Whether you’re into whiskey, vegan food, roasted pig or want to cheese it up, here are our 18+ top L.A. weekend event picks for November 1-4.
Edited by William Yelles.
EVENTS
Diwali Night
Nov. 2. Diwali—India’s biggest annual festival—celebrates the victory of good over evil and light over darkness. Come prepared to dance all night long to the best of Bollywood, Bhangra & EDM with DJs Prashant and Dharam. While traditional Indian attire is encouraged, it is by no means a requirement. 21+. 9 p.m.-2 a.m. $9-$17. West End, 1301 Fifth St., Santa Monica. Tickets
Old Pasadena Day of the Dead Weekend
Nov. 2-4. Numerous Old Pasadena businesses will create beautiful altars in their spaces to showcase during the self-guided Tour of Altars. The weekend also includes three Community Altars, a Salsa dance party with live music and calavera face painting, and pop-up weekend fun. See website for schedule and locations. Free. Throughout Old Pasadena, 626.356.9725. oldpasadena.org
Ice Presented by the Plaza at Santa Monica
Opens Nov. 3. This 8,000-square-foot outdoor skating rink in downtown Santa Monica brings holiday spirit to the beach. M-Th 2-10 p.m.; F 2 p.m.-midnight; Sa 10 am-midnight; Su 10 am-10 pm. Admission, including skate rental, $15. 1324 Fifth St., Santa Monica, 310.260.1199. downtownsm.com
Grand Ave. Arts: All Access
Nov. 3. Now in its fourth year, this culture-filled event showcases some of the best aspects of the city’s arts scene. Over 10 of DTLA’s premier cultural institutions including the Broad, Central Library, Colburn School, Grand Park, L.A. Chamber Orchestra, L.A. Opera, L.A. Philharmonic, MOCA, the Music Center and REDCAT—open their doors to the public for free family-friendly activities, interactive workshops and tours. See website for full schedule. 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Free. Grand Ave. between Temple St. and Sixth St., L.A. grandavearts.org
ComplexCon
Nov. 3-4. The third annual Complex-Con combines music, streetwear, food and art in a modern-youth-culture extravaganza. Organized by media company Complex Networks and hosted by Pharrell Williams and contemporary artist Takashi Murakami, the event expects to draw 50,000-plus attendees. 11 a.m.-8 p.m. $60-$300. Long Beach Convention Center, 300 E. Ocean Blvd., Long Beach. complexcon.com
FOOD + DRINK
Dia de los Muertos at Toca Madera
Nov. 1. Modern Mexican hot spot Toca Madera hosts a fire breather, flamenco guitarist and stilt walkers all face-painted with the traditional sugar skull makeup at its holiday bash. Make it a taco Thursday with fillings like carne asada or skirt steak or enjoy the special Los Muertos cocktail (avion reposado, blood orange, lime juice, hibiscus, and activated charcoal agave). 5 p.m.-1 a.m. 8450 W. Third St., L.A., 323.852.9400. tocamadera.com
World Vegan Month
Nov. 1-30. In honor of World Vegan Month, by CHLOE brings back its Thanksgiving inspired The Gobble Gobble—lemon-caper seitan, sautéed kale, rosemary gravy, harvest stuffing and fresh cranberry sauce served on a potato bun. For every Gobble Gobble sold, by CHLOE. will be donating $1 to no-kill rescue and adoption organization North Shore Animal League America. Su 10 a.m.-10 p.m., M-Tu 11 a.m.-10 p.m., W-F 11 a.m.-11 p.m., Sa 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Inside 365 by Whole Foods Market, 2520 Glendale Blvd., Silver Lake, 424.675.7618. eatbychloe.com
Japanese Whiskey Dinner
Nov. 2. Chef Carlos Bojorquez has designed a five-course tasting menu pairing whiskeys such as White Oak Akashi with dishes such as tempura black cod served with smoked shimeji mushrooms and Snake River Farms Wagyu Beef Tenderloin dished alongside bamboo rice risotto. Reservations required. 7 p.m. $150. EST. Prime Steakhouse at the Sheraton Los Angeles San Gabriel Hotel, 303 E. Valley Blvd., San Gabriel, 626.607.2012. estprimesteakhouse.com
Severance Brunch and Luau
Nov. 3. Severance is launching weekend brunch plus a special luau and slow-roasted pig menu that’s only available on Saturdays. The bar will also begin serving new tiki cocktails created by Philip Ly, the bar director of General Lee’s in Chinatown. Every Saturday and Sunday, guests can enjoy brunch favorites and unique spins on the classics like Fondue French Toast. The Saturday Tiki Brunch offers everything on the standard brunch menu, plus a luau menu that features a whole pig roast. Noon-3 p.m. 7274 Melrose Ave., L.A., 323.424.7294. severancela.com
Smorgasburg Meltdown
Nov. 3. Smorgasburg LA returns to Santa Anita Park with a celebration of all things cheesy with multiple vendors showcasing their best ooey-gooey goodies at the racetrack. Find cheesy favorites like Big Mozz’s melty mozzarella sticks, decadent grilled cheese sandwiches and raclette from Cheezus, pizza bagels by Pop’s Bagels, a gruyere mac and cheese paratha quesadilla by Goa Taco, and more. 21+. Noon-4 p.m. $30-$110. 285 W. Huntington Dr., Arcadia, 626.574.7223. santaanita.com
ARTS + CULTURE
SPONSORED
“Maria By Callas”
Opens Nov. 2. Maria By Callas reveals the essence of an extraordinary woman who rose from humble beginnings in New York to become a glamorous international superstar and one of the greatest artists of all time. A loving portrait of one of history’s most extraordinarily talented women told in a way that is revelatory, unprecedented, and authoritative. sonyclassics.com
Affair of the Arts
Nov. 2-4. View and purchase art from 50 of Southern California’s premiere painters, photographers, sculptors, ceramicists, woodworkers, glass blowers and jewelry artists. The Affair also features live music, live painting and interactive activities for children. In the spirit of using art to create a better world, proceeds will fund the life-changing work of The Peace Project. Nearby restaurants will be welcoming festival attendees with food and beverage specials. F 5-9 p.m., Sa 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Su 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Free. Town Plaza, 9400 Culver Blvd., Culver City. affairofthearts.us
Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Company “Analogy Trilogy”
Nov. 3-4. CAP UCLA presents Analogy Trilogy, a new and ambitious three-part work from the acclaimed Bill T. Jones /Arnie Zane Company presented in one seven-hour marathon performance that includes all three works, dinner and a post-show Q&A with the company.
“Three Tales”
Nov. 3-4. Long Beach Opera opens its 40th anniversary season with Steve Reich’s Three Tales. Sung in English, the “documentary video opera” is a response to nearly 100 years of modern technology. It concerns the explosion of the Hindenburg, nuclear testings on Bikini Atoll, and the cloning of Dolly the sheep which draws connections between genetic engineering and artificial intelligence. Sa 6 p.m., Su 2:30 p.m. $49-$110. Ernest Borgnine Theater, Scottish Rite Event Center, 855 Elm Ave., Long Beach, 562.470.7464. longbeachopera.org
Arts of Africa Festival
Nov. 4. UCLA’s Fowler Museum presents a family-friendly afternoon of African-inspired food, music, storytelling and conversations with curators and blacksmiths. See website for complete schedule of activities. Noon-5 p.m. Free. Fowler Museum at UCLA, 308 Charles E. Young Dr. N., Westwood, 310.825.4361. fowler.ucla.edu
STYLE + BEAUTY
FEED Pop-In at Midland
Opens Nov. 1. Impact-driven lifestyle brand FEED will be making its West Coast debut at Culver City boutique Midland. Throughout the holiday season, browse a wide assortment of FEED’s signature products. With each purchase of the limited edition Los Angeles City Tote (a local exclusive), FEED will donate five meals to the Los Angeles Food Bank. Su-Th 11 a.m.-6 p.m., F-Sa 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Midland, 8634 Washington Blvd., Culver City, 424.298.8333. shop-midland.com
H. Merrick at Malibu Village Pop-Up Shop
Opens Nov. 3. Los Angeles-based designer Heidi Merrick opens her first beachside pop-up shop, an airy 3,000-square-foot space featuring H. Merrick’s Fall/Winter 2018, Resort 2019 and Swim collections alongside a limited-edition collection of SRF PCH tees, sweats, windbreakers, and essential surf accessories including slides, surf wax and towels, all created especially for the pop-up. The shop will also feature a bespoke installation of Britt Merrick for H. Merrick surfboards and a rotating calendar of art installations featuring local photographers and sculptors. M-Sa 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Su 11 a.m.-6 p.m. 3822 Cross Creek Rd., Malibu, 310.424.5520. heidimerrick.com
J Brand Sample Sale
Through Nov. 4. Shop discounts on men’s and women’s ready-to-wear denim and accessories from J Brand, makers of sophisticated jeans with an emphasis on fit. Th-Sa 10 a.m.-8 p.m., Su 10 a.m.-5 p.m. 260LA, 301 N. Canon Dr., Beverly Hills, 424.278.1257. 260la.com
Japanese Whiskey Dinner photo courtesy EST Prime Steakhouse. Diwali Night photo courtesy @dreamprashant/Instagram. Old Pasadena Day of the Dead photo courtesy Old Pasadena Management District. Grand Ave. Arts: All Access photo courtesy Grand Avenue Arts. ComplexCon photo courtesy ComplexCon. Smorgasburg Meltdown photo courtesy @smorgasburgla/Instagram. Affair of the Arts image by Outi Harma. “Analogy Trilogy” photo by Paul B. Goode. “Three Tales” photo of Steve Reich by Jeffrey Herman. Arts of Africa Festival photo courtesy Fowler Museum at UCLA.
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