Celebrate Día de los Muertos at multiple festivals. Watch flicks by Agnès Varda, Julia Reichert, Kasi Lemmons and Lotte Reigniger. Visit Grand Avenue's cultural organizations. Watch Bob Baker's marionettes make an Escape to Witch Mountain. Ride the A Line (fka the Blue Line) -- for FREE. And cap the weekend with the fried chicken sandwich that went viral and historic cocktails at the Formosa Cafe.
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 1 - SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 2
Substance
Los Angeles Theatre -- 615 S. Broadway, downtown L.A.
Fans of L.A.'s post-punk, electronic and darkwave music scenes have two nights to dance and listen to a lineup that includes Gary Numan, John Maus, Boy Harsher, Black Marble, A Place To Bury Strangers and Lust For Youth.
COST: $39.50 - $135; MORE INFO
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 1 - SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 30
Steak 'n Stein 73rd Anniversary Special
Clearman's Steak 'N Stein -- 9545 E. Whittier Blvd., Pico Rivera
To celebrate the its 73rd anniversary, the restaurant presents a special prix fixe dinner running all month. Get a $46 meal (to commemorate Steak 'N Stein's 1946 opening) that includes starters, an entree (16 oz. prime rib, petite filet and king crab or teriyaki mahi mahi), sides and desserts.
COST: $46 (not including tax and tip); MORE INFO
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 1 - SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 30
Neotropolis Bar Experience
750 S. Broadway St., downtown L.A. (backside of LA Biergarten)
This pop-up bar (which has no official affiliation with Blade Runner and does not offer story elements from the film) offers an immersive retro future experience, imagining life in 2019 from an '80s perspective. It's cyberpunk with craft cocktails. The timed ticket includes admission, one welcome drink and some merch (t-shirt, souvenir glass, ID card, enamel pin and patch). The event is strictly 21+.
COST: $82; MORE INFO
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 1 - SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 2
BlizzCon 2019
Anaheim Convention Center -- 800 W. Katella Ave., Anaheim
Join several thousand friends to play the latest Blizzard games, watch esports competitions, listen to discussion panels, cosplay and enter various contests throughout the weekend. Weekend badges are only currently available through a pass exchange but you can attend from home with a virtual ticket option.
COST: $49 virtual ticket, $229+ for passes.; MORE INFO
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 1 - SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 2
Breeder's Cup
Santa Anita Park -- 285 Huntington Dr., Arcadia
The 2019 Breeders' Cup World Championships returns to Santa Anita Park, combining horse racing and fine dining for two jam-packed days. Dining packages are extra and start at $200.
COST: General admission start at $15; MORE INFO
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 1 - SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 3
Japan Cuts Hollywood
Hollywood & Highland -- 6801 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood
Japan House Los Angeles and the Japan America Society of Southern California present a festival of contemporary Japanese cinema. Taking place at the TCL Chinese 6 Theatres and Japan House Los Angeles, it features the West Coast premiere of the hit comedy, Bento Harassment. Other screenings include international premieres of The Bucket List and A Stranger in Shanghai, followed by a Q&A with director Taku Kato and executive producer Natsuko Katsuta.
COST: Free - $15; MORE INFO
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 1 - SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 2
ARRAY 360 Film Series
ARRAY HQ -- 180 Glendale Blvd., #5826, Echo Park
This is the final weekend of the new film series curated, funded and presented by Ava DuVernay's nonprofit, Array Alliance. Bringing together the work of experienced filmmakers and emerging artists, the closing films are Hyenas, directed by Djibril Diop Mambéty, and Atlantique, directed by Mati Diop, on Friday. Two films by Agnès Varda, La Pointe Courte and Varda by Agnes, screen on Saturday.
COST: FREE admission with RSVP; MORE INFO
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 1; 7:30 - 9:30 P.M.
American Factory
Billy Wilder Theater at the Hammer Museum -- 10899 Wilshire Blvd., Westwood
Watch the doc American Factory, about a Chinese billionaire who takes over an abandoned GM plant and opens a factory in Ohio, hiring 2,000 blue-collar Americans and hundreds of native Chinese employees. "Early days of hope and optimism are tested by the scale of the project and by the cultural differences between high-tech China and America's postindustrial Midwest." The screening is followed by an in-person Q&A with filmmaker Julia Reichert, moderated by Anne Thompson.
COST: FREE admission with RSVP; MORE INFO
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 1; 8 - 10 P.M.
The Adventures of Prince Achmed
Union Station Ticketing Hall -- 800 N. Alameda St., downtown L.A.
Metro Art presents a new animated film series, which kicks off with this 1926 film, directed by Lotte Reigniger, a master of the animated shadow-puppet film. The film, which will be introduced by filmmaker Lyndon J Barrois, follows the journey of an ugly sorcerer who falls in love with a beautiful princess. It's accompanied by live music provided by Gamelan Merdu Kumala.
COST: FREE, seats on a first-come, first-served basis; MORE INFO
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 1; 10:30 - 11:30 P.M.
Menudo Presenta: Noche de los Muertos
Upright Citizens Brigade Sunset -- 5419 Sunset Blvd., East Hollywood
The Menudo team raises the dead with a night of all-Latinx comedy and improv in honor of Día de los Muertos.
COST: $7; MORE INFO
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 2 - SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 3; 12 P.M. - 12 A.M.
Día de los Muertos
Hollywood Forever Cemetery -- 6000 Santa Monica Blvd., Hollywood
The 20th annual celebration's theme honors the Monarch butterfly and its winter home, the Mexican state of Michoacán. Café Tacvba, Lido Pimienta, La Doña, The Delirians and Sávila perform on the main stage. Children 8 and younger and seniors 65 and older get in for free until 4 p.m.
COST: $25 - $30; MORE INFO
Additional Día de los Muertos events this weekend include:
FRIDAY, NOV. 1
SATURDAY, NOV. 2
SUNDAY, NOV. 3
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 2 - MONDAY, NOVEMBER 4
"A" Line (Blue) Reopening
Former Blue Line stations
To commemorate the reopening of the A Line (aka the Blue Line) on Saturday, Metro is offering three days of free rides -- only on the A Line -- through Monday, Nov. 4. There are three sequential community celebrations on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., at 7th St/Metro Center at The Bloc in downtown L.A.; followed at 11:15 a.m. adjacent to the A Line 103rd St/Watts Towers Station at Graham Ave. and 103rd St.; and at 11:30 a.m. at the Promenade Square, between downtown Long Beach and the First St. stations.
COST: FREE; MORE INFO
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 2 - SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 3
ComplexCon
Long Beach Convention & Entertainment Center -- 300 E. Ocean Blvd., Long Beach
The festival and exhibition brings together pop culture, music, art, food, sports, innovation, activism and education. Guests can shop brand releases, watch talks, experience immersive art and view performances. The "First We Feast Lagoon" features eats from L.A., Washington D.C., New York, Chicago and London with hosts from Complex's top food shows in attendance, including Sean Evans and chef Alvin Cailan from The Burger Show. Music headliners include Kid Cudi and Anderson .Paak.
COST: $80 - $135; MORE INFO
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 2 - MONDAY, NOVEMBER 11
Day Out with Thomas - 2019 Steam Team Tour
Southern California Railway Museum -- 2201 S. A St., Perris
Aspiring train engineers and their families can take a ride on Thomas the Tank Engine and meet his friends Percy and Sir Tomham Hatt on Nov. 2-3 and Nov. 9-11. Tickets to the special "Day Out" event also includes storytelling sessions, arts and crafts, admission to the West's largest collection of railway locomotives, passenger and freight cars, streetcars, interurban electric cars, buildings and other artifacts dating from the 1870s.
COST: Tickets start at $21.; MORE INFO
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 2; 11 A.M. - 4 P.M.
Grand Ave Arts: All Access
Various institutions along Grand Ave, between Temple and 6th streets
The free, one-day community block party offers family-friendly workshops, tours and activities that let you experience the cultural institutions along the Grand Ave. arts corridor. Watch Merce Cunningham dance films at MOCA. Take part in interactive music workshops at the Colburn School. Sing along with the L.A. Master Chorale at The Music Center Plaza. Visit the L.A. Opera backstage. Tour the Grand Central Library.
COST: FREE admission; MORE INFO
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 2; 10 A.M. - 4 P.M.
Festival of Flight
Long Beach Airport -- 4100 Donald Douglas Dr., Long Beach
The family festival includes stationary airplanes and vehicle displays, live entertainment and food and beer trucks. No dogs or coolers allowed.
COST: FREE admission; MORE INFO
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 2 - SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 3
OK Go: The Live Video Tour
Younes and Soraya Nazarian Center for the Performing Arts (The Soraya) --18111 Nordhoff St., Northridge
The polymath quartet brings its wacky stage show to CSUN's campus. They'll play in perfect sync to their videos, which take "detours between songs to wander playfully into unexpected places." Expect handbells, homemade instruments and audience interaction on smartphones, Guitar Hero-style. The band also conducts family-friendly Q&A sessions.
COST: $39-$107; MORE INFO
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 2; 3 - 6 P.M.
Harriet
Cinemark Baldwin Hills -- 4020 Marlton Ave., Baldwin Hills-Crenshad
Blackout Cinema presents a special screening of Harriet, a film that focuses on the story of Harriet Tubman, who helped free hundreds of slaves from the South after escaping from slavery herself in 1849. The Blackout community screens the film then sticks around to critique and discuss it.
COST: $6 - $13.25; MORE INFO
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 2; 4 - 6 P.M.
Star Trek and Human Destiny: A Conversation with Rod Roddenberry
The Anagnos Peace Center -- 3916 Sepulveda Blvd., Culver City
The original TV series and subsequent films and TV shows created a "hopeful federation of planets without war where we triumph over humanity's greatest challenges." This program explores whether this unification is possible on Earth. Rod Roddenberry, son of Star Trek's creator Gene Roddenberry, leads a panel discussion on the topic.
COST: FREE with RSVP; MORE INFO
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 2; 8 - 10 P.M.
Escape to Witch Mountain (with Live Score and Puppets)
Bob Baker Marionette Theater -- 4949 York Blvd., Highland Park
Join the theater in its new Highland Park home as they team with El Cine to screen the 1975 Disney classic Escape to Witch Mountain. Two mysterious orphans have extraordinary powers and are chased by a scheming millionaire... but where are they really from? The late Bob Baker created the iconic puppets that are featured in a memorable film sequence. For the first time ever, audiences will see these puppets perform in real time alongside the film with a live score by HOTT MT.
COST: $20; MORE INFO
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 3 - MONDAY, NOVEMBER 4
Raw Wine
City Market Social House -- 1145 San Pedro St., downtown L.A.
The natural, organic and low-intervention wine fair returns. There are more than 120 different producers expected as well as foods from La Morra, Tabula Rasa, Jolly Oyster and coffee from Counter Culture.
COST: $70 - $110 (general admission); MORE INFO
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 3; 5 - 8 P.M.
Cocktails in Historic Places at the Formosa Cafe
Formosa Cafe -- 7156 Santa Monica Blvd., West Hollywood
Join the Art Deco Society of Los Angeles for a drink and learn about the history of the Formosa Cafe, which was recently restored and updated. Dress in vintage threads and buy yourself a drink (it's not included in the program). If you're driving, park in the shopping center's underground lot, accessible behind the restaurant.
COST: FREE admission; MORE INFO
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 3
Return of Popeyes Fried Chicken Sandwich
Popeyes locations everywhere
2019 will be remembered for many historic events. The release of the Mueller Report, the sudden announcement that the U.S. would pull its troops out of Syria, a brewing push to impeach President Donald Trump. But more important than all of these, it will be remembered for the Fried Chicken Sandwich Wars. They began on Aug. 12, when fast food chain Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen debuted its new fried chicken sandwich. A week later, Chick-fil-A issued a tweet pointing out it had been in the poultry game longer than anyone. That set #ChickenSandwichTwitter into a frenzy and the battle was on with fans of both brands aruing over who makes the best sammie. Popeyes' chicken sandwich was so popular, the company couldn't keep up with demand. By the end of August, franchises around the country had run out of the sandwich. This Sunday, it finally comes back. Popeyes company has slaughtered, plucked, breaded and frozen enough chickens to keep up with our country's insatiable demand. You might want to get in line now.
COST: cost of food varies; MORE INFO
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 3; 3 - 7 P.M.
Go Fact Yourself
Angel City Brewery -- 216 S. Alameda St., downtown L.A.
The quiz show podcast holds two shows on Sunday afternoon, including its 50th live taping. The trivia show features a celebrity guest being quizzed on a topic on their choice, followed by an appearance of an actual expert in that topic. The 3 p.m. show pits Joel Stein vs Atsuko Okatsuka, while the 50th taping at 5 p.m. features Walter Koenig (Chekov from Star Trek) vs. his daughter Danielle Koenig. The show is hosted by J. Keith van Straaten (from NPR's Ask Me Another), and comedian Helen Hong.
COST: FREE admission with RSVP; MORE INFO
