The Week Ahead – Events for February 26-March 4, 2022

Can you believe it’s almost March already…where does the time go? Spring is just around the corner and so is Mardi Gras! Head over to the Original Farmers Market on Third and Fairfax to get your Mardi Gras on before Lent – if that applies to you – or just for the fun of it. You could also buy tickets for opera at The Ebell, hear an inspiring story of community uplift at Chevalier’s Books, or speak up at a public hearing about the La Brea Tar Pits redesign. Hope you can make it to at least one of these fine options below, but whatever you do, have fun and be safe.

Arts, Culture, and Entertainment

Author, Academy Award-winning director, and former NFL wide receiver Matthew A. Cherry will be at the Academy Museum this Saturday, February 26 for a Book Signing of Hair Love, starting at 12 p.m. Created with NYT’s bestselling illustrator Vashti Harrison, the book was inspired by Cherry’s Academy Award-winning short film by the same name. Early birds can catch a story time and screening before the signing at 10 a.m., during the museum’s Calm Morning program. Each ticket includes a copy of Hair Love, and only one ticket is required per book being signed. Additional guests and children are welcome to join for free. Advanced tickets are required. 

Not far away, the 32nd Annual Mardi Gras celebration at the Original Farmers Market will be going on Saturday and Sunday, February 26-27 and on Fat Tuesday, March 1. Come on down to the Market and treat yourself to the sounds of New Orleans, while you eat beignets and the kids make shakers and crowns. Drink New Orleans’ favorite brew, Abita Beer, at EB’s Beer and Wine, and finish with a bowl of gumbo, some jambalaya, and one or two Po Boys from The Gumbo Pot. I want to go to there.

Also close by, the Petersen Automotive Museum, along with the Ferrari Club of America, will be hosting a Ferrari Tour Day and Evening Reception on Saturday, February 26. Come celebrate the 75th anniversary of everyone’s favorite sports car for a day of all things Ferrari. After the collection tours, enjoy an evening reception and fireside chat about the history and future of this legendary automaker. Tour tickets have unfortunately sold out, but dinner tickets are still available! The cost is $100 per person. Dinner reception starts at 5:45 p.m. 

African Americans for the LA Opera in partnership with the Ebell of Los Angeles presents Black History Recital, featuring Ken Simms (Baritone) on Sunday, February 27 at 12 p.m. Support the arts while you treat yourself to an afternoon delight of opera at The Ebell. The day will also include a light reception following the performance. Advance tickets can be purchased through the Opera League website for $25 or at the door for $35. 

Good news from The Broad! Yayoi Kusama’s immersive installation, Infinity Mirrored Room—The Souls of Millions of Light Years Away (2013) will reopen on Wednesday, March 2, with reservations required in advance. Kusama’s 2017 installation, Longing for Eternity is also on display in the Broad collection. Tickets are released on the last Wednesday of each month. The museum is open Wed-Fri 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. and 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. on the weekends.

Personally, I love this story and it’s being discussed at an in-store book talk at Chevalier’s Books on Wednesday, March 2 at 7 p.m. Pouring With Heart, by Cedd Moses & Erik Cardona, tells the story of Cedd Moses, the giant leap of faith he took by using his life savings to open ten bars in struggling DTLA, and how they helped revitalize the surrounding communities. In this love letter to the bar world, Moses shares the secrets of “what it truly means to be of service”. All profits of this book will go directly to the For Each Other Fund, a charity that supports their bar staff during difficult times. Purchase a signed copy of the book here, and don’t forget to RSVP! 

And even more Museum Row goodness is coming from Craft Contemporary in the form of a Paper Weaving Workshop on Thursday, March 3 from 6-8 p.m. Inspired by one of their current exhibitions, Diedrick Brackens: heaven is a muddy riverbed, students will explore pattern, image, and weaving techniques to create their own paper weavings. This workshop has limited capacity, so be sure to arrive early to secure your spot in the room! Advanced RSVP is required. The cost is free for members and $12 for non-mems; materials, drinks, and snacks are included. 

History and Community

A desperately needed redesign of the La Brea Tar Pits has been proposed (hallelujah!) and the County is preparing an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for this proposed Master Plan. The EIR will provide an assessment of the project’s probable environmental effects pursuant to State of California requirements under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). The County is hosting virtual public scoping meetings to provide information on the EIR process and to invite public comments. There will be two sessions available on Wednesday, March 2 at 2:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. To register and for more information, visit: tarpits.org/reimagine.

And the Mid City West Neighborhood Council Public Safety and Well-Being Committee is happy to announce that its Wednesday Walks are back in business at a new location at the corner of Beverly Blvd. and Gardner St., near Pan Pacific Park. These community walks were started so neighbors could come together and discuss issues of common concern related to public safety and crime, and so residents could enjoy an evening walk in the safety of a group. It also gives community members the chance to engage with their neighborhood council and other city agency reps. Meet up time is at 6:30 p.m.

Local Government

The Mid City West Neighborhood Council will start things off on Monday, February 28 with the Arts and Recreation Committee at 6 p.m. Meetings will continue throughout the week for the Executive Council, Social and Racial Equity Committee, and the Planning and Land Use Committee. Click here to view the calendar.
Finally, the Greater Wilshire Neighborhood Council’s Resilience Committee will have its meeting on Tuesday, March 2 from 7-8:30 p.m. Click here for details and supporting documents.