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Best Things To Do

Best things to do in LA and SoCal: Sept. 30-Oct. 6

Musicians play guitar and saxophone on an outdoor stage behind a pink banner reading 'Montana Avenue Art Walk, Santa Monica'
The Montana Ave. Art Walk goes down this Saturday in Santa Monica.
(
Courtesy Montana Ave. Merchants Association
)

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I yelped out loud twice this week; first while watching Jeopardy! — there was a clue comparing Shohei Ohtani to Babe Ruth (here for it!) — and the second while wistfully wishing I was in Dublin watching U2 serenade a crowd on Grafton Street when they launched into a tribute to the late Glen Hansard.

Closer to home, I checked out the new karaoke venue Mic Drop (in celebration of our Licorice Pizza host Lyndsey Parker’s birthday). Fun fact: The space used to be Larrabee Studios, which was originally owned by Carole King.

Elsewhere on LAist, you can visit late indie icon Elliott Smith’s haunts, check out the Sunshine Skate Center in Inglewood or get all the info for the Downtown Santa Ana ArtWalk on Oct. 3.

Music

A woman in a polka-dot dress stands beside a man in sunglasses and a dark suit, sunlight casting sharp shadows on the wall.
She & Him reunite for two nights at The Orpheum.
(
Chantal Anderson
)

Here are the music picks from Lyndsey at Licorice Pizza. Don't forget that Saturday and Sunday there’s the big Neverender Festival at the Observatory Festival Grounds, featuring Coheed and Cambria, Circa Survive, Sunny Day Real Estate, Pup, Thursday, Destroy Boys and many more.

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

Sunday

Monday

Tuesday

Saturday and Sunday, the big Neverender Festival is at the Observatory Festival Grounds with Coheed and Cambria, Circa Survive, Sunny Day Real Estate, Pup, Thursday, Destroy Boys and many more.

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Events

David Lynch: L.A.

Through Wednesday, Dec. 23
Pace Gallery
1201 S. La Brea Ave., Mid-Wilshire
COST: FREE; MORE INFO

Sculptural lamps with organic, limb-like bases and glowing shades stand on a gallery platform, some on pedestals.
(
David Lynch
/
Pace Gallery
)

David Lynch helped to define modern-day Los Angeles through his influential films, his daily weather report on KCRW and his visual art in painting and photography. It’s that last part that’s explored at the Pace Gallery's new exhibit (their La Brea space is one of my favorite new galleries in the city), with a spotlight on the space between Lynch’s films, his photography and his paintings. Lynch understood the darkness and the light of L.A. like none other — do a Mulholland Drive rewatch and then head here.


The Longest Table

Sunday, Oct. 4, 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. 
Pampas Ricas Blvd. (between Sunset and Chapala), Pacific Palisades
COST: FREE; MORE INFO

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The Palisades is making its way back after the fires, and a big part of that is the community spirit that has always fueled the beach cliff enclave. Join neighbors at The Longest Table, a free community potluck at some VERY long tables with chairs and tablecloths on Pampas Ricas Blvd. between Sunset and Chapala. Bring your favorite dish to share and pull up a chair.


Hola México Film Festival 

Through Saturday, Oct. 3
Various locations
COST: VARIES; MORE INFO

Four people lean forward with startled expressions, one wearing a pink wig and teal jacket, in a dimly lit room.
(
Roberto Girault Facha
/
Hola Mexico Film Festival
)

The 18th annual Hola México Film Festival includes films from across Mexico, including a closing night screening of the new rom-com Amarte outside at Plaza de Culturas y Artes, featuring a performance by Spaghetti Cumbia. The full film lineup is here.

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Montana Avenue Art Walk

Saturday, Oct. 3
Montana Ave.
Between 6th St. and 17th St., Santa Monica
COST: FREE; MORE INFO

Art pop-ups, interactive displays, food, music and more will take over the swish Montana Ave. shopping district in Santa Monica. It’s all part of Santa Monica's celebrations commemorating the 100th Anniversary of Historic Route 66.


Sword Yoga with Weapon Up

Monday, Oct. 5, 7 p.m.
Clark Building 
861 Valley Drive, Hermosa Beach
COST: $45.67; MORE INFO

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Do you fantasize about being a swashbuckling hero in a swordfight? Or the maiden who gets rescued? It’s all as-you-wish in this romantasy-themed sword yoga class that blends elements of kung fu, yoga and sword fighting — props provided.


America(!) the Beautiful(?)

Saturday, Oct. 3, 8 p.m.
The Ford 
2580 Cahuenga Blvd. E., Hollywood 
COST: FROM $35; MORE INFO 

Poster for 'America(!) The Beautiful(?)' at The Ford, Oct 3, 2026, featuring four portraits above performer names Aja Monet, Marc Bamuthi Joseph, Xiuhtezcatl and Kai the Universe.
(
Courtesy For Freedoms
)

Art activism collective For Freedoms brings together a night of soul, jazz, hip hop and poetry exploring what being American means today (it’s complicated!). The night includes a DJ set by artist-storyteller Kai the Universe, Xochimilco recording artist and activist Xiuhtezcatl, curator Marc Bamuthi Joseph, and a performance by surrealist blues poet Aja Monet. This is one of six events developed by Joseph that aim to create “a shared story of who we are and who we are becoming.”


Joey Clift: We’ve Been Here the Whole Time 

Saturday, Oct. 3, 7:30 p.m. to 8:45 p.m.
Elysian Theater
1944 Riverside Drive, Silver Lake
COST: $19.61; MORE INFO

Native American satirist Joey Clift is celebrating his new book — We’ve Been Here The Whole Time! A Not So Sacred Guide to All Things Native America — with an all-Native comedy show at the Elysian. The night features stand-up from Brian Bahe (Ghosts), Kristin Chirico (Buzzfeed), Jim Ruel (Showtime's American Indian Comedy Slam) and more — plus a live book talk between Clift and Julie Fiveash (The Froggy Librarian), moderated by Darrell Dennis (Just For Laughs). The show benefits ChapterHouse LA.


Laura Benanti: Nobody Cares 

Thursday to Sunday, Oct. 1-4 
The Wallis
9390 N. Santa Monica Blvd., Beverly Hills
COST: FROM $53; MORE INFO

A performer in a pink suit sits on a stage rug, one leg extended, reaching an arm upward, with musicians silhouetted behind.
(
Courtesy Nobody Cares Is a Comedy
)

Broadway star Laura Benanti is mixing her big voice with a stand-up comedy show — and it works. If you follow her on Instagram, you’re already familiar with her hot takes on perimenopause, accompanied by song. The Tony-winning Supergirl actress performs at the Wallis this week, followed by a short run at South Coast Repertory in Costa Mesa from Oct. 8-11.


Pacific Air Show 

Friday to Sunday, Oct. 2-4
5252 Bolsa Ave., Huntington Beach 
COST: FROM $20; MORE INFO

A camouflage-patterned fighter jet climbs steeply with afterburners glowing orange from its twin engines.
(
Courtesy Pacific Air Show
)

Whoosh! That’s the sound of dozens of planes flying high, doing Top Gun-style acrobatics overhead at the annual Pacific Air Show in Huntington Beach. Of course, it’s free to see the planes (they are in the sky), but snag a seat on the beach for direct vantage points, live commentary, access to food and drink venues and more.

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