Events
Los Angeles Water Lantern Festival
July 31-Aug. 2. Thousands of glowing lanterns illuminate the lake at Whittier Narrows Recreation Area during three evenings of reflection and community. Enjoy live music, food trucks and family-friendly activities before decorating a lantern with a personal message and launching it onto the water at sunset. Admission includes a lantern kit, LED candle and decorating supplies; paid parking is required. Friday–Sunday, 5:30–9:30 p.m.; lantern launch, 8:30–9:30 p.m. 750 S. Santa Anita Ave., South El Monte. waterlanternfestival.com
HARD Summer Music Festival 2026
Aug. 1-2. Electronic music, hip-hop and underground club culture collide at Hollywood Park for a two-day festival featuring Kali Uchis, Knock2 B2B Zedd, DJ Snake performing a hip-hop set, Charlotte de Witte, Amelie Lens, RL Grime, Mau P, Tokischa, Sammy Virji, Shygirl’s Club Shy and dozens more across multiple stages. The festival is open to guests 18 and older; VIP areas are restricted to ages 21 and older. Saturday–Sunday, 2–10 p.m. 1011 Stadium Drive, Inglewood. hardsummer.com
The Summer Club: Young Hollywood Edition
Aug. 2. Rising and established actors, creators, athletes, models and entertainment tastemakers gather at Golden Hour for a rooftop pool party overlooking downtown Los Angeles. Produced by Affinity Nightlife in partnership with Eris Talent and Aston Models, the afternoon features red-carpet arrivals, interviews, DJ sets by Chad Aroo, Allie M, L3xi, Devin Lucien, Francesca Cloud and Roxy Ferrari, along with a fragrance bar, interactive photo booth, art installation and complimentary brand experiences. Sunday, 2–8 p.m. 1260 S. Figueroa Street, Los Angeles. Get Tickets Now
FX’s “The Shards” Turns Sherman Oaks Galleria Into a 1981 Mall
Aug. 1-2. Flash back to 1981 as FX transforms the Sherman Oaks Galleria into a retro shopping-mall experience inspired by its new Ryan Murphy and Bret Easton Ellis drama, “The Shards.” Guests can browse vinyl at the Licorice Pizza Listening Station, play arcade games, customize a nostalgic T-shirt, pose inside an ’80s photo booth, receive a Maybelline foundation shade match and grab complimentary soft serve. Admission is free with registration, but entry and giveaways are first-come, first-served. Guests must be 18 or older. Saturday–Sunday, Aug. 1–2; Saturday, 11 a.m.–4 p.m.; Sunday, 11 a.m.–5 p.m. 15301 Ventura Blvd., Sherman Oaks. More Information
Food + Drinks
Tiki Kai Brings Island Brunch and Weekday Lunch to Hermosa Beach
Now Serving. Steps from the beach, Tiki Kai serves an island-inspired brunch featuring macadamia-topped pancakes, coffee-rubbed steak and eggs and the Bloody Mariko—a shochu-and-vodka spin on the Bloody Mary garnished with jumbo shrimp. The newly launched weekday lunch menu includes a jidori fried chicken sandwich with tropical slaw, Hawaiian plates and a yellowfin tuna bowl layered with mango-pineapple relish, seaweed salad and gochujang. Brunch, Saturday–Sunday, 10 a.m.–3 p.m.; llunch, Monday–Friday, 11 a.m.–4 p.m. 73 Pier Ave., Hermosa Beach. tikikai.com
Bengara Launches an Eight-Course Tasting Menu
Now Serving. Fire-driven Japanese restaurant Bengara introduces an eight-course tasting menu from chef Tyler Burges and the Smoke Door team. Priced at $98, the experience moves from Toyosu carpaccio with chili-coffee oil and pork belly “tacos” wrapped in mochi crepes to miso black cod, Mary’s half chicken and teuchi citrus soba. Optional Wagyu and uni supplements are available, alongside cocktail, sake and wine pairings and a full zero-proof menu. Walk-ins are welcome. Tuesday–Sundays, dinner hours vary. More Information
goodboybob Opens Inside Deus Ex Machina in Venice
Now Open. Rare small-lot coffee meets custom-car culture at goodboybob’s new café inside Deus Ex Machina. Founded by Emmy-winning director and racecar driver Erich Joiner, the specialty roaster serves drinks such as the brown-butter espresso BBL and Guatemala Santa Marta Gesha alongside breakfast sandwiches and fresh pastries—all surrounded by vintage automotive and motorcycle design. Open daily, 7 a.m.–4 p.m. 1001 Venice Blvd., Venice. goodboybob.com
Dave Arnold Bar Takeover at Morihiro
Aug. 2. Cocktail innovator and Liquid Intelligence author Dave Arnold steps behind Morihiro’s bar for one night, joining Bar Director Han Suk Cho for an evening of experimental drinks and Japanese bites. The $95 ticket includes a spicy tuna handroll, futomaki, daifuku and panna cotta prepared by the Morihiro team, while signature cocktails from Arnold and Cho will be available for purchase throughout the evening. Guests must be 21 or older. Sunday, 4–8 p.m. 1115 Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles. morionodera.com
Arts + Culture
Tchaikovsky Spectacular With Fireworks
July 31-Aug. 1. Acrobats, trapeze artists, jugglers and contortionists from Troupe Vertigo soar above the Hollywood Bowl as the Los Angeles Philharmonic performs Tchaikovsky favorites from Sleeping Beauty, Swan Lake and Marche Slave. Conductor Chloé Dufresne makes her Bowl debut before the evening erupts into the 1812 Overture, accompanied by the USC Trojan Marching Band and a spectacular fireworks finale. Friday-Saturday, at 8 p.m.2301 N. Highland Ave., Los Angeles. hollywoodbowl.com
Death Cab for Cutie at the Greek Theatre
Starts Aug. 2. Nearly three decades into their career, Death Cab for Cutie still turns heartbreak, longing and quiet existential dread into some of indie rock’s most enduring songs. Ben Gibbard and the band return to Los Angeles for two nights supporting their latest album, I Built You a Tower, with Nation of Language opening both shows. Sunday-Monday, at 7:30 p.m. 2700 N. Vermont Ave., Los Angeles. lagreektheatre.com
An Art Form for Mass Production at LACMA
Open. Explore the global history of block printing through more than 150 works from Asia, Europe and the Americas at LACMA. The exhibition traces how one of the world’s oldest image-making techniques evolved as both an artistic medium and a powerful tool for reproducing and circulating images, information and ideas across cultures. See it inside the Resnick Pavilion before it closes Sept. 13. Monday, Tuesday and Thursday, 11 a.m.–6 p.m.; Friday, 11 a.m.–8 p.m.; Saturday–Sunday, 10 a.m.–7 p.m.; closed Wednesday. 5905 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles. lacma.org
“La La Land” in Concert
Aug. 1. Return to the “City of Stars” as Damien Chazelle’s Oscar-winning musical plays on the big screen with its celebrated score performed live by a full orchestra and jazz ensemble. Composer Justin Hurwitz conducts favorites including “Another Day of Sun,” “A Lovely Night” and “City of Stars” in celebration of the film’s 10th anniversary. Saturday, 8 p.m.; doors open at 6:30 p.m. 2700 N. Vermont Ave., Los Angeles. lagreektheatre.com
Photo Credit: All images are courtesy of the venues and businesses featured.
