The Brief

Watch the best cat videos on the big screen. See sketch comedians interpret one-star reviews off the internet. Catch the Aqualillies in action at their summer show.

Events

Through Thursday, Aug. 10  

CatVideoFest 2023  
Vidiots
4884 Eagle Rock Blvd., Eagle Rock

Watch a compilation of the newest and best cat videos selected from submissions from animations, music videos and the internet. The public viewing experience is only available in theaters and simultaneously raises money for cats in need, shelters and local cat organizations (Tail Town Cat Cafe and Kitten Rescue of Los Angeles).

COST: $9 - $12; MORE INFO

Monday, Aug. 7; 6 p.m.

Spank: One Star
Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre
5919 Franklin Ave., Franklin Village
Catch a night of experimental sketch comedy as solo artists and teams reenact real one-star customer reviews found online. Performers include Freddy Boyd, Sam Cass, Madeline Cook, Maria Gnoza, Jacob Kennelly and Monique Parks, and writers are TJ Jackson, Ryan Luong, Alex Parkinson, Rachel Westra and Kate Zasowski. Ages 15+.
COST: FREE; MORE INFO

Jinkx Monsoon attends the Producer Entertainment Group telethon of "Drag Isn't Dangerous" in May 2023. They return to L.A. for two shows this week.

(

Araya Doheny

/

Getty Images

)

Monday, Aug. 7 - Tuesday, Aug. 8 

Jinkx Monsoon: Everything at Stake
Orpheum Theatre
842 S. Broadway, downtown L.A.
Jinkx Monsoon, winner of the fifth season of RuPaul's Drag Race and winner of season 7 of RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars. Expect a night of stories, music, camp and comedy.
COST: Tickets start at $51; MORE INFO

Monday, Aug. 7; 8 p.m.  

Adam Pally & Edi Patterson
Largo at the Coronet
366 N. La Cienega Blvd., Beverly Grove
Adam Pally and Edi Patterson perform a night of two-person live improvised comedy. Pally writes on his Insta: “...It will not be funny when you recount it to your friends, trust us, you gotta be there.”
COST: $35; MORE INFO

Monday, Aug. 7; 7 p.m.

Stories @ The Playhouse: In The Blink Of An Eye 
Sierra Madre Playhouse
87 W. Sierra Madre Blvd., Sierra Madre
Listen to a night of true personal stories at the playhouse’s ongoing series. With the theme In the Blink of an Eye, seven people take a deep dive into their lives and share critical moments that changed their lives. Facemasks are recommended at this event.
COST: $18 - $20; MORE INFO

Monday, Aug. 7; 11 a.m. - 12 p.m.

PRIME Studio Tour
619 S. Central Ave., downtown L.A.
Take part in a studio tour of graffiti and hip-hop architectural artist Prime’s working space. Jointly presented by Helms Bakery District, SoCalNOMA, and the A+D Museum, as part of the Close to the Edge: The Birth of Hip-Hop Architecture exhibition held at the Helms Bakery. Artist Jose "Prime" Reza discusses his life, work and process.
COST: $35; MORE INFO

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

CRIME 1978 / Invasion of the Body Snatchers + Short Films
Hammer Museum
10899 Wilshire Blvd., Westwood
The UCLA Film & Television Archive screening series San Francisco Plays Itself: Scenes from the Bay presents a night of short films: In the Red (1979), San Francisco’s First And Only Rock’n’roll Movie: Crime 1978 (2018), Fine French Phrases and Other Fables (1976), plus the feature Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1978) starring Donald Sutherland, Brooke Adams, Jeff Goldblum and Leonard Nimoy.
COST: FREE; MORE INFO

The Aqualillies perform at The Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel on Aug. 8.

(

Courtesy of the Aqualillies

)

Tuesday, Aug. 8; 7:30 p.m.  

Aqualillies Summer Watershow 
The Hollywood Roosevelt
7000 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood
The synchronized swimming/dance company The Aqualillies honor the late silver-screen star Esther Williams each year on her birthday. Watch a live performance while sipping on cocktails and drinks for purchase. A portion of bar proceeds will support the USA Artistic Swimming National Team as they compete for a position in the 2024 Olympic Games.
COST: FREE - $25; MORE INFO

Thursday, Aug. 10 - Sunday, Aug. 13   

Printed Matter’s LA Book Fair 2023
The Geffen Contemporary at MOCA
152 N. Central Ave., downtown L.A.
The book fair returns to L.A. for the first time since 2019. Bringing together an international array of artists’ book publishers and creators. Featuring artists and collectives, small presses, institutions, galleries, antiquarian booksellers, distributors, conversations, workshops, artist-led performances and programs. Most Fair days are ticketed, with limited tickets available at the door. No one will be turned away for lack of funds.
COST: FREE - $25 (opening night party); MORE INFO 

Thursday, Aug. 10; 7:30 p.m.

The Super Mario Bros. Movie
Century Park 
2049 Century Park East, Century City
The outdoor summer movie series The Screen at Century Park continues this week with the animated feature, The Super Mario Bros. The family friendly festivities begin around 7:30 p.m., depending on the sunset. Bring blankets and a picnic, but snacks will also be available for purchase onsite. RSVPs are required.
COST: FREE with RSVP; MORE INFO 

The HollyShorts Film Festival screenings take place from Aug.10-20 at the TCL Chinese Theatres.

(

Courtesy of the HollyShorts Film Festival

)

Thursday, Aug. 10 - Sunday, Aug. 20  

HollyShorts Film Festival 
TCL Chinese Theatres
6925 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood
The Oscar-qualifying film festival returns to Hollywood for its 19th edition, screening more than 400 films (from 6,000 entries) during the run. The films may be short in nature but tall on talent — including Ricky Gervais, Tom Holland, Bella Thorne, Cate Blanchett, Alfonso Cuarón, Lauren Keke Palmer and Tom Hanks. HollyShorts also features workshops and panel discussions.
COST: Tickets: $20, Day passes start at $60; MORE INFO

Viewing Pick

Strange Planet
The adult animated series Strange Planet is based on the bestselling graphic novel and webcomic from Nathan W. Pyle. In this sci-fi series, blue beings try to understand and explore the absurdity of the human condition. Joining Pyle as co-creator and executive producer is Dan Harmon (Rick and Morty, Community), so you know the comedy will be sublime. The first three episodes will be available on Apple TV+ on Wednesday, Aug. 9 with new episodes debuting every Wednesday through the season finale on Sept. 27.

Camphor holds a Steak Frites Night on Aug. 9 from 5 to 9 p.m.

(

Tiffanie

/

Courtesy of Camphor

)

Dine and drink deals

Here are a few dine and drink options to indulge in this week.

• Head to Long Beach on Wednesday, Aug. 9 at 5:30 p.m. for a Taste of Downtown: Waterfront. The event features live music, DJs, bite-size food samples, beer, wine, and cocktails from the neighborhood’s bars and eateries. Located between Shoreline Village & Pine Ave., admission is free, but taste tickets can be purchased at the event or online.  
• The Michelin-starred Camphor in downtown L.A. holds a Steak Frites Night (pictured) on Wednesday, Aug. 9. From 5 to 9 p.m., the restaurant serves up the classic bistro dinner that includes an 8 oz. steak, fries and salad at $65 per person (beverages and dessert not included). 
• Natural wine lovers can enjoy five-wine flights for only $15 every Wednesday from 6 to 9 p.m. at DTLA’s Good Clean Fun. All bottles featured in the flight are specially priced if you want to enjoy them at home. In addition, happy hour runs from 3 to 6 p.m. every day and every Monday. Deals include $9 wines, $10 select cocktails and $5 lagers and pilsners.
• The Mount Gay Mobile Rum Shop sets up at Belles Beach House in Venice Beach on Thursday, Aug. 10 from 3 to 8 p.m., where those 21+ can enjoy a Mount Gay cocktail along with tasting snacks. 
• Rossblu in downtown L.A. continues its Tour of Italy Dinner series on Wednesday, Aug. 9 at 6:30 p.m. with an exploration of the Piemonte region in a four-course prix fixe dinner. Held al fresco, the meal will be served family-style with a regional wine pairing. Single dinner experiences are $95 per person (taxes & service charge not included). The next dinner explores Tuscany on Aug. 23. Reservations and info.

Beyond the Rose Bowl and historic bungalows, Pasadena has stranger tales to tell. David Kalbeitzer has been seeking out those stories where rocket science meets the occult and ghosts haunt the city’s grandest buildings.

For Kalbeitzer, a Disney executive who investigates the paranormal in his free time, his fascination with the city’s mysterious side started when he bought a Victorian north of Old Town.

He sensed a spirit at the open house a dozen years ago and took it as a reason to move his family to Pasadena. Then he started learning the city’s history.

David Kalbeitzer, a paranormal investigator from Pasadena, is giving a talk about the city's strange history Saturday night in Old Town.

(

Courtesy of David Kalbeitzer

)

“I realized, ‘Oh, this place called us just as much as we were looking for it,’” he said.

On Saturday night, he’s sharing the lore he’s collected at Mesmer Mesmer an Old Town shop and event space. While the event is full, there’s a waitlist, and more talks featuring Kalbeitzer are in the works.

A city of ghost stories 

Ask Kalbeitzer about haunted Pasadena, and the list stretches from alleyways to the Colorado Street Bridge to Castle Green, the turreted former hotel overlooking Central Park.

“The Pasadena Playhouse theater is, you know, very haunted,” he added.

He says playgoers have reported hearing disembodied voices.

Theatergoers over the years have described hearing voices and seeing apparitions at the Pasadena Playhouse.

(

Jeff Lorch

/

Courtesy of Pasadena Playhouse

)

“And you look, and there’s no one there, or apparitions that have been seen sort of standing in the corner, and then you walk up, and they kind of disappear,” he said.

As for the spirit that helped draw him to his current Pasadena home?

Kalbeitzer says she’s still around — and his psychic friend Michael Kouri shared her name: Dolores.

“It’s actually haunted by a very kind ghost that looks out for the house, protects my family and has been able to activate our alarm,” he said.

Having a Dolores in the house might send some people running, but Kalbeitzer said he grew up in a haunted house in Idaho Falls, Idaho.

And when his family moved to Charleston, South Carolina, a teenage Kalbeitzer started seeking out places known for paranormal activity.

Rocket science, ritual magic and mind-reading

Having lived in different neighborhoods in L.A., Kalbeitzer says there’s something uniquely otherworldly about Pasadena — and it goes beyond ghost stories.

He said the city has an energy that draws people exploring the unknown, perhaps most famously Jack Parsons.

The rocket pioneer who helped launch the Jet Propulsion Laboratory also practiced ritual magic at his Pasadena home with the likes of L. Ron Hubbard before he founded Scientology.

“Many people call it the occult. I don’t know that I fully subscribe to that, but there is spiritualism and occult mixed in there,” Kalbeitzer said.

Then there was Upton Sinclair, the muckraking author of The Jungle, whose interests while living in Pasadena extended to telepathy and séances.

Upton Sinclair, pictured with his wife Mary Craig Sinclair in 1935, several years after he published a book examining her reported telepathy.

(

Los Angeles Times via Wikimedia Commons

)

In 1930, Sinclair published Mental Radio, a book about experiments in mind-reading. Albert Einstein provided a preface. Yes, that Einstein, who would spend the following winter at Caltech expanding on the theories of relativity and cosmology.

“Like it’s the craziest mixture of things that were happening at that time and all of it at the same time,” Kalbeitzer said.

A presence in the shop 

The event couldn’t have found a more appropriate venue.

Since opening five months ago in Old Town, Mesmer Mesmer has embraced the dark and mysterious, offering tarot and crystal readings and hosting events on subjects such as hip-hop’s relationship with ghosts.

Tyke O'Brien opened her shop Mesmer Mesmer earlier this year to create a third space and offer books and esoterica alongside clothing.

(

Tyke O'Brien

)

At that event, a medium told owner Tyke O’Brien she could sense a presence in the shop, which formerly housed a bridal store.

“She goes, ‘Do you ever feel it?’” O’Brien recounted, “And I’m like, ‘I am such a bummer. I really wish I could. How wonderful would that be to be able to?’”

The same can be said for this writer who’s lived and worked in and around Pasadena for years without so much as a brush with the otherworldly.

Kalbeitzer, on the other hand, reports supernatural encounters all around town.

“I think that how you see yourself in the world has a lot more to do with it, and whether you want to have those experiences,” he said.

Los Angeles officials expect construction of a fence around MacArthur Park will start in November and continue through fall 2027. 

At a community meeting Thursday night at MacArthur Park Elementary School, officials said fence installation is now expected to continue through fall 2027, overshooting the previously announced spring 2027 completion date.

Thursday’s meeting highlighted the divide over the city’s plan to fence off MacArthur Park, with tensions rising during public comment. The Los Angeles Police Department says the fence will make drug enforcement easier, while some in the community who volunteer around the park questioned whether it will improve safety enough to justify the cost.

The city has allocated $2.3 million for the project, but officials have not said whether that will cover the full cost.

Installation of the green metal fence around the park’s perimeter is expected to begin in November and take about a year. A second phase, adding decorative elements to the fence, is planned for fall and winter 2027. Officials said the schedule could change because of weather or other unforeseen circumstances.

The park is expected to remain open during construction.

Capt. Ben Fernandes with the LAPD’s Rampart Division said the fence would create a barrier along Alvarado Street and other areas where officers have seen people using narcotics. That would allow police to focus more of their enforcement efforts inside the park, he said.

“So if people are going deeper into the park to use, that’ll make it easier for us to go in and do enforcement on them and arrest them for that use,” Fernandes said. 

MacArthur Park will close every night once an 8-foot-tall fence goes up around the green space, with Los Angeles police officers sweeping the park for encampments and people sleeping there before the gates shut. The Board of Recreation and Park Commissioners approved the plan Thursday.

(

LA Recreation and Parks

)

“I’ve been an officer for 29 years, and I’ve always known I can go buy drugs there, and I did as a narcotics officer. So what I’m saying is, we are trying to make it not convenient,” he added. 

Fernandes also said the city plans to enhance the park’s existing camera network. LAPD officers and Los Angeles Park Rangers will be able to monitor the cameras from their respective stations, he said. City officials are still evaluating whether additional cameras will be needed to address blind spots in the park after construction is complete.

Ariana Walker, who visits MacArthur Park every Saturday with a group of friends who pool their own resources to distribute food and hygiene kits, questioned whether the city had shown that the fence would improve safety and how much it would cost to maintain.

“The fence is a $2.3 million fence at the base level,” she said. “And they haven’t given us any indication of how much more it’s going to cost for upkeep, to keep anybody safe. There’s no conclusive evidence that a fence is going to stop crime the way that they’re suggesting.”

The meeting grew tense when John Alle, a local property owner whose family owns the building that houses Langer’s Delicatessen across the street from the park, objected to having his comments read from a written comment card rather than speaking directly to officials. Alle has been a vocal critic of the city’s response to drug activity and public safety concerns around MacArthur Park.

He was allowed to comment during the meeting and said the city needs to take a tougher approach to drug use and sales around the park. 

“We see knife attacks at all hours of the day. It’s out of control. And it’s not gotten any better,” he said. “We want to bring it back to where it was 15 or 20 years ago.”

Los Angeles officials expect construction of a fence around MacArthur Park will start in November and continue through fall 2027.

(

Gary Coronado

/

The LA Local

)

Alle pointed to public events at the park, including an upcoming Día de los Muertos celebration and a Labor Day weekend picnic hosted by Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman as positive developments for the space. But he added those events do not reflect conditions throughout the park.

Officials also outlined other planned improvements, including restoring access through the tunnels connecting the park’s north and south sides, making accessibility upgrades and providing free Wi-Fi for parkgoers. 

Residents who want to provide input on the fence’s decorative elements can email admin@themorcosgroup.com or call (310) 479-4727 for more information.

The post MacArthur Park will remain open as the city takes a year to fence off the space appeared first on LA Local.