18 Awesome Events In Southern California This Week

Now that Thanksgiving is over, it's a sprint to Hanukkah, Christmas and the new year. A tree-lighting ceremony, Christmas-themed cocktails at a holiday pop-up bar and George Balanchine's Nutcracker can help get you in the holiday spirit. Non-holiday options include two Elvis Costello shows, a wine and street food dinner and the opening of the musical Come From Away.

Through MONDAY, DEC. 31
Miracle at The Everly
Kimpton Everly Hotel -- 1800 Argyle Ave., Hollywood
The hotel's Ever Bar is transformed into a retro winter wonderland as the pop-up bar Miracle takes over. The space is ready for the 'gram with a candy cane selfie station, a 15-foot inflatable Santa Claus and a dedicated Hanukkah Hut. Christmas spirits and cocktails include the Run Run Rudolph, made with prosecco, gin and a mulled wine puree as well as the Bad Santa, a hot milk punch made with two kinds of rum, Batavia arrack, pineapple juice and coconut water.
COST: Varies; MORE INFO

MONDAY, NOV. 26; 5 p.m.
L.A. County Tree Lighting
Fountain Overlook at Grand Park -- 200 N. Grand Ave., downtown L.A.
Grand Park and The Music Center present the annual tree lighting featuring performances by the Brass Pacifica chamber ensemble and the L.A. County High School for the Arts. Get there early for free Starbucks hot chocolate and coffee, while supplies last.
COST: FREE; MORE INFO

TUESDAY, NOV. 27; 7:30 p.m.
The Girl and the Picture
Museum of Tolerance -- 9786 West Pico Blvd., Pico-Robertson
The museum screens this documentary by Oscar-winning director Vanessa Roth about an image that bound two families together. In 1937, 8-year-old Xia Shuqin and her younger sister witnessed the murder of their family in the Nanjing Massacre. An American missionary John Magee was documenting the atrocities and filmed the little girls standing in front of what was left of their family home, creating evidence of the massacre. Roth's film brings together two direct descendants of this history. A Q&A follows with director Vanessa Roth and producer Stephen D. Smith.
COST: FREE with RSVP; MORE INFO

WEDNESDAY, NOV. 28; 6 - 10 p.m.
We Love LA: A Night of Local Wine & Street Food
Red Herring -- 1661 Colorado Blvd., Eagle Rock
Restaurant co-owners Dave Woodall and Alexis Martin Woodall bring local wines and street food fare together for a casual, three-course dinner. Woodall serves chicharrones, tamales and chocolate churros paired with wines from LA favorites Cavaletti Vineyards, Byron Blatty Wines and Angeleno Wine Company. Tickets include dinner, six wine pairings and a gratuity, with a cash bar available.
COST: $65; MORE INFO

WEDNESDAY, NOV. 28 - THURSDAY, NOV. 29
Elvis Costello & The Imposters
House of Blues Anaheim, The Wiltern
Costello and his longtime trio are on their "Look Now And Then... It's Elvis Costello & The Imposters" tour. They're playing in support of the veteran rocker's 30th studio album, Look Now. The tour stops in Anaheim on Wednesday and L.A. on Thursday.
COST: Tickets start at $89.50; MORE INFO

WEDNESDAY, NOV. 28; 7:30 p.m.
Music 101: A Symphonic Spectacular - From the Beginnings to Beethoven
Walt Disney Concert Hall -- 111 S. Grand Ave., downtown L.A.
If you want to learn about classical music and enhance your appreciation for it, the LA Phil has designed this multimedia lecture for a broad audience. KUSC's Alan Chapman gives a presentation loaded with examples from some of the genre's most popular works.
COST: $5; MORE INFO

WEDNESDAY, NOV. 28; 7 p.m.
The Last of Sheila
Laemmle's Royal Theatre -- 11523 Santa Monica Blvd., Sawtelle
This 1973 whodunit features the only script ever written by composer Stephen Sondheim, which he co-wrote with actor Anthony Perkins. The film opens with the hit-and-run death of its titular character, a gossip columnist in Hollywood. A year later, her husband, a sadistic producer, invites friends to a holiday on his yacht in the south of France to play mystery games and to reveal his wife's killer -- but more bodies pile up during the trip. For this special 45th anniversary screening, there's a Q&A with co-star Dyan Cannon.
COST: $12 - $15; MORE INFO

WEDNESDAY, NOV. 28; 7:30 p.m.
2018 Art Battle US National Championships
Exchange LA -- 618 S. Spring St., downtown L.A.
Watch live competitive painting as regional finalists vie for the national title, a cash prize of $2,500 and a one-year sponsorship from Fredrix Canvas valued at $5,000. This event is 21+.
COST: $15 - $20; MORE INFO

WEDNESDAY, NOV. 28; 7:45 p.m.
The House That Jack Built - Director's Cut
The Theatre at Ace Hotel -- 929 S. Broadway, downtown L.A.
IFC presents the latest film from controversial Danish filmmaker Lars von Trier. Set in 1970s America, we follow Jack (Matt Dillon) through five incidents that shaped him as a serial killer.
COST: $20; MORE INFO

WEDNESDAY, NOV. 28; 6 - 9 p.m.
KCET's CITY RISING: The Informal Economy
The California Endowment -- 1000 N. Alameda St., downtown L.A.
Attend the premiere screening for the new KCET documentary series that examines how California workers who perform duties off the books are fighting for workers' rights. A panel discussion follows with academics and organizers, moderate by UCLA professor Ananya Roy. During the opening reception, there's a stencil workshop by the Barrio Mobile Art Studio from Self Help Graphics & Art and a dance performance by TUPULAGA Polynesian Dance Group.
COST: FREE with RSVP; MORE INFO

THURSDAY, NOV. 29; 8 p.m.
Preet Bharara
Wilshire Ebell Theatre -- 4401 W. 8th St., Mid-Wilshire
The former crime-fighting U.S. Attorney brings his "Stay Tuned With Preet" podcast to L.A. where he'll chat with actor and comedian Kumail Nanjiani.
COST: $39.50 - $49.50; MORE INFO

THURSDAY, NOV. 29 - TUESDAY, DEC. 4
The Calder Quartet
Various locations
Camerata Pacifica continues its "Why Beethoven?" project in collaboration with The Calder Quartet. The program includes the composer's String Quartet in F Major, Op. 135, the last of the Beethoven's quartets. Performances take place in downtown L.A., Santa Barbara, Ventura and San Marino.
COST: $58; MORE INFO

THURSDAY, NOV. 29; 9 p.m.
KASBO
The Fonda Theatre -- 6126 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood
The young Swedish electronic producer Carl Garsbo -- better known by his stage name KASBO -- headlines this show but you'll want to get there early enough to see supporting act, Australian singer-songwriter-producer Tim Bettinson (aka Vancouver Sleep Clinic), for a mix of ambient folk, R&B and hip-hop.
COST: $23 - $28; MORE INFO

THURSDAY, NOV. 29 - SUNDAY, DEC. 2
George Balanchine's The Nutcracker
The Music Center -- 135 N Grand Ave., downtown L.A.
The Miami City Ballet presents the choreographer's work set to Tchaikovsky's timeless score. The production features more than 100 dancers and cast members, including student dancers from the Colburn School and The Gabriella Foundation's everybody dance! program. The reimagined sets and costumes are from artists Isabel and Ruben Toledo. Nov. 29 performance is a "sweet deal" with every seat in the house just $35.
COST: Tickets start at $34 for the regular run; MORE INFO

iam8bit Gallery opens its annual Christmas ornament art show. (Photo: Courtesy of iam8bit)

THURSDAY, NOV. 29; 8 - 11 p.m.
5th Annual Handmade Ornaments Show Opening Reception
Iam8bit -- 2147 W. Sunset Blvd., Echo Park
The holiday show features hundreds of one-of-a-kind ornaments, hand-crafted by artists from around the country. The works are offered in a variety of media, including crochet, embroidery, painting and ceramics. The show runs through Dec. 23, during regular gallery hours. All ages welcome.
COST: FREE admission with RSVP; MORE INFO

THURSDAY, NOV. 29 - SUNDAY, DEC. 2
"p r i s m"
REDCAT -- 631 West 2nd St., downtown L.A.
L.A. Opera Off Grand presents the world premiere of a new opera by composer Ellen Reid and librettist Roxie Perkins. Presented in collaboration with Beth Morrison Projects, the psychological drama explores the issue of trauma and violence against women, as told through the relationship between a mother and daughter.
COST: $69; MORE INFO

The touring production of the Broadway musical, 'Come from Away,' opens this week in Los Angeles. (Photo: Matthew Murphy)

THURSDAY, NOV 28 - SUNDAY, JAN 6, 2019
Come From Away
Center Theatre Group/Ahmanson Theatre -- 135 N. Grand Ave., downtown L.A.
This musical is based on the true story of 7,000 stranded passengers and the small Newfoundland town that welcomed them after the 9/11 attacks. Written by Tony nominees Irene Sankoff and David Hein, the show also features direction from Tony-winning Christopher Ashley.
COST: Tickets start at $30; MORE INFO

THURSDAY, NOV. 29; 7:30 p.m.
Caught + a conversation with Karina Longworth & Edgar Wright
Bing Theater at LACMA -- 5905 Wilshire Blvd., Mid-Wilshire
Film at LACMA screens Max Ophüls' 1949 film, the first of several to feature a character based on Howard Hughes and Hollywood starlets' experiences with the womanizing millionaire. Author Karina Longworth's book, Seduction: Sex, Lies and Stardom in Howard Hughes's Hollywood, pulls from hundreds of unpublished documents to detail how more than a dozen actresses "got caught in Hughes's web, and how their personal and professional relationships with him impacted their careers, their lives and their legacies." The event features a post-screening conversation with Longworth and director Edgar Wright, followed by a book-signing with Longworth.
COST: FREE admission with RSVP; MORE INFO

How are you spending your week? Let us know on Twitter @christineziemba and @LeoHasACat.

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