A Thai food fest serves up eats on Santa Monica Pier, Union Station hosts a train extravaganza, One Man, Two Guvnors hits the stage at A Noise Within and more of the best things to do this weekend.
Highlights:
Do the locomotion down to Union Station for a day of free railroad-themed fun for all ages at the Union Station Train Festival. There will be railroad equipment tours and displays, model train exhibits, interactive information booths, live entertainment and more!
Grab your pom poms and get ready for the cheer showdown that ended all cheer showdowns, the 2000 high school comedy Bring It On. The Kirsten Dunst classicis showing at Alamo Drafthouse for its 25th anniversary.
Thai food, music and cultural performances take over Santa Monica Pier at the Thai Fest by the Beach. It's free to explore, so head west and experience the delicious dishes and entertainment.
We have a lot on the agenda this edition. First, make sure you get to the Jeffrey Gibson show at The Broad before it closes. It’s even free this weekend in celebration of the museum’s 10th anniversary! Gibson's vibrant, indigenous-inspired creations spark joy and meaning, and a special event on Saturday features a music lineup of all indigenous artists.
Through Sunday, September 28 One Man, Two Guvnors A Noise Within 3352 E. Foothill Blvd., Pasadena COST: FROM $49.75; MORE INFO
The best British farces feel like total escapes — slapstick comedies that are so out there and take incredible acting precision to pull off. One Man, Two Guvnors is one of those. James Corden won a Tony for the role he originated in London back in 2012. The Noise Within production stars Kasey Mahaffey as Francis Henshall, a down-on-his-luck Londoner in the 1960s tasked with working for two bosses at once. The L.A. Times says, “The wit is crisp and the comic routines are evergreen.”
September 20-21, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Union Station Train Festival Union Station 800 N. Alameda St., Downtown L.A. COST: FREE; MORE INFO
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Union Station Los Angeles
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Do the locomotion down to Union Station for a day of free railroad-themed fun for all ages at the Union Station Train Festival. There will be railroad equipment tours and displays, including the steam locomotive Santa Fe 3751 of the San Bernardino Railroad Historical Society. Plus, enjoy model train exhibits, interactive information booths, live entertainment and more. What better way to spend time in one of L.A.’s coolest Art Deco buildings?
Saturday, September 20, 7 to 8:30 p.m. Poems & Prayers Revivals Tour: Matthew McConaughey + John Mayer Saban Theatre 8440 Wilshire Blvd., Beverly Hills COST: $67.90; MORE INFO
Alright, alright, alright. Book Soup is hosting this conversation between two of the most earnest performers out there — musician John Mayer and actor (and author) Matthew McConaughey. The pair will discuss McConaughey’s new book, Poems & Prayers, and — I am not making this up — “put a mirror to our souls to see if we recognize each other again.” I guess you will have to attend to figure out what that means.
Saturday, September 20, 6 to 8 p.m. Upcycle Embellishment Workshop The Hidden Rivet 8366 1/2 W. 3rd St., Los Angeles COST: FREE; MORE INFO
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Becca McHaffie
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What’s old is new again. Show up with your tired t-shirts, jeans or tote bags, and go home with a whole new look, made by you. The Upcycle Embellishment Workshop at The Hidden Rivet will provide the flair to upgrade your look with things like grommets, vintage charms, mother-of-pearl buttons, beads, patches, rare textiles and more for just $15.
With L.A.-based designer Kenzie and stylist Isa on hand, you’ll have pros helping you transform your wardrobe in just a couple of hours. They suggest bringing “items with stains or damage, and transform them before they hit the rag pile!”
September 20-21, 4 p.m. Free Theatre in the Parks: Pericles Kings Road Park 1000 North Kings Road, West Hollywood COST: FREE; MORE INFO
Summer is winding down, and so are your Shakespeare in the Park opportunities. But there are still a couple more chances to check out the free performance of Pericles, put on by The City of West Hollywood and Coeurage Ensemble in Kings Road Park. Seating is first-come, first-served.
Friday, Sept. 19, 7:30 p.m. The Swell Season The Greek Theatre 2700 N. Vermont Ave., Los Feliz COST: FROM $40.50; MORE INFO
Markéta Irglová and Glen Hansard of The Swell Season perform during the 2025 Newport Folk Festival in Rhode Island.
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Douglas Mason
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Who hasn’t been in love with Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová of The Swell Season since they charmed us in the Irish movie musical Once? Plus, Hansard's been in his band The Frames for even longer, of course. The Swell Season will be performing for one night only at the Greek Theatre during their current tour, featuring both old favorites and songs from their new album, Forward.
Through Sunday, September 28 Luminous Streets: A Highland Park Theatrical Tour The Pop-Hop 5002 York Blvd., Highland Park COST: $20; MORE INFO
Neighborhood favorite spots like Johnny’s Bar, Cafe De Leche, Moryork, Be Nice Have Fun and Pop-Hop Books become the set for Luminous Streets: A Highland Park Theatrical Tour, showcasingshort plays by Jesse Bliss, Melissa Lugo, Tyree Marshall, Roger Q. Mason and Ligiah Villalobos. Directed by Bliss, the Roots and Wings Project event takes the audience into local businesses, gives them an opportunity to support them, and tells stories of women’s survival and pursuit of justice.
Friday, September 19, 7 p.m. Pearl and the Oysters Farm House Collective 1393 University Ave., Riverside COST: $26.22; MORE INFO
Farm House Collective is a very cool space in Riverside — a former 1950s motel that’s now a music venue, local business hub and food hall. KCRW-pick Pearl and the Oysters are playing a show with Dent May supporting. Take advantage of seeing them in a more intimate space.
Outdoor Pick
Saturday, September 20, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. California Coastal Cleanup Day Manhattan Beach Pier 2 Manhattan Beach Blvd., Manhattan Beach COST: FREE; MORE INFO
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Roundhouse Aquarium Teaching Center
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Join Roundhouse Aquarium for California Coastal Cleanup Day in Manhattan Beach, where you’ll pick up trash, meet some other conservation-minded folks and learn about marine conservation. All trash is weighed, and the data is sent back to the California Coastal Commission.
Viewing Pick
September 18-24 Bring it On: 25th Anniversary Screening Alamo Drafthouse Cinema 700 W 7th St., Suite U240, Downtown L.A. COST: $19.18; MORE INFO
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Universal Pictures
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Grab your pom poms and get ready for the cheer showdown that ended all cheer showdowns, the 2000 high school comedy Bring It On. The Kirsten Dunst classicis showing at Alamo Drafthouse for its 25th anniversary. And has much changed? It does sometimes feel like we’re living in a cheerocracy.
Dine & Drink Deals
Saturday, September 20 Pacific Wine & Food Classic Newport Dunes Waterfront Resort & Marina 1131 Back Bay Drive, Newport Beach COST: $199; MORE INFO
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Kelsey Knight
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Chefs from across Orange County come together at the Pacific Wine & Food Classic in Newport Beach. Enjoy bites from restaurants like Luke’s Lobster, Red O, Salt & Lime, Scratch Bakery, The Crack Shack and dozens more. There will be wines from Paso Robles wineries and much more. It's currently sold out, but you can add yourself to the waitlist.
September 20-21 Thai Fest by the Beach 2025 Santa Monica Pier 200 Santa Monica Pier, Santa Monica COST: FREE, MORE INFO
Thai food, music and cultural performances take over Santa Monica Pier at the Thai Fest by the Beach. It's free to explore, so head west and experience the delicious dishes and entertainment with the family!
Sunday, September 21, 12 to 5 p.m. AeroPress Championship MICA Studios 356 S. Mission Road, Boyle Heights COST: $10; MORE INFO
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Full disclosure: I recently made my first AeroPress coffee, and while I’m definitely far from ready to compete in the AeroPress Championship, I do now get why this is a thing. If you, too, are a fan of the low-tech espresso maker, join some of L.A.’s best roasters and watch them compete for a spot to move on to the U.S. AeroPress Championship in San Francisco. Of course, great coffee will be on offer, plus food, drinks, music and more.
