Best things to do this weekend in Los Angeles and Southern California: January 17 - 19

This week, parents and kids can enjoy free music classes, sensory art classes, and play dates at the LoveBug & Me studios in Santa Monica, South Pasadena, and Los Feliz, as well as virtual music classes. These studios are a safe space where children and parents can find joy, connection, and healing through music and creativity during this difficult time.

Art is proven to help calm anxiety and improve your mood. Head to LACMA before the end of the day Friday to get some of that Serra serenity for free. It’s been a stressful couple of weeks, friends. There are several great exhibits, including the final days of the Simone Leigh show and Digital Witness.

Doug Aiken’s Lightscape is the winter’s must-see art event, made even more dynamic with live performances in the space throughout the run. While last week’s performance was canceled, this week there will be a Lightscape Music Activation by the L.A. Phil New Music Group. Piano works from Philip Glass, Meredith Monk, and more will be performed by Joanne Pearce Martin and Vicki Ray. Tickets are free but go fast!

The overall exhibit will be available to experience through March 25.

Name a braver musician out there than Pussy Riot’s Nadya Tolokonnikova, who has spent her career pushing back against the Putin regime and since her arrest in 2012 has been living in exile. The radical frontwoman and founder of Russian punk band Pussy Riot will be performing at Honor Fraser Gallery with her new band, Pussy Riot Siberia, as part of the opening night of the art and performance-based exhibition Punk’s Not Dead, which will be on view until Jan. 25. The performance is Pussy Riot Siberia’s L.A. debut, which aims to create a "tower of sound" that's as "black and brutal" as Norilsk, the Siberian city where Tolokonnikova grew up. The project's members include Tolokonnikova as well as Max Lawton, Riley Bray, and John Caldwell.

I have no idea what Pickle Tickle Time is going to be and that’s half the fun. Show up at the Venice Boardwalk to support the fire relief effort and make some new friends. That’s it! Check the Something New Instagram for the exact location on Saturday.

Teenager of the Year came out in 1994, the second album from former Pixies frontman Frank Black aka Black Francis aka Charles Thompson III. The album marked his most successful solo record and, in a way, it’s an ode to Los Angeles — something we all could use about now. He plays the Orpheum with support from opener Rocket.

The Dodgers, Chargers, Kings, Sparks, Lakers, LAFC and more Southern California sports teams are uniting and collaborating with community partners to help Los Angeles wildfire evacuees. Angelenos must provide proof of residency in evacuated zip codes to receive free essentials, including hygiene kits, school supplies and shoes.

The distribution events are happening simultaneously at Dodger Stadium, BMO Stadium and SoFi Stadium, so pick the most convenient location for your needs.

If The Goonies is 40, that makes me… gaaaaah, never mind. But lucky for us, Goonies never say die. Bring yourself, your friends, and/or your kids to see the 1985 classic adventure from Steven Spielberg, Chris Columbus, and Richard Donner again — or for the first time — on the big screen. Baby Sean Astin and baby Josh Brolin star — oh, how far they've come.

The new L.A. Community Meals hub has banded together some of L.A.’s favorite restaurants to make it easy for anyone to donate a meal (pizza, coffee carafe, breakfast burritos, you name it) to frontline workers, evacuees, and relief organizations while supporting local businesses. They’ve provided direct links to restaurants so you can pay it forward right from your phone.

Taste some great wines and support a great cause with Fuil Wines at Buvette in Sherman Oaks on Sunday afternoon. They will be sampling a variety of wines and holding a raffle; all sales benefit Habitat for Humanity to start rebuilding L.A. after the fires. Union members get $5 flights with valid ID.

More than a dozen new vendors join the 2025 lineup at Smorgasburg, so head down to the Row for an Indian boba from Band Baaja Boba, Filipino-American BBQ from Full Send, and Swedish hot dogs for January only from Hej Hej.