Best things to do this weekend in Los Angeles and Southern California: July 12 - 14

You have two local chances to experience the stylings of Austin singer-songwriter Alejandro Escovedo and his new album, Echo Dancing. A product of new-wave punk in New York City, Escovedo’s long and storied career is nothing short of astounding; his Austin City Limits performances are among my favorites.

Photographer Gordon Parks documented American society throughout the mid-20th century with a unique lens on race, civil rights, and urban life. The opening of the upcoming show at Pace Gallery features a reception as well as a meditation on Saturday afternoon led by Open Studio teacher Manoj Dias from 12-1 p.m. “I saw that the camera could be a weapon against poverty, against racism, against all sorts of social wrongs,” Parks said. “I knew at that point I had to have a camera.”

Let your inner party animal go wild as the L.A. Zoo brings back the first of two Roaring Nights events (the next one is in September). This month has an '80s theme, with music from the yacht rock cover band AstroYachts and a silent disco. Plus, of course, special animal feedings, a chance to explore the zoo at night, and tons of food trucks to choose from.

Start me up! The Stones are at SoFi for the last night of their L.A. stop on the Hackney Diamonds tour, so expect lots of crowds and all the hits. Resale tickets are still available for under $100 on Ticketmaster, so if you’ve never seen them live, Mick, Keith, Ronnie, and the band always defy their ages to put on an incredible show.

Lenny Silverberg is a Bronx-based artist who came up with the hippie culture in Haight-Ashbury and then SoHo in the 1960s. But far from the wavy gravy imagery we might associate with that time period, his work is reserved, grayscale, ink wash on paper, and powerfully depicts images of refugees, the homeless, and other displaced people. Silverberg will be in conversation with fellow artist and friend Robbie Conal at the show’s closing event on Friday, July 12 from 7-9 p.m.

This is a great chance to see a rare live performance of artist Joan Jonas’ Mirror Piece. Jonas (who turns 88 this week!) investigates perception through radical uses of video, sculpture, installation, drawing and more. Mirror Piece was first performed in 1969 and Jonas has revisited her original notes to update and reconstruct it as Mirror Piece I & II (1969/2024). It will include 15 dancers across The Getty’s Tram Arrival Plaza while manipulating mirrors in synchronized choreography.

It’s so rare to see tough issues like Black maternal mortality and young parenthood dealt with on stage, and certainly even more rarely in a way that doesn’t feel overwrought. It’s more like a special episode of ER (and we mean that in a good way!) than a big play. The acting is solid and the Geffen always has sets that could be right at home on a much bigger Broadway stage. Check it out during its last weekend!

Here’s a fun outdoor movie pick for the kiddos this weekend. The Culver City Steps hosts a screening of 1999’s adaptation of Stewart Little for free, starting around sunset (8:30 p.m.). Bring your blanket to sit on. Popcorn is provided.

Take a sunset dip in one of the most beautiful pools in the city. The Julia Morgan-designed estate of Marion Davies (built for her by William Randolph Hearst) is a little taste of Hearst Castle right in Santa Monica. The public pool features gorgeous 1920s tilework and a view of the ocean. It’s an adults-only pool party on Friday night, so bring your suit – s’mores and floaties provided!

DineLA returns with tons of deals around the city – far too many to list out here! Eater has picked out 19 dinner steals that are worth trying and 15 lunch options. From menus like a seafood-focused lunch at Connie & Ted’s in West Hollywood to a chance to check out Pasadena’s Star Leaf for Asian cuisine, there’s something for everyone.

L.A.’s first-ever celebration of asada will feature tacos from big-name chefs including Javier Plascencia, Chef Claudette Zepeda of Top Chef fame, and Chef Yesenia Ríos from Tijuana’s prestigious Culinary Arts School. The festival is presented with Northgate González Market and your ticket gets you all the juicy, spicy, handmade tacos you can eat.

Vive la France! Say santé at the many Bastille Day celebrations around town. At Coucou in Venice and West Hollywood there will be signature French dishes plus drink and dessert specials, Bastille Day-themed decorations, and complimentary tote bags from Parisian-based retailer Sézane. At Le Chene, diners will get a 15-percent discount on Sunday, and Zebulon is hosting their annual Bastille Day all-day party.