Watch the grunions hit the beach. Get those jazz hands ready for a celebration of Liza Minnelli. Catch Tilda Swinton in Pedro Almodóvar's English-language debut. Learn about the history of Korean and Japanese alcohol. Slice into some Pi Day deals. Explore art in the desert. Laugh along with Fortune Feimster at a drive-in or online with more than two dozen comics as they F**K Z**M.
The Human Voice
Vineland Drive-In
443 N. Vineland Ave, City of Industry
Pedro Almodóvar makes his English-language debut with a 30-minute film starring Tilda Swinton as a woman abandoned by her lover. Time passes while she waits, with only a dog for companionship, for her beloved to pick up her suitcases.
COST: $4 - $10; MORE INFO
Sustain the Scene
A new initiative supports local indie music venues shuttered by COVID-19 and are at risk of closing permanently. Beginning Friday, local music fans will be able to support their favorite nightlife spots including The Regent, Lodge Room, El Cid, Catch One, The Comedy Store, Akbar, The Eagle, The Lash, 1720 and ETA and The Alibi in Palm Springs by ordering food, cocktails and merch through Postmates. Also on Friday, there's a livestream concert on YouTube and Twitch with Girlpool and Vinyl Williams at Lodge Room. It's hosted by Jesse Camp and Nina Tarr.
COST: Varies; MORE INFO
Music on a Mission: Virtual Concert
In advance of the Grammys on Sunday, MusiCares holds a fundraiser for music industry people in need. Watch new performances from Haim, H.E.R., Jhené Aiko and John Legend as well as sets from the vaults featuring Bruce Springsteen, Stevie Nicks, Tom Petty and Usher. Musicians and other special guests will make appearances throughout the show.
COST: $25; MORE INFO
A Love Letter to Liza Minnelli: 75th All-Star Birthday Tribute Celebration
This star-studded event features performances by Ben Vereen and the dancers of the Verdon Fosse Legacy, Joel Grey, Michael Feinstein, Lea DeLaria, Lily Tomlin, Melissa Manchester and stories from Chita Rivera, Craig Ferguson, Jason Alexander, Joan Collins, John Cameron Mitchell, Jonathan Groff, Nathan Lane, Sandra Bernhard, Parker Posey, Tony Hale and too many others to name. The night also features never before seen footage from the birthday girl herself. 20% of net proceeds will benefit The Actors Fund. There will be repeat airings March 13-14.
COST: $30; MORE INFO
Pacific StorySlam: Nostalgia
The Moth and LACMA present an evening of art and storytelling with tales that turn back the hands of time. Listen (or contribute) stories from memory lane. The theme "Nostalgia" is a nod to the exhibition Yoshitomo Nara at LACMA. The night is hosted by Dhaya Lakshminarayanan from the San Francisco StorySLAM community.
COST: $8 - $10; MORE INFO
What's So Funny? Comedy During Quarantine
LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes hosts an online program that features comedy and reality. Carlos Aguilar AKA Big Brown Dad asks four comics -- Kim Congdon, Vanessa Gonzalez, Erik Rivera and Danny Vega -- how they're staying funny and making money during quarantine. Register to view on Zoomor watch on Facebook.
COST: FREE; MORE INFO
Atlas Obscura's Pi Day Experiences
The magazine and tour adventure company presents a weekend of Pi-themed online experiences. On Friday, the Accidental Discoveries series examines the development of mathematics. Saturday focuses on the most popular pie in the world: pizza. On Sunday, attend Peculiar Pies with Gastro Obscura, a session that includes pie trivia, history and recipes.
COST: $10 - $15 per session; MORE INFO
Drive-in Movie: The Incredibles
Crenshaw Imperial Plaza Shopping Center
2900 W. Imperial Highway, Inglewood
Pixar's 2004 animated feature screens near the Plaza's AutoZone, close to many eateries. Parking is on a first-come, first-served basis. All of the proceeds from the event will be donated to the Aaron Community Cultural Center.
COST: $10 per car; MORE INFO
Echo Theater Company: Bold Faced Secret
The theater company's monthly night of personal stories returns with the theme of "The Skin of Your Teeth." Listen to an hour of tales from storytellers about close calls, near misses and hanging by a thread.
COST: FREE; MORE INFO
Stand by Me
The Roadium Open Air Market
2500 W. Redondo Beach Blvd., Torrance
The Roadium presents family flicks on Friday nights in March, including this week's screening of the 1986 Rob Reiner coming-of-age film, Stand by Me, based on a Stephen King short story. The snack bar won't be open s(o bring your own food) and you won't be able to sit outside of your car.
COST: $30 per car; MORE INFO
RISK! Livestream Online Show
Kevin Allison hosts a night of tales that people never thought they'd share in public. The live online show takes place as a Zoom webinar with stories from Allison, Lisa Cantrell, Auntie Vice, Chetter Galloway and Dana Norris. Only 100 tickets are available for the show. A link will be sent to ticket buyers.
COST: $15; MORE INFO
Handcrafting: Basics of Bread
The L.A. Arboretum presents a virtual class that teaches participants how to make a sweet banana bread loaf and a savory focaccia. Plus, there's a science lesson on making a sourdough starter. This is a great class if you are new to bread making or looking for a delicious refresher. In April and May, the Handcrafting series focuses on Sourdough and Jams, Butter, and Ricotta, respectively. Ingredients and materials list will be sent out before the class. A Zoom link will be emailed to registered participants 24 hours before class begins.
COST: $20 - $25; MORE INFO
Delejos (from afar)
The new one-woman, immersive, live Zoom play from writer/actor/comedian Julie Piñero focuses on how she worked through immense loss. Piñero's partner, Jose Zambrano, a designer of VR games, died in a random incident of street violence. She used his unfinished VR game, Delejos, which focuses on distance and loving from afar, as a starting point. The show uses live music, light and Zoom to create the experimental theater piece.
COST: FREE with RSVP; MORE INFO
Fortune Feimster
Irvine Improv
527 Spectrum Center Dr., Irvine
Feimster, who made a name for herself on Chelsea Lately and the Mindy Project, returns to Irvine for a drive-in standup show. Her first one-hour special, Sweet & Salty, is streaming on Netflix. She also cohosts The Netflix Afterparty with David Spade and London Hughes. The Irvine show, which also features comedian Orlando Leyba, is 18+.
COST: $130 per car; MORE INFO
F**K Z**M
More than two dozen comedians come together to mourn a year of Zoom comedy. Hosted by Jared Goldstein and Hannah Pilkes, the lineup includes Atsuko Okatsuka, Bowen Yang, Chloe Fineman, Jenny Yang, Jenson Titus, Cole Escola and Julia Shiplett. Proceeds from ticket sales go to The Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund. RSVP on Eventbrite now for the private YouTube link.
COST: $10 suggested donation; MORE INFO
Grunion Run Season
This weekend marks the start of the grunion season in Southern California, when the silvery fish hit the beaches for their nighttime mating dance. A fishing license is required if you plan to catch them (and you can only use your hands). If attending a grunion run, please follow current COVID-19 safety protocols. Check the California Department of Fish and Wildlife website for expected runs through the summer.
COST: FREE; MORE INFO
Dogs Are Better Than People
The Whitefire Theatre's Solofest 2021 presents an online show written and performed by Sarah Hunter about drinking, bad men and good dogs. The talking dogs are the ones who tell Sarah's stories. A portion of the show's proceeds will go to the Pasadena Humane, Hand In Paw Rescue and Soi Dog Foundation.
COST: $15.99; MORE INFO
Texino's Spring Forward Market
3021 Rowena Ave., Silver Lake
The L.A.-based luxury camper van company hosts a market with treats from She Baked Me, Canyon Coffee, La Morra Pizza, flowers from Earth Shoppe and wine from lolo wine bar. A DJ spins vinyl throughout the day. Masks must be worn at all times, and temperature checks are required at check-in.
COST: FREE admission; MORE INFO
Wild Fermentation: Microbes, Fermentation & Makgeolli with Yong Ha Jeong
Korean brewer Yong Ha Jeong and science historians Victoria Lee and Charles Kollmer discuss the historical conditions from the late 19th century to the present that have shaped alcohol fermentation practices in Korea and Japan. Wine shop Domaine L.A. is selling limited quantities of small-batch Hana Makgeolli (Korean alcohol) that you can sip during the seminar. The event features live captioning and ASL interpretation.
COST: FREE with RSVP; MORE INFO
The Pan African Film & Arts Festival (PAFF)
The annual festival wraps this weekend after screening dozens of films from the U.S. and the African diaspora. PAFF closes on Sunday with Executive Order, directed by Lázaro Ramos. Set in a dystopian near future in Rio de Janeiro, a lawyer sues the Brazilian government for reparations on behalf of all descendants of African slaves in the country. However, the government retaliates by ordering all Black citizens to Africa. Skin color is measured and people are hunted to be sent to Africa. The lawyer asks his uncle to find his wife, who's gone.
COST: $30, passes available; MORE INFO
The One
This British drama-thriller is an adaptation of John Marrs' novel set in the near future, when a DNA test can determine your soulmate. A new matchmaking service capitalizes on the scientific discovery to pair people with their perfect partner. Of course, nothing's perfect as people and partners come with all sorts of baggage and lies. All eight episodes will be available on Netflix on March 12.
Desert X
Throughout the Coachella Valley
Riverside County
The outdoor biennial art exhibition returns to the desert, offering both online and in-person opportunities to locate and view work across the Coachella Valley. Among the 13 artists participating this year are Felipe Baeza, Judy Chicago, Oscar Murillo and Kim Stringfellow. The map with exact locations of the installations goes live on desertx.org and on the Desert X 2021 app on Friday, March 12.
COST: FREE; MORE INFO
Who doesn't miss going out to eat or stopping by a bar for a drink? Here are a few options from restaurants and bars as we work our way back toward normal.
Sunday is March 14 aka 3.14 aka Pi Day with several eateries offering pie-related specials.
