Celebrate Nowruz, the Persian new year, at various events in SoCal. Head to the Inland Empire for a new comedy and music festival that honors the troops. Or spend some time in Claremont digging into a dessert classic: pie. Women's history month continues with a salute to Yoko Ono, a performance of works by Latina choreographers and a discussion about women who rock. The Broad celebrates black art while Gabba Gabba focuses on Scandinavian artists.
FRIDAY, MARCH 22 - SATURDAY, MARCH 23; 7:30 p.m.
Ballet Hispánico
The Broad Stage -- 1310 11th St,. Santa Monica
The dance company takes audiences on an exploration of Latino cultures through dance. The ballet presents a program of Latina choreographers featuring Línea Recta, choreographed by Annabelle Lopez Ochoa; Con Brazos Abiertos, choreographed by Michelle Manzanales; and 3. Catorce Dieciséis, choreographed by Tania Pérez-Salas.
COST: Tickets start at $45; MORE INFO
FRIDAY, MARCH 22; 8 p.m.
BREATHEWATCHLISTENTOUCH: The Work and Music of Yoko Ono
Walt Disney Concert Hall -- 111 S. Grand Ave., downtown L.A.
The next generation of groundbreaking musicians pays tribute to the trailblazing musician and artist. Ono work will be performed by an ensemble of special guests including La Marisoul, Madame Gandhi, Shirley Manson, St. Vincent and We Are KING. FYI: the program features both nudity and mature content.
COST: Individual tickets $32; MORE INFO
FRIDAY, MARCH 22 - SUNDAY, MARCH 24
Salute the Troops Music and Comedy Festival
Fox Theater, Glass House and other venues throughout Pomona
The inaugural festival features performances by Snoop Dogg, Cold War Kids, Capital Cities, members of the Wu-Tang Clan, the Dan Band, New Power Generation (for a special Prince tribute night) and comedians Adam Carolla and Rob Riggle. The organization behind he festival works to reduce veteran suicide rates and post-traumatic stress. For every full price ticket sold, an active service member will receive a free ticket. Veterans and retirees an purchase discounted tickets.
COST: Tickets/passes: $49 - $189; MORE INFO
FRIDAY, MARCH 22 - SUNDAY, MARCH 24
Bach in the SubwaysSeveral locations throughout SoCal
Celebrate the 334th birthday of composer Johann Sebastian Bach at pop-up performances of the composer's music at the Santa Monica Promenade, the Glendale train station and in Claremont. There are open-mic opportunities for musicians in Pasadena, too.
COST: FREE; MORE INFO
FRIDAY, MARCH 22 - SUNDAY, MARCH 24
The Los Angeles Women's Theatre Festival
Theatre 68 -- 5112 Lankershim Blvd., North Hollywood
The longest-running annual solo festival for women in L.A. has given a stage to more than 500 solo performers from around the globe. This year's theme is I, Woman, and the opening night gala honors five women including Sandra Tsing Loh and the late Carol Channing.
COST: $25 -$30 for performances; $50 - $90 for gala admission; MORE INFO
FRIDAY, MARCH 22; 8 p.m.
Mike Doughty
Lodge Room -- 104 N. Ave. 56, Highland Park
Musician Mike Doughty had a hard time embracing his past work with '90s band Soul Coughing but he's made a 180-degree turn and will play the band's first LP, Ruby Vroom, in full at this show, where he'll be joined by a cellist, a bassist and a guitar player. Experiences a "live remix" of the album, which will be performed differently each night. All ages.
COST: $22; MORE INFO
SATURDAY, MARCH 23 - SUNDAY, MARCH 24; 11 a.m. - 7 p.m.
Vegan Street Fair
Chandler Blvd. -- between Tujunga and Vineland, North Hollywood
In its fifth year, the vegan food festival expands to two days with food, vendors and activities stretching over a mile. Returning vendors include Vegatinos, Cena Vegan, Burgerlords, Cinnaholic, Eat Love, The Vegan Hooligans and Brooklyn-based Monk's Vegan Smokehouse. New purveyors include Souley Vegan from Oakland, Plant Posse from Oregon, Street Beet from Detroit, Vaffls from San Diego and SoCal's own MANEATINGPLANT, Vegan Earth Cafe, Lettuce Feast, Dank Vegan and Nodoh. The Federal Bar hosts a beer garden for those 21+.
COST: FREE admission; MORE INFO
SATURDAY, MARCH 23; 6 p.m. - midnight
Inland Empire Brew Witches & Rescue Brewing Co. Fundraiser
Rescue Brewing Co. -- 67 N. 2nd Ave., Upland
The Witches, a local organization that supports women in craft beer, teams with Rescue Brewing to raise funds for the Friends of Upland Animal Shelter. In addition to music from local bands, the night also features the release of the limited-edition beer, Heckin' Good Boi Blonde Ale. This event is kid-friendly and pet-friendly but if you want to drink, you have to be 21+.
COST: Varies; MORE INFO
SATURDAY, MARCH 23; 7 p.m.
Annual Nourouz Celebration
Hotel Irvine -- Jamboree Road, Irvine
However you spell it (Nowruz? Norouz? Norooz?), it's the Persian new year and also ushers in the start of spring. This is one of SoCal's largest Nourouz parties. It features DJs, live music, Haji Firooz (a fictional character in Iranian folklore), the traditional haft sin display, snacks, tea and coffee.
COST: $15-25; MORE INFO
SATURDAY, MARCH 23; 9 p.m.
Second Annual Persian New Year Show
UCBT Sunset -- 5419 W. Sunset Blvd., East Hollywood
The Shahs (of UCB) Sunset ring in the Persian new year with Kimia Behpoornia, Peter Banifaz and Ruha Taslim performing Persian song and dance, stand-up, poetry and improv set to live music.
COST: $12; MORE INFO
SATURDAY, MARCH 23; 7:30 p.m.
Dee Dee Bridgewater
Bram Goldsmith Theater at the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts -- 9390 N. Santa Monica Blvd., Beverly Hills
The Grammy- and Tony Award-winning jazz vocalist pays tribute to the R&B sounds of her birthplace: Memphis, Tennessee. She's joined by Memphis Soulphony as she performs pieces from her four-decade career, including her album Memphis...Yes I'm Ready, which was recorded at the city's famed Royal Studios in 2016.
COST: $25 - $55; MORE INFO
SATURDAY, MARCH 23; 12 - 5 p.m.
13th Annual Santa Monica Airport ArtWalk
Santa Monica Art Studios -- 3026 Airport Ave., Santa Monica
Artists open their studios and creative venues at the airport's converted airplane hangars. Attendees can watch art-making and ceramic demos, participate in art and theater workshops, chat with artists and and enjoy live music and food trucks. The Museum of Flying also features a collection of artifacts related to the Douglas Aircraft Company, which used to occupy the airport.
COST: FREE admission; MORE INFO
SATURDAY, MARCH 23; 8 p.m.
Shades and Shadows
Bearded Lady's Mystic Museum -- 3204 W. Magnolia Blvd., Burbank
The reading and story series, dedicated to dark fantasy, horror and science fiction, brings together authors Justin Robinson, Joe Lansdale, Keith McCleary, Janet Joyce Holden and Julia Evans to read from their works. Hosted by Xach Fromson.
COST: $10; MORE INFO
SATURDAY, MARCH 23 - SUNDAY, SEPT. 1
Soul of a Nation: Art in the Age of Black Power 1963-1983
The Broad Museum -- 221 S. Grand Ave., downtown L.A.
This exhibition about black art makes its West Coast debut as three separate galleries showcase the works of Barkley Hendricks, Noah Purifoy, Faith Ringgold, Betye Saar, Charles White and William T. Williams, among others. Pro-tip: You can see the exhibition for free every Thursday from 5 to 8 p.m. (last entry at 7 p.m.). It also features a number of programs, including Art and Politics: Soul of a Nation Symposium, held on March 23 at the Aratani Theatre in Little Tokyo, and The Un-Private Collection: Mark Godfrey + Zoe Whitley on March 24 at the museum's Oculus Hall.
COST: FREE - $18; MORE INFO
SATURDAY, MARCH 23; 8 - 10 p.m.
Black List Live!
The Montalbán -- 1615 Vine St., Hollywood
The Black List is an annual survey of Hollywood executives' favorite unproduced screenplays from the online scriptwriting community. It presents its first live read of 2019: Popular, written and directed by Hannah Hafey and Kaitlin Smith. The story covers themes of power, betrayal, scandal and deceit... in high school. Readers include Kiersey Clemons, Nina Dobrev, Shannon Purser, Ramona Young, Ross Butler and Ben Lewis.
COST: $20 - $25; MORE INFO
SATURDAY, MARCH 23; 7 - 11 p.m.
Borderless: Scandinavia
Gabba Gallery -- 3126 Beverly Blvd., Westlake
The gallery presents its second international exhibition, Borderless, which focuses on three Scandinavian artists: Ari Behn (Norway/Denmark), Espen Eiborg (Norway) and Mikael Persbrandt (Sweden). The opening reception features DJ Jonathan Williams spinning and a bar sponsored by Humboldt Distillery and Auspicion Wine. The works will be on view through April 6.
COST: FREE; MORE INFO
SATURDAY, MARCH 23; 6:30 - 10 p.m.
Dancing with the LGBTQ Asian Pacific Islander Community
Lumina Academy of Dance -- 1052 N. Allen Ave., Pasadena
This dance doubles as a fundraiser and silent auction benefiting API Equality LA. Take part in an hour dance lesson lesson of Latinx dances like salsa and bachata then shake yer thing on the dance floor.
COST: $30 per ticket or $50 for 2 tickets; MORE INFO
SATURDAY, MARCH 23; 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Claremont Pie Festival
festival headquarters -- 175 N. Indian Hill Blvd., Claremont
Enjoy a pie baking contest, a pie eating contest, a pie tasting buffet, cooking demos, artisan vendors, a classic car show, live music, a recipe card hunt and bargains throughout town. If you can't make it to Claremont, check out our list of pie places around Los Angeles.
COST: FREE ; MORE INFO
SATURDAY, MARCH 23; 4 and 7 p.m. - SUNDAY, MARCH 24; 4 p.m.
Selected Shorts
The Getty -- 1200 Getty Center Dr., Brentwood
The public radio show and podcast presents three performances around the theme of "entanglements." Actor Jane Kaczmarek hosts the literary feast that pairs performers with stories. Participants include René Auberjonois, D'Arcy Carden, Tony Hale, Stana Katic, Wendie Malick, Michael McKean, Elizabeth Reaser, Retta, Andy Richter, Natasha Rothwell, Jenna Ushkowitz and Baron Vaughn.
COST: $20; MORE INFO
THURSDAY, MARCH 21 - SUNDAY, MARCH 31
EATALY L.A. RESTAURANT FEST
Westfield Century City Mall - 10250 Santa Monica Blvd.
Eataly L.A. marketplace is a 67,000 square feet of Italian goodness, featuring multiple restaurants, food counters, and an authentic Italian market. To welcome spring, all three restaurants are featuring their own Italian lunch and dinner seasonal menus and specially priced Italian wine by the bottle.
COST: Menus starting at $18 for appetizer and entrée, Wine menus starting at $25; MORE INFO
SPONSORED
SUNDAY, MARCH 24; 5 - 7 p.m.
Women Who Rock Panel
Hotel Figueroa -- 939 South Figueroa St., downtown L.A.
In conjunction with Loyola Marymount University professor Evelyn McDonnell's new book, Women Who Rock, there's a discussion with panelists including McDonnell, Riot Grrrl co-founder and musician Allison Wolfe and punk legend Alice Bag. The panel will be moderated KPFK's Valecia Phillips. KSPC DJ DeeJay Dia spins. Seating is limited for this all-ages event. Cash bar.
COST: FREE with RSVP; MORE INFO
SUNDAY, MARCH 24; 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
40th Vintage Paperback Show
Glendale Civic Auditorium -- 1401 Verdugo Rd., Glendale
Organizers of this book event call it the best bargain in town and we may have to agree. Now in its 40th year, the show features more than a 100 vendor tables selling thousands of paperback and hardback sci-fi, mysteries, early pulp fiction and original art. A few dozen authors are doing live appearance and won't charge for their signatures.
Tickets: $5 admission; MORE INFO
SUNDAY, MARCH 24; 6:30 a.m.
Los Angeles Marathon
Throughout L.A. -- Dodger Stadium to Santa Monica
More than 24,000 people are expected to take part in the annual stadium-to-the-sea race. Chances are you know one of them, so get out to the streets and support them on their grueling 26.2-mile journey. The competition kicks off with wheelchair participants at 6:30 a.m.; handcyclists at 6:42 a.m., the elite female runners at 6:45 a.m. and elite male runners 6:55 a.m. before the full field takes off. Please check for road closures/openings throughout the day as streets will be reopening on a rolling basis. Runners have 6.5 hours to complete the course.
COST: FREE (for spectators); MORE INFO
SUNDAY, MARCH 24; 7 p.m.
Nowruz: Persian New Year
Segerstrom Center for the Arts -- 600 Town Center Dr., Costa Mesa
The Pacific Symphony, conducted by Carl St.Clair and Shardad Rohani, presents a program that celebrates the rebirth of nature. Listen to readings of works by Persian poet Rumi as well as Persian classical and folk music selections.
COST: Tickets start at $45; MORE INFO
SUNDAY, MARCH 24; 7:30 p.m.
The New Negroes
The Virgil -- 4519 Santa Monica Blvd., East Hollywood
The live show is finally getting a slot on Comedy Central, and there's a pre-premiere shindig with a big lineup that features Tone Bell, Jak Knight and hosts Open Mike Eagle and Baron Vaughn. The show's title refers to a term popularized during the Harlem Renaissance when Black Americans spoke up and told their stories to dismantle misconceptions. "This show is KINDA doing that, but jokes."
COST: $7; MORE INFO
How are you spending your weekend? Let us know on Twitter @christineziemba and @LeoHasACat.
