January 2020 events calendar for Los Angeles

As a wise chief of staff once said, there’s two things in the world you never want to let people see how you make ’em: laws and sausages. Thankfully, podcasting is fine for the public to witness—and you can witness the final recording of the world’s favorite West Wing-focused podcast here in L.A. when the recap show draws to a close on January 17. Since 2016, The West Wing Weekly has broken down every episode of Aaron Sorkin’s cult-classic political drama, and all of the rapid-fire dialogue, information leaks, government espionage, campaigning and interpersonal (and sometimes interoffice) relationships therein. The podcast is a dive into the plot of each episode, sure, but when coupled with behind-the-scenes knowledge from the show’s hosts—composer Hrishikesh Hirway and The West Wing’s own Will Bailey, played by actor Joshua Malina—plus guest appearances from West Wing creators and real political pundits and officials, it’s an hour or so of insider insights not just into Sorkin’s White House, but our country’s actual innerworkings.  Head to DTLA’s Theatre at Ace Hotel to see The West Wing Weekly off as it ends its final term, and witness a live recording of the last podcast episode with some seriously impressive guests: Martin Sheen, Bradley Whitford and Mary McCormack. The doors open at 7pm, while the show starts at 8; maybe give the podcast a salute at its end, or at least a firm handshake and a very President Bartlet-level “What’s next?”

We love their adorable faces, quirky behavior and unwavering loyalty. We bring them everywhere—particularly here in L.A. And they may very well make us better people. It’s no surprise then that dogs would get an entire exhibition dedicated to their canine skills and unique relationship with humans. “Dogs! A Science Tail” takes a colorful, hands-on approach to its subject and mainly targets kids. But dog lovers of all ages will delight in the displays at the California Science Center: You can squeeze between two pointed ears to listen to how dogs perceive the sounds of a street scene different than humans; you can put your face up against a dog-shaped viewfinder that simulates canine vision; and you can test your knowledge in a game of Jeopawdy! Kids will particularly love seeing how fast they are compared to dogs and sniffing scents that a dog might encounter—from coffee and bubblegum to, yes, poop and farts. The exhibition also includes a selection of dog-featuring works of art, mostly Norman Rockwell paintings and Charles Schulz Peanuts strips, on loan from the upcoming Lucas Museum of Narrative Art. Make sure to catch daily live demonstrations of dogs’ rescue, agility, sensory and service skills (i.e. a guide dog walking a sightless trainer through an obstacle course). You’ll find the demo area near the exhibition’s exit, just before the gift shop.

The botanical garden’s nighttime experience masterfully mixes hands-on art installations with atmospheric, luminescent forests, all against a background of uplit trees and shimmery sound effects. Enchanted is intuitively immersive: You can tap columns that change color according to your touch; spin a dizzying swirl of kaleidoscopic patterns with HYBYCOZO’s “Celestial Shadows” pendants; and stomp your way across Jen Lewin’s “Aqueous,” a serpentine Candyland-like path that changes colors as you meander along its winding walkway. This year, “Celestial Shadows” has been upgraded with even more shapes (last year saw the addition of a particulalrly mesmerizing disco-ball–like one) while sculptor Tom Fruin’s kaleidoscopic stained-glass–like house will be anchored in the Mulberry Pond. The event has also added Enchanted with Entertainment evenings (Dec 6, 7, 13, 14) with student performances as well as ambient DJ sets on the main lawn. Also, note that the dates around Christmas are for members only this year (Dec 20–23, 26–28). Here’s our take from our walkthrough of last year’s edition: While the layout of “Aqueous” has been slightly reconfigured, with glowing benches around the perimeter. At “Lightwave Lake,” you can no longer control the swirl of colorful spotlights atop the foggy water, but there are far more stations to change the colors of the lighting on the trees (And bonus: There’s a whiskey bar adjacent, with an especially delicious spiked cider). Elsewhere, “En

Years before he'd put the unmistakable imagery of 2001 and The Shining to celluloid, Stanley Kubrick was a teenage photojournalist in New York. The Skirball is celebrating that lesser-known period in Kubrick's career with a collection of over 130 of his photographs. “Through a Different Lens: Stanley Kubrick Photographs” focuses on the filmmaker's early work for Look magazine, with a special emphasis on his depictions of human relationships, organizations and celebrities, as well as his channeling of film noir aesthetic touches. The chronologically-arranged exhibition arrives at the Skirball on October 17 and runs through March 8, 2020.

It’s alive. It’s alive! The Natural History Museum is taking a look at the science and history that inspired some of film’s most iconic, hideous creatures. “Natural History of Horror” will tackle scientific discoveries, like early experiments in animal electricity and the excavation of King Tut’s tomb, and explore how they influenced old-school monster movies, like The Mummy and Frankenstein. The exhibition will feature 17 objects from the museum’s collection and four early Universal monster movies (Dracula, Frankenstein, The Mummy and Creature from the Black Lagoon). Expect a mix of rare movie props and film footage donated by Universal alongside hands-on interactives and specimens from the NHM collections.

Come on down to the Glendale Galleria and try to escape the foul-mouthed fourth graders’ least favorite spot—the classroom—in this official South Park-inspired escape room.

As a wise chief of staff once said, there’s two things in the world you never want to let people see how you make ’em: laws and sausages. Thankfully, podcasting is fine for the public to witness—and you can witness the final recording of the world’s favorite West Wing-focused podcast here in L.A. when the recap show draws to a close on January 17. Since 2016, The West Wing Weekly has broken down every episode of Aaron Sorkin’s cult-classic political drama, and all of the rapid-fire dialogue, information leaks, government espionage, campaigning and interpersonal (and sometimes interoffice) relationships therein. The podcast is a dive into the plot of each episode, sure, but when coupled with behind-the-scenes knowledge from the show’s hosts—composer Hrishikesh Hirway and The West Wing’s own Will Bailey, played by actor Joshua Malina—plus guest appearances from West Wing creators and real political pundits and officials, it’s an hour or so of insider insights not just into Sorkin’s White House, but our country’s actual innerworkings.  Head to DTLA’s Theatre at Ace Hotel to see The West Wing Weekly off as it ends its final term, and witness a live recording of the last podcast episode with some seriously impressive guests: Martin Sheen, Bradley Whitford and Mary McCormack. The doors open at 7pm, while the show starts at 8; maybe give the podcast a salute at its end, or at least a firm handshake and a very President Bartlet-level “What’s next?”

We love their adorable faces, quirky behavior and unwavering loyalty. We bring them everywhere—particularly here in L.A. And they may very well make us better people. It’s no surprise then that dogs would get an entire exhibition dedicated to their canine skills and unique relationship with humans. “Dogs! A Science Tail” takes a colorful, hands-on approach to its subject and mainly targets kids. But dog lovers of all ages will delight in the displays at the California Science Center: You can squeeze between two pointed ears to listen to how dogs perceive the sounds of a street scene different than humans; you can put your face up against a dog-shaped viewfinder that simulates canine vision; and you can test your knowledge in a game of Jeopawdy! Kids will particularly love seeing how fast they are compared to dogs and sniffing scents that a dog might encounter—from coffee and bubblegum to, yes, poop and farts. The exhibition also includes a selection of dog-featuring works of art, mostly Norman Rockwell paintings and Charles Schulz Peanuts strips, on loan from the upcoming Lucas Museum of Narrative Art. Make sure to catch daily live demonstrations of dogs’ rescue, agility, sensory and service skills (i.e. a guide dog walking a sightless trainer through an obstacle course). You’ll find the demo area near the exhibition’s exit, just before the gift shop.

The botanical garden’s nighttime experience masterfully mixes hands-on art installations with atmospheric, luminescent forests, all against a background of uplit trees and shimmery sound effects. Enchanted is intuitively immersive: You can tap columns that change color according to your touch; spin a dizzying swirl of kaleidoscopic patterns with HYBYCOZO’s “Celestial Shadows” pendants; and stomp your way across Jen Lewin’s “Aqueous,” a serpentine Candyland-like path that changes colors as you meander along its winding walkway. This year, “Celestial Shadows” has been upgraded with even more shapes (last year saw the addition of a particulalrly mesmerizing disco-ball–like one) while sculptor Tom Fruin’s kaleidoscopic stained-glass–like house will be anchored in the Mulberry Pond. The event has also added Enchanted with Entertainment evenings (Dec 6, 7, 13, 14) with student performances as well as ambient DJ sets on the main lawn. Also, note that the dates around Christmas are for members only this year (Dec 20–23, 26–28). Here’s our take from our walkthrough of last year’s edition: While the layout of “Aqueous” has been slightly reconfigured, with glowing benches around the perimeter. At “Lightwave Lake,” you can no longer control the swirl of colorful spotlights atop the foggy water, but there are far more stations to change the colors of the lighting on the trees (And bonus: There’s a whiskey bar adjacent, with an especially delicious spiked cider). Elsewhere, “En

Come on down to the Glendale Galleria and try to escape the foul-mouthed fourth graders’ least favorite spot—the classroom—in this official South Park-inspired escape room.

Well, you’re not actually traveling to the southernmost continent, but “Antarctic Dinosaurs” sure does a vivid job of simulating it: You’re greeted with a sweeping video of icy peaks, example of expedition gear and the cross-section of an aircraft fuselage, with Antarctica-bound scientists packed inside. Scientists take center stage in this exhibition, including the Natural History Museum’s own Dr. Nathan Smith, whose cartoonified facsimile pops up throughout the galleries. Your biggest takeway is likely to be about how and why scientists excavate fossils in Antarctica, how that process differs from a century ago and what sort of knowledge they bring back with them. But it’s not all jackhammers and microscopes: You’ll find plenty of fossils and recreated skeletons, too, with touch-friendly 3-D models the shed modern-day insight into the prehistoric bones. The exhibit features four fulls-scale dinos: two at the skeletal level and two with faux skin that approximate how they would have appeared.

L.A. doesn’t typically seem like much of a winter wonderland, until, that is, you create an ice skating rink right in the midst of Downtown skyscrapers and L.A. icons. Come glide and pretend there’s snow on the ground at Pershing Square’s outdoor holiday skating rink—one of the biggest in the city. Look out for special events throughout the season, like curling lessons, a silent disco skate and DJ nights. RECOMMENDED: The best places to go ice skating in Los Angeles

This nighttime event, held across the grounds of the Arcadia botanical garden, returns for its second year with two additional themes: “polar dreams” and “ocean visions.” Last year’s debut included a slew of Chinese lanterns—but not the small, hanging type—that covered a field at the Arboretum with parade-float–sized structures, with other themed archways and playful creatures lining the pathways around the grounds. The lanterns, crafted by artisans from China’s Sichuan province, are arranged by their themes; this year’s pair of new themes should bring penguins, sled dogs, fish and sharks into the fray. Tickets cost $28 for adults and go on sale to the public on October 15, 2019. In the meantime, check out our coverage of last year’s event.   A massive lantern festival has come to the L.A. County Arboretum Moonlight Forest kicks off tonight. http://bit.ly/2O8s1SV Posted by Time Out Los Angeles on Friday, October 26, 2018

Dive into who leaves a mark on L.A. in this examanation of the Los Angeles Public Library’s 1,700-object autograph collection, on the occassion of a new book about it by Josh Kun. In 1906, librarian Charles Lummis started L.A.’s very own autograph collection, in which paintings, pems, speeches and music from the likes of L. Frank Baum, James Carroll Beckwith, Katherine Lee Bates, Langston Hughes, Isaac Asimov, Helen Keller and others were added to the Los Angeles Public Library’s permanent collection. Then in 2018, librarian John F. Szabo extended the collection to include all Angelenos who hoped to add something with a one-day event—which then brought along contributions from Roy Choi, Patt Morrison, Cheech Marin, Norman Lear and more.