Things to do in Los Angeles this Friday

This epic (and free) outdoor concert series features live performances by artists from around the world at the gorgeous water-encompassed California Plaza stage in DTLA. With Japanese hip-hop and a pan-African funk band, this series spans multiple genres and continents. Miguel Atwood-Ferguson, Gaby Morena and Buyepongo are among this year's performers on the Downtown stage. Don’t miss a diverse and highly intriguing mix of musical performances, live scores, films, poetry and theater.

Now one of L.A.’s most treasured summer traditions, Barnsdall Park’s wine tastings regularly attract sell-out crowds. Perched atop Olive Hill in the west lawn of 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. Bring along a blanket and a picnic basket, or just nosh on the variety of food trucks parked up there. Though there used to be lots of kids running around, the event lawn is now 21-and-up—perfect for a date night. Proceeds support the park’s art programs and historic renovations.

We Angelenos go gaga for burgeoning flea markets in this city like tourists for L.A. landmarks. Adding to the throng of artisanal havens, Phillip Dane (curator of Dodger Stadium Flea, Downtown Flea, and Melrose Flea) launches the greatest one yet with a monthly night market called Odd Nights at the Autry. Think of it as dance party meets happy hour meets shopping extravaganza. With live local bands, beer gardens, cocktail lounges, a full bar, 20 gourmet food trucks, 200+ vendors, Bouncy Zone Rides, kid's face painting, and more, you might want to start reserving third Fridays in your calendar. Vendor fare includes handcrafted jewelry, fashionable garb, home goods, antiques, collectibles, artwork, and other Etsy-esque finds. Pull up via car, bike, or horse (yes, horse) and you’ll get to park your wheels (or, ahem, hooves) for free if you're one of the first 2,000 attendees. 

See the zoo in a whole new light at this special after-hours exploration series. Those 18 and up can roam the zoo on their own or learn from pop-up zookeeper talks and live animal encounters. Unleash your own inner animal at live shows from local bands plus a dance party at the carousel. Local food truck faves will be on hand, along with a full bar for getting zoo-boozy.

Embrace the peak of summer with a Hawaiian luau thrown by Dominique Ansel, who'll be whipping up an à la carte menu of Spam musubi tempura, papaya avocado salad, Mochiko fried chicken, grilled shrimp skewers, lomi salmon, coconut rice wrapped in banana leaf, malasadas with lilikoi curd, shaved ice and more. Or, get the feast for two, at $40 per person, and try every item. Wash it all down with 189's special menu of tropical and tiki-inspired cocktails, and it's almost like you can hear the waves on the shore. Reservations can be made online.

Celebrate your love of Japanese culture (and, most importantly, gyoza!) at this epic showdown—in years past the world’s top-ranked eater, Joey “Jaws” Chestnut, downed 384 dumplings. Watch in awe (or horror) as food-guzzling champs tackle the 10-minute challenge of who can eat the most dumplings. It’s bound to make you hungry. Fear not: A food stand will be available for those who enjoy gyoza—and you don’t even have to wolf them down like the pros. 

Author and historian Roger Gastman put together MOCA’s popular 2011 street art retrospective, “Art in the Streets.” Now, the graffiti authority is back to curate another massive exhibition, set to take over a spacious warehouse on the northern edge of Chinatown. “Beyond the Streets” celebrates the evolution of the artform with works from over 100 artists. Site-specific installations include large-scale banners from feminist activists Guerrilla Girls, a playable handball court decorated by Lee Quiñones, a sprawling double-sided painting by Takashi Murakami that encircles visitors and FAILE’s Temple, an interactive construction of ceramic, steel, mosaics and prayer wheels. The show also features L.A.-inspired installations, including a recreation of griffiti and skate destination Venice Pavilion, in partnership with adidas Skateboarding, and an outdoor garden installation by Ron Finley, known for his “gangsta gardening” projects to bring food sources back to inner-city communities. The touring exhibition debuts in L.A. on May 6 at Werkartz (1667 N Main St) and runs through July 6. Timed tickets cost $25.

One of the most Hollywood events of the summer, the Hollyshorts Film Festival is a week and a half of networking events, Q&As with filmmakers and screenings of short films produced around the world. The annual fest screenings will be held at the TCL Chinese 6 (that’s the multiplex behind the famous one), and promises numerous 40-minute films (or less) from early afternoon to midnight. The all-access badge sets you back $600, but it could be worth it for those planning to make the most of the festival, with its opening night and after party, film screenings, panel conferences and awards ceremony. If you’d rather just go for a single program, check the website for a full daily schedule.

The annual Long Beach BBQ Festival is taking over Rainbow Lagoon with a bonanza of meats—trust us, that's not as weird as it sounds. Award-winning BBQ teams will be offering their best cuts of meat and sauces in an effort to win over attendees, who will be casting their vote in the People's Choice Awards. Also at stake: a trophy awarded for the Best in Southern California BBQ Ribs and Sauce. Purchase an entry ticket and pay as you eat, or splurge on an all-you-can-eat pass to the VIP Rib Village. Take a break between bites to dance to live music.

The masters of alfresco rooftop movie viewing have returned for their fourth season of screenings in Hollywood—and its second in 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. Taking full advantage of beautiful city views, RCC promises to offer some of the most unique and incredible movie-going opportunities for film lovers throughout 2018. 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. Crossed out screenings are sold out. [Full disclosure: Time Out is the exclusive ticketing partner for Rooftop Cinema Club.]   Tue, July 10 at LEVEL: Scream Wed, July 11 at NeueHouse: Vertigo Wed, July 11 at LEVEL: Memento Thu, July 12 at NeueHouse: Clueless Thu, July 12 at LEVEL: E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial Fri, July 13 at NeueHouse: Hocus Pocus Fri, July 13 at LEVEL: The Lost Boys Sat, July 14 at LEVEL: Indiana Jones And The Temple Of Doom Sun, July 15 at NeueHouse: Clue Tue, July 17 at LEVEL: The Post Wed, July 18 at NeueHouse: Lady Bird Wed, July 18 at LEVEL: The Royal Tenenbaums Thu, July 19 at LEVEL: The Devil Wears Prada Fri, July 20 at NeueH

Now one of L.A.’s most treasured summer traditions, Barnsdall Park’s wine tastings regularly attract sell-out crowds. Perched atop Olive Hill in the west lawn of 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. Bring along a blanket and a picnic basket, or just nosh on the variety of food trucks parked up there. Though there used to be lots of kids running around, the event lawn is now 21-and-up—perfect for a date night. Proceeds support the park’s art programs and historic renovations.

See the zoo in a whole new light at this special after-hours exploration series. Those 18 and up can roam the zoo on their own or learn from pop-up zookeeper talks and live animal encounters. Unleash your own inner animal at live shows from local bands plus a dance party at the carousel. Local food truck faves will be on hand, along with a full bar for getting zoo-boozy.

Author and historian Roger Gastman put together MOCA’s popular 2011 street art retrospective, “Art in the Streets.” Now, the graffiti authority is back to curate another massive exhibition, set to take over a spacious warehouse on the northern edge of Chinatown. “Beyond the Streets” celebrates the evolution of the artform with works from over 100 artists. Site-specific installations include large-scale banners from feminist activists Guerrilla Girls, a playable handball court decorated by Lee Quiñones, a sprawling double-sided painting by Takashi Murakami that encircles visitors and FAILE’s Temple, an interactive construction of ceramic, steel, mosaics and prayer wheels. The show also features L.A.-inspired installations, including a recreation of griffiti and skate destination Venice Pavilion, in partnership with adidas Skateboarding, and an outdoor garden installation by Ron Finley, known for his “gangsta gardening” projects to bring food sources back to inner-city communities. The touring exhibition debuts in L.A. on May 6 at Werkartz (1667 N Main St) and runs through July 6. Timed tickets cost $25.

Nature lovers rejoice! Spend a day at the NHM’s Butterfly Pavilion, which will open for the season with more than 30 butterfly and moth species and an assortment of California plants. The seasonal outdoor exhibit allows for adults and children alike to witness nature up close—we’re talking having bufferlies take flight and land on your arms or shoulders. Prime time for these unique butterfly flight experiences are between 10-11am each morning.

One of the most Hollywood events of the summer, the Hollyshorts Film Festival is a week and a half of networking events, Q&As with filmmakers and screenings of short films produced around the world. The annual fest screenings will be held at the TCL Chinese 6 (that’s the multiplex behind the famous one), and promises numerous 40-minute films (or less) from early afternoon to midnight. The all-access badge sets you back $600, but it could be worth it for those planning to make the most of the festival, with its opening night and after party, film screenings, panel conferences and awards ceremony. If you’d rather just go for a single program, check the website for a full daily schedule.

This epic (and free) outdoor concert series features live performances by artists from around the world at the gorgeous water-encompassed California Plaza stage in DTLA. With Japanese hip-hop and a pan-African funk band, this series spans multiple genres and continents. Miguel Atwood-Ferguson, Gaby Morena and Buyepongo are among this year's performers on the Downtown stage. Don’t miss a diverse and highly intriguing mix of musical performances, live scores, films, poetry and theater.

Ride the monorail to the Getty select Fridays during the summer for this art-centric take on a tasting flight. Each month, a different L.A.-based artist or musician collaborates with the Getty to put together a night of musical performances, curated playlists and gallery talks, all inspired by a current exhibition at the museum. Translation? Some damn good music and a cash bar at one of the most scenic spots in the city.

The Music Center offers a free, joyous mashup of music and dancing all summer long, with different themes (90s, line dancing, cumbia, etc.) and free dance lessons plus live bands. Dance Downtown switches off every week with DJ Nights, with a late night bar menu and DJs. Head to Grand Park and join in the fun—no dance experience required.

Celebrate L.A.’s burgeoning Eastside with a free music festival—what’s not to like? Echo Park Rising is back for its eighth year with over 100 handpicked local up-and-coming bands, comedians, film screenings and more. With venues ranging from the Echo and Stories Books & Cafe to Button Mash and the parking lot of TAIX French Restaurant, as well as various special discounts and sales at local businesses, this is always a neighborhood affair not to be missed.

The Original Farmers Market is host to a plethora of fun, family-friendly outdoor events, and its summer music series are some of its best. Take a load off at the end of the work week and stop by the West Patio from 7 to 9pm to hear live music during or after your shopping trip or dinner al fresco.

Film enthusiasts and foodies alike can come together inside L.A.'s historic Union Station for Metro Art's three-part, film series, Filmmm, featuring a curated roundup of food-themed movies. The summer series kicks off with a screening of The Harvey Girls: Opportunity Bound, followed by City of Gold and I am Love. Don't worry about these films making you hungry—each showcase will be accompanied by a line-up of L.A. food trucks including Comet BBQ, Boba Ni Taco and Nitropod. Plus, you can expect special guests or Q&A's for each screening. Insider tip: Make it a picnic and bring your chairs and blankets to spread out on the North Patio, where the screening will take place.

The masters of alfresco rooftop movie viewing have returned for their fourth season of screenings in Hollywood—and its second in 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. Taking full advantage of beautiful city views, RCC promises to offer some of the most unique and incredible movie-going opportunities for film lovers throughout 2018. 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. Crossed out screenings are sold out. [Full disclosure: Time Out is the exclusive ticketing partner for Rooftop Cinema Club.]   Tue, July 10 at LEVEL: Scream Wed, July 11 at NeueHouse: Vertigo Wed, July 11 at LEVEL: Memento Thu, July 12 at NeueHouse: Clueless Thu, July 12 at LEVEL: E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial Fri, July 13 at NeueHouse: Hocus Pocus Fri, July 13 at LEVEL: The Lost Boys Sat, July 14 at LEVEL: Indiana Jones And The Temple Of Doom Sun, July 15 at NeueHouse: Clue Tue, July 17 at LEVEL: The Post Wed, July 18 at NeueHouse: Lady Bird Wed, July 18 at LEVEL: The Royal Tenenbaums Thu, July 19 at LEVEL: The Devil Wears Prada Fri, July 20 at NeueH

Tom Cruise is 56 years old. Fifty. Six. And he’s been making Mission: Impossible movies for 22 of those 56 years. By all rights, Fallout, his sixth high-flying mission, should be to M:I what A View to a Kill was to Roger Moore’s James Bond run (Moore being only a year older than Cruise is when he made his final 007): tired, creaky and a bit embarrassing. Astonishingly, however, the opposite is true. This is easily the best, slickest and most daring Mission: Impossible installment. Not only that, it’s the finest action movie of the year so far. The plot pulls off twist after twist, with Cruise's Ethan Hunt still haunted by his now-incarcerated Rogue Nation nemesis Solomon Lane (a superbly creepy Sean Harris) and dealing with the global terrorist power vacuum left by Lane’s capture. But you won’t care about any of these details with all the sinew-straining spectacle on display. This is thanks largely to writer-director Christopher McQuarrie. Being the first director to return for a second go at the franchise, he brings a sense of continuity hitherto lacking. Fallout is a direct sequel to Rogue Nation, bringing back most of the key players and upping the stakes from the most knowing of perspectives. McQuarrie also builds on the last film’s self-aware level of wit and, most importantly, its set-piece-crafting sophistication. No action sequence is allowed to peter out, or be chopped to ribbons in the editing, or lean on the crutch of CG augmentation. From a frantic Parisian cha

“We’re comfortable” says Nick Young (Henry Golding, mega-confident in his feature debut), a handsome Oxford-educated NYU professor, when he’s asked about his background by Rachel (Fresh Off the Boat’s Constance Wu), who knows nothing about how loaded he is after a year of their dating. Like Rachel, we’re a touch taken aback about nonchalant he is, especially when “comfortable” turns out to be a fortune, but Nick isn’t snobby about it—it’s just family money. Meet the family. Crazy Rich Asians, the 2013 literary sensation by Kevin Kwan, is finally a Hollywood movie, the first with an all-Asian cast and director since Wayne Wang’s The Joy Luck Club 25 years ago. Seeing this kind of onscreen representation is incredibly satisfying, especially via Kwan’s rich page-turner (loosely based on the author's real life), loaded with cattiness but also plenty of Asian diversity, from wholesome friends and wise confidantes to jealous mean girls and scheming parents. Fittingly, the movie follows suit: It’s a reinvented romantic comedy, sassy and fun, that doesn’t necessarily rely on obvious tropes and is worth the wait. In a deeper way, Crazy Rich Asians is truly groundbreaking (especially now, in our xenophobic moment), paying attention to cultural nuances that rarely make the multiplex. To hear your mother’s regional Chinese dialect spoken in a major Hollywood film is an occasion for no small amount of pride. Nick plans a trip back home to luxurious Singapore for his best friend’s weddin

Desiree Akhavan follows up 2014’s lovely Appropriate Behavior with a tender, compassionate and gently comic drama about a lesbian teenager dealing with society’s disapproval. Part One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, part John Hughes film, it packs an emotional punch and a career-best performance from Chloë Grace Moretz. It’s 1993 and Moretz is Cameron, a high-schooler having a secret affair with her friend Coley (Quinn Shephard). When the young lovers are discovered in the back of Cameron’s boyfriend’s car on prom night, they are greeted by onlookers with unadulterated horror. Cameron is whisked to an evangelical Christian camp in the wilds of Montana to be “cured” of her homosexuality. The camp is ruled by the menacing Dr. Marsh (Jennifer Ehle), who bullies her subjects into reaching twisted conclusions about their sexuality. Her methods amount to psychological torture, but Cameron’s like-minded campmates—Navajo two-spirit Adam (Forrest Goodluck) and a weed-smoking girl nicknamed Jane Fonda (Sasha Lane)—teach her how to navigate personal attacks. From these unlikely raw materials, Akhavan has crafted a compelling, funny drama that sensitively charts the confusion of adolescence and the importance of facing down its challenges. It’s a film that wears its giant heart on its sleeve, inviting you to bask in the happiness that comes when you accept who you are. Is there a better message than that?

If you’ve been pining for the return of the fiery, political Spike Lee of Do the Right Thing and Malcolm X, good news: BlacKkKlansman is the director working at his electrifying best. Maybe the optimism of the Obama era robbed him of some of that righteous fury (which would be one explanation for his limp Oldboy remake), or maybe middle age mellowed him; either way, Trump’s America—Charlottesville, Black Lives Matter and everything else—has brought the old mojo flooding back. Veering from a blaxploitation spoof to an undercover thriller and ending with a no-punches-pulled real-life coda, BlacKkKlansman is riotously fun one minute, savagely biting the next. The story, as the opening credits declare, is based on some “fo’ real, fo’ real sh*t”—the kind that’s hard to believe actually happened in early ’70s Colorado, yet it’s all true. Black police officer Ron Stallworth (John David Washington, son of Denzel) joins the local force, where he’s warned that he’ll have to “take a lot of guff.” Sure enough, the guff comes thick and fast as he’s exiled to the storage room and harassed by a racist colleague. Spotting an ad for the local chapter of the Ku Klux Klan and taking the initiative, Ron phones the “Organization” (as they vaguely describe themselves), clears his throat and claims to be a vitriolic white supremacist, thus setting in motion the most unlikely undercover operation in law-enforcement history. His first thrill of contact with the enemy is only slightly diminished by

Superheroes may save the world, but parenthood requires skills far more advanced than extendable limbs. Brad Bird’s Incredibles 2—Pixar’s most spirited sequel since Toy Story 3—lovingly expresses this certainty through a bighearted familial portrait wrapped in ’60s-inspired design. But the film’s disarming appeal lies in its simpler moments of domesticity, in which the members of the all-superhero Parr family lift each other up and fight for relevance in a world of indifference. Still underground with criminalized superpowers and a destroyed home, Mr. Incredible (Craig T. Nelson), Elastigirl (Holly Hunter), and their children, Violet, Dash and the explosive baby Jack-Jack, quietly live in a dingy motel. Their luck turns when a pair of wealthy siblings—the naive Winston and brainy inventor Evelyn (Bob Odenkirk and Catherine Keener)—offer them a chance to restore the Supers’ reputation. While the sensible Elastigirl serves as the fearless face of the mission, Mr. Incredible hilariously Mr. Moms his way through the kids’ homework, boy troubles and newly emerging superpowers. When the state-of-the-art villain Screenslaver disturbs the picture, the entire crew, including the previous film’s charismatic ice maker Frozone (Samuel L. Jackson), joins the good fight. Incredibles 2 comes supercharged with timely, sophisticated themes around societal apathy and gender parity. While slightly overplotted in its finale, the sleek sequel still glows with grown-up wit, with craft and humor

As a former CIA assassin-turned-vigilante, Denzel Washington was easily the best thing about the dour first Equalizer movie. The sequel(izer), reteaming him with director Antoine Fuqua and screenwriter Richard Wenk, is an improvement—in part because, unlike many action-film second courses, it doesn’t just hurl its hero into fresh mayhem. There’s a pleasing, easy-going rhythm to the first half of Equalizer 2 that allows the bursts of brutal violence to connect as intended. Washington’s Robert McCall is still lying low in Boston, now working as a Lyft driver and helping out his neighbors, including a high-schooler (Moonlight’s Ashton Sanders) flirting with bad elements and an elderly man (Being John Malkovich's Orson Bean!) trying to reclaim an heirloom. Less conspicuously, he’s also a violent righter of wrongs and avenger of the innocent—both at home and abroad. It’s satisfying enough to watch McCall take out a bunch of intern-abusing corporate bros (one gets disfigured with his own Platinum card), and a whole film in which he takes on such real-world scum feels like a fun idea. Instead, the plot kicks in and the film becomes a rote, if well-crafted, lone-man-against-a-global-conspiracy melodrama. Washington has the quiet authority, and Fuqua the stylistic chops, but the story they’re telling becomes more predictable as it goes along. Once it’s over, you won’t necessarily be itching for an Equalizer 3.

Fulfilling humankind’s urgent need for cuddly stuffed bears in the marmalade-sweet wake of Paddington 2, Disney’s live-action-animation hybrid Christopher Robin—starring the hunny-loving Pooh—is big-hearted yet unexciting. While the newly imagined adventures of the grown-up Christopher (Ewan McGregor, a long way from Trainspotting) and his amiable childhood pals from Hundred Acre Wood place journeyman director Marc Forster straight back into enchanting Finding Neverland territory, this mid-20th-century tale doesn’t quite summon the same magical, childlike wonder. Still, there is ample sweetness here for especially young kids and enough nostalgia for adult devotees of A. A. Milne’s beloved stories. Channeling Hook’s workaholic ex-Peter Pan, Christopher unhappily cancels his countryside travel plans with his loving wife Evelyn (Hayley Atwell) and precocious daughter Madeline (Bronte Carmichael), to toil overtime for his notoriously brutal employer, Winslow Luggage. Unexpectedly reuniting with the ever-hungry Winnie and the rest of the lovable clan over a weekend (sarcastically gloomy Eeyore, enthusiastic Tigger and the fearful Piglet, among them), Christopher remembers life’s simple pleasures and rekindles his youthful spirit. He learns an especially important lesson about family when Madeline teams up with the loyal critters to save her dad’s job by delivering him a misplaced briefcase. Startlingly basic for a film jointly written by team that includes brainy indie auteur Al

They glide effortlessly down traffic-free NYC streets (it might as well be Idaho), these cool girls on their boards, the sun-dappled summer light just right. Skate Kitchen’s sense of euphoric sisterhood—it comes in humid waves that warm you—may be enough to carry you over some gnarly plot clichés. But if you remember Larry Clark’s downbeat 1995 Kids, a vastly more adventurous movie, you’ll feel a depressing sense of indie sellout. Director Crystal Moselle is an observer: She found the movie-obsessed shut-in brothers of her 2015 documentary debut, The Wolfpack, mining their real-life story for urban legend. Once again, in her latest, her subjects are actual people, skaters she found on Instagram and befriended. But imposing a story on them brings out the syrupy worst in Moselle. We follow Camille (Rachelle Vinberg, often a blank behind her glasses, and no discovery like Kids’ Chloë Sevigny), a Long Island teen who yearns to escape her home life with her single mother. Heading into the city, she thrills to the don’t-give-a-fuck urbanity of a group of female daredevils. Just as her new squad goals are taking shape, along come the angry texts from Mom, plus the inevitable boyfriend complications in the form of a soft-spoken coworker Devon (Jaden Smith, more comfortable in the presence of nonprofessionals). Unlike the skaters—always magnetic when they ollie and rail—Moselle has only one move as a filmmaker: rhapsodic slo-mo and drony guitar rock on the soundtrack. Skate Kitchen