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Looking for something to do this holiday week? Here are 18 of our favorite events happening in Los Angeles this week and weekend.
MONDAY, DEC. 21
A BAND & A MOVIE (Film + Music)
A Band & A Movie series at Cinefamily asks some of their favorite musicians to curate a film that inspired them and play a music set afterwards. Dylan Carlson, of drone doom group Earth and solo-project Drcarlsonalbion, has selected Sam Peckinpah’s 1974 film Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Garcia. The screening starts at 7:30 pm on Monday with a set from Carlson to follow. Tickets: $20.
ROOM (Film Screening + Q&A)
The suspenseful drama Room stars Brie Larson as a captive mother held in a room with her young son Jack (Jacob Tremblay) for years. The two plan a daring escape from their captor and room. On Monday, there’s a special screening of Room at 7:30 pm at the Aero Theatre in Santa Monica with Larson doing a Q&A after the film. Tickets: $11.
SCHOOL NIGHT (Music)
School Night welcomes live music and DJ sets from both up-and-coming and seasoned artists every Monday night at Bardot in Hollywood. This week, it’s the season finale with live performances by The Palms, Jared & The Mill, Tall Tales and the Silver Lining and Nico Yaran with DJ sets by PZB, Mukta Mohan and Chris Douridas. Free with RSVP for those 21+; $10 for 18+ with RSVP. Doors at 7:30 pm.
TUESDAY, DEC. 22
WHITE CHRISTMAS (Sing-Along)
The LA Phil’s Deck the Hall series presents a newly created sing-along version of White Christmas, the 1954 classic film starring Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye and Rosemary Clooney that features songs like "The Best Things Happen When You're Dancing," "Snow," "Sisters" and "White Christmas" by legendary composer Irving Berlin. The film sing-along takes place at Walt Disney Concert Hall on Tuesday at 8 pm. Tickets: $53.50-$74.50.
ORIGIN STORY (Storytelling)
Origin Story the monthly storytelling night at UCB Sunset, hosted by MOTH champion Margot Leitman, takes place on Tuesday at 8:30 pm. The show focuses on stories about beginnings—about how TV shows were created, how two people fell in love or hate—and this week it features tales by Jackie Kashian of The Dork Forest podcast, H. Alan Scott of The Golden Girls Podcast, Theo Greenly of The Moth and Karolyn Gehrig of #hospitalglam. Tickets: $5.
A perfect martini at Now Boarding. (Image: Courtesy of Now Boarding's Facebook page)
NOW BOARDING (Drinks)
Now Boarding, the 1960's Pan-AM-style cocktail lounge in WeHo, celebrates its one-year anniversary on Tuesday from 8 pm to close with a Rat Pack Party. Dress to impress and indulge in $8 cocktail specials, canapés, a live jazz band and a photo booth. No cover charge.THE HATEFUL EIGHT (Costumes)
The Autry Museum of the American West presents a costume and prop display from Quentin Tarantino’s latest film The Hateful Eight, due out on Christmas (in 70mm). Visitors to the museum can see costumes worn by Samuel L. Jackson, Jennifer Jason Leigh and Kurt Russell—including a buffalo coat based on an object in the Autry's collections. The display opens on Tuesday in the Autry's Imagination Gallery. Admission: $4-$10.
WEDNESDAY, DEC. 23
SOWETO GOSPEL CHOIR (Music)
The LA Phil’s Deck the Hall series presents a performance by the Soweto Gospel Choir on Wednesday at 8 pm at Walt Disney Concert Hall. The Grammy-winning South African ensemble sings its holiday program that blends African gospel, spirituals, reggae and pop music. Tickets: $53.50-$74.50.
THURSDAY, DEC. 24
LA COUNTY HOLIDAY CELEBRATION (Party)
L.A. County’s 56th Annual Holiday Celebration takes place from 3-6 pm on Thursday (Christmas Eve) at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion. Entertainment on the Music Center plaza starts at 12:30 pm and doors to the Pavilion open at 2:30 pm with people queuing up much earlier. It’s a free concert with music and dance performances from more than 20 organizations and cultures from all over L.A. County. Performances this year from the Spanish Harlem Orchestra, Invertigo Dance Theatre, Mostly Kosher, MôForró, Run River North and Gay Men's Chorus of Los Angeles. Both the event and parking are free. If you can’t make it down, the show is broadcast live on PBS Socal (KOCE HD), and repeats at 9 pm and again on Christmas Day at noon.
THE CHURCH KEY (Chinese Food)
Chef Steven Fretz of The Church Key in WeHo presents a new holiday tradition: all-you-can-eat Chinese food paired with two holiday movie screenings on Christmas Eve. The menu features Shrimp & Pork Pot Stickers, Steam Bao-BBQ Pork Shoulder, Crab Rangoons, Crispy Peking Duck-Pancakes, Beef Skirt Stake & Broccoli, Orange Chicken, Brioche Donuts with an Orange Glaze, Orange Flavored Fortune Cookies, and Fresh Sliced Valencia Oranges. Home Alone screens at 6 pm and Elf screens at 8:15 pm. Price: $39 for adults; $21 for kids or do Chinese take-out for two ($65).
MATZOBALL (Holiday)
On Christmas Eve, The Room Hollywood hosts the MatzoBall, the nation’s leading Jewish singles event and party from 9 pm to 2 am. Tickets: $30.
SEASON'S BEATINGS (Film)
Cinefamily presents the series Season's Beatings: A Christmas in Hong Kong beginning on Christmas Eve with Enter the Dragon starring Bruce Lee at 10:30 pm. The fun continues this weekend with a Jackie Chan Double Feature at 9:30 pm (Rumble in the Bronx & City Hunter); and a Sammo Sunday Double Feature (Pedicab Driver & Blade of Fury) at 7 pm. Tickets: $12-$20.
FRIDAY, DEC. 25
NEW MOVIES (Film)
If you get tired/bored of family, friends, food and merriment, slip away to the movies. Films opening on Christmas Day alone include: The Revenant, The Hateful Eight, Joy, Point Break, Concussion and Daddy's Home.
IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE (Film)
Cinefamily screens the Frank Capra classic It’s a Wonderful Life for the last time this year on Christmas Day (Thursday) at 7:30 pm (on 35 mm). Watch Clarence get his wings on the big screen while George and Mary lasso the moon. Tickets: $12.
SATURDAY, DEC. 26
SANTA ANITA (Horseracing)
Santa Anita’s Winter Meet Opening Day is on Saturday from 10 am to 5 pm for Thoroughbred racing. There are a number of food and beverage packages available that run from $30-$85, but general admission is only $5. All patrons will receive a 2016 wall calendar, and the first 5,000 kids, 17 and younger will receive a mini Thoroughbred plush toy.
DOC FILM SERIES (Documentary Screenings)
Arena Cinema in Hollywood presents the Doc Holiday Series beginning on Saturday, featuring some of the best documentary films of 2015. The screenings run Dec. 26-29 and include: The Look of Silence, Heart of a Dog, Best of Enemies and Welcome to Leith.
MURS (Music)
Rapper Murs plays the Fonda on Saturday as part of his Have A Nice Life Tour 2015. Opening the night are Kno, King Fantastic and Kembe X. 9 pm. Tickets: $20. All ages.
SUNDAY, DEC. 27
NEIL HAMBURGER LIVE (Comedy)
Neil Hamburger: LIVE is at the Satellite on Sunday night. In addition to comedy by Hamburger, the lineup includes Jesse Elias, Zach Zucker, Katie Crown, Davey Johnson and Esther Povitsky. Doors at 8 pm and the show is 8:30 pm. Tickets: $8. 21+.
Want the 411 on additional events and happenings in LA? Follow @LAist or me (@christineziemba) on Twitter.
