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Best things to do this weekend in Los Angeles and Southern California: October 10-12

John C. Reilly, wearing a suit, holds roses and smirks at the camera as he sits in yellow theater seats. He's in character as Mister Romantic.
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Live Nation via John C. Reilly
)

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The Dodgers are still leading the NLDS, and Clair, Brentwood’s favorite Apatosaurus, has been returned to the corner of 26th and San Vicente. All is right with the world. OK, probably not, but at least with one small corner of it.

If you feel like getting out of town this weekend, Joshua Tree's Hwy 62 Open Studio Art Tours are happening this weekend and next. It’s a great opportunity to see what’s going on in the creative hub of the desert. Plus, take a ride (or walk or scoot) through the heart of L.A. in this month’s CicLAvia, which follows 7.15 miles through MacArthur Park, Historic DTLA, Chinatown, Little Tokyo, Arts District, East LA, the 6th Street Viaduct and Mariachi Plaza on Sunday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. And say hi to our staff at the LAist booth! You can find it near the Little Tokyo hub.

Explore even more from LAist: Learn how to take photos for L.A. Nature Quest, get tickets for Saturday’s Go Fact Yourself live taping and reminisce about Beverly Hills, 90210 with Josie Huang.

Events

October 11-12, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Festival Chapin de Los Angeles
Lafayette Park
625 S. Lafayette Park Place, Westlake
COST: FREE; MORE INFO

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Men and women dance in traditional Guatemalan ensembles during a festival.
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Festival Chapin de Los Angeles
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Spend Saturday and Sunday immersed in a free celebration of Guatemalan music, arts and crafts, and of course, cuisine at the annual Festival Chapin in Lafayette Park. Spanning more than seven blocks, you can taste traditional Guatemalan dishes such as garnachas (similar to a Mexican sope), shucos (Guatemalan-style hot dogs), chicken pepián, enchiladas, hilachas (stewed meat) and much more. Take Metro if you can, but there’s also parking at the Athena lot at 611 Carondelet Street for $14.

Sunday, Oct. 12, 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. 
Medieval Road Food: Eating and Drinking on the Go
The Getty Center
1200 Getty Center Drive, Brentwood 
COST: $125; MORE INFO

Sure, you could go on an inspired foodie tour of Downtown L.A. via TikTok or Instagram, but could they help you time-travel to a food tour of the Middle Ages? Enter medieval food guide and physician Guglielmo Gratarolo, who penned a book of eating advice for fellow travelers in the 1500s. Getty historian Ken Albala has created a food and wine experience based on Grataroli’s medieval "health foods," plus other, more decadent treats. There will also be a curated selection of three period-inspired wines and access to the ongoing exhibit, "Going Places: Travel in the Middle Ages."

Friday, October 10, 8 p.m.
Mister Romantic 
Palace Theatre
630 S Broadway, Downtown L.A. 
COST: FROM $87.50; MORE INFO

John C. Reilly, wearing a suit, holds roses and smirks at the camera as he sits in yellow theater seats. He's in character as Mister Romantic.
(
Live Nation via John C. Reilly
)
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John C. Reilly’s vaudeville-inspired one-man stage show, Mister Romantic, is back in L.A., where it all began. This time, he’s taking over the Palace Theatre downtown. Reilly’s acclaimed piece explores love and the American songbook alongside a talented band. Check out his latest chat with LAist about the show here.

Through Monday, October 13
IAMA Theatre Company: 8th Annual New Works Festival
Atwater Village Theatre
3269 Casitas Ave;, Atwater Village 
COST: $18; MORE INFO

See the future of theater as six new plays get early live readings at IAMA in Atwater. Selections this year include a new play from Gloria Calderón Kellett (One Day at a Time) called What We Leave Behind, and The Treatment, by writer and actor Amy Berryman.

Saturday, October 11, 2 p.m. to 2 a.m.
dublab's 26th Anniversary Party 
Porter Street Studio
 2341 E. Olympic Blvd., Downtown L.A. 
COST: FROM $10, MORE INFO

Dance it all off at dublab’s anniversary party, with 12 hours on three stages, featuring DJ sets from the likes of Reggie Watts, Dām-FunK and many more. From rave to deep listening, the folks at the nonprofit music hub dublab have been doing their thing for 26 years, and they don’t plan on stopping the jams or the party. Support their work and shake it all out. Plus, there’s coffee from Verve to keep you going, wine from Good Boy Wines and pizza from Delicious Pizza.

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October 9-12 
19th Many Winters Gathering of Elders 
Angels Gate Cultural Center 
3601 S Gaffey St., San Pedro
COST: FREE; MORE INFO

A digital poster for the 2025 Many Winters Gathering of Elders event. It features an illustration of a turtle.
(
angelsgateart.org
)

Honor local Native and Indigenous knowledge-keepers on Indigenous Peoples Day and beyond at the annual Many Winters Gathering of Elders held at Angels Gate Cultural Center in San Pedro. The four-day event includes opportunities to hear teachings and oral traditions, observe and participate in Native ceremonies, and it's free for all to attend.

Saturday, October 11, 10 a.m.
Los Angeles Catio Tour 
Culver City, Westchester, Ladera Heights and Del Rey
Exact locations to be announced
COST: $17.35; MORE INFO

I always watch those cute videos from The Dodo of cats to relax, and I sit there in envy of people who’ve built their feline friends an enclosed space that looks like the Taj Mahal of screened porches. Some of those lucky cats live right here in L.A., and you can tour their "catios" and be inspired to make your own, all benefitting the wildlife education organization Teranga Ranch. The L.A. Catio Tour is in its third year, taking DIY-ers around to the coolest cat patios on the Westside.


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Outdoor Pick

Saturday, October 11, 6 to 9 p.m.
The Match Up: Singles Pickleball Tournament 
Calabasas Pickleball Club 
5155 Old Scandia Lane, Calabasas
COST: $40; MORE INFO

A racket and three lime green balls lie on a pickleball court.
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Brendan Sapp
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Unsplash
)

Calabasas Pickleball Club is hosting a singles event for people who are hoping to find their long-term courtmate through a new pickleball dating app (yep, that’s a thing). It's called PickleMatch. The Match Up Pickleball Social will curate drinks, player matchups and fireside chats.


Viewing Pick

October 10-12 
Viet Film Fest
The Frida Cinema
305 E. 4th St., Suite 100, Santa Ana
COST: FROM $15; MORE INFO

Catch dozens of films from Vietnamese filmmakers at the three-day Viet Film Fest, now in its 22nd year. This year, you can also catch the films online through Oct. 19 or see them in person in Orange County at the Frida Cinema this weekend. The selection includes a wide range of movies, from rom-coms to zombie thrillers.


Dine & Drink Deals

Saturday, Oct. 11, 6 to 11 p.m.
Totally Valley Oktoberfest
Airtel Plaza Hotel
7277 Valjean Ave., Van Nuys
COST: $20 (INCLUDES 1 DRINK); MORE INFO

A person holding tall mugs of beer over a machine with purple lining.
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Kimia
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Unsplash
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Celebrate Oktoberfest in Van Nuys! My Valley Pass turns the Airtel Plaza Hotel into Munich with music, limited edition Golden Road German beers and food. Tickets include access to all the entertainment and one complimentary drink.

October 10-11, 7:30 to 10 p.m.
L.A. Times Food Bowl 
City Market Social House 
1145 San Pedro St., Downtown L.A.
COST: FROM $100; MORE INFO

Eating out at L.A.’s best restaurants is getting increasingly difficult, from securing a reservation to paying the bill. At the L.A. Times Food Bowl, taste samples from the city’s hotspots, whether they're Michelin-starred restaurants or neighborhood favorites. Plus, enjoy drinks from L.A.’s acclaimed mixologists, desserts from the bakeries with lines out the door and more. I went last year and was talking about the slice from Pizza Sei and the Fat & Flour cookies for days after. This year features bites from more than 25 restaurants each night, including Jitlada, American Beauty and The Lonely Oyster. Come hungry!

Saturday, October 11, 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Caring House Coffee Tasting Event 
Pine Wind Garden
3330 Civic Center Drive, Torrance
COST: $20; MORE INFO 

A stock photo showing a coffee press with grounds sitting atop a massive bed of coffee beans.
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Oskar Kadaksoo
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Unsplash
)

Taste a selection of fancy roasts from Goodboybob, Smoky Hollow Coffee and more while supporting the end-of-life care center, Caring House. The event also includes local vendors and raffle prizes.

Sunday, Oct. 12, 5 to 8 p.m. 
Meal Ticket x Baker’s Bench 
1021 Alpine St., Chinatown
COST: VARIES; MORE INFO

A small, crispy artichoke slider from the restaurant Meal Ticket LA.
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Meal Ticket
)

Two of L.A.'s best vegan chefs are teaming up for a one-night-only collaborative pop-up event at Baker’s Bench: Meal Ticket chef Aaron Elliott and Jen Yee from Baker’s Bench, which was just named one of the best bakeries in the country by the New York Times. Elliott will be slinging his crispy artichoke sandwich, and Yee will be making a chocolate cake with passion fruit sauce. The two of them will also collaborate on a chanterelle pot pie. WOW.

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