Events
BLOCtober
Oct. 17. Bring the family downtown for an evening of retailer trick-or-treating, face painting, children’s crafts and Halloween photo opportunities. A live DJ sets the mood before Alamo Drafthouse presents an outdoor screening of The Nightmare Before Christmas at 7 p.m. Members of the free Bloc Rewards app can also pick up a complimentary pumpkin while supplies last and the first 200 guests checking in at the marketing table receive light-up Halloween buckets. Costumes are encouraged, including for well-behaved, leashed pets. Saturday, 5–8:30 p.m. Free; RSVP online. The Bloc, plaza level, 700 W. Seventh St., Downtown L.A. RSVP and More Information
Night Out at the Cube
Oct. 17. The science center turns into an adults-only playground for an evening of interactive exhibits, experiments and Halloween activities. Test “secret potions,” explore a shadow maze, try a magic workshop and take a break for music from a live DJ. General admission includes two beer or wine tickets, with food available for purchase; a VIP upgrade adds dining, a private lounge and a dedicated bartender. Costumes are encouraged for the night’s competitions and photo opportunities. Saturday, 7:30–11:30 p.m. General admission $32; two-ticket package $55. Ages 21 and older. Discovery Cube Los Angeles, 11800 Foothill Blvd., Sylmar. Tickets and More Information
Main Street Block Party and Day of the Dog
Oct. 18. Santa Monica’s Main Street goes car-free for an afternoon combining live music, DJs, classic cars, children’s activities and a beer garden with a celebration of Route 66’s centennial. The adjoining Day of the Dog festivities welcome pets and their people, making this an easy outing for anyone whose weekend plans include a four-legged companion. Browse local businesses, grab something to eat and explore the neighborhood on foot while the event supports the Santa Monica Animal Shelter. Sunday, noon–6 p.m.; Day of the Dog, noon–5 p.m. Free admission; purchases additional. Main Street, Santa Monica; Day of the Dog at 2327 Main St. RSVP and More Information
Los Angeles Printers Fair
Oct. 17–18. Step into the hands-on world of letterpress, handmade books and paper arts as the International Printing Museum welcomes over 135 artistic vendors. Browse prints, posters, cards and book arts, watch working antique presses in action and try printing demonstrations throughout the museum and Book Arts Institute. This year’s featured artist is Richard Kegler of Dry Inc. and P22 Type Foundry, with optional opportunities to print an event poster or screen-print a T-shirt for an additional charge. Saturday–Sunday, 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Adults $15; students and seniors $12; ages 3 and younger free. Admission is valid both days. International Printing Museum, 315 W. Torrance Blvd., Carson. Tickets and More Information.
Food + Drinks
The Secret Oven Cookie Pop-Up
Oct. 17–18. A sticky toffee pudding–inspired cookie is the draw at this weekend-only Venice pop-up from Last Crumb and HexClad. Created in collaboration with Gordon Ramsay, the “Sticky, Not Stuck” cookie celebrates the launch of HexClad’s bakeware collection, with complimentary cookies available to visitors while supplies last. Stop by during an Abbot Kinney outing for a taste of the limited collaboration; arriving near opening offers the best chance of catching the giveaway. Saturday–Sunday, beginning at noon, while supplies last. Free. 1219 Abbot Kinney Blvd., Venice. More Information
Smorgasburg’s Diwali Festival of Bites
Oct. 18. Come hungry for a special Diwali celebration bringing guest food vendors, collaborations and cultural activities to ROW DTLA’s weekly outdoor market. The announced lineup includes Bombay Beach, Fitoor, KurryPinch, Tulsi, Masalawali Chai and chai from Badmaash, alongside shopping curated by Brown Girl Magazine. Music, arts and crafts, dancing led by Rhythm Together and themed bar specials round out the afternoon, giving visitors plenty to explore between food stops. Sunday, 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Free admission; food, drinks and merchandise sold separately. ROW DTLA, 777 S. Alameda St., downtown L.A. More Information
WhistlePig Boss Hog Tasting at Wally’s
Oct. 17. Explore premium rye whiskey through two guided tasting experiences accompanied by cheese and charcuterie. The $150 option includes tastings of WhistlePig’s 10-, 12- and 15-year expressions, plus a bottle of Wally’s WhistlePig 12-Year Single Finish to take home. For collectors, the $600 experience includes a bottle of Boss Hog XIII “The Golden Pharaoh” and a VIP tasting with distiller and head of education Mitch Mahar, featuring Boss Hog VIII, Boss Hog XIII and WhistlePig 18-Year. Saturday, 6 p.m. $150 or $600, depending on experience. Wally’s Santa Monica, 214 Wilshire Blvd., Santa Monica. Reservations and More Information
Discover Votana at Hotel Clark
Now Open. California seasonality meets Mediterranean cooking at Hotel Clark’s signature restaurant, celebrating its grand opening this week. Executive chef Gio Koletty, whose background includes The Peninsula Beverly Hills and Hotel Casa del Mar, builds the menu around seasonal ingredients and plates intended for sharing. Make it a weekend brunch outing or reserve dinner and explore the cocktail list, which includes a peach-and-prosecco Clark Bellini and the Amalfi Fiore, made with gin, pineapple liqueur, cinnamon and orange blossom water. Weekend brunch, Saturday–Sunday, 11 a.m.–2:30 p.m.; dinner daily from 5 p.m. Votana at Hotel Clark, 426 S. Hill St., downtown L.A. Menus and Reservations
Arts + Culture
Carmen: Opening Night and Free Outdoor Simulcasts
Oct. 17. Bizet’s familiar “Habanera” and “Toreador Song” reach audiences across the county as LA Opera broadcasts its opening-night performance to the Santa Monica Pier and William Steinmetz Park. The new production, created by director and designer Thaddeus Strassberger, brings Spanish Gothic imagery to a story of desire, independence and jealousy, conducted by Domingo Hindoyan. Pack a picnic, bring blankets or low lawn chairs and arrive early for crafts, local performances and food vendors before the broadcast. Saturday, broadcast at 6 p.m.; Santa Monica pre-show activities begin at 4 p.m. Outdoor admission is free. Santa Monica Pier, 200 Santa Monica Pier, Santa Monica; William Steinmetz Park, 1545 S. Stimson Ave., Hacienda Heights. Dorothy Chandler Pavilion Tickets
Speaking in Tongues
Oct. 15–Nov. 15. A small Pentecostal congregation in California’s San Joaquin Valley faces an uncertain future in Luis Alfaro’s new play, directed by Jose Luis Valenzuela. Set in Earlimart, the story follows church members sharing food, gossip and faith while their pastor remains missing and immigration raids threaten their community. Evelina Fernández, Esperanza América, Sal López, Geoffrey Rivas and Lucy Rodríguez bring the world premiere to the stage, grounding its larger questions in the daily life of a Mexican American agricultural town. This weekend: Thursday–Saturday, 8 p.m.; Sunday, 2 p.m. Thursday–Friday previews $10; Saturday opening $75, including a reception; Sunday general admission $48. Los Angeles Theatre Center, 514 S. Spring St., downtown L.A. Tickets and More Information
Cynthia Erivo at the Hollywood Bowl
Oct. 15. The voice behind Elphaba steps into the spotlight for Let Me Sing to You, a one-night-only solo concert at the Hollywood Bowl. Emmy, Tony and two-time Grammy winner Cynthia Erivo returns to the outdoor venue with a new show, bringing the vocal power and dramatic presence audiences know from her performances on Broadway and in the Wicked films. The evening puts her work as a singer center stage, offering fans a chance to experience her artistry beyond the screen. Thursday, 7:30 p.m.; gates open at 6 p.m. Special house rules apply: no outside alcohol, glass or cans. Hollywood Bowl, 2301 N. Highland Ave., Hollywood. Tickets and More Information
Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra at The Wallis
Oct. 18. Pianist Conrad Tao joins music director Jaime Martín and Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra for a program moving from Richard Strauss’ reflective Metamorphosen to the contrasting colors of Ravel’s Piano Concerto in G major. Beethoven’s expansive Third Symphony, “Eroica,” completes the afternoon, giving listeners a progression from intimate string writing to piano virtuosity and symphonic drama. The performance takes place in the Bram Goldsmith Theater, an inviting setting for hearing the orchestra at close range. Sunday, 4 p.m. Listed tickets $62–$134. Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts, 9390 N. Santa Monica Blvd., Beverly Hills. Tickets and More Information
Photo Credit: All images are courtesy of the venues and businesses featured.
