 to 10 p.m. Free to attend, as always. More info here.
Summer of Salsa – M FA > LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes’ Summer of Salsa hosts their final monthly dance party of the summer this Friday. Closing out the season is salsa band Conjunto Oye! 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. More info here.
Hola México Film Festival -> Beginning this Friday, the 2025 Hola México Film Festival returns to Los Angeles with the largest Mexican Film Festival outside of México. Presented by Toyota Camry, the lineup features screenings at the Montalbán Theater, Regal Cinemas LA LIVE, La Plaza de Cultura y Artes, and Milagro Cinemas Norwalk. Screenings continue through September 21. More info here.
2nd Annual Manhattan Beach Food & Wine -> The Manhattan Beach Food & Wine Festival returns to Manhattan Village for a two-night culinary celebration on Friday and Saturday. Each evening spotlights 20 top chefs and restaurants, alongside premier wineries, craft breweries, spirits, cocktails, and curated non-alcoholic offerings. Guests can enjoy live entertainment while exploring this strolling food-and-drink extravaganza. Tickets are $199.33 for general admission or $299.44 for VIP. More info here.
Dining & Drinking
(picks by Christina Champlin)
Izakaya Sunsets at JACCC (September 10 & 24) -> The Japanese American Cultural & Community Center in Little Tokyo transforms its garden oasis into Izakaya Sunsets, a Japanese pub-inspired lounge. Chef Gary Matsumoto (formerly of Azay, Hansei, and Alan Wong’s Honolulu) serves izakaya-style plates paired with beer, sake, shochu, and whiskey. Each month through November brings a new lineup of seasonal otsumami (Japanese bar snacks). September’s theme is “grill” and highlights yakitori and kushiyaki, while October focuses on braises and noodle soups. Lanterns, furin wind chimes, hand-painted noren curtains by artist Hirokazu Kosaka, and a rotating Asian American DJ soundtrack set the mood. Reservations ($5) are required, and each guest is welcomed with an otoshi—a complimentary small dish with the first order. More info here.
Native American Cuisine at Flavors From Afar (Starting Sept 12) -> Chef Louie Chavez debuts a deeply personal Native American dinner menu at Flavors From Afar on Friday, September 12, drawing on his Navajo and Apache heritage and his grandmother’s culinary influence. The menu features dishes like fry bread, Three Sisters soup, saffron-braised short rib, maple-glazed root vegetables, and Cherokee grape dumplings. Dinners are served every Friday and Saturday from 5–10 p.m. year-round. More info here.
Hawaiian Host & Magnolia Bakery Ube Cupcake (Sept 9–14) -> Magnolia Bakery teams up with Hawaiian Host for a limited-time Ube Cupcake, available exclusively at the bakery’s West Hollywood location from September 9–14. Inspired by Hawaiian Host’s new Ube White Chocolate Macadamias, this indulgent treat features a fluffy ube cupcake filled with halaya (a rich purple yam purée with coconut and sweet milks), topped with swirled ube and meringue buttercream, and crowned with a chocolate-covered macadamia. Each cupcake is $4.25, but only available for one week—so plan accordingly.
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