Enjoy foodie heaven at the World Taste of Anaheim, a romance novel read and swap, Santa Monica turns 150, Bastille Day parties, Las Culturistas on stage and more of the best things to do this week.
Highlights:
As Coco Chanel said, Paris is always a good idea. Save the airfare and celebrate France’s national holiday, Bastille Day, with an outdoor concert, French food and more. Magnifique!
Join The Fleuria, a romance novel-themed book truck, for a read and swap in Playa Vista. What better way to spend a Tuesday evening than grabbing a drink and digging into a steamy book?
Embark on a global journey through the historic Anaheim Packing District’s World Taste with two passport options for this year's event. The World Taste Passport includes seven tastes and the Tiny Taste Passport includes 4 gourmet tastes.
In the meantime, get your summer theater fill with any one of the many free Shakespeare shows, or one that I’m looking forward to seeing when it opens next week: The Fantasticks at the Ruskin Theatre in Santa Monica.
And Happy Bastille Day to our French friends! We’ve got plenty of opportunities to drink a nice Côtes du Rhône and eat some garlicky escargot to celebrate. For your music fix, Lyndsey Parker at Licorice Pizza has picks like M. Ward at the Lodge Room, Starcrawler at McCabe’s Guitar Shop, the Osees at Teragram Ballroom and more.
Thursday, July 17, 4 to 7 p.m. Santa Monica 150th Celebration Reed Park 1133 7th St., Santa Monica COST: FREE; MORE INFO
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Courtesy City of Santa Monica
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Santa Monica celebrates its 150th anniversary this year! The city is kicking six months of celebrations off with a party in Reed Park and the reopening of the historic Miles Memorial Playhouse. Head down to the beach town for a beer garden hosted by Santa Monica Brew Works and live entertainment, including Downbeat 720, Santa Monica’s teen performance lab.
Tuesday, July 15, 6 to 10 p.m. Bastille Day Celebration Grand Performance 350 S. Grand Ave., Downtown L.A. COST: FREE ENTRY; MORE INFO
As Audrey Hepburn once said, Paris is always a good idea. Save the airfare and celebrate France’s national holiday, Bastille Day, with the Downtown L.A. Alliance, Grand Performances and the Consulat Général de France at an outdoor concert with plenty of live entertainment, French food and more. Magnifique!
Wednesday, July 16, 8 to 10 p.m. Bead-a-long with Okay Gems Baby Battista @ Nico’s 3111 Glendale Blvd., #2, Atwater Village COST: $28; MORE INFO
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Baby Battista @ Nico’s
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Baby Battista is the cutest little hidden gem of a wine bar in Atwater Village, tucked in under Nico’s bottle shop. They host lots of events and this week it’s a make-your-own jewelry event with Okay Gems. Ice yourself and enjoy a glass of natural wine along the way.
Monday, July 14, 7 p.m. ICE OUT OF LA benefit concert Regent Theater 448 Main St., Downtown L.A. COST: $25.80; MORE INFO
Reggie Watts, John Early, Kate Berlant and more join forces to raise awareness and funds to support the immigrant community in L.A. and make their voices heard about the ongoing raids and ICE actions. Proceeds benefit CHIRLA.
Thursday, July 17, 8 p.m. Las Culturistas Culture Awards Orpheum Theatre 842 S. Broadway, Downtown L.A. COST: FROM $114; MORE INFO
Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang attends the Bowen Yang Screen Talk during BFI Flare 2025 at BFI Southbank on March 20, 2025.
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Jordan Peck
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Getty Images for ABA
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Is your Instagram all Bowen Yang all the time? Just me? Catch Yang and his podcast partner in crime, Matt Rogers, as they host their (self-created, I think?) Las Culturistas Culture Awards show, honoring more than 100 categories at the Orpheum. You might be there all night, but the snark fix was worth it.
Tuesday, July 15, 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. Romance Reader Read + Swap Runway Playa Visa 12775 Millennium Dr., Playa Vista COST: FREE; MORE INFO
Join The Fleuria, a romance novel-themed book truck, for a read and swap in Playa Vista. What better way to spend a Tuesday evening than grabbing a drink at one of the many spots in the Runway and digging into a steamy book with some new friends?
Monday, July 14, 2:30 to 4 p.m. Wang Mansheng in conversation with curator Phillip Bloom The Huntington 1151 Oxford Rd., San Marino COST: FREE WITH RESERVATION; MORE INFO
Artist Wang Mansheng joins curator Phillip Bloom to discuss the ideas and inspirations behind Mansheng’s latest exhibit at The Huntington. Called "Without Us," it “combines contemporary art with classical Chinese conceptions of nature.”
Wang’s primary medium of ink painting brings the natural world onto the canvas — a perfect match for the Huntington’s garden setting. Join for the conversation, and afterward, Wang will demonstrate techniques, including his use of reed brushes and black walnut ink, in the museum’s Rose Hills Court.
Viewing Pick
Through Friday, July 18 Superman (1941) Art Theatre of Long Beach 2025 E. 4th St., Long Beach COST: $5; MORE INFO
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Fleischer Studios via Art Theatre of Long Beach
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Before or after you head to the multiplex to catch the new Superman movie, head to the Art Theatre of Long Beach for some old Superman. Not Christopher Reeves' Superman, but even further back. See the 1941 animated shorts for just $5.
Dine & Drink Deals
Wednesday, July 16, 5 to 9 p.m. World Taste of the Packing District Anaheim Packing District 440 S. Anaheim Blvd., Anaheim COST: FROM $28.44; MORE INFO
Embark on a global journey through the historic World Taste in the Anaheim Packing District, with two passport options for this year's event. The World Taste Passport includes seven tastes. The Tiny Taste Passport includes four gourmet tastes from vendors like Chippy Fish & Grill (beignets), En Familia (Wagyu tostada), Mini Monster (milk tea), Wooden Pearl (oysters) and many more.
Tuesday, July 15, 8 p.m. Jazz Eclectic L.A.: Bastille Day Celebration Bar Lis 1541 Wilcox Ave., Hollywood COST: VARIES, MORE INFO
Paris in the jazz age comes alive for a Bastille Day party at Bar Lis. Experience live jazz, can-can dancers and Perrier-Jouët champagne specials. Vocalist Shannon Magrane headlines, joined by Robert Turner on piano, Techdizzle on drums and Josh November on bass. The dinner and drinks menus include spicy rigatoni vodka and sea trout, plus handcrafted cocktails like the Parisian Sunset.
Wednesday, July 16, 7:30 p.m. Zinacatán Mezcal tasting dinner Mirate 1712 N. Vermont Ave., Los Feliz COST: FROM $178; MORE INFO
Mirate in Los Feliz and Chef Alan Sanz are hosting a one-night-only mezcal tasting dinner in collaboration with Zinacatán Mezcal — a sustainable, woman and family-owned producer. The 5-course menu is paired with rare mezcal expressions, and Zinacatán co-founder Diana Pinzón will be on-site to guide guests through each pour. Menu highlights include takes on the culinary traditions of Puebla, including Crema de Hongos & Crostini de Queso Panela Oreado, Iberico Port & Pear Mole and more.
