Find the best Los Angeles things to do for Jan. 19-22

Edited by Christina Xenos

EVENTS
Riot L.A.
Jan. 19-22. Some 75 comedians, including headliners Mel Brooks and Ali Wong, perform throughout the weekend at this downtown alternative-comedy festival. Find podcasts, panels and more at venues like the Microsoft Theater, the Novo by Microsoft, the Theatre at Ace Hotel and the Orpheum. Check website for full lineup, schedule and individual tickets. Premium pass $159.50; VIP pass $349.50. riotla.com

 

 

Uncorked L.A. Wine Festival
Jan. 21. Sip wines from more than 50 wineries while enjoying live music at this second annual fest at Union Station. 800 N. Alameda St., downtown. uncorkedwinefestivals.com

 

 

 

A Prairie Home Companion
Jan. 21. The long-running radio show’s new host, mandolinist Chris Thile, brings A Prairie Home Companion to the Pasadena Civic Auditorium. 300 E. Green St, Pasadena, 626.795.9311. visitpasadena.com

 

 

Winter dineL.A.
Jan. 13-27. More than 300 of the county’s top restaurants offer specially priced menus for lunch and dinner. Discover new restaurants like Geoffrey Zakarian’s Georgie, Plan Do See’s Paley and Tony Esnault’s Spring, or revisit notable favorites like Lucques and CUT. You can also splurge on fine dining at with dineL.A.’s exclusive series at Providence, Melissé and Patina. See website for all participating eateries. Lunch menus are $15, $20 and $25, with dinner menus priced at $29, $39 and $49, or beginning at $95 for the exclusive series. discoverlosangeles.com

 

 

NIGHTLIFE
Liaison Restaurant + Lounge
Opens Jan. 20. Hollywood’s newest dining and nightlife destination is a spacious 10,000-square foot indoor/outdoor contemporary space with an open-air garden and intimate indoor lounge. In addition to meticulously curated cocktail and wine lists, Liaison offers dinner. Highlights of the seasonal menu include Hope Ranch mussels, charcoal wheat pasta and whole sea bass roasted over burning almond wood. 1638 N Las Palmas Ave., L.A., 310.984.6666. liaisonla.com

 

 

Bar Clacson
If the bar world had a dream team, it might mirror the collaborators behind downtown’s newest drinking den. Cedd Moses, Eric Needleman and Mark Verge of 213 Hospitality join forces with Eric Alperin (The Varnish) and Richard Boccato (Dutch Kills) to bring imbibers masterfully crafted classic cocktails; cocktails, beers, and ciders on tap; and an all-day menu of European fare like bruschetta, paninis and cheese and charcuterie boards. It also boasts LA’s first indoor pétanque court. Tues.-Fri. 3 p.m.-2 a.m., Sat.-Sun. noon-2 a.m. 351 S. Broadway, downtown. barclacson.com

 

 

The Local Band Hangout
Jan. 19. Listen to top local artists and up-and-coming bands while experiencing the wonders of the majestic Queen Mary every third Thursday of each month. The new concert series kicks-off this week with indie songwriter Halle Johnson and singer/songwriter duo Black Noise performing live in the historic Observation Bar. Arrive early for Happy Hour from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Happy hour 5-7 p.m. Show begins 8 p.m. $10. Parking $8 with validation. queenmary.com

 

 

FOOD + DRINK
Katsuya Hollywood Omakase Dinner Series
Jan. 23. The chic sushi restaurant in Hollywood ups its offerings with a more than nine-course omakase menu served at their 10-seat bar on Monday nights. Chef de cuisine David Lespron spearheads the menu that works in eclectic ingredients with an artful presentation. The menu will change monthly and now features dishes like confit of kabocha squash with nitro-fozen parmesan; miso corn elote with kewpie mayo and ichiimi chile; pazole ramen and three sushi/sashimi courses. There is one seating per week, beginning promptly at 8 p.m. Tickets are $85/pp. Katsuya Hollywood, 6300 Hollywood Blvd. (entrance on Vine), L.A. sbe.com/khvomakase

 

 

Gastro Garage
Jan. 19-Feb. 11. The fully immersive, interactive dining experience, where unique chef meets mechanic, lights up LA with a 12-night pop-up in Hollywood. Gastro Garage deconstructs classic dishes and reconstructs them into signature “tanks” made from savory brioche donuts that are filled with nitrous foam in a variety of flavors and then torched with gourmet toppings, finishing oils, purees and spices. The chef’s four-course Torch Me menu starts at $50; you can also order any three tanks for $12 at the grab-and-go Gastro Counter and lounge in the garage in a more casual setting. Thurs.-Sat. 7065 1/2 Sunset Blvd., L.A., 310.993.3979. thegastrogarage.com

 

 

Brunch with Photographer Mick Rock at the Polo Lounge
Jan. 22. Join legendary rock photographer Mick Rock at the Polo Lounge for an exclusive brunch celebrating David Bowie. The brunch is teamed with an exhibition that showcases a selection of original prints from Rock’s 1972 photo shoot with Bowie at The Beverly Hills Hotel. Guests who reserve the VIP brunch package will be invited to attend an inspired discussion with Rock about his celebrated rock music imagery and celebrated career capturing images of rock and roll royalty from the golden age of music. The package includes a three-course brunch featuring themed menu items and Bowie’s music; complementary mimosa or Ziggy Stardust martini; post-brunch conversation with Rock; and signed copy of Rock’s new book, The Rise of David Bowie 1972-1973. (Photo ©Mick Rock 1972, 2016.) $150/pp. 11 a.m.-3 p.m. The Beverly Hills Hotel, 9641 Sunset Blvd, Beverly Hills, 310.887.2777. dorchestercollection.com

 

 

SpireWorks
The highly addictive fast-casual döner American-style concept that first opened in Westwood in November, launches their newest outpost in Eagle Rock Jan. 24. On opening day, stop by the new location for a free SpireWorks Destination, SpireCake and beverage. SpireWorks Destinations are spit-roasted beef, chicken or vegetarian köfte meatless meatballs in a variety of bases like freshly baked bread, wild rice and fresh greens. You can build your own or opt for one of their recipes inspired by destinations around the globe and crafted by consulting chef Kuniko Yagi (Comme Ca, Hinoki and the Bird). Just choose your base and pick an option like the Baja California (cabernet tomatoes, tomatillo sauce, cotija cheese, baked tortilla strips, pickled red onions and green onion shreds), New York (Russian dressing, sauerkraut, shaved parmesan, cucumber spirals, angel hair beets and New York shaker spices) and Peking (hoisin sauce, crispy onions, angel hair carrots, cucumber spirals and Rayu shaker spices), among others. Leave room for sides like twice cooked baby Dutch yellow potatoes with your choice of shaker spice topping, and SpireCake—sweet confections that come in array of flavors from honey mascarpone to tiramisu. 1061 Broxton Ave., Westwood, 424.220.6299; 4945 B Eagle Rock Blvd., Eagle Rock, 323.895.7888. spireworks.com

 

 

MUSEUMS
Diamonds: Rare Brilliance
Through March 19. Get your bling on. The U.S. debut of the gemstone exhibition at the Natural History Museum features a stunning 30+ carat “Juliet Pink” diamond, an exceptionally rare “Argyle Violet” diamond and other outstanding gems. Diamonds brings to light the rare properties of colored gemstones, the science behind natural colored diamonds, and how the interplay of light and chemistry gives diamonds color. 900 Exposition Blvd., downtown, 213.763.3466. nhm.org

 

 

Picasso and Rivera: Conversations Across Time
Through May 7. See more than 100 paintings, etchings and watercolors by artistic giants Pablo Picasso and Diego Rivera at this new exhibition presented by the Los Angeles County Museum of Art with Museo del Palacio de Bellas Artes in Mexico City. The exhibit examines how both artists evolved from their classical training into modernism, with one of the galleries featuring works they created while living in Paris where they became participants of the avant-garde movement. LACMA presents their works in dialog with with dozens of ancient Greco-Roman, Iberian and Aztec objects to explore how the artists were influenced by antiquity. See paintings like Picasso’s first monumental neoclassical painting, Three Women at the Spring (1921) and Rivera’s Cubist Composition: Still Life with Bottle of Anis and Inkwell (1914-15), a painting owned by Picasso and never before displayed publicly. 5905 Wilshire Blvd., L.A., 323.857.6000. lacma.org

 

 

ARTS + CULTURE
Eko Nugroho and Wayang Bocor: God Bliss (In the Name of Semelah)
Jan. 22. With a whirlwind of shadows, humor and iconic visual images from street art, popular culture and Javanese traditional forms, provocative artist Eko Nugroho riffs on the story of how Islam first came to Java in the 15th Century eventually resulting in Indonesia eventually becoming the world’s largest Muslim-majority country. Performed in Javanese and Indonesian with English supertitles. (Photo courtesy of the artist.) 7 p.m. $20-$25. REDCAT, 631 West 2nd St., downtown, 213.237.2800. redcat.org

 

 

Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra–“Storm Large Sings 7 Deadly Sins”
Jan. 21-22. Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, led by Music Director Jeffrey Kahane, presents the U.S. premiere of Kurt Weill’s “Song-Suite for Violin and Orchestra,” arranged by Paul Bateman, and the West Coast Premiere of Bruce Adolphe’s Violin Concerto “I Will Not Remain Silent,” which is dedicated to Rabbi Joachim Prinz and his friendship with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. (Photo CMArtists.) (Jan. 21, 8 p.m.) Alex Theatre, 216 North Brand Blvd., Glendale; (Jan. 22, 7 p.m.) Royce Hall, 340 Royce Dr., L.A. 213.622.7001 x1. laco.org

 

 

The Found Dog Ribbon Dance
Jan. 21-Feb. 26. Professional cuddler Norma’s quest to return a lost dog to its rightful owner leads her to encounter a slew of oddballs, and maybe even discover a second chance at love. The world premiere of the bittersweet romantic comedy is about loneliness, oxytocin and the healing power of Whitney Houston. $30. The Echo Theater Company @ Atwater Village Theatre, 3269 Casitas Ave., L.A., 310.307.3753. echotheatercompany.com

 

 

Bakersfield Mist
Through Feb. 26. Jenny O’Hara and Nick Ullett reprise the roles they created in Stephen Sachs’ hit comedy, which premiered at the Fountain Theatre and went to London’s West End and around the world. Maude Gutman, an unemployed, chain-smoking ex-bartender living in a run down California trailer park, believes the painting she bought in a thrift store for $3 is really an undiscovered masterpiece worth millions. When stuffy New York art expert Lionel Percy arrives to evaluate the work, the result is a fiery and often hilarious debate over class, truth, value and the meaning of art. Inspired by true events. $15–$35. (Photo by Ed Krieger.) The Fountain Theatre, 5060 Fountain Ave., L.A., 323.663.1525. fountaintheatre.com

 

 

The Lion
Through Feb. 19. The Drama Desk Award-winning piece written and performed by Benjamin Scheuer, has redefined the genre of musical theater. Scheuer tells, sings, and plays the turbulent story of his family and his own brush with mortality, with his supporting cast of six guitars. $60. (Photo by Matthew Murphy.) Geffen Playhouse, 10886 Le Conte Ave., L.A., 310.208.5454. geffenplayhouse.com

 

 

Rodgers & Hammerstein’s The King and I
Through Jan. 21. Set in 1860s Bangkok, this musical tells the story of the relationship between the King of Siam and Anna Leonowens, a British schoolteacher. It also features classic songs like “Getting to Know You” and “I Whistle a Happy Tune.” Pantages Theatre, 6233 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood, 323.468.1770. hollywoodpantages.com