Best things to do this week in Los Angeles and Southern California: August 19 - 22

Hot off the news that Hello Kitty is not in fact a cat, but a little girl from London, the icon herself returns to Dodger Stadium to throw out the first pitch as the Dodgers take on the Seattle Mariners. Fans will receive a Hello Kitty 50th Dodgers Plush and Paper Crown giveaway item to celebrate her birthday (but get there early!).

This American Life regular and one-man-show aficionado, Mike Birbiglia, comes to the Largo for a special benefit for the YMCA. Fans will recognize the irony – his most recent touring show, The Old Man and the Pool, skewered his time spent swimming at the Y. Birbiglia promises to bring on some special guests (TBD who, but sure to be some household names), no goggles required.

Stanford art history professor Richard Meyer pops down to the Hammer this week to lead a conversation about this summer’s exhibit, David Medalla: In Conversation with the Cosmos. It’s a unique opportunity to visit the museum at night and explore the exhibit – the first comprehensive survey dedicated to the Filipino artist who died in 2020. His work “cultivated intimate forms of exchange between collaborators, friends, and lovers in the service of ‘cosmic propulsions,’ ‘Impromptus,’ and otherworldly propositions.”

The spirit of the Strip comes alive at this art and music celebration of the rock & roll legends that have graced the Sunset Blvd. space that’s now the Andaz over the years. Art inspired by everyone from the Rolling Stones to Duran Duran will be curated by Song-Word Art House; the show also includes digital installations from Filippo Fiumani at the Andaz’s new music venue, plus there will be music, food, beer and wine.

Eleven of the biggest local breweries show off more than just their beers at the 10th annual Eagle Rock Brewery-hosted Battle of the Bands at the Teragram Ballroom. Can your favorite IPA maker also hold their own on stage? Head downtown to find out.

Animator (you know him from Nickelodeon’s Rugrats and Robot and Monster) and multi-hyphenate artist Dave Pressler put together this lighthearted exhibit that’s fun for the whole family to check out at the new Gabba Gallery space downtown. "Dave & Friends" features drawings, sculptures, and toys by Pressler and more than 50 of his favorite artists.

There’s no crying in baseball! Dress up as your favorite Rockford Peach and make your way to Granada Beach for Long Beach’s weekly Moonlight Movies series.

OK, this one is for the high rollers. French Laundry chef extraordinaire Thomas Keller comes to Josiah Citrin’s Michelin-starred Mélisse for an over-the-top evening celebrating Mélisse’s 25th anniversary. The price tag is high, but it does benefit Ment’or, a nonprofit “devoted to inspiring culinary excellence in young professionals and preserving the traditions and quality of cuisine in America.” If more than $1500 for dinner is a little out of your budget, Openaire at the LINE Hotel features a sandwich inspired by the Keller-Citrin collab, the French Dip “Tongue and Cheek” for $26 through August 25.

Wines from Eastern Europe are the focus of this upcoming event that’s part of the popular Venice Beach Wine Club Summer Series. The tasting is hosted by Vinalia Wines.

It has been crazy hot out, but free ice cream would definitely make it better. If you like pistachio, you’re in luck – the first 500 guests daily at each local Häagen-Dazs Shop will receive a free mini cup or cone of the green-hued treat as the brand re-releases a new version of the classic flavor.