The first L.A. performances of 'Bluebeard's Castle' run through Nov. 23.
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Cooper Bates
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Lucy Pollak Public Relations
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In this edition:
The Ojai Film Fest wraps up, Annie Leibovitz on Women at the Wiltern, Rodeo Drive turns on its holiday lights, a spooky new musical, and more of the best things to do this week.
Highlights:
Honor our nation’s veterans with a celebration at Forest Lawn. There will be speakers, patriotic music, performances and more. The annual event is free and family-friendly.
Photographer Annie Leibovitz comes out from behind the camera to talk about her new book, Women. Leibovitz’s photographs have graced the pages of Vogue, Vanity Fair, and many more; she’ll talk about her portraits of powerful female icons like Lady Gaga, Hillary Clinton, Louise Bourgeois, Joan Didion, Serena Williams and others across dozens of disciplines.
The documentary film El Canto de las Manos isthe directorial debut of actress and filmmaker (and Gustavo Dudamel’s wife) María Valverde. The story centers on the unique 2022 production of Beethoven’s opera Fidelio, conducted by Dudamel, which featured the L.A. Phil alongside Venezuelan ensemble Coro de Manos Blancas.
Head up to Ojai to catch new and indie films at the Ojai Playhouse Film Fest. Screen the biggest new films like Richard Linklater’s Nouvelle Vague and the Brazilian film Secret Agent, the latter of which won best director at Cannes this year.
The best thing to do this week? Take a hike! Will Rogers State Park just reopened this weekend for the first time since the Palisades Fire, so take advantage of the warm weather and get outside. It’s now open daily, 8 a.m. to sunset.
Licorice Pizza has your weekly music picks, including pop star PinkPantheress at the Wiltern on Monday, singer-songwriter Neko Case at the Bellwether (also on Monday), and Lifehouse is hanging by a moment at the El Rey on Monday and Tuesday. Queens of the Stone Age are at the Dolby Theatre, Tame Impala play the Forum on Wednesday, and The Darkness play the Wiltern on Wednesday. Thursday has prog rock faves Steve Hackett playing the Orpheum and Yes at YouTube Theater. Plus, the “modern-day Bob Dylan” — Jesse Welles — is at the Belasco, also on Thursday.
Tuesday, November 11, 11 a.m. Veterans Day Forest Lawn 6300 Forest Lawn Drive, Hollywood Hills COST: FREE; MORE INFO
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Courtesy Forest Lawn
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Honor our nation’s veterans with a celebration at Forest Lawn. There will be speakers, patriotic music, performances and more. The annual event is free and family-friendly.
Tuesday, November 11, 7 p.m. An Evening with Annie Leibovitz The Wiltern 3790 Wilshire Blvd., Koreatown COST: FROM $59.50; MORE INFO
Annie Leibovitz during her intake ceremony into the Académie des Beaux-Arts on March 20, 2024 in Paris, France.
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Pierre Suu
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Getty Images Europe
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Photographer Annie Leibovitz comes out from behind the camera to talk about her new book, Women. Leibovitz’s photographs have graced the pages of Vogue, Vanity Fair and many more; she’ll talk about her portraits of powerful female icons like Lady Gaga, Hillary Clinton, Louise Bourgeois, Joan Didion, Serena Williams, and others across dozens of disciplines.
Thursday, November 13, 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Rodeo Drive Holiday Lighting Celebration Rodeo Drive, Beverly Hills COST: FREE; MORE INFO
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Courtesy BH Rodeo Drive
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It’s officially Christmas in L.A. when the lights come on down Rodeo. You can get a special little hit of holiday joy driving through Beverly Hills at night through Jan. 5, so get ready to get festive. This year’s theme is “Enchanted Holiday Dreams,” inspired by Tchaikovsky’s classic, The Nutcracker. The evening kick-off event features live performances from Chris Mann, Hugh Sheridan, James Tormé and more. Then, Santa shows up, and the night culminates with a fireworks display.
Tuesday, November 10, 8 p.m. El Canto de las Manos Walt Disney Concert Hall 111 S. Grand Ave., Downtown L.A. COST: FREE WITH RSVP; MORE INFO
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Courtesy L.A. Philharmonic
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As we all mentally prepare ourselves for the end of Gustavo Dudamel’s incredible run at the L.A. Phil, many events are coming up that honor his time in the city. This one is special. The documentary film El Canto de las Manos isthe directorial debut of actress and filmmaker (and Dudamel’s wife) María Valverde. The story centers on the unique 2022 production of Beethoven’s opera Fidelio, conducted by Dudamel, which featured the L.A. Phil alongside Venezuelan ensemble Coro de Manos Blancas. The group includes deaf and hard-of-hearing performers, as well as performers with visual and cognitive impairments, and the collaboration resulted in a production staged for both deaf and hearing audiences. "This is a story of justice — of how art transcends the visible and transforms its protagonists into guides who illuminate a new way of experiencing music, one that comes from a deeper level of awareness; a declaration of freedom and dignity," Valverdes said. At the screening, which is the film’s West Coast premiere, Ava DuVernay (Selma) will moderate a discussion with Dudamel, Valverde, and Deaf West Theater Artistic Director DJ Kurs.
Through Sunday, November 23 Bluebeard’s Castle Odyssey Theatre 2055 S. Sepulveda Blvd., West L.A. COST: $40; MORE INFO
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Cooper Bates
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Lucy Pollak Public Relations
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The days are getting shorter, so it’s the perfect time of year for a cozy, Gothic musical thriller. Am I right? Bluebeard's Castle, inspired by a medieval French fairytale, makes its L.A. premiere at the Odyssey through November 23. With a story that mixes fairy tale and fiction from Russian-born writer-director Sofia Streisand, the show had sold-out runs in Russia, Serbia, and France. The L.A. version is its English-language debut as well. Plus, it’s my favorite kind of show – 80 minutes straight through.
Through Saturday, December 20 East of Western: Close Ups of Charles Bukowski by Joan Ganny Beyond Baroque 681 Venice Blvd., Venice COST: FREE; MORE INFO
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Joan Ganny
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Beyond Baroque
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A fun fact about me — in San Francisco’s halcyon early internet days, I used to belong to a group called the Charles Bukowski Memorial Drinking Club. So perhaps this show is more of a personal pick. Still, this exhibit at Beyond Baroque is interesting for any poetry fan who wants a glimpse into the soul of wayward poet Charles Bukowski. Photographer Joan Ganny’s close-up portraits of the bard are on display here for the first time stateside.
Tuesday, November 11 to Sunday, November 16 Ojai Playhouse Film Festival 145 E. Ojai Ave., Ojai COST: FROM $20; MORE INFO
The Ojai Playhouse hosts its first film festival this November.
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Courtesy Ojai Playhouse
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Head up to Ojai to catch new and indie films at the Ojai Playhouse Film Fest. Screen the biggest new films, like Richard Linklater’s Nouvelle Vague and the Brazilian film Secret Agent, the latter of which won best director at Cannes this year. It’s a great excuse to check out the newly refurbished Ojai Playhouse, drink some excellent local wine, and get out of town for a day.
Viewing Pick
Thursday, November 13, 6 p.m. Breaking the Cycle: Documentary Premiere + Live Q&A Los Angeles Mission 316 Winston St., Downtown L.A. COST: FREE; MORE INFO
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Courtesy Los Angeles Mission
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Homelessness is an issue that touches all aspects of Los Angeles life, and many of us feel helpless to combat the problems facing our neighbors. To be inspired and learn about two folks who took up the cause and made a difference, check out this upcoming screening of Breaking the Cycle, a film about two friends on a cross-country ride to raise awareness about homelessness. The filmmakers will be in person for Q&A with local community leaders following the event.
Dine & Drink Deals
Thursday, November 13 Food Sessions Bombay’s Bar & Grill 143 S. California St., Ventura COST: $21.05; MORE INFO
Take a ride up to Ventura for some holiday cooking instruction with Chef Christine Honey Lapointe of Honey Pies. She’ll lead a course on making a savory bacon-wrapped stuffing appetizer and a cranberry-and-cream-cheese pull-apart tree. Yum!
Thursday, November 13, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Shakey’s reopening 5604 Sepulveda Blvd., Culver City COST: FREE; MORE INFO
The first 50 customers to the newly redone Shakey’s Pizza Parlor in Culver City will receive free merch from the new Shakey’s flagship location. And, of course, there’s never a bad time for pizza.
Wednesdays, 5 p.m. Holy Ground Artisanal Bread Share Holy Ground 4874 W. Adams Blvd., West Adams COST: FREE; MORE INFO
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Jens Meyers
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Unsplash
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The generous folks at Holy Ground have launched an artisanal bread share for the community, aimed at folks struggling due to the loss of SNAP benefits. Come by between 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. for wholesome bread baked locally.
