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Here are 20 awesome events happening in L.A. this weekend...
FRIDAY, SEPT. 8
PALEYFEST PREVIEWS (Panels + screenings)
PaleyFest Previews of upcoming fall TV shows continue this weekend with screenings and panel discussions at the Paley Center in Beverly Hills. On Friday, Hulu presents Future Man and The Mindy Project. On Saturday afternoon, ABC presents The Mayor, followed by The CW on Saturday night with screenings and panel discussions for Valor and Dynasty. Individual adult tickets start at $20. Several panels are sold out, but buy guests can still get in by buying a Fan Pass.
EASY RIDER (Film + music)
The Wiltern presents Easy Rider with a live soundtrack on Friday at 8:30 p.m. A 7-piece band covers songs in the soundtrack, including tunes by Jimi Hendrix, Bob Dylan, The Band, The Byrds and Steppenwolf. Doors at 7:30 p.m. Full bar and food available. All ages.
CINE SIN FRONTERAS (Film)
The Latin American Cinemateca of Los Angeles presents the mini-festival, Cine Sin Fronteras, at the Mexican Consulate of Los Angeles on Friday night at 6:30 p.m. The night includes a screening of contemporary/experimental films from Morelia International Film Festival: the short film Refugio (Refuge) and La selva negra (The Modern Jungle). The event also includes free beer and sangria, music and a Q&A. The screenings are free, but registration is required.
OHANA FEST (Music festival)
The Ohana Festival is at Doheny State Beach in Dana Point this weekend, with performances running Friday through Sunday. On the bill: Social Distortion, The Pixies, Eddie Vedder, Ray Lamontagne, Glen Hansard, Fiona Apple, Haim, Jack Johnson, Ella Vos, Naked and the Famous, Dr. Dog and many others. Weekend passes start at: $275+ fees. Daily passes available, too, starting at $99.50+ fees.
THE MUPPETS TAKE THE BOWL (Music)
The Muppets team up with the LA Phil for The Muppets Take the Bowl on Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 7:30 p.m. Comedian Bobby Moynihan hosts all three nights. This is the first time The Muppets will grace the Bowl’s stage, and the shows end in a fireworks finale. Tickets start at $14.
LOUDON WAINWRIGHT III (Books + music)
On Friday night at 8 p.m., Book Soup hosts renowned singer-songwriter Loudon Wainwright III off site at Largo. He’ll be in conversation with Christopher Guest to discuss the release of Wainwright's new memoir, Liner Notes: On Parents & Children, Exes & Excess, Death & Decay, & a Few of My Other Favorite Things. Tickets: $45 and include a copy of the book. (Wainwright plays an intimate show on Saturday at McCabe’s in SaMo, but it’s sold out.)
FUNRAZOR: JULES POSNER’S 30TH BIRTHDAY SHOW AND SPLC FUNDRAISER (Comedy)
FunRazor: Jules Posner's 30th Birthday Show and SPLC Fundraiser is at NerdMelt on Friday night. Posner hosts his own birthday party, which serves as a fundraiser for the Southern Poverty Law Center. Expect performances by: Casey Ley, Kaseem Bentley, Lydia Popovich, Chris Riggins, Johan Miranda and Bri Pruett. Tickets: $12 in advance and $15 at the door.
‘RAMEN LOVERS DAY’ AT EAK (Ramen + beer)
EAK Ramen, the very first Ié-kei ramen restaurant in America, offers Ramen Lover's Day specials all weekend long (from noon to 8 p.m., Friday to Sunday). Get $5 ramen—with the restaurant’s signature straight thick noodles and blend of Fukuoka-style tonkotsu and Tokyo-style soy sauce broths—and order beers with your bowl for just $3 each (limit two beers). The Melrose restaurant will offer only beer and ramen the entire weekend, and customers will have 30 minutes to enjoy their ramen (to make way for other diners).
Gabba Gallery opens a solo show from Toshee. (Image: 'Melting Pot,' courtesy of the artist and gallery)
TOSHEE: LAYERED (Art)
Gabba Gallery presents the second solo exhibition at the gallery for mixed-media artist Toshee. The show, which opens with a reception from 7-11 p.m. on Saturday night, features LAyered, a show that focuses on L.A. streetscapes and the city’s denizens. DJ Jonathan Williams spins tunes. Sponsored by Fort Point Beer and Original New York Seltzer. Free parking at 3000 Beverly Boulevard. Also opening this weekend at Gabba Gallery are shows by Nicholas Bonamy, Patrick Haemmerlein and Morley.
24-HOUR QUESTIVAL (Adventure)
Cotopaxi brings a 24-hour Questival adventure race to LA from Saturday to Sunday. The Questival race mixes up concepts from the Amazing Race (for teams of two to six people), pushing people to complete challenges. Participants may be asked to visit Bronson Cave and reenact a scene from film or TV shot there; share a fact learned by heading to the La Brea Tar Pits and then upload the tasks via Cotopaxi's Questival app. The kickoff party at LA State Historic Park takes place on Friday at 5 p.m. Tickets: $48 per person.
SATURDAY, SEPT. 9
HIGH AND LOW FESTIVAL (Music + comedy)
The High and Low Festivaltakes over the NOS Events Center in San Bernardino on Saturday. Headlining band Brand New are joined by Death Cab For Cutie, Tegan and Sara, Best Coast, Bad Suns and many others. The punk site The Hard Times has curated a comedy area that features a great lineup that includes Kurt Braunohler, Mike Lawrence, Cameron Esposito and Guy Branum. Tickets: $79-$259. Doors at 1 p.m.
SUNSTOCK SOLAR FESTIVAL (Music)
The Sunstock Solar Festival takes over the Magic Box @ the Reef on Saturday from 2-11 p.m. It’s not only a music festival—with performances by Ra Ra Riot, with Robert DeLong, Run River North and many others—but it’s also an event dedicated to educating and activating communities toward building greener cities and healthier futures. The festival also includes solar-powered installations, green food trucks, immersive art, workshops, games and sustainable vendors. Adult general admission: $25-$30 and $20-$25 for students/senior/military; $12-$17 for ages 16 and younger.
INSTITUTE OF CONTEMPORARY ART (Opening weekend)
The Institute of Contemporary Art (ICA LA) has its grand opening weekend on Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. The museum was founded in 1984 as the Santa Monica Museum of Art (SMMoA) and reopens in DTLA. Exhibitions feature a selection of drawings by Mexican artist Martín Ramírez; a new installation by Abigail DeVille in the Project Room, and a painting by Sarah Cain in the courtyard. Admission is free.
MS.RPRSNTD (Art)
Photographer Adrienne D. Williams presents the four-day photo exhibition, MS.RPRSNTD, that seeks to “shine light on the misrepresentation of women of color in media, and the underrepresentation of skater girls of color.” The exhibit showcases skateboard decks adorned with portraits of women from different cultures and some of LA’s most promising skater girls. The show opens to the public on Friday at Space 15 Twenty (Urban Outfitter’s LA concept store) through Sunday. On Saturday, there’s an open session with DJs, street food and free cola from 1-6 p.m.
HIDDEN GEM COMEDY (Comedy)
Hidden Gem Comedy is at Revive Theater on Saturday night featuring some of the hottest comedians, including headliner Emily Fleming. Price: $10 and includes a free beer/wine.
GR2 Gallery opens a solo show of works by Eishi Takaoka on Saturday. (Image: Courtesy of the artist and gallery)
EISHI TAKAOKA: PINCH (Art)
GR2 Gallery opens the solo exhibition Pinch by Japanese artist/wood carver Eishi Takaoka with an artist’s reception on Saturday night from 6:30-10 p.m. From the gallery: “Often evoking emotions and objects, the pieces tell a story about Takaoka's moods and feelings. The faces are obviously his own and each piece is hand carved and astonishingly consistent.” The works remain on view through Sept. 26.
FORMAN’S WHISKEY TAVERN (Drinks)
Forman’s Whiskey Tavern in Toluca Lake turns two this weekend and to celebrate its anniversary, they’re holding a party on Saturday with 2-for-1 chicken sliders, 2-for-1 fish tacos from noon til the kitchen closes; $7 whiskey sours from noon to last call; and free passed appetizers from 3-6 p.m. for happy hour. Of course, the day is 21+.
VOYAGER INSTITUTE (Film + learning)
The Voyager Institute, a new arts lecture series created by Alamo Drafthouse programmer Bret Berg, holds its September edition on Saturday at 5 p.m. at Resident in DTLA. The evening includes a "Weirdest Lyrics of All Time" presentation by Berg; writer Oliver Wang’s The Intergalactic Queen of Funk: A Betty Davis Primer (featuring a Q&A w/ Joi); and a screening of "Paco," a Slamdance 2017 competition short film, directed by Catalina Jordan Alvarez. Free. Ages 21+.
SUNDAY, SEPT. 10
BEAT SWAP MEET (Record shopping)
On Sunday from noon to 6 p.m., more than 50 vendors and record collectors from around the world meet up at Grand Park to shop for music and music-related wares at the Beat Swap Meet. Check out vinyl 12s and 45s, including Blues, Funk, Hip-Hop, Jazz, Metal Punk, Reggae, Rock, Soul and World Music while enjoying live performances, DJs and art making. Bring your broken turntables for repairs and view classic cars and enjoy food trucks while you wait.
DINE LBC (Pop-up food)
Dine LBC holds a Rice & Shine pop-up Filipino style brunch on Sunday from noon to 2 p.m. Chef AC Boral offers eight courses, including Halo Halo Parfait with mango yogurt, pili nut granola, melon and crispy rice; Breakfast Pancit egg noodle, shrimp, yolk sauce and kalamansi; Sisig Chilaquiles, Ube Mochi Waffle with coconut caramel and ensaymada butter; Garlic Rice, Ensaladang Kamatis tomato & salted duck egg salad; Longanisa Scotch Egg (soft-boiled egg wrapped in Filipino breakfast sausage, coated in pinipig crispy rice and deep fried); and Auntie Rose’s Sweets (for guests to take home). Tickets: $49 with a $20 add on for bottomless Rosé Mimosas. The “secret” location in downtown Long Beach’s East Village neighborhood will be disclosed to diners before the event.
Want the 411 on additional events and happenings in LA? Follow @LAist or me (@christineziemba) on Twitter.
