There are many ways to celebrate (or not celebrate) the holidays, so you do you. There's the traditional: the L.A. County Celebration, a screening of It's a Wonderful Life and a Feast of the Seven Fishes. And there's the not-so: a Christmas Day hot dog bar, a Halal Indo-Chinese and Chinese Jewmas Dinner, a Kwanzaa rap battle and a MatzoBall. For non-holiday related events, check out Sri Lankan art, a screening of The Deer Hunter, classic cartoons and music by Erykah Badu.
MONDAY, DEC. 24; 3 - 6 p.m.
59th Annual L.A. County Holiday Celebration
The Music Center's Dorothy Chandler Pavilion -- 135 N. Grand Ave., downtown L.A.
L.A.'s largest holiday celebration is a family-friendly afternoon with performances by more than 20 music ensembles, choirs and dance companies. The lineup includes the Gay Men's Chorus of Los Angeles, Infinite Flow - An Inclusive Dance Company, Kayamanan Ng Lahi Philippine Folk Arts, Lorenzo Johnson & Praizum and Tres Souls. Doors at 2:30 p.m., seats are on a first-come, first-served basis, but people can come and go throughout the show. If you can't make it in person, the show will be broadcast live on both PBS SoCal and KCET and streamed at pbssocal.org.
COST: FREE; MORE INFO
MONDAY, DEC. 24; 9 p.m. - 2 a.m.
The Original MatzoBall Los Angeles
The Argyle Hollywood -- 1600 Argyle Ave., Hollywood
Party like it's 5779! The Society of Young Jewish Professionals throws a huge shindig. Get ready to mix, mingle and dance all night long. Ages 21+. Table packages available.
COST: $40 - $50; MORE INFO
MONDAY, DEC. 24; 4 p.m. - midnight
Tiki Christmas
Beelman's -- 600 S. Spring St., downtown L.A.
Skip the milk and cookies while waiting up for Santa. Head to DTLA's plant-based pub, which will offer all its Tiki drinks for $8.
COST: Varies; MORE INFO
THROUGH JUNE 23, 2019
The Jeweled Isle: Art from Sri Lanka
Resnick Pavilion at LACMA -- 5905 Wilshire Blvd., Mid-Wilshire
This exhibition, which opened earlier in December, is the first comprehensive survey of Sri Lankan art presented and organized by a U.S. museum. The exhibition includes nearly 250 works -- from decorative objects to photographs -- that encompass 2,000 years of the South Asian country's history. While LACMA is closed on Christmas Day, it is open on Wednesday this week.
COST: General admission: $16 - $25; MORE INFO
MONDAY, DEC. 24; 10 a.m.
It's a Wonderful Life
The Vista -- 4473 Sunset Dr., Los Feliz
Yes, this 1946 Frank Capra film is sentimental and sappy but we love it. Watch in 35mm as George Bailey (Jimmy Stewart) tries to leave his hometown of Bedford Falls to lasso the moon. He never does. Thinking his life is a failure, George contemplates suicide on Christmas Eve until an angel shows him what life in Bedford Falls would've been like without him.
COST: $12.75 - $20; MORE INFO
TUESDAY, DEC. 25; 7 - 9 p.m.
Halal Indo-Chinese and Chinese Jewmas Dinner
Revolutionario North African Tacos and Halal Restaurant -- 1436 West Jefferson Blvd., Exposition Park
This sounds like a can't-miss meeting of cultures and cuisines on Christmas Day. Podcaster and events organizer Joshua Heller teams with Revolutionario to present a night of Indo-Chinese and Caribbean Chinese dishes. The menu includes General Tzo's chicken, chili crab, Gobi Manchurian cauliflower, Schezwan fried basmati rice, Hakka Chow Mein and the restaurant's tacos. Reservations highly recommended by emailing or calling 424-223-3526.
COST: Varies; MORE INFO
MONDAY, DEC. 24; 5:30 - 10:30 p.m.
Feast of Seven Fishes
Nerano Beverly Hills -- 9960 S. Santa Monica Blvd., Beverly Hills
The Festa dei sette pesci aka "The Eve" is an Italian-American celebration of Christmas Eve with seafood. The restaurant serves up seafood items reminiscent of Southern Italy including: braised octopus, tuna tartar and squid ink pasta.
COST: Varies; MORE INFO
MONDAY, DEC. 24; 11 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Southern Eats
Yardbird Southern Table & Bar at the Beverly Center -- 8500 Beverly Blvd., Suite 112, Beverly Grove
The restaurant serves brunch all-day long -- with a few special southern items including a muffuletta, a Nashville hot chicken sandwich, St. Louis pork ribs and green eggs and ham.
COST: Varies; MORE INFO
TUESDAY, DEC. 25; 6 p.m. - 1 a.m.
Christmas Hot Dog Bar
Spring St. Bar -- 626 S. Spring St., downtown L.A.
If all you wanted for Christmas was a tricked out hot dog bar, then get to this neighborhood pub, pronto.
COST: Tickets start at $40; MORE INFO
Through March 31, 2019
Uncaged: Hero for Higher
Culver Center of the Arts at UCR Arts -- 3824 + 3834 Main St., Riverside
This exhibition analyzes Marvel's Luke Cage character as a representation for black men and masculinity in American comics culture. The works on view also present the formal expressions of the character since his creation in 1972 as well as the negative meaning projected onto a black superhero. The venue is closed on Christmas Eve/Day as well as New Year's Eve/Day.
COST: Free - $6; MORE INFO
WEDNESDAY, DEC. 26; 2 and 7 p.m.
The Greatest Cartoons Ever
Alex Theatre -- 216 N. Brand Blvd., Glendale
The 8th annual edition of the cartoon event celebrates Mickey Mouse's 90th birthday by screening two iconic shorts: Plane Crazy (1928) and Through the Mirror (1936). Watch other classic cartoons from the Fleischers, Chuck Jones and Hanna Barbera.
COST: $13 - $17; MORE INFO
WEDNESDAY, DEC. 26 - THURSDAY, DEC. 27; 12:30, 4 and 8 p.m.
The Deer Hunter: 40th Anniversary
The Frida Cinema -- 305 E. 4th St., Santa Ana
Michael Cimino's violent and chilling take on the aftermath of the Vietnam War won five Academy Awards. It follows the lives of three Pennsylvania steelworkers -- played by Robert DeNiro, John Savage and Christopher Walken -- who are forever changed after they're captured and tormented by the Viet Cong.
COST: $7 - $10; MORE INFO
WEDNESDAY, DEC. 26; 8 p.m.
A Kwanzaa Rap Battle
UCB Franklin -- 5919 Franklin Ave., Franklin Village
Kwanzaa takes place from Dec. 26 to Jan. 1, so celebrate its first night by watching comedian make fun of each other in a comedy rap battle. Hosted by Zora Bikangaga and Shaun Fisher, battlers include Cart Tart, Ronnie Adrian, Leonard Smith Jr., Sherry Cola, Ross Bryant and Sam Epstein.
COST: $7; MORE INFO
THURDAY, DEC. 27; 1:30 p.m.
Timeless Melodies: Famous Movie Songs
Bowers Museum -- 2002 N. Main St., Santa Ana
Music historian and aficionado Larry Maurer presents a cinematic survey of songs that helped imprint unforgettable scenes on screen. The first lecture in the series includes songs that helped usher in the "talkies," sustained America during the Great Depression and through two world wars.
COST: $9 - $12; MORE INFO
THURSDAY, DEC. 27; 8 p.m.
Erykah Badu
The Novo DTLA -- 800 W. Olympic Blvd., downtown L.A.
Badu shares her mix of soul, funk and jazz, performing selections from her 20+ year career, which launched in 1997 with the release of Baduizm. All ages.
COST: Tickets $75 - $125; MORE INFO
THURSDAY, DEC. 27; 8 p.m.
Boast Rattle: Was It Really That Bad?
Dynasty Typewriter -- 2511 Wilshire Blvd., Westlake
Do you think the year was a complete downer? Head into 2019 with a new attitude as comedians try to compliment 2018. They'll take turns talking about a positive, funny or ridiculous thing that brought them joy in the last year. Hosted by Kyle Ayers with surprise guests, the lineup includes Sara Benincasa, Ron Funches, Kara Klenk, The Puterbaugh Sisters, Dave Ross and Blair Socci. The show is 18+.
COST: $10 - $15; MORE INFO
THURSDAY, DEC. 27; 7:30 p.m.
The Shop Around the Corner / Christmas in Connecticut
Aero Theatre -- 1328 Montana Ave., Santa Monica
Watch the 1940 Ernst Lubitsch romantic comedy in 35mm. It stars Jimmy Stewart and Margaret Sullivan as co-workers who anonymously fall in love through letters. The film inspired Nora Ephron's You've Got Mail. Introducing the film is Lubitsch's daughter, Nicola Lubitsch. The double-feature concludes with Peter Godfrey's 1945 comedy starring Barbara Stanwyck.
COST: $12; MORE INFO
THURSDAY, DEC. 27; 8 p.m.
Sofia Wolfson / Sharon Silva / A.O. Gerber
Bootleg Theater, Bar Stage -- 2220 Beverly Blvd. Westlake
Listen to music from young, up-and-coming artists, headlined by singer-songwriter Sofia Wolfson, who played her first gig at 13 and released her first album at 16. Also on the bill are other L.A. musicians Silva and Gerber. This event is 21+.
COST: $10; MORE INFO
How are you spending your week? Let us know on Twitter @christineziemba and @LeoHasACat.
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