Best things to do this week in Los Angeles and Southern California: August 5 - 8

Suspense fans will be on the edge of their seats for this author event with master mystery writers Michael Connelly,

Silver Lake’s Elliott Smith Figure 8 mural may be a shadow of its former self, but the indie hero’s spirit remains imbued throughout Los Angeles.

Enjoy a relaxing lunch hour with the dulcet cello and piano sounds of Beethoven, Haydn, and more during the Henry J. Bruman Summer Chamber Music Festival at UCLA.

Navigating the fish counter feels like it requires a PhD sometimes. Head down to the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach for an evening of lively discussion with future of seafood expert Shannon Cosentino-Roush.

Wear your best Professor Peacock or Colonel Mustard getup and head down to the Ahmanson for the most fun you can have in 75 minutes.

You don’t need to book a flight to Tahiti to see world-class surfing this week. The best in the world head to the World Surfing League’s U.S. Open of Surfing in Surf City, U.S.A. – Huntington Beach – through August 11.

Meet at the Merry-Go-Round Lot #2 in Griffith Park and set out on the Sierra Club’s regular guided adventure through the park at sunset.

A “walkaround” tasting from influential chefs at L.A.’s most decorated restaurants will be part of the James Beard Foundation’s Taste America tour coming to the Line Hotel.

Bites from Orange County’s Original Food Hall at the Anaheim Packing District take center stage at the fifth annual World Taste Event.

Meteora is as much an experience as a restaurant, as Chef Jordan Khan (Destroyer, Vespertine) combines all the senses through design, smell, and of course taste into the Melrose space.

Jeni’s Splendid is known for their unique flavors, so swing by the Larchmont shop to try a new flavor partnership with streetwear brand The Hundreds.