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The deluge of Los Angeles is underway. We soaked up over an inch of rain since last night, and though we’re going to get a nice break over the next day or so, a second wave of storms (bringing several more inches) ought to pass through starting Sunday. So what’s your plan?
In view for L.A. from February 2 to 4, you’ll find a Groundhog Day Trivia Night at a Cat Cafe, a new exhibit at USC Fisher Museum, a Latte Larry’s pop-up, First Fridays in Chinatown, A Century of Film Music at Walt Disney Concert Hall, Dumpling Day at Santa Anita Park, a Whale Fiesta at Cabrillo Marine Aquarium, Transit Equity Day, and more.
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Things To Do This Weekend
M = Less than .5 miles from an L.A. Metro Station, FA = Free Admission, TP = Top Pick
Free First Fridays at Norton Simon – FA TP > Pasadena’s Norton Simon Museum offers free admission every first Friday of the month from 4 to 7 p.m. In addition to the museum’s permanent galleries, visitors can check two temporary exhibitions: Benevolent Beings: Buddhas and Bodhisattvas from South and Southeast Asia and Word as Image. More info here.
Groundhog Day / Bill Murray Trivia Night at a Cat Cafe -> Calling all Bill Murray super fans! This Friday, Pasadena’s Tail Town Cat Café will host a trivia night centered on the film Groundhog Day and all things Bill Murray – movies, TV and even questions dating all the way back to his Chicago Second City Days. There will be prizes, cats and BYOB. Doors open at 6:30 pm and the game starts at 7 pm. Tickets cost $20 per person. More info here.
First Fridays in Chinatown – M FA > L.A.’s Chinatown stays open late on Friday for an evening of exploring the unique small businesses and contemporary art and culture spaces that make up the historic neighborhood. West Plaza and Chungking Road will activate local pop-up vendors, DJ-spun music, and area galleries with extended hours. The December edition of First Fridays runs from 6 to 9 p.m., and is free to attend. More info here.
Scene Shift: The Exhibit – M FA > The USC Fisher Museum’s latest exhibition opens this Friday, offering visitors an up close and personal examination of the works of contemporary scenic designers, as inspired by the book, Scene Shift: US Set Designers in Conversation. The exhibition will feature work by Abigail DeVille, Regina Garcia, Marsha Ginsberg, Shing Yin Khor, Mimi Lien, Collette Pollard, and Deb O, among others. USC Fisher Museum is free to visit on Tuesday to Friday from noon to 5 p.m., and Saturdays from noon to 4 p.m. More info here.
Bixby Knolls First Friday – FA > The February edition of First Fridays along Atlantic Ave in Long Beach doubles as a Black History Month celebration, with an evening of live music, extended hours at participating businesses, and special discounts. Runs 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. More info here.
What Water Wants – FA > A new collaboration between artist Rosten Woo and Clockshop puts L.A.’s waterways in focus, investigating issues of water treatment, water modeling, and habitat creation through a series of in-person tours and conversations with conversations with local watershed experts. The tour series kicks off this Friday with an event at the Sepulveda Basin ceneterd on “capture and quality.” Free and open to the public Runs 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. More info here.
A Century of Film Music – M TP > As part of the John Williams Spotlight series at Walt Disney Concert Hall, this Friday to Sunday you can catch A Century of Film Music. The concert takes guests through some of the greatest musical moments in cinematic history, including selections from The Godfather, Batman, Back to the Future, and Close Encounters of the Third Kind, all performed by the Los Angeles Philharmonic and conducted by David Newman. At the time of this post, available tickets start as low as $94. Get more info here.
Lunar New Year Fest at SteeleCraft – FA > This Saturday, Lunar New Year Fest at SteeleCraft Bellflower will feature pop-up shops, lion dancers, kids crafting, and live music. Runs 2 to 10 p.m. Free to attend. More info here.
Dumpling Day at Santa Anita Park -> This Saturday, Smorgasburg curates a unique dumpling experience at Santa Anita Park featuring popup dumpling vendors trackside. A dumpling starter pack cost $34 and the VIP version coast $55. More info here.
FitSpoLA at The Bloc – M FA > On Saturday, the 2024 FitSpoLA series continues at The Bloc with a bodyweight fitness class by personal coach Davey Fisher. The one-hour session includes a warmup, strength training, interval oriented cardiovascular work, and a mobility focused cooldown. Starts at 10 a.m. and free to attend, but registration required. Rain or shine event. More info here.
Lunar New Year Celebration at South Coast Botanic Garden -> The South Coast Botanic Garden celebrates Lunar New Year every weekend in February. On Saturdays and Sundays, the Garden will present a pair of 30-minute live performances (11 a.m. and 3 p.m.) featuring including lion dancers, folk dancers and drummers. Free with garden admission, which starts at $15 for adults. More info here.
L.A. Travel & Adventure Show – M > This two-day affair (Saturday and Sunday) at the Los Angeles Convention Center offers the latest travel tips, trends and advice. Plus, you can meet-and-greet travel celebrities including Rick Steves, Phil Rosenthal and Pauline Frommer. Single day tickets start at $13. More info here.
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Fifteen Percent Pledge Pop-Up Shop -> The Fifteen Percent Pledge, an organization committed to narrowing the racial equity gap by partnering with major retailers to carry Black-owned brands, is organizing a pop-up event at Paramount Studios on Saturday and Sunday. Admission is free with an RSVP, offering the public a chance to explore a specially curated collection of Black-owned brands. More info here.
Whale Fiesta – FA TP > On Sunday, the annual Whale Fiesta at Cabrillo Marine Aquarium offers a day of family fun featuring special activities and exhibits, games, arts and crafts, puppet shows, marine awareness organizations, expert guest lecturers, music and a life-size pod of inflatable whales. Runs 10 to 3 p.m. Free and open to the public. More info here
Lunar New Year at Runway Playa Vista – FA > Runway Playa Vista’s Lunar New Year celebration on Sunday features live performances, traditional arts and crafts, 15+ local vendors, and fun raffles. The event runs from 10:30 to 3:30 p.m. Free admission. More info here.
Lunar New Year at One Colorado – FA > This Sunday’s Lunar New Year Celebration at One Colorado includes live music, traditional dragon and lion performances, crafts, red envelope giveaways and more. Runs 1 to 4 p.m. Free to attend. More info here.
826LA@Hammer – FA > 826LA is back at the Hammer Museum this Sunday with another fun creative session for kids and teens. Writer / art therapist Lorraine Allen Derosa leads the program as participants imagine their own planet or island, then create travel guides to lure visitors to these strange and wondrous places. Free to attend, and recommend for ages 8-14. Although the program is not ticketed, reservations are encouraged. Starts at 11 a.m. More info here.
Transit Equality Day – FA > Both L.A. Metro and Metrolink are offering free rides this Sunday for Transit Equity Day, which is held annually on the birthday of civil rights pioneer Rosa Parks. More info here.
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Dining & Drinking
(picks by Christina Champlin)
Lucky Lunar New Year Tang Yuan Workshop with Rooted Fare x Gu Grocery -> On Saturday, discover the art of crafting tang yuan (glutinous rice balls), an iconic dessert enjoyed for over 1,000 years during Lunar New Year. Led by Ashley and Hedy from Rooted Fare, and Jess and Peggy from Gu Grocery, participants will receive a brief overview of Lunar New Year and the role that tang yuan plays. Following this, the experts will guide attendees in creating the dessert with two different fillings (black sesame and fruit). Once all the tang yuans are cooked, everyone in the class will have the opportunity to savor them together. Additionally, a “marketplace” featuring goodies from Rooted Fare and Gu Grocery will be available to shop from. Attendees can also contribute to the senior tang yuan fund, a mutual aid initiative providing seniors at Cathay Manor with homemade tang yuan. Tickets for the workshop are priced at $88 per person. More info here.
Latte Larry’s -> This weekend, experience the infamous “spite store” Latte Larry’s from the HBO comedy Curb Your Enthusiasm (new season premiering this Sunday). Brought to life at Menotti’s in Venice and Culver City from Friday through Sunday, fans can enjoy complimentary hot “Cups of Spite” (coffee) and Dry Scones from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. while supplies last. Limited edition merchandise will also be available for purchase, including Menotti’s x Curb Your Enthusiasm shirts and mugs, along with a special blend signature roast of “Latte Larry’s Beans.” Complimentary coffee and scone offered per person, and no purchase is necessary. More info here.
Ayara Thai Dessert Tasting Menu -> Ayara Thai introduces a dessert-centric dining experience starting this weekend and running for four consecutive weekends. Chef Cathy Asapahu crafts a prix fixe menu spotlighting sweets as the main course. Her expertise, honed at Michelin-starred restaurants like The Musket Room and Providence, shines through with each bite defying expectations. Priced at $92 per person, the experience includes a savory dessert, palate cleanser, chocolate dessert, and Petit Fours. Seating begins at 8 p.m., with the option to add an alcoholic or non-alcoholic drink pairing for $33. Reservations and more info here.
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