Watch a daring aerial dance show on the face of the Fairmont Century Plaza. Attend a presentation and art show on Dracula. Take part in an organ music crawl. Get into the groove at the Cali Vibes Festival.
tick, tick… BOOM
International City Theatre (ICT)
Long Beach Convention & Entertainment Center
330 East Seaside Way, Long Beach
ICT opens its 2023 season with Jonathan Larson’s musical tick, tick… BOOM! The autobiographical work about an aspiring composer trying to write the great American musical before his time’s up provides insight into Larson, who would be honored posthumously with three Tony Awards and a Pulitzer Prize for Drama for his rock musical, Rent.
COST: $49 - $55 (opening night); MORE INFO
Super Nintendo World Opening
Universal Studios Hollywood
100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City
Enter the colorful world of Mario and pals in a newly expanded area of the theme park. Ride the Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge ride and take part in the other activities within the Mushroom Kingdom (which also includes the Toadstool Cafe and the 1-UP Factory gift shop).
COST: Single-day Universal admission starts at $109; MORE INFO
Laugh Now, Cry Now
Beyond the Streets Flagship
434 N La Brea Ave., Hancock Park
Beyond the Streets presents a new group show curated by Ozzie Juarez, founder and artist of Tlaloc Studios. The show features the works of L.A. artists Andrea Aragon, Andrew Durgin-Barnes, Isaac Escoto and Julissa Aaron that provide an unfiltered view of life and its simultaneous emotions. The opening reception takes place on Friday, Feb. 17 from 7 to 9 p.m.
COST: FREE; MORE INFO
The Strange World Experience
Cayton Children’s Museum
395 Santa Monica Place, #374, Santa Monica
In conjunction with the home entertainment release of Disney’s Strange World, the museum is reimagined as the world featured in the animated adventure. For Presidents’ Weekend, immerse yourself in the family of explorers, the Clades, through various activations, including a ball pit, a slime room and behind the scenes content.
COST: $15; MORE INFO
Luminario Ballet of Los Angeles: Heroes, Sheroes, and Eros
Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts
Bram Goldsmith Theater
9390 N. Santa Monica Blvd., Beverly Hills
The ballet troupe brings its blend of ballet, aerial movement, acrobatics and modern dance to The Wallis’ stage. The works also feature classical music, reggae, spoken word and film, and the final piece The Last Supper, reimagining Jesus, Judas, and Mary as Jewish rock ‘n rollers at Coachella. A post-performance talk with members of the company will be held on Feb. 17.
COST: $29 - $79; MORE INFO
Cali Vibes 2023
Marina Green Park
386 E. Shoreline Dr., Long Beach
The California music, vibes and lifestyle festival returns for its second year with a lineup that includes artists Snoop Dogg, Jack Johnson, Cypress Hill, 311, Damian “Jr. Gong” & Stephen Marley, Method Man & Redman, Ben Harper & The Innocent Criminals, Slightly Stoopid, Dirty Heads and SOJA.
COST: Single-day passes start at $150; MORE INFO
Bite Me! Dracula Presentation
Sugarmynt Gallery
810 Meridian Ave., South Pasadena
Listen to a presentation from Dacre Stoker about his great grand uncle Bram Stoker — author of Dracula — and their family’s legacy. The ticketed event includes the presentation, readings from actor Kim Farris and access to the Bite Me! Vampire art exhibit.
COST: $45; MORE INFO
Seek Shelter
The Virgil
4519 Santa Monica Blvd., East Hollywood
The comedy-variety show hosted by Prance and Relatableisaiah features standup from up-and-coming comedians and sketches that have made Prance and Zay so beloved online. This show is 21+.
COST: $15; MORE INFO
The Vertical Stage
Fairmont Century Plaza
2025 Avenue of the Stars, Century City
Watch a death-defying vertical dance performance by immersive aerial artists BANDALOOP this weekend. The hotel’s façade will be transformed into the first 19-story vertical stage with the artists gracefully dancing down the hotel. Premium seating ticket levels include cocktails and food options.
COST: FREE - $150; MORE INFO
Photo Forward Los Angeles
Danziger Gallery, Bergamot Station Arts Center (B1)
2525 Michigan Ave., Santa Monica
The nonprofit Photographic Arts Council Los Angeles (PAC LA) presents a free art fair that includes vendors showcasing both vintage and contemporary photography, along with books and ephemera. Works are priced for beginning to advanced collectors.
COST: FREE; MORE INFO
February Film Festival InFocus: Black Cinema
1139 S. Hill St., downtown L.A.
NewFilmmakers Los Angeles’ (NFMLA) monthly screening focuses on Black filmmakers and works that focus on the Black experience. The day begins with a sampling of films from The Black TV & Film Collective Black’s inaugural Producer’s Fellowship, followed by short films, music videos and a screening of the feature Apache Leap, directed by Christian Rozier. In between programs, there are various receptions for networking.
COST: $10 - $30; MORE INFO
Harlem Globetrotters
Crypo.com Arena
1111 S. Figueroa St., downtown L.A.
Watch the mad basketball skills and athleticism of the Globetrotters, a team that was founded in 1926 and since then have become ambassadors worldwide.
COST: Tickets start at $25; MORE INFO
Grave Gallery / Odd Fellows Opening
Hollywood Forever Cemetery
6000 Santa Monica Blvd., Hollywood
The studio of artist Nao Bustamante, in association with Track 16 Gallery, opens a new project in the form of a 3’ x 7’ gravesite gallery at the renowned cemetery. Located on Bustamante's recently acquired burial plot, the space will feature works from artists “from all walks of life… and afterlife.” Opening concurrently on Sunday is the two-person art exhibition Odd Fellows, featuring work by Bustamante and fellow artist Karen Lofgren.
COST: FREE with RSVP; MORE INFO
Presidents’ Day Organ Festival
Various locations in Beverly Hills
Listen to seven organists performing on five organs at three churches for this musical crawl. Join in at any point in the festivities at the Beverly Hills Presbyterian Church, Church of the Good Shepherd and All Saints Episcopal Church. Boxed lunches are provided at $10 with reservations. The morning begins with a coffee and pastries reception at 9 a.m. in the courtyard at Beverly Hills Presbyterian.
COST: FREE; MORE INFO
45th Annual L.A. Chinatown Firecracker
Celebrate the Year of the Rabbit by taking part in one of the largest and oldest running races in the U.S. With festivities over two days, (Feb. 18 and 19), choose from a 5k, 10k or kiddie run through the streets of Chinatown and downtown L.A. on Sunday, Feb. 19. There are also 20- and 40-mile bike ride options scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 18. Virtual options are also available for all races. Registration prices vary.
Star Trek: Picard, Season 3
If you’d haven't tuned into the Star Trek series that marked the return of Patrick Stewart as now-Admiral Jean-Luc Picard, you might want to watch its third and final season. Debuting on Feb. 16 on Paramount+, the show seems more like a reunion of Star Trek: The Next Generation with Jonathan Frakes, Gates McFadden, LeVar Burton, Marina Sirtis and Michael Dorn all listed among the third season’s credits. The new season of Star Trek: Picard debuts on Feb. 16 with episodes released weekly.
Here are a few dine and drink deals to indulge in this week.
