Laugh and learn at USC’s comedy festival. Explore the Valley at CicLAvia. Shop at the latest Prosperity Market. Watch the Creature from the Black Lagoon in 3D.
USC Comedy Festival, Vol. 6.
Eileen Norris Cinema Theatre and Ray Stark Family Theatre
University of Southern California, University Park
USC School of Cinematic Arts presents its sixth annual festival featuring panels with creators, artists and filmmakers. Guests include Catherine O’Hara, Emily Hampshire (Schitt’s Creek), Rachel Bloom (Crazy Ex-Girlfriend), Steve Levitan (Modern Family), writer/actor Gina Yashere (Bob Hearts Abishola), writer/actor Billy Eichner (Bros), writer/producer Jessica Gao (She-Hulk: Attorney at Law), and 2023 Academy Award-nominee Ruben Östlund (Triangle of Sadness). RSVPs are required for each panel/event.
COST: FREE with RSVP; MORE INFO
Sonya: A Sunflower Network Project - Closing Night Event
The Pavilion at Century Park
2000 Avenue of the Stars, Century City
The pop-up art exhibit featuring more than 40 works by eighteen Ukrainian contemporary artists, including Aljoscha, Nikita Kadan, and Artem Volokitin, concludes on Friday to coincide with the one-year anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Organized by the Sunflower Network, the closing party celebrates the Ukraine, its culture, and its people with a cocktail hour, performances of Daria Kolomiec’s “Diaries of War'', speeches and a musical performance by DJ, activist, host, and one of TIME Magazine’s “Next Generation Leaders” Daria Kolomiec.
COST: FREE with RSVP; MORE INFO
Prosperity Market
California African American Museum
600 State Dr., Exposition Park
The mobile farmers market that showcases the work of Black farmers and entrepreneurs returns to CAAM to wrap up Black History Month and commemorate its second anniversary. Shop from more than 30 vendors while watching live cooking demonstrations or listening to a DJ set the soundtrack for the day. CAAM also hosts wellness activities including a healing sound bath and group meditation by Sol & Sound (10 - 11 a.m.) and yoga by Constance Hartwell (11 a.m. - 12 p.m.).
COST: FREE; MORE INFO
Retake LIVE - Culture Clash’s Chavez Ravine: In Nine Innings
Crawford Family Forum
474 S. Raymond Ave., Pasadena
Chavez Ravine: In Nine Innings, is a cinematic reinterpretation of the beloved 2003 play. Using existing footage, newly filmed scenes, original music, and spoken word. The news result provides a fresh look at the story, with a city in the grips of a pandemic as the backdrop. In partnership with San Pedro Waterfront Arts District Culture TALKS!, Culture Clash’s Richard Montoya discusses the film project with Retake host John Horn and why the story of Chavez Ravine continues to resonate today. The night features film segments and a live performance from a member of the cast.
COST: FREE - $15; MORE INFO
Celebration & Solidarity: Black History Month Festival
Third Street Promenade
between Broadway and Wilshire Blvd., Santa Monica
Downtown Santa Monica with Santa Monica Black Lives Association hosts the festival featuring a panel discussion and live musical performances by rapper Krayzie Bone of Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, comedy rock band Big Daddy, Gospel artist Betty Griffin, R&B artists Darrell Wilson and Frederick Buzz Busby, DJ Shun Griffin, and African drummers and dancers.
COST: FREE; MORE INFO
Arsham Auto Motive
Petersen Automotive Museum
6060 Wilshire Blvd., Mid-Wilshire
View a collection of vehicle sculptures and posters created by renowned interdisciplinary artist Daniel Arsham. The exhibit celebrates auto history through full-size car sculptures and never-before-seen posters composed of selenite, quartz, pyrite, volcanic ash and amethyst. The artist mixes his passion for cars with his fascination with archeology.
COST: $10.95 - $19.95; MORE INFO
Fleetmac Wood presents Night Wonders Disco
Don Quixote
2811 E. Olympic Blvd., Boyle Heights
The cult remix project and dance party from DJs Roxanne Roll and Alex Oxley celebrates 10 years of mixing the Mac’s back catalog. Don’t expect cover songs, but new takes to create a singular rave and AV show.
COST: $31.50; MORE INFO
ARRIVAL from Sweden, The Music of ABBA
Long Beach Arena
300 E. Ocean Ave., Long Beach
ARRIVAL from Sweden’s 10-member band joins the Long Beach Symphony to bring the danceable pop tunes of ABBA — such as "Money, Money, Money," "Take a Chance on Me" and "Mamma Mia!" — to the stage. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. for indoor picnicking as audiences bring their food, libations, costumes and table decorations.
COST: $20 - $180; MORE INFO
MCLA Presents: Taiji Terasaki's Recipes to Nourish Communities
260 S. Main Street, downtown L.A.
The Mural Conservancy of Los Angeles (MCLA) hosts the opening ceremony for Taiji Terasaki's new artwork. Recipes to Nourish Communities reminds viewers of the importance of nourishing the local Los Angeles community, particularly in food deserts and for those who are facing food insecurity. The event features local activists and artists Alma Backyard Farms, Ron Finley, Fallen Fruit and the LA Mission. The mural is designed to invite neighborhood residents and visitors to download recipes and view interviews through augmented reality.
COST: FREE; MORE INFO
Skyline Fest 2023
Exposition Park
700 Exposition Park Dr., Exposition Park
Factory 93 and Day Trip present a two-day festival focused on underground dance music as well as street and digital. Headlining performers include Diplo, Peggy Gou, Dom Dolla and Charlotte de Witte. 21+ festival.
COST: Single-day tickets start at $99.95; MORE INFO
Snowy Plover Beach Walk 2023
Annenberg Community Beach House
415 Pacific Coast Highway, Santa Monica
The Beach House, in partnership with Santa Monica Audubon and Nature Nexus Institute, presents a guided walk that explores the restored dune habitat and life cycle of the Snowy Plover, the small white birds who make this stretch of beach in Santa Monica their winter home. Binoculars provided or bring your own.
COST: FREE with RSVP; MORE INFO
CicLAvia: The Valley
Sherman Way between Canoga Park and Reseda
Bike, skate, walk or run on five miles of car-free open streets through the Valley. Experience and explore the neighborhoods of Canoga Park, Winnetka and Reseda along Sherman Way via people-powered transportation. Stop by designated hubs for family-friendly activities, restrooms, and water refilling stations. Basic bike repair, bike parking, and first aid are available throughout. Jump in at any time at any place along the designated route.
COST: FREE; MORE INFO
Creature from the Black Lagoon in 3D
Los Feliz Theatre
1822 N. Vermont Ave., Los Feliz
Jack Arnold directed this 1954 monster classic for Universal about a group of scientists who get more than they bargained for during an Amazon expedition. They chase the mysterious “Gill-man” while Julia Adams is terrorized by the creature. Watch the film in 35mm.
COST: $8 - $13; MORE INFO
Walk for the Wild
The L.A. Zoo holds its first-ever, in-person fundraising walk on Saturday, Feb. 25 to support the Zoo and Greater Los Angeles Zoo Association’s mission to save animals from extinction and provide a safe and inspiring place for the community to build relationships with nature. The opening ceremony starts at 7:15 a.m. If you choose to register and fundraise for the walk, all donations raised between now and Feb. 25 will be matched dollar-for-dollar, thanks to a challenge fund from an anonymous donor. Registration for the walk starts at $55.
Party Down
After a 13-year hiatus, the comedy Party Down returns for a six-episode third season. The half-hour sitcom created by John Enbom, Rob Thomas, Dan Etheridge and Paul Rudd follows a group of actors/caterers in Hollywood. Original cast members Adam Scott, Ken Marino, Ryan Hansen, Megan Mullally, Jane Lynch and Martin Starr return (though not Lizzy Caplan’s Casey Klein). The revival returns to Starz on Friday, Feb. 24 at 9 p.m.
Here are a few dine-and-drink deals to indulge in this week.
