Joke of the week: Jane Borden
I was watching Jeopardy once, and the answer was, 'This leader did some sightseeing in a newly defeated Paris in June of 1940.' The contestant said, 'Who is Adolf Hitler?' and Alex Trebek replied, 'That is correct.' Really? That's the answer to the question 'Who is Hitler?': A guy who went antiquing through Europe? Because I feel like I know that name from something else.
Jane Borden performs at Hollywood Studio Bar & Grill on January 7th at 8pm, the Pleasure Chest on January 8th at 8pm and M.I. Westside Comedy Theater on January 9th at 10pm. Tickets are under $10.
This weekend
Smorgasburg LA
Indulge your inner foodie and shopaholic at this weekly food-focused market. The Brooklyn export has landed in the Arts District and become a hotbed of fantastic food and retail vendors, with some that are testing out their dishes before launching a full-blown brick-and-mortar in the city. Bonus: there is plentiful (and free, for two hours!) parking in the nearby parking garage.
Monday night residencies at the Satellite
Silver Lake's legit little music venue offers up some of the best local music in the city every Monday night... for free. Check out LA bands that are about to make it big (acts like Fitz & the Tantrums, Superhumanoids and even Local Natives have graced the residency stage) without spending a dime—well, except on maybe a beer, or a round for the folks onstage. Check the Satellite calendar to see who's on the bill each month. Acts often have a rotating cast of openers, so you can see different bands each week while watching the main act work on material, become more comfortable onstage and find their rhythm as the month goes on. Then a few years from now, you can say "I saw them when...."
Asssscat
Every Saturday and Sunday, the UCB franchise's longest-running, most beloved showcase starts when a base cast of the theater's current top-brass—including founding UCB members Matt Walsh, Matt Besser and Ian Roberts—takes the stage. Then they introduce the surprise celebrity alumnae and friends who will be joining them (think Horatio Sanz, Ben Schwartz, Adam Pally). And finally, another special guest takes the stage, a non-improviser (think Flea, Cat Power, Rebel Wilson, Lena Dunham) who opens the show with a personal story, that's deftly mined for laughs by the players. But you have to go to find out who's there—that's part of the fun. Looking for a cheap night out? Sunday shows are free, but seating is first-come, first-served, so be sure to arrive early.
Monday night residencies at the Echo
It's free music every Monday when sponsored, up-and-coming local bands call the Echo stage home for a one-month stint, honing their stage presence and giving various opening acts a chance at the spotlight as well. If you're worried a Monday night will fill up to capacity, you can RSVP on the Echo website for VIP entry. When a band is on its third or fourth Monday and killing it, this is a pretty convenient way to make sure you're in on the action.
Artists & Fleas Venice
The newest flea market on the block, the Venice outpost of this artisan/craft-focused flea market mini-empire is bringing records, vintage and vintage-inspired clothing, cosmetics, jewelry and more to the Westminster Avenue Elementary School. A handful of small batch confectioners provide sweet treats to snack on or take home, while food trucks and nearby restaurants provide heartier bites. Though relatively small in size, owing perhaps to its prime location bookending the neighborhood’s famed Abbot Kinney stretch, vendors hawk a diverse range of hand-made and expertly curated wares that seems to simultaneously fit in and stand out in one of the nation’s most unusual neighborhoods.
Monday night residencies at the Bootleg
Head to Echo Park on Mondays for free residencies at one of the best venues on the East side, the Bootleg. Theater shows happen in the Gallery, and music in the Theater (in back) and the Bar (in front). Residencies take place in the bar, with high tables and stools in the back, a bar with great craft brews and a high, open-beamed roof with great acoustics. Check the Bootleg's calendar to see who's on the bill month to month.
Public Star Party
Want to admire the moon and constellations up close, but don’t have your own powerful telescope at home? Not to worry, Griffith Observatory has you covered with their popular (and free) monthly Public Star Parties. Head out to the Observatory’s expansive lawn among hundreds of other star enthusiasts and check out the views through a wide variety of telescopes, with savvy amateur astronomers happy to discuss what you see through their equipment. The views of celestial objects above and L.A.’s majestic city lights below make this a special evening for the whole family.
Festival of Flight
Get up close and personal with some aircraft at this annual Long Beach Airport open house. The free event features food trucks, flying experts and a beer garden. Enter the airfield from the west end of the airport property at East Wardlow Road and Globemaster Way.
Rooftop Cinema Club
The masters of alfresco rooftop movie viewing have returned for another season of screenings in Hollywood and Downtown L.A. Known for excellent film choices and a steady supply of snacks and booze, Rooftop Cinema Club is your snazzy, comfortable and less stressful alternative to other outdoor movie screenings. You don’t even need to bring your own blanket or camping chair—Rooftop Cinema Club provides you with your very own comfy lawn chair, as well as blankets on request for the ultimate cozy experience. And instead of listening to the movie over loudspeakers, you’ll get a set of wireless headphones so you never have to miss a word.
"DHOP" Dominique Ansel Pancake Party
World-famous pastry chef Dominique Ansel is celebrating one year in L.A. with what else but a brunch party, but it's so much more than that: Every Saturday and Sunday in November, Ansel is turning his full-service restaurant at the Grove into "DHOP," Dominique's House of Pancakes. The usual à la carte, dim sum-style brunch menu will switch to gourmet pancake-y options in that same format, where servers will come by your table to offer Dutch baby pancakes with yuzu curd; crêpes Suzette with orange supremes and a Grand Marnier brown sugar butter sauce; potato latkes with apple sauce and crème fraîche; and matcha soufflé pancakes with honey butter, among others. There'll even be house-cured lox and pastrami hash, for those who prefer things a little more savory.
The Great Los Angeles Walk
Every year on the Saturday before Thanksgiving, the Great Los Angeles Walk debunks all of those cliches about walking in L.A. Hundreds of walkers start the free urban hike on one side of the city and, nine hours and 17 miles later, end up at the other. You can hop on or off the walk whenever you'd like, and though no reservations are required, RSVPs are appreciated.
A California Christmas at the Grove
Brace yourself: Christmas is coming to the Grove. L.A.’s shopping mall metropolis lights up its Christmas tree with a slew of special guests—including Santa himself. May we humbly suggest that you ask Santa this year for a prime spot in that mammoth parking garage. Stick around for the fireworks finale.
Barnsdall Art and Craft Fair
Peruse gifts for sale from Barnsdall’s students and faculty at this free fair next to the Frank Lloyd Wright-designed Hollyhock House. Expect handcrafted jewelry, ceramics, cards, prints, paintings, drawings and photos alongside treats from local vendors. The event is free to enter, though you can purchase a $5 raffle ticket, which supports the Barnsdall Art Center.
Valley Urban Market
Studio City's own open-air food market brings roughly 20 vendors to the parking lot of Midcentury-Modern charmer Sportsmen's Lodge every Saturday, with family-friendly fun in tow: face painting, music, photo booths and balloon art, for the little ones.
The Bitter Game
“Keep your head up. Keep your eyes forward. Keep your ego down.” That’s advice from the mother of young Jamel Smith, who witnesses a violent act in his inner-city Philadelphia neighborhood and must learn how to interact with the police there. Playwright-actor Keith A. Wallace plays both characters and more as he brings his 55-minute, utterly compelling solo show to the outdoor terrace at the Wallis. The early word suggests that Wallace recrafts each show to bring in issues of the day. Deborah Stein co-created, Malika Oyetimein directs. A note from the Wallis: “Wear warm attire and comfortable shoes, expect strong language.”
Melrose Trading Post
If Melrose Ave is LA’s sceney-est street, then the Melrose Trading Post is the epicenter of that scene. Every Sunday, hundreds of stylish Angelenos head over to Fairfax High School for the beloved Melrose Trading Post ($3 entry, free parking). Smack dab in the middle of Los Angeles, it's much more than a mere flea market: live music, a food court, and expansive grounds bring people out to wile away the day, chat with old friends, and yes, be seen. Fortunately, the Trading Post is also a world-class flea market. With the right balance of new and old, expensive and affordable , the many vendors hustling artwork, succulents, and vintage jackets fill a startlingly expansive space in an urban epicenter.
Enchanted: Forest of Light
Descanso Gardens’ light-up experience has ditched the kitsch in favor of a whimsical, wondrous, curiosity-driven display that’s among L.A.’s most stunning and, more importantly, most fun. The interactive, nighttime program has set up 10 illuminated installations around the botanical garden grounds, from luminescent forests to free-standing hands-on art pieces. Find out more about it in our preview of what’s new at this year’s Enchanted: Forest of Light.
Thursday
The post-hardcore band performs its breakout 2001 album, Full Collapse, in full.
Vulture Festival
See Q&As, sneak peeks and table reads during this celeb-filled pop culture fest from New York Magazine’s Vulture. This year’s highlights of the Hollywood Roosevelt event include a preview of the Dirty John TV adaptation with a Scrubs reunion, a discussion from Connie Britton and Eric Bana, a table read of Big Mouth with Nick Kroll playing all of the parts, a gaming championship with Thomas Middleditch, a tour of the Broad with art critic Jerry Saltz, a conversation with Jim Carrey, a Fantastic Beasts preview, plus Q&As with Constance Wu, Busy Philipps, Bo Burnham and more. Tickets go on sale October 18 at 9am.
Uncabaret
Even comedians need a place to vent and find their voice. Enter Uncabaret, the personal storytelling and alt comedy showcase that's been an L.A. staple for over two decades. While the show fosters fresh slates of up-and-coming talent, it's been a fixture in the alternative comedy world since 1988 thanks Beth Lapides, the self-proclaimed “Mistress of Uncabaret.”
Designer Con
Attention toy geeks, illustrators, underground-art lovers and anyone with a sense of humor and a love for plushy things: Find your inner child at the annual DesignerCon, where more than 700 vendors and artists will showcase toys, art, design and collectibles at the Anaheim Convention Center. Check the website for the full schedule.
Ghost
Ghost combines the creepy theatricality of black metal—evil clergy outfits, band members known collectively as a Group of Nameless Ghouls—with crisp, hook-crammed rock and roll.
Ai Weiwei: Life Cycle
The acclaimed Chinese artist kicks off a flurry of activity in L.A. with this takeover of the Marciano’s massive theater gallery, including Ai’s floor-covering “Sunflower Seeds,” which features millions of porcelain seeds, as well as the similar but smaller “Spouts,” a pile of thousands of Song dynasty teapot spouts. “Life Cycle” also marks the premiere of its namesake work, a nearly 60-foot inflatable raft made entirely from bamboo. Inspired by the European refugee crisis, the work employs traditional kite-making techniques to create its passengers, which are often pulled from the signs of the Chinese zodiac—such figures also factor into the astounding mythological mobiles and creatures that surround the black box space.
Dear Evan Hansen
In this captivating original musical, high school student Evan Hansen is thrust into social relevance after a classmate's suicide. Benj Pasek and Justin Paul’s score combines well-crafted lyrics with an exciting pop sound, and Steven Levenson’s book gives all the characters shaded motives. The play has already proven to be an incredibly popular production at the Ahmanson, with even the back of the balcony fetching high prices—but you can enter a daily digital lottery for a shot at $25 tickets. Read the review of its run on Broadway.
Ai Weiwei: Cao/Humanity
The Beverly Hills gallery, which received an architectural overhaul from Ai Weiwei, hosts a solo show that includes the artist’s hundreds of the artist’s interlocking, marble grass-like works.
