The Best Online And IRL Events This Week: Aug. 3 - 6

Coronavirus is wreaking havoc on schools, stores, businesses and events. With in-person concerts, talks, comedy shows, food festivals and other gatherings cancelled, we have turned our events column into a "nonevents" column. It will remain this way as long as social distancing and stay-at-home orders are in effect.

During this difficult time, please consider contributing to your local arts organizations or to individual artists and performers.

Go forest bathing at The Arboretum. Find out how xenophobia smells. Listen to two BFFs talk about Big Friendship. Watch a documentary on young activists as they attempt to change gun control laws. Gather the kids for an online cooking class with chef Jet Tila.

Monday, Aug. 3; 4 p.m.

Parkland Rising
Watch the documentary that follows young activists from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School and their families as they turn the tragic 2018 mass shooting at their school into stricter gun control laws. Directed by Emmy-winning filmmaker Cheryl Horner McDonough, the film will be streamed live on The Young Turks YouTube channel and TYT.com.
FREE; MORE INFO

Monday, Aug. 3; 9 - 10:30 a.m.

Smells Like Xenophobia: An Olfactive History of Otherness
The Institute for Art and Olfaction has been holding a number of online workshops during the pandemic. On Monday, drop in for a history and culture lesson that explores "centuries of allusions to olfactive disgust in the rhetoric of hate." This Zoom class covers tough subject material and uses some disturbing images.
COST: $15; MORE INFO

Monday, Aug. 3; 7:30 p.m. PDT

breakfast lunch dinner
The Echo Theater Company holds an online reading of this three-course play written by Kira Obolensky. Watch the ebbs and flows of a middle-class Midwestern family over a 21-year span. Taking place mostly in a modest urban kitchen, the family strives to nourish and be nourished, both physically and emotionally. Samantha Cavestani, Brian Henderson, Megan Ketch and Carol Locatell star. Abigail Deser directs.
COST: FREE; MORE INFO

Monday, Aug. 3; 5 - 6 p.m.

Lapkus and Tompkins VS The Cloud Goblin (Live-stream)
Comedians Lauren Lapkus and Paul F. Tompkins perform an online, two-person improv set. The livestream link will be sent in an Eventbrite confirmation email.
COST: $5 - $10; MORE INFO

Monday, Aug. 3; 8 a.m. - 11:59 p.m.

Yellow Face
Sierra Madre Playhouse offers an encore online presentation of a reading of David Henry Hwang's semi-autobiographical play. It will be available to registered viewers on YouTube beginning at 8 a.m. on Monday. Since the reading runs two hours with a brief intermission, guests must start to watch by 9:30 p.m. in order to see the entire event.
COST: FREE with RSVP, but donations accepted; MORE INFO

Chef Jet Tila, pictured above at a Sabra hummus pop-up last year in New York, teaches a workshop for Rachael Ray's cooking camp for kids. (Brian Ach/Getty Images for Sabra)

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Wednesday, Aug. 5; 11 a.m. PDT

Rachael Ray's Yum-o-Cooking Camp
The Food Network star and her celebrity chef friends are running a free, online cooking camp for kids (and their families) through Aug. 14. On Wednesday, learn how to cook beef and broccoli stir fry with perfect jasmine rice from L.A.'s own Jet Tila. After registering for the class, participants will receive an additional email with Zoom link, recipe, ingredients and necessary utensils. Proceeds from donations will be split between the Boys & Girls Clubs of America and Rachael Ray's Yum-o! scholarship for students to attend Florida International University's Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management.
COST: FREE; MORE INFO

Wednesday, Aug. 5; 6 - 8 p.m. PDT

Forest Bathing
Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanic Garden
301 N. Baldwin Ave., Arcadia
The Arboretum brings back its wellness classes, with masks and physical distancing required to participate. On Wednesday, experience forest bathing, a Japanese-inspired practice of Shinrin Yoku. This form of nature therapy is said to boost immunity, reduce stress and improve cognitive functioning. Ben Page will guide participants through the walk and explain how best to interact with the land. Limited to 15 people.
COST: $35 - $45; MORE INFO

Ann Friedman and Aminatou Sow discuss their new book, 'Big Friendship.' (Milan Zrnic, courtesy of ALOUD )

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Thursday, Aug. 6; 5 p.m. PDT

Big Friendship: A Conversation
Aminatou Sow and Ann Friedman, bicoastal bffs and podcast cohosts (Call Your Girlfriend), discuss their book Big Friendship with writer Glory Edim, founder of the Well-Read Black Girl book club and network. They'll talk about platonic love and how social science proves the value of friendship. The event takes place via Zoom. A link will be sent after RSVP.
COST: Free - $31 (includes book); MORE INFO

Thursday, Aug. 6; 6:45 p.m. PDT

Out of the Blue: Stories of Surprise
The Moth's virtual Mainstage show features stories that are told (not read) about startling discoveries, bolts out of the blue and uncovered truths. Hosted by Jon Goode, the show will be streamed via Zoom.
COST: $15 per household; MORE INFO

Through Sunday, Nov. 1

Archive Machines
The Los Angeles Municipal Art Gallery's physical space in Barnsdall Park remains closed so this year's juried exhibition moves online. The interactive web format asks both artists and guests to engage with various activities. The exhibition, which brings together 44 artists whose works examine archival structures and materials, features work by Jamie Adams, Caroline Clerc, Natalie Delgadillo, Danny Jauregui, Dina Kelberman, Audrey Leshay, Maura Murnane, Lenard Smith, Allison Stewart and Rachel Zaretsky.
COST: FREE; MORE INFO

Ongoing

Lunchmeat VHS Six Pack
The indie printed magazine that celebrates the obscure and esoteric in cinema, particularly horror and exploitation films, teams with the Alamo Drafthouse to offer six films that celebrate old school VHS culture. Films included in the bundle are WNUF Halloween Special (2013), Split (1989), Invasion of the Scream Queens (1992), CreepTales (2004) and the documentaries At The Video Store (2019) and Adjust Your Tracking (2013). These films are available in an HD digital format.
COST: $13 for rent and $42 to buy; MORE INFO

The Oyster Gourmet at the Grand Central Market in DTLA celebates National Oyster Day on Wednesday, Aug. 5 (The Oyster Gourmet)

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Dine & Drink Deals

Who doesn't miss going out to eat or stopping by a bar for a drink? Here are a few options from restaurants and bars as we work our way back toward normal.

• The Oyster Gourmet at Grand Central Market celebrates National Oyster Day on Wednesday, Aug. 5, and guests who visit the oyster-shaped eatery receive 50% off all oysters and 50% off paired wines* for al fresco dining at the Market. You can also get your bivalves to go through the OYTOGO transportable oyster platter. The oysters are presented on ice to be enjoyed up to 4 hours after pick-up and complete with all the traditional accoutrements. Platters ($45-$120) must be ordered 24 hours in advance. (The 50% off deal does not apply to platters on National Oyster Day.)

• Gelato Festival in West Hollywood has teamed with SHERBINSKIS cannabis brand to launch the vegan gelato and sorbet desserts, Sunset Sherbert and Bacio Gelato 41 with zero THC/CBD. The treats are available in pints, cones and popsicles, running from $9 to $18 and are available at SHERBINSKIS namesake dispensary in Fairfax and at Gelato Festival.

• Terra, Eataly LA's outdoor rooftop restaurant, launches a cocktail collaboration series with beverage experts, bartenders and distilleries to showcase different cocktails each week. Ventura Spirits pops up every Thursday in August from 5 to 9 p.m. A portion of the proceeds go to the Restaurants Care relief fund.

• Chef Dave Beran open Tidbits by Dialogue, a 30-seat, temporary wine bar and small plates restaurant located on the second floor patio of the Gallery Food Hall overlooking the 3rd Street Promenade. The menu changes often and will be driven by the farmers market. Tidbits is open Wednesday through Saturday starting at 4 p.m.

• Rustic Canyon has added "Snack Time," every Wednesday to Sunday from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. Their version of happy hour offers more casual fare as well as fancy snacks and cocktails in the restaurant's new parking lot patio.