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.
Time Out loves
Outfest Los Angeles
For two weeks each summer, Outfest, the world’s largest gay and lesbian film festival, takes over the gay social calendar in Los Angeles with a slew of parties, screenings and galas that attract a veritable who’s who of out filmmakers, actors and bold-faced below-the-line names.
Silver Lake Picture Show
What better way to liven up a Friday night than to cruise over to Silver Lake’s Sunset Triangle Plaza for some gratis entertainment? Catch a free screening on Friday of Coco.
Friday Night Wine Tastings
Perched atop Olive Hill on the west lawn of the historic Hollyhock House (which you can tour during the evening for an additional $15), the Barnsdall Friday fundraisers include fine selections of boutique wines provided by Silverlake Wine with a spectacular sunset and 360-degree views of the city.
Dance Downtown
The Music Center offers a free, joyous mash-up of music and dancing all summer long, with different themes (90s, line dancing, cumbia, etc.) and free dance lessons plus live bands. Head to Grand Park and join in the fun—no dance experience required.
Lil Trap House
Get a small dose of Atlanta’s Trap Music Museum (founded by T.I.) at this pop-up exhibition. Staged at Delicious Pizza’s Hollywood outpost, the art installation includes pieces in honor of T.I., Nipsey Hussle, YG, Pusha-T, Gucci Mane, Migos, 21 Savage, Cardi B, Nicki Minaj and more.
The Little Literary Fair
Affectionately dubbed LITLIT, this free fair is a celebration of indie booksellers and creators. Head on over to Hauser & Wirth to peruse tomes from and interact with over 20 publishers.
Last Podcast on the Left
The true crime and paranormal podcast finds the most fitting venue imaginable: the Fairbanks Lawn at Hollywood Forever Cemetery. See Ben Kissel, Henry Zebrowski and Marcus Parks discuss serial killers, ghosts and UFO sightings during this live edition of the podcast.
KCRW Summer Nights
Everyone’s favorite NPR affiliate has a hand in over a half-dozen summer concert slates at locations like One Colorado, the Hammer Museum and KCRW’s new Santa Monica headquarters.
OC Fair
Mix fried food, carnival attractions and the occasional rodeo or demolition derby, and you've got the OC Fair. What started as a quaint fair in 1889 has since grown into a nearly monthlong fest.
Free Shakespeare in Griffith Park
Each summer, Bard fanatics watch their favorite works come to life at the historic Old Zoo in Griffith Park.
Popular
The Moth GrandSLAM
The best of the best in the L.A. storytelling scene take the mic at the Moth’s GrandSLAM Championship. Originated in New York City, The Moth is an open-mic storytelling show that has spread across the country, all the way to Los Angeles, where there’s certainly no dearth of performers.
Ma'am Sir x 189 by Dominique Ansel Filipino Kamayan Feast
It's time to get your hands dirty in the best way possible: with a Filipino-style kamayan feast. Ma'am Sir's Charles Olalia and 189's Dominique Ansel are teaming up for a family-style dinner that's already shaping up to be one of the best meals of July. The French chef and world-famous pastry purveyor is flipping his restaurant in the Grove to a banana-leaf bonanza for one night only, when colorful courses from both chefs will be laid out on communal tables. Scoop up rice with your hands and dig into BBQ pork with fermented bean curd; 12-hour short-rib inasal; two kinds of lumpia; BBQ chicken with a sweet soy glaze; lemongrass-rubbed lechon; baked whole fish with shrimp paste; grilled corn with coconut butter—and we could go on, but we're betting you're already starving. Tickets run $75 per person, with seatings at 6 and 8:30pm, and include not only the kamayan feast, but a summery cocktail, to boot, plus some sweets and a treat to bring home.
Time Out L.A. Staged: Made in L.A.
Forget about those surface-level observations that out-of-towners lob at L.A., these born or raised Angelenos are tapped into the deep cuts that make this city tick. Laugh along with a made-in-L.A. lineup of comedians that includes James Adomian, Chris Estrada, Felicia Folkes, Shawn Pearlman, Danielle Perez and Jesus Trejo. Jane Borden, who’s behind our annual comedians to watch feature and live show, hosts this first edition of Time Out L.A. Staged, a new quarterly comedy series at Dynasty Typewriter that celebrates L.A.’s amazing pool of local talent and culture.
Last Podcast on the Left
The true crime and paranormal podcast finds the most fitting venue imaginable: the Fairbanks Lawn at Hollywood Forever Cemetery. See Ben Kissel, Henry Zebrowski and Marcus Parks discuss serial killers, ghosts and UFO sightings during this live edition of the podcast.
Cinespia Cemetery Screenings
It isn’t summer in L.A. until the first cemetery screening brings hoards of movie-lovers to Hollywood Forever, toting folding chairs, picnic blankets, snack spreads and lots of booze. Each year, Cinespia brings classic cult favorites to the hallowed resting place of such Hollywood greats as Rudolph Valentino and Bugsy Siegel. The series typically releases its slate one month at a time, most recently for August: Point Break (Aug 3), Boyz n the Hood featuring a John Singleton tribute from Questlove and DJ Pooh (Aug 10) and Psycho (Aug 24). Of particular note: the 9th Annual Slumber Party on August 24, with a trio of sleepover staples including Never Been Kissed, I Know What You Did Last Summer and Jawbreaker. Angelenos line up for hours to partake in the concept—and to enjoy DJ sets, dance parties, sleepovers and more magical mischief otherwise strictly forbidden behind the cemetery gates. It’s an L.A. rite of passage, a quintessential summer experience and one of the best film venues in the city. Just be sure to get your ticket early, arrive early (doors open at 6:45pm), pee early… it’s getting a bit overcrowded, to say the least.
Free
Van Leeuwen x Stitch Fix ice cream giveaway at the LA Zoo
Peak summer means peak ice cream weather, and this weekend, Van Leeuwen's got you covered—literally. One of L.A.'s best ice cream shops is teaming up with clothing subscription service Stitch Fix to give out free scoops for all ages, and $20 coupons for any kids in need of some back-to-school fits. From Friday to Sunday, July 19 to 21, stop by the parking lot of the LA Zoo between 10am and 5pm, then choose between strawberry swirl, fudge brownie, honeycomb, mint chip, or the vegan coconut brownie flavor, and top your scoop with sprinkles, M&Ms, gummy bears, Fruity Pebbles or banana chips, all for free. If you've got little ones, you can check out what the stylists at Stitch Fix Kids have to offer, plus get discounts. Because come on—why spend your day shopping at the mall when you can shop at the zoo with free ice cream?
The Little Literary Fair
Affectionately dubbed LITLIT, this free fair is a celebration of indie booksellers and creators. Head on over to Hauser & Wirth to peruse tomes from and interact with over 20 publishers.
A24 Public Access
Well here’s the oddest addition to this summer’s slate of outdoor movie screenings: a contemporary crime flick projected onto a billboard in the Valley. Lauded indie studio A24 is hosting a series of free “Public Access” screenings around the country, with some of its most celebrated films projected onto billboards. Here in L.A., you’ll be able to watch The Bling Ring projected above a liquor store at the corner of Sepulveda Boulevard and Sepulveda Place, right next to Dr. Hogly Wogly’s Tyler Texas BBQ. The Van Nuys screening takes place in front of Triangle Liquors on Saturday, July 27 at 8pm. You can scope out the spot in this slideshow of photos tweeted by A24: A big screen experience. #a24PublicAccess starts 7/20 with Lady Bird in Downtown Sac. pic.twitter.com/jW8m8aZrqu — A24 (@A24) July 10, 2019 Sofia Coppola’s 2013 flick, starring Emma Watson, follows the real-life teen thieves who raided the Hollywood homes of Paris Hilton, Megan Fox and more. Other films (screened outside of L.A.) in the series include Lady Bird, The Witch, Good Time, The Spectacular Now and Moonlight.
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.
KCRW Summer Nights
Everyone’s favorite NPR affiliate has a hand in over a half-dozen summer concert slates at locations like One Colorado, the Hammer Museum and KCRW’s new Santa Monica headquarters. But the party-till-midnight bashes at Chinatown Central Plaza have become a particular favorite. Familiar KCRW personalities like Garth Trinidad, Travis Holcombe, Anne Litt and Jason Bentley spin the tunes at these food truck-fueled block parties. Regardless of the location—including the oceanfront offshoot, Twilight on the Pier—you really can’t go wrong with any evening spent at Summer Nights.
Concerts
Rodrigo y Gabriela
Childhood friends Rodrigo Sanchez and Gabriela Quintero used to be in a thrash metal band before they moved to the seaside to hone their slinky take on flamenco. That heavy background shines through in their visceral live shows, full of frenzied fretwork.
Pershing Square Downtown Stage
Downtown’s concrete square gets a bit livelier with feel-good Saturday-night sets from the Bangles, Best Coast, Ozomatli and Smash Mouth, plus Wednesday afternoon farmers’ market shows. Catch the free, open-air performances from July 13 through August 17.
Robyn
The sassy, lightning-blonde-haired Swede performs cathartically upbeat dance tunes from Honey, her first full-length release in seven years.
Once Upon a Time in the LBC
Once upon a time in a city so divine, dozens of West Coast hip-hop legends came together for a one-day fest at the Queen Mary. The inaugural Once Upon a Time in the LBC draws heavily from the generations of talent that have emerged from Long Beach and Compton, including headliners Snoop Dogg, YG and the Game (who’ll be performing The Documentary). The rest of the cross-country lineup includes DMX (performing It’s Dark & Hell is Hot), Bone Thugs N-Harmony, Warren G, Keith Sweat, Too Short, Blueface, Ginuwine and more. Tickets for the originally announced first night are sold out, but passes for the just-added second night are available on Friday, March 22 at 10am.
Odesza
If you love electronic music, you might want to catch buzzy Odesza at Los Angeles State Historic Park to cap off their massive A Moment Apart tour.
Movies
A24 Public Access
Well here’s the oddest addition to this summer’s slate of outdoor movie screenings: a contemporary crime flick projected onto a billboard in the Valley. Lauded indie studio A24 is hosting a series of free “Public Access” screenings around the country, with some of its most celebrated films projected onto billboards. Here in L.A., you’ll be able to watch The Bling Ring projected above a liquor store at the corner of Sepulveda Boulevard and Sepulveda Place, right next to Dr. Hogly Wogly’s Tyler Texas BBQ. The Van Nuys screening takes place in front of Triangle Liquors on Saturday, July 27 at 8pm. You can scope out the spot in this slideshow of photos tweeted by A24: A big screen experience. #a24PublicAccess starts 7/20 with Lady Bird in Downtown Sac. pic.twitter.com/jW8m8aZrqu — A24 (@A24) July 10, 2019 Sofia Coppola’s 2013 flick, starring Emma Watson, follows the real-life teen thieves who raided the Hollywood homes of Paris Hilton, Megan Fox and more. Other films (screened outside of L.A.) in the series include Lady Bird, The Witch, Good Time, The Spectacular Now and Moonlight.
Cinespia Cemetery Screenings
It isn’t summer in L.A. until the first cemetery screening brings hoards of movie-lovers to Hollywood Forever, toting folding chairs, picnic blankets, snack spreads and lots of booze. Each year, Cinespia brings classic cult favorites to the hallowed resting place of such Hollywood greats as Rudolph Valentino and Bugsy Siegel. The series typically releases its slate one month at a time, most recently for August: Point Break (Aug 3), Boyz n the Hood featuring a John Singleton tribute from Questlove and DJ Pooh (Aug 10) and Psycho (Aug 24). Of particular note: the 9th Annual Slumber Party on August 24, with a trio of sleepover staples including Never Been Kissed, I Know What You Did Last Summer and Jawbreaker. Angelenos line up for hours to partake in the concept—and to enjoy DJ sets, dance parties, sleepovers and more magical mischief otherwise strictly forbidden behind the cemetery gates. It’s an L.A. rite of passage, a quintessential summer experience and one of the best film venues in the city. Just be sure to get your ticket early, arrive early (doors open at 6:45pm), pee early… it’s getting a bit overcrowded, to say the least.
Eat|See|Hear
Eat|See|Hear travels to different locales throughout the city each Saturday during the summer, showing cult flicks on an inflatable screen taller than your average Malibu mansion. Bring your own bites or sample snacks from the impressive roster of resident food trucks and show up early for a set from local L.A. bands. Parking is free at most of the venues, and tickets for screenings at the Autry even include admission to the museum. What’s more? If you want to skip the crowds and stroll in casually during the opening credits, spring for an exclusive “Fashionably Late” pass, which guarantees you a reserved seat in front. All of the events dog-friendly, and a portion of ticket sales benefit Best Friends Animal Society.
‘Once Upon a Time In Hollywood’ screenings
We Angelenos have some pretty incredible privileges on account of living in the center of the movie-making universe, and we’d say this one currently ranks pretty high: Director Quentin Tarantino is screening his personal 35mm print of his upcoming ninth feature, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, at his very own movie theater, the New Beverly. The theater promises “an exclusive pre-show specifically curated for [its] screenings, special concession treats and other surprises”—here’s hoping that includes some appearances from the cast, or Tarantino himself. Tickets for all screenings go on sale Saturday, July 13 at noon—note that all tickets will be released in advance, so don’t expect any night-of seats. And make sure to read our five-star review of the gloriously fun alt-history of ‘60s Hollywood.
Moonlight Movies on the Beach
The best things in life really are free—love, happiness and an evening spent watching movies on a giant inflatable screen at the beach. On select dates from June until August, pack up your folding chairs, grab your kids and head to Long Beach for this unique outdoor screening. Thanks to Alfredo’s Beach Club, you can give your babysitter the night off while you and the fam enjoy a host of kid-friendly flicks. Bring your own picnic, or munch on eats from the nearby snack stand. You’ll find the event hitting Granada Beach, Cherry Beach and Shoreline Village.