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Best things to do this weekend in Los Angeles and Southern California: August 22-24
Audience members with lightsabers at Maestro of the Movies at the Hollywood Bowl on July 12, 2024.
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Timothy Norris
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Los Angeles Philharmonic
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Our Picks
Severance fans, I owe you all an apology for not having the Best Things foresight to guess that Ben Stiller (and Tramell Tillman and the USC Marching Band!) would show up at that Zoolander Cinespia screening that took over my social media feed last weekend. For those of you who were there, well, it looked like a lot of fun!
Here’s to wishing everyone only incredible, serendipitous L.A. surprises this weekend, too.
More from LAist: learn more about how the Getty is helping preserve Black culture around L.A., meet a man who painted Dodger Stadium during a recent game and learn whether your fellow readers and listeners think L.A. is a coffee city. My vote is a strong "yes."
Events
Friday, August 22, 8 p.m.
Lucha VaVoom de La Liz Summer Spectacular
The Mayan Theatre
1038 S. Hill St., Downtown L.A.
COST: $69.01; MORE INFO
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Lucha VaVoom de La Liz
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We’re saying a long goodbye this year to the mighty Mayan, and the last Lucha VaVoom de La Liz event at the historic theater is certainly marking the end of an era — 23 years at the historic venue, to be exact. The lucha libre-burlesque-comedy show is readying their summer spectacular, The Good, The Bad, and the Fabulous, so prepare to be wowed and enjoy your last chance to experience them in their longtime home.
Saturday, August 23, 3 to 9 p.m.
El Segundo Art Walk
Main St., El Segundo
COST: FREE; MORE INFO
Just past LAX is a creative community in El Segundo that many folks who live in other neighborhoods overlook. It’s worth the trip to the El Segundo Art Walk, where forty local businesses open their doors for studio tours, plus late hours at the El Segundo Museum of Art. Guided printed maps are available at the event, and there will be a free shuttle service between the venues.
Saturday, August 23, 2 p.m.
Mrs. Roper Romp bar crawl
The Crest Sports Bar & Grill
1625 Cabrillo Ave., Torrance
COST: FREE; MORE INFO
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The Crest Sports Bar & Grill
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Come and knock on, well, all the doors of the participating bars in Torrance. The annual Three’s Company tribute, the Mrs. Roper Walk, invites participants to don their best muumuu and hot rollers and make a run for it through multiple spots around Torrance’s downtown area.
Sunday, August 24, 1 to 3 p.m.
Shadow For Peace: The Hiroshima and Nagasaki Experience Speaker Forum
Gardena Buddhist Church
1517 166th St., Gardena
COST: FREE; MORE INFO
Shadows For Peace aims to put history in context at this 80th anniversary event commemorating the atomic bomb attacks on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945. Speakers at the event include Howard Kakita, who will share his personal memories about visiting his grandparents in Hiroshima when the bomb exploded. The event will also be streamed live on Zoom.
Sunday, August 24, 5:30 p.m.
Carmen
BroadStage
1310 11th St., Santa Monica
COST: FROM $60.54; MORE INFO
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Pacific Ballet Dance Theatre
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The Pacific Ballet Dance Theatre comes home to Santa Monica, where the company was founded as the Santa Monica Civic Ballet in 1954. See a special, full-length ballet performance of Bizet’s Carmen. The ballet features Natasha Middleton’s choreography, and Elen Harutyunyan returns to the lead role after previously performing with the company in 2018.
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Through Sunday, August 24
Black Business Scavenger Hunt
Multiple locations
COST: FREE TO PLAY; MORE INFO
Through the weekend, visit more than 100 Black-owned businesses across food, fashion, wellness, entertainment and more at the Black Business Scavenger Hunt, founded by Prosperity Market. You can earn points and win prizes when you check out favorite spots like Alta Adams, Bridgetown Roti, Honey’s Kettle, Harold & Belle’s, Octavia’s Bookshelf, Hilltop Coffee + Kitchen, Meet Me In The Dirt and many others. The month culminates in a pop-up market at the California African American Museum on Sunday, Aug. 31, during Labor Day weekend.
Saturday, August 23, 8 p.m.
Lula Washington Dance Theatre's 45th Anniversary Celebration
The Ford
2580 Cahuenga Blvd. E., Hollywood
COST: FROM $29; MORE INFO
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Lula Washington Dance Theatre
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For 45 years, L.A.'s own Lula Washington Dance Theatre has broken boundaries in choreography and represented the best of Black contemporary dance. This anniversary show includes a tribute to the late saxophonist Pharoah Sanders and features historic American pieces and new works, including Donald McKayle’s "Songs of the Disinherited," two Martha Graham solos, "Deep Song" and "Satyric Festival Song," and Talley Beatty’s "Mourner’s Bench."
Learn more about Lula Washington and her work in South L.A. in this ArtBound segment from PBS SoCal.
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Through August 24, 8 p.m.
Maestro of the Movies: Celebrating the Music of John Williams
Hollywood Bowl
2301 Highland Ave., Hollywood
COST: FROM $32; MORE INFO
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Timothy Norris
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Los Angeles Philharmonic
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Excuse me, did someone say there are free lightsabers at the Hollywood Bowl this weekend? Take your favorite Star Wars fan to enjoy John Williams' iconic music from the films and more favorites like excerpts of scores from Indiana Jones, Hook and Jaws. And yes, the first 500 people into the Bowl get a free lightsaber.
Outdoor Pick
Through Sunday, August 24
Fiesta La Ballona
Veterans Memorial Park
4117 Overland Ave., Culver City
COST: FREE; MORE INFO
A splash and dive movie (Aquaman, natch!), rides, food and drink vendors, music from classic rock to folklorico to salsa to swing, a ballet performance, Polynesian dancers and so much more are on tap at the annual Fiesta La Ballona in Culver City’s Veterans Memorial Park. Ride your bike along the Ballona Creek Trail to get there or take Metro.
Viewing Pick
August 23, 3 to 11 p.m.
NFMLA August Monthly Film Festival: International Animation
South Park Center
139 S. Hill St., Downtown L.A.
COST: FROM $15; MORE INFO
Watch unique animation selections from around the world at this month’s New Filmmakers L.A. festival. The daylong event features student films — including the 24-hour animation contest results — shorts and features, all celebrating innovation in animation.
Dine & Drink Deals
August 22-23, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The Roses crab shack pop-up
Brentwood Country Mart
225 26th St., Santa Monica
COST: FREE; MORE INFO
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Searchlight Pictures
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Benedict Cumberbatch and Olivia Colman may be fighting nonstop in the trailers for the new film The Roses, but who could fight when Negronis, rosé, Levain Bakery cookies and raspberry scones are on offer at Brentwood Country Mart? Swing by to check out this sure-to-be-popular activation.
Sunday, August 24, 12 p.m.
Plum Fest
Biergarten at Old World Huntington Beach
7561 Center Ave., #49, Huntington Beach
COST: FREE; MORE INFO
Honor the favorite purple stone fruit at the 30th annual Plum Fest at Biergarten at Old World Huntington Beach. There will be a live German band, a plum menu (please tell me that my favorite plum cake is on there), a German dance troupe performance and more.
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