Here are 20 of our favorite events happening right here in L.A. this weekend....
FRIDAY, SEPT. 23
MID-AUTUMN HARVEST MOON COCKTAIL FEAST (Drinks)
LA LUCKYRICE Cocktail Feast is at the Alexandria Ballrooms in DTLA on Friday night from 9 pm to midnight (VIP) and 10 pm to midnight. The harvest moon celebration in China and Vietnam dates back more than 3,000 years and each cocktail at the Luckyrice festival uses Bombay Sapphire East (infused with Thai lemongrass and Vietnamese black peppercorns) to celebrate. Participating Bars/Restaurants include: Bellwether, Blue Ribbon Sushi, ETA, General Lee’s Cocktail House, Lock & Key, Minibar Hollywood, The Cannibal and Roku. Tickets: VIP: $88, GA: $50.
FEAST OF SAN GENNARO (Food fest)
The 15th annual Galbani Cheese Italian Feast of San Gennaro takes over Hollywood (across the street from Hollywood & Highland) on Friday from 5 pm to midnight; Saturday from 11 am-midnight and Sunday from 11 am to 10 pm). The NYC-style street fair celebrates Italian culture, entertainment and cuisine by with food, music, genealogy research, free kid’s activities and petting zoo, pony rides, bocce, bingo, ferris wheel, games and more. Live music throughout the weekend, too. General admission: $5, children 12 and younger get free entry.
GREEKFEST (Festival)
The 58th Annual Pasadena GreekFestis at Saint Anthony Greek Orthodox Church this weekend. The festival takes place on Friday from 5-10 pm, Saturday and Sunday from noon to 10 pm. The festivities feature savory Greek food on the grill, pastries, cooking demonstrations, live music by the Greek band The Olympians and Greek dancing. There are two tents that feature Greek and domestic beers, wine and spirits, big screen TVs for sports fans and a kids zone. Admission: $4 and children under 12 are free. If you buy online using the promo code EARLYPAY, they pay only $2 for tickets at the entrance.
CHAN IS MISSING (Film)
Cinefamily presents Wayne Wang’s classic film Chan is Missing (1982) on Friday night at 7:30 pm. The film was the first Chinese American feature-length narrative film to earn critical acclaim for representing an underrepresented community on the screen. From Cinefamily: “As two taxi drivers search for the illusory 'Chan' (perhaps a real person? Perhaps a wink and a nod toward fictional detective Charlie Chan?), Wang pauses to appreciate the humor inherent in cross-cultural misunderstandings and explore the complicated history of Chinatown and its politics.” It’s being screened as part of the series Underground USA: Indie Cinema of the 80s. Wang appears in person at the screening. Tickets: $14/free for members
MUSIC TASTES GOOD (Food + music fest)
The Music Tastes Good music and food festival takes place in Downtown Long Beach from Friday to Sunday. The lineup includes The Specials, Rival Sons, Sylvan Esso, De La Soul, Iron & Wine, Gallant, Squeeze, Dr. Dog, Warpaint, Living Colour, Nick Waterhouse, Eagle Rock Gospel Singers, Foy Vance, Cody Chestnutt and many more artists. Tickets: $25-$75 (depending on the day) and passes are $120-$240 (VIP, which includes a farm-to-taste experience).
BI ARTS FEST (Art + sexuality)
The L.A. Bi Task Force presents the 7th Annual Bi Arts Fest in honor of Bisexuality Day, with the theme “Love In All Directions.” The event features music, dance, art and fellowship to showcase the creativity of L.A.’s bisexual/pansexual/fluid community. 8 pm. Tickets: $20 donation and $25 suggested donation at the door is $25 and $10 for students with ID. No one will be turned away due to lack of funds. Music by Cindy Jollotta (The Podunk Poets) and Lucy LaForge, dance excerpts from the show ‘inVisible’ choreographed by Kai Hazelwood, burlesque from Madeline Harris, Billy Whiteacre, with photography, poetry and more.
PARAMOUNT AFTER DARK TOUR (Spooky)
After a successful run last year, the Paramount After Dark Tour: Tales From the Other Side returns this fall on Friday and Saturday nights through Nov. 5. The tours start at dusk with a champagne toast to the coming darkness. Tour the Paramount backlot’s creepiest corners then head to Hollywood Forever Cemetery to learn the tales of the departed. The walking tour lasts 2.5 hours. Tickets: $99 per person. Reservations suggested.
SATURDAY, SEPT. 24
SELECTOR DUB NARCOTIC (Music)
Listen to the twee sounds of Selector Dub Narcotic (Calvin Johnson) at the Smell on Saturday night at 8 pm. The Olympia, Washington-based musician is on a West Coast tour promoting the Selector Dub Narcotic debut album This Party Is just Getting Started. Also playing the Smell are Hartle Road, Away Team and Casinos.
FARHANG FOUNDATION SHORT FILM FESTIVAL (Film)
The 8th Annual Farhang Foundation Short Film Festivalis on Saturday at 6 pm at LACMA’s Bing Theater. The foundation screens the top six nominated short films created by emerging filmmakers from all over the world. This festival recognizes the top three winners. There’s a reception in honor of the filmmakers following the screening, featuring Persian-themed drinks and appetizers prepared by Patina. Tickets: 35 members; $45 general public.
TARFEST (Music + Art)
LAUNCH LA presents Tarfest, an annual music & arts festival along the Miracle Mile and the La Brea Tar Pits, on Saturday from 4-10 pm. The fest is free and all ages and features rising local artists, musicians and bands, curated by LAUNCH LA and Kevin Bronson of Buzzbands.la. This year’s music program includes performances by Dear Boy, Durand Jones & The Indications, Brit Manor and BRAEVES. Food trucks Baby’s Badass Burgers, Made in Brooklyn NY Pizza, Meat the Greek and Rice Balls of Fire will be on hand serving food. The festival will also include a Lagunitas Biergarten and Wine Bar and cocktails by Tito’s Handmade Vodka. Free admission.
PETER HOOK & THE LIGHT (Music)
Peter Hook & The Light are at the Wiltern on Saturday night. Hook, the original bassist for Joy Division and New Order, performs Substance - The Albums Of Joy Division & New Order. Tickets: $25-$35. Doors: 7:30 pm.
WATTS FESTIVALS (Art + music)
Two cool events are happening in Watts this weekend to celebrate the 55th anniversary of the Watts Towers Art Center. On Saturday, it’s the 35th Annual Watts Towers Day of the Drum Festival featuring performances by Korean Classical Music and Dance Company, Amazigh 6/8, Afro-Venezuelan music followed by West African traditional music and dance from Le Ballet Dembaya. On Sunday, the 40th Annual Simon Rodia Watts Towers Jazz Festival (Sept 25) features Sherwood Sledge, Jasmine Tommaso Quintet, Dayren Santamaria, Made In Cuba and others. Both events take place from 10 am to 6 pm. Free.
(NON)OBJECTIVE SUMMER HAPPENINGS (Music + art)
The Broad Museum concludes its monthly Summer Happenings Series on Saturday night. This weekend’s program Shifting Horizon Exploding Star, Underground and Rave Cultures is inspired by large-scale photography of Andreas Gursky, Mike Kelley’s installations and rave and club cultures. Performances by: Sophie, JD Samson, Charles Atlas, Julianna Barwick and DJ Lauren Bousfield. The concerts take place at various locations throughout the museum and plaza, and museum admission is included in the $35 ticket price.
BAM FEST (Art + music + beer)
The 18th Street Arts Center’s BAM Fest (Beer Art & Music Festival) returns to Santa Monica on Saturday from 1-5 pm featuring more than 40 breweries serving up more than 100 beers. Punk bands including Alice Bag and Sex Stains perform live, while visitors enjoy art installations, open artist studios, artist vendors. Ditch the car because there’s a free bike valet and the new Metro Expo line stops at 17th/SMC, only a block away from the festival. Tickets: $45 until Friday, and $50 at the door. Tickets benefit the 18th Street Arts Center.
MAKE AMERICA SMART AGAIN (MASA) (Film + politics)
#MakeAmericaSmartAgain (MASA), an initiative founded by Shepard and Amanda Fairey to encourage voter education and voter turnout, partners with Eat|See|Hear for a screening of Idiocracy at the Echo Park Tennis Center Baseball Field. Mike Judge’s 2006 cult comedy “satirizes the rise of commercialism and decline of human intelligence in a future dystopian society.” The film screening hopes to remind and inspire audiences to think and participate in the democratic process. At Saturday’s screening director Judge reunites with stars Terry Crews and Dax Shepard. TRDMRK (DJ Nu-Mark from Jurassic 5 and Slimkid3 formerly of The Pharcyde) will perform alongside DJ Diabetic (aka Shepard Fairey) before to the screening. Proceeds from the night will benefit the Young Literati of the Library Foundation of Los Angeles. Tickets: $8-$21.
MAX NEUTRA / MATT GONDEK (Art)
Gabba Gallery in Los Angeles opens two shows on Saturday night. Max Neutra: No Man's Land a collection of new paintings that address themes of alienation, fear and personal evolution. Neutra’s signature bunnies feature prominently in the works. Also opening is a solo show by Matt Gondek.Glow in the Dark features a number of pop culture icons. Opening night reception on Saturday from 7-11 pm features DJ Jonathan Williams spinning. Both shows are on view through Oct. 15.
SUNDAY, SEPT. 25
BLOC PARTY + BOB MOULD + EZRA FURMAN (Music)
The LA Phil's 2016 Hollywood Bowl summer season closes with the final show of KCRW's World Festival with headliners Bloc Party with Bob Mould (Hüsker Dü and Sugar) and Ezra Furman all playing in support. All artists are making their Hollywood Bowl debuts. Get there early because there’s pre-concert roller skating from 4-6:45 pm on the Hollywood Bowl's Museum patio, with free skate rentals and admittance available to all ticket holders. Tickets: $14-$572.
CONCERT ACROSS AMERICA (Music)
Concert Across America holds more than 250 concerts featuring 1,000 artists across the country on Sunday to raise awareness and honor victims of gun violence. In L.A., the concert takes place on the Rooftop at the Standard Hotel DTLA and features Don Felder (of the Eagles), Sam Harris of X Ambassadors, Carnie Wilson, Sebastian Cole, Ryan Cabrera, the Gay Men’s Chorus of LA and many others. General admission: $75, first-come, first-serve seating; $150 preferred seating (includes a swag bag) and $200 (VIP includes backstage catered meet and greet with artists from 6-7 pm, swag bag and preferred seating).
ABBOT KINNEY FESTIVAL (Festival)
The 32nd annual Abbot Kinney Festivalreturns on Sunday to Abbot Kinney Boulevard from 10 am to 6 pm. The festival takes over a mile-stretch of the boulevard and includes food trucks, beer and spirit gardens, live music, shops, art galleries, restaurants, people watching
NORDIC NOIR (Music)
The Friends of Griffith Park present Nordic Noir at The Greek Theatre on Sunday night to raise awareness and support for P22 (mountain lion) and Griffith Park’s animal population. The night features a number of artists and musicians joining in the cause, with a concert headlined by Emmy award-winning film composer Jacob Groth (The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo) and the Danish FilmHarmonics Orchestra. The event also includes pop-up shops from local vendors, Nordic culinary offerings, two Los Angeles gospel choirs, DJs and more. Tickets are $22 (in honor of P22) and VIP Passes are $200. Use a special code “Noir10” for a 10 percent discount.
Want the 411 on additional events and happenings in LA? Follow @LAist or me (@christineziemba) on Twitter.
