Gobble, Gobble, said the turkey, and a Happy Thanksgiving to you from me! I’m definitely starting to get the holiday feels and there’s nothing more “holiday” than traditions, so why not start a new one this year by participating and or attending one of the unique events in this here list. You’ve got a charity Turkey Trot and The Great Los Angeles Walk to get your pre-holiday calorie burn on, a festival dedicated to bread (and what a worthy food item it is), artisanal fairs for unique holiday gifts, an ice skating rink opening in DTLA, the Grove’s big holiday season kick-off event…and more. Plus some other really cool non-holiday happenings to fill your social calendar with. And even if you decide not to leave the nest, people who see your calendar will at least think you have a life. Hey, it works for me!
Arts, Culture, Shopping, and Bread
The 17th edition of The Great Los Angeles Walk has arrived my fellow walkers! After last year’s event retraced the steps of LA’s first settlers (Los Pobladores) from San Gabriel Mission to downtown, the 2022 edition is returning to its traditional hike to the ocean on Saturday, November 19. Starting at the Exposition Park Rose Garden at 9 a.m., The Walk will proceed through the historic West Adams area, continue to Culver City, and then all the way to Venice Beach, passing countless architectural treasures and historic buildings along the way. As always, the walk is completely free, and up to the participants to decide how much or how little of the walk they want to do. To sign up, just email the organizers at [email protected] or check out their Facebook page for more info.
If loving carbohydrates is wrong then I don’t want to be right! An entire festival dedicated to bread. Have I died and gone to heaven? Yes, please! As my previous statements enthusiastically imply, I love bread, but there’s so much more to this fluffy, crunchy, flaky, sweet, food item than meets the eye. And you will learn all about it at The Natural History Museum’s Kneaded Bread Fest this Saturday, November 19 from 9:30 a.m. – 3 p.m. Celebrate the science and culture of bread in L.A. with the featured bakers of Kneaded: L.A. Bread Stories, who will be selling and sharing the same cultural breads they make in their bakeries, cafes, food trucks and homes. Enjoy performances and presentations, hands-on activities, a pop-up bread-themed exhibition, storytime, an up-close look at Museum collections, wheat planting lessons, and so much more. Free with paid admission to the museum.
For nearly 130 years, the tale of The Nutcracker has been enchanting kids and grownups all over the world, and now your family can experience this timeless holiday story in a whole new way. The Immersive Nutcracker: A Winter Miracle is the newest production from the peeps that brought you Immersive Van Gogh earlier this year, and it opens this Saturday, November 19. Enjoy Tchaikovsky’s magical score as you become immersed in giant projections of sugar plum fairies and toy soldiers. So come and treat yourself and the family to an enchanted day (or evening) of holiday joy, and maybe even get that perfect holiday card pic with a life-sized nutcracker. Wonderful! Magical! Enchanting…they’ll say! Tickets range from $27-$45 and, bonus, all tix include a small gift. Daily hours vary. Immersive Nutcracker is located at the Lighthouse Artspace Los Angeles in the former Amoeba Music building on Sunset and Cahuenga,.
Haven’t started your Christmas/Hanukkah/Kwanzaa shopping yet? Me neither, so I thought I’d share a cool event happening this weekend, Sat and Sun, November 19-20, where you might come up on some unique gifts for the people in your life who have everything, and those who have nothing. In other words, find something for everybody at the Jackalope Indie Artisan Fair – Where Local Culture Meets Craft, taking place at Central Park in Pasadena. Make your way over to the not-so-distant San Gabriel Valley for this unique, curated shopping experience, featuring the “top trendsetting makers and designers” of local goods sure to be worth the trip. Come support local artisans and get some cool gifts while you’re at it. Admission is free with more than 150 local artisans to browse. The fair is open from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
And even more one-of-a-kind handmade items are yours to discover this weekend at the Renegade Craft Fair happening in LA’s State Historic Park, Sat and Sun, November 19-20. “Shop Small, Do Good,” they say, and with more than 275 curated artists to choose from, you’re bound to find something for someone at Renegade Los Angeles. Support local and national small businesses while enjoying an early winter weekend in the park shopping for creative goods and handmade gifts, and getting an early start on your list! Just remember, it’s not about how much you spend that makes a gift special, it’s the thought you put into it. P.S. Renegade is made up of a thoughtful group of artists and doers that are inspired to build, cultivate, and foster creative communities. I love that, don’t you?
Also, the new Tesla exhibit opens at the Petersen Automotive Museum this week, with an opening night party and all on Saturday, November 19 from 6:30-10 p.m. Join your fellow car enthusiasts for an “electrifying evening” in celebration of Inside Tesla: Supercharging the Electric Revolution, which traces the company’s story “from fledgling startup to EV juggernaut, and explores the range of its products, the breadth of its manufacturing capabilities, and its irrefutable impact on the modern transportation landscape.” VIP Tickets are sold out, but general tickets ($100) are still available, and include food and drinks, access to the exhibition, limited-edition lanyard, complimentary gift, and parking. Petersen members receive 25% off general tickets. This showcase of “the most comprehensive collection of Tesla vehicles ever curated” will be on display through October 22, 2023. Please note that the evening’s dress code is business casual.
Next up for holiday cheer, The Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony at The Grove and the taping of CBS’s 24th annual event, hosted this year by Gloria Estefan, has arrived! Head toward 3rd and Fairfax on Sunday, November 20 from 7-9 p.m. as the venue officially kicks off the holiday season with “A Home For The Holidays. This year’s event will celebrate families whose lives have been changed through adoption. The magical evening will feature special performances by Andy Grammer, Little Big Town, Mickey Guyton, and David Foster and Kat McPhee. Delight in the lighting of the Christmas tree, the season’s first snowfall, a fireworks spectacular, Santa’s grand arrival and recognition of 20 years of The Grove in Los Angeles. The special, also featuring uplifting stories of adoption from foster care, will be broadcast Friday, Dec. 23 on CBS Television Network and Paramount+. This event is complimentary and open to the public. (Also, we’ll say it again, just to so you’re fully aware – the celebration includes a major fireworks exhibition, which will be loud and can usually be heard for several miles throughout the surrounding neighborhoods. Definitely time to pull out your pets’ comfort garments, if they’re sensitive to such things!)
Next, and much less noisy, you can join the Ebell LA for another one of its splendid Speaker Series on Monday, November 21, with the 94-years-young Hollywood Legend Nancy Olson Livingston as the guest of honor. Enjoy a late morning coffee as Ms. Livingston discusses her memoir, A Front Row Seat, with historian and columnist for The Los Angeles Times, Patt Morrison. Hear exciting tales of Livingston’s life in Hollywood, beginning with her Oscar-nominated breakout role in Sunset Boulevard and continuing through her interactions with Judy Garland, Frank Sinatra, and The Beatles. Livingston will also reflect on her marriages to Alan Jay Lerner (the creator of My Fair Lady, which he dedicated to her) and Alan Livingston (former president of Capitol Records). Come for the coffee and pastries, and stay for the gossip! The cost is $25 per person; RSVP here.
For those of you who aren’t in the know, Tuesday, November 22 is Korea Kimchi Day, and as such, it’s also time for the I Love Kimchi Festival presented by the friendly folks at the Anderson Munger Family YMCA. Kimchi forms an essential part of Korean meals, transcending class and regional differences, so in honor of this especially delicious day the community has been invited to come participate in Kimchi making, also known as Kimjang, at the Anderson Munger YMCA on 3rd St. Celebrate Korean food, culture, and people, while you learn how to make Kimchi that you also get to take home to impress your family, roommates, or cat with. Fun Fact: Kimjang (or Gimjang (김장)) is also said to be an important reminder for many Koreans that human communities need to live in harmony with nature, as preparation follows a yearly cycle. This free event will take place from 2-5 p.m. Reserve your spot here.
And, finally, I’ll leave you all with this good news: winter is coming to DTLA’s Pershing Square in the form of its annual Ice Skating Rink, giving us a fresh and very on point way to enjoy the outdoors and get a little exercise. Opening Wednesday, November 23 at 532 South Olive Street, there will be a short but sweet Opening Celebration from 11 a.m. – 12 p.m., so stop by for the special performances and entertainment, while you get your skate on. Open daily from November 23-January 1. Hours and times vary by day. Skating sessions last 60 minutes. General Admission: $20 (includes skate rental). Locker Rental: $5. Skate Helpers: $6 – Penguin & Polar Bear Helpers are available for the kiddos that glide along the ice and help with balance and control. The rink is also available to rent out for private parties.
Community and Local Government
Start a new tradition this year and trot before you gobble! Join thousands of other generous humans at the 10th Annual Turkey Trot Los Angeles – Midnight Mission Fundraiser on Thanksgiving morning, Thursday, November 24, as you collectively enjoy the historic route along Spring Street. All ages are welcome! Participate in the 5k (8 a.m.), 10k (9 a.m.), or a .5 mile Widdle Wobble (10:15 a.m.) for kids 12 and under. Everyone gets a race shirt, sparkly finisher medal, bib, and goodies from the rockin’ expo. Packet pick up opens at 6:30 a.m., on 1st St. between Spring and Main, and early arrival is highly recommended. Check the website for parking info. All races start and finish in front of City Hall at 200 N. Spring St. Proceeds benefit Midnight Mission; a non-profit that offers a path to self-sufficiency to those experiencing homelessness.
Your local NC, the Greater Wilshire Neighborhood Council has just one gathering this week and it’s a Land Use Committee meeting on Tuesday, November 22 at 6:30 p.m. Click here to view the calendar for deets.
And the Mid City West Neighborhood Council has a pretty light week due to the Thanksgiving holiday, of course, and will start on Monday, November 21 with a Planning and Land Use Committee meeting, followed by the Social and Racial Equity Committee on Tuesday, November 22. And weekly in-person Wednesday Walks will continue on Wednesday, November 23. Click here to check MCW’s calendar for details.
