Eat, drink and be merry! Sip cocktails inspired by Jonathan Gold. Savor Creole creations. Swing by Swingers for a bite. Holiday music shows benefit wildfire victims, womens shelters and homeless issues. MoMA's Contenders wraps this week, while Rooftop Cinema screens Brazil.
Ongoing
Jonathan Gold-inspired Cocktail Menu
Otium -- 222 South Hope St., downtown L.A.
Last week, chef Timothy Hollingsworth and bar director Chris Amirault debuted 14 cocktails in homage to the late writer's most memorable food reviews. The new drinks include Little Sister (Sipsmith gin, Bitter Suze, barley tea, flower wines and pineapple), The Bazaar by José Andrés (Fino sherry, lime, banana floss, almond charcoal) and, naturally, Otium (Hibiki Harmony, lemon, yuzu honey, almond, Japanese bitters).
COST: $13 - $18 each; MORE INFO
MONDAY, DEC. 17; 7 - 10 p.m.
Réveillon! A Creole Christmas Feast in LA's Little New Orleans
Harold & Belle's Creole Restaurant -- 2920 W. Jefferson Blvd., Jefferson Park
Celebrate Christmas in L.A. like you're in LA. Savor the tastes of New Orleans with traditional Creole dishes including charred oysters, crawfish étoufée and soft-shell crabs. They go well with famous NOLA cocktails, like the Sazerac, the Vieux Carré and the Café Brûlot, made with French brandy. Presented by the Pacific Food & Beverage Museum.
COST: $79 - $89; MORE INFO
MONDAY, DEC. 17; 7:30 p.m.
School Night Holiday Benefit
Bardot -- 1737 Vine St., Hollywood
This special edition of the weekly music showcase benefits Elizabeth House, a women's shelter for at-risk, pregnant women and their children. The night features live performances by Moby, Trace and Rett Madison, and DJ sets by Whitney Day, Raul Campos and Chris Douridas. The event is 21+. Advance tickets are sold out, so get on the waitlist.
COST: $25; MORE INFO
MONDAY, DEC. 17 - TUESDAY, DEC. 18; 7:30 p.m.
MoMA Contenders
Hammer Museum -- 10899 Wilshire Blvd., Westwood
The Museum of Modern Art's film series, which screens important films from the last 12 months, concludes this week. On Monday, Can You Ever Forgive Me?, a film about celeb biographer Lee Israel, is followed by a Q&A with star Melissa McCarthy and Roxane Gay. The series wraps with Sorry to Bother You and a Q&A with director Boots Riley.
COST: $20; MORE INFO
THROUGH SUNDAY, DEC. 23
Winterfest at Santa Anita Park
Santa Anita Park (Gate 6) -- 285 West Huntington Dr., Santa Anita
The SGV's winter wonderland has something for all ages. In addition to a skating rink, there are horse drawn carriage rides, Santa's Village with gingerbread-making, a petting zoo, carolers, giant inflatables, pony rides, craft activities, music, seasonal and holiday foods and more than 80 vendors. Fest packages are available.
COST: $5 admission (includes hot cocoa and a cookie); MORE INFO
TUESDAY, DEC. 18; 7:30 p.m.
Brazil
LEVEL -- 888 S. Olive St., downtown L.A.
Amid all the holiday fare -- Elf, Love Actually, It's a Wonderful Life, etc. -- we spotted this classic sci-fi flick directed by Terry Gilliam. The 1985 dystopian work satirizes the bureaucratic, industrialized society and stars Jonathan Pryce and Robert De Niro. The screening is 18+.
COST: Tickets start at $17; MORE INFO
Through DEC. 30
The Wonderful Winter Of Oz
Pasadena Civic Auditorium -- 300 East Green St., Pasadena
Inspired by the British pantomime tradition, this is a raucous, silly, family-friendly production. Dorothy gets swept away by a freak Kansas blizzard on Christmas Eve and lands in a world of munchkins and witches. The cast, led by teen dance star Mackenzie Ziegler and comedian Phil LaMarr, is joined by guests Kermit The Frog and Wilshire The L.A.F.D. Fire Dog as Toto.
COST: Tickets start at $40; MORE INFO
TUESDAY, DEC. 18; 8 p.m.
Nortec Collective
The Roxy Theatre -- 9009 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood
For nearly two decades, the ensemble has been mixing norteño and banda with electronic beats. The collective plays an all-ages show with Grenda and Julio Y Su Teclado Magico.
COST: $20 - $25; MORE INFO
TUESDAY, DEC. 18; 6 a.m. - 2 a.m.
Swingers 25th Anniversary
Swingers Diner -- 8020 Beverly Blvd., Beverly Grove
The diner (not the movie) celebrates 25 years in the business. Sean MacPherson's retro Americana breakfast joint and late-night gathering place offers 25% off all day long at the original Beverly location. The first 100 dine-in patrons get a free, commemorative T-shirt, too.
COST: Varies; MORE INFO
TUESDAY, DEC. 18; 8 p.m.
Father John Misty: The California Wildfires Benefit
Theatre at Ace Hotel -- 929 S. Broadway, downtown L.A.
To help those suffering because of the recent California wildfires, Father John Misty and Goldenvoice team up for an intimate night of music. The all ages show features sets by FJM, HAIM, Jeff Bhasker, Jonathan Wilson, Lucius, Mac DeMarco, Nate Ruess, Rivers Cuomo, Rostam, Tim Heidecker and Weyes Blood. Net proceeds go to The Southern California Disaster Relief Fund, which supports low-income families affected by the SoCal wildfires.
COST: $59.50 - $199.50; MORE INFO
WEDNESDAY, DEC. 19; 8 p.m.
Ho Ho Ho Improv Diary Show
M.i.'s Westside Comedy Theater -- 1323-A ("A" stands for alley) Third St. Promenade, Santa Monica
Every third Wednesday of the month, two brave souls read from their teen diaries. Going a step beyond Mortified, the improv team then performs scenes inspired by the readings. This month's holiday show features comedian Louise Woods and writer Patrick Tamisiea revealing their youthful angst.
COST: $5; MORE INFO
WEDNESDAY, DEC. 19 - THURSDAY, DEC. 20; 9 p.m.
Thom Yorke
The Orpheum Theatre -- 842 S. Broadway, downtown L.A.
The Radiohead frontman plays two solo nights in L.A. in the middle of a month-long winter tour. The shows come on the heels of Yorke's score for the remake of the horror film Suspiria. The shows are technically sold out, but where there's a will....
COST: $55.50 - $65.50; MORE INFO
WEDNESDAY, DEC. 19; 7 - 10 p.m.
LAND'S 2018 Holiday Moveable Feast
Segovia Hall at the Ace Hotel -- 929 S. Broadway, downtown L.A.
The contemporary public art organization LAND (Los Angeles Nomadic Division) holds a family-style spaghetti dinner by chef Michael Cimarusti. Artists' multiples, editions, publications and merchandise will be for sale and Mark Hagen's Ars Moriendi will be on view for the first time in Los Angeles.
COST: $65 - $80; MORE INFO
WEDNESDAY, DEC. 19; 7 - 10 p.m.
L.A. Gives Back 3
Catch One -- 4067 W Pico Blvd
IHEARTCOMIX presents a special holiday auction and show that benefits the L.A. Downtown Women's Center and My Friend's Place -- organizations that are addressing the homeless crisis in L.A. The event features five rooms of music curated by Brownies & Lemonade, Emo Nite, Ninja Tune, Adult Swim, Ham On Everything, Mad Decent, Late Night Laggers and Restless Nites. There are also live performances by a super secret lineup. The event is 18+.
COST: Tickets $25 - $35; MORE INFO
THURSDAY, DEC. 20 - SUNDAY, JAN. 6, 2019
Winter Fest OC
Orange County Fair & Event Center -- 88 Fair Dr., Costa Mesa
SoCal's largest winter experience opens this week with 40,000 square feet of new attractions and returning activities. The fun includes an outdoor ice-skating rink, ice tubing at Snowflake Summit, snow play, a larger Festival of Lights tunnel and a SoCal Dickens Village.
COST: Tickets start at $10; MORE INFO
THURSDAY, DEC. 20; 7:30 p.m.
Peter Harper
NOOR at Paseo Colorado -- 300 E. Colorado Blvd #200, Pasadena
The Harper family's youngest son turns away from art and teaching to take up the family business, music. (His parents own the Claremont Folk Music Center and you might have heard of his siblings -- Ellen, Joel and Ben.) He's playing his blend of American folk soul with a full band.
COST: $8; MORE INFO
THURSDAY, DEC. 20; 8 p.m.
Fishbone - Crazy Glue Xmas
The Regent Theater -- 448 S. Main St., downtown L.A.
Time to party at ground zero and usher in the holidays with ska-punk veterans Fishbone. The Expanders, Law and Bite Me Bambi round out the nill. This event is 18+.
COST: $20.50 - $25; MORE INFO
THURSDAY, DEC. 20; 8:30 p.m.
Merry Axed-Mas: Deleted Scenes from Christmas Movies
UCBT Sunset -- 5419 W. Sunset Blvd., East Hollywood
Our fave Christmas movies have tons of memorable scenes. These aren't those. Watch as performers Steve Szlaga, Colin Murphy, Sheila Carrasco, Charlie Faith and Rebecca Warm, among others, recreate deleted Christmas scenes from movies like Home Alone and Elf.
COST: $7; MORE INFO
How are you spending your week? Let us know on Twitter @christineziemba and @LeoHasACat.
You made it! Congrats, you read the entire story, you gorgeous human. This story was made possible by generous people like you. Independent, local journalism costs $$$$$. And now that LAist is part of KPCC, we rely on that support. So if you aren't already, be one of us! Help us help you live your best life in Southern California. Donate now.
