Best things to do this weekend in Los Angeles and Southern California: December 20 - 22

The Bourbon Room is curated exquisitely. If there’s a quirky show promoted there, I’m always going to try to see it, and this week’s offering is no exception. BATSU! is a Japanese game show-slash-theater-slash-improv event that will make its L.A. debut with five performances at the Hollywood venue next month. Playbill videographer Ethan Treiman called the experience, which premiered at Edinburgh Fringe “maybe my favorite thing I’ve ever seen.” Count me in.

A New Orleans Jazzfest regular, singer-songwriter Samantha Fish brings her bluesy guitar jams to The Fonda for the Shake ’Em on Down Tour, with support from Jon Spencer (yes, of Blues Explosion fame) and Cedric Burns.

It’s a Christmas miracle! It girl comedian Kate Berlant’s show at Pasadena Playhouse was one of the hottest tickets of 2024 and now she is back in town for one last show of the year at the Largo. Look out for some of her famous comedy friends to join her on stage as well.

Five siblings from the O.C. make up Darden, a soulful Americana band, whose influences include Fleetwood Mac and the Eagles. Ease your way into the holidays with tunes in the chill garden at Merryhew’s Nursery.

Join the Actors Gang for an improvised, pay-what-you-can comedy night and enjoy a fun DJ set afterward at 10 p.m. The cast does clever and totally new takes on A Christmas Carol, The Nutcracker, Krampus, and more. This one is adults only, 18 and over.

Who doesn’t need some calm going into family time? Head to the Kimpton for a winter solstice sound bath on the shortest day of the year and follow that up with the Persian-inspired dish, Fesenjoon, a sweet Chicken Stew with Pomegranate Molasses, available for one night only from Chef Charbel Hayek of Ladyhawk.

Don’t have a yacht? No problem. Admire the creativity of the boats all lit up for Christmas in Newport Beach at their annual (several days long!) Christmas Boat Parade. This year’s theme is “Christmas Across the Decades,” and you can see the sparkly ships all along Newport Harbor, with many restaurants boasting views and dining deals. Or take advantage of one of the many boat charters and see the lights from the water. The parade starts and ends at Lido Isle and you can download a printable map here.

Double feature time! Really overdo it with your holiday movie fix and make your way to Street Food Cinema’s Heritage Square for A Christmas Story and National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation. Heritage Square isn’t just a place to watch movies; there’s also a Victorian-style Christmas market, food vendors, and of course tours of the museum.

The last market of the year at Smorgasburg features “A Very Caribbean Christmas” with a variety of pop-up vendors, curated by Bridgetown Roti and Smorgasburg. There will be jerk chicken and jerk pork, patties and doubles, roti, sorrel and sea moss drinks, oxtails and more from vendors like Backyard Jerk, Branch Patty, OnPointttt, A Beautiful Life Jamaican, The Royal Womb, and of course Bridgetown Roti themselves.

Holiday wines and bar snacks get a special menu this weekend at neighborhood favorite The Doughroom in Palms.

Pizza fave La Sorted’s has a new collab with French dip stalwart Phillipe’s — one of their round Sicilian dough pies topped with mozzarella, provolone, parmesan and Philippe’s legendary roast beef and mustard, plus their au jus for dipping at $8 per slice; $48 for a whole pie (8 slices). It was first served at the Family Style Food Fest and is now available for all.