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Here are 20 of our favorite events happening in L.A. this week. Check out other options in our just released August Guide, too.
MONDAY, AUGUST 22
A TRIBUTE TO LANGSTON HUGHES: STORIES, POEMS, JAZZ & THE BLUES (Performance)
On Monday at 8 pm, the Grammy Museum in DTLA hosts A WordTheatre Tribute to poet, writer and activist Langston Hughes. Participating in the one-night-only event are: Sterling K Brown, Jerrika Hinton, Keith David, Lynn Whitfield, Jason George, PJ Bucknor, Ryan Michelle Bathe and Reign Morton. The Supa Lowery Brothers Band will also debut an original jazz score during the tribute. Tickets: $40.
LOS ANGELES CENTRAL LIBRARY: A HISTORY OF ITS ART AND ARCHITECTURE (Book discussion)
Arnold Schwartzman and Stephen Gee are at Chevalier's BLos Angeles Central Library: A History of its Art and Architectureooks on Larchmont on Monday at 7 pm to discuss and sign their book. Gee explores the history of the building as well as the paintings, murals, decor and tile work, which are captured by photographer and graphic designer Schwartzman. Gee, an architectural historian, also delves into the lives of the people behind the structure, from architects Bertram Goodhue, Carleton M. Winslow, Hardy Holzman Pfeiffer Associates to muralists Dean Cornwell and Albert Herter and others. Free.
HUNNYPOT RADIO (Talk + music)
Hunnypot is a bi-weekly, internet-based radio show that tapes at The Mint. The next show is on Monday at 10 pm featuring Hot Tub Johnnie (DJ set) at 7 pm, Yvette Metoyer (interview and DJ set) at 7:30 pm, and then performances by Bevin Hamilton at 8:45 pm, Lyrical Groove at 9:30 pm, Madeline Spooner at 10:15, Hot Sauce Holiday at 11 pm and then a Hunnypot Dance Party at 11:45 pm. Free.
TUESDAY, AUGUST 23
KCET FALL CINEMA SERIES (Film)
KCET Fall Cinema Series presents the screening of the film The Hollars on Tuesday night at 7 pm at the Aero Theatre in Santa Monica. Hosted by film expert Pete Hammond, the event includes a Q & A immediately following with director and star John Krasinski (The Office). Individual admission is available for a $25 donation on the day of the event. Series passes are available as well.
COMEDY ON YORK (Comedy)
There’s a new free comedy show at the York in Highland Park every Tuesday at 8 pm. Hosted by Megan Gailey, Goodrich Gevaart & J.F. Harris, the lineup this week includes: Maria Bamford, Laurie Kilmartin, Solomon Georgio and Lukas Kaiser.
SCHMABARET (Comedy + cabaret)
The comedy duo Schmabaret! (Adam Ceschin and Carolyn Jania) brings its raunchy, off-beat show Sex, Drugs and Schmabaret! to Bar Lubitsch on Tuesday at 7:30 pm. Music provided by Scotch Jane. There are other treats and guests on the bill, too. Tickets: $5.
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 24
SEAN’S SPORTS SHOW (Comedy)
Sean's Sports Show is at the Westside Comedy Theater on Tuesday night at 10 pm. It’s a late-night talk show format that focuses on sports. Sean Green, head writer of Rob Gronkowski’s Crashletes, welcomes comics for one-on-one interviews to tell their funniest sports-related stories. Guests this week are: Jon Huck and TK Kelly. Tickets: $5. Ages 21+.
STREET FOOD CINEMA: AMERICAN NINJA WARRIOR (TV screening)
NBC and Street Food Cinema team up for a screening of the outdoor screening of American Ninja Warrior on Wednesday night at Courthouse Square on the Universal Backlot. Hosted by Matt Iseman and Akbar Gbajabiamila, doors open at 6:30 pm and feature obstacle course demonstrations by the ninjas from 7-8 pm with the screening at 8 pm. Check-in will close at 8:30 pm with no admittance after 8:30 pm. Food trucks on site: Cousin's Maine Lobster, Dogtown Dogs, The Grilled Cheese Truck, Ragin' Cajun, Street Kitchen LA, Sweet Amsterdam and others. Unfortunately, keep Fido and other dogs home for this one because they’re not allowed on the lot. Free with RSVP.
AN EVENING WITH BELLY (Music)
Belly, one of our fav alt-pop bands of the ‘90s founded by Tanya Donelly, returns for a two-night stand at the Teragram Ballroom on Wednesday and Thursday nights this week. However, there are only tickets left for the Wednesday night show, show grab ‘em while they’re still available. All ages. Tickets: $30.
COMEDY CENTRAL’S SOUTH PARK 20TH EXPERIENCE (Art)
Comedy Central brings the South Park 20 Experience to the Paley Center in Beverly Hills beginning on Wednesday and running through Sept. 26. The life-size 2-D/3-D exhibition features 20 memorable moments from South Park's history and allows fans to interact with them for photo ops. There’s also an accompanying art exhibition of 20 artists who created original art pieces and a retrospective gallery with original animation cells from the pilot episode. Visitors can watch daily free screenings of select South Park episodes from the first 19 seasons on the big screen. The Paley Center is open from noon to 5 pm Wednesdays through Sundays. Free admission.
PASSENGER PROFILES: THE POWERFUL WOMEN OF EARLY HOLLYWOOD (Salon)
The Queen Mary’s Salon Series presents Passenger Profiles: The Powerful Women of Early Hollywood on Wednesday at 7 pm aboard the Queen Mary in Long Beach. Writer and documentary filmmaker Cari Beauchamp, resident scholar for the Mary Pickford Foundation, lectures on powerful women of early Hollywood through profiles of two former Queen Mary passengers - Mary Pickford and Frances Marion. The salon is free with RSVP.
RAISING THE BAR (History lecture)
The Glendale Historical Society and Glendale Arts present the historical lecture Raising the Bar on Wednesday at 7 pm at the Alex Theatre in Glendale. Raising the Bar is a continuing series of that highlights the history of the city’s oldest bars. The event is free and open to the public, and there will be a toast in the Alex’s courtyard. RSVP for the event by emailing RSVP@GlendaleArts.org with "Raising the Bar" in the subject line.
THURSDAY, AUGUST 25
AFTER 5: RENÉE PETROPOULOS, 'CHEEK BY JOWL' (Art + music)
After 5, Hauser Wirth & Schimmel’s series of free live performances, continues on Thursday night (from 5-9 pm) with Renée Petropoulos: Cheek by Jowl. Petropoulos’ performance, which begins at 7 pm, is a work that’s been created in response to the exhibition Revolution in the Making: Abstract Sculpture by Women, 1947-2016. From the Gallery: “The work is comprised of three speaking voices, one voice as metronome, one vocalization of sounds, two instruments, and the final voice is that of a spirit chronicler. Read and performed by Kathrin Burmester, Janet Dandridge, Elif Erkan, Margaret Honda, Jorge Martin, Jasmine Orpilla, Gabie Strong, and Rebecca Tull, this work is 47 minutes in length.” Free, but RSVP required.
WILDERADO (Music)
The LA rock band Wilderado performs at Townhouse in Venice on Thursday night to celebrate the release of its new EP Latigo. Doors at 9 pm, show at 10:30 pm. Tickets: $5.
LOS ANGELES FOOD & WINE FESTIVAL (Food fest)
The 6th annual Los Angeles Food & Wine Festival runs Thursday through Sunday with the festival’s main events happening this weekend in front of Walt Disney Concert Hall and The Broad museum; other tastings, dinners, lunches, cooking demonstrations taking place in DTLA, Beverly Hills, Santa Monica and Hollywood. Events include: Amazon Presents Eat the World with Emeril Lagasse; Grand Avenue Night Market hosted by Jet Tila and Brian Malarkey; and LIVE on Grand Avenue with Tyler Florence. Tickets for individual events start at $105-300. Grand Tasting tickets are $125-$175.
SEX: A HORROR STORY (Storytelling and variety)
SEX: A Horror Story invites comedians to tell their worst dating and hook-up horror stories during a one-hour comedy and variety show. Hosted by Shelby Fero (@midnight), the next installment is being held at Nerdmelt on Thursday at 9 pm, featuring Hampton Yount (Conan), Vlad Caamano (Adam Devine's House Party), Barbara Gray (Lady to Lady Podcast) and Alex Edelman (Comedy Central Comic to Watch). Hosted by Jenny Zigrino (Conan & Bad Santa 2). Tickets are $8 in advance / $10 at the door. All ages with parent or guardian.
COMEDY COMEDY FESTIVAL (Comedy fest)
The Comedy Comedy Festival, which brings together Asian-American comedic talent, returns for a second annual show from Thursday through Sunday at the Aratani Theatre and JACCC campus in Little Tokyo. The fest includes 13 events from stand up, sketch, improvised comedy, storytelling, musical comedy, readings and industry panels. Featured performers include Vince Rodriguez III (Crazy Ex-Girlfriend), Jenny Yang (Buzzfeed, DisorientEd Comedy), Eugene Lee Yang (Buzzfeed), Randall Park (ABC’s Fresh Off the Boat) and Danny Pudi and many many more. Programs include: The Musical Musical Show: A Musical Comedy Show on Thursday; The Mortified Guide to Growing Up Asian American on Friday; The Geek Geek Reading: A Geek Writers Reading on Sunday and more. Tickets: $10-$20 per event.
MARC SCIBILIA (Music)
Nashville-based singer-songwriterMarc Scibilia performs at the Hotel Cafe on Thursday night. He’s toured with James Bay, Ben Rector, Michael Franti, ZZ Ward, Butch Walker and others. He released his first full-length album Out Of Style last year. Eden Iris opens for Scibilia. 7 pm. Tickets: $10+ fees. Ages 21+.
TAIL O’ THE PUP (Food)
After 11 years, the LA hot dog restaurant Tail O’ the Pup returns to re-launch the first of several locations on Thursday with a food truck concept stationed in the parking lot of Opening Ceremony across for Norms Diner, located not too far from its original location (near La Cienega and Beverly boulevards). The Tail O’ the Pup truck will be open 7 days a week from 11 am to 10 pm. ***Update 8/24: The launch event has been postponed.***
JERRY LEWIS TO THE MAX (Film)
American Cinematheque presents the series Jerry Lewis to the Max from Thursday to Sunday at the Aero Theatre in Santa Monica. Lewis has been working in the business for more than seven decades, and he’s still going in the title role in the upcoming release Max Rose. In Daniel Roah’s film, Lewis plays a retired professional jazz pianist who’s just lost his beloved wife. After her death, he learns she might have had a secret relationship with another man. Lewis appears in person for discussion after the film, which screens on Thursday at 7:30 pm. Classic Jerry Lewis titles screen all weekend. Tickets: $11.
Want the 411 on additional events and happenings in LA? Follow @LAist or me (@christineziemba) on Twitter.
