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Our Picks
- Events
- Outdoor Pick
- Viewing Pick
I saw a poignant documentary last weekend called Join or Die, which looks at how joining clubs and participating in our communities is the best thing we can do to connect with our neighbors and help our democracy stay strong. One of the things I learn every week in writing these picks is how diverse and vast the opportunities and offerings are of things to do in L.A. Who knew that just by checking out a new gallery or taking a cooking class you could be doing a small part for strengthening our city? Count me in.
This week, there’s tons to get involved in, from heading to the Friends of the L.A. River Festival to watching some great short films at HollyShorts, to meeting local artists at Sawdust in Laguna Beach. There’s also free braids and haircuts for kids as the back-to-school rush gets underway (already?! Can’t be!), a bunch of new pop-up entertainment experiences at Century City, and a magnificent concert and exhibit in the dome at Mt. Wilson.
For more to explore, visit LAist.com where you can snag a ticket to AirTalk’s FilmWeek screening of The Fast and the Furious, read up on the latest Michelin star awardees in the area, and learn the history of why MacArthur Park was split in two.
Events
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June 28, 2024 through September 1, 2024
Sawdust Art Festival
- Sawdust Art Festival Grounds
935 Laguna Canyon Rd., Laguna Beach
Cost: VARIES ; more info
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Courtesy of Sawdust Art Festival
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Daily art classes, more than 180 local artists, live music, and more are all part of the summer-long Sawdust Art Festival in charming downtown Laguna Beach. This weekend is a great time to go because L.A. County residents get in free on Sunday, but it’s open through Sept. 1 and any other time general admission is $12. Sunday also features the Artists' Benevolence Fund Auction, a live auction with 100% of the proceeds benefiting Laguna Beach artists in time of emergency.
- Sawdust Art Festival Grounds
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August 10, 2024 through August 18, 2024
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Toyo Miyatake Studio
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Time and again, the Nisei Week Japanese Festival is on L.A.’s “best” lists for the year, and why is no surprise. With a big parade, Ondo dancing, delicious eats, art exhibits, and a festival vibe all through Little Tokyo for the week, the celebration is always a local favorite. Plan your visit and check out the dozens of shows and events in their online booklet or just take a ride downtown and wander through.
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July 30, 2024 through August 18, 2024
Britney Coleman as Bobbie (center) and the North American Tour of COMPANY.
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Matthew Murphy
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MurphyMade
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Stephen Sondheim’s Company is a uniquely adult musical about marriage, and this touring production of last year’s Broadway hit gender swaps the lead, Bobbie, and takes a revelatory modern take on an already groundbreaking show. With classics like “Ladies Who Lunch” (remember the pandemic Zoom version with Meryl Streep?), “Being Alive” and of course the fast-talking “Getting Married Today,” Sondheim fans and newcomers alike will love it.
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Sunday, August 11, 2024 at 4:00 PM
Concerts In the Dome + 'Of Sea and Sky' Exhibit
- Mount Wilson Observatory
Access via the Angeles Crest Highway (CA Hwy 2) from the 210 Freeway, La Cañada Flintridge
Cost: CONCERT $60, EXHIBIT FREE ; more info
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Courtesy of Mt. Wilson Observatory
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A summer adventure up to Mt. Wilson Observatory (home of the LAist radio signal!) is well worth your time to experience the combination of science, art, and architecture that make it special. The dome has been transformed this summer into an immersive exhibit called Of Sea and Sky — open on weekends through October 20 — with video installations from Rebeca Méndez and large-scale prints by Stephen Nowlin. On select Sundays, the exhibit isn’t on view, because the observatory’s artistic director Cécilia Tsan has curated a series of concerts that make the most of the incredible acoustics in the dome. This Sunday, L.A. string group Rogue Lemon Collective will play; there will also be a reception with light refreshments in between the concerts at 4 p.m.
- Mount Wilson Observatory
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August 6, 2024 through August 31, 2024
Century City Mall Movie & TV Pop-Ups
- Westfield Century City
10250 Santa Monica Blvd., Century City
Cost: FREE TO $44 ; more info
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Amazon MGM Studios
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You could spend all day navigating the entertainment-themed experiences that have taken over Century City mall lately. Whether you’re a Colleen Hoover fan, obsessed with the spy antics of Mr. & Mrs. Smith, an Anglophile who’s watched every episode of The Crown, or have kids (or grown-ups!) who love The Little Mermaid, there’s something for you to do in between getting gelato at Eataly and returning those seemed-good-at-the-time Nordstrom anniversary sale purchases (just me?).
At the It Ends with Us experience, fans can visit a real-life version of Lily Bloom’s iconic floral shop ahead of the movie (starring Blake Lively). The Mr. & Mrs. Smith Escape Room runs through Monday; the experience puts you in Amazon Prime’s spy cat-and-mouse game starring Donald Glover and Maya Erskine. It’s free, but you need to book a time. The Crown pop-up has photo ops from the set of the show. And ongoing this summer is the extensive Little Mermaid experience at CAMP, which lets kids sit on King Triton’s throne, visit Ariel’s trinket grotto, and more.
Through August 11
It Ends With Us pop-up experience
The Crown pop-up experience
COST: FREEOngoing
Mr. & Mrs. Smith Escape Room
COST: FREECAMP x The Little Mermaid
COST: $44 - Westfield Century City
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Sunday, August 11, 2024 from 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM
Olympics Closing Ceremonies watch party
- The Culver Steps
9300 Culver Blvd., Culver City
Cost: Free ; more info
Bronze medalist Yared Nuguse of the U.S. (L-R), silver medalist Josh Kerr of Great Britain, gold medalist Cole Hocker of the U.S. and Jakob Ingebrigtsen of Norway.
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Michael Steele
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Getty Images
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Meet up in Culver City to watch the end of the Paris 2024 Olympics on a huge LED screen and count down to the next summer Olympics happening right here in L.A. The community celebration will also have food, music, games, and more.
- The Culver Steps
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Friday, August 9, 2024 from 5:30 PM to 8:00 PM
'Somos Los Angeles: Chicano Hearts'
- William Turner Gallery
2525 Michigan Ave., E-1, Santa Monica
Cost: $20-$30 ; more info
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Courtesy of Word Theatre
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Word Theatre brings their brand of immersive storytelling to work by Chicano authors at this special event at Bergamot Station. Actors Richard Cabral, Diana Maria Riva, and Remy Ortiz will perform stories from Daniel Olivas’s new book My Chicano Heart: New and Collected Stories. Former Poet Laureate of Los Angeles Luis Rodriguez and writer and poet Estella González will also be featured at the event; books (and tacos!) will be available for purchase.
- William Turner Gallery
Support for LAist comes from
Outdoor Pick
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Sunday, August 11, 2024 at 3:00 PM
Friends of L.A. River Fest
- Los Angeles State Historic Park
1245 N. Spring St., Downtown L.A.
Cost: Free ; more info
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Andriana Baker
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We often suggest hikes and nature walks along the L.A. River in this column and this weekend is your chance to support and learn more about the ecosystem right in our backyard. Join Friends of the L.A. River for their third annual celebration of the river with eco-activities, live performances, an art gallery, food trucks, and more at the L.A. State Historic Park.
- Los Angeles State Historic Park
Viewing Pick
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August 8, 2024 through August 18, 2024
20th Annual HollyShorts Film Festival
- TCL Chinese Theatres
6925 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood
Cost: DAY PASS $60 ; more info
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Courtesy of HollyShorts
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Dozens of short films – some of which you may just see in the Oscar nominations next year – are showing at the annual HollyShorts Film Festival, which honors the best in short films, from comedies to sports movies, dramas, and more. It’s always amazing how much narrative can get squeezed into less than 20 minutes – makes me think about these too-long Netflix series that probably should have been a short! The festival also has panels with filmmakers and expert sessions on marketing your short film, navigating legal questions, working with agents, and more.
- TCL Chinese Theatres
Dine & Drink Deals
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Saturday, August 10, 2024 from 2:00 PM to 8:00 PM
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Courtesy of Gladstones Malibu
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Get your luau on at Gladstones with traditional Hawaiian food, tropical drinks (mai tais served in pineapples and pina coladas in coconuts, yessss!), live hula performances, fire dancing, Hawaiian music, and a live set by the Royal Rats.
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Saturday, August 10, 2024 from 3:00 PM to 8:30 PM
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Courtesy of Rossmoor Family Food Festival
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Rush Park in Rossmoor is the setting for this food festival, complete with a beer garden, live music, a carnival, and more than 50 gourmet food vendors.
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Sunday, August 11, 2024 from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM
Back-to-School Braids and Buzz
- McDonald’s SoCal
6904 La Tijera Blvd., Inglewood
Cost: Free ; more info
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Courtesy of McDonald's
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Is there a happier Happy Meal than one that comes with free braiding and haircuts for kids? Book a free appointment and head to the McDonald’s on La Tijera for McDonald’s treats, music, games and free hair styling for students from Pre-K to Grade 12.
- McDonald’s SoCal
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