This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
Here are 20 of our favorite events happening in L.A. this week.
MONDAY, AUG. 22
KNOX HAMILTON (Music)
The dance rock band Knox Hamilton plays the Bar Stage at the Bootleg Theater on Monday night. Hawai opens. Doors at 8:30 pm. The show is 21+. Free.
ROMANTIC ENCOUNTERS (Storytelling)
Romantic Encounters is a monthly storytelling show hosted and curated by Melinda Hill (Adventure Time, Reno 911) that features comedians and humorists sharing their funniest love and sex stories. The next installment is on Monday at 7 pm at UCB Sunset. Lineup includes Hill, Drew Droege, Laura House and B. Mark Seabrooks. Tickets: $5.
ZIPPER CLUB (Music)
Zipper Club, a new band produced by James Iha of Smashing Pumpkins that features Lissy Trullie and Mason James of Cerebral Ballzy, ends its August residency on Monday night. Joining Zipper Club on the bill are KAV, Geordie Kieffer and The Nova Darlings. Doors at 8:30 pm, show at 9 pm. The event is 21+. Free.
I LOVE TALK AND ROLL (Comedy)
On Monday at 10:30 pm, the show I Love Talk and Roll is at UCB Sunset. The event features live music, comedy, musical interludes, late night talk segments and surprises—along with in-depth conversations with guests from the comedy or music worlds. Scheduled guests this week are: Lindsey Troy and Julie Edwards of the LA band Deap Vally in conversation and soul singer Donny Gary (played by Drew Tarver of Bajillion Dollar Properties, The UCB Show). Tickets: $5.
HEDLEY & BENNETT ANNIVERSARY (Party)
Hedley & Bennett, an apron company, celebrates its fourth anniversary with a carnival on Monday night from 6-10 pm at The Apron HQ in DTLA. There will be games, cracker jacks, bounce houses, affogatos, pizzas, Goose Island, McConnell’s ice cream, Belcampo, Duff’s birthday cake and the release of its H&B knife case. RSVP needed.
MOTH GRANDSLAM (Story)
It's time for the LA Moth GrandSLAM at The Regent on Monday night at 8 pm. Ten past StorySLAM winners take on the theme “making waves” telling stories of “consequences. Ripples or tsunamis. Accidental or instigated. Rocking the boat or just trying to keep your head above water.” Storytellers competing for the championship are: Brooke Baumer, Dylan Berg, Steven Briggs, Brandon Burkhart, James Calabrese, Rati Gupta, Bryan Kett, Lichelli Lazar-Lea, Ed McCarthy and Andrew Solmssen. Hosted by Brian Finkelstein. Doors at 7 pm. Tickets: $25. 18+ event.
TUESDAY, AUG. 30
Border Grill's Street Food Fights' championship round is on Tuesday. (Image: Courtesy of Border Grill)
STREET FOOD FIGHTS (Tacos)
The Border Grill in DTLA wraps up its Street Food Fights series this week, pitting the final two countries’ tacos against each other on Tuesday night on the patio from 5:30-9 pm. Rounds include: Italy's Italian Stallion Taco vs. USA's Red, White & BBQ Taco; Cuba's Cubano Taco vs. last week’s winner. Eaters can score all-you-can-eat tickets for $20 online, AYCE tickets for $25 at the door, or go a la carte for $6.
SPEECHLESS (Powerpoint comedy)
Speechless returns to L.A. on Tuesday at 9 pm at Nerdmelt Showroom. The show features comedians or actors improvising a PowerPoint presentation that they’ve never seen before on the spot. The audience chooses the topic and everything snowballs from there. This week’s performers include: Kumail Nanjiani, Caitlin Gill, Emily Heller, Sean Keane and host Sammy Wegent. Guest judges: Mortified's Dave Nadelberg and Colleen Smith. Tickets: $8-$10.
HALEY HEPWORTH IS MISSING (Dark comedy)
The solo show Haley Hepworth is Missing is at UCB Franklin on Tuesday night at 9:30 pm. The dark comedy focuses on a high school girl and her pen pal relationship with a serial killer. From UCB: “It’s perfect for true crime junkies and comedy nerds alike.” Tickets are $5.
LNL COMEDY (Comedy)
Live and Laugh Comedy is a showcase at The Open Space on Fairfax on Tuesday night from 7:30-10:30 pm. Hosted by Josh Waldron, this month’s headliner is Dwayne Perkins and features performances by Candice Thompson, Teddy Tutson, Yassir Lester and Jodi Miller. Tickets are $10. No drink minimum.
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 31
LATTE ART THROWDOWN (Coffee)
Lamill coffee hosts its first Latte Art Throwdown on Wednesday night. Baristas and coffee fans are both welcome to join the competition. Sign up is at 7 pm and the competition begins at 7:30 pm. Watch competitors design special and unique artwork on their respective lattes. Prizes will be given to the top six artists. Buy-in: $5.
THIS WEEK HAD ME LIKE (Podcast taping)
The LA-based podcast This Week Had Me Like records an episode live on Wednesday at 8:15 pm at the Virgil. Hosted by comic Caroline Goldfarb (@officialseanpenn) guests this episode are Armen Weitzman and Gabe Liedman who’ll talk about the week’s most bizarre pop culture news. Free, no cover.
Glass Animals celebrates its new album 'How To Be A Human Being' with a special performance at a Tumblr IRL event this week. (Image: Glass Animals)
TUMBLR IRL: GLASS ANIMALS (Art + music)
Glass Animals celebrates the release of the band’s brand-new sophomore album How To Be A Human Being, with a special Tumblr IRL event on Wednesday at The Auditorium at the Village Studios in West Los Angeles. The event features a performance by the band and an art collaboration among the multimedia designer Ashten "Whoopi" Winger and Ukrainian Pixel artist Mykola "Myk" Dosenko. The featured art brings to life the “diverse group of fictional characters featured on the album, inspired by real people the band encountered while touring over the past two years.” The Tumblr IRL is free to fans with an RSVP.
NEWFILMMAKERS LA - BINGO NIGHT (Fundraiser)
NewFilmmakers LA holds an indie fundraising bingo night at Hamburger Mary's in WeHo on Wednesday night. Celeb host Kate Flannery leads the bingo playing party. Mingle with the drag queen hostesses, participate in a live auction and take your chance at winning tons of prizes. Food and drinks available for purchase. Tickets: $20 (includes a bingo card for each game); $40 includes two bingo cards for each game and preferred seating.
SORTA RICAN (Comedy)
On Wednesday at 8 pm at The Clubhouse on Vermont, Miss Angelina presents Sorta Rican: “a one-woman hip hop comedy about a half-Puerto Rican girl and her journey of self-discovery.” She explores culture and self through Latin tunes and hip hop tunes. Tickets: $5.
THE BLACK MOVIE SOUNDTRACK II (Music + film)
The Academy and The Hollywood Bowl presents The Black Movie Soundtrack II on Wednesday at 8 pm at the Bowl. Hosted by Craig Robinson, the lineup includes Kenny “Babyface” Edmonds, Lalah Hathaway, Marcus Miller, Common, Philip Bailey, Verdine White and Ralph Johnson of Earth Wind and Fire, Full Force, Alice Smith and Charlie Wilson. The musicians will perform while some new and classic film clips are shown on the Bowl’s screens. Tickets: $1-$151.
THE ECHO SOCIETY (Music installation)
The Echo Society—a nonprofit collective of seven innovative composers—bring a special performance installation, “V,” to the Theatre at Ace Hotel in DTLA on Wednesday at 8 pm. The society’s members select a theme, then compose a new original piece for traditional classical ensemble and electronic music. The program also includes visuals and specific lighting design. The concert this week features commissioned works from guest artists Chelsea Wolfe, electronic artist Clark, contemporary composer Ted Hearne and The Haxan Cloak. Tickets: $35-$150; donor level: $250-$500.
THURSDAY, SEPT. 1
Luis Buñuel's Travels By Streetcar (La Ilusión Viaja en Tranvía) screens this week. (Image: Courtesy of The Velaslavasay Panorama)
ILLUSION TRAVELS BY STREETCAR - LA ILUSIÓN VIAJA EN TRANVÍA (Film)
On Thursday at 7:30 pm, The Velaslavasay Panorama presents Luis Buñuel's film Illusion Travels By Streetcar (La Ilusión Viaja en Tranvía). The 1954 comedy is set in Mexico City and follows two tram repairmen whose favorite car is about to be retired and dismantled. They take the car on a drunken spree around the city, picking up an eclectic group along the way. From the Velaslavasay Panorama: “One of Buñuel’s broadest and most underrated comedies, Illusion Travels by Streetcar is a biting satire of bourgeois values that takes aim at the director’s favorite targets: Church and State.” The film will be preceded with a pictorial overview of LA’s trolley system, including the Los Angeles Inter-Urban Railway line. Tickets: $10. SUNSET & DINE (Food)
On Thursday from 6-10 pm, The Coalition to Protect L.A. Neighborhoods & Jobs / Stop the Housing Ban presents the fifth annual Sunset & Dine, a food festival that features more than 20 Hollywood restaurants near Sunset & Vine and a concert headlined by Gabriel Garzón-Montano. Sample food, wine and beer from Chocolate Bar Pastry Cafe, Cleo at the Redbury, Fabiolus Cucina, The Melt, Noodle World Jr., Paley, The Pie Hole, 33 Taps, The Well/Vintage Bar Group, Wood & Vine and many others. Tickets: $35 and include food, beverages and entertainment. Children 12 and younger are admitted for free. Proceeds benefit The Center at Blessed Sacrament—a nonprofit dedicated to ending isolation and homelessness in Hollywood.
POKÉMON GO TOURNAMENT & MEET-UP (Pokémon)
The Wiltern presents an all-ages Pokémon Go event on Thursday night. Mystic, Valor and Instinct members are invited to help lead their team to victory in the Elite 3 Gym Tournament. There will be a one hour timed battle: Whichever team holds the gym for the majority of the time OR gets the gym to Level 10 first is the winner. Every registered participant ($10) on the entire winning team will get an exclusive gym badge. There’s also a cosplay contest and the best Pokémon character wins a $100 grand prize. Admission is free, but $10 if you want to participate. Doors at 6:30 pm, tournament begins at 7 pm. Full bar and other vendors will be available.
Want the 411 on additional events and happenings in LA? Follow @LAist or me (@christineziemba) on Twitter.
