Joan Osborne sings Bob Dylan, the Autry block party, a Black surf celebration in Huntington Beach, L.A. Opera presents West Side Story and more of the best things to do this weekend.
Highlights:
Through Oct. 12, the L.A. Opera is putting on the Leonard Bernstein classic West Side Story at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion. But you don’t have to go downtown to get in on the action. Enjoy a summer evening outside at the Santa Monica Pier or in Altadena’s Loma Alta Park on Saturday, where the musical will be simulcast live.
Hang ten at the Black surfing event of the year. Huntington Beach hosts the fourth annual Great Day in the Stoke, which began in 2022 as the world's largest gathering of Black surfers.
Live music and cultural performances, a PBS character meet and greet, en plein air painting, a classic car show, carnival games and much more take over the Autry Museum of the American West for their annual block party. This year, the event honors our brave L.A. first responders.
Did you know that of L.A.'s more than 1,300 officially landmarked buildings, only three women architects are recognized? That’s less than 2%. LAist’s Brandon Killman covered the work of the newly founded L.A. Women's Landmarks Project, a partnership between the National Trust's Where Women Made History initiative and the Los Angeles Conservancy.
Avid readers and city explorers will have some new architecture tour opportunities coming up very soon, allowing you to follow along with the work of those organizations and check out the contributions made by women to our fine city. For example, I now want to go back to the Bradbury Building with Simona Martinez Bradbury in mind, the Mexican woman who took over construction of the now Blade Runner-famous landmark after her husband's death.
Saturday, September 27, 7:30 p.m. Passion & Tragedy Terrace Theater 300 E. Ocean Blvd., Long Beach COST: FROM $39; MORE INFO
(
Caught in the Moment Photography
/
Long Beach Symphony
)
You can really get your West Side Story fill this weekend, starting with this selection of works, including Bernstein’s masterpiece as well as compositions by Chopin, Guillaume and Tchaikovsky at the Long Beach Symphony. Get there early for a 6:30 p.m. pre-concert talk with conductor Eckart Preu and featured artists.
Saturday, September 27, 3 p.m. Matinees on the Mountain: Close Encounters of the Third Kind Mount Wilson Observatory 1000 Mt. Wilson Circle, Mount Wilson COST: $20; MORE INFO
Not only will you be blown away going up the mountain to see a movie in the mystical Mount Wilson Observatory Dome, you’ll also be treated to a performance by the Bob Baker Marionette Theater Puppets. Bob Baker worked on the alien puppets and special effects in Steven Spielberg’s 1977 film Close Encounters of the Third Kind, and his theater will be on hand to bring the film to life at the matinee.
Saturday, September 27, 8 p.m. James The Bellwether 333 S. Boylston St., Downtown L.A. COST: RESALE PRICES VARY; MORE INFO
C’mon, you know you know all the words. Laaaaa—-iiiiiiii—d. Head to the Bellwether for a special full album performance of James’ Brian Eno-produced 1993 opus Laid. The set will be followed by fan favorite hits, rarities, deep cuts and material from their 2024 UK no. 1 album, Yummy, which Ireland's Hot Press described as "a poppier OK Computer." Sold.
Tickets are currently sold out, but you can find a few tickets available via resellers.
Saturday, September 27 Autry Annual Block Party Autry Museum of the American West 4700 Western Heritage Way, Griffith Park COST: $19; MORE INFO
(
Autry Museum of the American West
)
Live music and cultural performances, a PBS character meet and greet, en plein air painting, a classic car show, carnival games and much more take over the Autry Museum of the American West for their annual block party. This year, the event honors our brave L.A. first responders.
Sunday, September 28, 7 p.m. Aída Cuevas The Luckman Fine Arts Complex at Cal State LA 5151 State University Drive, El Sereno COST: FROM $56; MORE INFO
One of Mexico’s most enduring and influential musical artists, Aída Cuevas, the "Queen of Ranchera Music," brings five decades of hits to Cal State’s Luckman Fine Arts complex. Backed by a first-class mariachi ensemble, Cuevas combines music and storytelling, celebrating Mexican culture.
Sunday, September 28, 8 p.m. Joan Osborne sings Bob Dylan The Venice West 1717 Lincoln Blvd., Venice COST: $62; MORE INFO
Joan Osborne performs a farewell show at Varick Street City Winery in New York in 2019.
(
Bobby Bank
/
Getty Images
)
Sorry, not sorry for all the '90s shows this weekend, but I have to give a shout-out to Joan Osborne, who is playing the super intimate Venice West. She’ll perform songs from Bob Dylan, drawing from her 2017 album of Dylan covers, and I am sure — well, I hope — there will also be a big “One of Us” sing-along.
September 25-27 Nora Chipaumire's Dambudzo REDCAT 631 W. 2nd St., Downtown L.A. COST: $27; MORE INFO
Performance artist and choreographer Nora Chipaumire explores the meaning of the Shona word "dambudzo," which translates to “trouble” in this new work at REDCAT. She also references Zimbabwean writer Dambudzo Marechera and uses a soundscape of barking dogs and live music to immerse visitors in what she calls “a name, a desire, a lament, an inspiration, even a loathing — a poem — that speaks to the 1980s before the fall of communism and the end of apartheid.” Friday’s performance features a post-show Q&A with Chipaumire and Katy Dammers, REDCAT's Deputy Director and Chief Curator, Performing Arts.
Outdoor Pick
Saturday, September 27 A Great Day in the Stoke Huntington Beach Pier Main Street and Pacific Coast Highway, Huntington Beach COST: FREE; MORE INFO
Hang ten at the Black surfing event of the year. Huntington Beach hosts the fourth annual Great Day in the Stoke, which began in 2022 as the world's largest gathering of Black surfers. It’s free to attend, and you can read more about the event, its founders and mission in LAist Senior Editor Dana Littlefield's story this week.
Viewing Pick
Saturday, September 27, 7:30 p.m. West Side Story Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, 135 N. Grand Ave., Downtown L.A. Santa Monica Pier, 200 Santa Monica Pier, Santa Monica Loma Alta Park, 3330 N. Lincoln Ave., Altadena COST: DTLA: VARIES, SANTA MONICA & ALTADENA: FREE; MORE INFO
Duke Kim as Tony and Gabriella Reyes as Maria.
(
Cory Weaver
/
L.A. Opera
)
I warned you that there was a lot of West Side Story this week! Through Oct. 12, the L.A. Opera is putting on the Leonard Bernstein classic at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, with the full stage treatment and all the original, beloved Jerome Robbins choreography. But you don’t have to go downtown to get in on the action. Enjoy a free summer evening outside at the Santa Monica Pier or in Altadena’s Loma Alta Park, where the musical will be simulcast live. There will also be fun pre-show events in both locations.
Dine & Drink Deals
Sunday, September 28, 5 p.m. Poppy Presents: 'Us Friends,' a 7-Course tasting menu Poppy & Seed 350 S. Anaheim Blvd., Anaheim COST: $450; MORE INFO
(
Poppy & Seed
)
A seven-course dining experience from Chef Tracey Shepos alongside Poppy & Seeds' Michael Reed and Kwini Reed, this special night includes wines from Kendall Jackson Estate and is aimed at celebrating “connection, creativity, and the joy of gathering at the table.” Fifteen percent of all dinner proceeds will benefit their close charitable partner, No Kid Hungry, a national campaign striving to end childhood hunger.
Ongoing, 3 to 6 p.m. Girl Dinner Ospi Venice 2025 Pacific Ave., Venice COST: $33; MORE INFO
If you’re looking to milk the end of summer with more delicious Aperol Spritzes and Italian food, Ospi Venice has you covered with their "Girl Dinner" special (and we can pick apart that annoying term later). It’s a pick three for $33 deal with choices including spicy rigatoni, crispy provolone, and of course spritzes, available during aperativo hour, 3 to 6 p.m.
