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Here are 20 of our favorite events happening right here in L.A. this weekend....
FRIDAY, OCT. 7
LA LUZ DE JESUS OPENINGS (Art + Cassettes)
La Luz de Jesus Gallery in Los Feliz opens two art shows on Friday night. Works in Sonny King’s Silver Circus are inspired by a childhood that was split between a strict Australian boarding school and the circus where his father worked. The second exhibition is for Jim Blanchard’s Visual Abuse, which collects his work from 1982-2002, inspired by zine culture, punk rock, grunge, alternative comics and more. The opening receptions for both shows are on Friday from 8-11 pm, and the works will remain on view through Oct. 30. On Saturday, La Luz de Jesus also celebrates Cassette Store Day from 12-4 pm with collectible tapes, boomboxes, related art and more.
GREEK FESTIVAL (Food + games)
More than 20,000 people are expected at the 18th Annual L.A. Greek Festival, held Friday through Sunday at Saint Sophia Cathedral (at the corner of Normandie and Pico). This year's theme is Greek Fusion, which will be manifested in the food and entertainment. The Festival runs on Friday from 5-11 pm, Saturday from noon to 11 pm and Sunday from noon to 10 pm. Admission is free on Friday, and $5 for adults, $3 for seniors and free for children 12 and younger on Saturday and Sunday.
GROUPLOVE (Music)
Grouplove plays the Palladium on Friday night in support of its latest release Big Mess. L.A.-based MUNA opens. Tickets are $29.50. Doors at 6:30 pm.
LUCK OF THE DRAW (Art + comedy)
Luck of the Draw holds its One Year Anniversary Show at the Nerdist Showroom inside Meltdown Comics on Friday at 9 pm. Matt Donaher and Caitlin Durante host an evening of standup in which comics draw a slip of paper from a hat and must obey whatever it commands. There might be costumes, impressions, puppets or who knows what else. Guests include Brent Weinbach, Laurie Kilmartin, Chris Fairbanks, Jenny Zigrino, Solomon Georgio and others. Tickets: $8 in advance, $10 at the door.
HEAD AND THE HEART (Music)
Head and the Heart headline The Greek Theatre on Friday night, playing new music off of their latest album Signs Of Light. Tallest Man on Earth opens. Doors at 6:30 pm, show at 7:30 pm. Tickets: $35-$55 (plus fees).
UNION STATION (Film)
Metro Art and the Film Noir Foundation are teaming up to screen noir films at Union Station’s recently restored Historic Ticketing Hall. The series begins on Friday night with a screening of the 1950 thriller Union Station, introduced by writer and film historian Alan K. Rode. From the organizers: “William Holden and Barry Fitzgerald star as the dogged cops who must flush out the psychopathic kidnapper (Lyle Bettger) of a young blind girl without causing a rush-hour panic.” Doors at 7:30 pm, screening at 8 pm. Free. Seats on a first come, first-served basis.
ROW LA (Music and Yoga)
LA’s Terminal Market—which was part of the Southern Pacific Rail’s terminus in DTLA—has been rebranded as Row LA, a new cultural area on the edge of the Arts District. On Friday night, Bender and SoFar Sounds team up to present a rooftop yoga class from 7-8:30 pm, followed by surprise performances curated by SoFarSounds at 9:15 pm. Space is limited. Tickets: $20-$35.
DRUID UNDERGROUND FILM FESTIVAL (Film + music)
HM 157 in Lincoln Heights presents The IXth Annual Druid Underground Film Festival on Friday night. Check out a night of subversive cinema in two parts with the Druid Underground Film Festival. The first part of the night features out-there VHS tape footage, while the second focuses on 18 new “rowdy short films celebrating the best in absurd, creative and ecstatic cinema both on and off today's underground film radar.” Doors at 8 pm, show at 9 pm. Tickets: $10.
CINEFAMILY (Film)
Cinefamily has a such strong film programming on- and off-site all weekend long, it’s kind of ridiculous. As part of Spectrefest, Under the Shadow and The Greasy Strangler screen on Friday night; The Last Warning, a 1929 silent film from Universal, screens with live accompaniment by Cliff Retallick on Saturday afternoon; and on Sunday, all 7+ hours of O.J.: Made in America are presented, with a Q&A director Ezra Edelman in person.
SATURDAY, OCT. 8
THINK TANK GALLERY (Art + horror)
Think Tank Gallery transforms into a next-level haunted house experience with Trap House—billed as the world's first art exhibit / escape room mashup, “where attendees navigating the escape room become part of the horrifying gallery show.” There are two parts to Trap House: The first is a free art exhibit that showcases the work of SFX and monster makeup artists like Dick Smith, Mike Hill, Ian Von Cromer, Andrew Freeman of Immortal Mask and many others. Then there’s the pay-to-play hidden escape room created by illustrious creative director Adam Milicevic. Six guests at a time will endure 30 minutes of panic in the “underbelly of DTLA’s dark human trafficking past.” (A portion of sales benefit End Slavery Now.) From the organizers: “Targeted puzzles within the escape room will trigger signals in the gallery itself and broadcast escapees’ actions into functional, conceptual art installations inside the gallery.“ The exhibition opens to the public Saturday and runs through Oct. 31. Tickets to the escape room can be purchased through traphouse.la.
FOOD HEALS PODCAST (Food talk + party)
The Food Heals Podcast is a show that brings together experts in the field of nutrition, health and healing to talk about natural secrets to a healthier and happier lifestyle. Hosts Allison Melody and Suzy Hardy are launching a series of Food Heals Screenings & Cocktail parties beginning on Saturday night from 7-11 pm to celebrate the podcast’s one-year anniversary. Held at the design studio Laundry, the event features Owl's Brew Tea cocktails, Mango Margaritas by CocoCocktails, Suja juice, vegan superfoods by JingSlingers, salads from Grassroots Market, superfood chocolate by Addictive Wellness, waffle cake sundaes by Gluten-free with Emily, Matcha Bar's tiki bar and Food Heals' signature Lulu Lemon swag bags. The duo will be podcasting live from the party and will be talking to favorite celebs and influencers from the plant-based world. Tickets: $30-$45.
THE PHANTOM CARRIAGE (Silent horror + live accompaniment)
Might want to head back to Historical Monument # 157 on Saturday night, too, as they screen the classic silent Swedish horror film The Phantom Carriage (1921), directed by Victor Sjöström. The film will be accompanied by the Jack Curtis Dubowsky Ensemble playing a live score. Guest harpist Sun Riah opens the night at 8 pm, with the film screening at 9 pm. All ages. Tickets: $10.
DIRTY LAUNDRY TV CASSETTE RELEASE SHOW (Music + party)
Dirty Laundry TV, an indie music web series, presents a cassette release show on Saturday night at the Hi-Hat in Highland Park at 8 pm. The all-ages show features live music from four of the bands featured on the cassette (available digitally, too). Performances by Young Lovers, Deep Fields, French Vanilla and Batwings Catwings. Show at 8 pm. Tickets: $5.
FOLAR FANDANGO (Music + fun)
The Friends of the LA River present the FoLAR Fandango on Saturday from 7:30-11:30 pm at the LA River Studios (park at Sotomayor Learning Academies). Hosted by Nic Harcourt from KCSN 88.5 FM, the Fandango features music performances by singer-songwriter Mia Doi Todd, The Jason McGee Gospel Choir, a DJ set by Kita Klane, Soul Band Zach Alwin & Duck Funk and Moby. Proceeds benefit the work of FoLAR, which aims to create a swimmable, fishable, boatable and bikeable Los Angeles River. Tickets: $150.
AN AUDIENCE AND A DEADLINE (Art)
coLAb gallery in Highland Park opens the group art show An Audience and a Deadline on Saturday at 7 pm. Guest curated by comic Kristen Schaal (Last Man on Earth), the show features works by Schaal, Rich Blomquist, Holly Hood, Chuck Hood, Kia Coco, Lily Sparks, Mandee Johnson, Melvin Rodriguez, Tiffany Doesken and David Borengasser. The show is just one of many happening on Saturday night as part of the NELA’s Second Saturday Gallery Night.
100 YEARS OF NATIONAL PARKS: THE WEST (Art)
Abbot Kinney’s G2 Gallery holds a reception on Saturday night from 6:30-9 pm for the fourth and final installment of a year-long series that celebrates 100 years of national parks. The gallery features photographic works of the western national parks by artists including Art Wolfe, Robert Glenn Ketchum and dozens of others. Admission: $10 and includes complimentary valet, food and beverages. Proceeds from admission and photography is being collected for the Western National Parks Association. Please RSVP to rsvp@theg2gallery.com. The works will remain on view through Dec. 24.
CULVER CITY ART WALK 2016 (Art)
On Saturday from 2-6 pm, the Culver City Arts District holds its Culver City Art Walk 2016,centered on Washington Boulevard between Helms and Fairfax Avenues. There are free, self-guided tour of art galleries exhibiting new and distinguished artists, music and dance performances, entertainment and special offerings from local restaurants and other establishments. Parking can be tricky, so carpool or take the Metro, since it’s located one block east of the Culver City Expo stop.
SUNDAY, OCT. 9
TSINGTAO FOOD TRUCK FESTIVAL (Food Fest)
The Tsingtao Food Truck Festival is a free event with free food and free beer held at LA River Studios on Sunday from noon to 5 pm. The day features free Tsingtao beer, games, live art, installations, djs, giveaways and food and more Tsingtao beer. It’s 21+. RSVPs required.
ROBYN HITCHCOCK (No)
Veteran English singer-songwriter Robyn Hitchcock plays Largo at the Coronet on Sunday night with Nashville-by-way-of-Australia musician Emma Swift. Also performing this weekend are Jon Brion and Benmont Tench. Doors at 7 pm, show at 8:30 pm. Tickets: $30.
LA FERIA DE LOS MOLES (Food fest)
The ninth edition of La Feria de los Moles—billed as the largest Mexican food festival in the U.S.—returns to Olvera Street in DTLA on Sunday from 10 am to 6 pm. As you might have guessed, the festival focuses on mole, one of Puebla and Oaxaca’s main staples. Admission to the festival is free and food (including many varieties of mole) is available for purchase.
Want the 411 on additional events and happenings in LA? Follow @LAist or me (@christineziemba) on Twitter.
