Serving Larchmont Village, Hancock Park, and the Greater Wilshire neighborhoods of Los Angeles since 2011.

The Week Ahead – Events for December 3-9, 2022

 

Whether you like it or not (hopefully, the former), the holiday shopping season is upon us in full force with retailers bombarding us with relentless ads and deals on the daily. Luckily for you, there’s a calmer way to do things, aside from online shopping, and it’s by way of festive holiday boutiques and small business shopping events! In my opinion, they’re way cooler than the indoor mall experience, and give shoppers the opportunity to support local artisans and connect with people in their neighborhood and beyond. And that’s what the holidays are all about, right? Helping your fellow man, and peace and goodwill and stuff like that. So now that you’re filled with the spirit of charity and giving, thanks to my inspirational words, be sure to check out the options below. There are also non-shopping related deelies, too. Just keep reading. It gets good.

 

Christmas, Hanukkah, and the Art of Relaxation

 

“Support Small Businesses” is a phrase I like to shout from the mountain tops, especially this time of year, so I encourage you all to head on over to Larchmont Village for its annual Holiday Open House this Saturday, Dec 3. Saunter down the Boulevard on foot or take the trolley from 11:30 a.m. – 5 p.m., towards shopping, music, food, fun and holiday cheer! And all courtesy of the Larchmont Boulevard Association (LBA).

 

 

Yay! Craft Contemporary’s Holiday Marketplace is coming to the courtyard this weekend, December 3-4, with a festive shopping menagerie of crafty, curated, and contemporary one-of-a-kind gifts by 20+ LA-based artists and crafters. This anticipated annual event provides musical accompaniment, food and drink from Gu Grocery + Standstill Tea, and complimentary refreshments. So won’t you please join in as we collectively support an exceptional community of creators along with the quality programming of Craft Contemporary! Tickets for Sat, Dec 3 are $9 at the door and include museum admission. The Saturday Preview Brunch is $30 and $25 for Members. Preview guests enjoy early access at 10 a.m., a complimentary cocktail and breakfast bar, a chance to chat with the artists, and a DIY gift-wrapping station. And Sunday (as always) is “pay-what-you-can” day – how lovely! The Market is open from 11:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Let the Walt Disney Concert Hall’s massive pipe organ, accompanied by a choir and jazz combo, get you into the season of things with a Holiday Sing-Along concert. Prepare yourself for “a jolly good time!” when you sing your little hearts out to holiday favorites and take in the festive atmosphere. There will be 2 ticket times on Saturday, Dec 3 at 11:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. Tickets range from $36-$99. Please note that this concert is for children 2 and older. Bonus: Get photos with Santa, create your own seasonal wreath with Makers Mess, and drink some hot cocoa before the show. Just come to “Winter Wonderland” in BP Hall at around 10 a.m. and let the day begin! Then, later that night (and Sunday, too), “Sugar Plum Fairies and Sugar Rum Cherries” will be decking the Hall in The Nutcracker with Dudamel: Tchaikovsky & Ellington at 8 p.m. and 2 p.m., respectively. Dudamel conducts this “holiday favorite with a twist”, when he leads both Tchaikovsky’s original as well as Billy Strayhorn and Duke Ellington’s “swinging reimagination”. Tickets range from $134-$279. There will be 2 more performances on Wed, Dec 14 and Sun, Dec 18, but tickets are going fast!

Starting Saturday, Dec 3, let JAPAN HOUSE LA be your shelter from the holiday chaos with its new immersive Soundscapes Series designed to complement current exhibition, LIFE CYCLES: A Bamboo Exploration with Tanabe Chikuunsai IV, while also helping you to relax. The series will start off with a live Shamisen (three-string Japanese instrument) performance on Sat, Dec 3, followed by Shakuhachi (upright bamboo flute) on Sunday, Dec 4. There will be 20 min. sessions at 1 p.m., 2 p.m. and 3 p.m. (JAPAN HOUSE Gallery, Level 2). Stay tuned for Sound Bathing next weekend and more in the weeks to come. And on Monday, Dec 7 at 5 p.m., the bamboo discussion continues with a Bamboo in Japanese Culture & Lifestyle | Limitless Potential of Bamboo webinar. Join World Bamboo Ambassador and President of Japanese bamboo product company Taketora, Yoshihiro Yamagishi, as he talks about the plant’s deep connection with Japanese culture, as well as its lesser-known benefits and uses. And the second best part is that it’s ALL FREE! 

And the Holocaust Museum LA will have an in-person event for a change this week and it’s a good one! This Sunday, Dec 4, join Beth Ricanati, MD from 11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. for a Well-Being Challah Workshop, where you’ll learn how a ritual, like making bread, can help “maximize well-being by reducing stress and reinforce healthy-living behaviors” in this hands-on workshop. All participants will receive a signed copy of Dr. Ricanati’s book, Braided, and a braided challah to take home and bake. Be sure to check out the Museum’s latest exhibits while you’re there, too! Museum Tickets are free all day Thursday and $10-$15 every other day, kids 17 and under are always free. Daily hours are 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. and 10 a.m. – 7 p.m. on Thursdays. 

Inspired by the Ciclovía events that started 45 years ago in Bogotá, Columbia, CicLAvia is back again in South LA, happening this Sunday, December 4 from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. Cruise up and down several miles of open South LA streets without the noise and pollution of cars! This is a free event for humans of all ages and abilities, with only people-powered vehicles allowed (motorized wheelchairs are the exception). Jog, ride, bike, skate, run, walk, dance, skateboard, and show up anywhere along the route at any time. And be sure to use the CicLAvia digital map to plan which Local Gems to check out along the way. Get your CicLAvia merch here. CicLAvia helps communities re-imagine a greener and cleaner Los Angeles, while also promoting equitable transportation options, healthier lifestyles, and closer connections to community. Join the email list for event news and updates.

Treat yourself to a day amongst friends and your TIOH community while taking care of business (i.e. holiday shopping) at the Chanukah Marketplace at Temple Israel Hollywood! Temple Israel’s annual FUNdraiser benefits all three of its schools in a festive, relaxed atmosphere that will take the stress out of shopping, while proudly supporting local artisans and small businesses. There will also be a chance to do some crafting of your own, take in a magic show, eat delicious food, and let loose at a dance party! And if you can’t make it in-person, you can still shop to benefit the schools online. Bonus: You’ll also have the chance to win exceptional, experiential raffle prizes, so get to it! The event will take place on Sunday, December 4 from 9 a.m.–3 p.m.

There’s another local gem (The Ebell) playing hostess this first week of December, and it’s for the annual Ebell Holiday Luncheon and Boutique on Wednesday, December 7. The Signature Holiday Luncheon has unfortunately sold out (insert frowny face), but the Boutique is free and open to all from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., so come on down, over, or up to The Ebell and finish your holiday shopping with more unique finds from a variety of local artisans. Bonus: 20% of proceeds support The Ebell of Los Angeles, whose mission is to participate in and encourage the educational, cultural and social growth of the diverse Los Angeles community.

And I’ll leave you on a sweet note this week, with visions of sugar plums in your head, by ending this section with The Nutcracker Suite. The American Contemporary Ballet returns to the holiday stage with its fantastical version of the tale from author E.T.A. Hoffmann. Experience the seasonal classic on a snow-shrouded stage set within an immersive space on the 28th floor of DTLA’s Two California Plaza! This hour-long feast for the eyes and ears includes live musicians performing Tchaikovsky’s iconic score, plus  artist reception with live music following the show. Performances will continue now through Christmas Eve, The Nutcracker Suite sells out early, so don’t lag! Tickets range from $65 – $140.

 

Community and Local Government 

 

Greater Wilshire Neighborhood CouncilYour local NC, the Greater Wilshire Neighborhood Council has, count’em, 2 virtual gatherings on the books this week, starting with a Resilience Committee meeting on Monday, Dec 5 and ending with a Sustainability Committee meeting in that will highlight the Green New Deal, so come learn more on Tuesday, Dec 6 at 7 p.m. Click here to view the calendar for deets.

And the Mid City West Neighborhood Council has a light post-holiday week with just 2 meetings, starting with the HRRRTs Committee (Homelessness, Refugees, and Renters’ Rights) on Monday, Dec 5, followed by Mid City’s weekly in-person Wednesday Walks on Wednesday, Dec 7. Click here to check MCW’s calendar for details.

 

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Julia Christiansen
Julia Christiansen
Julia is a native Angeleno and jack of all trades, having worked in television, visual effects, professional sports, health and wellness, and custom design. She currently resides in El Segundo.

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