It’s a relatively quiet week as everyone prepares for a slightly different Thanksgiving than we’re used to, but there are still plenty of festivities to get you through the next seven days, including dancing, movies, food, and a 15-mile walk down Wilshire from Downtown all the way to the beach, which I am very excited to participate in myself. I’m also very excited to spend all of the following day horizontal.
Arts & Culture
On Saturday, November 21st, The Ford presents another of its Digital Festivals: Movement / Matters which celebrates Black Street and Club Dance “from the Soul Train line to the Ovahness Ball to Krumping at Black Lives Matter protests.” The day-long celebration of “how L.A. dancers have found connection, care, power, and potential on the dance floor and in the streets” will feature artists and scholars, short films, a virtual market place, and more.
The Architecture and Design Film Festival is happening online now through December 3rd, and features 18 films and Q&As with filmmakers, including Hollywood’s Architect: The Paul R. Williams Story. Williams was the first African-American member of the American Institute of Architects, and designed several iconic buildings in Los Angeles and in the greater Wilshire area. He lived in nearby Lafayette Square. Tickets are $10, or $40 for an all access pass.
If you’re one of the lucky ones not getting ready to brine a turkey for several days and you still want a culinary project, on Sunday, November 22nd at 12:00 p.m., join The Wandering Chew, a Montreal based organization which “preserves and revitalizes Jewish food traditions through immersive culinary experiences” for a Virtual Iranian Jewish Cooking Class with the locally based Tannaz Sassooni. Sassooni will be sharing her family’s recipe for the ultimate Iranian Jewish Shabbat dinner: gondi nokhodchi (chickpea and chicken meatballs). The event is donation-based, with a suggested donation of $18.
History & Community
If you do plan on eating a lot on Thanksgiving, consider joining the The Great Los Angeles Walk on Saturday, November 21st! It turns out people do walk in L.A., and for 15 years running, they have been doing it down different streets in the city. This year the event is socially distanced, not starting at a particular time, all along Wilshire Blvd. from Grand Avenue Downtown all the 15.6 miles down to the Pacific Ocean. I’ll be taking part, and so will my dog Olive if she’s in the mood.
On Sunday, November 22nd at 4:00 p.m., join Big Sunday’s Annual Thanksgiving Stuffing Event online, which will “include loads of Big Sunday Thanksgiving favorites for all ages, including music from Murphy’s Flaw, a turkey or two, and even a lemonade stand.” Big Sunday will be “filling and giving away 2000 bags full of delicious food for hungry and grateful people” and “providing turkey and gravy for an additional 1000 homeless people (including many homeless youth) in the Hollywood area; plus loads of food for other organizations’ Thanksgiving events, too.” Sign up to take part here.
Local Government
The Greater Wilshire Neighborhood Council’s Transportation Committee meets Monday, November 23rd at 7:00 p.m., and the Land Use Committee meets Tuesday, November 24 at 6:30 p.m.
