Here are 20 of our favorite events happening in L.A. this week.
MONDAY, SEPT. 19
YOU HAD TO BE THERE WITH RYAN DE LA GARZA (Comedy)
You Had to Be There with Ryan de la Garza is a live comedy show at Nerdmelt at 9 pm on Monday. The show features performers improvising with random strangers via webcam for highly improvised and unexpected moments. Yes, there may be nudity and other surprises. Comedians on the program this week: Dave Waite, Baron Vaughn, Josh Androsky, Dave Ross and others. Tickets: $8 in advance, $10 in the door.
MUSEUM OF BROKEN RELATIONSHIPS (Fall programs)
On Monday from 6-9 pm, The Museum of Broken Relationships kicks off its series of original programs—11after-hours talks, with a number of authors, professors and specialists—with a wine tasting with the curators. Hosted by Alexis Hyde and Amanda Vandenberg, Los Angeles Museum directors and curators, they’ll discuss the history of the space and concept and will bring out some never-before-seen objects to share and discuss. This event is free with purchase of a ticket to a single event ticket or series season pass.
LANDFILL HARMONIC + TOWER (Free film previews)
Museum of Tolerance has two free film screenings this week worth your while. On Monday at 7 pm, the Consulate of the Republic of Paraguay in Los Angeles presents a screening of
Landfill Harmonic: A symphony of the human spirit. After the screening, meet the orchestra and watch a live performance and Q&A. RSVP is required. On Wednesday at 7 pm, there’s a screening of Keith Maitland’s Tower. Q&A with Director Keith Maitland follows the screening. Free with RSVP.
TUESDAY, SEPT. 20
THE RACONTEUR: WRITING PROSE AND TELEVISION WITH JONATHAN AMES (Talk)
Jonathan Ames, the creator and showrunner of the Starz Original Series Blunt Talk (which premieres its second season on Oct. 2) and the HBO series Bored to Death, is at the Writers Guild Foundation on Tuesday at 7:30 pm. He’ll discuss his approach / process to writing his various projects. The evening is moderated by Elvis Mitchell, host of KCRW’s The Treatment. Tickets: $15, $10 for WGA members/students.
TRIBUTE TO NIRVANA (Music)
The Satellite presents A Tribute to Nirvana + 25 year anniversary of Nevermind. Yes, it’s been 25 years since the album debuted! There’s not much info about the show, but if you want to check it out, then be at the Satellite on Tuesday night. Show at 9 pm. Free. 21+.
TERRINE: VERSUS (Drinks)
On Tuesday from 5-10:30 pm, Terrine’s head bartender Ryan Wainwright debuts Versus, a monthly cocktail battle that brings in L.A. best bartenders for a friendly competition to create collaborative menus around a theme. The first Versus event features Wainwright going against Belcampo’s Una Green. Guests will vote for their favorites on the spot. Other events include: a secret ingredient challenge with Big Bar’s Cari Hah (Oct. 18); Thanksgiving-themed drinks with Karen Grill from The Bon Vivants (Nov. 15); and an “evil” Christmas showdown with Beau du Bois (The Corner Door) and Michael Lay (Broken Spanish/B.S. Taqueria) later this fall.
DARYL HALL & JOHN OATES (Music)
Tuesday night is going to rock at the Hollywood Bowl. Music icons Daryl Hall & John Oates headline with Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings AND Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue playing in support. Tickets are going fast: $35-$165 (and higher).
THE BROAD’S ONE-YEAR ANNIVERSARY (Free cupcakes + celebration)
The Broad celebrates its one-year anniversary on Tuesday and distributes birthday hats and free Sprinkles cupcake to visitors and holds pop-up art talks throughout the galleries. Founders Eli and Edythe Broad and Founding Director Joanne Heyler may pop-in to mix and mingle with guests, too. Otium restaurant next to the museum will help celebrate The Broad by featuring an Andy Warhol inspired clam chowder and a cocktail inspired by Jeff Koons' iconic work Michael Jackson and Bubbles.
MARA WILSON (Book talk)
Mara Wilson was a child star of Matilda and Mrs. Doubtfire, who made the transition to adulthood and is working now mostly in comedy and storytelling. She’s written a memoir Where Am I Now: True Stories of Girlhood and Accidental Fame and discusses the book at Barnes & Noble at The Grove on Tuesday at 7 pm. This is a wristband-ed event.
WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 21
2016 DTLA FILM FESTIVAL (Film)
2016 DTLA Film Festival is at Regal Cinemas L.A. Live from Wednesday through Sept. 28. More than 100 films from all genres are being presented, in programs that include Art+Architecture+Design, Income Inequality, Action Sports, The People & The Police, American-Latino Filmmakers, Foreign Cinema and Music Documentaries. There are also short films, panels and workshops throughout the festival. The opening night film is Swing State, the Centerpiece Film is The Loner and the 40th anniversary edition of The Man Who Fell To Earth closes out the fest. Individual tickets: $15.
TASTE OF PASADENA (Food + Drinks)
The Taste of Pasadena returns to the Rose Bowl on Wednesday from 6 to 9 pm. Ticket holders get access to food tastings from many of Pasadena's favorite restaurants and caterers, including Alondra Hot Wings, Cabrera's Restaurant, California Pizza Kitchen, Chick-fil-A, Copenhagen Pastry, Du-Par's, El Cholo, Clearman’s Galley, Hilton Pasadena, Lucky Baldwin’s Pub, Madeline Garden Bistro, Nekter Juice Bar, Nothing Bundt Cakes, Pasadena Sandwich Company, POP Champagne and Dessert Bar, Simply Cupcakes of Pasadena, Stark Spirits, Stonefire Grill, White Horse Lounge and Whole Foods Market. Also, the four finalist cocktails in the SIP-tember Cocktail Bracket Challenge will be tasted live and guests can vote for their favorites. Only 500 tickets will be sold to the Taste of Pasadena, so no super long lines like other festivals. Tickets: $30 (tickets bought before 5 pm on Tuesday) or $50 at the door.
EAT THE RIVER (Art)
Please Do Not Enter presents Eat The River, its first artist in residency project, featuring the work of French experimental artist Frédérick Gautier. The two-month project, which began on July 20, is a site-specific intervention into the LA River’s history and landscape. His new series of about 100 ceramic objects will be presented for the first time on Wednesday at Please Do Not Enter in DTLA with a reception from 6-9 pm. RSVP for the reception.
DINOSAUR JR. (Music)
Dinosaur Jr.—J Mascis, Lou Barlow and Murph—plays three nights at the Teragram Ballroom, Wednesday to Friday. After touring last year to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the band’s eponymous debut album, the Amherst, Mass., band is on tour with its latest release, Give a Glimpse of What Yer Not. All ages. Tickets: $35.
VERY FORWARD (Comedy)
Comedians Claire Downs and Teresa Lee host the sex-positive and female friendly stand-up comedy show Very Forward on Wednesday night at Malo Restaurant (2nd floor) in Silver Lake. The lineup includes Adam Tod Brown, Dave Waite, Chris Thayer, Lizzy Cooperman, Chris Redd, Joe Prettyman and Eliza Skinner. Live music by DJ Haüskaat. Doors at 8 pm. Free. $5 Modelo cans all night long.
THURSDAY, SEPT. 22
WOODY WOODPECKER & THE AVANT-GARDE (Art + animation)
Woody Woodpecker & The Avant-Garde is a new art show that opens on Thursday at Laband Gallery at Loyola Marymount University. The exhibit features early cartoons/movies of Walter Lantz Productions (including the character development art from Woody Woodpecker’s 1940 debut in "Knock Knock”) as well as paintings and watercolors by Jules Engel, Oskar Fischinger, Losar Feiltelson, Knud Merrild and Byron Randall. The exhibition’s opening reception with a curator’s talk and a Walter Lantz Foundation Gift Announcement is on Thursday from 3-6 pm. The works will remain on view through Nov. 20.
LUCKYRICE SLURPFEST (Food)
Bombay Sapphire East presents the LA Luckyrice Ramen Slurpfest on Thursday night at Millwick in DTLA. From Luckyrice: “True to Tokyo train station tradition, guests will have 13 minutes to slurp up each bowl before moving on to the next; while specialty Bombay Sapphire EAST cocktails are served to pair with each broth. Participating restaurants include: Sun Noodles, Ramen N.A.O., Ramen Hood, Shin Ramen and The Ramen Joint.” There are three Slurpfest seatings at 5:30 pm, 7 pm or 8:30 pm. Tickets: $100.
MAUREEN DOWD (Book talk + politics)
ALOUD at the Central Library hosts New York Times Pulitzer-winning columnist Maureen Dowd for an evening of political talk on Tuesday at 7:15 pm. Dowd has covered both Trump and Hillary Clinton since the ‘90s and in her new book, The Year of Voting Dangerously: The Derangement of American Politics, she discusses one of the most “interesting” campaigns in modern memory. She’s in conversation with New York Times reporter Adam Nagourney. The ALOUD program is standby only, but take your chances since the Writers Bloc event with Dowd the night before is way sold out.
AISEBORN: WORTH THE WEIGHT (Art)
Worth the Weight is a new solo art show with new pieces from Aiseborn highlighting his “signature style seamlessly incorporating street art, contemporary, graffiti, classic, futurism, and Romanesque.” There’s an opening reception for Aiseborn’s show on Thursday at The Container Yard in DTLA from 6-10 pm. The works will remain on view through Oct. 20. Entrance to the reception is by invitation only. To ask for an invite to RSVP, email Rushing Media.
NATHANIEL RATELIFF & THE NIGHT SWEATS (Music)
Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats bring their rock’n’soul to the Greek Theatre on Thursday night with Jamestown Revival AND Tennis opening the show. 8 pm. Tickets: $28.50 - $49.50 (plus fees).
LAX FESTIVAL (Performance)
Los Angeles Performance Practice (LAPP) opens its 4th annual LAX Festival (Live Arts Exchange) on Thursday with eight productions that challenge our notion of “theater.” There are “site-specific and immersive theater experiences, operatic and installation-base sound performances, intersections of performance, visual and multimedia design, and a script that is performed sight-unseen by a new actor each time.” This first week of performance features the U.S. premiere of Marike Splint’s two-part audio-directed theater work Among Us that starts at Union Station and ends later that day at an undisclosed location; Brian Getnick’s eerie solo theater work and Nassim Soleimanpour’s White Rabbit Red Rabbit. Ticket prices vary, but they are generally around $20-$25.
Want the 411 on additional events and happenings in LA? Follow @LAist or me (@christineziemba) on Twitter.
