Food and music events rule the week. The L.A. Times' 101 Restaurants event takes place, for the first time without Jonathan Gold. A Hanukkah celebration features latkes and laughter. Magic Bronson, Echo & The Bunnymen and She & Him perform. Love Actually Live, a theatrical adaptation of the popular Christmas movie, debuts. And KPCC In Person tackles immigration in the Inland Empire.
MONDAY, DEC. 3 - TUESDAY, DEC. 18; 7:30 p.m.
MoMA Contenders 2018
Hammer Museum -- 10899 Wilshire Blvd., Westwood
The Museum of Modern Art in New York selects a handful of films made in the last 12 months that they will stand the test of time -- or earn awards and cult status. Each screening is followed by conversations with directors and actors. The L.A. edition of the series begins Monday with Cold War with director Pawel Pawlikowski. Other screenings this week include: Black Panther, Widows and Free Solo.
COST: $20 per screening; MORE INFO
MONDAY, DEC. 3 - TUESDAY, DEC. 4
Feasting with Friends / Chefs Stand Up Dinner
The Standard Downtown -- 550 S. Flower St., downtown L.A.
On Monday at Croft Alley (and again on Dec. 10 and 17) at the hotel, chef Phuong brings past and current collaborators for a holiday feast including Maddi Bragg (of Croft Alley on Melrose) and Amanda Lanza (of Cash Only). Each week features new holiday-themed dishes available alongside the restaurant's winter cocktail menu. On Tuesday, the last installment of the guest chef fundraising dinner series features Alex Raij and Eder Montero (from La Vara, Txikito, El Quinto Pino and Saint Julivert in NY) creating a prix fixe meal to support the ACLU's Immigrant Rights Project.
COST: $95 for Chefs Stand Up, varies for Croft Alley specials; MORE INFO
MONDAY, DEC. 3; 8:30 p.m. doors
Magic Bronson Residency
The Satellite -- 1717 Silver Lake Blvd., Silver Lake
The L.A.-based electro duo takes over Monday nights in December. The first night's lineup starts at 9 p.m. with The Time Travelers, Bone Acre, Magic Bronson and EasyFriend. DJ sets by SLUGS. The residency features The Wild Riot Inksquad doing $10 flash tattoos, live art, pop-up vendors and drink specials.
COST: FREE with RSVP; MORE INFO
MONDAY, DEC. 3; 6:30 - 9:30 p.m.
Los Angeles Times 101 Restaurants We Love
The MacArthur -- 607 South Park View St., Westlake
The all-inclusive sipping and tasting event continues without late restaurant critic Jonathan Gold. Try small plates from some of the city's best restaurants including Bestia, Broken Spanish, CUT, Ma'am Sir, Majordomo, Sichuan Impression, Taco Maria and Trois Mec. This event is 21+.
COST: $135; MORE INFO
TUESDAY, DEC. 4 - SUNDAY, APRIL 21, 2019
MONUMENTality
Getty Center -- 1200 Getty Center Dr., Brentwood
This exhibition asks viewers to think about why certain monuments endure and others fall and how the meanings behind them change over time. The exhibition features rare books, ephemera, photos and contemporary art about or inspired by monuments throughout history. Among the oldest monuments explored are the Nazca lines, geoglyphs drawn into the southern desert of Peru.
COST: FREE admission; MORE INFO
TUESDAY, DEC. 4; 7 p.m.
Tales from The Strip: A Century in the Fast Lane
Council Chambers at West Hollywood Library -- 625 N. San Vicente Blvd., West Hollywood
The WeHo Reads series presents authors Van Gordon Sauter, Robert Landau and Frans Evenhuis as they discuss and sign their book from Angel City Press. The stories take readers on a journey from Doheny to Crescent Heights on the (in)famous Sunset Strip.
COST: FREE, but RSVP requested; MORE INFO
TUESDAY, DEC. 4; 7:30 - 9 p.m.
Inland opportunities - Immigration and a Changing Region
Glenn Wallichs Theater at the University of Redlands -- 1200 E. Colton Ave., Redlands
The Inland Empire is changing and growing, thanks to affordable housing and economic opportunities. Now, one in five IE residents is foreign-born, according to a study by UC Riverside. KPCC's A Martinez leads the discussion on the surge in immigration and its implications for the region's politics at this KPCC In Person event. He's joined by Nathaniel Cline of the University of Redlands, Juan De Lara of USC and Karthick Ramakrishnan at UC Riverside.
COST: FREE with RSVP; MORE INFO
TUESDAY, DEC. 4 - WEDNESDAY, DEC. 5; 8 p.m.
Echo & The Bunnymen
The Cathedral Sanctuary at Immanuel Presbyterian -- 3300 Wilshire Blvd., Koreatown
Ian McCulloch and Will Sergeant -- two-thirds of the OG Bunnymen -- play two nights to celebrate the Liverpool band's 40th(!) anniversary and its latest release, The Stars, The Oceans & The Moon. The indie rock trio Enation opens both nights.
COST: Tickets start at $49; MORE INFO
TUESDAY, DEC. 4; 7:30 p.m.
Meet the Critics of The Times Movie Beat
Aero Theatre -- 1328 Montana Ave., Santa Monica
Know what to watch in time for Hollywood's award season as New York Times writers Kyle Buchanan, A.O. Scott, Wesley Morris and Aisha Harris discuss the year in film. They'll talk the good, the bad and the ugly as well as who's in the running for an Oscar.
COST: FREE with RSVP; MORE INFO
TUESDAY, DEC. 4 - MONDAY, DEC. 31
Love Actually Live
Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts -- 9390 N. Santa Monica Blvd.,
Beverly Hills
For The Record presents a multimedia concert of the soundtrack to Richard Curtis' 2003 romantic dramedy. The production includes songs from the movie, including "Christmas Is All Around," "The Trouble with Love Is" and "Both Sides Now," sung by a star-studded cast accompanied by a 15-piece orchestra. Among the performers: Rumer Willis, Steve Kazee, Kelley Jakle, B. Slade and Rex Smith. The show is recommended for ages 13+.
COST: $35 - $125; MORE INFO
WEDNESDAY, DEC. 5; 8 p.m.
The Moth Mainstage
Avalon Hollywood -- 1735 N. Vine St., Hollywood
Five storytellers explore the theme "Between Worlds," telling tales of neither here nor there and the space between. Hosted by Dame Wilburn, yarn spinners include Leo Balayon, Eva Santiago and Leonard Lee Smith. This event is 21+.
COST: $39 - $79; MORE INFO
WEDNESDAY, DEC. 5 - SUNDAY, DEC. 9
29Rooms
The Reef -- 1933 S. Broadway, downtown L.A.
Refinery29 revives its artsy funhouse, which houses 29 original interactive spaces: "Travel blindfolded through a multi-sensory ASMR tunnel, dance it out with performers in a reimagined nightclub, write an intimate letter to your inner child and work side by side with Artists in a dedicated studio space."
COST: $39.99 - $69.99; MORE INFO
WEDNESDAY, DEC. 5; 8 - 9:30 p.m.
Fool's Gold: A Free Comedy Show
The Nickel Mine -- 11363 Santa Monica Blvd., Sawtelle
Hosts Salma Zaky and Katie Green host a monthly stand-up show. The lineup features Matthew Duckett, Austin Blaylock, Julia Austin, Eddie Della Siepe and Quincy Jones (of HBO, not the producer). The now not-so-secret show is located behind a hidden bookshelf at the West L.A. bar.
COST: FREE; MORE INFO
THURSDAY, DEC. 6 - FRIDAY, DEC. 7; 7 p.m. doors
A Very She & Him Christmas Party
The Wiltern -- 3790 Wilshire Blvd., Koreatown
She & Him -- the duo known as Zooey Deschanel and M. Ward -- have released six albums, including two Yuletide records: A Very She & Him Christmas and A Christmas Party. This marks their first live show since 2013. Comic Alice Wetterlund warms up the crowd.
COST: Tickets start at $40; MORE INFO
THURSDAY, DEC. 6; 8 p.m.
Latkes and Laughs
Skirball Cultural Center -- 2701 N. Sepulveda Blvd., Brentwood
Celebrate Hanukkah with food and laughter, courtesy of some of L.A.'s funniest young Jewish comedians -- Dan Ahdoot, Matt Lieb, Robby Hoffman, Heather Pasternak and host Ester Steinberg. Nosh on latkes from Freedman's L.A. while you laugh.
COST: $10 - $15; MORE INFO
THURSDAY, DEC. 6; 6 - 8 p.m.
Veterans' Storytelling at Hotel Shangri-La
Hotel Shangri-La -- 1301 Ocean Ave., Santa Monica
During WWII, the seaside hotel was used by the United States Army Air Forces as a rehabilitation home for soldiers preparing to re-enter civilian life or redeploy. Nearly 70 years later, the hotel hosts an evening of storytelling from local veterans, celebrating those who have served, in honor of Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day. The event also includes appearances from pin-up models and happy hour specials to benefit the nonprofit organization Pin-Ups for Vets.
COST: FREE; MORE INFO
THURSDAY, DEC. 6; 7 p.m.
Reel To Reel: Green Book
The Grammy Museum -- 800 W. Olympic Blvd., downtown L.A.
The museum screens the Peter Farrelly-directed film, which stars Viggo Mortensen as a Bronx bouncer who drives pianist Don Shirley (Mahershala Ali) on a concert tour of the deep south in 1962. They rely on The Green Book to guide them to the few establishments that were safe for African-Americans. The event features a post-screening conversation with Farrelly.
COST: $15; MORE INFO
THURSDAY, DEC. 6
Platicas y Pruebas: The History of Chocolate
LA Plaza De Culturas y Artes -- 501 N. Main St., downtown L.A.
Chef and historian Maite Gomez-Rejón traces the origins of chocolate. Learn about "the food of the gods" while sampling Aztec hot chocolate and champurrado (thick Mexican hot chocolate).Now, that's is a history class!
COST: $20; MORE INFO
THURSDAY, DEC. 6; 8 - 10 p.m.
One for the Books
Stories Books and Cafe --1716 W. Sunset Blvd., Echo Park
At this storytelling show, performers tell tales about life-changing events that affect them forever. Hosted by Sarah Klegman ( "What's Wrong With You?" on Comedy Central) and Oscar Sagastume (Multiple Moth winner), performers include:
Scott Thompson (Kids in the Hall), Helen Hong ("Inside Llewyn Davis"), Mike Bridenstine ("The Hungry Wolf Hunts Best"); Scott Schultz ("L.A. Times") and Erika Brooks Adickman ( "2 Jews Talking").
COST: FREE; MORE INFO
THURSDAY, DEC. 6; 5 - 6 p.m.
Nicholas Britell in Concert and Conversation
The Crawford Family Forum -- 474 South Raymond Ave., Pasadena
"The Frame" presents the Academy Award-nominated composer, pianist and producer Nicholas Britell talking with host John Horn about his work onthe films If Beale Street Could Talk, an adaptation of a James Baldwin novel directed by Barry Jenkins, and Vice, directed by Adam McKay. Britell will also play selections. There's a cash bar with adult and nonalcoholic beverages available before and after the program.
COST: FREE with RSVP; MORE INFO
THURSDAY, DEC. 6; 5 - 11 p.m.
NoMad Los Angeles: The Holiday Spectacular Returns
The NoMad Hotel -- 649 S. Olive St., downtown L.A.
The hotel's cocktail pop-up opens this week and runs Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays through Dec. 29 at the Coffee Bar. Taste the holiday menu including a Partridge in a Pear Tree with spiced pear, sherry, ver jus, honey and pommeau or the boozy Egg Nog. Guest bartenders and friends around town will show up to make other festive drinks throughout the month.
COST: $16 holiday cocktails; MORE INFO
How are you spending your week? Let us know on Twitter @christineziemba and @LeoHasACat.
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