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Best Things To Do This Weekend in Los Angeles And SoCal: July 29 - 31
Lucha VaVOOM's Summer Sabotage show takes place for one night only at The Mayan Theatre on July 29.
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Hon Hoang
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Catch some rays while surfers catch waves at the U.S. Open of Surfing. Watch Mexican luchadores battle it out. Browse and shop at the LITLIT (little literary) fair. Watch the thriller The Birds outdoors. Experience a European soccer match without leaving SoCal.
Friday, July 29; 8 p.m.
Lucha VaVoom: Summer Sabotage
The Mayan Theatre
1038 S. Hill St., downtown L.A.
The long-running variety show with a mix of Mexican masked wrestling, burlesque, and comedy returns to the historic theater for one night only. The show is part of Lucha’s 20th anniversary celebration and also features a collab with Sony Pictures’ upcoming action thriller Bullet Train, starring Brad Pitt and Benito A Martínez Ocasio (aka Bad Bunny, who is also a huge wrestling fan). A wrestler, inspired by Bad Bunny’s “The Wolf” character from the film, takes part in the second wrestling match of the night. This event is 21+.
COST: Tickets start at $45; MORE INFO
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Friday, July 29 - Saturday, July 30
Orange County Improv Fest
Frida Cinema
305 E. 4th St., Santa Ana
First established in 2013, the festival brings two nights of unscripted comedy from diverse teams to the stage, showcasing the comedy scene that can be found behind the “Orange Curtain.” Comics or armchair comics can also sign up for several workshops held throughout the weekend.
COST: $20 per night, workshops extra; MORE INFO
Friday, July 29 - Sunday, July 31
Midsummer Scream: Halloween and Horror Convention
Long Beach Convention Center
300 E. Ocean Blvd., Long Beach
If October and the haunting season can’t get here fast enough, then attend this weekend-long convention to sate your appetite. Check out hundreds of spooky exhibitors and vendors, short films, live entertainment and podcast recordings, autograph and meet-and-greet sessions, and more than a dozen haunted houses in the Hall of Shadows.
COST: $32 - $135; MORE INFO
Hang out at the Los Angeles Zoo after hours during the last late-night Friday party of the season.
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Jason Armond/Los Angeles Times
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Friday, July 29; 6 - 9 p.m.
Zoo Friday Nights
Los Angeles Zoo
5333 Zoo Dr., Griffith Park
The final installment of the Zoo’s late-night, all-ages event takes place this Friday night with a live performance by the cover band The Brobots. Explore the zoo at dusk at this all-ages event with a family dance party and games, carousel rides and food trucks. Full bars available for guests 21 years and up.
COST: $15 - $25; MORE INFO
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Friday, July 29: 8 p.m.
Boys II Men / TLC
Hollywood Bowl
2301 N. Highland Ave., Hollywood
Kick it old school with two favorite R&B / pop groups of the 1990s: Boys II Men and TLC who perform with the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra. (Other classic acts at the Bowl this weekend: John Fogerty on Saturday night and a-ha with orchestra on Sunday night.)
COST: Tickets start at $80; MORE INFO
Saturday, July 30; 7 p.m.
Las Cafeteras
Burton Chace Park
13650 Mindanao Way, Marina del Rey
The band from East L.A. mixes traditional instrumentation, Son jarocho, with soul, Afro-Mexican, roots and rock sounds to bring audiences an amalgam representative of their hometown. The concert is part of Marina del Rey’s summer series.
COST: FREE with RSVP; MORE INFO
Saturday, July 30; 6 - 10 p.m.
Red Bull Batalla
Levitt Pavilion
MacArthur ParkNear the intersection of W. 6th and S. Park View streets, Westlake
Attend the L.A. qualifier event for Redbull’s Spanish-language freestyle competition that pits 16 dynamic Spanish-language lyricists in a bracket-style competition (including San Diego’s MYKAH, the first female qualifier from the U.S.). Winner gets a chance to compete in the national event in Miami and possibly the Red Bull Batalla World Final later this year.
COST: FREE; MORE INFO
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Mehdi Benatia #4 of Juventus and Gareth Bale #11 of Real Madrid collide in the first half during the International Champions Cup 2018 at FedExField on August 4, 2018 in Landover, Maryland. The two teams play this weekend in Pasadena's Rose Bowl.
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Patrick McDermott/Getty Images
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Getty Images North America
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Saturday, July 30; 7 p.m.
Juventus FC vs. Real Madrid
Rose Bowl
1001 Rose Bowl Dr., Pasadena
The inaugural Soccer Champions Tour — a global soccer event that includes four matches by top-tier European clubs in nine days — ends with a matchup between Juventus FC and Real Madrid.
COST: Tickets start at $35-$1,800+; MORE INFO
Saturday, July 30; 12 - 5 p.m.
Artisan Market
Row DTLA
777 S. Alameda St., downtown L.A.
Bring the family for an open-air market with goods from more than 30 local makers, DJ sets, photo opportunities, face painting and activities for all ages. Leashed pets are welcome.
COST: FREE; MORE INFO
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Saturday, July 30; 9 p.m.
Alfred Hitchcock’s The Birds
Cinespia at Hollywood Forever Cemetery
6000 Santa Monica Blvd., Hollywood
Watch the thriller that stars Tippi Hedren as a socialite visiting a potential suitor in a small California town. The visit goes well enough until the birds decide to attack people.
COST: $20 - $30; MORE INFO
Saturday, July 30; 8 p.m.
ARRAY's Rhythm Of The Night
ARRAY's Creative Campus
180 Glendale Blvd., Historic Filipinotown
Ava Duvernay’s film center hosts screenings of three musical films that take audiences back to the heyday of R&B and rock‘n’roll: The Five Heartbeats, La Bamba and The Sapphires. Choose which film to see once you get there as they screen simultaneously in the Amanda Cinema, ARRAY's Cinema Lounge or under the stars in Queen's Court.
COST: FREE with RSVP; MORE INFO
Saturday, July 30 - Sunday, July 31; 11 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Getty 25 Celebrates Wilmington
Banning Park
1331 Eubank Ave., Wilmington
The Getty Center continues its series of outdoor community art festivals to celebrate its 25th anniversary. Partnering with the Avalon Arts and Cultural Alliance, the family-friendly weekend features an immersive digital experience of the Getty’s collections, music, dance, food vendors and workshops.
COST: FREE; MORE INFO
Saturday, July 30 - Sunday, Aug. 7; 8 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Vans US Open of Surfing
South of the Huntington Beach Pier
Main Street & Pacific Coast Highway, Huntington Beach
The world's largest action sports event, the Vans US Open of Surfing, returns to Huntington Beach with the top talents competing in surfing, skateboarding and BMX. The week-long schedule of events also includes free and family-friendly activities, including a community market, giveaways, sustainability panels, art installations, on-site surfboard shaping, surf clinics, public skate and BMX sessions.
COST: FREE; MORE INFO
Saturday, July 30 - Sunday, July 31; 11 a.m. - 6 p.m.
LITLIT
Hauser & Wirth
901 E. 3rd St., downtown L.A.
The Los Angeles Review of Books (LARB) and Hauser & Wirth Publishers hold their second annual Little Literary Fair, LITLIT, this weekend. Bringing together independent presses and literary arts organizations, the festival includes books, publications and programming (panel discussions with publishers, authors, artists, and community organizers) and demos for all ages, including traditional bookbinding and letterpress and screen printing).
COST: FREE; MORE INFO
Dragon Boat racing returns to Long Beach this weekend.
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W J (Bill) Harrison, licensed under CC BY 2.0.
)
Saturday, July 30; 9 a.m. - 6 p.m.
2022 Long Beach Dragon Boat Festival
Marine Stadium
5255 E. Paoli Way, Long Beach
Watch one of the largest dragon boat racing competitions in California and then stay for the festival with food vendors and entertainment. Catch Chinese traditional art demonstrations, Chinese acrobats, traditional dance, hip hop and music.
COST: FREE entry; MORE INFO
The Car Wreck Hike near Laguna Beach is a challenging hike to an old, remote car wreck.
(
Mike Palmer, licensed under CC BY 2.0.
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Outdoor Pick
Car Wreck Trail (Laguna Beach)
The moderate hike takes its name from a crashed 1946 Dodge coupe that has become part of the mountainside and vegetation. The remote location for the crash became such a popular destination that it officially became a trail in 2013. There’s shade along the approximately 3.5 loop trail, so it’ll remain relatively cool for hikers. Find parking and the trailhead at Alta Laguna Park (3299 Alta Laguna Blvd, Laguna Beach).
Viewing Pick
Not Okay
The comedy-drama starring Zooey Deutch captures the zeitgeist of our social media-driven world. She stars as an aimless writer and wannabe influencer with no friends/followers who fakes a trip to Paris. When a terrifying incident occurs in Paris, she “returns” home a hero. Her followers and social clout increase, but so do the complexity of a life built on lies. Of course, it’ll come crashing down, and you know how the internet loves to impose justice on losers. Not Okay streams on Hulu on July 29.
A+O Restaurant | Bar in Newport Beach has started themed nights including Western Wednesdays, Sushi and Sake Saturdays and RAW BAR Fridays.
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A+O Restaurant | Bar
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Dine and Drink Deals
Check out the 411 on restaurant, bar, and food happenings in SoCal this week:
- A+O Restaurant | Bar, the flagship restaurant at Balboa Bay Resort in Newport Beach, has launched new weekly events including Western Wednesdays, Sushi and Sake Saturdays and RAW BAR Fridays, featuring both raw and grilled Kumiai oysters and a seafood tower.
- Avaline, the wine brand founded by Cameron Diaz and Katherine Power, hosts Avaline Hours at Harriet’s in West Hollywood. Order a glass of rosé or refreshing frosé ($15 each) and enjoy the second on Avaline from 5 to 7 p.m., Mondays to Thursdays.
- On Saturday, July 30, Upstairs at the Ace Hotel holds a pool party pop-up from 2 to 7 p.m. with Soft Spirits, LA’s first nonalcoholic bottle shop featuring a premium selection of NA spirits, wine and beer.
- Mythical Kitchen chefs come through Smorgasburg LA on Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., cooking up foods like the Reuben and Quesabirria Hot Dogs and doing a live taping of the summer series finale of A Hotdog is a Sandwich podcast.
- L.A. Times’ columnist Jenn Harris tried to hit as many female-run restaurants serving fried chicken in one day. The gut-busting tour made it to 10 stops including Highly Likely, Gritz N Wafflez and Shiku.
- The iconic Watson’s Soda Fountain & Cafe in Orange recently announced that it will close its doors within the next couple of weeks. First opened in 1899, the cafe will transition into the Mexican restaurant Hector’s on the Circle sometime in August. (h/t Orange County Register).
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