Best things to do this week in Los Angeles and Southern California: August 4-7

This past weekend’s Jesus Christ Superstar performances at the Hollywood Bowl really, ahem, exceeded expectations. Cynthia Erivo got a several-minute-long standing ovation following her literally showstopping performance of “Gethsemane” in the second act. Adam Lambert was the perfect punk rock Judas, and the creative staging and lighting features made any seat in the Bowl a great one. Andrew Lloyd Webber himself even came out to take a bow on the first night. I’m not sure how they can top it next year!

Bloom watch at the Huntington Library has ended for the corpse flower "Green Boy," but you can still see a time lapse here or read about what an LAist reporter experienced when visiting. In less smelly news, longtime concert promoter Sid The Cat announced they are opening a new venue in South Pasadena, so keep your eyes open for some great music and arts coming to that neighborhood soon.

We also have great music listings from our friends at Licorice Pizza: Monday, Shakira and the Black Eyed Peas kick off two nights at SoFi stadium, Ca7riel and Paco Amoroso play The Novo on Tuesday and Wednesday, plus my favorite pick – New Orleans bounce legend Big Freedia at the Masonic on Thursday.

More from LAist: read up on the Hollywood composer connecting people on the autism spectrum through bluegrass, get food and culture writer Gab Chabrán’s take on the Yelp list of best sandwiches in L.A., and learn how to grow native plants at home.

Keep up with LAist.

If you're enjoying this article, you'll love our daily newsletter, The LA Report. Each weekday, catch up on the 5 most pressing stories to start your morning in 3 minutes or less.

Subscribe

Events

Wednesdays, 8 p.m. to 12 a.m. 
Wednesday Jazz Night 
The Chestnut Club 1348 14th St., Santa Monica 
COST: $10; MORE INFO 

(

Chris Bair

/

Unsplash

)

Wednesdays mean jazz at Santa Monica’s speakeasy-like Chestnut Club, hosted by Jazz Link. Cool cocktails, cozy downstairs space and talented jazz musicians from around L.A. — sounds like a perfect date night.

Monday, August 4, 4 p.m.
Family Game Night 
Florence Library 
7807 Compton Ave., Florence 
COST: FREE; MORE INFO 

(

txking

/

iStock.com

)

Move family game night from the dining room to the Florence Library, where you can meet other board game fans, learn a new game and meet some new friends and competitors! Take your pick of games at the library, whether you want to show your prowess at Monopoly, Scrabble or something off the beaten track.

Tuesday, August 5, 7:30 p.m.
Melissa Etheridge and the Indigo Girls: Yes We Are Tour 
Greek Theater
2700 N. Vermont Ave., Los Feliz 
COST: FROM $43.50; MORE INFO 

(

Jeremy Cowart

)

There will be some serious female vocal power and epic sing-alongs at the Greek when '90s folk rockers and queer icons Melissa Etheridge and the Indigo Girls take the stage for their L.A. tour date. Those of us of a certain age will forever associate the Indigo Girls with the epic Lilith Fair summer of 1997 (to my surprise, Etheridge didn’t play the festival, according to a quick Google search). And everyone had “Closer to Fine” stuck in their heads all last year when it made an iconic appearance in the Barbie movie (director Greta Gerwig is clearly familiar with said epic Lilith Fair summer). Etheridge had a one-woman show on Broadway in 2023 and released a two-part documentary last year. The two acts head to Costa Mesa for a second show on August 9.

Thursday, August 7, 7 p.m.
Sunset Concerts: Say She She and Jojo Abot 
Skirball Cultural Center
2701 N. Sepulveda Blvd., West L.A.
COST: FREE, PARKING $20; MORE INFO 

(

Skirball Cultural Center

)

Brooklyn retro-funk band Say She She brings their '70s-inspired stylings to the last summer sunset concert of the season at the Skirball, with Ghanaian-born, L.A.-based musician Jojo Abot getting things started. These late sunsets make the perfect backdrop for a post-rush hour party at the museum, plus the galleries are open late, so check out the Jack Kirby and Diane von Furstenberg exhibits while you’re there.

Thursday, August 7, 7:30 p.m.
Lovett or Leave It
Dynasty Typewriter 
2511 Wilshire Blvd., Koreatown 
COST: $29; MORE INFO

(

Crooked Media

)

What is a trivia and comedy lover’s dream? Jeopardy! superfans, get ready. Jon Lovett’s regular stint at Dynasty Typewriter for his podcast, Lovett or Leave It, has some special guests this week, including an all-star trivia nerd lineup of Ken Jennings, Amy Schneider and more.

Thursday, August 7, 7 p.m. 
Rose Players: Village Wooing and How He Lied to Her Husband
The Shakespeare Villa
171 S. Grand Ave., Pasadena 
COST: FREE; MORE INFO

Community theater in L.A. is alive and well; just pay a visit to the Rose Players to see why. The group performs staged readings of plays ranging from Shakespeare to modern works each month at the Shakespeare Villa in Pasadena. Both professional and amateur actors get one rehearsal and one performance for each show. The next reading includes two George Bernard Shaw short plays: Village Wooing and How He Lied to Her Husband.

Outdoor Pick

August 7-9
USLA: National Lifeguard Championships 
Huntington State Beach 
21601 Pacific Coast Highway, Huntington Beach 
COST: FREE; MORE INFO 

Look, there’s nothing I’m happier about this week than Pamela Anderson and Liam Neeson finding love on set. Real-life Baywatch, however, is what’s happening at Huntington Beach with the start of the USLA National Lifeguard Championships. Learn about lifesaving and watch our heroes with the orange floaties show their skills.

Viewing Pick

Thursday, August 7, 7 to 10 p.m.
Cinema Botanica: Giants Rising
California Botanic Garden
1500 N. College Ave., Claremont
COST: $19; MORE INFO

Learn about our beloved redwood trees at the Cinema Botanica screening of Giants Rising at the California Botanic Garden as you catch a film outside amongst the flowers. The real reason I’m excited about this: every paid ticket includes a free popcorn with optional native plant-infused topping, from Atriplex BBQ or Parmesan Black Sage to Caramel Mesquite.

Dine & Drink Deals

Wednesday, August 6 (West L.A.) and Thursday, August 7 (Koreatown), 1 to 4 p.m.
Hakkaisan Dodgers Sake x Yama Narumi Craft Sake
Yama Sushi Marketplace West L.A.  – 11709 National Boulevard, West L.A.
Yama Sushi Marketplace Koreatown – 3178 Olympic Boulevard, Koreatown
COST: $49.95

(

Hakkaisan

)

Premium sake brewery Hakkaisan might look familiar from Dodgers games, and at this special Yama Sushi Marketplace event, fans can sample and purchase the sake typically available only at Dodger Stadium. Paired with Yama’s very own Narumi Craft Sake, they are offering a special “Sake Double Play” bundle (valued at $78) for $49.95.

Through Sunday, Sept. 14
Saltie Girl x Fly By Jing 
Saltie Girl 
8615 W Sunset Blvd., Hollywood
COST: $44; MORE INFO 

Saltie Girl is bringing Maine to California and beyond with the fusion taste of the Fly By Jing lobster roll. Through September, the seafood hotspot is putting a bold Szechuan twist on their signature lobster roll, featuring crispy fried lobster, aromatic spices and the unmistakable flavor of Fly By Jing’s Sweet + Spicy Chili Crisp.