Awards season is in full swing and you can reap the benefits with tons of free screenings and filmmaker Q&As. There's also comedy by Nicole Byer, Sasheer Zamata, Ilana Glazer and John Early; Korean cooking demos; cheeseburgers galore and a persimmon-centric restaurant week in Santa Monica.
MONDAY, JAN. 7; 7:30 p.m.
The Favourite & The Lobster
Aero Theatre -- 1328 Montana Ave., Santa Monica
The double-bill of films by Greek director Yorgos Lanthimos begins with the absurdist royal comedy starring Rachel Weisz and Emma Stone and is followed by the dark comedy The Lobster, set in a world where people have 45 days to find a romantic partner or they're turned into an animal. Common will moderate a discussion with Lanthimos between the two films.
COST: FREE with RSVP; MORE INFO
MONDAY, JAN. 7
Crowler Launch
Various locations
Four Los Angeles brewpubs - The Stalking Horse Brewery & Freehouse, 6th & La Brea Brewery and Restaurant, Bluebird Brasserie and Broxton Brewery and Public House -- have banded together as the New Original Breweries. The're offering their beers in 32-oz, to-go cans (aka Crowlers). For the first week of the launch, the Crowlers are specially priced. They will be sold for $1 on Jan. 7 and increase by $1 per day, ending at $7 on Jan. 13. (One per person per day).
COST: Varies; MORE INFO
MONDAY, JAN. 7; 6 - 7:30 p.m.
Introducing TheLand
Edendale Branch - Los Angeles Public Library -- 2011 Sunset Blvd., Echo Park
The Voyager Institute -- which hosts a lecture series on the arts -- presents an evening with the founders of a new LA-centric publication. In 2017, the LA Weekly's new owners fired most of its existing staff with no notice. More than a year later, several former Weekly writers and editors have launched a new alternative print magazine. Voyager Institute's Bret Berg along with George Chen moderate a discussion with TheLAnd's Jeff Weiss and Jennifer Swann.
COST: FREE with RSVP; MORE INFO
MONDAY, JAN. 7; 7:30 p.m.
Perfectos Desconocidos (Perfect Strangers)
Hammer Museum -- 10899 Wilshire Blvd., Westwood
The museum screens the latest film by Manolo Caro (La Casa de Las Flores). Set during a lunar eclipse, the comedy follows a group of friends who take part in a provocative cell phone game at a dinner party. Secrets are revealed and things get wild. A Q&A with Caro and actors Bruno Bichir and Manuel Garcia-Rulfo follows the film. Other free screenings and Q&As at the Hammer this week include Hale County This Morning, This Evening on Tuesday and Period. End of Sentence. on Wednesday.
COST: FREE; MORE INFO
MONDAY, JAN. 7 - SUNDAY, DEC. 13
Santa Monica Restaurant Week
Various locations
Participating restaurants and chefs create custom dishes using this year's special restaurant week ingredient: persimmon. Try dozens of items, including the roasted acorn squash and pickled persimmons taco ($3) at Azulé Taqueria, the roasted persimmon tartine at Upper West and a persimmon pizza at Stella Barra.
COST: Varies; MORE INFO
THROUGH FRIDAY, DEC. 11
Cheeseburger Week
Various locations -- Pasadena
The cheeseburger was allegedly created at The Rite Spot in Pasadena in 1924. Celebrate the meaty delight at 40 Pasadena eateries. Some will be offering deals, while others like El Portal, Dog Haus and Dog Haus Biergarten will offer special burgers.
COST: Varies; MORE INFO
TUESDAY, JAN. 8; 8 p.m.
3rd Annual David Bowie Birthday Party
The Hi Hat -- 5043 York Blvd, Highland Park
Celebrate what would have been Bowie's 72nd birthday by checking out performances from Iconique, LoveyDove and Super Creeps. This event is all ages.
COST: FREE; MORE INFO
TUESDAY, JAN. 8 - WEDNESDAY, JAN. 9; 8 p.m.
Ilana Glazer
Dynasty Typewriter -- 2511 Wilshire Blvd., Westlake
The co-creator and co-star of Broad City (which begins airing its fifth and final season this month) hosts a night of comedy and surprises. This show is 18+.
COST: $20 - $25; MORE INFO
TUESDAY, JAN. 8; 8 p.m.
John Early
The Satellite -- 1717 Silver Lake Blvd., Silver Lake
The comic, best known for his work in TBS' Search Party and Vimeo's 555 with Kate Berlant, hosts his monthly comedy and variety show. This event is 21+.
COST: $8; MORE INFO
TUESDAY, JAN. 8; 8:30 p.m.
Nicole Byer & Sasheer Zamata
Largo at the Coronet -- 366 N La Cienega Blvd., Beverly Grove
These BFFs created and starred in the UCB-produced web series Pursuit of Sexiness in 2013, before Zamata joined SNL and Byer starred in *Loosely Exactly Nicole. Watch the two improvise live on stage.
COST: $30; MORE INFO
TUESDAY, JAN. 8; 1 - 4:30 p.m.
Taste of Korea
Institute of Culinary Education -- 521 East Green St., Room M-211, Pasadena
The cooking school opens its doors to the public for the first time, presenting three, one-hour cooking demonstrations that celebrate Korean cuisine. Learn about food history and techniques while watching demos led by Michelle Choi, president of the N.Y. Korean Culinary Association, and Seonghee Jeong, owner and executive chef of Brothers BBQ Restaurant and Brothers Shabushi Restaurant. Even better? Attendees get to taste the Korean treats created.
COST: FREE with RSVP; MORE INFO
TUESDAY, JAN. 8; 7 p.m.
The Drop: Trisha Yearwood With Don Was & Al Schmitt
Grammy Museum -- 800 W. Olympic Blvd., downtown L.A.
The museum welcomes multiple Grammy-, CMA- and ACM-winning artists along with the producer Was and engineer Schmitt. They'll discuss the making of Yearwood's new album, Let's Be Frank, a collection of the singer's favorite songs by Frank Sinatra. The evening ends with an intimate performance.
COST: $40; MORE INFO
WEDNESDAY, JAN. 9 - SUNDAY, FEB. 17
Linda Vista
Mark Taper Forum -- 135 N. Grand Ave., downtown L.A.
Center Theatre Group presents Tracy Letts' biting play about on a 50-year-old man who has lost his way when a move from his ex-wife's garage to his own apartment "opens up new possibilities for love, sex and maybe a taste of redemption." The production is directed by Dexter Bullard and stars Ian Barford, Tim Hopper, Sally Murphy, Caroline Neff, Chantal Thuy, Cora Vander Broek and Troy West.
COST: Tickets start at $30; MORE INFO
WEDNESDAY, JAN. 9; 5:30 p.m.
Knott's Preserved: From Boysenberry to Theme Park, The History of Knott's Berry Farm
Book Club of California at Women's City Club of Pasadena -- 160 N. Oakland Ave., Pasadena
Author Eric Lynxwiler presents an illustrated lecture about his book, which traces the transformation of Walter and Cordelia Knott's berry farm into a theme park. The book features more than 200 images, many of which had never been published before.
COST: FREE with RSVP; MORE INFO
WEDNESDAY, JAN. 9; 7 p.m.
Gaby Dunn's Bad With Money
Barnes & Noble @ The Grove -- 189 Grove Dr., Fairfax
The actress, writer, activist and podcaster behind Bad with Money, discusses and signs her book, which "reveals the legitimate, systemic reasons behind our feeling of helplessness when it comes to personal finance." Dunn talks freelancing, insurance plans, credit cards, student loans and budgeting. She'll be chatting with special guest Stephanie Beatriz (from Brooklyn Nine-Nine). Wristbands will be issued on a first come, first serve basis to customers who purchase the book, beginning at 10 a.m. on Jan. 9.
COST: FREE with book purchase; MORE INFO
WEDNESDAY, JAN. 9; 7 p.m.
10-Year Anniversary Screening: Man on Wire
Art Theatre Long Beach -- 2025 E 4th St., Long Beach
French daredevil Philippe Petit's wire-walk between the World Trade Center's Twin Towers in 1973 was a moment for the history books. For almost an hour, he danced on that wire, without a net, before getting arrested. This documentary was the first film the theater screened after renovations and its grand reopening 10 years ago.
COST: $9 - $12; MORE INFO
THURSDAY, JAN. 10 - FRIDAY, JAN. 11 and SUNDAY, JAN. 13
Adams & Glass
Walt Disney Concert Hall -- 111 S Grand Ave., downtown L.A.
The concerts feature works from two great contemporary composers. John Adams conducts his minimalist composition Grand Pianola Music as well as the world premiere of Philip Glass' Symphony No. 12, Lodger, from the music of David Bowie and Brian Eno. The latter work is an L.A. Phil commission, created in honor of its year-long centennial celebration. Bonus: Angélique Kidjo is among the program's vocalists.
COST: Tickets start at $20; MORE INFO
THURSDAY, JAN. 10 - SATURDAY, JAN. 26
Off Center Festival
Samueli Theater at Segerstrom Center for the Arts -- 615 Town Center Dr., Costa Mesa
The festival debuts three contemporary productions.The performance piece HEAR WORD! Naija Woman Talk True recounts the stories of Nigerian women and the obstacles they face. Latinx artist Flaco Navaja presents his first full-length solo show, Evolution of a Sonero. And No Place to Go is a musical homage to vaudeville and an ode to unemployment from Ethan Lipton and His Orchestra.
COST: $25 per performance; MORE INFO
THURSDAY, JAN. 10 - SATURDAY, JAN. 12; 7:30 p.m.
Hubbard Street Dance Chicago and Third Coast Percussion
Bram Goldsmith Theater at the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts -- 9390 N. Santa Monica Blvd., Beverly Hills
The Wallis presents the West Coast premiere of excerpts from the first collaboration between the contemporary dance company Hubbard Street Dance Chicago and Grammy Award-winning Third Coast Percussion. The new works are "For All Its Fury" by choreographer Emma Portner and "Everything Must Go" by Teddy Forance. The program also includes a score by British composer Devonté Hynes (aka Blood Orange), performed live by the quartet of classically-trained percussionists.
COST: $35 - $105; MORE INFO
THURSDAY, JAN. 10; 5:30 - 7 p.m.
The Sixth Sun: Mayan Uprising in Chiapas
Vincent Price Art Museum -- 1301 Avenida Cesar Chavez, Monterey Park
VPAM screens Saul Landau's 1995 documentary about the Zapatista uprising in Mexico in 1994. The fight for indigenous rights and was launched in response to the implementation of NAFTA. The program is being held in conjunction with the museum's current exhibition, Regeneración: Three Generations of Revolutionary Ideology.
COST: FREE; MORE INFO
Correction: A previous version of this story named the incorrect restaurant where the cheeseburger was allegedly created.
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