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Best Things To Do

Best things to do in LA and SoCal: Sept. 9-15

Folkorico dancers wearing skirts in varying colors perform in the street during a parade.
Celebrate Orange County's Latino communities at Santa Ana's Fiestas Patrias on Sept. 12 and 13.
(
Courtesy City of Santa Ana
)

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I was fortunate to get a sneak peek at the new Lucas Museum of Narrative Art last week and given how many thoughts our Best Things to Do readers had on the new LACMA Geffen Galleries, I can’t wait to hear what you think of the Lucas once it opens to the public on Sept. 22. Please share your thoughts when you go!

I was blown away by the building — it’s light and airy while feeling futuristic and somewhat imposing at the same time. The gardens are green and have plenty of places to sit and soak up the sun or the shade and the reading room (which will be free and open to all), is definitely going on the ‘best places to cowork’ list. The art collection is mostly organized by subject rather than era and includes works by artists from Norman Rockwell to Frida Kahlo to Banksy to Lucas himself via the many pieces of Star Wars history on display – truly something for everyone.

Elsewhere on LAist, get a peek inside the Thrifty Ice Cream factory, make a plan to visit with us on Saturday at Cafe Calle, or grab a ticket for Sunday’s Arts Jubilee at Segerstrom in Costa Mesa.

Music

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

Sunday

Monday

Tuesday

Events

NFL kickoff watch party: 49ers vs. Rams 

Thursday, Sept. 10, 5:35 p.m.
The Regent 
448 Main St., Downtown L.A.
COST: FREE; MORE INFO

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Two football players holding footballs below a header that says THURSDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL WATCH PARTY
(
Courtesy The Regent Theater
)

I guess summer really is over because football season is here again and the Rams first game of the year is taking on our neighbors to the north, the 49ers. Head to the Regent for a free watch party; there’s a state-of-the-art sound system and LED video wall, plus it’s free.


Americana in the Park 

Sunday, Sept. 13, 1:30 to 6:30 p.m.
Gandara Park 
1819 Stewart Ave., Santa Monica 
COST: FREE; MORE INFO

A large group of people stand and sit on a green lawn with umbrellas and picnic blankets
(
Courtesy City of Santa Monica
)

Alright, kids are back in school and football season started, but is it ever really not summer here? There’s still plenty of good weather for a free outdoor Americana folk concert and that’s exactly what’s in store at Santa Monica’s Gandara Park. Put on by our friends at McCabe’s Guitar Shop, there will be performances from Albert Lee, Ricardo Lemvo & Makina Loca, Abby Posner & the Big Fall, Jason Luckett, the Bob Baker Marionettes.

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Fiestas Patrias Festival

Sept. 12-13 
Multiple locations, Downtown Santa Ana
COST: FREE; MORE INFO

Celebrate Orange County's vibrant Hispanic and Latino communities at Santa Ana's Fiestas Patrias in honor of Mexico’s Independence Day. There’s a parade and street fair, live entertainment from local bands, carnival rides, food, and more.


Steel Magnolias 

Thursday, Sept. 10, 7:35pm
Rooftop Cinema Club 
888 S. Olive St., 4th Floor, Downtown L.A. 
COST: $31.05; MORE INFO

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Two women with light skin tone stand next to each other in formal clothing
(
Rooftop Cinema Club
)

Rooftop Cinema Club is honoring Dolly Parton’s legacy with a screening of the ultimate ode to Southern female friendship, Steel Magnolias (in both Spanish and English), with 10 percent of ticket sales benefiting Parton's Imagination Library.


Staged reading of WTC View 

Friday, Sept. 11, 7:30 p.m.
Celebration Theatre & LA LGBT Center 
The Village at Ed Gould Plaza (Renberg Theatre)
1125 N. McCadden Place, Hollywood 
COST: FROM $29; MORE INFO 

A black and white view of a skyline
(
Los Angeles LGBT Center
)

Michael Urie (Ugly Betty) directs this special September 11 anniversary reading of WTC View, Brian Sloan’s 2003 play about the weeks following 9/11 in Lower Manhattan. The story looks at a gay photographer’s struggle to find community in a time of societal and personal change. “I was just beginning my third year of drama school in New York on 9/11, and I vividly remember how raw we New Yorkers still were when we premiered the play in 2003,” said Urie. “Now Brian’s beautiful play is a time capsule of those weeks following 9/11, when we were all babies in a new world and the interactions we had with strangers were so intimate and heartfelt.”

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Spotlight Arts Festival 

Sunday, Sept. 13, 2 to 5 p.m.
Bank of America Performing Arts Center
2100 Thousand Oaks Blvd., Thousand Oaks 
COST: FREE; MORE INFO

A group of people with their arms raised, a man pointing at a painting and a woman with red hair talking to a child
(
Eventbrite
)

The first-ever Spotlight Arts festival in Thousand Oaks brings together local artists, performers, and community organizations for a free afternoon of art, music, creativity, and connection. The festival will feature 15-minute live performances from a range of local groups, artist booths, hands-on activities, live painting, and more.


Maria Koutsogiannis in Conversation with Gaby Dalkin

Saturday, Sept. 12, 11 a.m.
Now Serving 
727 N. Broadway, #133, Chinatown 
COST: FROM $11.49; MORE INFO 

Hands with light skin tone hold a plate of dips with pita bread
(
Eventbrite
)

Didn’t get to the Greek Islands this summer? No problem. Greek chef, author, and Instagram favorite Maria Koutsogiannis is bringing Greece to us as her debut cookbook, Greek Out, launches at Now Serving. The book features more than 120 Greek-inspired recipes alongside personal stories rooted in family, culture and tradition. She’ll be in conversation with Gaby Dalkin at Now Serving.


Come as You Are: The Musical 

Tuesday, Sept. 15, 7 p.m.
The Ripped Bodice 
3806 Main St., Culver City 
COST: $22.58, MORE INFO 

Blue text EMILY NAGOSKI and pink text COME AS YOU ARE: THE MUSICAL against a pink pattern background
(
Eventbrite
)

Emily Nagoski, PhD has the answers to all the things you were afraid to ask about sex – and now you can sing along. The New York Times best-selling author of Come As You Are and Come Together has packed her ukulele for a fun night of music and sex talk (what could be better?) at the best romance book store around, Culver City’s The Ripped Bodice.


Postcode Ukraine: Diary of a Volunteer 

Sept. 11-30
Westwood Contemporary 
1101 Westwood Blvd., Westwood Village
COST: FREE; MORE INFO

A woman with light skin tone in a camouflage jacket with tattoos on her hands holding the jacket closed by her neck
(
Postcode Ukraine
/
postcodeukraine.com
)

As we head into a fifth year of war in Ukraine, the Wende Museum’s Westwood Contemporary is highlighting the work of British photographer Mark Neville, who has been documenting the lives of everyday Ukrainians through his expansive project, Postcode Ukraine. Postcode Ukraine: Diary of a Volunteer is here through the end of the month, ahead of a larger international tour.

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