Lots of events to get in the holiday spirit this week! From virtual performances to drive-in movies and experiences, shopping, and even beer, there’s something for everyone. There are also a few events that celebrate local history and might give you some more gift ideas for anyone in the neighborhood you’ve been struggling to shop for.
Arts & Culture
In the 1980s, the William Grant Still Arts Center started its Black Doll Show to “honor the diversity and uniqueness of the Black community, through an exhibition of historic, artistic, and commercial black dolls.” For the 40th Annual Black Doll Show, organizers are going all out: on Saturday, December 12 at 4:00 p.m. join them for their opening reception “All Dolled Up: A 40 Year Celebration of the William Grant Still Arts Center’s Annual Black Doll Show.”
For those of you who mainly miss going to museums for the museum gift shops, there is good news! The Shop at The Broad, MOCA Store, The Library Store, and LA Phil Store online, have come together for Gifts on Grand on Saturday, December 12th & Sunday, December 13th. You can buy your holiday gifts (for friends, family, or yourself), online and then pick them up in person from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.. Plus, if you spend $50 at each store, you get a free mug.
Some other local Downtown institutions in a different category have also joined up: Angel City, Arts District, Boomtown, Dry River Brewing, Flying Embers, HiDef, Highland Park Brewery, Indie Brewing Company and Mumford invite you to take part in a Holiday Beer Hop on Saturday, December 12th from 12:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Each brewery is offering specials from pick up windows, so you can stock up on beer and enjoy safely from home.
While you’re drinking your local craft beer, you can enjoy the Gay Men’s Chorus of Los Angeles’ Virtual Holiday Concert. It’s free, and features “brand-new performances from the Chorus created just for this event, plus the best from past Holiday Spectaculars, and lots more!”
All of the drive-in movie theaters around the city have also gotten in the holiday spirit: The Odd Market’s Downtown Drive-In & Night Market is playing Scrooged on Saturday, December 12th at 7:00 p.m. and Santa’s Cinema at The Grove’s Level 8 presents How the Grinch Stole Christmas on Monday, December 14th at 5:30 p.m.
More drive-in holiday experiences to take part in include Holiday Road at King Gillette Ranch in the Santa Monica Mountains, Christmas Tree Lane in Altadena, and Hikari a Festival of Lights at Tanaka Farms. There’s also a drive-through Hanukkah celebration, LIT, at Stephen Wise Temple open through December 20th.
Community & History
The Children’s Institute’s Annual Cape & Gown Gala is Saturday, December 12th at 5:30 p.m. The event will be emceed by Emmy Award-winning TV host and author Loni Love, and the keynote will be by Pulitzer-Prize winning journalist Wesley Lowery. There will also be special messages by Billie Eilish and Rob Reiner, and more! The Children’s Institute provides “early education, behavioral health and family strengthening services, CI reaches 30,000 children and families annually in communities where support is needed the most,” and “is the largest agency of its kind working to transform the lives of children exposed to adversity and poverty in Los Angeles.”
On Tuesday, December 15th at 12:00 p.m., join the Los Angeles Conservancy for People + Places: L.A.’s “Pop Art Nun” and Her Endangered Studio, a Zoom discussion of “the story about Sister Mary Corita and her fascinating role in L.A., and learn more about why her former studio is now threatened with demolition.”
Another discussion of local history happening this week is a virtual tour of Catalina Island on Saturday, December 12t at 10:30 a.m.. Danny Jensen, the author of “Secret Los Angeles: A Guide to the Weird, Wonderful, and Obscure,” and Gail Fornasiere of the Catalina Island Museum” will teach you about the islands’ “free-roaming bison, Hollywood connections, and other fascinating tidbits of history, plus get tips on the best things to do when you’re able to visit in the future.”
For something even closer to home, catch former Larchmont Chronicle publisher and Windsor Square-Hancock Park Historical Society co-founder Jane Gilman discuss her book Inside Hancock Park, about the history of the neighborhood. (Hint: it would make an incredible gift for any resident or fan of the area.) Books purchased through the Historical Society will be sourced from Larchmont’s own Chevalier’s Books and autographed by the author herself!
Local Government
The Wilshire Center Koreatown Neighborhood Council’s December Board Meeting will be on Monday, December 14th at 6:30 p.m., Rules & Bylaws Committee Meeting on Tuesday, December 15th at 6:30 p.m., Sustainability & Beautification Committee Meeting on Wednesday, December 16th at 6:30 p.m., and Homelessness, Tenant Rights & Poverty Committee Meeting on Thursday, December 17th at 6:30 p.m.
The Hollywood Studio District Neighborhood Council’s December Board Meeting will also be on Monday, December 14th at 6:30 p.m..
