Things To Do This Weekend in L.A. [7-21-2023 to 7-23-2023]

Grand Performances, 2023. Photo by Brian Champlin

Alright, let’s get you on track for the weekend.

This July 21-23 in Los Angeles, you can check out Grand Central Night Market, a 90s sing-along at LA Plaza, an Afro Funke celebration at Grand Performances, the L.A. River Fest, Off the 405 at The Getty, Silents Under the Stars at King Gillette Ranch, and MUCH more. Whatever you choose, hope you make it a good one!

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Make Metro Part of Your Weekend

This Sunday, LADOT is teaming up with CicLAvia to celebrate the freshly installed safety features along Venice Blvd between National and Sepulveda. The public event runs 2 to 6 p.m. and offers guided group bike rides and walks along the new protected bike lanes, plus music, games, and other fun activities at a hub near Venice and Bagley. Also, it’s a cinch to access by Metro, either by taking the E Line to Culver City station, or by taking the 33 line along Venice Blvd.

More Things To Do This Weekend

M = Less than .5 miles from an L.A. Metro Station, FA = Free Admission, TP = Top Pick


Griffith Park Free Shakespeare Festival FA TP > The Independent Shakespeare Co. is back in Griffith Park (near the Old Zoo) with a production of Julius Caesar running Wednesday to Sunday through July 30. Then, from August 9 to September 3, catch A Midsummer Night’s Dream on the same Wednesday to Sunday schedule. All shows begin at 7 p.m. Free to attend, but donations heartily encouraged. More info here.

Shakespeare on the Bluff FA > This Thursday to Saturday, Loyola Marymount University’s College of Communication and Fine Arts and Theatre Arts Department will host free sunset performances of Macbeth at LMU’s new outdoor performance venue, the Drollinger Family Stage. All shows are 90-minutes long and begin at 8 p.m. More info here.

Grand Central Night MarketM FA > GCM comes alive this Friday with a nighttime flea market featuring DJ sets, tattoo artists, and of course the signature selection of delicious food vendors. Runs 8 p.m. to midnight. Free to attend and all-ages. More info here.

Odd Nights at The Autry -> Odd Nights at are back at The Autry every third Friday of the month now through September. Expect an indie bazaar populated by funky vendors, food trucks, and live music. Runs 5 to 10 p.m. Tickets are $5 and parking is free. More info here.

Encyclopedia Commedia -> This Friday, a comedy show import from New York heads to Lyric Hyperion to posit a simple question: Is the encyclopedia better explained when it’s funny? At Encyclopedia Commedia, comedians perform acts based on individual entries and the audience can play along to receive fun prizes. The lineup for the L.A. debut includes Shantira Jackson, Peter Kim, Sarah Burton, Tim Lamphier, Meghan Strickland, and Dr. Nora Bailey (an actual NASA astrophysicist!) Tickets are $12 in advance or $15 at the door. Starts at 9:30 p.m. More info here.

The Music Center’s Dance DTLAM FA TP > Free evening dance parties continue at The Music Center’s Jerry Moss Plaza every Friday throughout the summer. Dance 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, enjoy an evening of Reggaetón with instructor Dennis Guzman. Starts at 7 p.m. More info here.

Salsa Night at Ivy Station – M FA > Kick off your weekend with salsa dancing at Ivy Station this Friday evening. Dance instructor Pepe Gonzalez teaches an intro salsa lesson from 6:30 to 7 p.m., then guests can use what they’ve learned during a live set by Fermin Fusion Salsa from 7 to 8:45 p.m. Free. Outdoors. Open to the public. More info here.

Zoo Friday Nights -> This Friday, the L.A. Zoo continues their summer series of weekly after-hours events, offering access the zoo grounds at the sunset hour while experiencing carousel rides, food delicious bites for purchase, beverages, DJ’d music, and a family dance party. Tickets start at $25 per adult. Runs 6 to 9 p.m. More info here.

PCH Movies & MoonlightFA > This Friday, 2nd & PCH’s summer movie series premieres with a screening of Disney’s Raya and the Last Dragon. Accompanying activities include face painting, balloon twisting, fun custom themed backdrops and more. Kids Club welcomes explorers of all ages but is best suited for ages 2 – 10 years. More info here.

Levitt Pavilion Los Angeles ConcertsM FA > ** The Levitt Pavilion Los Angeles annual summer-long series of free concerts features acclaimed and emerging talent from a broad range of musical genres. The tunes continues this weekend starting on Friday with house from E.Dubb, Mayan Passion, and K-Bandit; Latin Fusion with La Santa Cecilia on Saturday; and Ancestral / Folklorico with Roberto Dueñas, Luis Lopez, and Will Echegoyen on Sunday. All free to attend. No reservation required. Get more info here.

Kimpton La Peer Disco CourtFA > The Kimpton La Peer invites the public to the rooftop of their West Hollywood hotel every weekend for a 70’s inspired “Disco Court” featuring a DJ spinning tunes under a sparkling disco ball and the new Pickle Ball court will be open too. Disco Court runs from 4 to 8 p.m. on Fridays and, 2-8 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays.

KCRW Summer Nights + Grand PerformancesM FA TP > KCRW and Grand Performances team up this Saturday for a 20th anniversary Afro Funke’ celebration, featuring live performances from Rocky Dawuni and Buyepongo, along with DJ sets from Afro Funke’ resident DJs Glenn Red, and KCRW’s own Jeremy Sole. The fun goes from 6 to 10 p.m. Free to attend. All-ages. More info here.

Noche De 90s Sing-AlongM FA TP > LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes is taking back to the 1990s this Saturday with a dance party / sing-along soundtracked by a retro playlist featuring everything from Selena to Mariah to Nirvana. The event also includes sets from DJ collective La Junta, a photobooth, trivia, a live graffiti demo, drinks from LA Plaza Cantina and food purchase from Speedy Dog Hot Dogs. Fun starts at 7 p.m. Free to attend. More info here.

NoHo Summer NightsM FA > NoHo Summer Nights brings film screenings and/or live performances to North Hollywood Recreation Center every Saturday through September 2. This weekend, enjoy a concert by Amor Prohibido (a Selena Tribute), plus an emerging artist showcase featuring Nia Padilla. Free to attend, and no RSVP required. Starts at 7 p.m. More info here.

Prosperity Market Community Pop-UpFA > Prosperity Market pops up at Pickford Market (Mid City) this Saturday, offering goods from Black farmers, food producers, artisans and business owners. Happening 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. the market also includes a kids craft station and DJ music. Free to attend. More info here

Off the 405 at The Getty FA > The Getty’s signature outdoor concert series pops up with another segment this Saturday, featuring a performance by Etran de L’Aïr. Hailing from Agadez, Niger, the band bring a guitar-centric, pan-African set to the museum’s iconic courtyard starting at 7:30 p.m. A DJ set precedes the main show at 6 p.m. Free tickets are required. More info here.

Movies Under the StarsM FA > One Colorado’s summer outdoor movie series wraps up this Saturday with a screening of Hook. Free tp attend, but remember public seating is available on a first-come, first-served basis. Movies starts at 8:30 p.m. More info here.

MDR Summer Concert SeriesFA > Marina del Rey hosts free concerts at Burton Chace Park on three dates this month, including a performances by the Canadian alt-county/blues group Cowboy Junkies, this Saturday. Starts at 7 p.m. Free to attend. More info here.

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Alt Rhythms: Latinx MusicFA > Rhythm and flavor come to the the Museum of Latin American Art in Long Beach this Saturday for ALT Rhythms: Latinx Musica event. The evening concert featuries a pair of DJ sets bookending a performance by Los Caciques del Caribe, food trucks, paletas and beer for guests to enjoy. Free to attend. Runs 6 to 10 p.m. More info here.

Rising Japan MusicFest -> This Japanese music and food festival takes over Marina Green Park in Long Beach with two days (Saturday and Sunday) focused on all things Japanese culture. Acts include pop duo Def Tech, singer Shanice and LA-based reggae artist Iakopo. Food vendors from Japan and the US will be serving everything from yakisoba to shaved ice. A Maid Cafe is also in the mix. Plenty of Asahi beer will be on draft as well as over 25 Japanese sakes. One-day tickets start at $60. More info here.

L.A. River Fest M FA TP > On Sunday, Friends of the LA River (FoLAR) invites the public to River Fest a free all-ages event that features an open-air film festival at LA State Historic Park, a Story Slam, interactive art and education activities, local food trucks, live DJ, booths with local environmental, arts, indigenous, and partner organizations. Ticket registration is required to enjoy all the complimentary festivities. More info here.

Sunday Sessions at Grand ParkM FA > This weekend at Gloria Molina Grand Park, Sunday Sessions is back for an afternoon of house music, chill dance moves, and ample picnic space. Specially curated DJ sets run from 3 to 8 p.m., and the event is free and open to all ages. More info here.

Jazz in the Park in PasadenaM FA > Pasadena’s Playhouse Village Park continues its string of summer jazz concerts this Sunday with a performance by the Marcelo Bucater Quartet. Event runs 5 to 7 p.m. Free attend. More info here.

Silents Under The StarsFA > On Sunday, Santa Monica Mountains Fund’s Silents Under The Stars series screens A Women of Affairs (1928) at King Gillette Ranch, with musical accompaniment provided by Michael Mortilla. Walking tours of the grounds start at 6:30 p.m., and the film screens at 8 p.m. Free to attend with RSVP, and free parking too. More info here.

LA Made Presents: An Afternoon of Asada M FA > Authors Bricia Lopez (Guelaguetza restaurant) and Javier Cabral (L.A. TACO) come to Central Library’s Mark Taper Auditorium this Sunday to chat about their new cookbook and drop some knowledge on all things carne asada, from choosing the right marinade to the art of using an onion to clean your grill. The talk begins at 2 p.m. Reservations are free. More info here.

Polliwog Concerts in the ParkFA > This Sunday, Manhattan Beach’s Polliwog Park Amphitheater hosts Concerts in the Park with a performance by Radio Royalty. Free to attend. Starts at 5 p.m. More info here.

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Dining & Drinking

(picks by Christina Champlin)

Chili Fried Chicken by Pecking House. Photo courtesy of Pecking House.

Pecking House  -> Brooklyn’s Pecking House is popping up at Tuk Tuk x Turntable, a new pop-up space on Sawtelle that will host ongoing chef residencies. Chef Eric Huang of Pecking House has received a number of accolades for his Sichuan Chili Fried Chicken and now LA will get a taste along with Huang’s fried rice, cheddar cornbread, heirloom butterbean salad and peach ginger almond panna cotta. The Pecking House pop-up is located at 1644 Sawtelle Blvd from July 19 through September 17. Walk-up orders will be accepted, in addition to delivery through UberEats and pre-order through Tock

Breakfast Sandwiches at Bar Next Door -> Cara Nicole Haltiwanger’s griddled-to-perfection breakfast sandwiches come to West Hollywood’s Bar Next Door this Sunday starting at 11 a.m. (until sold out!) Calabama hot sauce will be served with sandwiches and whole bottles will be for sale. Future dates include August 6, August 27, and September 3.

Bing Bing Baby at Citizen Public Market -> Snow ice concept Bing Bing Baby pops up at Citizen Public Market this Thursday through Sunday. The family-owned ice cream company handshaves each order to create their signature fluffy texture. Flavors include Mango Delight, Cookies & Cream, and a vegan-friendly Yuzu sorbet. Bing Bing Baby will return the following week (July 27-30) as well. 

3rd Annual Long Beach Burger Week -> Long Beach Burger Week is back from July 23-30. Grab featured burgers around the city for $5, $10, $15, $20 and $25 with everything from classic American renditions and vegan options to one-of-a-kind-burgers topped with Hot Cheetos, mac ‘n cheese and even peanut butter.


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