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Here are 20 awesome events happening in L.A. this weekend, and if this list isn’t enough, then check out our July Guide for even more suggestions.
FRIDAY, JULY 14
DINE LA (Food)
The summer edition of Dine L.A. begins on Friday and runs through July 28 with more than 380 restaurants participating in the dining event. Sample a diversity of cuisines with prix-fixe lunch and dinner menus from some of L.A.’s best restaurants, from A-Frame to Ziran @ The LA Hotel Downtown. The special lunches cost $15, $20 and $25 with dinner menus priced at $29, $39 and $49. The Exclusive Series features fine-dining menus beginning at $95. Check out our guide to Dine L.A.
NONPLUSSED FEST (Film + music)
The Virgil Village performance space Non Plus Ultra was shut down earlier this year, but the organizers are still celebrating the DIY culture and spaces. This weekend, the second Nonplussed Fest features music, art, film and interactive media from Friday to Sunday at Zebulon. The fest includes the world premiere of the feature film, The Icarus Line Must Die, 30 short films, two guest short film programs in partnership with the Voyager Institute and the Video Collective of Los Angeles (VCLA); two virtual reality pieces; and four interactive media projects and a photography exhibition. There are seven musical acts scheduled to perform, too, including Joe Cardamone of The Icarus Line, Annie Hardy of Giant Drag, Pink Mountaintops, Hott MT and others. Tickets: $12-$15.
BIG BLACK DELTA (Music)
Big Black Delta, a solo project of Mellowdrone’s Jonathan Bates, has an album release party and concert at The Viaduct on Friday night. Check out Big Black Delta’s ambient tunes as Bates gives an exclusive performance of WHORU812. Doors open at 6 pm and the show starts at 7:30 pm. There will be food vendors on site as well as a donation bar and views of the LA skyline.
KING / CAROLINE SMITH / ARIMA EDERRA (Music)
Red Bull Sound Select presents a night of music curated by Girlschool with King, Caroline Smith and Arima Ederra. They’re performing at Resident in DTLA on Friday night. Doors at 8 pm. Tickets: $3 with RSVP, $10 without.
CUT LOUNGE (Drinks)
Wolfgang Puck’s CUT Lounge, a new bar and lounge concept at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel, has launched a summer DJ series with a rotating lineup of DJs spinning tunes from 9 pm to 1 am. DJ Richard Sanders spins for the next three Fridays while CUT introduces a summer food and cocktail menu, including Indecent Exposure (with Herradura Silver, Bruxo Espadin, Mint, Cilantro, Jalapeno, Pineapple and Lime) and Rough Love (with Tanqueray No. 10, Shisho, Umeshu and Peach Bitters).
SATURDAY, JULY 15
POPFUJI II: AN INDEPENDENT SUMMER MUSIC FESTIVAL (Music + food)
Brouwerij West, a brewery and tasting room in San Pedro, presents Popfuji II—a free independent music festival. Artists performing are: La Luz, Mike Watt & The Second Men, White Night and Jurassic Shark. In addition to the beer available from Brouwerij West (Popfuji pilsner is $5 all day), food trucks will be onsite during the concert. Free, all ages. 5-11 pm.
PACKCON 2 (Comedy)
#PackCon2 is the official celebration of The Pack Theater that runs from noon on Saturday to midnight-ish. The day/night of comedy features theater regulars and celebrities who’ll perform improv, sketch, stand-up and variety acts. Expected appearances by: David Koechner, Adam McKay, Maria Bamford, Ian Roberts, Whitest Kids U Know, Kevin Dorff, Everything Is Terrible!, Howard Kremer, Johnny Pemberton, Sara Paxton and many others. The shows from noon to 6 pm and 11 pm are pay what you can. The 7 pm, 8 pm, 9 pm and 10 pm shows are $10. Passes: $20.
SIZZLE (Art)
Wallspace presents Sizzle—the gallery’s fifth annual summer show, featuring new work by some of the gallery's 50 L.A.-based artists, including Joseph Lee, Blair Martin Cahill, WRDSMTH, Plastic Jesus, Morley, MB Boissonnault, Johnie Thornton, Melinda Mcleod, Trevor Norris and Rose Masterpol, among others. There’s an opening reception for Sizzle on Saturday from 7-10. RSVP to art@wallspacela.com.
MIKAEL B: REALITY SHIFT (Art)
Gregorio Escalante Gallery in Chinatown presents a new exhibition, Reality Shift, featuring works from Danish street artist Mikael B. The works on view reflect a new phase of the artist’s life in his new home in L.A. The opening reception is on Saturday from 7-10 pm and the works will remain on view through Aug. 20.
37TH LOTUS FESTIVAL (Music + Food + Performance)
The 37th Lotus Festival is at Echo Park Lake on Saturday and Sunday from 12-9 pm each day. The festival features Asian culture, arts, performance, dragon boat races and foods. This year’s host country is Bangladesh. During the festival, the Echo Park Historical Society conducts an Echo Park Lake Walking Tour on Sunday at 10 am that includes three Echo Park staircases. Building interiors are not included. Tours are free for members, $5.00 for non-members. For location RSVP to ephs@historicechopark.org.
SOUND IN FOCUS (Music)
KCRW / Annnenberg Foundation’s Sound in Focus series returns on Saturday to the Annenberg Space for Photography at 7 pm. Headlining is Grammy-winning R&B artist Miguel, preceded by an opening set by Brooklyn-based multi-instrumentalist Gabriel Garzón-Montano, and DJ sets by Stretch Armstrong. Hosted by KCRW's Anthony Valadez. The show is free and all ages. Advance registration is available at KCRW.com/soundinfocus.
SUMMER ON SEVENTH (Art + fundraiser)
Inner City Arts presents its annual concert and fundraising party Summer on Seventh on Saturday at 6 pm. The night is a benefit for the organization’s support of arts education for L.A.’s youth and features a live rooftop concert by Xavier Omär, DJ Nu-Mark and dublab djs (Jen Ferrer, Danny Holloway, and T-Kay), art installations, food trucks, cocktails and libations will be sold by Silver Lake Wine and Everson Royce Bar and more. Ages 21+. Tickets: $40 in advance, $50 at the door.
ON DECK (Comedy)
On Deck is a monthly stand up comedy show that pits two teams of comics against each other. The next edition takes place at NerdMelt Showroom on Saturday at 7 pm. Each team gets 27 minutes, with team members taking turns making jokes until time runs out. Then the second team has 27 minutes to do the same. The team with the most “runs” wins. Performers are Dan St Germain, Dulce Sloan, Nicole Byer, Zak Toscani, Danny Jolles and Garrick Bernard. Tickets: $8 online and $10 at the door.
IGNITE @ THE FORD: SAVION GLOVER (Music + dance)
Savion Glover in Concert begins the Ford Theatres’ 2017 summer season on Saturday night at 8 pm. The newly renovated and reopened Ford hosts tap dancer/choreographer extraordinaire Glover along with the band Dance Candy and his renowned dance ensemble, featuring Marshall Davis, Jr., Robyn Watson and Karissa Royster. The night promises to be an uplifting night of dance and music that’s centered on hope. Tickets: $55, $75 and $100. Opening night gala tickets are $500.
DOOM PATROL VOL. 1: BRICK BY BRICK (Comic book release)
DC Comics writer Gerard Way (formerly of My Chemical Romance) signs copies of Doom Patrol Vol. 1: Brick by Brick at Barnes & Noble, The Grove on Saturday at 2 pm. A limited number of wristbands will be distributed at 9 am on Saturday with the purchase of Doom Patrol Vol. 1.
SUNDAY, JULY 16
BACCHUS UNCORKED (Drink + history)
The Getty Villa presents the event, Bacchus Uncorked: The Past on Tap: Feasts and Fermented Brews in Ancient Europe, this weekend. Archaeologist Bettina Arnold (University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee), discusses how artifacts found at burial sites and organic material scraped from inside a 2,500-year-old bronze cauldron, shed light on “feasting and power-drinking in pre-Roman Europe.” Beer expert Mark Mark Keene then leads a taste of brews inspired by ancient ingredients. The Saturday event is sold out, but there are a few tickets remaining for the Sunday lecture/tasting from 4-7 pm at the Villa’s Auditorium & Café Terrace. Tickets: $65.
SMORGASBURG: ICE CREAM ALLEY (Food)
Sunday is #NationalIceCreamDay, and Smorgasburg LA celebrates by designating an Ice Cream Alley for the next eight weekends (through Labor Day Weekend). The new designated area includes a rotating list of popup vendors like: Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams, Nancy Silverton’s Nancy’s Fancy, Salt & Straw, Sweet Rose Creamery, Smitten Ice Cream, The Tidbit Truck and regular vendors like Wanderlust Creamery, vegan donut ice cream sandwiches from Donut Friend, Paloma’s Paletas new sorbet sundaes and macaron ice cream sandwiches from Bumblecrumpets. Sundays from 10 am to 4 pm at ROW DTLA.
ESTERS SUNDAY BOOZY BRUNCH (Brunch)
Santa Monica’s Esters Wine Shop & Bar launches its Sunday Boozy Brunch this Sunday from 10 am-2 pm, featuring “daytime-friendly cocktails” like an Heirloom Tomato Bloody Mary, a Japanese Shandy; bottles of rosé and bubbly, and sweet and savory dishes from Chef de Cuisine Chris Ono and Executive Chef Jeremy Fox.
OUTFEST: FREAK SHOW (Film)
Outfest Los Angeles, the LGBT Film Festival, ends on Sunday night with a screening of Freak Show at the Theatre at Ace Hotel at 7 pm. Directed by Trudie Styler, the coming-of-age story about teenager Billy who wants to run for homecoming queen, stars Alex J. Lawther, Abigail Breslin, AnnaSophia Robb, Ian Nelson and Bette Midler. The after-party is at Clifton’s and wraps up Outfest. Tickets: $55-$75.
RUNWAY FUNDAY: ROCK’N’ROLLIN’ (Roller skating)
The Playa Vista Runway retail center hosts a free, family friendly retro roller rink on Sunday from 11 am to 4 pm. Bring skates, scooters and even your dancing shoes as there’s music by Aileen Quinn (aka “Annie”) and the Leapin’ Lizards and DJ sets by DJ Disco Shrine. A limited number of skates will be available for rental. Performances and skating tips by the L.A. Roller Girls.
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