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Here are 20 of our favorite events happening in L.A. this week.
MONDAY, NOV. 14
THE PENGUIN BOOK OF THE UNDEAD (Book talk)
On Monday at 7 pm, the Last Bookstore presents The Penguin Book of the Undead, with editor Scott G. Bruce in person. Learn more about the belief in the supernatural and the restless dead (ghosts, revenants, etc.) throughout history, from the Romans to the Renaissance.
GUILLERMO DEL TORO: AT HOME WITH MONSTERS (Art)
Guillermo del Toro: At Home with Monsters closes at LACMA on Sunday, so if you’ve been procrastinating, this week’s your final chance to go. The exhibition on the filmmaker and his work is organized thematically, “beginning with visions of death and the afterlife; continuing through explorations of magic, occultism, horror, and monsters; and concluding with representations of innocence and redemption.” Tickets for the general public are $25.
TUESDAY, NOV. 22
THE MYSTERY LIGHTS (Music)
The Mystery Lights headline a show at the Bootleg Theater’s Bar Stage on Tuesday night. The lineup also features The Molochs and Kill A Punk For Rock and Roll. Tickets: $10-$12. 8:30 pm. Ages 21+.
TREVOR NOAH (Talk)
The Los Angeles Times presents an Ideas Exchange with Trevor Noah on Tuesday at 7:30 pm at The Theatre at Ace Hotel. The Daily Show host will be in conversation with a Los Angeles Times staff writer to discuss his childhood in South Africa, including his mother's imprisonment for a mixed-race relationship, the end of apartheid and the act of domestic violence that brought him to America. Tickets: $15-$65.
FOR THE RECORD (Music)
The Lincoln in Venice presents For the Record, a weekly installment of audience-curated vinyl DJ sets. Guests can bring their own records to be spun while The Lincoln’s resident DJs play themed sets beginning at 7 pm. This week, DJ Panamajack plays rare international funk records.
CHURCH CHORDS PRESENTS (Music)
Church Chords Presents is a new weekly music series curated by Stephen Buono at the bar ETA in Highland Park. The series presents live music from emerging and established local L.A. acts, and launches on Tuesday with Chris Speed Trio (feat. Eric Revis and Jay Bellerose). 9 pm. Free.
WEDNESDAY, NOV. 23
VAUD & THE VILLAINS / KOLARS (Music)
The New Orleans-style orchestra and cabaret Vaud & The Villains headline the Troubadouron Wednesday night to help usher in the long holiday weekend, but get to the show early enough to check out the duo Kolars (8:30 pm set), founded by two members of He’s My Brother She’s My Sister. Tickets: $20-$23.
TAILS FROM THE CRYPT: ANIMALS GHOSTS AND APPARITIONS (Lecture)
Author, occult expert and historian Dr. Paul Koudounaris presents the free slideshow and lecture Tails From the Crypt: Animals Ghosts and Apparitions on Wednesday at 9:45 pm at the Hyperion Tavern in Silver Lake. He recounts the bizarre history of animal ghosts and apparitions through fully documented cases. Free.
CHILL AT THE QUEEN MARY (Winter fun)
Chill, a holiday-themed adventure,opens on Wednesday aboard The Queen Mary and features ice tubing on the glacier glide, ice skating, paintball, a North Pole Village visits with Santa Claus, Alice in Wonderland and more. Chill runs through Jan. 8. Tickets start a $29.99 child admission and $39.99 adult admission.
THURSDAY, NOV. 24
FREE THANKSGIVING DAY FEASTS (Comedy)
The Laugh Factory hosts its 37th annual free Thanksgiving Day Feasts with top comedians on Thursday. Those who are alone, away from home, homeless or in need of a warm meal or a hug are welcome to attend the meals at 1 pm, 3 pm, 5 pm or 7 pm. Top comedians including Tim Allen, Kevin Nealon, Paul Rodriguez and other celebrities will help serve each guest a turkey dinner with all the trimmings. Live comedy sets happen throughout the day. Welcoming guests at the door will be owner Jamie Masada, whose mantra is "spending the Holidays alone is no laughing matter." Call (323) 656-1336 Ext. 1 for more information and reservations.
FRIDAY, NOV. 25
ENCHANTED: FOREST OF LIGHT (Holiday lights)
Descanso Gardens debuts a new holiday season light show event, Enchanted: Forest of Light, on Friday. The botanic garden’s oak trees and garden collections will be bathed in lights from 5-10 pm through Jan. 8, 2017. Tickets: $28 for adults, $24 for seniors 65 and older and children 3-17; free for children 2 and younger. The tours are timed, so advance purchase is required.
BLACK FRIDAY RECORD STORE DAY (Music)
If shopping is your thing the day after Thanksgiving, then why not shop indie record stores for Black Friday Record Store Day. Many artists/record labels, including James Bay, Prince, Erykah Badu, Ornette Coleman, Fruit Bats, Conor Oberst, Gary Clark Jr. and many others are releasing a series of limited edition vinyl singles and albums just for the occasion.
MISS SLOANE / LION (Film + Q&As)
The ArcLight Hollywood presents two Q&As of interest on Friday night. After the 7 pm screening of Miss Sloane—about a ruthless lobbyist—there’s a discussion following with director John Madden. After the 7:30 pm show of Lion—about an Indian man trying to find his lost family—there’s a Q&A scheduled with actor Dev Patel. Adult tickets for either show: $17.75.
HIKING (Outdoors)
Instead of shopping at all on Friday, how about opting for the outdoors? Remember, it’s Green Friday with 116 of our 280 state parks offering free vehicle day-use passes. They’re going fast, though. Closer to home, there’s are any number of trails in the local mountains. If you’re not sure about getting out there alone or are a newbie, then Hike.ly offers several guided adventures for a fee, including a Gratitude Hike on Black Friday.
SATURDAY, NOV. 26
KRAMPUS TALK WITH COSTUME CATWALK (Slideshow + lecture)
Author Al Ridenour presents his new book, Krampus and the Old Dark Christmas, Roots and Rebirth of the Folkloric Devil, during two lectures at the Goethe-Institut Los Angeles on Saturday night. (Choose from the 6 or or 8 pm event. He’s giving an illustrated lecture with more than a dozen interactive costumed folkloric monsters from the world of the Krampus. Tickets: $10.ADDAMS FAMILY VALUES (Film)
Cinespia moves inside for its winter film series as it hosts a number of special screenings at some of Downtown LA’s historic palace theaters. On Saturday, Addams Family Values screens at The Palace Theatre. Directed by Barry Sonnenfeld, the film stars Raul Julia, Anjelica Huston, Christopher Lloyd, Joan Cusack and Christina Ricci. Tickets are $20 for general admission; premium tickets are $45. Doors at 7:30 pm, show at 9 pm.
INDIES FIRST (Books + talks)
Indies First is the national campaign of activities and events to support indie bookstores on Small Business Saturday (the day after you go to the indie record stores). Appearing at Book Soup in honor of the day, there are three honorary booksellers/authors Aris Janigian (Waiting for Lipchitz at Chateau Marmont) from 11am -12 pm; Jade Chang (The Wangs vs. The World) from noon to 1 pm; and Lena Dunham (Not That Kind of Girl: A Young Woman Tells You What She's "Learned") from 2-3 pm.
SEU JORGE’S THE LIFE AQUATIC: A TRIBUTE TO DAVID BOWIE (Music)
Brazilian musician Seu Jorge performs a series of special tribute concerts in honor of the late David Bowie. The show includes the set to the film A Life Aquatic on stage alongside screens crafted as boat sails that display images from the film. (Jorge performed several Bowie songs in the film in Portuguese.) His run of shows at The Theatre at Ace Hotel begins on Saturday, but tickets for this weekend’s shows are scarce. Two shows have been added on Nov. 28 and Dec. 16 at 9 pm also at The Theatre at Ace Hotel so tickets might be a little easier to find. Tickets: $46-$66.
SUNDAY, NOV. 27
SILENT SUNDAYS (Film)
Silent Sundays is a silent film series at the San Gabriel Mission Playhouse featuring classic films accompanied live by live accompaniment on a 1924 Wurlitzer organ. This weekend, the Playhouse screens Crazy Like a Fox (1926), Bumping into Broadway (1919) and The Scarecrow (1920) begin at 2:30 pm. Tickets: $10-$12.This event took place last week. We apologize for any confusion.
NEIL HAMBURGER LIVE (Comedy)
To wrap up the Thanksgiving weekend, Neil Hamburger: LIVE is at the Satellite on Sunday night. In addition to comedy by Hamburger, the lineup also features comedy from Brendon Walsh, Dynasty Handbag, James Mane and a special guest. Doors at 8 pm and the show is 8:30 pm. Tickets: $8 in advance, $10 at the door. 21+.
Want the 411 on additional events and happenings in LA? Follow @LAist or me (@christineziemba) on Twitter.
