It. Has. Arrived. Super Bowl LVI is in Los Angeles and we’ve got plenty of local events for you to choose from, including Valentine’s Day stuff and alternate things to do if either one just ain’t your thang. There’s also a big election coming up in November, when Angelenos elect a new mayor, so you can also head over to The Ebell this coming Tuesday and meet one of the frontrunners in person. You’ll also get a chance to ask the hard questions, so it’s an event not to be missed!
[Please note: most venues and events require masks, proof of full vaccination or negative test results, and some may soon require proof of a booster shot as well. Also, as the pandemic continues, it’s still possible some in-person events may be canceled or rescheduled.]
Arts, Culture, and Entertainment
Start your Super Bowl LVI weekend off right by attending the last day of the Super Bowl Experience event at the LA Convention Center on Saturday February 12. This interactive football theme park gives fans the opportunity to get autographs from current NFL players and Legends, participate in games and youth football clinics, and shop merchandise from the NFL Shop. Take photos with the Vince Lombardi Trophy, go head to head against NFL players in a 40-yard dash and vertical jump on LED screens, and check out all 55 Super Bowl rings on display. Tickets start at $20 for adults; kids 12 and under are free (bonus: if you take the Metro you’ll get a 50% discount). Hours are 10 a.m. – 10 p.m. Timed-entry tickets and the NFL OnePass app are required for entry.
The Craft Contemporary has two workshops going on this weekend, starting with the Dolly Parton Felt Applique Workshop with Billy Kheel on Saturday, February 12 from 1-4 p.m. Create your very own felt image of American icon and country queen Dolly Parton while you learn basic applique techniques, such as pattern-making, hand sewing, and gluing. Frame it, stitch it onto a jacket, or turn it into a pillow – the possibilities are endless! Workshop fee includes materials, sewing kit, and laser cut felt pattern. The cost is $80 for non-members and $75 for members. Space is limited; advanced registration is required.
For another pre-Valentine’s event on Saturday, February 12, from 12-5 p.m., you’re also invited to a “Galentine’s Day” “Baubles, Bubbles and Broads,” hangout at Floret Floral, 654 N. Larchmont Blvd. Stop by to make bouquets with your gal pals while sipping rosé and shopping gifts from your favorite local artisans.
Next up, you can also bring the fam over to the Craft Contemporary before you fire up the BBQ on Sunday, February 13, for Craft Lab A Family Workshop: Weaving Wonders. Join artist Josh Cloud for a weaving workshop inspired by the exhibition, Diedrick Brackens: heaven is a muddy riverbed. And don’t forget to check out the gallery during this workshop and learn how Brackens uses cotton yarn to create woven tapestries that tell stories and connect to ancestral memories. Advanced RSVP is required. Capacity is limited, so be sure to arrive early to secure a spot. The cost is $10 for adults, $7 for kids, and free for members. Payment is due upon arrival. The class is from 1:30 – 3:30 p.m., so you’ll still have time to get home before you miss any Super Bowl action.
If you don’t have tickets to the game, which only the lucky few do, head over to the OG LA Rams headquarters and historic Irish pub, Tom Bergin’s, for a Super Bowl Party this Sunday, February 13. According to the hosts, the food and drinks are far superior to what you’ll get at the stadium, and the bar and kitchen will be open late. There’ll be drink specials, ribs and wing specials, and multiple big screen TVs indoors and out, on a large tented patio. Come support your team and local public house at the same time. Kick off is at 3:30 p.m., but doors open at 1 p.m.
And yet another option for Bowl viewing, the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel will be hosting its own Super Bowl LVI Party at the Tropicana Pool on Sunday, February 13 from 12-9 p.m. Watch the big game on a 16ft LED screen while you savor a full poolside menu and specialty cocktails. Pre-game entertainment will be provided by alcohol and DJ Justin Credible. There is no cover charge for general admission, but there will be a $30 food and beverage minimum per person. Bottle service packages are also available. Bonus: the first 50 attendees will receive a swag bag! Reservations required.
Next, let Chanteuse Morganne Picard get you in a romantic mood with sexy crooners, classics, hip jazz, eclectic cabaret and smoky lounge music on the one day of the year that requires a bit of romance, Valentine’s Day! Spend time being lovey dovey with your significant other, or a handsome stranger you just met (come on, don’t be such a prude), in The Lobby at The Hollywood Roosevelt on Monday, February 14 from 7:30-10:30 p.m. Entry into the hotel is free, but a $30 drink minimum per person is required, along with an “entertainment charge” of $10 for each non-hotel guest seated in The Lobby. Bonus: the hotel’s new Italian Steakhouse, The Barish, will be serving a special Valentine’s Day dinner menu from 5-9 p.m. (click here to make reservations). Menu favorites and cocktails will also be available to order at The Lobby.
And whoever came up with the notion that the way to a man’s (and my woman’s) heart is through their stomach was on to something. The Cat and Fiddle Restaurant & Pub, on Highland in Hollywood, will be offering up a delectable Valentine’s Day Pre-Fixe Menu on Monday, February 14 from noon-9 p.m. Start with the Tomato Basil Bisque and enjoy mains like the popular Beef Wellington, or items newer to the menu, such as Lemon Ginger Salmon with Sweet Onion Broth, Fingerling Potatoes, Cherry Tomatoes & Pea Tendrils. Finish by feeding each other, or yourself, Chocolate Strawberry Terrine. The menu is available for dine in, requiring a reservation, or pick up (pre-order online by Sunday, February 13 to guarantee availability).
ROW DTLA will also be jumping in on the V-Day game with Valentine’s Day at Still Life Ceramics, happening Saturday, February 12 – Monday, February 14 from 5-7:30 p.m. Join Still Life Ceramics for a one-hour wheel throwing class and learn how to make a heart-shaped bowl. This is a great way to try out pottery without committing to a full course, or as a fun activity to share with a friend. The folks at Still Life will even finish and glaze your bowl and have it ready for pick up three weeks later. All tools and materials are included, and feel free to BYOB! The cost is $60 per person. Beginners are welcome!
Lastly for A, C and E, the California Science Center will proudly present the world premiere of Angkor: The Lost Empire of Cambodia, an international touring exhibition featuring over 120 ancient artifacts, on Wednesday, February 16. “Journey back 900 years to discover engineering and cultural marvels and daily life in the Khmer empire. Use the tools of science to explore the rise, fall, and enduring legacy of what was once the most extensive metropolis in the world.” Visit the exhibition and see the immersive, visually stunning IMAX movie Angkor 3D. Don’t miss this opportunity to witness one of the archeological wonders of the world on a 7-story screen! The museum is open daily from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Advanced tickets are required.
History and Community
This November, Angelenos will elect a new Mayor, and the Los Angeles World Affairs Council and Town Hall, in partnership with The Ebell of Los Angeles, is giving you a chance to meet the key frontrunner candidates. The first in a series of live, in-person events will begin on Tuesday, February 15 at 6:30 p.m., with the Mayoral Series Part 1: Meet Joe Buscaino. Make an informed decision by actually speaking with the candidates face to face. After all, the winner will become the leader of the second largest city in the country, with nearly four million residents from 140 countries, speaking 86 different languages. It’s a big job, and an election not to be taken lightly!
Also getting up close and personal with a local representative, the Windsor Square Association will host an online meet-and-greet event with City Councilmember Mitch O’Farrell on Tuesday, February 15, at 7 p.m.. It’s free and open to everyone (even if you don’t live in Windsor Square), but please RSVP here to get the Zoom link.
Local Government
My main squeeze, the Greater Wilshire Neighborhood Council, will have just one virtual gathering this week for the Outreach Committee on Tuesday, February 15 at 7:30 p.m. Click here for details and supporting documents.
And, finally, the Mid City West Neighborhood Council will wrap up this week’s events with four meetings on the books. First up is the Public Safety and Well-Being Committee on Tuesday, February 15, followed by the Transportation and Sustainability Committee on Wednesday, February 16, and on Thursday, February 17, both the Outreach and Civic Engagement Committee and HRRRTs (Homelessness, Refugees, and Renters’ Rights) Committee will meet as well. Click here to view Mid City’s calendar.
