With the last days of summer behind us, our beloved LA “summer nights” events are coming to a close – it’s the last week of Grand Performances, last week of the LA County Fair, last week of hope, but don’t fret, the new season brings new possibilities and plenty of good times, with a variety of happenings to make it all better. The Academy Museum is opening and Jazz at LACMA is still going strong, so enjoy the cooler weather to come, and even cooler events.
Arts & Culture
Sadly, this Saturday, September 25 will be the final show of the summer season for Grand Performances, with extended hours from 2-10 p.m. The grand finale will be a ‘do-over’ of The Do-Over’s 15-year anniversary, which, like many things, was supposed to go down in 2020. This DJ party crew was “established in 2005 in Hollywood, and has been supplying the best summer party options ever since. The magical tropical day-time get down has built a following like no other…well-known for a template of free admission, sangria, buckets of beer, and an all-day BBQ.” All-day BBQ, you say? That’s all I needed to hear. This is a free, outdoor event; please RSVP here.
And Chevalier’s Books keep the conversations flowing this week with two happenings, one on the boulevard and one online. The first one will take place in-store on Wednesday, September 29 at 7 p.m., when acclaimed anthologists Lisa Morton and Leslie Klinger talk about Weird Women: Volume 2. This collection of “overlooked masterworks,” from early female horror writers, includes stories by George Eliot, Harriet Beecher Stowe, and Edith Wharton. Buy a copy of the book here; please RSVP.
The second Chevalier’s event will be a virtual discussion of By the Light of Burning Dreams by Margaret and David Talbot, in conversation with Jon Wiener, Thursday, September 30 at 7 p.m. In their book, NY Times best-selling author David Talbot and New Yorker journalist Margaret Talbot “illuminate ‘America’s second revolutionary generation’ (the ‘60s and ‘70s) – brought to life through seven defining radical moments that offer vibrant parallels and lessons for today.” Buy a copy of the book here; please RSVP.
And the Academy Museum, which looks awesome AF, and is now the largest institution in the U.S. devoted to the arts, sciences, and artists of moviemaking, will finally open its doors this week on Thursday, September 30. Designed by Pritzker Prize-winning architect Renzo Piano, and located at the corner of Wilshire and Fairfax (adjacent to LACMA), the historic May Co. building, now renamed the Saban building, has been restored and expanded, with 300,000 square-feet of “ultramodern” exhibition and special events spaces, movie theaters, education and conservation studios, a restaurant and cafe, and a museum store. And all that is connected to the brand-new, ultramodern Sphere building, holding the new state-of- the-art David Geffen Theater, and open air Dolby Family Terrace – wowza! The cost is $25 for adults, $19 for seniors (62+), and $15 for students. Visitors 17 and younger and California residents with an EBT card will be free. Reserved time tickets are required; become a member here…and don’t forget to download the app! The museum will be open 7 days a week, 365 days a year: 10 a.m.- 6 p.m. Sun-Thurs and 10 a.m.-8 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. Public spaces are accessible without a ticket, including the museum store and cafe.
Also on Thursday, September 30, you can join LACMA, from 12-1 p.m., for a virtual event, Artists in Focus:Timothy Washington. And because I couldn’t have summarized it better myself, here’s what the museum’s website had to say: “In anticipation of the exhibition < opening this fall and on the 50th anniversary of Three Graphic Artists: Charles White, David Hammons, Timothy Washington (January 26–March 7, 1971) at LACMA, we will provide an in-depth exploration of Los Angeles–based artist Timothy Washington. The program will include a special behind-the-scenes studio visit with Washington to reveal some of his work made in the decades following this monumental exhibition.” This is a free online event; please RSVP here.
And if you’re more of a small crowd, live music kind of person, Jazz at LACMA Limited Edition is the event for you. The museum’s 30th season of jazz is still going strong this month with the Yellowjackets on Friday, October 1, from 6-7:30 p.m. Described as a jazz fusion band, the Yellowjackets have been performing for more than 40 years, with 25 recorded albums, 2 Grammys, and multiple nominations under their belt. So if you haven’t made it out to a show yet this season, now is a good time to start (carpe diem, people!). This is a free event, but capacity is limited, and an RSVP is required. Tickets are available online starting Tuesday, September 28 at 10 a.m.
Food & Fun (& Fitness)
As noted above, this is the last weekend to get down to the Pomona Fairgrounds for the LA County Fair, which has been back with a “bite-sized” edition for its 99th year, from September 10-26. The full-scale event will resume in May 2022, when the fair celebrates its centennial! For now, though, you can still enjoy a limited amount of games, rides, deep-fried food on sticks, and shopping. Fair hours are Friday-Sunday, 3-9 p.m. This is a limited capacity event, so advanced ticket purchase is highly recommended; Admission/Parking: $2/$10; Carnival ticket packages start at $20.
This is also your last chance to experience The Class at ROW DTLA, this Saturday, September 25 from 10-11 a.m. This “mat-based, music driven, workout experience” will combine guided instruction and thoughtfully curated playlists, with familiar exercises like squats and lunges (so nothing crazy). The goal is to “strengthen the body while also noticing the mind, in an effort to restore balance through mental clearing and emotional release”. The Class will take place outdoors on the ROW DTLA rooftop, with plenty of space for social distancing. Tickets are $45; be sure to bring your own water, towel and mat.
Next, and a bit closer to home, come soak in the sun and California car culture at the Gilmore Heritage Auto Show this Saturday, September 25 from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. The show will be making its triumphant return to The Original Farmers Market this year after a brief hiatus in 2020 (y’all know the reason). Enjoy the day with family, friends, and American classics, including a 1934 Ford Coupe, a 1932 Chrysler Imperial Convertible (pictured here), and a 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air from the Petersen Automotive Museum. There will be plenty of customs, hot rods, and trucks to gaze upon, too. This event is free and open to the public.
And before or after you take in the auto show, stop off at Yang’s Braised Chicken Rice, which will be having its grand opening in the North Market of the OFM this Saturday, September 25, at 11a.m. The single-item menu is all about “quality through simplicity.” This Chinese, international chain restaurant star has made its way to The Original Farmers Market for you to enjoy, so why not give it a go…Bonus: the first fifty guests will receive a complimentary Chicken and Rice bowl while the second fifty will receive a Super Fruit Tea with a valid bowl purchase.
History & Community
Connect with the Art Deco Society of Los Angeles on Sunday, September 26, from 1-2:30 p.m. with the virtual presentation, Last Tango in Babylon: Social Dancing in Weimar Berlin. According to the website, the Weimar era in Germany, from the end of WWI in 1918 to the Nazi takeover in 1933, was a time of conflict and rapid change, with people rejecting old conventions and embracing modernity in art, sex and dance. Dance historian Walter Nelson will look at this era through the lens of social dancing, as depicted in the films and art of the time. The cost is $6 for members and $10 for non-members (become a member here). If you purchase a ticket and cannot view the event live, they will send you a link to view at your convenience.
For those interested in the protection of the California Condor, which was the mascot of my elementary school and holds a special place in my heart, join the Los Angeles Zoo for a webinar on Thursday, September 30, from 12-12:30 p.m. You’ll gain an in-depth look into the California Condor Recovery Program (CCRP), with Animal Keeper Debbie Sears, live (on Zoom) from the LA Zoo. The first 500 people to sign on will be admitted and, if you miss the live stream, the recording will be posted to the website two days later. Click here to register. The LA Zoo is “deeply committed to saving the species and greatly values your support”.
And for those who’d like to share the love of reading and do something great for the community this weekend, it’s time for Big Sunday’s annual Books ‘n’ Brunch event, collecting and sorting books to give away to deserving youth and organizations throughout the city. According to Big Sunday, “This year we’re collecting books just for kids and youth (e.g., YA books). All books must be new or gently used. We’ll be accepting books throughout September. We also have a book registry on Amazon specially for Afghan refugees here in LA.” If you’d like to donate books, you can still drop them off at the Big Sunday office, 6111 Melrose Ave., today until 5 p.m, or on Sunday between 9 and 11. You can also still sign up to help with the book sorting event on Sunday, September 26, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. All ages are welcome, with safety precautions in place. (The event will take place outdoors, all participants must be masked, and everyone age 13 and up must be vaccinated. The event is also limited to 50 people this year.) And yes…the traditional green eggs and ham will be served!
Local Government
The Greater Wilshire Neighborhood Council is back in action this week with two meetings, starting with the Transportation Committee on Monday, September. 27 from 7-9 p.m. Click here for details and supporting documents. Next up is the Land Use Committee on Tuesday, September 28 from 6:30-9 p.m. Click here for details and supporting documents.
The Mid City West Neighborhood Council will also be meeting this week, with two meetings on Monday, September 27. First is the Arts and Recreation Committee from 6-7 p.m. – click here for details – and the second is the HRRRTs Committee (Homelessness, Refugees and Renters’ Rights) from 6:30-7:30 p.m. – click here for details and meeting agenda. Then the MCWNC is back on Tuesday, September 28 from 6:30-8:30 p.m. for the Social and Racial Equity Committee. Click here for details and meeting agenda. And finally, the Council will have its monthly Economic Committee meeting on Wednesday, September 29 from 7-10 p.m. Click here for details and meeting agenda.
