With most events, concerts and festivals canceled or pivoting online, please consider contributing to your local arts organizations or to individual artists and performers.
L.A. County's new "safer at home" order went into effect on Nov. 30. Check the status of any drive-through events listed before heading out as the new safety measures only allow occupants in each car from the same household.
Sip holiday cocktails at home. Explore L.A. architecture in miniature. Watch the Troubies take on the holidays. Screen recent Mexican documentaries. Tune in to KPCC/LAist's latest Unheard LA.
Tenet
Hollywood Legion Theater Drive-In
2035 N. Highland Ave., Hollywood
Christopher Nolan's sci-fi action thriller, which stars John David Washington, Robert Pattison and Elizabeth Debicki, screens for the first time in L.A. ahead of its Dec. 15 Blu-Ray release. Tickets include pre-packaged concessions such as popcorn, soda and a selection of candy.
COST: Tickets start at $65 per car; MORE INFO
Indonesian Rod Puppets
The Fowler Museum at UCLA hosts a Lunch & Learn session with student educator Carolina Guerrero and senior curator of Southeast Asian and Pacific Arts Joanna Barrkman as they discuss the museum's collection of wayang golek (rod puppets). These are some of the most popular forms of animation in Indonesia's rich history of puppet theater. RSVP for Zoom link.
COST: FREE; MORE INFO
Radio Ghost Stories Revisited, The Podcast Hour
Santa Monica College presents a screening of a dark comedy written by Terrin Adair. An ensemble of oddball entertainers try to revive a failing radio station and produce their own peculiar broadcast while under investigation for murder. Act I and Act II are available to view on YouTube in two separate videos.
COST: FREE; MORE INFO
Sh!t My Folks Don't Know
A Groundlings favorite returns for a night of crazy tales. Director Karen Maruyama and special guests reveal their deepest, dirtiest secrets, regaling the audience with embarrassing and horrifying stories. The lineup includes Drew Droege (Bob's Burgers), Andrew Friedman (It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia), Roy Jenkins (Modern Family), Jim Rash (Community) and Annie Sertich (Good Girls).
COST: $5; MORE INFO
48hr Radio Mart
Nonprofit radio station dublab holds its second annual online fundraiser. Purchase gifts and pick up swag for a good cause. 100% of the proceeds will go to radio operations. Sale items include vinyl, CDs, cassettes, bundles from various record labels, classes, hotel stays, t-shirts, totes, audio gear and music gear.
COST: Varies; MORE INFO
L.A. Omnibus with Lynell George
UCLA presents an evening with L.A.-based journalist and essayist Lynell George as she discusses her new book, A Handful of Earth, A Handful of Sky: The World That Made Octavia E. Butler, as well as her insights into Butler's life and career. The conversation will be livestreamed on CAP UCLA Online.
COST: FREE; MORE INFO
The Wrap Power Women Summit 2020
The gathering of influential women in entertainment, media and technology heads online. Speakers include Beanie Feldstein, Storm Reid, Alisha Boe, Maitreyi Ramakrishnan, Whitney Port and Olivia Culpo. There are also a number of small group mentorships available with industry leaders such as T'Nia Miller (The Haunting of Bly Manor), Ryan Michelle Bathe (All Rise), Garcelle Beauvais (Coming 2 America) and Melanie Liburd (This is Us).
COST: FREE, Mentor upgrades are available for a $99 ticket; MORE INFO
Los Angeles Chargers Virtual Sports Drills
L.A. County Parks has enlisted the help of Chargers football players to run virtual football camp drills for children ages 4 to 18. Kids can build skills, improve form, meet their physical education credits or exercise for fun. Learn about stretching, warm-ups, football exercises, drills and how to continue to train at home or in parks. All skill levels welcomed. Watch interactive, pre-recorded videos then join in a livestream event with the Chargers on Dec. 10.
COST: FREE with RSVP; MORE INFO
LABC on Zoom: Small Scale LA with Kieran Wright
The Los Angeles Breakfast Club heads online with its 95-year-old traditions, camaraderie and merriment, along with a guest talk by artist Kieran Wright, the miniature maker behind Small Scale LA. The New Zealand native has fallen hard for his adopted city and began making miniature versions of his favorite buildings to decorate his Miracle Mile apartment. Now, he has been commissioned by others so they can also have their own little pieces of L.A.
COST: $5; MORE INFO
Holiday Wreath Making
The L.A. Arboretum holds a wreath-making workshop via Zoom. Jill Morgan leads the class on how to fashion decorations and greens into a one-of-a-kind wreath. After you register, the Arboretum will send the link and a list of recommended places to pick up materials.
COST: $10 - $15; MORE INFO
Judson Studios in Conversation
In advance of the opening of the exhibition Judson Studios: Stained Glass from Gothic to Street Style at Forest Lawn Museum, join a virtual event that celebrates the work of the 124-year-old Highland Park studio. Fifth-generation president David Judson and writer Steffie Nelson, co-authors of the new book, JUDSON: Innovation in Stained Glass (Angel City Press), discuss the studio's history and work in a conversation moderated by museum director James Fishburne. Click here to register.
COST: FREE; MORE INFO
FOX's Winter Wednesday
The Grove's Level 8
189 The Grove Dr., Fairfax
FOX presents a night of music, guessing and family fun as guests watch a holiday sing-a-long and drive-in screening of The Masked Singer, followed by the season finale of I Can See Your Voice, hosted by Ken Jeong. Tickets include admission and a holiday-themed meal with dessert. All guests must comply with state, county and city health and safety requirements while attending the drive-in.
COST: $70 - $140; MORE INFO
KPCC In Person: Unheard LA
KPCC/LAist's live storytelling series returns in a virtual format, revisiting stories recorded for radio broadcast. This week, the show takes a deeper listen to three origin stories. Angela Sanchez recounts the experience of being evicted at age 16. Matt Sedillo reflects on his unique experience of growing up in El Sereno. Jin Yoo-Kim explains how the discovery of a new kind of pie became a cherished memory and family tradition. The storytellers will be in conversation with host Bruce Lemon, Jr. and Race In L.A.'s Dana Amihere.
COST: Pay-what-you-can, from free to $20; MORE INFO
Different from the Others (Anders als die Andern)
UCLA's Film & Television Archive screens the landmark 1919 German film that's widely considered the first feature-length film aimed at a gay audience. The film has earned critical praise for its humanistic depiction of gay men and its plea to end their social and legal persecution. RSVP for screening link.
COST: FREE with RSVP; MORE INFO
The Winter Warlockdown Troubie Holiday Party
The Troubadour Theater Company (aka the Troubies) returns for its annual celebration -- and slight skewering -- of the holiday season. Gather around your computer screens to watch Troubies around the country perform a family-friendly, vaudeville-esque variety-style show, emceed by Troubie founder Matt Walker. Guests include The Winter Warlock (Beth Kennedy) and Santana Clause (Rick Batalla).
COST: $60 per screen; MORE INFO
What Would Society Look Like Without Police?
Zócalo Public Square and the University of Toronto present a four-part series, The World We Want, that examines geo-political and societal forces. While acknowledging the challenges of the moment, the series seeks to uncover fresh ideas. This week's panel looks at policing. Participants include University of Toronto's Dexter Voisin, Harvard University's Sandra Susan Smith and University of Virginia's Rachel Harmon. Jamiles Lartey of The Marshall Project moderates.
COST: FREE with RSVP; MORE INFO
Clemency Screening and Q&A
The Hammer Museum screens the death row drama, which stars Alfre Woodard as a prison warden haunted by the emotional toll that comes with executing inmates. Aldis Hodge plays a prisoner fighting for exoneration before his impending execution. The film's director, Chinonye Chukwu, is the first Black woman to win the Sundance Film Festival's Grand Jury Prize. There's a Q&A with Chukwu after the screening.
COST: FREE with RSVP; MORE INFO
MexDocs: Recent Mexican Documentaries
This slate of new documentaries from Mexico explores various social, political and cultural issues with a focus on narratives of womanhood and indigenous resistance. The films, which will screen online, include Maricarmen by Sergio Morkin; When I Shut My Eyes (Cuando cierro los ojos) by Sergio Blanco and Michelle Ibaven; Retreat (Retiro) by Daniela Alatorre, and What Happened to the Bees? (¿Qué le pasó a las abejas?) by Adriano Otero and Robin Canul.
COST: $7 per film; MORE INFO
OC Parks Drive-In: National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation
Mile Square Regional Park
16801 Euclid St., Fountain Valley
OC Parks hosts a series of drive-in movies beginning with National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation (PG-13) screening on Thursday and Friday nights. (They're screening Elf on Saturday and Sunday.) Tickets must be purchased in advance and safety protocols must be followed.
COST: $10 per car; 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.
