Coronavirus is wreaking havoc on schools, stores, businesses and events. With in-person concerts, talks, comedy shows, food festivals and other gatherings cancelled, we have turned our events column into a "nonevents" column. It will remain this way as long as social distancing and stay-at-home orders are in effect.
During this difficult time, please consider contributing to your local arts organizations or to individual artists and performers.
Catch Thai flicks while eating Thai snacks at a pop-up drive-in. Check out a documentary about Bob Marley. See stars from RuPaul's Drag Race werk it at the Rose Bowl. Enjoy a virtual production of the Bard's Measure for Measure.
Drive 'N Drag
Rose Bowl Stadium
1001 Rose Bowl Dr., Pasadena
RuPaul's Drag Race stars sashay back to the stage at this drive-in event. Watch Asia O'Hara, Plastique Tiara, Kameron Michaels, Jaida Essence Hall, Vanessa Vanjie and Violet Chachki werk it from the safety of your car. Choose from several show times throughout the weekend.
COST: $69 - $139 (admission for two), $25 for each additional person; MORE INFO
Thai Movie Drive-In
Ayara Thai
6245 W. 87th St., Westchester
Ayara Thai restaurant partners with the Tourism Authority of Thailand to screen movies in the restaurant's parking lot. Watch Thai films paired with movie snacks like pad Thai chicken nachos, sweet potato doughnuts and Thai sai oua hot dogs. The lineup includes BTS: Bangkok Traffic (Love) Story on Friday, Laddaland (Saturday) and Bad Genius on Sunday. Tickets must be purchased in advance; no tickets will be available at the door.
COST: $50 per car (and includes a snack kit); MORE INFO
Digital Dessert Goals
The weekend of sweets reimagines itself for a virtual space, offering two days of baking demos, live panels, interactive workshops, a vendor marketplace with special deals and virtual goodie bags. $1 of each ticket goes to No Kid Hungry.
COST: $25; MORE INFO
15th Annual Film Independent Forum
The forum moves online this year with a mix of live talks, workshops and pre-recorded content. Meant as a way to inspire filmmakers to take charge of their art and careers, topics include financing, production and distribution of films and digital content across multiple platforms. Discussions also include ways to operate within, and respond to, the current health crisis and social justice protests. Speakers include Lulu Wang (director, The Farewell), Elissa Federoff (president of Distribution, NEON Pictures); and Dawn Porter (director John Lewis: Good Trouble).
COST: Passes: $49 - $99; MORE INFO
ArcLight at the Drive-In
Vineland Drive-In
443 Vineland Ave., City of Industry
Catch a special screening of the thriller She Dies Tomorrow, written and directed by Amy Seimetz. When a woman believes she'll die tomorrow, her conviction might be contagious, affecting others in town. The evening starts with a pre-show DJ set by the Mondo Boys (composers of the film's soundtrack) at 8:30 p.m. and a live virtual conversation with the filmmaker and cast following the film. The film screens at 9 p.m.
COST: $30 per car; MORE INFO
Overnight Family Fishing and Camping
Santa Fe Dam Regional Park
15501 E. Arrow Highway, Irwindale
Can't get away for a family vacay this summer? Camp overnight at Santa Fe Dam through a program with L.A. County's Parks and Recreation Department.
COST: $10 per person, free for kids 11 and younger; MORE INFO
Rebuilding Paradise Trailer (2020)
Rebuilding Paradise
National Geographic Documentary Films releases Ron Howard's latest film, which captures the resilience of a community ravaged by wildfire. For every ticket sold, $1 will go to charities supporting the town of Paradise, California. The film opens on Friday with virtual screenings as well as a drive-in screening at the Vineland Drive-In in the City of Industry.
COST: Varies; MORE INFO
This Is Me: Letters From The Front Lines
Diavolo | Architecture in Motion, an L.A.-based dance company, presents the premiere of this dance film on the Saroya's website, Facebook page and YouTube channel. The work traces the journeys of military veterans and first responders while capturing the resilience of the human spirit.
COST: FREE; MORE INFO
Mavis 80 Livestream
Watch a Newport Folk Revival presentation that was recorded at The Theatre at Ace Hotel in Los Angeles last year. The show features the great Mavis Staples along with Jason Isbell, Brandi Carlile, Ben Harper, Trombone Shorty, Grace Potter, Phoebe Bridgers, Lucius, M. Ward and Joe Henry.
COST: $30 - $55; MORE INFO
Mexican American Art Pop with Nancy Sanchez
Tune into an En Casa con LA Plaza program that features a conversation with and performance by singer-songwriter Nancy Sanchez. Her music blends elements of Mexican folkloric, jazz, Latin alternative and pop, and her songs have been featured on TV shows including Vida and Mayans MC. Tune in via Zoom or Facebook.
COST: FREE with RSVP; MORE INFO
From Italy with Laughter: A Comedy Film Festival
The Italian Cultural Institute Los Angeles teams with distributor True Colors to present the inaugural online film festival. Watch two Italian comedies online each weekend starting with the U.S. premieres of The King's Musketeers / Moschettieri del Re - La Penultima Missione (2019) on Friday and Letscleanapp / Tuttapposto (2019) on Saturday.
COST: FREE with RSVP; MORE INFO
Measure For Measure
Shakespeare on the Deck offers a virtual presentation of the Bard's play about the loose morals of the citizens of Venice (Italy, not California). The theater company creates an interactive Zoom experience in which attendees can watch a live and socially distanced production from various perspectives. Ticketholders will receive a virtual program that includes background on the show, themed recipes and, for those of legal age, a drinking game.
COST: $15; MORE INFO
Daze Between
This festival of live and archived performances as well as storytelling celebrates the life and music of Jerry Garcia, 25 years after his passing. Watch sets by the Grateful Dead, Dead & Company, Bob Weir & The Campfire Band, Amos Lee, Circles Around The Sun and Dark Star and a screening of Move Me Brightly. Content will be streamed live across several sites. Proceeds from the festival will benefit the Rex Foundation, a nonprofit that aims to secure a healthy environment and promote the arts.
COST: FREE; MORE INFO
Marley
This Bob Marley documentary coincides with what would have been the reggae legend's 75th birthday. Directed by Kevin Macdonald with Ziggy Marley as one of its producers, the film combines concert performances, documentary footage and numerous interviews including Bob Marley, Rita Marley, Cedella Marley, Ziggy Marley, Jimmy Cliff and Chris Blackwell. The film opens locally (virtually) at the Laemmle Playhouse 7 Cinemas.
COST: $12; MORE INFO
C(ovell) in the C(loud)
ABC Interactive Presents an interactive livestream event that's based on the troupe's long-running show that took place at Bar Covell. The show is a three-hour immersive theater spectacle that includes 45 minutes for a preshow, a 1.5-hour main performance, and 45 minutes of post-show entertainment. Escape into "The Game," which takes place in a world of clowns, fortunes, magic and the absurdity of your own experience. There are multiple ticket tiers, but they fall into two categories: interactive participation or passive watching. Either way, ticketholders must must have a desktop computer (Mac or PC) so they can call in on Skype and Zoom simultaneously from the same camera. Passive tickets must include proof of a $10 donation to one of several select charities. Add-on purchases available.
COST: $10 (donation) - $75; 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.
