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Best things to do this week in Los Angeles and Southern California: December 1-4
Frank Meyer will perform at Old Towne Pub on Dec. 3.
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Mario Luis
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I think we all breathed a sigh of relief when we saw the recent headline that fire season in L.A. is all but over. Forget Dodgers season tickets — I can’t think of a better holiday gift for this city.
Music-wise, ease into December with Lady Blackbird at the Blue Note on Monday. Our friends at Licorice Pizza also recommend RuPaul’s Drag Race all-star Alaska 5000’s A Very Alaska Christmas Show at the Regent on Tuesday and superstar rapper Blxst’s first of four nights at the Roxy (he’ll also be there Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday). On Wednesday, Twin Shadow is at the Regent, and on Thursday, our personal faves, Public Service Broadcasting, are also at the Regent.
Explore more on LAist, where you can find the best local food and drink gifts to give this holiday season, read up on FilmWeek’s latest film picks, and we talk to Wicked: For Good costume designer Paul Tazewell. And don’t forget to support LAist on Giving Tuesday!
Events
Frank Meyer in concert
Wednesday, December 3, 11 p.m.
Old Towne Pub
66 N. Fair Oaks, Pasadena
COST: $10; MORE INFO
Sponsor
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Mario Luis
)
Frank Meyer has been playing the L.A. punk scene for decades. Founder of West Coast punk legends Streetwalkin' Cheetahs, Meyer (he might look familiar also because his brother is actor Breckin Meyer), has collaborated with folks like James Williamson (Iggy & the Stooges), Wayne Kramer (MC5), FEAR and Eddie Spaghetti (Supersuckers). He’ll play from his debut solo album at Old Towne Pub in Pasadena — get all that post-Thanksgiving rage out with some punk jams!
Writers Bloc presents NY AG Letitia James with Brian Tyler Cohen
Thursday, December 4, 7:30 p.m.
The Ebell Lounge
743 S. Lucerne Ave., Mid-Wilshire
COST: $35; MORE INFO
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Writers Bloc Presents
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Few people have been in the news the past few weeks more than New York Attorney General Letitia James. Fresh off the dismissal of the cases against her and former FBI director James Comey, James is coming to Writers Bloc for a conversation with No Lie podcast host Brian Tyler Cohen. No doubt this will be a topical and exciting evening at the Ebell.
Sponsor
World AIDS Day: Artists and Activism, co-presented by Artillery
Wednesday, December 3, 7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Oculus Hall at The Broad
221 S Grand Ave., Downtown L.A.
COST: FREE; MORE INFO
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Courtesy The Broad
)
Dec. 1 is World AIDS Day, and a group of incredible artists — including Rubén Esparza, Ken Gonzales-Day, Joey Terrill and photographer-documentarian Judy Ornelas Sisneros — will join journalist Carolina A. Miranda for a conversation about artists, social justice and the history of arts amid the AIDS crisis at the Broad. Across their long careers, the speakers featured have worked to shape how we view the AIDS crisis, LGBTQ+ equality and other issues.
Grand Illuminations
Wednesday, December 3, 12 p.m.
The Yard at Cal Plaza
350 S. Grand Ave., Downtown L.A.
COST: FREE; MORE INFO
Sponsor
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Courtesy DTLA Alliance
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Downtown lights up for the annual Grand Illuminations opening celebration. It’s free, and there are events from 12 p.m. all through the evening, with a holiday marketplace curated by The Goddess Mercado, live entertainment from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. and the community tree lighting at 5 p.m.
Last DTLA Art Night of the Year
Thursday, December 4, 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Various locations (see map), Downtown L.A.
COST: FREE; MORE INFO
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Courtesy DTLA Artnight
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It’s the last Downtown L.A. art night until 2026, so grab a jacket and stroll through the various galleries around downtown, many of which have new exhibits open for the holiday season. We recommend checking out the opening of Airbrush to AI: Fifty Years of Reinvention: A Retrospective by Patti Heid at the Los Angeles Center for Digital Art.
Sponsor
Fiber Night
Thursday, December 4, 4 p.m. to 9 p.m.
StichStop L.A.
13270 Moorpark Street, Sherman Oaks
COST: FREE; MORE INFO
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Sharon Waldron
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Unsplash
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Whether you’re an avid knitter, embroiderer, weaver or just a dabbler, head to StitchStop LA for their free Fiber Night event in Sherman Oaks. Adults and kids can swing by to learn more about fiber arts and participate in hands-on demonstrations of all kinds of crafts, including crochet, pompom-making, needle-felting and even a special tufting gun demo from Tuft House LA (whose awesome rug classes we’ve featured here before!). Just in time for homemade holiday gifting.
Holiday Undie Run
Thursday, December 4, 6:30 p.m.
The Penmar
1233 Rose Ave., Venice
COST: FREE; MORE INFO
MeUndies (who else?) is sponsoring a holiday-themed Undie Run at Rose Ave. hotspot The Penmar. Snag free holiday undies (and sport them on the fun run around the public golf course), as well as other gifts, tacos and a “Naughty Santa” photo op.
Brazil: Director's Cut
Monday, December 1, 9:30 p.m.
Alamo Drafthouse
700 W. 7th Street, Ste. U240, Downtown L.A.
COST: $22.68; MORE INFO
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Twentieth Century Fox
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OK, so it’s probably the least “holiday” movie I could find, but you don’t want to miss a chance to see Terry Gilliam’s most chilling work, Brazil, on the big screen at Alamo Drafthouse downtown. Take a trip into a pretty dark timeline of future social and political upheaval in this Orwellian masterpiece about bureaucracy gone wrong.
Castanea x Washington Square Pizza
Wednesday, December 3, 6 p.m.
31 Washington Blvd., Venice
COST: $20; MORE INFO
Grab a “Memento Box” of pastries, snacks and surprise goodies from Castanea Sicilian Cafe and Washington Square Pizza at Washington Square Pizza for one night only. The event is free, but the box is $20 of yum.
National Cookie Day
Thursday, December 4, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
McCormick x Milk Bar
7150 Melrose Ave., Melrose
COST: FREE; MORE INFO
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Courtesy McCormick
)
Join McCormick, Milk Bar and Christina Tosi are celebrating National Cookie Day with free giveaways of the limited-edition McCormick x Milk Bar Eggnog English Toffee Cookie. The first 50 customers at the Los Angeles flagship location will receive a free limited-edition cookie. If you’re late, don’t fret: The cookies will be on sale for $4 through Dec. 31.
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Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
