Best things to do this week in Los Angeles and Southern California: July 14-17

A little excitement to look forward to in the fall came through my inbox this week for all the theater-loving readers of this list. Marissa Jaret Winokur, Broadway's original Tracy Turnblad in Hairspray, will be directing a new production of the show right here in Southern California in mid-October. Watch this space!

In the meantime, get your summer theater fill with any one of the many free Shakespeare shows, or one that I’m looking forward to seeing when it opens next week: The Fantasticks at the Ruskin Theatre in Santa Monica.

And Happy Bastille Day to our French friends! We’ve got plenty of opportunities to drink a nice Côtes du Rhône and eat some garlicky escargot to celebrate. For your music fix, Lyndsey Parker at Licorice Pizza has picks like M. Ward at the Lodge Room, Starcrawler at McCabe’s Guitar Shop, the Osees at Teragram Ballroom and more.

For even more from LAist, you can learn about why the next big thing in TV is actually on your phone, read about the downsides of Cal Fire’s new AI chatbot, and hurray! It’s the end of taking your shoes off at the airport for your flights.

Events

Thursday, July 17, 4 to 7 p.m. 
Santa Monica 150th Celebration 
Reed Park 
1133 7th St., Santa Monica
COST: FREE; MORE INFO

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Courtesy City of Santa Monica

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Santa Monica celebrates its 150th anniversary this year! The city is kicking six months of celebrations off with a party in Reed Park and the reopening of the historic Miles Memorial Playhouse. Head down to the beach town for a beer garden hosted by Santa Monica Brew Works and live entertainment, including Downbeat 720, Santa Monica’s teen performance lab.

Tuesday, July 15, 6 to 10 p.m.
Bastille Day Celebration 
Grand Performance 
350 S. Grand Ave., Downtown L.A. 
COST: FREE ENTRY; MORE INFO  

As Audrey Hepburn once said, Paris is always a good idea. Save the airfare and celebrate France’s national holiday, Bastille Day, with the Downtown L.A. Alliance, Grand Performances and the Consulat Général de France at an outdoor concert with plenty of live entertainment, French food and more. Magnifique!

Wednesday, July 16, 8 to 10 p.m.  
Bead-a-long with Okay Gems 
Baby Battista @ Nico’s 
3111 Glendale Blvd., #2, Atwater Village 
COST: $28; MORE INFO

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Baby Battista @ Nico’s

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Baby Battista is the cutest little hidden gem of a wine bar in Atwater Village, tucked in under Nico’s bottle shop. They host lots of events and this week it’s a make-your-own jewelry event with Okay Gems. Ice yourself and enjoy a glass of natural wine along the way.

Monday, July 14, 7 p.m.
ICE OUT OF LA benefit concert
Regent Theater
448 Main St., Downtown L.A.
COST: $25.80; MORE INFO

Reggie Watts, John Early, Kate Berlant and more join forces to raise awareness and funds to support the immigrant community in L.A. and make their voices heard about the ongoing raids and ICE actions. Proceeds benefit CHIRLA.

Thursday, July 17, 8 p.m. 
Las Culturistas Culture Awards
Orpheum Theatre
842 S. Broadway, Downtown L.A. 
COST: FROM $114; MORE INFO

Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang attends the Bowen Yang Screen Talk during BFI Flare 2025 at BFI Southbank on March 20, 2025.

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Jordan Peck

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Getty Images for ABA

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Is your Instagram all Bowen Yang all the time? Just me? Catch Yang and his podcast partner in crime, Matt Rogers, as they host their (self-created, I think?) Las Culturistas Culture Awards show, honoring more than 100 categories at the Orpheum. You might be there all night, but the snark fix was worth it.

Tuesday, July 15, 4:30 to 7:30 p.m.  
Romance Reader Read + Swap 
Runway Playa Visa 
12775 Millennium Dr., Playa Vista
COST: FREE; MORE INFO

Join The Fleuria, a romance novel-themed book truck, for a read and swap in Playa Vista. What better way to spend a Tuesday evening than grabbing a drink at one of the many spots in the Runway and digging into a steamy book with some new friends?

Monday, July 14, 2:30 to 4 p.m. 
Wang Mansheng in conversation with curator Phillip Bloom 
The Huntington 
1151 Oxford Rd., San Marino
COST: FREE WITH RESERVATION; MORE INFO 

Artist Wang Mansheng joins curator Phillip Bloom to discuss the ideas and inspirations behind Mansheng’s latest exhibit at The Huntington. Called "Without Us," it “combines contemporary art with classical Chinese conceptions of nature.”

Wang’s primary medium of ink painting brings the natural world onto the canvas — a perfect match for the Huntington’s garden setting. Join for the conversation, and afterward, Wang will demonstrate techniques, including his use of reed brushes and black walnut ink, in the museum’s Rose Hills Court.

Viewing Pick

Through Friday, July 18 
Superman (1941) 
Art Theatre of Long Beach 
2025 E. 4th St., Long Beach
COST: $5; MORE INFO

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Fleischer Studios via Art Theatre of Long Beach

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Before or after you head to the multiplex to catch the new Superman movie, head to the Art Theatre of Long Beach for some old Superman. Not Christopher Reeves' Superman, but even further back. See the 1941 animated shorts for just $5.

Dine & Drink Deals

Wednesday, July 16, 5 to 9 p.m.
World Taste of the Packing District 
Anaheim Packing District
440 S. Anaheim Blvd., Anaheim 
COST: FROM $28.44; MORE INFO 

Embark on a global journey through the historic World Taste in the Anaheim Packing District, with two passport options for this year's event. The World Taste Passport includes seven tastes. The Tiny Taste Passport includes four gourmet tastes from vendors like Chippy Fish & Grill (beignets), En Familia (Wagyu tostada), Mini Monster (milk tea), Wooden Pearl (oysters) and many more.

Tuesday, July 15, 8 p.m.
Jazz Eclectic L.A.: Bastille Day Celebration
Bar Lis 
1541 Wilcox Ave., Hollywood 
COST: VARIES, MORE INFO

Paris in the jazz age comes alive for a Bastille Day party at Bar Lis. Experience live jazz, can-can dancers and Perrier-Jouët champagne specials. Vocalist Shannon Magrane headlines, joined by Robert Turner on piano, Techdizzle on drums and Josh November on bass. The dinner and drinks menus include spicy rigatoni vodka and sea trout, plus handcrafted cocktails like the Parisian Sunset.

Wednesday, July 16, 7:30 p.m. 
Zinacatán Mezcal tasting dinner 
Mirate 
1712 N. Vermont Ave., Los Feliz
COST: FROM $178; MORE INFO

Mirate in Los Feliz and Chef Alan Sanz are hosting a one-night-only mezcal tasting dinner in collaboration with Zinacatán Mezcal — a sustainable, woman and family-owned producer. The 5-course menu is paired with rare mezcal expressions, and Zinacatán co-founder Diana Pinzón will be on-site to guide guests through each pour. Menu highlights include takes on the culinary traditions of Puebla, including Crema de Hongos & Crostini de Queso Panela Oreado, Iberico Port & Pear Mole and more.