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The Brief

The most important stories for you to know today
  • The L.A. Report
    Listen • 4:26
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  • Arts and Entertainment
    Weekend events
    Belly Laughs, beach cleanup Lotus Fest and more
    By  Laura Hertzfeld
    Published July 10, 2025 9:00 AM

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    Group of dancers performing on an outdoor stage, wearing traditional Polynesian attire with red tops, orange and yellow grass skirts, and red feathered headpieces. They hold white pom-poms and are mid-dance with arms raised. A colorful mural in the background depicts a tropical scene with palm trees and huts.
    (
    JuanCarlos Chan
    /
    Los Angeles Dept of Recreation & Parks
    )

    In this edition:

    The Tryst Alternative Art Fair takes over Torrance, big comedy names hit the Belly Laughs Festival at the Peacock, celebrate South Korea at the Lotus Fest in Echo Park, clean up the beach with L.A. Waterkeepers and more.

    Highlights:

    • More than 175 artists' works will be on display at the third annual Tryst Alternative Art Fair, which celebrates bringing together Southern Californian artists and artists from around the world at the Torrance Art Museum.
    • Hasan Minaj, Margaret Cho, Kumail Nanjiani, Bobby Lee and more will take the stage at the Belly Laughs Comedy Festival, celebrating Asian-American culture.
    • The Lotus Festival, a celebration of South Korean heritage and culture, takes over Echo Park with fun stuff for kids, a lantern launch, dragon boat races, food vendors and live entertainment, including a lion dance and ballet performances.
    • Do your part to keep our beaches clean and plastic-free by heading to the L.A. Waterkeeper beach cleanup. Can’t make it to the west side? North Atwater Park is up next on the calendar for a community plastics sweep on Saturday, July 19. 
    • The Proper Hotel rooftop in Santa Monica is hosting Frogtown gourmet Mexican favorite Loreto all summer long. The space is the perfect spot to watch the sunset while enjoying spicy crudo, bang bang shrimp tostadas, refreshing ceviche or an all-out seafood tower with oysters.

    We’re always spoiled for choice, no matter what kind of musical groove you’re into, and this weekend has it all. It’s a great time to support our friends at Levitt Pavilion after the MacArthur Park immigration raid; they have a free show with Gordon Goodwin’s Big Phat Band on Saturday. There are also big-name concerts from K-Pop superstars Blackpink at SoFi, absolute icon Paul Simon at Disney Hall (back from a few cancelled shows post-surgery), and newcomer Noah Cyrus will shimmer under the stars at the Ford.

    Plus, explore even more on LAist.com, where you can read about the volunteers working to preserve the oral histories of Eaton Fire survivors, mourn the loss of Cole’s French Dip downtown, make a plan for all the crazy treats you’re going to try this year at the Orange County Fair and get your summer reading set with these book recommendations.

    Here's what else is happening around the region.

    Events

    July 11-13
    Tryst Alternative Art Fair and NOMAD IV
    Torrance Art Museum, Del Amo Crossing
    21535 Hawthorne Blvd., Torrance 
    COST: FREE; MORE INFO 

    Art gallery with bright pink walls featuring various artworks. A large red sculpture of a human figure in a dynamic, mid-air pose is displayed on a black pedestal. To the left, a painting of an animal with large ears and a smaller framed piece are visible. On the right wall, two framed artworks include one with abstract red and black patterns and another showing a scene with curtains and figures. A window into another room is visible behind the sculpture.
    (
    Discover Torrance
    )

    The work of more than 175 artists will be on display at the third annual Tryst Alternative Art Fair at the Torrance Art Museum, which celebrates bringing together artists from Southern California and more from around the world. The event features artist-run spaces and galleries that create conversation between artists, and it lets the public in to be a fly on the wall for those collaborations. Together with NOMAD IV happening at the same time, Torrance will light up with live DJ sets, performance art and more.

    July 12-13 
    Belly Laughs Comedy Festival 
    Peacock Theater 
    777 Chick Hearn Court, Downtown L.A.
    COST: FROM $129; MORE INFO

    Hasan Minaj, Margaret Cho, Kumail Nanjiani, Bobby Lee and more comedians and special guests are taking the stage at the Belly Laughs Comedy Festival, celebrating Asian-American culture. Plus, there’s a special Asian night market with food from favorites like Holy Basil and Hermanos Empandas.

    July 12-13 
    44th Echo Park Lotus Festival 
    751 Echo Park Ave., Echo Park 
    COST: FREE; MORE INFO

    A large, colorful sign spelling out 'LOTUS,' with each letter decorated with lotus flower designs, is placed in a park near a body of water. There are people walking and gathering nearby. Palm trees and a city skyline are visible in the background.
    (
    JuanCarlos Chan
    /
    Los Angeles Dept of Recreation & Parks
    )

    A celebration of South Korean heritage and culture takes over Echo Park with fun stuff for kids, a lantern launch, dragon boat races, food vendors and live entertainment — including a lion dance and ballet performances. The events are all free to attend but if you want to launch a lantern, and I think you do, you can buy tickets. There’s also a 5K run/walk on Sunday.

    July 11-13
    Daredevil Arts Festival 
    Electric Lodge 
    1416 Electric Ave., Venice 
    COST: FROM $15; MORE INFO

    Performance art, dance, theater, comedy, even clowning — the Daredevil Arts Festival has it all. The line-up includes Psychopomp Dance Theater’s modern reimagining of Der Golem and the feel-good drag-king spectacular, The Ramón Show. Check out individual hour-long shows like John Newspaper & Friends or the dark comedy Brainwashed for a taste of local performers at this first-ever outing for the Venice fest, which features more than 20 original productions.

    Sunday, July 13, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. 
    We Outside Soccer Fest: Club World Cup Final Watch Party 
    Intuit Dome Plaza
    3930 W Century Blvd., Inglewood 
    COST: FREE WITH RSVP; MORE INFO

    Join soccer fans in Inglewood outside the Intuit Dome Plaza to watch the FIFA Club World Cup Final. Enjoy a DJ lineup, food vendors, and more. It’s a great taste of the types of fan events we can expect to enjoy when the World Cup comes to L.A. in 2026.

    July 12-13
    'Art Within the Craft'
    120 East 8th St., Suite 805, Downtown L.A. 
    COST: FREE, DONATIONS ACCEPTED; MORE INFO 

    Colorful promotional poster for an open exhibition titled 'art within the craft,' presented by Rookie Media.
    (
    Courtesy Art Within the Craft
    )

    Production design is often an overlooked but very key part of moviemaking, and a group of local artists is making sure designers get their due at this new exhibit. The pop-up features everything from sculpture to digital works, celebrating those who literally build the worlds we see on the big screen.

    Saturday, July 12, 6 p.m. 
    Art, Punk Rock and Gender Roles, a panel discussion with Exene Cervenka
    Laguna Art Museum
    307 Cliff Drive, Laguna Beach 
    COST: FROM $35; MORE INFO 

    Tapestry-style artwork with a decorative yellow and red floral border. The center features a black and white photograph of musicians and singers performing on stage, divided into vertical segments for a fragmented visual effect.
    (
    Eric Stoner via Laguna Art Museum
    )

    Laguna Beach won’t know what hit it when punk icon Exene Cervenka of Punk Band X joins a panel discussion with friend of the newsletter Shana Nys Dambrot (13 Things L.A.) and writer Jenny Doh. The evening marks the close of Laguna Art Museum’s Carole Caroompas: Heathcliff and the Femme Fatale Go on Tour exhibit. Caroompas’ bold work combines punk rock and feminism wrapped in a fine art package.

    Sunday, July 13, 10 a.m. 
    Drop-In Tactile Filmmaking Workshop 
    Academy Museum of Motion Pictures
    LACMA West, 6067 Wilshire Blvd., Miracle Mile 
    COST: $25, FREE WITH MUSEUM ADMISSION; MORE INFO

    Check out this "Drop-In Tactile Filmmaking Workshop," where you can make a camera-less movie, animating directly onto 16mm film using materials like markers, tape, pushpins and ink. It’s your last chance to catch the "Color in Motion: Chromatic Explorations of Cinema" exhibit at the Academy Museum before it closes on Sunday. The workshop is followed by curator tours of the show. The unique exhibit looks at the techniques of groundbreaking filmmakers like Len Lye, Oskar Fischinger and Mary Ellen Butte.

    Outdoor Pick

    Saturday, July 12, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. 
    Plastic-Free July Cleanup Challenge with L.A. Waterkeeper
    Tower 20
    2030 Ocean Way, Santa Monica
    COST: FREE; MORE INFO 

    Group of people standing on a sandy beach, posing with large black garbage bags and blue plastic buckets. They are casually dressed in light-colored shirts and shorts, with some wearing hats. The ocean and distant beachgoers are visible in the background.
    (
    L.A. Waterkeeper
    )

    Do your part to keep our beaches clean and plastic-free by heading to the L.A. Waterkeeper beach cleanup. Can’t make it to the west side? North Atwater Park is up next on the calendar for a community plastics sweep on Saturday, July 19.

    Viewing Pick

    Sunday, July 13, 7:30 p.m.
    Love Island USA season finale watch party 
    The Penmar 
    1233 Rose Ave., Venice 
    COST: FREE; MORE INFO

    At this point, I think I might be the only person not watching Love Island USA. But as we are here to serve, I must share with you that the group chat is moving to The Penmar to watch the season finale, and drinks will definitely be flowing as the sun sets over the golf course and on this drama-filled (I assume) season of the reality show.

    Dine & Drink Deals

    Weekends through Sept. 1, 12 to 8 p.m.
    Loreto x Calabra pop-up
    Calabra at Santa Monica Proper
    700 Wilshire Blvd., Santa Monica
    COST: VARIES, MORE INFO

    Assorted plated dishes on a dark blue table, including two tacos—one with thinly sliced fish and herbs, the other with shrimp, radish, cucumber, and microgreens. A bowl contains sliced meat with avocado and greens in broth. Another plate features seared tuna with sauce. A black tray holds sushi-like bites with lime wedges. A glass of light green beverage is partially visible in the top left corner.
    (
    Courtesy Calabra and Loreto
    )

    The Proper Hotel rooftop in Santa Monica is hosting Frogtown gourmet Mexican favorite Loreto all summer long. The space is the perfect spot to watch the sunset while enjoying spicy crudo, bang bang shrimp tostadas, refreshing ceviche or an all-out seafood tower with oysters and more. Plus, margaritas and spritzes that go down easy.  

    July 11, 9 to 11 p.m. 
    French Fry Day: FryLab L.A.
    Amboy Quality Meats 
    727 North Broadway, #117, Chinatown
    COST: $25; MORE INFO

    Ahem, name a better holiday than National French Fry Day. I’ll wait. Then head to Chinatown for FryLab L.A. from Chef Alvin Cailan, who is taking Amboy to the next level with an experimental “FryLab” tasting room with Lamb Weston and Spiceology. There are fries, but not just any fries. Expect Bloody Mary fries and Filipino flavor-inspired Picadillo Fries. Plus, beer and ice cream, natch.

    Sunday, July 13
    FabFitFun x Creamy Boys
    Melrose and Abbot Kinney 
    COST: FREE; MORE INFO 

    Promotional poster for an event that features two illustrated ice cream cones.
    (
    FabFitFun x Creamy Boys
    )

    Did someone say free ice cream? Head to 8408 Melrose Place from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. or 1344 Abbot Kinney in Venice from 3 to 5:30 p.m. and score free New Zealand-style ice cream, courtesy of Creamy Boys. There will also be free stuff and prizes from favorite brands like Our Place, Thrive Causemetics, Kopari and more.
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