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Here are 20 of our favorite events happening right here in L.A. this weekend. Think we missed something or you want more options? Check out the August Guide, too.
FRIDAY, AUGUST 12
HOCKEY DAD (Music)
Hockey Dad plays the Echo on Friday night as part of the Australian duo’s first ever North American headlining tour. Also performing: Muuy Biien, The Gloomies. Doors at 8:30 pm. Tickets: $8-$9.50. Ages 18+.
QUETZAL (Music)
Quetzal, the Grammy Award-winning Chicano rock band from East L.A. plays a free show at Levitt Pavilion in Pasadena on Friday at 8 pm. The band mixes Mexican and Afro-Cuban rhythms, jazz, R&B and rock with a socio-political message. The festival fun (food etc.) begins at 6:30 pm.
NHM: ADULTS-ONLY ALL-NIGHTER (Museum + music)
The Natural History Museum presents an Adults-only All-Nighter: Living in a Material World on Friday at 7 pm to Saturday at 8 am. Don your fancy pajamas and participate in a night of science and shenanigans in the museum. Learn from various programs offered as well as trivia, music and a munchie buffet with craft beer and wine. Watch a history-themed movie screening, sleep under the dinosaurs in the Dinosaur hall, take a BTS tour at night and enjoy a breakfast buffet in the morning. Ages 21+. Admission: $135 nonmembers / $119 members.
NEXT FEST (Film + music)
Sundance Next Fest is an offshoot of the Sundance Film Festival’s NEXT section and brings a weekend of film, music, conversation and comedy to the Theatre at Ace Hotel. The mini-fest opens on Friday with a screening of So Yong Kim’s Lovesong, followed by a concert by Shamir. It ends on Sunday with a screening of The Greasy Strangler and a concert by Big Freedia. Individual tickets: $15-$25.
GREGORY ALAN ISAKOV (Music)
Singer-songwriter Gregory Alan Isakov plays The Fonda on Friday night in support of his newest release Gregory Alan Isakov with The Colorado Symphony. The collaborative album features new, orchestral versions of some of his earlier albums. On Friday, Isakov plays with his own band and the Ghost Orchestra (an ensemble of brass and string players, which includes members of the Colorado Symphony). Langhorne Slim opens the show. Doors at 8 pm. Tickets: $30.
SOCAL CIFF (Film fest)
There’s another short film fest in town this weekend in addition to the Hollyshorts Film Festival. The SoCal Clips Indie Film Fest (SoCal CIFF) is an emerging film fest at Raleigh Studios from Friday through Sunday. SoCal CIFF specializes in shorts made within a $10,000 budget. The festival kicks off with an 8 pm screening on Friday and reception. All screenings throughout the weekend include a filmmaker Q&A. Tickets/passes: $12-$75.
HM157’S ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION (Party)
The HM157 art/performance space in Lincoln Heights holds its 9 Year Anniversary Celebration on Friday night. The Surrealist Fantasy Costume Party begins at 8 pm on Friday. Best prizes for the most out-there costumes. Performances both inside and outside with a lineup that includes: Magnetized, Safari S’ Goody, Rachel Mason, Prince Poppycock & His All Star Band and more. Admission: $10.
SATURDAY, AUGUST 13
LA CRAFT BEER CRAWL (Drink)
213 Hospitality & The Beer Chicks present the LA Craft Beer Crawl on Saturday from 2-7 pm. Crawlers will have more than 100 beers to sample from seven bars and restaurants in DTLA. Breweries featured include: Arts District Brewing Co, Goose Island Beer Co, Ladyface Ale Companie, Duvel, Phantom Carriage Brewery, Dr. Jekyll's, Deschutes Brewery, Highland Park Brewery and many more. Tickets: $79 for the 2 pm start and early access to rare releases; 3 pm start for general admission: $59.
SILVERSUN PICKUPS (Music)
LA’s own Silversun Pickups play the Hollywood Palladium on Saturday night. The band’s currently touring to promote its latest album Better Nature. Also on the bill are A Silent Film and KIEV. Doors at 7 pm. Tickets: $38.50.
We hope Hulu screens the 'Jessie's Song' episode on Saturday night.
FLASHDANCE + SAVED BY THE BELL (Film/TV)
The Hulu Summer Road Trip—a screening series that offers classic film/TV shows that are available on the platform—hits LA on Saturday night joining Street Food Cinema at the Eagle Rock Recreation Center. There’s a free screening of Flashdance and a classic episode of Saved by the Bell. Live music by Jet West. Food trucks on site: Bison Burgers, Bao & Buns, Epic Tacos, Fruit Frenzy Truck, The Lobos Truck, Tokyo Doggie Style, The Tropic Truck, Tropical Sno and others. (The food is not free.) Doors at 5:30 pm.
CINESPIA SLEEPOVER (Film)
On Saturday night, Cinespia presents the ultimate slumber party movie marathon for the sixth annual all-nighter at Hollywood Forever Cemetery. The lineup features Heathers (1988), Edward Scissorhands (1990) and Cry-Baby (1990) as well as DJs, a photobooth and other surprises. Gates at 7:15 pm, movies at 9 pm. Tickets: $16. Heathers is sold out, but a limited number of tix remain for the midnight double feature of Edward Scissorhands and Crybaby. The midnight ticketholders will be admitted at 11:30 pm.
FROGTOWN ART WALK (Art)
The Frogtown Artwalk happens on Saturday from 4-10 pm in Elysian Valley, from Fletcher Street to Eads (1.3 miles along the LA River). The artwalk features more than 30 pop-up galleries, studios and art venues featuring the work of local artists/artisans. There will be live music, art, dance, spoken word and more throughout the evening on three separate stages. Check the website for set times and detailed location/parking instructions. Free.
JT STEINY: ‘OH MY’ (Arts)
On Saturday from noon to 11 pm, Daniel Rolnik’s gallery in Pasadena presents the opening reception for JT Steiny's solo show Oh My. The exhibition features Steiny’s anti-gun and anti-Trump watercolor works on paper, which he made during the recent DNC/RNC telecasts. The artist's line of merchandise (books, mugs, pillows and pins, etc) will also be on sale. Proceeds from this art exhibit will benefit the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence.
'A Stranger in My Grave' featuring art work by Liz Craft, Mathis Gasser, Fabian Marti, Jim Shaw and Jeffrey Vallance opens this weekend. (Image: Courtesy of Evergreene Studio)
A STRANGER IN MY GRAVE (Art)
Evergreene Studio, a nomadic exhibition program, opens the group show A Stranger in My Grave on Friday night with a reception from 6-9. The exhibition features work by Liz Craft, Mathis Gasser, Fabian Marti, Jim Shaw and Jeffrey Vallance. According to co-curator Véronique Bacchetta, the show investigates “the theme of the dead artist, of his self-representation-or substitute-of the disquieting strangeness of a living artist forecasting himself into death: the artist and his effigy flirting with the idea of his own mythology, from his self-destruction to his resurrection." The works will remain on view through Aug. 31.
RONIN (Film)
The Petersen Automotive Museum presents a screening of the 1998 spy action-thriller film Ronin (1998), directed by John Frankenheimer and starring Robert De Niro. The film is R-rated and parental discretion is advised for kids 17 and younger. The screening is free with RSVP. Doors at 6:30 pm and the screening is at 7 pm. Light refreshments will be served. Parking at the museum for this screening is $12.
SUNDAY, AUGUST 14
AVOCADO FEST (Beer)
Angel City Brewery’s 4th Annual Avocado Festival is at the DTLA brewery on Sunday from 11 am to 8 pm. The day features Avocado Ale as well as avocado-based foods, brewer led tours, beer flights, live art, music, and fun and games. There’s also a make-your-own-michelada bar and three Avocado Ale cocktails available, too (The Peach Pit: peach/mint tea/Avocado Ale, Mean Green Goddess: grapefruit juice/cilantro simple syrup/Avocado Ale and Honey Hibiscus: hibiscus berry tea/honey simple syrup/Avocado Ale/lime). $1 from every Avocado Ale sold during the event will go to support The Ron Finley Project, which helps transform food deserts into food forests. 21+ event.
CICLAVIA (Open streets)
CicLAvia - Iconic Wilshire Boulevard closes off Wilshire on Sunday (April 6) between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. to cars and opens it up for everyone else. The route runs between One Wilshire in DTLA and Wilshire and Western in Ktown. These two hubs will also be walking-only zones with special programming, food trucks and more. If you’re more of a runner than a biker, then get there early as CicLAvia teams up with Nike+ for a free 5K at 8 a.m. that starts at 3780 Wilshire Blvd. in Koreatown and ends near the downtown CicLAvia hub (which is where the 9 am press conference kick off will take place).
OPEN CALL 2016: PLAY (Art)
The community-based biennial Open Call 2016: Play opens at the Los Angeles Municipal Art Gallery (LAMAG) at Barnsdall Art Park on Sunday afternoon with a reception from 2-5 pm. The exhibition focuses on more than 300 emerging SoCal artists who have crafted work in response to the theme “play.” The exhibit will be on display through Sept. 18. Free.
RODRIGO Y GABRIELA (Music)
The Mexican guitar super duo Rodrigo y Gabriela returns to play the Hollywood Bowl on Sunday night. The guitar virtuosos mix Latin rock, jazz and even metal for a sound that’s all their own. Rodrigo y Gabriela perform with the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra. Tickets start at $21. 7:30 pm.
BRUNCHCON (Food)
BrunchCon—the convention for people who love to brunch—takes place at Magic Box at the Reef on Sunday. With 50 market vendors and 50 drink vendors to choose from, guests can sip and munch while shopping for brunch-related merchandise, playing (indoor) yard games, lounging in the hangover lounge and more. There are two sessions: 9:30 am-12 pm and 12:30-3 pm. VIP session is from 9-9:30 am. Tickets: $45 (includes 15 tickets for food and/or drink); $69 (includes 15 tickets for food and unlimited drink); VIP $99 (20 tickets, unlimited beverages and includes 9 am entry); and DD tickets: $29 (10 tickets for food and/or nonalcoholic drinks).
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