Time Out Los Angeles news

And so, our long hot summer begins. Should we try to get cool or should we celebrate the long, searing days that inevitably fade into long evenings? This month, local theater offers us a show full of belly laughs to take our minds off all else, a refreshing trip under the sea, a superb outdoor Shakespeare company in one of the Bard’s great comedies, the promise by a 1940s playwright that we will still continue to survive global calamities and—if you’re looking for yet more depth—a modern retelling of the Exodus story with pointed nods at roiling socio-political issues that still need fixing. We bet these five shows, listed in order of closing date, will be worth your theatergoing time and money this month. Disney’s The Little MermaidCarpenter Performing Arts Center, July 12–28 What would you give up to make your dream a reality? The mermaid in the original Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale gave up her tongue in exchange for a pair of legs, and the possibility of love, though she would feel unending sharp pains in her feet. Disney made the story cheerier in its 1989 animated film, then again in this 2007 musical—with music by Alan Menken, lyrics by Howard Ashman and Glenn Slater, book by Doug Wright. But we love it, “If Only” to spend an evening “Under the Sea” and in the cool breezes of “The World Above.” Daniel Pelzig directs; Katharine McDonough and David Burnam star. 6200 Atherton St, Long Beach (562-856-1999). Fri, Sat at 8pm, see theater schedule for Sat, Sun matinee

Summer always means ice cream, but in the fictional town of Hawkins, Indiana circa 1985, it means the shopping mall ice cream spot Scoops Ahoy—and maybe a few otherworldly, energy-sucking shadow monsters from the Upside Down. When we last saw our Stranger Things heroes, they’d sealed the portal to the terrifying mirror world of the hit Netflix series, and at the start of season three, they’ve gone back to mid-’80s life as they know it: hanging at the mall, and in the case of the gang’s de facto babysitter with great hair, working a summer job at the local ice cream parlor.  Starting tomorrow, you don’t even need to cruise the fictional Starcourt Mall to get the full Steve experience: Stranger Things and Baskin-Robbins teamed up to bring Scoops Ahoy to life, taking over an existing Baskin-Robbins shop for two weeks of nautical-themed ice cream and some serious throwback treats. Sure, there are multiple collab flavors that you can find all over the country, but here in L.A., we get our own IRL Scoops shop.   We stan a scoop king. Photograph: Courtesy Baskin-Robbins   From July 2 to 14 at the Victory Boulevard shop, employees will be decked out in Steve’s blue-and-white, sailor-inspired uniform and scooping a range of special flavors.  You can opt for the flavor of the month, the USS Butterscotch, where butterscotch-flavored ice cream gets dotted with butterscotch pieces and swirled with a toffee-flavored ribbon, and it comes by the scoop, the packed pint or the thre

Hey savvy shoppers! Los Angeles is full of incredible deals, if you know where to find them. We’re here to help with a special Fourth of July list of all the best sales across the city. This is the info you’ve been searching for—who has the best deals of the week, when and where to nab them and exactly what you’ll find. So check in as we add more sales to stay on trend and in the black—your wardrobe and wallet will thank you. Who: BeatBackRags The cool, casual and sustainable L.A. brand is offering an additional 40 percent off sale items on July 4th with the code SUMMERTIME19, and then 25 percent off site-wide Friday through Sunday with the code REDWHITEBLUE. Where: online When: Thursday, July 4th • Friday, July 5th through Sunday, July 7th Who: Liana In honor of the holiday, the ’90s-inspired brand (think baby tees and biker shorts) is letting customers take 15 percent off site-wide—which includes sales items—with the code FIREWORKS15. Where: online When: Thursday, July 4th through Sunday, July 7th Who: Eberjey For a little IRL shopping, hit up 260 Sample Sale, where the popular intimates brand will offer sleepwear, apparel, swimwear and, of course, lingerie for up to 80 percent off. Where: 301 N Canon Drive, Beverly Hills When: Tuesday, July 2nd from 10am to 7pm, Wednesday, July 3rd from 11am to 7pm, Thursday, July 4th from 11am to 4pm, Friday, July 5th and Saturday, July 8th from 11am to 7pm, and Sunday, July 7th from 11am to 5pm Who: The Odells The loc

We love 4th of July fireworks, but sometimes our aversion to traffic and tight parking is enough to keep us away (we’re looking at you, waterfront Westside fireworks shows). Thanks to our ever-expanding Metro system, you can stay off the road on the 4th of July. Whether you’re looking to save on the hassle and price of parking or are planning to take advantage of these drink specials, ditch your car this Independence Day and scope out one of these Metro-accessible fireworks shows. Grand Park The crowds pack in pretty tight at Grand Park, and the fireworks are never quite as big as people hope—it is in the middle of Downtown Los Angeles, after all—but the Fourth of July Block Party is by far the most convenient, Metro-accessible fireworks show. Nearest Metro stop: Civic Center/Grand Park (Red/Purple Lines) Exposition Park Walk through Exposition Park to the south lawn (between the Natural History Museum and the Memorial Coliseum) and you’ll find a family-friendly festival during the day. Stick around into the nighttime and you’ll have a front row seat to the fireworks show at the stadium. Nearest Metro stops: Expo/Vermont and Expo Park/USC (Expo Line) Long Beach You don’t need to be aboard the Queen Mary to see Long Beach’s fireworks show; you’ll have a view of the show from nearly anywhere along the waterfront. Follow the throngs of people to Shoreline Park if you want one of the closest (but most crowded) views. Nearest Metro stop: Downtown Long Beach (Blue Line) 

Before you hit the pool, the beach, the fireworks or the patriotic parties this 4th of July, make sure you nail down the most crucial ingredient to a holiday weekend: what you’re eating. Some of L.A.’s best restaurants are giving us red, white and blue pastries, steaks and everything else you can imagine, while others are making your home BBQ easy with picnics and takeout specials really worth celebrating. Whatever you’re looking for, do not go hungry into that long weekend. If you’re craving red, white and blue specials There’s solid pizza regularly coming out of Baldoria’s oven, but on the 4th of July, the Little Tokyo neighborhood spot is firing up a special all-American apple pie pizza for the occasion, plus all-day happy-hour pricing on cocktails.  On the even sweeter side, the Dolly Llama’s launching a new, patriotic ice cream treat for the holiday. The local chain’s signature Hong Kong-style bubble waffle can now get stuffed with vanilla ice cream, then topped with strawberries, blueberries and mini marshmallows, and finally, drizzled with condensed milk, all accented by a torched marshmallow—one of America’s most summery treats imaginable. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Time Out Los Angeles (@timeoutla) on Jun 10, 2019 at 3:00pm PDT As above, so below, Downtown's NoMad hotel is offering 4th of July food and drink specials at both its ground-floor coffee bar and up on its roof—and for the festive party vibes, you're going t

You’ve planned a day at one of L.A.’s best beaches and figured out where to see fireworks, but there are far more free things to do in July after the holiday. From an OC surf fest to a slew of summer concerts, these are the best ways to make the most of your month without breaking into your wallet. July 2–Aug 20Moonlight Movies on the Beach; Granada BeachPack up your folding chairs and head to Long Beach for this unique outdoor screening series. July 4Americafest; The Rose BowlSee an explosive celebration of all things red, white and blue at this fireworks, which you can see for free if you watch from one of the neighborhoods overlooking the Arroyo Seco. July 4Fourth of July Block Party; Grand ParkWatch Downtown L.A. light up for free at this patriotic street party. July 4Fourth of July Community Festival & Fireworks Show; Exposition ParkUnfurl a picnic blanket on the South Lawn of Exposition Park, just next to the Coliseum, and enjoy an afternoon of music, games and kid-friendly activities, followed by a free fireworks show at 9pm. July 5, 19Silver Lake Picture Show; Sunset Triangle PlazaLiven up your Thursday nights at this free Eastside screening series, with showings this month of Boyz in the Hood and Coco. July 6Audacity of Sound; Grand AvenueSwing by the 300 block of South Grand Avenue for globe-spanning sets from Cimafunk, Gaby Moreno and La Marisoul, David Garza and many others. July 6Everything Is Terrible! The Store! Opening Party; East L.A.The oddity-loving

You don’t need an owl’s invitation to visit L.A.’s latest Harry Potter-themed haven. All you need to do is venture Downtown. Nimbus Coffee sits just a few blocks from L.A. Live, and the whimsical new café is dishing out lattes, pastries, giggle waters and vegan shakes with all the trappings of a trip into the world of J.K. Rowling’s best-selling series. Near the door, a woman in a grey Ravenclaw sweatshirt types with the Hogwarts house’s signature studiousness on a laptop. At the tables in back, a group of cloak-clad guests wave wands brought from home. Seated on the purple velvet couch in the corner—the one near the massive hanging portrait of Prince (the placard underneath? “Half Blood Prince”)—there’s a trio wearing replica necklaces of Hermione Granger’s time turner. As of last week Potterheads have a new home, and it’s highly caffeinated. Photograph: Stephanie Breijo Nimbus Coffee opened on June 18, as first reported by Los Angeles Magazine, with croissants, muffins, pound cakes and other assorted sweets to round out a full coffee program. (It’s no Honeydukes at the Wizarding World, but what is?) The coffee bar features beans from L.A.-based Tectonic Roasting Co. as drip coffee, cappuccinos, Americanos, lattes, pour-overs and espresso shots, while the menu of non-alcoholic juice infusions offer something bubbly and bright for those sipping sans caffeine. These giggle waters are in fact fizzy drinks of house-made fruit compotes, such as the bright-red Watermelon

Blackship is already a breezy affair, what with that plant-bedecked patio setting a cool scene for the restaurant, but over the weekend, the space got a little sunnier—and moodier—thanks to a new bar perched atop it all. On Friday night Bar Sopra opened its doors just off the Sunset Strip, revealing a sleek classics-focused cocktail den that sits above chef Keiichi Kurobe’s Japanese-meets-Italian spot. Indoors, the lighting’s low and the seats spill from a seven-stool bar and intimate lounge area onto the deck. Outside, a horseshoe-shaped couch gets flanked by greenery and shaded by a long awning, the latest sunny spot to grab a drink this summer. But Bar Sopra is a far cry from the bright, colorful rooftop and patio bars sprinkling L.A., where frozen drinks and rosé reign; instead, the space takes cues from European aperitivo destinations and dark, polished spaces like, say, Lost Property, Rhino Williams’s other bar. While Williams keeps the focus on whiskey there, and on Japanese riffs at Blackship’s program—which he also designed—at the weekends-only Bar Sopra he’s strictly about the classics. Photograph: Courtesy Bar Sopra From Thursday to Saturday, just look to the entire menu page dedicated to negronis, where the classic blend of gin, Campari and vermouth gets half a dozen spins, including the Negroni Peroni, which tops the classic with whipped Peroni pilsner foam; the Negroni Blanco, with gin, white vermouth and Salers Gentian apéritif; and a house-aged and -bo

For fans of the negroni, it’s Christmas in June. Negroni Week, a celebration of this vibrant Italian cocktail, arrives but once a year and it finally kicks off today: In lieu of presents under a tree, find negroni specials and variants all over town June 24 to 30 thanks to beverage-centric Imbibe magazine and Italian apéritif company Campari teaming up for the worldwide event. The best part? The participating restaurants and bars all donate a portion of their negroni sales to raise money for various charities. With 108 LA.-area bars and restaurants participating in the fundraising this year, you’ve got a bevy of beverages to choose from. Some restaurants and bars are sticking with the classic Campari-vermouth-gin recipe, while others are offering multiple variations on the drink and adding mezcal, chartreuse and whatever else they can stir up—which means you’ve got some sipping to do. To help you plan your attack, we’ve created a guide to some of our favorite specials to be found this week, including but not limited to house-made negroni mochi for a sweet finish. Here’s where to drink for a cause this week. Accomplice Mar Vista’s Bar Awards-winning cocktails are some of the best in the city, but this Negroni Week, the team is going above and beyond and giving us a little sugar, too: In a nod to its sister restaurant, Little Fatty, each of Accomplice’s three negroni specials come served with a piece of house-made negroni mochi to mirror the Taiwanese street-food–inspired ea

L.A. is home to transplants from all over the world, but today, we’re most thankful for a son of Cleveland. That’s because Jeremy Fox—best known for his vegetable-forward, hyper-seasonal cooking at Rustic Canyon and Napa’s Ubuntu—is flipping his culinary script and returning to his Midwest roots and Southern ties to bring Santa Monica one of the most creative stick-to-your-ribs menus the city’s seen yet: the kind of meal where there’s caviar dolloped onto your latkes and the blue-plate special is Mongolian tri-tip with bone-marrow–fried farro (and that’s just on Wednesdays). Birdie G’s soft-opens tonight with limited reservations in the historic Bergamot Station, a former art gallery, train stop and celery packing plant now fresh-faced from a revamp to accommodate the restaurant’s massive open kitchen and seating for 150. Enter through the alleyway, pass the patio and find yourself in an airy warehouse space now home to Fox’s latest, a highly anticipated concept that’s just as much an ode to his childhood memories and formative meals as it is to California produce and the peckish, shareable Angeleno style of dining.  Photograph: Courtesy Birdie G’s/Lucianna McIntosh There’s family in nearly every dish, whether they’re Fox’s own grandmother’s recipes, which he recreated from memory, or the chicken scaloppine from chef de cuisine Brittany Cassidy, an ode to her mom. The wine list from Kathryn Coker, Rustic Canyon Family’s vino go-to, takes inspiration from the somm’s