This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
Here are 20 of our favorite events happening in L.A. this week. Check out other options in our just released August Guide, too.
MONDAY, AUGUST 8
WHAT LIES INSIDE, STAYS INSIDE (Art installation)
What Lies Inside, Stays Inside is a solo show by artist Christophe Piallat, best-known for his fantastical installations. The artist manipulates light using foil, paper, wood and plastic, with his works taking on a sense of mystery and fantasy. The current show also includes photography and sculptures. His evolving work is now on view in the Canterbury Records storefront in Pasadena every weekday from 3-9 pm until Oct. 1.
AQUALILLIES (Swimming + Dance)
The Standard, Downtown LA presents a performance by the Aqualillies—a synchronized swimming and dance ensemble—on Monday from 7-9 pm. The dance takes place at The Standard’s rooftop pool with views of DTLA. The event is open to the public and free with an RSVP.
MOVES AFTER DARK (Music)
On Monday at 8:30 pm, The Music Center holds the second season of Moves After Dark,with dance performances taking place in sometimes surprising places throughout the campus and in Grand Park. Audiences travel to where the dancers are performing and watch from various perspectives for a highly personalized experience. All groups will end with a final presentation on The Music Center Plaza. Dance companies include Blue13 Dance Company; Decadancetheatre; Invertigo Dance Theatre; and Afro-Brazilian Viver Brasil Dance Company. Moves After Dark also takes place on Aug. 15-17. Tickets: $30.
SUMMER IN ROSÉ (Drink + ceviche)
The Hotel Casa del Mar has a new Summer in Rosé special that happens each night (for the rest of August) beginning at 5 pm. For $40, guests get two glasses of rosé (including Sokol Blosser Rosé 2016 and Chateau La Galinière Rosé 2015) along with three paired ceviche bites from Executive Chef Gemma Gray, including Hamachi Crudo, Shrimp Ceviche, and Octopus Ceviche.
SINGIN’ IN THE RAIN (Archival screening)
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences continues its latest screening series, Archival Revival - 25 Years of the Academy Film Archive. This week, The Academy screens an original 35mm print of Singin’ in the Rain (1952) at the Samuel Goldwyn Theater in Beverly Hills on Monday at 7:30 pm. The classic musical stars Gene Kelly, Debbie Fisher and Donald O’Connor who help a movie studio bridge the gap between silent films and talkies. This week’s screening is introduced by Derek Hough, choreographer, two time Emmy winner and Dancing with the Stars champion. Tickets: $5 Regular, $3 member/student. The show is sold-out online, but there will be a standby line at the west doors
TUESDAY, AUGUST 9
The Border Grill's Street Food Fights in DTLA pits taco against taco. (Image: The Border Grill)
STREET FOOD FIGHTS (Tacos)
The Border Grill in DTLA continues its Street Food Fights, pitting two countries’ tacos against each other on Tuesday nights in August with Latin favorites (Brazil, Chile, Cuba, Mexico) take on four international challengers (Thailand, USA, Lebanon, Italy) on the patio, culminating in a four-nation championship round on Aug. 30. This week’s challenge has Chile (Arrollado de Chancho 'Pork Two Ways' | slow braised pork, crispy homemade bacon) vs. the U.S. (Red, White & BBQ | 6 hour smoked texas style ribs, secret bbq sauce). Eaters can score all-you-can-eat tickets for $20 online, AYCE tickets for $25 at the door, or go a la carte for $6.
CUT: INTERNATIONAL MENU SERIES (Food)
CUT Beverly Hills launched its second part of the restaurant’s International Menu Series, focusing on Italy. For $95 per person (with an optional $55 pp wine pairing), CUT serves up an Italian family-style menu that includes a vegetable crudo, various salumi & formaggi, ravioli zucchine, Costata alla Fiorentina & Bistecca Fiorentina and more. The menu is available through Sept. 15. The restaurant is open Monday through Saturday and is closed on Sundays.
TUNESDAY (Music)
The Mondrian continues its acoustic Tunesday music series this week featuring a set by new Interscope artist Cloves, with additional performances by Steady Holiday and a DJ set by Gentle Giant. Performances start at 9 pm.
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 10
KING WASHINGTON + FAULKNER + DAVIS (Film)
King Washington headlines a free show on Wednesday night, with the band bringing its alt-rock sounds to The Satellite. Also playing are the RZA-produced group Faulkner and Davis opens the night.
SIXTY: ROOFTOP MOVIE NIGHT (Film + fun)
SIXTY in Beverly Hills presents a free movie night every Wednesday through Sept. 28 at the hotel’s rooftop bar and poolside lounge. Come early to enjoy cocktails and appetizers at Caulfield’s Bar and Dining room starting at 7pm followed by the screening at 9pm. This week, SIXTY screens Mrs. Doubtfire. Next week, it’s Point Break. Call 310.388.6860 to RSVP or rsvpabovesixty@gmail.com.
DESERT NIGHTS (Music + fashion)
El Cosmico of Marfa, Texas, takes over Desert Nights at The Standard, Hollywood on Wednesday at 7:30 pm to celebrate their upcoming Trans-Pecos Festival of Music and Love. There will be performances by Robert Ellis and Melaena Cadiz and a pop-up of El Cosmico’s shop, El Cosmico Provision Company, featuring an apothecary line and home goods. The event is free with RSVP/ 21+.
RADIO PICTURE SHOW (Storytelling)
Radio Picture Show is a storytelling show at The Virgil, in which participants base their tales on a particular song or image and then incorporate it into the performance. Hosted by Shauna McGarry and Lauren Cook, the next show is on Wednesday at 8:30 pm and features guests Jay Larson, Chris Farah, Alex Stein and Celia Finkelstein.Tickets: $6 online or $8 at the door.
Cinefamily screens the experimental film 'In the Shadow of the Sun' with a live score by Psychic TV on Wednesday at the Regent. (Image: Courtesy of Cinefamily).
IN THE SHADOW OF THE SUN (Film + live score)
Cinefamily screens Derek Jarman’s 1981 experimental fantasy film In the Shadow of the Sun, which is a patchwork of Super 8 films shot between 1972 and 1975 and edited together. The Cinefamily notes that it’s “a poetic sequence of its creator's go-to leitmotifs of mirrors, fires, and dancing bodies in motion, doubly-exposed and primarily tinted with psychedelic light leaks.” While Throbbing Gristle created the film’s score, on Wednesday at 7:30 pm, the score gets a “live reimagining” by experimental group Psychic TV, lead by Genesis P-Orridge. The screening has been moved to the Regent in Downtown LA. Live set by DJ Totally Abuse opens the night. Tickets: $30.
THURSDAY, AUGUST 11
SHOW + TELL: KEVIN EARL BUZZELL (Art)
Show + Tell Projects is a new pop-up art space in Little Tokyo that opens a solo show of work Kevin Earl Buzzell. The Path of Least Resistance features aluminum-cast sculptures of found objects and an “installation of color fields, drips of photographic dyes and images of architecture.” The Path of Least Resistance’s opening reception takes place from 6-9 pm on Thursday. The exhibition remains on view through Sept. 10.
LAUGH PARTY (Comedy)
The Westside Comedy’s Laugh Party this week is a fundraiser for a dog named Fred, who has cancer. (He belongs to the co-founder and co-producer of the Laugh Party.) So come to laugh and help a pup out at 8 pm. The lineup includes Jessica Milligan, Lauren O’Brien, Dennis Gubbins, Beth Sherman, Craig Anton, Erica Rhodes, Nate Craig and other special guests. Tickets: $25 (all proceeds to Fred's medical bills)
LITERARY SCENE (Salon)
Literary Scene is a new literary salon that takes place every second Thursday of the month in DTLA during the monthly Art Walk. The event begins at 6 pm at The Association Bar with authors reading around a theme. This installment features writers Bernadette Murphy, Dana Johnson, Erin Judge and Iris De Anda who’ll present their latest works. Tickets: $5 with proceeds going to Write Girl, a nonprofit youth literary organization.
HOLLYSHORTS (Film festival)
The 12th annual Hollyshorts Film Festival, which runs Aug.11-20, is a showcase of film works that are 30 minutes or shorter. Screenings/events take place at the TCL Chinese Theatres with the opening night on Thursday premiering Kenneth Kokin feature Blood Moon at 6 pm. The party then moves to OHM nightclub at Hollywood and Highland. Opening night gala tickets: $65 ($30 for after-party only). Individual screening programs: $15. Prices vary for day festival passes, day passes and special events.
GUILLERMO DEL TORO: AT HOME WITH MONSTERS WITH DR. PAUL KOUDOUNARIS (Artist walkthrough)
Scholar and photographer Dr. Paul Koudounaris, who is a contributing author to the publication accompanying the Guillermo Del Toro exhibition At Home with Monsters, currently on view at LACMA, leads a tour of the exhibition on Thursday at 7:30 pm. The artist walkthrough focuses on the cultural history and significance of monsters and more. This program is free, but advance tickets are no longer available. A stand-by line forms at 6:30 pm.
SHOOT EM UP (Storytelling)
Monte LaMonte and Gary Buchler produce a new three-part story series that begins on Thursday at 8 pm at Open Space Café Theater. Shoot Em Up: The evolution of story. From story, to script, to film showcases the work of storytellers, screenwriters and filmmakers as they create an emerging film over the course of three months together. The Storytelling session on Thursday features six storytellers who tell a 5-7 minute story live on stage. Six screenwriters attending are randomly assigned the name of one of the storytellers whose story they will use to create a screenplay. The script read is scheduled for Sept. 8, and the films will be screened on Oct. 13. Tickets: $10.
M.A.K.U. SOUNDSYSTEM (Music)
The Skirball continues its annual Sunset Concerts series on Thursday night with M.A.K.U. Soundsystem, an eight-piece Colombian band that mixes psychedelic rock, funk, jazz, Afrobeat, Caribbean grooves with Colombian, West African and Spanish influences.The Sunset Concerts are always free and begin at 8 pm, with DJs kicking things off at 7 pm. Parking at the Skirball is $10 per car (cash only).
Want the 411 on additional events and happenings in LA? Follow @LAist or me (@christineziemba) on Twitter.
