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, Laurie R. King, and Walter Mosley. Moderated by director and author Nicholas Meyer (Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan), the writers will discuss their craft and let attendees in on how they approach murder and other grisly subjects.

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. Nowhere will that be more apparent than at the Regent, where a tribute to the singer/songwriter on what would have been his 55th birthday (he died at age 34 in 2003) will feature performances from Jason Lytle and Jim Fairchild of Grandaddy, Ben Bridwell of Band of Horses, comedian Margaret Cho, Aaron Lee Tasjan, and more.

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. Can’t make it in person? The full series will also be livestreamed on their YouTube channel.

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. She’ll discuss the wild-caught vs. aquaculture debate and the technologies behind “alternative seafood.” The event also features a cash bar and access to the FROGS “Our Neighbors” Gallery.

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. The whodunit Clue references the movie and the original board game, of course, but the actors and staging find so many other great bits even around those well-known moments. The whole production really delivers on leaning into physical comedy. John Shartzer as Mr. Green stands out and Mark Price as Wadsworth really amps up his performance throughout the show.

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. Starting with the WSL Longboard Tour and continuing with the fourth stop on the WSL Challenger Series, it’s free to head down to the pier to watch and the week also features concerts, outdoor film screenings, and more.

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. It’s a conditioning hike, so be ready to handle hilly terrain and bring your headlamp or flashlight as it will be dark by the time you get back! Dogs on leash are welcome at the hike leader’s discretion.

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. Chefs like Josiah Citrin (Citrin, Melisse), Gilbert Cetina (Holbox), Sarintip “Jazz” Singsanong (Jitlada), and more will showcase the diversity of the L.A. food scene.

Bites from Orange County’s Original Food Hall at the Anaheim Packing District take center stage at the fifth annual World Taste Event. Try specialties from around the world, including spicy shrimp wontons, elote bites, birria egg rolls, and Roman-style pizza.

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. On Wednesday, he hosts Chef Mario Castrellón of Panama City’s Maito for a one-night-only collaborative dinner as part of Meteora’s Ut Unum series.

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. Bastani Sonnati — a combination of saffron, rosewater, and pistachio — will be available by the scoop or pint. And starting August 8, the flavor will be available in all Jeni’s L.A. locations and online.