Best things to do this weekend in Los Angeles and Southern California: January 16-18

The big news in L.A. food-land this week is the $1500 price tag for Copenhagen restaurant Noma’s upcoming residency here in L.A. In this economy? I think I’d rather fly to Copenhagen. Nonetheless, if you’re lucky (and flush!) enough to snag a reservation, please report back.

While that did not make any of our staffers' resolution lists, Senior Marketing Manager Patricia Tumang has some food goals of her own, including getting a coffee at Quat L.A., trying some dipping ramen for lunch at Tsuke Artisan Noodle in Pasadena and getting a basturma sandwich at III Mass Bakery & Deli in Glendale (new). Much more reasonable (and probably just as tasty!).

On the music calendar this weekend, our friends at Licorice Pizza recommend new-school SoCal punks Together Pangea at the Teragram on Friday, old-school SoCal punks Black Flag at the Roxy, or Beastie Boys associate Mix Master Mike at the Venice West. Saturday, there’s the big iHeartRadio ALTer EGO show at the Forum with Green Day, Cage The Elephant, Good Charlotte, Sublime, Twenty One Pilots, Gigi Perez, Myles Smith and Almost Monday. Nikka Costa is at the Venice West, or head to Riverside to see legendary teen idol Shaun Cassidy at the Fox Performing Arts Center. Plus, a treat on both Saturday and Sunday: Jeff Goldblum & The Mildred Snitzer Orchestra will be playing the Troubadour, with a 4 p.m. matinee on Saturday for those of us who like to be in bed early!

Elsewhere on LAist, you can follow Northeast L.A.’s “treat trail,” learn about the challenges facing Long Beach’s Planet Books and catch up with last weekend’s Golden Globe winners.

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Events

Morleigh Steinberg: Someplace, Somewhere

Through Sunday, February 8
Arcane Space
324 Sunset Ave., Venice 
COST: FREE; MORE INFO 

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Morleigh Steinberg

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Arcane Space

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The small gallery Arcane Space in Venice punches above its weight, with top-tier shows and a winding venue that lets out to a very cool, neighborhoody patio in the back. Choreographer and artist Morleigh Steinberg owns and operates the gallery, which has hosted inspiring new artists and group shows lately, but this time she’s showing her own work. Steinberg’s mesmerizing nature photos are printed on silver mylar substrate and show her adopted Ireland (she’s married to U2 guitarist The Edge) in a new — and possibly even more emerald — light that you can imagine.

I’m Not a Comedian, I’m Lenny Bruce

Sunday, January 18, 2 p.m. 
La Mirada Theatre
14900 La Mirada Blvd., La Mirada
COST: FROM $19.80; MORE INFO

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Courtesy La Mirada Theatre

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Freedom of speech is in the news daily, and no one championed the right to say what you want in a more direct way than comedian Lenny Bruce. Directed by Tony Award-winning actor Joe Mantegna, this one-man show (written by and starring Ronnie Marmo) combines Bruce’s classic comedy bits with biographical insight.

DTLB Live 

Saturday, January 17, 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. 
Promenade N. between Broadway and 3rd Street, Long Beach
COST: FREE; MORE INFO 

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Courtesy Downtown Long Beach Alliance

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Usher in the new year with the Big Butter Jazz Band as the Downtown Long Beach Alliance kicks off the first DTLB Live!, a new recurring monthly event series bringing live music, crafts and family-friendly activities to the Promenade every third Saturday of each month. There will also be live swing dancers, a maker’s market with local vendors, food, drink and much more.

NFL Playoffs & Mimosas

Saturday, January 17, 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. 
Chulita 
533 Rose Ave., Venice
COST: FREE; MORE INFO

Watch the playoffs, drink a mimosa, soak up some sun on the patio — what could be better? There will also be tunes from DJ El Cizzle, and bottomless mimosas are $35.

Park Pages

Sunday, January 18, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. 
L.A. Historic Park 
1245 N. Spring Street, Downtown L.A. 
COST: FREE; MORE INFO 

This whole week has been summer in January, so keep the sunny vibes going and bring your book, a blanket and a donation for Project Angel Food to the L.A. Historic Park for the first Park Pages, a new monthly group read and hang. The Fleuria indie book truck will be there, along with plenty of fellow sun-loving bookworms.

About Last Night

Saturday, January 17, 8 p.m. 
Three Clubs 
1123 Vine Street, Hollywood 
COST: $23.10; MORE INFO 

If you thought your dates were bad, just wait until you hear the unhinged horror stories of some of your fellow single Angelenos at About Last Night. The regular storytelling showcase features locals getting up on stage and sharing their funniest, most outrageous dating stories.

Chopstick-Making Workshop

Saturday, January 17, 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. 
Allied Woodshop
4160 Whiteside Street, East L.A.
COST: $160, MORE INFO 

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Courtesy Ali Chen Studio

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More than one of our LAist staffers had “go to a woodworking workshop” on their 2026 L.A. resolutions list. What better time to start than just ahead of the Lunar New Year with this chopstick-making workshop at Allied Woodshop in East L.A., led by Ali Chen?

Greatest Story Ever Told with Guillermo del Toro 

Academy Museum 
6067 Wilshire Blvd., Miracle Mile
COST: $5; MORE INFO

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MGM

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This is for my fellow film nerds and our raison d’etre for living in L.A. The Academy Museum (for only $5!) hosts this screening of a 4K restoration of 1965’s The Greatest Story Ever Told, plus a lecture from Guillermo del Toro talking about George Stevens’ career on the film’s 60th anniversary.

MLK Celebration: Dream @ Blu’

Sunday, January 18, 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. 
Blu' Arts & Wellness Gallery
580 Pine Ave., Long Beach
COST: FREE, DONATIONS WELCOME; MORE INFO

An afternoon of poetry, music and art honoring the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. awaits you at the Blu’ Arts gallery in Long Beach. The day features acoustic jazz and spoken word poetry curated and hosted by Tommy Domino, an author, poet and teacher. Plus, enjoy the gallery’s work by current artists-in-residence, Shelton Gillis, Mohammed Mubarak and Wan Jean the Artist.

MLK Day Concert

Saturday, January 17, 7:30 p.m. 
Skirball Cultural Center 
2701 N. Sepulveda Blvd., West L.A.
COST: FREE; MORE INFO

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Courtesy Skirball Center

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The sounds of the Inner City Youth Orchestra of L.A. will fill the Skirball Center to honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. at this free concert. The group is the largest Black-majority orchestra in the nation, with more than 100 musicians and choir singers total.

Jam Session 
Friday, January 16, 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. 
SteepLA 
970 N. Broadway, Ste. 112, Chinatown 
COST: FREE; MORE INFO

One of my favorite discoveries of 2025 was the charming SteepLA, a teahouse in a Chinatown plaza that also houses restaurants and art galleries. They are launching jazz jam sessions, starting with one on Friday in their courtyard. Tea cocktails and their after-dark menu will be available.