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Here are 20 of our favorite events happening in L.A. this week. Need more suggestions? Check out our January Guide, too.
MONDAY, JAN. 25
GUY BRANUM (Comedy)
Writer/comedian Guy Branum (who currently writes of The Mindy Project) headlines a night of comedy at NerdMelt on Monday night at 9 pm. He’s joined by some of his favorite comics: Moshe Kasher, Fortune Feimster and others. The night’s hosted by Solomon Georgio. Tickets are $8 in advance / $10 at the door
SHAKE SHACK (Food)
Shake Shack makes its L.A. debut on Monday night for a one-night-only pop-up event from 6-11 pm at Son of a Gun on West 3rd Street. There’s a special menu curated by Shake Shack's culinary director, Mark Rosati, featuring the original Shack Burger ($6), crinkle cut fries ($4), the "Shackwich" ($4) - a chocolate whoopie pie stuffed with frozen custard, peanut butter and toffee. Also available: Son of a Gun's Tuna Melt ($8) along with drinks and alcohol. Of course, they’re expecting a very long line, so plan accordingly.
PATRÓN SPIRITS (Bar Crawl)
There’s a Patrón Spirits DTLA Bar Crawl on Monday as part of the 3rd annual Golden State of Cocktails. The $65 ticket for this event includes a Patrón cocktail at each bar, hosted food at one of the stops and a special swag bag at the end of the evening. The itinerary includes The Rooftop at The Ace Hotel (7:30-8:15 pm), Beelman’s (8:30-9:30 pm), The Must (9:45-10:45 pm) and The Continental Club from 11 pm onward.
MATT CORBY (Music)
Keep an ear out for Australian musician Matt Corby. He’s performing songs from his debut album, Telluric, at the Teragram Ballroom on Monday night and then at the Masonic Lodge on Tuesday night. Both shows are sold out, so check alternative ticket options.
TUESDAY, JAN. 26
ROBERT BURNS DINNER (Food + Drink)
The Tam O’Shanter holds its annual Robert Burns Dinner with two seatings (5:30 and 8:30 pm) on Tuesday and Wednesday. The event honors the 257th Birthday of the famous Scottish poet, and the restaurant features more than 40 varieties of single malt scotch on display (and available for tasting), Haggis and performances by authentic bag pipers, drummers, step dancers, poetry readings and more. Burns introduced the character of Tam O'Shanter in a poem in 1790. Reservations required. Traditional Scottish dress welcome.
WARP ZONE (Comedy)
Warp Zone is a free monthly stand up show that takes place the last Tuesday of the month at the Virgil. Hosted by comics TK Kelly and Keith Carey, this week’s lineup includes Kyle Kinane, Dwayne Perkins, Laura Crawford, Robert Zoref, Matt Devlin, Kyle Ayers and special guests. Doors at 9 pm, show at 9:30 pm. Free admission, no drink minimum.
WRITING THE SERIAL DRAMA (Storytelling)
The Writers Guild Foundation presents the program Life of Crime 2: Writing the Serial Crime Drama on Tuesday from 7:30-9 pm. Moderator Laurence Andries (Six Feet Under) welcomes panelists Chris Brancato (Narcos, Hannibal), Diane Frolov and Andrew Schneider (Chicago Med, Boardwalk Empire) and Shawn Ryan (The Shield) for a discussion on elements of crime dramas, serials vs. procedurals and more. Tickets: $20 (WGA members), $25 (general public).
SAOIRSE RONAN RETROSPECTIVE (Film)
It’s never to early for a retrospective these days, so FOX Searchlight pictures presents a A Saoirse Ronan Film Retrospective this week at the Landmark Theatre in West LA. Things kick off at 7 pm on Tuesday with Atonement; Hanna on Wednesday at 7 pm; The Grand Budapest Hotel at 7 pm; and Brooklyn at 7:05 pm on Friday. The 21-year-old Ronan be in attendance for a Q&A after the final showing in the series (Brooklyn) on Friday. To attend, RSVP to: FSLABROOKLYN@gmail.com.
THE MIGRANT TIDE FROM SYRIA (Forum)
The Hammer Museum presents a forum on Tuesday night at 7:30 pm. The Migrant Tide From Syria examines what the E.U. and the United States can do to address the refugee crisis. Aid Worker Jana Mason, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees liaison to the US government, and Daryl Grisgraber, the Middle East speicialist for Refugees International, are joined by "Yazan," who’ll provide a Syrian refugee's perspective. Free.
WEDNESDAY, JAN. 27
LA ART SHOW (Art)
The LA Art Show is the longest-running, most comprehensive art show on the West Coast that takes place from Jan. 27-31 at the Los Angeles Convention Center, West Hall. The show’s events, including its companion Los Angeles Fine Art Show, opens on Wedneday with a benefit for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, hosted by Anne Hathaway and her husband Adam Shulman. Benefit tickets are: $125-$250. Show tickets: $15-$35.
EMERGING VOICES (Party)
PEN USA hosts their annual Emerging Voices Welcome Party at LACE on Wednesday from 7-9 pm. There will be readings from the 2016 Emerging Voices Fellows—Marnie Goodfriend, Jian Huang, Wendy Labinger, Natalie Lima and Chelsea Sutton—drinks and the Komodo Food Truck.
THURSDAY, JAN. 28
FACES + SPIRIT AWARDS (Film screening +panel discussion)
On Thursday at 7:30 pm, Film Independent at LACMA presents a free screening of John Cassavetes’ 1968 film Faces, starring Gena Rowlands, John Marley, Seymour Cassel, Lynn Carlin and Fred Draper. The evening also honors the 2016 John Cassavetes Film Independent Spirit Award Nominees, who’ve created a feature made for under $500,000. This year’s nominees are Advantageous; Christmas, Again; Heaven Knows What, Krisha and Out of My Hand, and many of the filmmakers will be in attendance for the panel discussion.
THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA (Musical)
Rockwell Table & Stage presents The Unauthorized Musical Parody of The Devil Wears Prada, beginning on Thursday night at 8 pm. Actors Drew Droege (Scouts Guide to the Zombie Apocalypse) and John Flynn (Upright Citizen’s Brigade) take turns playing Miranda Priestly, the “devilishly demanding and narcissistic editor-in-chief of fashion bible Runway Magazine." The show runs through late April. Tickets: $25-$45.
CHEESEMAKING (Book signing + tasting)
Grand Central Market celebrates cheese by hosting a book talk and signing on Thursday at 6 pm with David Asher, “guerrilla cheesemaker” and author of The Art of Natural Cheesemaking. He’ll discuss ways to practice natural, DIY cheesemaking method(s) at home. He’ll also show ways to make a few simple fermented dairy items such as kefir, creme fraiche and cultured butter. A selection of wine and cheese will be served, and his books will be available for purchase.
THE DINNER PARTY DOWNLOAD (Live Podcast)
KPCC presents The Dinner Party Download at the Theatre at Ace Hotel on Thursday night. Hosts Brendan Francis Newnam and Rico Gagliano, welcome guests Jason Schwartzman (Moonrise Kingdom, Mozart in the Jungle), Father John Misty and others for a party that includes conversations, questionable etiquette advice, favorite songs and libations. Lobby opens at 7 pm, show is at 8 pm. Tickets: $32.50.
ART LOS ANGELES CONTEMPORARY (Art)
Art Los Angeles Contemporary (ALAC)—now in its seventh year—returns to the Barker Hangar in Santa Monica from Thursday, Jan. 28 to Sunday, Jan. 31. The fair draws top international established and emerging galleries from around the world and L.A., showcasing the artists they represent. ALAC also presents a programming series that includes artist talks, museum curator-led panel discussions, installations and film screening and performance series. Tickets: $24, $30 (pass) and $60 for opening night gala tickets.
ASTRONAUT COMMEMORATION (History)
The Columbia Memorial Space Center (CMSC) in Downey hosts an Astronaut Commemoration on Thursday and Saturday. It’s been 30 years since the Challenger Space Shuttle disaster, and the Space Center honors not only the astronauts of the Challenger, but the astronauts lost on the Columbia and Apolo I as well. There’s special programming on Thursday and Saturday, Admission to the center will be $5 or FREE for CMSC members.
TRAILER: 8 Femmes from Cinefamily on Vimeo.
8 WOMEN (Film)
At 7:30 pm on Thursday, Cinefamily continues the series, La Collectionneuse — the woman who collects. It’s a monthly salon for lovers of French film and culture, and this week, there’s a screening of Dir. François Ozon’s 2002 film 8 Women (8 Femmes), which is a sort of mix of murder mystery and an old Hollywood musical, staged on a “technicolor-era set.” (Tickets: $12 for nonmembers.)
SPEECHLESS (Comedy)
Speechless is onstage at the Hollywood Improv on Thursday at 7 pm. The show puts puts comedians on the spot—by having them discuss a PowerPoint presentation they’ve never seen. They’ll be given the task of coming up with a TED Talk, Startup Pitch, Movie Pitch or even a self-help seminar. The comedians on the program this week are Dana Gould, Joe Wengert and Erinn Hayes. Tickets: $10 (with a two-item minimum).
VERY FORWARD (Comedy)
Comedians Claire Downs and Teresa Lee host the sex-positive and female friendly stand-up comedy show Very Forward on Thursday night at Flappers Comedy Club in Burbank in 9 pm. This week’s show features Amy Miller, Joel Kim Booster, Sharon Houston, JF Harris and more surprises. Admission: $10.
Want the 411 on additional events and happenings in LA? Follow @LAist or me (@christineziemba) on Twitter.
