The Brief

Dragon and lion dances, martial arts demonstrations, shadow puppet shows, delicious food options, and much more are happening at the annual L.A. Chinatown Hungry Ghost Festival. Get to know the neighborhood through the eyes of artist and musician Micah Huang. There are also tons of kids' activities like face painting and a scavenger hunt.

Broadway superstar conductor Michael Feinstein is also the Principal Pops Conductor at the Pasadena POPS. I can’t think of a more delightful way to close out summer than hearing California-inspired favorites under the stars at the L.A. County Arboretum. Betsy Wolfe and Hugh Panaro are the soloists for the show, which features songs by favorites like the Mamas and the Papas, the Beach Boys, and the Eagles. Bring your favorite picnic dinner; gates open at 5:30 p.m.

If you’re like me, you just can’t get enough outdoor summer concerts. Make your way to Gardena for the annual Gardena Jazz Festival, where Mindi Abair and other jazz greats will perform at Rowley Memorial Park.

Sixty years ago, The Beatles took the stage at the iconic Hollywood Bowl. I saw Paul McCartney play there about a decade ago and that incredible show gave me a tiny peek into what seeing the band in their heyday must have been like. For a more in-depth look at this legendary evening, join Beatles historian (fun job, or most fun job?!) Martin Lewis for a TED-style talk at the Philosophical Research Society.

There’s a tournament for cornhole – and it’s right here in Southern California. The Throw Down Festival features the world’s largest cornhole tournament, happening in Ventura over the weekend. Join cornhole players and enthusiasts for tournament play and the chance to win over $350,000 in prizes. If cornhole isn’t your thing, there’s also an ax throwing contest, a classic car display, and live music at the beachfront.

Attention, book lovers! Stock your home library by filling up a bag with as many books, CDs, and DVDs as you can fit for just $5 at the Ovitt Family Community Library in Ontario. Friends of the Library get early access to the sale starting at 10 a.m. Memberships will be sold at the door.

Mister & Mischief consistently prove that immersive theater is more than just a buzzword with their shows. In the vein of their previous zany and fun efforts like Answering Service and The Apple Avenue Detective Agency, Escape from Godot is no exception. Based on Samuel Beckett’s classic play Waiting for Godot, the experience is “a game and a show, the show is the game and the game is the show.” Confused? I guess you’ll have to see it.

While the event is sold out for this week, you can still join the waiting list, which will run throughout the month.

The Los Angeles basin has always maintained a complex relationship with its water supply. A new art exhibit, “What’s On Tap: L.A.’s Water Story…Source to Spigot,” looks to showcase these issues and more. The exhibit opens this Sunday with a special screening of the L.A. film noir classic “Chinatown” at 5 pm.

Head to Santa Monica’s Tongva Park (across from Santa Monica City Hall, of Barbie movie fame) for the last installment of Endless Summer C.A.M.P. (Community, Art, Music, Picnic). Join neighbors and friends with a picnic, blankets, and beach chairs for a performance from KID ROW and a kite-making workshop with Dajin Yoon.

Studio Ghibli fans are in for a treat at the Ford! Explore how animation genius Hayao Miyazaki brings the natural world to life in this celebration of Japanese art and cinema. Make it a triple header with Princess Mononoke on Friday, Spirited Away on Saturday, and Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind on Sunday.

New French-Moroccan hotspot Zizou is as much fun to eat at as it is to say. They are hosting a new evening market party with the chance to eat, drink, dance, and shop from local artisans, like LGBTQ+-owned clothing brand For Your Viewing Pleasure.

Cookies, ice cream, AND burgers? Sign me up. Lei’d Cookies, Sad Girl Creamery, and Barney’s Beanery in West Hollywood are creating a cheat day dinner of your dreams, complete with custom ice cream sandwiches and Juicy Lucy burgers. Burgers will be half-off, and ice cream sandwich flavors will include guava jam ice cream, with cookie options like chocolate chip, ube matcha, and guava goat cheese. One night only!

I tried and failed all of quarantine to perfect a tulip on my morning coffee, so I’m back to leaving that to the barista experts. To see those who had a more successful lock down than me in the coffee department, check out the Nice Coffee Roasters amateur latte art competition going down Friday night. Last sign up is at 7 p.m.

It’s a BBQ throwdown at Smorgasburg featuring all your favorite vendors, past and present. Smoked delights from  @hornbarbecue, @welocol, @smokequeenbbq,  @blacksugarribco, and more will be served.