This week at Rodeo Realty: SVF and Ventura Newsletter Oct.1st-7th

Click the image below to view our SFV and Ventura County Rodeo Realty weekly newsletter Oct. 1st-7th, 2018!!

October 6, 2018October 6, 2018

This Week at Rodeo Realty: Westside Newsletter Oct. 1st-7th

Click the image below to view our Westside Rodeo Realty weekly newsletter Oct. 1st-7th, 2018!!

October 5, 2018October 5, 2018

Spook Central: L.A.’s Fall shops

Cob Webs, Pumpkins, and Tombstones…Oh my! Whether you get your October inspo from Better Home & Gardens, Martha Stewart or Pinterest, we’re here to guide you through L.A.’s best Fall Shops. From spooky to simple, there is no shortage of places to pick-up the perfect Hallow’s eve decor.

While you want find an appearance from David S. Pumpkins(some halloween SNL humor) in any of these patches, you will find the perfect jack-o-lantern and tons of fun! Our pick of L.A.’s best Pumpkin Patches is listed below.

Tapia Brothers Farm

Van Nuys

Get lost. No really, get lost in Tapia Brothers Farm’s epic corn maze (an entire lot across from the patch itself) with a much-needed map and a sheet full of trivia questions. Scavenge through the maze for the answers and once you’ve found them all, submit your name in a drawing for a chance to win a cash prize—an early treat for your navigation efforts. The festive pumpkin patch also offers—you guessed it—pumpkins galore, as well as a fresh farmers’ market (with addicting kettle corn), a mouth-watering roasted corn stand, kids play area, bounce houses, hay wagon ride, and tractor-pulled train. Be sure to check it out on the weekends so you have all the activities at your disposal.

Mon-Fri 9am-6pm; Sat, Sun 9am-TBD (longer weekend hours). Oct 5-31.

Mr. Bones Pumpkin Patch

Culver City

When it comes to celebrity sightings, you probably wouldn’t think of visiting the local pumpkin patch. But at longtime favorite Mr. Bones, Hollywood stars and their offspring can’t stay away from the Halloween fun. This family-owned, Los Angeles mainstay would pop up every year in Beverly Hills before recently moving to its new location in Century City. You can expect the beloved Pumpkin Village featuring festive activities like bounce houses, pony rides, a petting zoo, face painting, live entertainment and food trucks to fuel your pumpkin picking.

Mon-Thu, Sun 9am-8pm, Fri 9am-5pm, Sat 9am-9pm; Oct 5-30

Forneris Farms-L.A.

Forneris Farms

San Fernando Valley

Forneris Farms is back again with a four-acre cornfield maze, weekend pony rides, live entertainment and, of course, an impressive selection of pumpkins. Tractor rides will take pumpkin patch goers on a narrated tour through the cornfields and around the farm. Kids can enjoy their own harvest haven by running through a hay bale mini maze, climbing the hay pyramid and getting wild in the giant pumpkin jumper (always a good outlet for the inevitable sugar rush). If you’re not stopping by the petting zoo, playing harvest-themed games for prizes or leading the quest for that perfect pumpkin, take advantage of the refreshments and solid people watching opportunities. Pony rides, the petting zoo and face painting are weekends only. Everything is cash only, but there is an ATM on site.

Daily 9am-6pm; Oct 6—Oct 31.

Rodeo Realty Pumpkin Patch

Pacific Palisades

If you happen to be seaside, join our Pacific Palisades Office for our annual Pumpkin Patch. We will be giving out one free pumpkin for every postcard brought in as well as dishing out eats from everyones favorite burger joint- In-N-Out! Throw on your favorite fall gear and don’t miss out on all the fun!

Saturday Oct. 13th, 2018 12-3pm—839 Via De La Paz, Pacific Palisades

Maybe you have a sweet tooth, or maybe you want to be the house on the block with the best candy around comes hallows eve. No matter your mission, we’ve narrowed down the best candy shops in L.A. to stock up with before the holiday hits. So ditch your jumbo bag of lollipops. These sweetshops are the real-deal!

Sugarfina

Beverly Hills

Sugarfina, a modern-day Willy Wonka Chocolate Factory-esque candy boutique, opened its first storefront in Beverly Hills. Now spreading across L.A., adults and children alike delight in more than 140 candies from around the world, sold around the city—some for the first time ever. You won’t find any oompa loompas here, but you can indulge in the signature turquoise (think: Tiffany & Co. of candy) bento box for $26 to $195, or partake in a gourmet candy sampling at their tasting bar. Exotic candies abound, and include chocolate-covered almonds and chocolate-covered bacon pretzels; chili ginger hearts afire gummies; and matcha green tea caramels.

Sockerbit

West Third Street

Inspired by Scandanavia’s candy-crazy culture, Sockerbit is the place to go when looking for sweets that attract the mouth and eyes. The shop’s name, which translates to “sugar cube,” is the namesake for one of their headliners: a white cubed marshmallow. From imported—mostly Swedish—candies to domestic, choices vary and include banana chips covered in Swedish chocolate, and sour gummies with a creamy peach interior. If you’re of the rare black-licorice-loving types, try the coconut-covered or rasberry-filled variety, all sold by the pound.

Lolli and Pops

Glendale

Part old-fashioned candy shop, part new-age treats, this confectionary mecca has everything for every craving, and two locations: Glendale and Sherman Oaks. In the Glendale flagship, you’ll find the shop split into different sections: There’s a gummy and hard candy room dedicated to those with a persistent jaw, a chocolate room, and an international cove featuring imported candy. When you’re done browsing the other candy-centric areas, check out the soda fountain and relax with a shake or hand-mixed soda made to order.

Little Flower Candy Co.

Pasadena

Find handmade marshmallows and sea salt caramels at this sweet, homey café, whose neat blue-and-white striped exterior is slightly reminiscent of a candy wrapper. Bonus? Save the sugary treats for dessert and show up for the wholesome lunch menu of sandwiches, salads, quiche and the ever-popular dal bowl—almost as good as the homemade confections you’ll treat yourself to afterward. We said almost.

Saving the most crucial for last give your neighbors major FOMO this fall! Whether you prefer to keep your interior and exterior on the Martha Stewart side, or seek to have the best home haunt around–we’ve got you covered. Read below for our picks of the best shops to stock up on Ghoulish decor!!

Rogers Gardens

2301 San Joaquin Hills Rd.
Corona del Mar, CA 92625

www.rogersgardens.com

Wander the corridors of a most magical school where witches and wizards learn their craft. Prospective students are invited to tour the castle. Explore the Headmaster’s Study, a room filled with curiosities and antiquities. Discover where novice witches and wizards study in the Potions classroom, be sure not to tamper with their mysterious experiments. Who knows what mythical creatures are lurking in the cabinets. Students wishing to learn about the magical properties of plants can visit the Greenhouse Conservatory where rare and unusual specimens are cultivated.

Each of the many rooms in this castle is filled with enchanted objects and décor to fill your home with the spirit of Halloween. Visit Roger’s Gardens this Halloween season and surround yourself in a world of magic.

Dapper Cadaver
7572 San Fernando Road
Los Angeles, CA 91352
(818) 771-0818
www.dappercadaver.comDapper Cadaver, known as the prop house master for film, television, stage and music video set decorators and Halloween party planners, works with the likes of Queen Mary Dark Harbor, Six Flags Fright Fest, Universal Halloween Horror Nights, the Playboy Mansion Halloween party and provided props for the White House Halloween party in 2010. Halloween shoppers will be overwhelmed with candelabras, insane asylum propping (death chair, straight jacket and restraint bed), evil scarecrows, life-size zombies, human skull replicas, hanging ghosts and demons and horrifying animal skeletons. If you have the budget, a trip to Dapper Cadaver will provide all you need.

Halloween Town
2921 W. Magnolia Blvd.
Burbank, CA 91505
(818) 848-3644
www.halloweentownstore.com

What started as a temporary store around Halloween, Halloween Town is now open throughout the year. This warehouse has something fun for every room in your home. Decorate by changing out your dishes with Halloween Town’s selection of ceramics featuring different parts of the anatomy. Spook your guests in the bathroom with a blood bath shower curtain and bloody handprint hand towels. Layer the Halloween experience with an array of fog machines, strobe lighting, disco balls and black lights. It doesn’t stop there – find costumes, wigs, invitations, paper good and spine-shivering music.

Aahs
1090 Westwood Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90024
(310) 209-1280
www.aahs.com

Aahs is one of L.A.’s number one novelty gift and gag stores. The Halloween holiday takes over Aahs by mid-September. The buyers at this store think of everything for your party or front yard. It’s even a little bit scary wandering through the store and walking past gross life-size ghouls, bloody scalps, hands and fingers, motion sensor scream machines and spider webs. Hosts can choose from a wide selection of party invitations and party favors and choose from one of the hundreds of Halloween costumes, make-up and accessories from the spooky to the trendy.

Happy Haunting!

October 5, 2018October 5, 2018

Out and About: Santa Monica Edition

By: Samira Murphy

Every so often, at some point in your busy week, it happens–you get to play tourist for the day. Whether its hopping in the car for a scenic drive down the coast or popping into Fred Segal’s for an afternoon nosh, “me time” is so crucial.

Once a week, we will cut the clutter and provide you with hidden gems in the city of stars and beyond. From Beverly Hills to the San Fernando Valley, take time to explore your neck of the woods!

There is nothing more quintessential california than a day spent seaside in Santa Monica. From the famous Pier to splurge Santa Monica Place, SaMo is more than a beachfront city. It’s a way of life. Aside from sounding like an Equinox ad, we wanted to send you off into the weekend with ways to spend your day between rush hour and happy hour.

For stunning Ocean views and classic imagery of LA’s coastline, Palisades Park is the perfect way to start your day with a brisk walk through the bluffs. Start at the Pacific Palisades Adjacent end, keeping between the stately concert sculpture at Wilshire and the colorful totem pole at San Vicente. No this isn’t a scavenger hunt, just your quick route to take in the scenes and skip the tourist march.

If your spending the day with your family or just feel like kicking back like your childhood days, the Santa Monica Pier is always a great choice! Filled with the classic fairground games of yesteryears along a few adrenaline inducing rides, whats not to love? The centre and focal point of Santa Monica Beach, is also home to a range of outdoor events. If you just so happen to feel intrigued, check out our events of the week for Oct.5-7th, featuring not one but two Santa Monica thrills taking place over the weekend.

Before departing away from the sand, make sure to step inside the iconic Camera Obscura! The perfect spot for peace, quite, and a uniquely peculiar view of the oceanfront. The historic optical contraption is the offbeat place to catch your breath and Instagram shot. Hidden inside an oceanfront senior recreation center, Camera Obscura is a great way to fill your time between sites.

Alright, so you’ve had your thrills and your fun. Your probably looking for the perfect afternoon pick me up before making your way to the shops. We’ve got that covered too! For the perfect seaside brunch, head towards the coastline for your pick of perfect california cuisine. Between Ivy by the Shore, Del Frisco’s, and Elephante–-you’ll be strategizing how you can tackle all three. No stress! From the cuisine to the ambience you can’t go wrong between the lot, they’re a food-lovers paradise along the sea.

Now that you’ve fueled up, theres no better way to end the day then with a little retail therapy. Depending on your style or actual shopping needs, SaMo is full of some of the Westside’s most charming boutiques and storefronts. Peruse along the Third Street Promenade for a mix of notable and trendy retailers. If your a weekday browser, Wednesdays feature the city’s famed Farmer’s Market! The four block pedestrianized stretch of cobblestone will gove you all the Small Town-Main Street feels.

Needing something more on the High-End? Santa Monica Place is located at the southern end of the Promenade. The outdoor retail space features a revamped shopping center packed with upscale department stores and designer boutiques. From Barnerys of New York to Louis Vuitton, take in the open air and throw away your receipt.

So you’ve seen, you’ve sipped, you’ve shopped. The sun is setting and your wondering where you parked your car. Stay to catch the views of day slipping into night and skip the rush hour beat. Stop by 1 Pico for evening fare set in a cape cod style decor. The cuisine is as remarkable as the views at this oceanside spot in SaMo’s Shutters on the Beach.

Whether you tackled all our recommendations at once or spread it out through the week, there is no better way to experience L.A. then to venture out and try something new. Get outside your zip code, turn on the “Eagles” and call it a day well spent!

August 30, 2018

Labor Day Weekend Events: August 31 – September 3

Los Angeles provides no limit of things to do, some awesome and some not so awesome. Since time is precious in this fast paced city we curate a list of things to do in Los Angeles for every weekend that’ll help you decide how you want to spend your limited supply of attention (not to mention dollars!).

This Labor Day weekend, from Friday, August 31 to Sunday, September 3, features The Taste, the L.A. County Fair, Made in LA Fest, Fiesta Hermosa, Broad Fest, a Vegan Street Fair, and MUCH more.

Enjoy!

Friday August 31st, 2018

1. L.A. Times The Taste returns to Paramount Studios (August 31 to September 2) with tastings from some of the best chefs in Los Angeles selected by The Time and demos, pop-ups and chef experiences.

2. Cinecon Classic Film Festival at Hollywood’s Egyptian Theatre (August 30 to September 3) is 5-days of classic film screenings, celebrity appearances, panels, a memorabilia show, and more.

3. The L.A. County Fair returns to Pomona for a enormous assortment of activities, musical performances, food and beverage offerings, and more. The fair runs through September 23. Check for discount tickets before making your purchase. DISCOUNTED (via Goldstar)

4. West Adams Avenues Jazz and Music Festival is three nights of music including jazz, blues, funk and more, as well as activities, arts and crafts, and food trucks. FREE

5. Friday Night Fireworks at Dodger Stadium will feature a dazzling fireworks show on the field after the game paired with music. This week the boys in blue will go up against the San Diego Padres. DISCOUNTED (via Goldstar)

6. The 626 Night Market is back for its seventh season at Santa Anita Park. Happening Aug. 31 through September 2, the event will feature over 250 vendors selling crafts, merchandise, art, music and a massive selection of food from local restaurants, food trucks and more.

7. The L.A. Zoo will offer free admission for veterans, active, and retired military personnel this Friday in honor of LA Fleet Week. Offer valid from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Up to six accompanying friends and family members can receive a discount of $3 off adult and $2 off child admission. Must present a valid military ID at the time of purchase.

8. The Roadium in Torrance presents Classic Drive-in Movies every Friday night in August and the first Friday of September. Each family-friendly event features classic films projected on the screen tower. Continuing the series is a screening of The Endless Summer.

9. L.A. Fleet Week is back from August 31-September 3. Hosted at Los Angeles Cruise Terminal in San Pedro the event will feature various military ships, guided tours, military demonstrations, live entertainment, aerial demonstrations and more. Plenty of venues will also be participating including Cabrillo Marine Aquarium, CRAFTED at the Port of Los Angeles, and 22nd Street Park. FREE

10. Barnsdall Fridays at Barnsdall Art Park comes to a close this Friday evening with tastings of boutique wines and music from KCRW DJs perched atop a hill with incredible city views.

11. The La Brea Tar Pits and Museum will host Late Night Fridays where guests can enjoy free general admission from 5 to 8 p.m. and gain access to special activities, 3D movies, behind-the-scenes tours, live excavations, and more. FREE

12. The Music Center’s annual Dance DTLA series is back for 2018 with a series of Friday-night events at Grand Park. This week features DJ Nights, an evening of entertainment curated by some of the city’s best and most influential DJs. FREE

13. The Queen Mary will celebrate Labor Day with free admission to all active and retired first responders (military, police and firemen) now through September 3.

14. Are you a Chase bank customer? Got a freebie you might want to know about. Coolhaus is teaming with the Forum and Chase to hand out free ice cream sandwiches to Chase customers on Fridays all summer long. Locations will change every Friday, and the offer is ice cream sandwich per cardholder. Get more info here.

15. Back for the 15th year in a row, The Independent Shakespeare Co. presents Shakespeare in the Parkat the Old Zoo in Griffith Park with free performances of A Mid Summer Nights Dream and Titus Andronicus Wednesday through Sunday. This is the last week to catch performances. FREE

16. Rooftop Cinema Club returns to the rooftops of LEVEL in DTLA and NeueHouse in Hollywood with multiple screenings this week that include A Quite Place, Isle of Dogs and more.

Saturday September 1st, 2018

17. Golden Road Brewing’s Made in LA Festival, is two-days of music and arts celebrating Los Angeles with acts like Saint Motel, Dorothy, and Mondo Cozmo set to perform.

18. Head to downtown Hermosa Beach for Fiesta Hermosa Sep. 1-3 for one of the largest arts and crafts fairs in Southern California. Hosting over 300 artists, expect live music, a beer & wine garden and a kiddie carnival to entertain all day long. FREE

19. Vegan Street Fair Sep. 1-2 returns to Los Angeles for 2018 with a plethora of vegan-friendly eats and vendors, including Evolution Burger, Charlie’s Brownies, Donut Friend and much more. The fair will also include games, live entertainment and karaoke.

20. Eat|See|Hear returns for 2018 with a screening of Selena on Saturday at The Autry. Check for discounted tickets at select screenings. DISCOUNTED (via Goldstar)

21.. The Silverlake Flea-Night Market taking place every Saturday from 5-10 p.m. all summer long features a plethora of local, independent sellers that offer vintage clothing, art, rare vinyl, crafts, and much more.

22. 68th Annual Long Beach Greek Festival is back this Labor Day weekend (Sep 1-3) with authentic Greek food, music and lots of dancing. FREE

23. Cinespia is back for its 17th summer season, at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery for screenings of films modern, cult, and classic. This Saturday they’ll screen Beverly Hills Cop and Sunday they’ll screen Now and Then.

24. WP24 by Wolfgang Puck is hosting a sky-high Labor Day BBQ on the private poolside rooftop of The Ritz-Carlton in DTLA. Enjoy panoramic views while dining on Executive Chef John Lechleidner’s Prime Beef Brisket, Baby Back Ribs, BBQ glazed chicken and more. Reservations are encouraged.

25. Local Mexican-American band La Santa Cecilia will close out Pop Saturdays, a summer series of free concerts taking place at Marina del Rey’s Burton Chace Park. FREE

26. Outdoor theater Will Geer’s Theatricum Botanicum, located in Topanga Canyon summer 2018 season begins on June 2 with a performance of Shakespeare’s Coriolanus. Check for discounted tickets before making your purchase. DISCOUNTED (via Goldstar)

27. Street Food Cinema returns this weekend with a screenings of The Wizard of Oz at Park Center in Griffith Park and The Wedding Singer at Will Rogers State Historic Park in Pacific Palisades. Select screenings are discounted via Goldstar. DISCOUNTED

28. Wei Mountain Temple in Rosemead will host The 10,000 Buddha Relics Collection Exhibit from September 1-3. The exhibit will feature the sacred bones of Shakyamuni Buddha as well as tens of thousands of brightly colored crystals known as shariras.

29. JAM Sessions at Burton Chace Park is a free evening of dancing salsa to the music of La Santa Cecilia. FREE

Sunday September 2nd, 2018

30. Head over to The Eli and Edythe Broad Stage in Santa Monica on Sunday for Broad Fest, a free live entertainment event for the whole family. Live music will be played on the stage throughout the day. Fun activities for both kids and adults will be provided, with sweets, snacks, and food available for purchase. FREE

31. The 2nd Annual Jamaican JerkFest and Dancehall Party comes to Union Nightclub in Arlington Heights this Sunday. Enjoy authentic Jamaican cuisine, drink rum punch, and dance to pulsating dancehall music and live Jamaican rhythms from genres like ska, reggae, and lovers rock. Free admission.

32. L.A. Dragon Studios located in the valley is a all you can play gaming center with VR, Escape Rooms, and an Arcade all for a flat fee of $10. Open seven days a week.

33. Mount Wilson Observatory is offering classical music concerts within the dome of the 100-inch telescope above the observatory. Located in the San Gabriel Mountains above Pasadena, the shows are ear candy with a view!

34. Delicious Vinyl will host a West Adams Block Party with performances by KRS-One, Masta Ace alongside DJ sets from a number of respected artists. The day will feature food trucks and vendors, including Delicious Pizza, LocoL, Alta Adams and Highly Likely. There will be a beer garden for the 21+ crowd and activities for kids as well. FREE

35. Missed last week’s bbq event at Smorgasburg LA? BBQ Day Repeat will see the return of this delicious day along with the last Ice Cream Alley of the summer.

36. Head over to the Regent in DTLA for The Rock and Roll Flea Market where you can checkout 50 vendors offering vintage and handmade crafts, including clothing, jewelry, memorabilia, instruments and more, as well as vinyl. Free admission.

37. The Highlight Room will host a Labor Day Backyard BBQ on Sunday from 2 – 7 p.m. Indulge in the BBQ and hang out by the pool sipping cocktails jamming to DJ tunes and taking in the 360 degree views of Los Angeles.

38. The historic Alex Theatre in Glendale will be celebrating its 93rd birthday with a free all ages community event that includes music, specialty cocktails, food, raffles, and tours of the theatre. FREE

39. Yoga at Angel City Brewery welcomes all levels of experience with a donation of $15-20 that includes a free drink at the end.

40. A Yeti Village has been constructed on Hollywood and Vine in anticipation for the movie SMALLFOOT. Designed to look like winter, visitors of all ages can dance in a blizzard, swing on a cloud, ride a 20-foot slide, play in a snowball pit, sing karaoke, do arts and crafts and more. The family-friendly experience is free to attend and runs through September 14, 2018. FREE

41. There’s a Silent Disco happening at The Federal Bar in North Hollywood this Sunday with Top 40 Dance Hits, EDM, Hip Hop, R&B along with 80’s, 90’s and 2K throwbacks.

42. There’s two new hyper-realistic VR experience at The VOID in Glendale a Ghostbusters themed experience and a scarier Nicodemus: Demon of Evanishment experience. Experiences run on different days, be sure to check their schedule.

Monday September 3rd, 2018

43. Head over to Leimert Park on Monday for Refuge Block Party, a celebration of the endurance of people who live on the streets. Organized by The California African American Museum, the event will feature music, live performances, and food trucks. Care packets will also be given out to people in need.

44. Melody located in Virgil Village will celebrate Labor Day with an all-afternoon patio BBQ. Guests can enjoy burgers, sandwiches, oysters, and red, white & pink wines. Cornhole and an all-vinyl country western deejay will round out the patio shindig.

45. Join L.A. Conservancy on National Skyscraper Day as they host a special Modern Skyline walking tour. Get to know the skyscrapers that helped shape DTLA’s epic skyline and hear fascinating stories about Bunker Hill while exploring some of L.A.’s newest landmarks.

46. Prank Bar is having an All-American BBQ for Labor Day with Chef Ricardo grilling racks of ribs and half chickens paired with mac n’ cheese, coleslaw and fries. Drink specials include beer, boilermakers and something called “All-American Truffle Shuffle” a PBR Tall Boy and Dickel Rye Whisky shot.

47. Spend Labor Day with family during the inaugural family-friendly music, arts, and kids activity festival: Littlepalooza happening in Long Beach.

48. Esters hosts happy hour all-night on Mondays and that includes this Labor Day! From 3 p.m. to close, guests can take advantage of $9 glasses of house wine, burrata crostini for $7, half a dozen oysters for $18, and more.

49. E.P. & L.P. in West Hollywood continues their stylish cinema series Melrose Rooftop Theatre with a screening of Black Panter.

50. Shakespeare’s most magical play, A Midsummer Night’s Dream comes to a close at the Will Geer Theatricum Botanicum in Topanga Canyon this Monday.

Schedule courtesy of We Like LA.

August 16, 2018

Weekend Events: August 17 – 19

This weekend, from Friday, August 17 to Sunday, August 19, features Echo Park Rising, a spandex-themed dance party at Skyspace, the L.A. Taco Festival, Pasadena Rooftop Cinema, a Tiki Swapmeet, All My Friends Music Festival, and MUCH more.

Enjoy!

Friday August 17th, 2018

1. Echo Park Rising celebrates the creativity, diversity, music and businesses of Echo Park with a four-day celebration (Aug 16-19) featuring food, drink, and amazing live music. FREE

2. STRETCH is a spandex-themed dance party that doubles as a cheeky homage to an 80’s workout video. The event features two indoor floors plus two outdoor decks, all taking place 1,000 above the ground at OUE Skyspace LA.

3. “Music. Moves. Change makers.” is a dance-party take over of the Theatre at the Ace Hotel celebrating music and movements from around the world, with a DJ set from KPFK’s DJ Francesca Harding and brief conversation between local New York Times visual journalist Walter Thompson Hernandez and his editor Joanna Nikas. We Like L.A. readers can use the promo code NYTheartsLA to receive $10 off their ticket purchase.

4. Friday Flights at The Getty invites artists to respond to the iconic architecture, gardens and exhibitions of the museum through multiple art forms that include music, performance and film. FREE

5. Long Beach BBQ Festival at Rainbow Lagoon Park (August 17-19) will feature world class pitmasters showcasing their skills for hungry que fans! Check for discounted tickets before making your purchase. DISCOUNTED (via Goldstar)

6. The Roadium in Torrance presents Classic Drive-in Movies every Friday night in August and the first Friday of September. Each family-friendly event features classic films projected on the screen tower. Continuing the series is a screening of Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark.

7. The Los Angeles Zoo’s annual after-hours music series, Roaring Nights, is back for summer 2018. Come experience DJs, indie bands, Silent Disco, the all-new Glamping Lounge, adult beverages, more than a dozen great food trucks each evening and more. The series continues with local country band Highway Starr and DJ Johnny Hawkes. Check for discounted tickets before making your purchase. DISCOUNTED (via Goldstar)

8. Rodeo Drive’s BOLD Summer is set to bring an energizing spin to Beverly Hills’ Golden Triangle this August. Come enjoy a block party with live entertainment, special restaurant offers, and more. BOLD happens every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday from August 2-25. FREE

9. de Plume has been transformed by Laurie Shapiro into a stunning forrest of intricately painted flowers made to represent the vagina. Titled “All Yoni Is Love,” the exhibit features stylized large paintings, reflective mylar, and hanging orbs of light is made to celebrate the beauty and power of all woman. On Friday a special sound bath will be held right in the middle of the exhibit.

10. Union Station in DTLA will host Filmmm, a series of food-centric films, this summer. The series concludes with a screening of I am Love FREE

11. Picture This! and LoopdeLoop are joining forces for a night celebrating dogs! This free live animated comedy show will feature standup comics perform as talented animators, cartoonists and loopers draw them live. FREE

12. Back for the 15th year in a row, The Independent Shakespeare Co. presents Shakespeare in the Parkat the Old Zoo in Griffith Park with free performances of A Mid Summer Nights Dream and Titus Andronicus Wednesday through Sunday. FREE

13. The Music Center’s annual Dance DTLA series is back for 2018 with a series of Friday-night events at Grand Park. This week features DJ Nights, an evening of music, dancing and more from 9 to midnight. FREE

14. The Burbank Comedy Festival taking place across five different venues will host 200 performers from around the globe for five days (August 12-18) of nonstop funny business. The festival kicks off with Jeff Garlin this Sunday!

15. The La Brea Tar Pits and Museum will host Late Night Fridays where guests can enjoy free general admission from 5 to 8 p.m. and gain access to special activities, 3D movies, behind-the-scenes tours, live excavations, and more. FREE

16. WP24 by Wolfgang Puck’s Summer Supper + Show returns every Friday and Saturday, July through August, with a Asian-inspired dinner at WP24 by Wolfgang Puck followed by a movie screening on the private 26th floor hotel rooftop. This weekend they’ll screen Grease.

17. Hauser & Wirth Los Angeles will host a rare screening of artist Paul McCarthy’s ‘cisuM fo dnuoS ehT/The Sound of Music.’ Projected upside down and in reverse, McCarthy transforms the classic film into something strange and unnerving. FREE

18. For over 30 years, Grand Performances has offered a variety of performance events at California Plaza, for free. Their 2018 summer series runs June 1 through August 18. This Friday La Marisoul Hernández of La Santa Cecilia presents The California Feetwarmers and The Hermanos. FREE

19. Shakespeare By The Sea will once again offer a ten-week program of admission-free performances. The series continues with performances of The Merry Wives of Windsor and The Winter’s Tale in different locations Friday and Saturday. FREE

20. Are you a Chase bank customer? Got a freebie you might want to know about. Coolhaus is teaming with the Forum and Chase to hand out free ice cream sandwiches to Chase customers on Fridays all summer long. Locations will change every Friday, and the offer is ice cream sandwich per cardholder. Get more info here.

21. Barnsdall Fridays at Barnsdall Art Park offers evening tastings of boutique wines and music from KCRW DJs perched atop a hill with incredible city views.

22. Rooftop Cinema Club returns to the rooftops of LEVEL in DTLA and NeueHouse in Hollywood with multiple screenings this week that include Dirty Dancing, Point Break and more.

Saturday August 18th, 2018

23. The 2018 L.A. Taco Festival at Grand Park in DTLA features an eclectic array of traditional and trending tacos, all from local L.A. spots. Admission is free and all tacos are for sale. Vendors include Kogi BBQ, EpicTacos, Thai-Mex Cocina, Izzys Taco House, Monster Tacos and many more.

24. The All My Friends Music Festival heads to The Row DTLA for two days of live music and performances on three separate stages. Performers include RL Grime, Gucci Mane, Jhene Aiko, M.I.A., Jamie XX, Armand and Van Helden and more.

25. The Pasadena Rooftop Cinema is back for another series of free family friendly screenings on a South Lake Avenue rooftop. This Saturday the series will screen Jurassic Park. FREE

26. KCRW’s Summer Nights continues this Saturday at KCRW headquarters with a Backyard Party featuring KCRW DJ Henry Rollins, a selection of food trucks curated by KCRW’s Evan Kleiman and record collectors and dealers hand-selected by Beats Swap Meet. FREE

27. Taste of Brews Long Beach features dozens of microbrews and hard ciders, along with snack samples from food trucks and live entertainment. This year, the oceanfront event is selling a limited number of tickets, meaning shorter lines.

28. The Silverlake Flea-Night Market taking place every Saturday from 5-10 p.m. all summer long features a plethora of local, independent sellers that offer vintage clothing, art, rare vinyl, crafts, and much more.

29. Street Food Cinema returns this weekend with a screening of Black Panther at Veteran’s Memorial Park in Culver City, Casablanca in Victory Park Pasadena and The Lion King at Park Center in Griffith Park. Select screenings are discounted via Goldstar. DISCOUNTED

30. Once every month Griffith Observatory hosts a free public star party allowing the public to view through telescopes to see the stars and beyond as well as discuss with knowledgeable amateur astronomers about our solar system. FREE

31. HUSHfest takes over the Santa Monica Pier for a silent disco dance party focused on the “New York State of Mind” with Jay Z vs LCD Soundsystem vs Talking Heads tunes.

32. Check out LACMA’s latest exhibition, 3D: Double Vision an interactive exhibit that explores the art and illusion of 3D.

33. Eat|See|Hear returns for 2018 with a screening of The Sandlot (25th Anniversary) at La Cienega Park in Beverly Hills. Check for discounted tickets before making your purchase. DISCOUNTED (via Goldstar)

34. Head over the Simi Valley Town Center this Saturday for the International Taco Festival. General admission is free, with food and drink available for purchase.

35. Pop Saturdays, a free summer series taking place at Marina del Rey’s Burton Chace Park returns this week with a performance by Punk rock pioneers X with all four original members. FREE

36. City of Rancho Palos Verdes presents Free Movies in the Park this Saturday screening Peter Rabbit at Eastview Park. FREE

37. Nisei Week Japanese Festival returns to the streets of Little Tokyo, beaming with food, culture, entertainment, a grand parade and more. FREE

38. A Yeti Village has been constructed on Hollywood and Vine in anticipation for the movie SMALLFOOT. Designed to look like winter, visitors of all ages can dance in a blizzard, swing on a cloud, ride a 20-foot slide, play in a snowball pit, sing karaoke, do arts and crafts and more. The family-friendly experience is free to attend and runs through September 14, 2018. FREE

39. Cinespia is back for its 17th summer season, at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery for screenings of films modern, cult, and classic. This Saturday they’ll screen The Outsiders.

40. Perrier is hosting a yoga event featuring a fully-stocked Perrier & Juice drink bar, live DJs from Power106, Vinyasa yoga sessions, giveaways and much more. FREE

41. The Actors’ Gang will once gain bring back Free Shakespeare in the Park for Families with a production of Much Ado About Avengers an original play inspired by William Shakespeare’s “Much Ado About Nothing” and the characters of Marvel’s Avengers. Taking place at Media Park in Culver City, the 45 minute, all‐ages production will run every Saturday and Sunday this month through August 26. FREE

42. The Japanese American National Museum (JANM) will host their annual Natsumatsuri Family Festival this Saturday celebrating Japanese and Japanese American culture through performances, crafts, and other activities. FREE

43. Enjoy a summer movie night at Warner Ranch Park in Woodland Hills when Movies on the Greenwith a screening of Black Panther. FREE

Sunday August 19th, 2018

44. Swingin’ Summer series returns to The Wiltern with a Roaring ’20s Night, featuring a ten-piece jazz band and swing dancing lessons. Check for discounted tickets before making your purchase. DISCOUNTED (via Goldstar)

45. Silents Under the Stars series continues at Paramount Ranch in Agoura Hills this Sunday with Flesh and the Devil staring Greta Garbo, one of the greatest stars of the 1920s.

46. Head down to Roxanne’s Cocktail Lounge in Long Beach for a Tiki Swapmeet and social featuring live tiki bands and DJs, games, and selected tiki vendors from across SoCal.

47. Movie Night at The Wiltern will host a Lady and the Tramp matinee screening with themed photo ops, face painting and coloring stations. Check for discounted tickets before making your purchase. DISCOUNTED (via Goldstar)

48. Fans of ice cream can head down Ice Cream Alley, a special area of Smorgasburg LA dedicated to showcasing the best of local ice cream and sweet treats, all in one place.

49. Head to Downtown L.A. for Sunday Sessions, at Grand Park and enjoy the city’s best House music artists, groove on the dance floor and enjoy eats from food trucks and cocktails from the bar. FREE

50. British artist Lucy Sparrow has transformed the second floor of the Standard in DTLA into Sparrow Mart a supermarket art wonderland fill with over 31,000 adorable felt-covered food replicas all for sale. Part art installation, store and loads of photo worthy moments, Sparrow Mart open Aug 1-31 (closed on Mondays) is free to attend on a first come first serve basis. FREE

51. Boomtown Brewery will host a Summer Family Festival this Sunday with plenty of fun activities like a bounce house, face painting, a petting zoo, games, prizes, and a photo booth. FREE

52. Escape the summer heat during Jazz on the Lawn, a series of free summer concerts at Santa Monica’s Gandara Park every Sunday in August. In addition to live music there will be free dance lessons, food trucks and picnic games. FREE

53. This Sunday is the 9 Year Anniversary of Cool Beans Comedy. To celebrate, they brought in NBC’s Tony Baker, Netflix’s Taylor Tomlinson and other friends for a night of free comedy at The Ice House Comedy Club in Pasadena. FREE

54. Free museum days: Museum of Latin American Art and Craft and Folk Art Museum (pay what you can)

Schedule provided by We Like LA.

August 10, 2018

The Best Escape Rooms In Los Angeles

Escape rooms are popping up in just about every major US city, and thanks to Hollywood’s stacks of storytellers and set designers, the trend’s infiltrated LA as well. There are now dozens of places throughout the city where teams of players can solve puzzles and use clues to escape a (temporarily) locked and painstakingly themed room before the timer runs out.

The premise might sound challenging at first, but escape rooms are some of the coolest things to do in LA; they’re seriously fun for groups of friends or as team-building for a small company, or as a date that’ll let you know whether or not you can actually trust the person you swiped right for. We tested a slew of rooms across the city to come up with the following checklist of must-try escape experiences in LA — gather up a few of your favorite people, and start sleuthin’.

(Note: New rooms open constantly, sometimes taking the place of others, so call ahead to make sure the one you want to do is still around.)

Stash House

Koreatown
Standout room: There’s only one
In a nondescript K-town building, you’ll be initiated into a drug gang by a crew expecting you and your teammates to find all the baggies of dope and flush ‘em down a toilet in a locked room before the cops bash down the door. Totally immersive and entirely on-theme, Stash House is the rare escape room with replay value, thanks to an in-game decision that sends various groups in different directions.

60 Out Echo Park

Echo Park
Standout room: The Cartel
60Out is a multiple-location franchise spread across the city, and their Echo Park location’s completely devoted to a game they call “The Cartel: DEA Undercover.” It’s almost the opposite of Stash House, in that you’re an undercover agent who needs to escape from the drug gang you’ve infiltrated. Our group got gummed up on some pretty frustrating stuff in this room, but the experience ends with a bang that makes it all worthwhile.

Evil Genius

Mid-City
Standout Rooms: Occam’s Apartment/Norcross Art Gallery
The two escape rooms at Evil Genius can be played back-to-back — and that’s what you’re going to want to do, since the story (involving an art thief framing you) crosses over between them. The rooms might look bare-bones, but that’s part of the appeal: keys, clues, and even doors are hidden in ingenius spots.

ESCRooms

North Hollywood
Standout Room: Nuclear Option
Full disclosure: Thrillist contributor Wilder Shaw and his dad are the guys behind this new escape room, which is located in two shipping containers behind a small theater in North Hollywood. It’s not just nepotism that locked their spot on the list, though: the room’s full of pop-culture in-jokes and the setup (you’re tasked with disarming a nuclear weapon) is one that’s perfect for the escape room countdown trope. Just try not to MacGruber yourself.

QuestRoom

Koreatown
Standout Room: Red Giant
Though their Cannibal’s Den room is also pretty great, QuestRoom’s Red Giant has got a big ‘ol twist that would be terrible to give away, but literally breaks just about every rule of escape room protocol, and makes it a total must-play. The Indiana Jones-esque story (and the very, very cool special effects that go along with it) are presented in a way that’s as immersive as possible; you’re definitely going to Instagram your adventure-seeker photo when you’re done.

Get The F Out Room

Downtown
Standout Room: The Virus
Both of the rooms at Get The F Out are fun, but The Virus gets our pick over the more challenging Experiment for its interesting method of clue-giving: with a real-live person acting a part that totally makes sense in the story, sitting in the room with you. You and your team are scientists who’ve been exposed to a deadly virus and are tasked with finding an anecdote in time; there’s some high-tech sorcery hidden throughout, as well as some low-tech puzzles that take serious brainpower to solve.

Hatch Escape

Mid-City
Standout Room: Lab Rat
Lab Rat unquestionably has the highest production value of any of the rooms we’ve mentioned so far. You’ll start off locked in a cage in which you are the rats being experimented on by an evil doctor, and (if you can get out of that first section, which is harder than it seems), you’ll be thrown into a madcap maze that takes true teamwork to solve.

Virtual Room

Hollywood
Standout Room: Chapter I
Bordering on being a tourist trap, Virtual Room is also LA’s first all-virtual-reality escape room (as you can probably tell by the name), which gives it sort of a more kid-friendly appeal than some of its competitors. This also gives it the ability to transport you and your team to different worlds, which is part of the fun as you solve puzzles involving dinosaurs, mummies, and the gravity on the Moon. Note: There are multiple experiences here, and your team will have to choose between them on the spot.

60Out Hollywood

Hollywood
Standout Room: Jumanji: Welcome To The Jungle
60Out’s Hollywood location has three rotating rooms — and, when it first opened, the Jumanji room seemed like just a temporary promotional tie in to the (actually pretty good) Rock reboot. It’s become semi-permanent, though, and the fact of the matter is it’s actually one of the best escape rooms in LA, with stunning set design, slick special effects, and puzzles that require different players to take on different avatars from the movie. Clever!

Catalina Room Escape

Avalon
Standout Room: There’s only one
The appeal of this one-room business lies in its simplicity. It’s on Catalina Island, which means it’s not going to be as sophisticated as its mainland counterparts, but if you’re on the island and are an escape room aficionado it’s totally worth your time: the puzzles’ homemade feel are refreshing after the whammo-bammo aspect of some of the other rooms, and there’s a strong logical element that’ll make you proud of each clue you get correct.

The Basement

Sylmar
Standout Room: The Courtyard
Escape room enthusiasts rightly love all four of the Basement rooms for their attention to detail and their serial story, which keeps adding new “chapters” as the business expands. The latest, room “The Courtyard,” is a tech-and-actor-heavy offering that’s fully immersive, and continues the story of Edward Tandy — a man with a peculiar love of taxidermy. Beware: he may be coming for you.

Maze Rooms Hollywood

Hollywood
Standout Room: World of Illusions
Similar to 60Out, Maze Rooms are actually all individually owned rooms under the same umbrella, so there’s not really a standard of greatness across the board. That said, one that most escape enthusiasts can agree on is World Of Illusions, with circus and magic tropes playing a part in challenging, technologically impressive puzzles.

Story courtesy of Thrillist.

August 1, 2018

Cool Things to do This August in LA

Need stuff to do this month in Los Angeles? We looked ahead on our calendar to focus in on some of the best events happening in August around Los Angeles that you should probably have on your radar. After all, better to get your tickets now than wait till the last minute and find out your favorite event is sold out.

August 2018 event highlights include Jackalope Summer Nights, CatCon, the L.A. Taco Festival, Harry Potter Roller Skating Night, Echo Park Rising, KCON, the start of the L.A. County Fair, and much more.

Enjoy!

1. BOLD Summer Nights Kickoff Block Party on Rodeo Drive (August 2)

Head to the kickoff event of Beverly Hill’s BOLD Summer Nights, which will feature fireworks, art installations, food offers, shopping, and plenty more. If you miss opening night, you can still attend BOLD Summer Nights every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday from August 2-25. -> More information

2. Jackalope Summer Nights in Pasadena (August 3-4)

Head over to Central Park in Old Pasadena for Jackalope Arts’ new night market, featuring food, drink, music, and over 200 artisan vendors. -> More information

3. Classic Drive-In Movies at the Roadium (starts August 3)

Enjoy classic films under the stars and with loved ones at The Roadium’s drive-in movie theatre every Friday this August and the first Friday of September. -> More information

4. The Emoji Art Show in DTLA (August 3)

The Emoji Art Show is coming to Los Angeles, featuring a night of performances, live art, body paintings, desserts, and more, all based around emojis! -> More information

5. Brew at the L.A. Zoo 2018 (August 3)

Brew at the L.A. Zoo celebrates its annual brewfest with music, pop-up zookeeper talks, and animal discovery stations, plus craft suds from 40+ breweries. T -> More information

6. Stronger | Weekend: A LiveStrong.Com Event at The Rose Bowl (August 4)

Stronger | Weekend will feature celebrity trainers Jillian Michaels, Anna Victoria, Cassey Ho, and more leading the day with a yoga class, a mat pilates class, insights on eating healthy and exercise habits, and much more. Plus, join in on a group plan to break a Guinness World Record. Be sure use the promo code LOSANGELES10 for special $10 tickets to the event! -> More information

7. Brunch Life Festival in Long Beach (August 4)

Come to the first-ever Brunch Life Fest, where a variety of brunch tastings, mixed drinks, games, and music will take over Long Beach’s Rainbow Lagoon Park. -> More information – Discount tickets

8. 1st Annual Boyle Heights Beer Fest (August 4)

Sip on beer from dozens of locally crafted brews and help support charities like OLTE during the 1st Annual Boyle Heights Beer Fest. -> More information

9. Night Sky Festival Returns to Paramount Ranch in Agoura Hills (August 4)

9. CatCon 2018 at the Pasadena Convention Center (August 4-5)

Pop and cat culture will converge at CatCon for two-days of cat-centric showcases including merchandising, cat world celebrities and cat adoptions -> More information – Discount tickets

10. Night Sky Festival Returns to Paramount Ranch in Agoura Hills (August 4)

National Park Service’s Night Sky Festival returns to Paramount Ranch in Agoura Hills on August 4 with kids activities, telescope viewings and more. -> More information

11. KCRW Presents Summer Nights’ Backyard Party (August 4, 11, & 18)

KCRW’s wildly popular Summer Nights series is back, and for the first time ever is being held at the station’s new headquarters, located at Santa Monica College’s Center for Media Design. The three-concert series will feature The Midnight Hour (the new project from Ali Shaheed Muhammad) and composer Adrian Younge performing with an 18-piece orchestra on August 4, a solo acoustic performance from Jim James on August 11, and a DJ set by Henry Rollins on August 18. -> More information

12. BrunchCon LA at The Reef in DTLA (August 5)

The third annual BrunchCon LA returns to The Reef in Downtown L.A. on August 5 for the highly acclaimed food and drink festival that’s all about your favorite morning ritual… brunch! -> More information – Discount tickets

13. Dog Days of Summer at Hammer Museum (starts August 7)

Celebrate canines during Dog Days of Summer at the Hammer Museum. Adopt a dog at Yappy Hour or enjoy a film screening like Old Yeller, Best in Show, or Isle of Dogs. -> More information

14. KCON LA 2018 in DTLA (August 10-12)

The world’s largest Korean culture convention stops in Los Angeles from August 10 to 12 for KCON, a celebration of music, workshops, meet-and-greets, and more. -> More information

15. ‘Frida Kahlo Under the Stars’ at LA Plaza de Culturas y Artes (August 11)

Frida Kahlo Under the Stars with Gregorio Luke comes to LA Plaza de Culturas y Artes on Saturday, August 11 for an evening dedicated to this iconic artist. -> More information

16. Angel City Brewery’s 6th Annual Avocado Fest (August 11-12)

Angel City Brewery’s 6th Annual Avocado Festival takes place August 11-12, celebrating the state fruit with music, food, and limited release Avocado Ale. -> More information

17. Echo Park Rising 2018 (August 16-19)

Echo Park Rising celebrates the creativity, diversity, music and businesses of Echo Park with a four-day celebration featuring food, drink, and live music. -> More information

18. STRETCH at OUE Skyspace LA (August 17)

STRETCH is a spandex-themed dance party that doubles as a cheeky homage to an 80’s workout video. The event features two indoor floors plus two outdoor decks, all taking place 1,000 above the ground at OUE Skyspace LA. -> More information

19. Long Beach BBQ Festival at Rainbow Lagoon Park (August 17-19)

Pitmasters at Rainbow Lagoon Park will cook a variety of meats, while guests enjoy live music and fun activities. -> More information

20. The 2018 L.A. Taco Festival in Grand Park (August 18)

The 2018 L.A. Taco Festival features an eclectic array of traditional and trending tacos, all from local L.A. spots. Admission is free (pay for tacos as you go). -> More information

21. Rum Tiki Social & Tiki Swapmeet (August 19)

Head down to Roxanne’s Cocktail Lounge in Long Beach for a Tiki Swapmeet and social featuring live tiki bands and DJs, games, and selected tiki vendors from across SoCal. -> More information

22. The Labyrinth Masquerade Ball XXI in Downtown L.A. (August 24-25)

Get ready for a unique experience at the Labyrinth Masquerade Ball at the Millennium Biltmore in DLTA. This a unique experience features extravagant costumes, artists and performances. -> More information

23. 2018 DTLA Proud Festival Pershing Square (August 25-26)

The DTLA Proud Festival begins at noon each day and will feature live music, food trucks, local artists, a pop-up water park and much more! -> More information

24. Brick Fest Live: Lego Fan Experience in Pasadena (August 25-26)

Brick Fest Live, the Lego Fan Experience, is coming to the Pasadena Convention Center for two days of insane builds, hands-on activities, and sets to buy. -> More information

25. ScareLA 2018: Halloween in Summer (August 25-26)

Celebrate Halloween in the summer with ScareLA, the city’s only convention with interactive experiences, industry professionals, roaming monsters and more. -> More information – Discount tickets

26. Leimert Park Village Book Fair at Baldwin Hills Crenshaw (August 25)

The Leimert Park Village Book Fair comes to Baldwin Hills Crenshaw on August 25 for an all-day literary extravaganza. -> More information

27. The 13th Annual Venice Beach Music & Arts Festival (August 25)

The free Venice Beach Music & Arts Festival features world-class music, and dance entertainment, as well as food trucks, murals, book signings and more. -> More information

28. Muse ’til Midnight — LACMA in 3D (August 25)

Muse ’til Midnight at LACMA is the ultimate late-night party. 2018’s edition is a celebration of 3D art, inspired by LACMA’s new exhibit, 3D: Double Vision. Enjoy music curated by DUBLAB, access to five galleries and more. -> More information

29. 7th Annual Harry Potter Roller Skating Night (August 25)

This August Harry Potter Roller Skating Night returns to Moonlight Rollerway for a 7th and final edition. -> More information

30. Cinecon Classic Film Festival at Hollywood’s Egyptian Theatre (August 30 to September 3)

Cinecon 54 returns to the Egyptian Theater with a 5-day festival full of classic film screenings, celebrity appearances, panels, a memoribilia show, and more. -> More information

31. L.A. Times The Taste at Paramount Studios (August 31 to September 2)

Hosted at the iconic Paramount Studios from August 31-September 2, Taste LA will feature tastings alongside demos, pop-ups and chef experiences. -> More information

32. L.A. County Fair (starts August 31)

The L.A. County Fair returns to Pomona for a enormous assortment of activities, musical performances, food and beverage offerings, and more. The fair runs through September 23. -> More information – Discount tickets

Article courtesy of We Like LA.

July 12, 2018

Weekend Events: July 13 – 15

Los Angeles provides no limit of things to do, some awesome and some not so awesome. Since time is precious in this fast paced city we curate a list of things to do in L.A. for every weekend that’ll help you decide how you want to spend your limited supply of attention (not to mention dollars!).

This weekend, from Friday, July 13 to Sunday, July 15, features Outdoor Movies at the Skirball, ‘Summer of Salsa’, Colorado Street Bridge Party, Summer Train Fest at Union Station, the Lotus Festival, Swingin’ Summer at The Wiltern, Ice Cream Ally at Smorgasburg LA, Sunday Sessions at Grand Park and MUCH more.

Hope you find the rundown useful and, as always, enjoy your week!

Friday July 13th, 2018

1. Celebrate summer in Los Angeles watching some beloved films during Outdoor Movies at the Skirball. This Friday Labyrinth will be screened. We suggest you arrive early to check out The Jim Henson Exhibition: Imagination Unlimited exhibit where costumes, sketches and more of Labyrinth are displayed.

2. ‘Summer of Salsa’ concert series is a monthly free concert series at La Plaza de Cultura y Artes running now till September 7, 2018. This month La Verdad, a West Coast nine-piece salsa group, under the musical direction of Gabriel Gonzalez will peform. FREE

3. Union Station in DTLA will host Filmmm, a series of food-centric films, this summer. The series continues with the documentary City of Gold where Pulitzer Prize-winning food writer Jonathan Gold, takes viewers on a gustatory journey through the City of Angels. FREE

4. Back for the 15th year in a row, The Independent Shakespeare Co. presents Shakespeare in the Parkat the Old Zoo in Griffith Park with free performances Wednesday through Sunday of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. FREE

5. The La Brea Tar Pits and Museum will host Late Night Fridays where guests can enjoy free general admission from 5 to 8 p.m. and gain access to special activities, 3D movies, behind-the-scenes tours, live excavations, and more. FREE

6. The South Bay Greek Festival, at St. Katherine’s Greek Orthodox Church taking place July 12-15 in Redondo Beach, will offer Greek food, music and dancing.

7. Old Pasadena Summer Cinema continues with several screenings at One Colorado, Central Park and Distant Lands this weekend. The series brings free movie screenings to the Old Pasadena area at select venues from July 5 to 28. FREE

8. The Music Center’s annual Dance DTLA series is back for 2018 with a series of Friday-night events at Grand Park. This week features DJ Nights an evening curated by some of the city’s best and most influential DJs. Enjoy music, dancing, and more from 9 p.m. to midnight . FREE

9. dineL.A. will have food-lovers and connoisseurs taste, explore and enjoy various prix-fixe menus from restaurants across various L.A. neighborhoods from July 13 through 27 .

10. For over 30 years, Grand Performances has offered a variety of performance events at California Plaza, for free. Their 2018 summer series runs June 1 through August 18. This Friday they’ll present Now More Than Ever: Protest Songs Sing-Along. Lyrics will be projected on a screen behind the performers so the audience can join in. FREE

11. There’s a Friday The 13th Part VI screening with filmmaker Tom McLoughlin in person at the Landmark’s Nuart Theatre.

12. Shakespeare By The Sea will once again offer a ten-week program of admission-free performances. The series continues with performances of The Winter’s Tale at Monte Verde Park in Lakewood on Friday andThe Winter’s Tale at Rush Park in Los Alamitos on Saturday. FREE

13. The Department of Beaches and Harbors presents Beach Movie Nights at Dockweiler Youth Center this week screening Coco. FREE

14. Perfect for dog lovers, Mutt House is a musical centered around a doomed animal shelter, a boy named Eddie and six zany mutts working together to save the shelter they all call home. Performing at the Kirk Douglas Theatre in Culver City from July 15 through August 5 with previews beginning this week on July 10. Check for discounted tickets before making your purchase. DISCOUNTED (via Goldstar)

15. Are you a Chase bank customer? Got a freebie you might want to know about. Coolhaus is teaming with the Forum and Chase to hand out free ice cream sandwiches to Chase customers on Fridays all summer long. Locations will change every Friday, and the offer is ice cream sandwich per cardholder. Get more info here.

16. Barnsdall Fridays returns to Barnsdall Art Park for the tenth year in a row, with evening tastings of boutique wines and music from KCRW DJs perched atop a hill with incredible city views.

17. WP24 by Wolfgang Puck’s Summer Supper + Show returns every Friday and Saturday, July through August, with a Asian-inspired dinner at WP24 by Wolfgang Puck followed by a movie screening on the private 26th floor hotel rooftop. This weekend they’ll screen Top Gun.

18. The Sorting Room nightclub housed within the Wallis Center’s Lovelace Studio Center presents a new season of unpredictable performances from poets, composers, jazz singers, cabaret veterans and more in a variety of genres alongside happy hour drink specials. This week For The Record: Tarantino a musical performance celebrating the famous directors films will take the stage July 12-15.

19. Beyond the Streets is a fully immersive exhibition of street and graffiti art comprised of over 30 artist in a massive 40,000+ square feet exhibits. Artist are an eclectic mix of street and beyond including Retna, Shepard Fairey, Kenny Scharf Dennis Hopper and Jenny Holzer. Open Tuesday through Sunday this week. Open Tuesday through Sunday this week. Check for discounted tickets before making your purchase. DISCOUNTED (via Goldstar)

20. Rooftop Cinema Club returns to the rooftops of LEVEL in DTLA and NeueHouse in Hollywood with multiple screenings this week that include Hocus Pocus, The Lost Boys, CLUE and more.

21. Jazz at LACMA welcomes Scotty Barnhart at the BP grand entrance at 6 p.m. FREE

22. The South Coast Botanic Garden in Palos Verdes will host a family friendley movie night on their 87 acre property. This Friday they’ll screen Coco. DISCOUNTED (via Goldstar)

Saturday July 14th, 2018

23. Colorado Street Bridge Party returns to Defenders Park in Pasadena on Saturday for a night of music, dancing, vintage cars, free kids activities, food, wine and treats atop one of the most picturesque bridges in the world.

24. Union Station in DTLA is hosting their second annual Summer Train Fest. Fun for all ages, guests can tour vintage train cars, enjoy 360° virtual reality stations, shop local vendors, grab a bite at popular food trucks, dance to live music and much more. FREE

25. The 38th Annual Lotus Festival from July 14-15 at Echo Park Lake will include live entertainment, arts and crafts, a boat race, an asian food court, dragon boat races and of course and plenty of opportunities to enjoy the blooming flowers on the lake. FREE

26. Marina Movie Nights returns to Burton Chace Park in Marina del Rey for free Saturday-night screenings of beloved musicals. This weekend it’s La La Land with tap dancing lessons. FREE

27. The 9th Annual Reggae On The Mountain returns to Topanga Canyon’s Topanga Community Center on July 14-15 for two jam-packed, fun-filled days of roots reggae from Toots and The Maytals, Derrick Morgan, The Lions, Pato Banton and more. Check for discounted tickets before making your purchase. DISCOUNTED (via Goldstar)

28. FX presents a Snowfall Summer Kickback on July 14-15 to celebrate season 2 of the show through a free immersive arts space, featuring live DJ sets, art installations, interactive experiences inspired by LA in the 80s, food from In-n-Out and Homeboy Industries. FREE

29. Gallery Nucleus in Alhambra is hosting a pug-a-palooza celebrating the adorable Puglie. Pets and children are welcome to this all ages party featuring Puglie installation, ice cream, boba, swag and a meet and greet with Puglie creator Euge Leung.

30. Off the 405, free concerts at the Getty will host a performance by FEELS and a DJ set by Boss Harmony in the museum courtyard. FREE

31. Enjoy free movie screenings under the stars when the Amazon Treasure Truck heads to DTLA this weekend for a screening of Wes Anderson’s Isle of Dogs. FREE

32. Tiki Night returns to the Egyptian Theatre this Saturday with a Tiki Marketplace, a Tiki Bar, Tiki cuisine, Tiki music, Polynesian Paradise Dancers and film screenings of “Bosko” and “The Whimsical Imagineer.”

33. Street Food Cinema returns this weekend with a screening of Romeo + Juliet at Brand Library Parkin Glendale and 500 Days of Summer at Marriott Golf Course in Manhattan Beach Select screenings are discounted via Goldstar. DISCOUNTED

34. Visit Austin heads to Los Angeles for a day of complimentary food and drink inspired by The Live Music Capital of the World. Chef Jonathan Whitener from Los Angeles’ Here’s Looking at You and Austin’s Chef Callie Speer of Holy Roller will be on deck handling food while Blackillac will be spinning tunes. FREE

35. Beautycon Festival returns to the Los Angeles Convention Center July 14-15 for a two-day beauty convention with Kim Kardashian West and many other personalities.

36. Celebrate summer in the SGV during Movies in the Park, a free outdoor film series screening at Alhambra Park. This weekend they’ll screen Jumanji (1995). FREE

37. Sri Lanka Day 2018 returns to Pasadena City Hall Centennial Square on Saturday, for its annual celebration and tribute to the Sri Lankan culture and heritage. FREE

38. KCRW’s Summer Nights offers free all-ages outdoor music shows over the course of the summer throughout Los Angeles and this weekend they’ll takes over the California African American Museum with KCRW DJs Aaron Byrd and Garth Trinidad. FREE

39. Eat|See|Hear returns for 2018 with two screenings at LA State Historic Park. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind on Friday and The Warriors on Saturday. Check for discounted tickets before making your purchase. DISCOUNTED (via Goldstar)

40. Get Fit an inaugural Workout Week Los Angeles Festival happening July 14-21 will bring 100+ classes at participating boutique gyms and studios for $10 per class.

41. Presented by Downtown Long Beach Alliance, Summer and Music (SAM) continues with Twisted at The Pike, a free music event at The Pike Outlets with headliner hypnotic punk band, L.A. Witch. FREE

Sunday July 15th, 2018

42. For three nights in July, August and September, The Wiltern hosts Swingin’ Summer, a series of vintage-style evenings with swing dance lessons, drinks, and dancing to live music. Check for discounted tickets before making your purchase. DISCOUNTED (via Goldstar)

43. #NationalIceCreamDay is July 15, and one of the best ways for Angelenos to celebrate this special day is at the launch of Ice Cream Alley. This new area at Smorgasburg LA will feature vendors like Wanderlust Creamery, Yellow Business – HK Egg Waffle, Churro Boss, Sweet n’ Hollow and more.

44. Sunday Sessions, at Grand Park, is a celebration of Los Angeles House music. Highlighting music and dance culture the event continues with performances by Doc Martin, Tara Brooks, and Anton Tumas. FREE

45. Events and activists company SameSide will host a cannabis infused brunch prepared by Cheftoferin Koreatown this Saturday where guests will fight to legalize cannabis on a federal level while enjoying tasty bites and mocktails.

46. The Hammer museum will host a live broadcast of the FIFA World Cup this Sunday during the final showdown. FREE

47. Hot Mama Mommy Fitness Day at Cheviot Hills Park is a work out day with your kids for a good cause. There will be a Mommy and Toddler Bootcamp, Fun & Fit- Mommy and kid workout, a kids play area, crafts tables, healthy snack samples and more. Dad’s are also welcome. This event is free but they’re asking for new pairs of shoes to help out charity partner “Shoes That Fit.”

Schedule provided by We Like LA.

July 11, 2018

Schedule of Free Museum Days in Los Angeles For July

The intent of this “cheat-sheet” is to denote specific free days in any given month where Los Angeles museums that normally charge an admission waive their entry fees (not including parking). For this post we’re detailing July, 2018.

A reminder for this month that The Natural History Museum and the La Brea Tar Pits Museum both skip their free admission first-Tuesdays for the months of July and August. That said, La Brea Tar Pits offers free late-night Fridays (5 to 8 p.m.) starting this month and ending in August. NHM and La Brea Tar Pits Museum will also have free admission days on every Tuesday in September.

As always remember there are over two dozen museums in and around Los Angeles that offer free admission ALL the time which are not listed here.

Enjoy!

Free Museum Days in Los Angeles – July 2018

[JULY 1] Museum of Latin American Art

[JULY 1] Craft and Folk Art Museum (pay what you can)

[JULY 5] Japanese American National Museum (from 5 to 8 p.m.)

[JULY 5] MOCA Grand & MOCA Geffen (from 5 to 8 p.m.)

[JULY 5] Skirball Cultural Center (noon to 5 p.m.)

[JULY 5] USC Pacific Asian Museum (5 to 8 p.m.)

[JULY 5] Huntington Library (note that you have to reserve passes for the free day in advance, and it books up fast. For this reason we’d suggest you take a look at the free day for August and start planning when you need to be online to grab the tix)

[JULY 5] Long Beach Museum of Art (3 to 8 p.m.)

[JULY 6] Norton Simon Museum (5 to 8 p.m.)

[JULY 6] Pasadena Museum of California Art (noon to 5 p.m.)

[JULY 6] Long Beach Museum of Art (11 a.m. to 5 p.m.)

[JULY 6] Free late-nights at La Brea Tar Pits Museum (5 to 8 p.m.)

[JULY 8] Museum of Latin American Art

[JULY 8 ] Craft and Folk Art Museum (pay what you can)

[JULY 10] Los Angeles County Museum of Art (also free for L.A. County residents with valid I.D. after 3:00pm on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays & Fridays all month long)

[JULY 10] Autry Museum of the American West

[JULY 12] Japanese American National Museum (from 5 to 8 p.m.)

[JULY 12] MOCA Grand & MOCA Geffen (from 5 to 8 p.m.)

[JULY 12] Skirball Cultural Center (noon to 5 p.m.)

[JULY 12] Long Beach Museum of Art (3 to 8 p.m.)

[JULY 12] USC Pacific Asian Museum (5 to 8 p.m.)

[JULY 13] Long Beach Museum of Art (11 a.m. to 5 p.m.)

[JULY 13] Free late-nights at La Brea Tar Pits Museum (5 to 8 p.m.)

[JULY 15] Museum of Latin American Art

[JULY 15] ] Craft and Folk Art Museum (pay what you can)

[JULY 17] Los Angeles County Arboretum (note: the tram doesn’t run on this day)

[JULY 17] South Coast Botanic Garden