Best things to do this week in Los Angeles and Southern California: August 12 - 15

This one is a little hard to explain, but trust me, it’s where you want to be Tuesday night. Artist and digital provocateur Lauren Lee McCarthy is your host for an evening of AI and imagination as part of The Music Center’s "Black Bar Social" series. I first learned about McCarthy when she was doing a project where she became a human performance art version of an Amazon Alexa back in 2017 and she hasn’t stopped innovating since. With this new immersive event, McCarthy explores AI — each guest receives an AI earpiece on arrival and “as you mingle with other guests and explore the dynamic atmosphere of the party, the AI voice becomes your constant companion, offering commentary and direction every step of the way.” It sounds wacky, wonderful, and of course, provocative.

The Autry Museum recently expanded its free admission days to both Tuesdays and Wednesdays, so it’s the perfect mid-week break to head to Griffith Park. In addition to the classic cowboy and American West history exhibits in the permanent collection, on view are two new shows: Wendy Red Star’s celestial-inspired photos and ReVOlt 1680/2180: Sirens & Sikas, a retelling of the Pueblo revolt against the Spanish. Both are part of the upcoming larger PST ART show opening in September, Future Imaginaries: Indigenous Art, Fashion, Technology.

Venice Art Crawl’s summer event in the Venice Canals makes this big city feel small, with dozens of artists showing work in the front patios of many homes. The compact area makes it easy to wander one of the most hidden and picturesque areas in L.A., and neighbors always open their doors to share art, drinks, conversation, and music.

Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi joins Black-ish star Tracee Ellis Ross in conversation about her new book, The Art of Power, at a – needless to say – exciting moment for women in politics. In The Art of Power, Pelosi talks about her work as the top legislative leader in the U.S. and shares “moving moments with soldiers sent to the front lines, women who inspired her, and human rights activists who fought by her side.”

It’s maybe only a smidge easier to secure Olivia Rodrigo tickets than Taylor Swift tickets; when we checked there were not-too-outrageous tickets still available for Rodrigo’s string of Kia Forum shows on the resale market. The “Driver’s License” singer is certainly having a banner year, with a buzzy SNL appearance and a hit second album. Plus, she secured a Gen X (aka parents’) favorite as an opening act – The Breeders.

Bike on up to Burbank for games, trivia, snacks, and a chance to meet fellow cycling enthusiasts and experts as the city celebrates the 20th anniversary of the Chandler Bike Path. Learn about connecting transportation options from Metro and Burbank Bus and enjoy a sunset bike ride while you’re there.

If you want the full Venice experience, splurge on the three-course dinner and wine tasting from Gjusta with Gjelina Group Farmers, featuring Peads & Barnetts and you’ll have just enough time to catch the end of the Venice Canals Art Crawl. The dinner menu features tomato salad, crispy pig cheek, a dessert pavlova and much more.

As a For Your Consideration promotion for the Amazon Prime show Fallout, restaurants across the area will be serving up deals that reference Vault 33, where the show takes place. That means 33-cent ice cream at Sweet Rose, 33-cent burgers at the Win-Dow, and 33-cent tacos at Loqui to name just a few. Check out the full map here and expect long lines.

A pop-up vegan dinner party at Cafe Gratitude features summer Mediterranean flavors, both non-alcoholic and wine pairings, and a dinner party vibe that brings the chefs to your table for conversation and community. The four-course menu includes a jewel tabbouleh salad, lentil, walnut and eggplant moussaka, mango lime cheesecake, and more.