Things to do in Los Angeles today

You probably know of Shepard Fairey through “Obey Giant” stickers and later his Obama “Hope” poster, but his body of work comprises so much more than that. A new exhibition at Beyond the Streets explores the artist’s relationship with printmaking, displaying more than 400 of his original screen prints—including some rare and historic editions and hybrid works that combine screen printing with stenciling—and offering a behind‑the‑scenes look at Fairey’s methods. “I have used printed posters to spread my artwork and messages in public spaces as well as keep my art affordable by printing multiples,” he says, emphasizing the importance print still holds today. Though you can often see Fairey’s work at his Echo Park gallery, Subliminal Projects, it’s rare to find this many of his pieces together. And though you may have seen his designs on a screen or a printout, the vibrant prints pop in person, with a careful thought toward composition that comes with Fairey’s illustration and design background and his knowledge of advertising and propaganda, which he wields in his political pieces. The exhibition runs though January 11 and will kick off with an opening reception on Saturday, November 15, from 7 to 10pm.

The Hammer Museum’s excellent, ongoing series of biennial exhibitions ups the ante with each edition of its spotlight on emerging and under-recognized L.A. artists. This October’s exhibition—the seventh such show—brings together works from 28 artists, spanning film, painting, theater, photography, sculpture and video, that engage with the city of Los Angeles. Highlights include Kelly Wall’s penny press and wishing well, plus racks of postcards of L.A. skies fabricated out of glass; Patrick Martinez’s East L.A.–inspired cinder block wall, adorned with Mayan murals and neon trim (as well as another neon sign that reads “Agua is LIFE, NO ICE”); and re-creations and photo documentation of the late Alonzo Davis’s freeway murals from the 1984 Olympics. Before you even step inside, you’ll notice Alake Shilling’s Buggy Bear Crashes Made in L.A., which, yes, is a giant inflatable bear driving a car that’s careening toward the Glendon Avenue corner of the Westwood museum.

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.

When I first stepped foot inside of this exhibition of decommissioned Confederate monuments and reflective contemporary art pieces, I was taken aback by the scale of it all. I’d seen the installation photos of the side-by-side statues of Confederate generals Stonewall Jackson and Robert E. Lee on horseback, but as I craned my neck up at these towering tributes, they felt awe-inspiring in the most dreadful meaning of the phrase. Most Angelenos don’t need to be convinced of the immoralities of the Confederacy—but most likely haven’t been forced to come face-to-face with such Civil War iconography either. “Monuments,” displayed almost entirely at MOCA’s Little Tokyo warehouse with a single Kara Walker installation at the Brick in East Hollywood, presents tangible proof that these monuments removed from public view over the past decade were not simple, somber remembrances for the recently deceased, these were larger-than-life celebrations of the Confederacy forged in the Jim Crow era and often financed by folks seeking to twist its history. Works from 19 artists respond either directly or thematically to the many statues on display, or in some cases physically alter them: Bethany Collins’s Love is dangerous chisels pieces of the granite pedestal of a Stonewall Jackson monument into Carolina rose petals. Other graffitied or paint-splattered statues speak for themselves: The Robert E. Lee monument at the center of 2017’s Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville, Virginia resides...

The L.A. Zoo is staying open after dark most nights through January during this delightful take on its light-up holiday tradition. Once again, the “Animals Aglow”–themed event will go all in on oversized animal-shaped lanterns, and—based on last year’s edition—the result is a colorful, charming trail that celebrates the zoo’s natural inhabitants. Plentiful and vibrant, these lantern versions of wildlife, birds, butterflies and insects come to life with playful movements and animation. Flora shares some of the focus, too. New lanterns and light displays this year spotlight the animals of Southeast Asia and Africa. Though Zoo Lights has eschewed most overtly Christmassy elements (a thematically focused upgrade to its original versions, in our opinion), it hasn’t ditched interactive spectacle. You can relax on illuminated swings, dance inside a shell of kaleidoscopic mirrors and more.  Buy your timed tickets (available in two sessions nightly) in advance to avoid the worst of the entry lines, and stick to the “value” nights if you want to save up to $6 on admission. The zoo’s merry-go-round menagerie and photos with Santa are also available for an additional fee, and cozy refreshments like churros and hot cocoa are sold at a few different stands. Note: Wear comfortable shoes; the lights only cover about a third of the zoo grounds, but you’ll be walking slightly uphill for most of the way RECOMMENDED: Christmas lights in Los Angeles: Where to find holiday lights View...

Japan House Los Angeles is bringing an exhibition of shokuhin sampuru—hyper-realistic food replicas that have crossed over from marketing tool to art form (think Is It Cake? but cultural)—to Los Angeles for the first time. See mouthwatering faux food representing each of Japan’s 47 prefectures, from coffee house parfaits to izakaya skewers, as well as Chinese and Western cuisine, and try your own hand at food presentation by filling a bentō box yourself.  

The Los Angeles Art Show is one of the longest-running venues for contemporary, modern, historic and traditional art in the country—there’s something for everyone here, from art history majors to avant-garde gallery owners. The show dedicates space to global galleries, a mix of modern and contemporary exhibits, historical works and more. Notable for this 31st edition of the show are the first significant solo presentation of actor Sylvester Stallone’s abstract works and the debut of the fair’s Latin American Pavilion, providing a platform for underrepresented artists to share their takes on themes of memory, migration and identity. Meanwhile, non-commercial platform DIVERSEartLA will present “The Biennials, Art Institutions and Museums in the Contemporary Art Ecosystem,” exploring how these institutions impact the evolution of contemporary art.

The annual L.A. Kings ice skating rink presented by Coca-Cola once again returns to L.A. Live. Skate around the dazzling Christmas tree that stands in the middle of the outdoor rink, and take in an LED holiday light show on the huge screens around the plaza. Choose from four nightly skating sessions. Note: General admission tickets, which include skate rental, are only sold on-site, and can’t be purchased online ahead of time. RECOMMENDED: The best places to go ice skating in Los Angeles

The Wilco frontman’s freewheeling solo shows balance acoustic takes, deep cut requests and charming banter.

Most of the year, Level 8’s rooftop bar, Golden Hour, is a poolside spot that channels the Copacabana. But over the holidays, it transforms into Winter Hour, a pop-up immersive winter wonderland outfitted in icicle lights, festive decor, faux snow and s’mores stations—and still boasting stunning views of DTLA. Don your après-ski or “Santa Baby” best and head to the top of the Moxy hotel. Your ticket includes a welcome drink—choose from a seasonal cocktail or a ski shot. For a more exclusive experience, spring for a cozy fire pit or intimate igloo.