Not going to Comic-Con? Then check out 20 awesome events happening right here in L.A. this weekend.
FRIDAY, JULY 21
ICON GO ON, I’LL GO ON (Art)
Actor Val Kilmer’s Pop-Up Art Exhibit, Icon Go On, I’ll Go On, opens at Gabba Gallery in L.A. for one weekend only. Kilmer will show his paintings and sculptures; his work investigates the “nature of Icons and to explore issues of celebrity, identity, reproduction, and American mythic archetypes” and includes himself playing a character in his works. The exhibition opens on Friday from 4-11 pm, RSVPs required to: valart494@gmail.com. The public opening reception is on Saturday from noon to 8 pm, no RSVP necessary.
626 NIGHT MARKET (Food + market)
626 Night Market returns to Santa Anita’s garden paddock this weekend. Check out amazing food, merch, arts and crafts, and live performances. The market opens from 4 pm to 1 am on Friday and Saturday and from 4 to 11 pm on Sunday. Admission is $3 on Friday and Sunday and $5 on Saturday. Free parking.
POP-UP AT THE BAZAAR (Food)
Chef Andoni Luis Aduriz holds a pop-up at The Bazaar by José Andrés, happening now through Friday. The event features dishes from Aduriz’s newest venture, Topa Sukaldería, a “global exploration through Basque and Latin American flavors.” The a la carte menu includes Topa Cheese and Iberian ham quesadillas; Fresh anchovy tiradito; and 1057 days mole with profiteroles. Reservations are strongly suggested.
DELICIOUS LITTLE TOKYO (Food + drinks)
Head to the 2nd Annual Delicious Little Tokyo event this weekend (Fri to Sun), where more than a dozen restaurants and shops offer tastings, special menu items and demos. Partake in Sake at First Street North with the Little Tokyo Service Center (LTSC) from 7-10 pm on Friday; a Poke & Tea Tasting or sushi-making workshop on Saturday; a free ukulele class on Sunday and many more. Prices vary.
NINOTCHKA (Classic films)
Libros Schmibros founder and critic David Kipen has organized a film series for the Norton Simon Museum every Friday in July. The films are presented in conjunction with the exhibition, Maven of Modernism: Galka Scheyer in California, and tracks the years between “Hollywood’s 1930s embrace of European exiles and its eventual engagement in the battle against fascism.” On Friday at 5:15 pm, Kipen introduces the screening of Ninotchka (1939), directed by Ernst Lubitsch. Greta Garbo stars in the comedy as a no-nonsense Russian diplomat who falls in love with a guy in Paris who is everything she’s been taught to detest. Screenings are free with museum admission: $12 for adults; $9 for seniors; and free for Museum members, students with I.D., and everyone age 18 and under.
SATURDAY, JULY 22
FYF FEST (Music)
FYF Fest takes over Exposition Park this weekend (Fri-Sun). Friday performers include: Anderson .Paak, Flying Lotus, Missy Elliott; Saturday features A Tribe Called Quest, Erykah Badu, Seun Kuti & Egypt 80, Perfume Genius; Sunday’s lineup includes: Chicano Batman, Little Dragon, Nine Inch Nails, Run the Jewels, Solange. Gates at 5 pm on Friday, 2 pm on Saturday and Sunday. All ages. Single day admission: $109-$125; passes: $329-$549.
LAUGHS ON TAP (Comedy)
Laughs on Tap is a night of stand-up comedy and beer that takes place on Saturday night at 7:00 pm at 2154 Hill Drive (the site of Taste of Eagle Rock). All proceeds from the event will go to Homeless Neighbors of the Northeast LA Homeless Coalition, a charity dedicated to ending homelessness and isolation. In addition to a comedy lineup, there’s a music performance by the power pop trio Superbean. Tickets: $15 in advance, $20 at the door and include the first beer for free. The event is 21+.
DODGER STADIUM MOVIE NIGHT (Art)
After the Dodgers game on Saturday night against Atlanta (6:10 pm start), stick around for a screening of the movie 42: A True Story of an American Legend on the stadium’s big screens. Tickets to the game + movie start at $26.
SUBLIME + SANCHO’S TACOS (Food + party)
Sancho's Tacos Long Beach location teams up with Sublime for a pop-up food event on Saturday from 11 am to 9 pm. The restaurant will feature Sublime-themed menu items, merchandise, music by DJ Product 1969c (Robbin' The Hood), giveaways and special guests (wonder who that might be?). Items on the menu include: Badfish Taco (Grilled Fish), Slow Ride (Slow-cooked Carnitas) and more.
SOUND IN FOCUS (Music)
There’s a great lineup on tap for KCRW / Annnenberg Foundation’s latest Sound in Focus concert on Saturday at the Annenberg Space for Photography. Headlining is Paul Oakenfold, with support from Mondo Cozmo and Lo Moon. KCRW DJ Jason Bentley hosts and spins tunes in between sets. The show is free and all ages. Advanced registration is available at: KCRW.com/soundinfocus
SNEAKER CON (Sneaks)
Sneaker Con comes to the Anaheim Convention Centeron Saturday and Sunday from noon to 7 pm. The event is for kicks lovers to come together to sell, trade and buy sneakers. There will be a trading pit, free sneaker authentication to verify legitimacy of the shoes, a free "Black Boost" customization service and a rookie 3-on-3 and 3-Point Contest on Saturday and a YouTuber basketball game featuring the most popular sneaker and basketball YouTubers on Sunday. Tickets: $25 for one day; $40 for both days.
TEQUILA & TACO MUSIC FESTIVAL (Food + booze + music)
It’s little road trip time (with a DD, naturally). The fifth annual Tequila & Taco Music Festival returns to Plaza Park in downtown Ventura on Saturday and Sunday from 11:30 am to 6 pm each day. Passes: $60; Saturday's Tequila Sampling, $40 (11:30 am-3:30 pm); general admission tickets: $10. Food and tacos are only included in the premiere two-day pass.
'Tunnel 99' is a new art show opening this weekend with works by Sam Davis and Paul Salveson. (Image: Courtesy of the gallery)
TUNNEL 99 - SAM DAVIS AND PAUL SALVESON (Art)
Awhrhwar art gallery in Highland Park presents Tunnel 99, an exhibition of works from Sam Davis and Paul Salveson. The show opens on Saturday with an artists’ reception from 8-10 pm. The works will remain on view through Aug. 19.
BERGAMOT STATION SUMMER CELEBRATION (Arts party)
On Saturday from 1-5 pm, the Bergamot Station Arts Center in Santa Monica holds its annual Summer Celebration. The Summer Celebration highlights gallery exhibitions and also features local vendors, live music and more. The event is free and family friendly. Carpooling, public transportation and ridesharing are strongly encouraged. Check the schedule for the lineup.
NIGHT SKY FESTIVAL (Stargazing)
The National Park Service presents a Night Sky Festival on Saturday night from 7:30-10:30 pm at Paramount Ranch in Agoura Hills. Guests will get a chance to view through high-powered telescopes directed at other planets and objects in our Milky Way Galaxy. There will be kiddie activities, including the opportunity to earn the Junior Ranger Night Explorer badge, and more. In addition, Hupa native Kat High presents Native American night sky stories and USC’s Dr. Travis Longcore talks about preserving the night sky.
PICTURE THIS! (Comedy + animation)
Picture This!—a “live animated comedy show” with standup comedians performing while they’re drawn live by some of the best animators, cartoonists and other artists—returns to the Virgil on Saturday night at 8 pm. Hosted by Peggy O'Leary, there’s comedy from Ron Funches, Naomi Ekperigin, Marcella Arguello, Megan Gailey and Tony Sam and animation by Mike L. Mayfield, Mike Hollingsworth, Freddy Crist, Will Finn and others. Free.
MEDICINE (Drag cabaret)
Medicine: A Restorative Drag Cabaret takes place at HM157 in Lincoln Heights on Saturday from 8-11 pm. Hosted by Devan M, Strawberry and Themegoman, performers include: Martin Matamoros, Ian MacKinnon, Empress, Zac Monday, Joni Witchell, Justin Elizabeth Sayre, John Moletress, Heather Damage and April Hava Shenkman. Tickets: $15, $20 at the door. All ages welcome.
SUNDAY, JULY 23
MYSTERY SCIENCE THEATER 3000 (Live screening)
Mystery Science Theater 3000 creator Joel Hodgson and host Jonah Heston bring the first live touring production of MST3K to The Theatre at Ace Hotel for the Watch Out for Snakes! Tour.Taking place on Sunday at 5 pm and 8 pm, the tour has two separate, completely different shows (each with its own admission). Each event includes the total “MST3K” experience: a cheesy B-movie, riffing, wisecracking robots, silly sketches, plus - for the first time - audience participation. Show #1 is “Eegah,” which features all-new riffs and sketches. Show #2 is a “Secret Surprise Film,” a fun sci-fi thriller never before featured on “MST3K.” Tickets: $39.50-$299.
NEIL HAMBURGER (Comedy)
Neil Hamburger: Live returns to the Satellite on Sunday night at 8:30 pm with an awesome lineup. In addition to comedy by Hamburger, the lineup also features Brett Gelman & Cyrus Ghahremani, Katie Crown & Davey Johnson, Shane Lucas Price and Margaret Cho. Doors at 8 pm. Tickets: $8 in advance, $10 at the door. 21+.
50 LADY BITS: AN EVENING OF JUNK JOKES (Food)
50 Lady Bits: An Evening of Junk Jokes takes place on Sunday night at 9 pm at NerdMelt. The show’s being held in response to disparaging remarks that have been circulating about female comics. For the event, 50 female and gender minority comics will be talking about their junk/vaginas in a benefit show for Planned Parenthood. The roster is impressive and includes Kristen Schaal, Nikki Glaser, Cameron Esposito, Nicole Byer, Sam Jay, Marcella Arguello, Riley Silverman and many others. Tickets: $15.
Want the 411 on additional events and happenings in LA? Follow @LAist or me (@christineziemba) on Twitter.
