The best things to do in Los Angeles this week
Find concerts, screenings, art exhibits and more of our critics’ picks with the best events and things to do in Los Angeles this week
If we could write the rules of living in Los Angeles this would be our No. 1, always at the top of our list: When you live in this city, there’s no excuse for boredom just because it’s a weeknight. There are hundreds of things to do in Los Angeles each week, including concerts, comedy shows, happy hour deals, free museum days—and that’s really only scratching the surface. Well, we don’t make the rules, but we will provide you with plenty of ideas for your next free weeknight right here. Now put down that TV remote. There you go. Now get out of the house and tackle these things to do in L.A. this week.
While all in-person events have been canceled and major venues closed, we’re recommending what Angelenos can do from home (or a couple of things outside—safely). Find more suggestions in our Time In guide.
The best virtual events in L.A. this week
Disneyland: The First 65 Years
Disneyland may still be closed, but Sherman Oaks’ Van Eaton Galleries is bringing a little bit of the magic to us with its latest auction of artifacts from the Happiest Place on Earth. “Disneyland: The First 65 Years” marks the theme park’s birthday with 1,100 props, signs, costumes, souvenirs and ride posters from the Anaheim theme park and its siblings around the world, all of which will go up for auction on August 15 and 16. But before then—pending updates to public health guidelines—you can book an appointment to stop by the Ventura Boulevard gallery to seem them for yourself (if last year’s similar exhibition is any indication, expect every bit of wall space to be covered). From July 25 through August 14 (assuming public health guidelines ease up and allow indoor galleries to reopen again), you can scope out items like an original Space Mountain ride vehicle, a tombstone from the Haunted Mansion, an original Eyvind Earle concept painting for the Sleeping Beauty Castle walkthrough, an It’s a Small World animatronic doll and many more. And if you’re interested in finding a home for any of these relics in your living room—and have thousands of dollars to spare—you can participate in the streaming auction in August. The free exhibition will be tentatively open from July 25 through August 14, with reservations available Tuesday through Saturday from 10am to 6pm and Sunday from noon to 4pm.
Comedy Quarantine
If there’s one cathartic release we could use right now, it’s a bit of levity from L.A.’s top-notch stand-ups. Thankfully, some of L.A.’s best comedians are coming together for a live show over Instagram. Each night, you’ll see five or so comedians deliver stand-up sets from the homes. Just head over to @comedyquarantine on weeknights at 7pm to watch the show, and consider tipping each comedian as well via Venmo (@ComedyQuarantine). The series started as a one-off show in mid March with sets from Maria Bamford, Adam Conover, Chris Garcia, Nick Turner, Jena Friedman, Naomi Ekperigin and James Adomian, as well as some of our recent comedians-to-watch picks, including Zach Noe Towers, Jared Goldstein, Atsuko Okatsuka, Paul Danke and Christina Catherine Martinez.
Grammy Museum at Home
The Grammy Museum routinely hosts some stellar talks and performances—but there’s a good chance you’ve never been able to scoop up tickets before these intimate events sell out. But now we can all partake thanks to the institution’s Museum at Home site. Every couple of days, you can look forward to conversations with and performances from the likes of Billie Eilish, Greta Van Fleet, Andrea Bocelli, Common, Los Tigres del Norte, Courtney Barnett, Ben Platt and more. Plus, each week the museum is reviving some of its former exhibitions online, including retrospectives on Jenni Rivera, Whitney Houston, Frank Sinatra and Ella Fitzgerald.
KCRW Summer Club
KCRW’s much-loved Summer Nights concert series hasn’t been able to make an appearance this season, but it’s getting a much more social distancing friendly makeover. Summer Club will assemble a different stream each week, including a trivia night, a virtual potluck and a behind-the-scenes tour of Lucha VaVoom. Events are free for KCRW members and open to non-members with a donation as low as a dollar.
Concerts in Your Car
It’s been months since we’ve seen a live music performance in the flesh. And while seeing a show at a drive-in might not be quite the same as being in the pit, it’s a much-appreciated socially-distanced substitute. Concerts in Your Car is doing, well, just that this summer at the Ventura County Fairgrounds. The sprawling parking lot there has been converted into a theater-in-the-round that fits 700 cars, all pointed toward a stage with a band performing live (plus four massive video screens in case your view isn’t the best). Just tune in via your car’s FM radio and you’ll be able to catch sets through September from the likes of Ozomatli, Third Eye Blind, Fitz and the Tantrums and more.
Summer Nights at Home
The Natural History Museum is moving its Summer Nights series from its garden to your living room with this free, virtual monthly event. Mix up a botanical cocktail—they’ll provide the recipe—and watch music livestreams and discussions about plants and home gardening.
Dance DTLA
The Music Center offers a free, joyous mash-up of music and dancing all summer long—though this year it’s being held online—with different themes (K-pop, line dancing, cumbia, etc.) and free dance lessons. Head to the Music Center’s YouTube channel every Friday night at 7pm and join in the Digital Dance DTLA fun—no dance experience required.
Play Your Part: A Benefit for YOLA
Support the LA Phil and Youth Orchestra Los Angeles during this streaming concert and workshop that features Brandi Carlile, Gustavo Dudamel, Thomas Wilkins, members of the LA Phil and members of YOLA. The event is totally free to watch, but donations are welcome to help keep the music playing.
LACO Summerfest
It might be awhile before we’re all in concert halls again, but that’s not the case for the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra. Members of the chamber music ensemble as well as some special guests will assemble for five concerts at Colburn School’s Zipper Hall—sans audience—that will be recorded and streamed for free.
Griffith Park Free Shakespeare Festival
Each summer, Bard fanatics watch their favorite works come to life at the historic Old Zoo in Griffith Park. But this year, Independent Shakespeare Co. is hosting a virtual “living room edition” of its seasonal tradition. The theater festival kicks off in August with weekly behind-the-scenes streams, followed by four nights of Romeo & Juliet in early September. ISC describes the performances as a hybrid stage production from its studio in Atwater Village that uses film, animation and social media.
Time Out loves
Dine out (safely)
L.A. County restaurants are open again, though for the time being, you’ll need to sit outside. We’re keeping a running list of some of the best restaurants available for dine-in service outdoors.
Order takeout from one of your favorite local restaurants
You’ve eaten through two bags of beans and six cans of chickpeas. Now what? You leave it to some of the city’s top restaurants and bars, who are making your social distancing as painless as possible. We’re keeping a running list of our favorite pickup and delivery menus that are popping up at L.A. restaurants.
And make sure to add in a booze order, too
Some of L.A.’s best restaurants and bars have your back when you need a stiff drink at home. Restaurants and bars can now deliver alcohol to your door—whether it’s craft beer, wine or house-made cocktails—as long as they’re offering food, which means we can finally sip from some of our favorite spots in town from the comfort of our own couches.
Go to the drive-in
Cinephiles, rejoice! You can watch a movie from somewhere other than your couch as L.A.’s given the green light to reopen drive-ins within the county.
Or head to one of these pop-up drive-ins
Alfresco screenings usually start to pop up across the city in the late spring, be it atop rooftop bars, at L.A.’s best parks or even at a Hollywood cemetery. But this year is all about the drive-in.
Take a scenic drive around L.A.
Finally, our automobile-addicted culture has an upside: You can see some of L.A.’s most stunning scenery safely from your car window. With traffic at an unprecedented low, you may be inclined to drive as far as you can, but we’d stick to whichever scenic drive in our guide is closest to your area. Drive safe!
Go for a walk or hike—but maybe not at your usual spots
Runyon’s open again… yay? Going for a hike is great and all (assuming you’re following proper social distancing guidelines and wearing a face covering). But if you’re looking to avoid crowds, maybe stick to a walk in your own neighborhood or a lesser-known hike. Consider our list of the best hikes, linked here, exactly the spots you don’t want to go to right now.
Find some peace at a botanical garden
If your neighborhood isn’t conducive to walking and you’re looking for a wide-open outdoor space, a few major gardens remain open. Do note that tickets are limited and must be purchased online. And remember to keep a safe distance from other visitors.