Best Things To Do This Week In Los Angeles And SoCal: Oct. 2 - 5

The winner of eight 2019 Tony Awards, including Best New Musical, returns to L.A. to open the Center Theatre Group / Ahmanson Theatre’s 2023-2024 season. Hadestown takes audiences on a journey to the underworld and back, following two intertwining love stories — that of young dreamers Orpheus and Eurydice and that of King Hades and his wife Persephone.

The alt-rock-country outfit Wilco, led by frontman Jeff Tweedy, performs three nights at the Ace in support of their just-released album, Cousin, produced by Welsh artist Cate Le Bon. The band plays two nights next week — Oct. 11 and 12 — at The Bellwether. My Brightest Diamond opens each night.

The Inland Empire’s ScareScape is a new phobia-inspired haunt that features four terrifying mazes, food vendors, a VIP lounge, cocktails and latte bars, roaming monsters, live entertainment and jump scares. Heads up that the "thrills" start as soon as ticket holders climb aboard the shuttle ride included with every ScareScape ticket.

ScareScape is open from 6 to 10 p.m. Thursdays and Sundays and from 6 to 11 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.

Leo and Remi are two 13-year-old best friends in Belgium, whose bond is tragically torn apart in Lukas Dhont's coming-of-age film. Close won the Grand Jury Prize at the Cannes Film Festival and was honored with the LUX Audience Award from the European Parliament.

The Los Angeles Forum for Architecture and Urban Design welcomes Marina Otero and Liam Young for its latest discussion series that brings together architects, artists and designers from all over the world to engage with local architects, landscape architects, and creatives in L.A.'s iconic modernist spaces. The two speakers will present their work and discuss their relation to L.A. Modernism and experimentation.

This is a hike to get your heart pumping — and not for beginners. The pace is approximately a 19-minute mile on difficult, steep terrain for a 6.6-mile hike (1,100-ft. elevation gain) with Laguna Canyon Foundation volunteers. Each participant must register individually in advance and bring water, closed-toed hiking shoes and sun protection.

Play a round or two of bingo at Mama Shelter’s October Drag Bingo night for a chance to win prizes, including a night stay at the hotel. The night's hosted by Billy Francesca.

Calm Society is a Nike pop-up space that invites visitors to get grounded, gain perspective and define mental well-being for themselves. The launch party takes place on Thursday, Oct. 5 from 6 to 9 p.m. with aura photography, mind-boosting bites and beverages and a stretch session. From Friday to Sunday (11 a.m. to 6 p.m.), take part in small group movement sessions to stretch and learn about the mind-body connection or set a meditation appointment to get grounded and breathe deeply.

The LA Phil marks the 20th anniversary of Walt Disney Concert Hall at its annual gala concert this year by paying homage to Frank Gehry, the architect behind the iconic L.A. venue and the Judith and Thomas L. Beckmen YOLA Center at Inglewood. The program includes the prelude from Bach’s Partita, the first piece performed in the then-still-under-construction hall, followed by Esa-Pekka Salonen’s transformation of its melody into his piece FOG accompanied by Lucinda Childs, performing her own original choreography. Other performers include Herbie Hancock and H.E.R. Gustavo Dudamel conducts the LA Phil.

It's Walktober, and Pasadena's participating with a number of events throughout the month. One of the activities is the lululemon Pasadena Run/Walk Club, which has been meeting on Wednesdays at 6 p.m. since the pandemic. Arrive early to mix and mingle then take off and run or walk at 6:30 p.m. Options are: a 2.5-mile power walk, 3-mile run and 5-mile run and all led and monitored by a community ambassador. Bag check at the store is available for jackets, bottles or keys. No RSVPs or purchase required. Just show up and be ready to put one foot in front of the other.

Ms. magazine has been a source for news, analysis and feminist perspectives since 1973. In this Hammer Conversation panel, the magazine’s executive editor Katherine Spillar looks back on the legacy of the magazine and the future of feminism with labor rights champion Dolores Huerta; Eleanor Smeal, cofounder of the Feminist Majority Foundation; Carmen Rios, consulting digital editor for Ms.; and Michele Bratcher Goodwin, host of the Ms. podcast On the Issues.

Big Mike Geier's alter ego — a nearly 7-foot clown crooner — performs covers and originals with a melancholic twinge. Puddles took off a few years back after he teamed up with Scott Bradlee's Postmodern Jukebox for Lorde's "Royals." He was also a quarter finalist on Season 12 of America’s Got Talent and appeared on the 2020 season of AGT The Champions.

The Czech director and artist is best known for directing fantasy films that followed in the footsteps of Georges Mélies, combining both live-action and animation. The Velaslavasay Panorama, in conjunction with the Consulate General of the Czech Republic in Los Angeles, holds three screenings of Zelman's films that explore the deep sea, prehistoric life and the adventures of Jules Vernes.

• Thursday Oct. 5: Vynález zkázy (Invention for Destruction)
• Sunday, Oct. 8: Cesta do pravěku (Journey to the Beginning of Time)
• Thursday Oct. 12, 2023 - Ukradená vzducholod' (The Stolen Airship)

Farmer Boys holds a Drive-Thru Party at the Riverside Van Buren Boulevard & Orange Terrace location (20631 Van Buren Blvd.) in Riverside. Each guest in every vehicle will get a free Big Cheese Combo, which includes a 1/4 lb. fire-grilled beef patty, American cheese, crisp lettuce, freshly sliced tomato, dill pickles, diced onion and house-made 1000 island dressing on a locally baked brioche bun, served with an order of Always Crispy Fries® and a medium drink. Guests can substitute the cheeseburger for a veggie patty. Farmer Boys is also asking guests at the Drive-Thru Party to provide a donation or round-up their additional purchases to be the nearest dollar for the Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital.

Learn about and taste 60 premium whiskey brands and cocktails crafted with bourbon, American, Irish, Scotch, rye, single malt and others. In between sips, buy snacks from food trucks, play games, hit up the cigar lounge or get complimentary hair-and-beard trims.

Various locations in Santa Monica

Taco fans need to take part in the second annual Taco Day Crawl on National Taco Day (Oct. 4). Head to Trejo's Tacos to meet Danny Trejo, grab a Taco Crawl punch card and enjoy free tacos (with purchase) at nine Santa Monica Restaurants, including Trejo's Tacos, Socalo, El Cholo, Casa Martin, Blue Plate Taco, Sushi Roku, Lanea, Cabo Cantina and Jameson's Pub.

The Halloween pop-up experience Black Lagoon takes over Lost Property, transforming the bar with dungeon-like decorations, skulls, coffins and goth items that pay homage to horror and things Halloween. There's entertainment on Sundays and Tuesdays, including spooky drag queens and performers, and emo nights on Wednesdays.

Various locations in Santa Monica

Taco fans need to take part in the second annual Taco Day Crawl on National Taco Day (Oct. 4). Head to Trejo's Tacos to meet Danny Trejo, grab a Taco Crawl punch card and enjoy free tacos (with purchase) at nine Santa Monica Restaurants, including Trejo's Tacos, Socalo, El Cholo, Casa Martin, Blue Plate Taco, Sushi Roku, Lanea, Cabo Cantina and Jameson's Pub.

Tito's Tacos teams up with Tito's Handmade Vodka for Titos Fiesta Mexicana in honor of National Taco Day and National Vodka Day. The Responsible Partygoer ticket ($30) includes three Tito’s Tacos food items and three Tito’s Handmade Vodka specialty cocktails; the non-alcohol partygoer ticket ($15) include Tito’s Tacos food items and soft drinks. Live entertainment throughout the night from Mariachi Reyna de Los Angeles, Metalachi and others. 100% of the proceeds will go to Culver City Arts Foundation.