Things to do in Los Angeles today

Each summer, Bard fanatics watch their favorite works come to life at the historic Old Zoo in Griffith Park. For 16 years running, Independent Shakespeare Co. has put on a series of lively productions each week, inviting audiences to take a seat on the grass (bring a picnic blanket) and enjoy performances like this season’s headliner, Shakespeare political thriller Coriolanus, which will be followed by the self-explanatory The Comedy of Errors. With construction of a permanent stage still in process on the main lawn, this summer’s shows will again be held in the dell at the top of the Old Zoo—meaning available space is smaller, and although performances are still free, reservations are required.

The masters of alfresco rooftop movie viewing have returned for another season of screenings to LEVEL 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. You don’t even need to bring your own camping chair—Rooftop Cinema Club provides you with your very own comfy lawn chair (with optional blankets for purchase to up the coziness). 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. Find the full schedule on their site, or in our outdoor movie calendar.

It’s not just for big-budget action scenes: The L.A. River inspires and supports artistic creations of all sizes and scopes, and you can check a bunch of them out during this annual event from Friends of the L.A. River. Swing by L.A. State Historic Park for live performances, an environmental art gallery and interactive eco-activities, as well as food trucks and a marketplace with booths from local vendors. Admission is free, but registration is required, so book your tickets online ahead of time. 

The Malibu Pier, boutique inn the Surfrider Malibu and Aviator Nation Dreamland have teamed up to present the perfect summer Sunday. During the second installment of this coastal concert series, you’ll find day-to-night live music from local artists and vinyl DJ sets spread across four beachside stages. Admission is free, but a VIP ticket will get you access to the Surfrider’s coveted private rooftop deck, plus a lounge and private bar. Stay tuned for the artist lineup.

Masterpiece isn't a word to be casually tossed around, but it’s hard not to ascribe it to musician turned artist Christian Marclay’s 24-hour video, in which thousands of short film clips are strung together to form a seamless, big-screen collage charting the passage of each minute of the day in real time. After 15 years away, The Clock is going back on display on the first floor of the BCAM building, and to bookend the exhibit, the museum is hosting two specially ticketed 24-hour screenings on July 25 and August 22 starting at 7pm (welcome news for L.A. night owls). Otherwise, the work will be on display during regular museum hours and is included with admission.

Catch family-friendly performers during this annual summertime concert series in the Getty’s beautiful Central Garden, where kids can dance and sing along to the likes of Dan + Claudia Zanes with Tyree Austin (jazz and gospel), Flor Bromley (bilingual Latin music) and Elizabeth Mitchell (folk). Picnics and blankets are welcome—lawn chairs, glass and alcohol are not. All the concerts are free, and you won’t need a ticket, though you will need a timed museum reservation.

Every Sunday, you can find dozens of food vendors at this market at ROW DTLA, a Brooklyn import that boasts a mix of much-loved pop-ups and future foodie stars. Thirteen new vendors are joining the lineup this year: Feast on burgers and orange chicken sandwiches from Terrible Burger, Viennese street food from Franzl’s Franks, Neapolitan-meets-Persian pies from Mamani Pizza, plant-based corn dogs from Stick Talk and more. Wash it all down at the family-friendly beer garden. You’ll also find shopping stalls selling everything from framed vintage ads to jewelry made locally with ethically sourced gemstones. Entry and the first two hours of parking are free.

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 monthlong fest in the middle of summer. It also boasts a lineup of alfresco live music that’s more impressive than most fairs’—this year you can catch Willie Nelson, Cypress Hill, Patti LaBelle, the Head and the Heart, Diana Ross, Alison Krauss, Steve Aoki, Boy George and even comedian Trevor Noah, among others. See the full lineup here. 

In case “uncensored” wasn’t enough warning, make sure you leave the kids at home for this one. Part puppet show, part improv show, “Puppet Up! Uncensored” combines top puppeteering talent with music, jokes and shenanigans. It’s not just about watching the puppets either—you’ll be mesmerized by the sheer skill of the puppeteers on full display, who are coming up with songs on the fly while manipulating puppets onstage. If you’re a Jim Henson buff, this show is not to be missed: It’s put on by Brian Henson and Henson Alternative (the official adults-only arm of the Jim Henson Company), and you’ll see re-creations of Henson classics with a twist.

Perhaps the Los Angeles area’s most iconic flea market, this event around the exterior of the Rose Bowl is staggeringly colossal—but what else would you expect from a 90,000-seat stadium? The sheer size and scale of this flea market means that it encompasses multitudes: new and old, hand-crafted and salvaged, the cheap and the costly. On the second Sunday of each month, an odd mix of vendors populates the loop around the stadium: for every eye-catching artwork, there’s a ratty $5 T-shirt, and for each elegant craft there’s a competing “as seen on TV” demo. But you may have more luck in the rows and rows of old furniture, albums and vintage clothes and accessories that fill the adjacent parking lot. There are plenty of duds, to be sure, but come out early enough and you may go home with that perfect purchase. This destination flea market attracts bargain hunters, collectors, and antique aficionados from all over the county, so the organizers have instituted an extensive tiered entry/admission system, allowing professional and dedicated shoppers early access at a premium.