This week is all about history, community, and the expansion of knowledge through art, cinema, service, science, and conversation. There are also a few ‘heads-up’ items mixed in for events taking place next Saturday, which I thought deserved the extra time, including the Homecoming Concert and Gala at the Walt Disney Concert Hall. So check out the brain feed below and tune in next week when there should be a little more live action to look forward to.
Arts & Culture
Head over to Craft Contemporary this Saturday, October 2 for a preview of the fall exhibitions, from 1-5 p.m., before the museum officially opens on Sunday, Oct. 3. The artists will also be on-site Saturday, so take advantage of the opportunity to learn more about their process and the artworks they’ve created. The exhibits on display will include Witch Craft: Rethinking Power, Pouya Afshar: The Charm of the Unfamiliar, and Consuelo Flores: The Roots of Our Resistance, Altar. The museum is open Wednesday-Sunday, 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. Click here for ticket information and safety protocols.
Next up, Chevalier’s Books will present two online events this week. The first will be a discussion about Resistance: How Women Saved Democracy from Donald Trump by Jennifer Rubin, in conversation with journalist and podcast host Warren Olney, on Wednesday, October 6 at 6 p.m. “In a compelling narrative, bookended by Donald Trump’s 2016 victory and his 2020 defeat, Rubin delivers an absorbing analysis of the women’s counter-Trump revolution.” Buy a copy of the book here; please RSVP. Next, on Thursday, October 7 at 6 p.m., author and social worker Bela Koe-Krompecher will talk about his book Love, Death and Photosynthesis. Check the Chevalier’s website for more details to come.
So here’s our first heads-up for next Saturday, as promised, and just because I really want you to get tickets and I’m guessing these will sell out quick: The Homecoming Concert and Gala at the Walt Disney Concert Hall, on Saturday, October 9 at 7 p.m., will mark the glorious return of Gustavo Dudamel and the LA Phil after 579 days, with special guests Cynthia Erivo and Seong-Jin Cho. Purchase VIP packages and tickets here. Masks and proof of full vaccination will be required.
And another exciting opening that just happened yesterday: the Academy Museum has five galleries worth of exciting exhibitions, including an immersive Oscars experience in the East West Bank Gallery. Hear your name called and take to the stageto to accept your award and receive a video capturing your special moment – so cool! Then you’ve got another 300,000ish square feet of exhibits and theaters to explore, featuring the Stories of Cinema, Backdrop: An Invisible Art, A retrospective of legendary filmmaker Hayoa Miyazaki, and in the Special Collections Gallery – The Path to Cinema: Highlights from the Richard Balzer Collection. In addition, there will be movie screenings almost every day of the week, including family matinees. Click here for the full calendar of programs and screenings. Reserved time tickets are required; become a member here…and don’t forget to download the app.
History & Community
The Holocaust Museum LA has several free virtual offerings this week, starting with Jewish Writing During the Holocaust on Tuesday, October 5 at 2 p.m. In 2020, the Posen Library of Jewish Culture and Civilization published Volume 9 of its anthology of Jewish writing, titled Catastrophe and Rebirth: 1939-1973. This volume “explores Jewish perceptions and how Jewish people around the world redefined themselves during the subsequent Jewish diaspora” (register here). Then, on Thursday, October 7 at 11 a.m., tune in to online speaker series Survivor Talk. This week, 93-year-old Ben Lesser will tell his incredible story of survival and resilience as a prisoner at Auschwitz and Buchenwald, and his life after liberation (register here). Next, we shift to a modern day crisis with another compelling series, Building Bridges, with this week’s discussion, The Afghan Refugee Crisis, Thursday, October 7 at 4 p.m. The webinar will feature representatives from No One Left Behind, HIAS, and the Jewish Family Service of San Diego (register here).
On Wednesday, October 6, join the Greater Miracle Mile Chamber of Commerce for a Blood Drive hosted by Rockhill Management at 5900 Wilshire Boulevard (one of the many properties the company manages throughout the country). There is always a need for blood and platelet donations, but right now the need is greater than ever, so do your good deed for the week, month, or year (nobody’s judging) and donate this Wednesday. The drive will be open from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. and walk-ups are welcome, but appointments are encouraged; a photo ID will be required. To register, scan the QR code to the left, or sign up through RedCrossBlood.org and enter sponsor code 5900Wilshire. Click here for more information.
And here’s our second heads-up of the week, and yet another chance to be a do-gooder, for The Tom LaBonge Day of Service, which will also be taking place next week on Saturday, October 9. Unfortunately, this beloved LA native and former Councilmember (also known as ‘Mr. LA’) passed away earlier this year, so in honor of his service to this great city and his October 6 birthday, the City of Los Angeles will be hosting five simultaneous community cleanups around town. Please visit bit.ly/LaBonge for more information and to sign up for one of the events.
Next, we move to the third and final heads-up for next Saturday: “Girls with dreams become women with vision” is the mantra for the 7th annual I Matter: Girls Empowerment Conference presented by the Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation. Join in person from Loma Alta Park, Earvin “Magic” Johnson Park, or the Hacienda Heights Community Center, Saturday, October 9 from 10 a.m – 3 p.m., where girls ages 12-18 will have an opportunity to connect with their peers and speakers to feel connected, inspired, and empowered. This free event will have live music and interactive workshops, including Women in Tech, Girls and Women with Vision: Making Your Career Dreams Come True, Pathways to College, and Sports and Dance. More than 1,200 girls participated last year, but space is limited, so register today and secure your spot!
Kids & Family
Jazz at LACMA is sold out this week, but there’s still a slew of offerings on the calendar from this favorite LA institution. They’ve got workshops, art classes, and talks to feed your brain, including an online family art class on Friday, October 8 from 6-8 p.m. Tune in to artist Peggy Hasegawa as she teaches you and the fam how to use fabric scraps, simple stitching techniques, and a few embellishments to make a small textile or a patch to embellish clothing, a tote bag, or whatever your creative hearts desire. The class is designed for kids 8 yrs and older; the cost is $15 for NexGenLA Members and $18 (per household) for non-members. Pre-registration is required for all classes.
And in the spirit of the upcoming Halloween holiday, which celebrates all things creepy and crawly, I thought I’d give a shout out to the Natural History Museum’s Spider Pavilion, which opened on September 26 and runs through Dec. 5. This unique seasonal open air pavilion gives you an up close and personal look into the life of spiders and their intricate webs. You’ll also be a peeping tom, of sorts, as you peer into the enclosed habitats of species from all over the world, including some local to LA (you’ll know which ones they are when they try to hand you a screenplay). There’ll also be Museum Educators around telling stories and answering questions. So bring the kids and learn a thing or two about these amazing creatures. The museum is closed on Tuesdays and open the rest of the week from 9:30-5 p.m. General admission is $15 and $6 for add-ons; LA County residents get free admission from 3-5 p.m. Advanced tickets are recommended; become a member here.
Local Government
And, lastly, welcome the Greater Wilshire Neighborhood Council into your home this week (via Zoom, of course), starting with the Outreach Committee on Saturday, October 2 from 9:30-11 a.m. Click here for details and supporting documents. Next up is the Sustainability Committee on Tuesday, October 5 from 7-9 p.m. Click here for details and supporting documents. And lastly, for the GWNC, the Resilience Committee will connect on Wednesday, October 6 from 7-8:30 p.m. Click here for details and supporting documents.
Finally, there’s just one meeting this week for the Mid City West Neighborhood Council with the Planning and Land Use Committee on Thursday, October 7 from 6:30-9 p.m. Click here for details and meeting agenda.
