For those of you who err on the side of caution, we’ve got plenty of outdoor events this week, with space in spades for social distancing, and venues that require proof of vaccination or testing. It’s time to wake up the old tired routine with live music, dance and comedy! Bonus: there will be a free vaccination clinic next weekend at Hollywood United Methodist Church.
Arts & Culture
Okay, so it’s a tad last minute, but you still have a chance to catch punked-up Mexican folk music and country-Latin rock ‘n’ roll by Los Lobos and The Mavericks, at the Greek Theater, Saturday, August 21. Presented by Bobby Dee, Snoop Dogg, and Goldenvoice, the night will also feature Ozomatli, Trish Toledo, Thee Lakesiders, and Thee Sinseers. Tickets are (surprisingly) still available, but get ’em while they’re hot. Doors open at 5 p.m.; must show proof of full vaccination or negative test results taken within 72 hrs.
Next up, Grand Performances will present Soulection, a showcase of DJs, artists and special guests, on Saturday, August 21 from 2-9 p.m. Soulection began as an independent radio show in 2011 and has expanded over 10 years into a musical movement by staying “true to their roots in the constantly evolving digital age of music.” This is a free, outdoor event at California Plaza (350 S. Grand Ave.) in DTLA. Click here to RSVP.
And there always seems to be plenty of entertainment to go around at Dynasty Typewriter, from comedy shows to its weekly variety show, with something on the calendar almost every night. This week’s lineup will feature comedians Pete Holmes and Kurt Braunholer, and comedian/musician Reggie Watts. Guests must show proof of full vaccination or negative test results taken within 48 hrs. Parking can be tricky, so taking an Uber/Lyft (or, dare I say, cab?) is highly recommended. Dynasty Typewriter is located at the historic Hayworth Theater on Wilshire Blvd., with tickets for most shows set around $20.
Arts and culture keeps on going with a virtual event presented by Chevalier’s Books and the USC Shoah Foundation, this Tuesday, August 24 from 7-8 p.m. Rachael Cerrotti discusses her book We Share the Same Sky, in conversation with Lisa Hofheimer. Rachael Cerrotti was just a college student when she asked her grandmother, a Holocaust survivor, if she could record her story. When her grandmother Hana passed away the next year, the author came across a treasure trove of artifacts from her life, including photos, letters, immigration papers, and creative writings. This memoir intertwines Hana’s story of survival with the author’s own journey of discovery, as she was able to track down the descendants of the people who helped save her grandmother’s life. Please RSVP to join the discussion.
And on Thursday, August 26, enjoy an in-person event at Chevalier’s from 7-8 p.m. as Erwin Chemerinsky discusses his non-fiction book Presumed Guilty, which “presents a groundbreaking, decades-long history of judicial failure in America, revealing how the Supreme Court has enabled racist practices, including profiling and intimidation.” There will also be commentary from Laurie Levinson. Please RSVP to join in-store. Erwin Chemerinsky is an accomplished author and the dean of UC Berkeley’s School of Law.
And last but not least in this category, the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts has you covered with a unique blend of music this week. First, on Wednesday, August 25 at 8 p.m., four talented, accomplished, musically and culturally diverse musicians come together to form Quattrosound. Capable of playing across many genres, their music is a blend of jazz, rock and classical. Tickets are $40. Then we move on to the festive sounds of Mariachi, Thursday and Friday, August 26-27 at 8 p.m. Led by founder and director Carlos Samaniego, Mariachi Arcoiris de Los Angeles is the world’s first LGBTQ+ mariachi band. Tickets are $30. All performances will take place on The Wallis’ pop-up outdoor stage, which has space for 100 socially-distanced patrons. For more information about the theater’s safety protocols, click here.
Food & Fun
And since I haven’t mentioned sports in a while…the Dodgers have three games and two special promotions this week, starting with two games vs. the New York Mets, Saturday and Sunday, August 21-22, and then the Colorado Rockies on Friday, August 27, with fireworks to follow Friday night’s game. As for the special promotions, Black Heritage Day is on Saturday and Lakers Day on Sunday, but you’ll need special tickets to get the special loot.
Also on Sunday, August 22, from 1-4 p.m., you could check out the new “Bites at Beverly” event, a new pop-up food series taking place every other Sunday from this week through October at the Grand Court (Level 6) of the Beverly Center. It features “tasty bites from some of LA’s top indie makers and chefs, plus live music, crafts, retailer and restaurants specials and more.” This week’s lineup includes “gluten bakery darling Sweel Laurel, small-batch ice cream maker Creme Fatale, plant based cheese company Misha’s Kind Foods, Sichuan chili crisp favorite Fly by Jing and family owned Tia Lupita Foods, specializing in small batch hot sauce and cactus tortilla.”
Next, head downtown to further engage with other humans at Fourth Fridays at The Broad, August 27 from 5-8 p.m. on the museum’s East West Bank Plaza. Enjoy DJs, dancers, artwork, and food (at neighboring contemporary American restaurant, Otium). This is a free outdoor/indoor event, but visitors must reserve tickets to enter the museum during extended hours, which are released the Friday before each event at noon. On view in the galleries will be the Invisible Sun exhibit, plus “in-depth installations” of works by Jean Michel Basquiat, Roy Lichtenstein, Kara Walker, and Andy Warhol. The entertainment will include Parallel Attractions, Rostam (one of the founding members of Vampire Weekend), and Norbert De La Cruz III, who will be performing periodically on the first floor of the El Anatsui and Alexander Calder gallery.
Health & Wellness
Etherica returns to Pan Pacific Park with two new dates and themes starting Sunday, August 22, from 7:45 – 9:15 p.m., with Full Moon in Aquarius: Activate Your Unique Blueprint. This spiritual sound healing experience will include a light body warm up, breathwork, guided meditation, and sound bath. The event will take place outside in the amphitheater, so be sure to bring a yoga mat and warm blanket. There is plenty of room for social distancing, but please bring a mask for arrival and check-in. And if you can’t make it this time, Etherica will be back next Sunday, August 29, and is also available online. Tickets start at $15.
A bit closer to home, The Center for Yoga re-opens at 230 1/2 N. Larchmont Blvd. on Tuesday, August 24, thanks to the efforts of a team of dedicated students, staff, neighbors, and investors who were determined to bring the beloved business back after it closed last year. To celebrate, the studio will offer “a full day of free classes beginning with an all-levels class at 11 a.m., taught by a group of the world’s most respected teachers: Jeanne Heileman, Joe Kara, Patti Lewis, Andrea Marcum, and Lisa Walford.”
And just a heads up for next weekend…Hollywood United Methodist Church will be hosting a free vaccination clinic, Ring for the Vaccine, Sunday, August 29 from 12-5 p.m. As the event’s name suggests, the church’s historic tower bell will ring every time someone gets their shot, with the goal to get at least 100 people vaccinated. LA City Councilmember Nithya Raman and the church’s Associate Pastor Birdie Roberts will be there to get things started. So if you haven’t already been vaccinated, get on over to Hollywood United next Sunday and let the bell tower ring! (And if you need a bit more encouragement, check out this video message from actress and church member Pauley Perrette, who sadly lost her father to COVID-19 earlier this year.)
History & Community
For this week’s combined history and music lesson, experience “an interactive evening of music, storytelling and song” with Hershey Felder’s Great American Songs, Sunday, August 22 at 5 p.m. This virtual event presented by The Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts will be streaming live from Teatro Verde in Florence, Italy! Out of 100 songs chosen from public submissions, 20 will be picked at random to be performed and broadcast live, with Felder teaching the history behind each song, composer and lyricist. Tickets are $55 per household and include extended access to the live recording through Sunday, August 29.
Local Government
The Greater Wilshire Neighborhood Council is back at it with two midweek meetings. On Tuesday, August 24, the Land Use Committee will meet via Zoom from 6:30-9 p.m. Click here for details and supporting documents. Meetings are held every fourth Tuesday of the month. The GWNC continues on Wednesday, August 25, with the Quality of Life Committee meeting from 7-8:30 p.m. Click here for details. This committee meets every three months on the fourth Wednesday.
Then we’ve got the Mid City West Neighborhood Council with two more virtual meetups this week. First up is the monthly Economic Development Committee meeting, Wednesday, August 25 from 7-10 p.m. Click here for details. And the Executive Council meeting on Thursday, August 26 from 7-9 p.m., will wrap up this week in local politics. Click here for details and meeting agenda.
