Here are 20 of our favorite events happening in L.A. this week.
MONDAY, JULY 31
COMRADE DETECTIVE (TV screening)
There’s a free sneak peek screening of Amazon Studios new original series Comrade Detective on Monday night at Cinefamily at 7:30 p.m. The satire of an ‘80s Romanian buddy cop show is poorly dubbed by Channing Tatum and Joseph Gordon-Levitt with guest voices by Nick Offerman, Fred Armisen, Kim Basinger, Mahershala Ali, Tracy Letts, John Early and many others. Watch the first two episodes and stay for the Q&A with creators Rhys Thomas (Documentary Now) and Brian Gatewood who present a clip history of some the rarer anti-American propaganda that influenced Comrade Detective. If you can’t make it, the show begins streaming on Amazon Aug. 4. Tickets are free w/ RSVP (though seating is not guaranteed).
THE LATINO VOTE (Comedy)
The Latino Vote is a “taco-infused comedy variety show that answers the question: ‘Who gets the Latino vote?’ From politics to pop culture, the show is part stand up, late night, and quiz show. From a brown-ish point of view.” Hosted by Ernie Bustamante, the show takes place on Monday at 9 p.m. at NerdMelt and features comedians Jesus Trejo, Danielle Perez, Marlena Rodriguez and Shane Kosakowski. Tickets: $10.
CHAGALL: FANTASIES FOR THE STAGE (Art)
On Monday, LACMA opens the art exhibitionChagall: Fantasies for the Stage that “highlights the principal role that music and dance played in Chagall’s artistic practice.” The show focuses on the artist’s four productions for the stage: the ballets Aleko, set to Tchaikovsky’s music (1942), The Firebird by Stravinsky (1945), Daphnis and Chloé by Maurice Ravel (1958) and Mozart’s The Magic Flute (1967). The exhibition includes Chagall’s costumes and set designs, some of which have never been seen since the stage productions. Chagall: Fantasies for the Stage remains on view through Jan. 18.
THE BUSINESS LA (Comedy)
The comedy show The Business LA has a great lineup this week with Maria Bamford, Casey Jane Ellison, Kyle Mizono, Nina Tarr and and David Venhuizen. The free show takes place at Little Joy in Echo Park on Monday night. Doors at 8 p.m., show at 9 p.m. and a taco truck is parked outside to sate your food needs.
COLD WAR KIDS (Music)
The Cold War Kids play a free show at the Americana at Brand on Monday at 6:30 p.m. in support of FCancer and the launch of the all-new Samsung Galaxy Studio.
TUESDAY, JULY 25
SUMMER JAZZ NIGHTS (Music + wine)
The Summer Jazz Nights series continues at Hollywood & Highland on Tuesday from 7-9 p.m. For a $14 donation to Project Angel Food, guests will receive two drink tickets to enjoy wine from OneHope and beer from Stone Brewing and bites from Wolfgang Puck Catering while listening to great music. This week’s musical guest: Saxophonist Josh Johnson
EMO NITE (Sad AF Music)
The monthly Emo Nite returns to the Echo and Echoplex on Tuesday night at 8:30 p.m, bringing together people through a shared love of emo music from the ‘90s to today. Playing upstairs at The Echo are IDK HOW BUT THEY FOUND ME, Sunsleep, The Gutter Daisies and Point North. DJs spin tunes downstairs at the Echo. The first 100 people in line get in for free, $10 after that. Ages 21+.
SMART, FUNNY & BLACK (Comedy)
Comedian Amanda Seales (Insecure) returns to Nerdmelt on Tuesday night to host the “game show” Smart, Funny & Black. Seales serves as the emcee between two prominent African-American comedians who battle on their knowledge of black culture. This week’s show features celeb guest contestants Damon Wayans Jr. and Lamorne Morris. Doors: 8:30 p.m., show at 9 p.m. Tickets: $12. This show is sold out, but people can get in with a monthly membership.
WEDNESDAY, AUG. 2
Boomtown Brewery teams up with Vagabond Cheese for a beer and cheese tasting event on Wednesday. (Image: Courtesy of Boomtown Brewery
BOOMTOWN BREWERY: BEER AND CHEESE PAIRING (Food + drink)
Boomtown Brewery in DTLA holds its first beer and cheese pairing event with Vagabond Cheese Company on Wednesday. During the event, guests can try four Boomtown craft beers and four hand-selected cheeses from Vagabond Cheese Company. Costs: $12 for a cheese plate, or $22 for a double portion and $7 for a beer flight. THE BAT: IMPROV IN THE DARK (Live taping)
On Wednesday at 9 p.m., The Bat: Improv in the Dark, a live taping for Audible, takes place at M.I.'s Westside Comedy Theater. Hosts Cole Stratton and Janet Varney and four guest improvisers—Stephanie Courtney (Flo from Progressive); Phil LaMarr (MADtv); Tawny Newsome (Bajillion Dollar Propertie$); Gary Anthony Williams (Malcolm in the Middle)—create a new world and perform the entire show in the dark. Everything will be improvised based on audience suggestions. Admission: $5. Ages 21+.
HAMMER SCREENINGS: WHOSE STREETS? (Film)
On Wednesday at 7:30 p.m., the Hammer Museum’s screening series presents an advance screening of the documentary Whose Streets? The film chronicles the public’s response to the murder of unarmed teenager Michael Brown by police. “From the grieving residents of Ferguson to parents, artists, and teachers across the country, community members come together as torchbearers of a new resistance—raising a battle cry, not for their civil rights but for the right to live.” A Q&A with filmmakers Saabah Folayan and Damon Davis follows. Free.
WOLF PEOPLE (Music)
The U.K.-based quartet Wolf People headlines the Echo on Wednesday night, playing in support of the band’s third record, Ruins. Qui, Dancing Tongues opens. Doors at 8:30 p.m. Tickets: $11.50, $14 day of show. Ages 18+.
LA SHORTS INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL (Film)
The Los Angeles International Short Film Festival (LA Shorts Fest) opens on Wednesday and runs through Aug. 10 at several venues, including the Regal Cinemas at L.A. Live in DTLA and the Laemmle NoHo 7 in North Hollywood. The opening night program, which begins at 8 p.m. in DTLA includes “To Pimp a Butterfly” directed by Rui Cui; “Ingenue-ish” directed by John Stamos; “Super Sex” directed by Matthew Modine; and The Dark of Night, directed by Robin Wright. A panel discussion with Modine, Wright, Stamos, Caitlin McHugh, Bai Ling, Dean Cain, Matthew Modine and Michael Flatley and Robin Wright. Tickets for opening night: $25 and includes the afterparty.
THURSDAY, AUG. 3
IKKO TANAKA + KENYA HARA POSTERS (Art show)
MUJI’s Hollywood presents 12 rarely seen original, archival posters by Ikko Tanaka and Kenya Hara beginning on Thursday. Tanaka (1930-2002) was one of the founders of MUJI and as a designer (and MUJI’s art director) merged modernism with Japanese tradition. Hara, the company’s current art director, continues Tanaka’s philosophy in the design lines.
JAZZPOP (Music)
The JazzPOP series returns to the Hammer Museum on Thursday night featuring jazz concerts for the next three weeks. Curated by San Francisco Bay Area bassist Lisa Mezzacappa, the music fest focuses on Southern California bass players who “lead their bands from the bottom up.” This week, the Mark Dresser Quintet performs at 8 p.m. Free.
SUNSET CONCERTS AT THE SKIRBALL (Music)
The Skirball's Sunset Concerts continues on Thursday with West Coast debut of Ibibio Sound Machine, led by London-born Nigerian singer Eno Williams. The band mixes African and electronic elements. The concert starts at 8 p.m., with DJ sets beginning at 6:30 p.m. The concert is free and open the public, but RSVPs are requested.
GRAND PERFORMANCES: ALE ACADEMY (Beer talks)
Angel City Brewery and Grand Performances team up to present the last program in its Ale Academy on the Road series on Thursday at California Plaza. Angel City’s Certified Cicerones® (beer experts) walk attendees through food and beer pairings. 21+ only; bring cash for beer. RSVPs required.
BOLD—BEVERLY HILLS OPEN LATER DAYS (Shopping fun)
Beverly Hills is known for power lunches, Rodeo Drive and screening rooms, but it has a rep for rolling up the carpet really early—until now. The city will try to energize Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings this summer with extended weekend shopping hours from 90 retail businesses, including Chanel, Burberry, Dolce & Gabbana, Louis Vuitton, as well as DJ performances, open-air art exhibits, live mannequins, luxury car test drives, pop-up retail and culinary offerings, restaurant and bar specials.
THE GREAT LOVE DEBATE (Theater + Comedy)
The Great Love Debate is a touring interactive theater experience for singles and others who love to talk/discuss dating. Guys are seated on one side of the room, women are on the opposite side for the wild debate that’s sure to follow as the host, audience, and special guests try to answer the question, "Why is everyone still single?" The show stops at the Hollywood Improv on Thursday at 8 p.m. with special guests: Brian Howie, Tatum O’Neill, Nick Viall, Krista Allen and others. Tickets: $20 (and two-item minimum purchase required).
IN THE VALLEY BELOW (Music)
In the Valley Below headlines The Troubadour in WeHo on Thursday night. Flagship opens at 8:30 p.m. Tickets: $15. All ages show.
Want the 411 on additional events and happenings in LA? Follow @LAist or me (@christineziemba) on Twitter.
