20 Of Our Favorite Events In Los Angeles This Week

Albert Omoss' 'Undercurrents' is just one of the films screening at the New Directors Showcase in L.A. on Thursday night.

Here are 20 of our favorite events happening in L.A. this week.

MONDAY, SEPT. 26

ROMANTIC ENCOUNTERS (Storytelling)
On Monday night at 7 pm, Upright Citizens Brigade (Sunset) presents Romantic Encounters, a storytelling show hosted and curated by Melinda Hill, that features LA humorists sharing their funniest love and sex stories. This month’s performers include: Eliza Coupe, April Macie and a special guest. Tickets are $5.

DEBATE DRINKING (Politics + booze)
Last week, LAist posted 9 Ways To Watch Monday's Presidential Debate While Drinking since we all know that Monday’s debate is going to be a doozy. And we’ve found a couple more places that are screening the Hillary Clinton vs. Donald Trump event with a few drink specials to ease the pain of the [probable] sh!tshow. Rush Street in Culver City is holding a debate bingo night from 6-7:30 pm, with taco and margarita specials plus prizes. The Standard hotels in DTLA and Hollywood are participating in Standard Votes—with screenings and food and drink activations and specials from 5:30-8 pm.

SCHOOL NIGHT (Music)
School Night welcomes live music and DJ sets from both up-and-coming and seasoned artists every Monday night at Bardot in Hollywood. Playing live this week are: Cappa, Esme Patterson, Angela McCluskey and Durand Jones and the Indicators with DJ sets by Brooks Brown and Christofi. Free with RSVP for those 21+; $10 for 18+ with RSVP. Doors at 8 pm.

THE VELVET TOM CABARET HOUR (Variety and burlesque)
The Velvet Tom Cabaret Hour presents The SepTOMber Show on Monday night at Three Clubs in Hollywood. Lounge lizard Velvet Tom, backed by The Velveetahs, sing mashups of classics and pop tunes with burlesque performances throughout the night. Doors at 7 pm. Show 7:30-8:30 pm. Tix: $10 on line/ $12 at door with $10 Martinis all night long. 21+, full bar, but no food.

TUESDAY, SEPT. 27

Minibar holds a whisky tasting on Tuesday night. (Image: Godfather 101, courtesy of Minibar)
BENROMACH WHISKY @ MINIBAR (Drink)
MiniBar partners with Benromach Whisky and K&L Wines for a whisky tasting on Tuesday from 6:30-8 pm. Benromach Whisky Expert Joe McCluskey guides tasters through four single malt whiskies, each one paired with bites and finger food by Little Dom’s Chef Brandon Boudet. Tickets: $10.

WRITERS ON WRITING WITH TERENCE WINTER (Talk)
Writers Guild Foundation presents the Writers on Writing event with screenwriter Terence Winter. He’ll be in conversation with Writers Guild Foundation President Laurence Andries to talk about his career—writing The Wolf of Wall Street, serving as writer/EP of The Sopranos and creator/showrunner of Boardwalk Empire and Vinyl. He’ll also discuss how the business of writing has changed since writing for shows like Xena: Warrior Princess in the ‘90s. The event runs from 7:30-9 pm at WGAW Headquarters in LA. Tickets: $15-$20, $85 for VIP experience.

DOTTIE GETS SPANKED (Film)
In honor of filmmaker Todd Haynes, this year’s Hammer Gala honoree, the museum screens one of his earliest works on Tuesday night at 7:30 pm in the Billy Wilder Theater. Dottie Gets Spanked (1993) is a “surreal suburban fantasy about a young boy’s obsession with a television show, [and] features Haynes’s signature play with gender identity, celebrity, and midcentury repressions.” Free.

HARVEST FESTIVAL @ THE HUNTINGTON (Food fest)
The Huntington in San Marino presents a Harvest Moon Celebration on Tuesday from 6:30-9 pm. The mid-autumn festival is a tradition in China [and other Asian countries] that celebrates the end of the summer harvest with family and friends. The Huntington’s Harvest Moon Celebration is being held in its Chinese Garden, where guests can enjoy live music, tastings by 30 Chinese and Asian-inspired restaurants and view the exhibition Gardens, Art, and Commerce in Chinese Woodblock Prints. Tickets: $98-$148 for general admission.

THE GRISWOLDS (Music)
The four-piece Australian indie rock band The Griswolds play the Bootleg Theater on Tuesday night. The band recently released the single “Out of My Head” with a new album High Times for Low Lives due by end of the year. Vista Kicks opens. 8:30 pm. Tickets: $20. All ages.

WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 28

HOW WE DO: LA (Music)
WeTransfer is opening an office in the U.S.—in Los Angeles—and to celebrate the company is throwing a party. How We Do: LA is an evening of musical collaborations from performers such as BadBadNotGood, Gilles Peterson, Miguel Atwood-Ferguson, Nai Palm, Sa-Ra Creative Partners and others that takes place on Wednesday from 8-11 pm at the Theatre at Ace Hotel. Tickets: $10.

CUBAN PIG ROAST (Food)
Boneyard Bistro in Sherman Oaks presents its 6th Annual Cuban Pig Roast on Wednesday from 5-10 pm with favorite foods like Lechon Asado, Cubano Sandwich, Roast Pork Sandwich, among others, and drinks like Havana Sours and Dark and Stormys and more.

GLENFIDDICH SINGLE MALT DINNER (Food + whisky)
On Wednesday at 6:30 pm, the Tam O’Shanter presents a four-course dinner to pair with whiskies from Glenfiddich Distillery. Casey Levinthal of Glenfiddich will be on hand to talk about each pairing. Tam O’Shanter Executive chef Juan Escamilla creates a meal that features: Roasted Market Beets with baby chard, pickled red onion, bleu cheese, balsamic vinaigrette (with Glenfiddich 12 Year Old Single Malt Scotch); Pork Croquette with arugula and black garlic aioli (with Glenfiddich 14 Year Old Single Malt Scotch); Braised Prime Rib Beef Brisket with roasted yams, swiss chard and bordelaise sauce (Glenfiddich 18 year Old Single Malt Scotch); and Baked Apple Pie with reserve farmhouse cheddar and butterscotch (with Glenfiddich 15 Solera Year Old Single Malt Scotch). Cost: $75 per person, not including tax and tip. For reservations call (323) 664-0228.

AUNTY DONNA (Comedy)
The Australian sketch group Aunty Donna plays Largo on Wednesday night at 8:30 pm. The high school/university buddies have developed their own style of surreal, alternative sketch comedy. Through the years, the Donnas have created an award winning YouTube channel, earning more than 120,000 subscribers and more than 15 million views. Doors at 7 pm, show at 8:30 pm. Tickets: $30.

HOW TO MAKE WHITE PEOPLE LAUGH (Comedy)
Writer, comedian, actor and filmmaker Negin Farsad, reads from her memoir How to Make White People Laugh at The Last Bookstore on Wednesday at 7:30 pm. From the bookstore: ”A memoir-meets-social-justice-comedy-manifesto about being an Iranian-American, about identity confusion in a country obsessed with race, and the power of comedy to combat bigotry.” She’ll also be doing a little standup, too.

THURSDAY, SEPT. 29

DUMPLING & BEER FESTIVAL (Food + drink)
It’s time to bust out the baggy pants: the city of San Gabriel presents its second annual Dumpling & Beer Festival on Thursday night from 6-9:30 pm, taking over the town’s Mission District. The festival features 17 food vendors and the beer garden has 16+ craft beers on tap. Beer tasting wristbands can be purchased online for just $30 (for unlimited tastings) or $20 (for 16 tastings), plus fees. Buy food from individual vendors. Admission and parking to the festival are free.

YOUBLOOM LA (Music fest + conference)
YouBloom LA is a music summit and festival returns to L.A. from Thursday through Saturday with workshops and speakers that connect musicians to industry professionals and each other. And then at night, of course, are the music showcases that feature talents from Ireland (where youbloom is based) and around the world. This year’s keynote speakers are Liz Garo, talent buyer/event producer at Spaceland Productions and Darrell Brown, songwriter, arranger with worldwide music sales of over 72 million units. Venues include: La Cuevita and Griffins of Kinsale (free admission) as well as Old Towne Pub, The Lexington Bar and Five Star Bar which are all $7 cover. Two-day summit tickets are $100 (and include gigs). All access pass to all gigs: $30.

Arts Brookfield presents two nights of 'Unsilent Cinema' with contemporary artists, producers, DJs scoring old silent films. (Publicity image from Charlie Chaplin's 'The Kid')
UNSILENT CINEMA (film + music)
Arts Brookfield presents Unsilent Cinema at FIGat7th in DTLA on Thursday and Friday night from 8:30-10 pm. The nights premiere live music from contemporary artists, and pair them with classic silent films. Among the films and musicians on Thursday: Marc Ribot scores Charlie Chaplin’s The Kid and Alvin Youngblood Hart scores Fatty Arbuckle’s Out West. On Friday, Daedelus scores Charlie Chaplin’s Easy Street; Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith scores Harry Smith’s Early Abstractions; Jimmy Tamborello scores Buster Keaton’s Cops and Callie takes on Charlie Chaplin’s One A.M. This event is free, and gives guests a chance to check out the new outdoor drink service on the TASTE Food Hall patio and upstairs plaza.

2016 NEW DIRECTORS SHOWCASE (Film)
In case you didn’t make it to Cannes this year, Team One and Saatchi & Saatchi present the 2016 New Directors’ Showcase on Thursday at the Theatre at Ace Hotel. There are 19 international directors (from Chile, Israel, Poland, The Netherlands, UK and the USA) featured in the screening. The showcase includes many genres including horror, animation, drama, music videos and a little humor. Thursday also marks the North American debut of the first short film conceived, directed and edited completely by machines and artificial intelligence (AI). Tickets: $30, $20 for students.

BOURBON STEAK (Bourbon + food)
Bourbon Steak in Glendale caps off Bourbon Heritage Month with “the ultimate cocktail party” on Thursday from 6-9 pm. The restaurant has partnered with distillers including Breaker, Knob Creek and Bookers to give guests a chance to sample different bourbon varietals and speak with master distillers from each brand. The event is $69 per person (including tax and gratuity) and includes food bites, like Duck Spring Rolls and Blue Cheese Sliders with Truffle Aioli; whole roasted pig and Peking duck; and seasonal sides. Reservations: (818) 839-4134.

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 Kristin Rand, the next installment is being held at Nerdmelt on Thursday at 9 pm, featuring Guy Branum, Puterbaugh Sisters, Vlad Caamano and Mara Wiles. Tickets are $8 in advance / $10 at the door.

Want the 411 on additional events and happenings in LA? Follow @LAist or me (@christineziemba) on Twitter.