Events
Twilight Garden Strolls
Aug. 18. Enjoy a tranquil evening exploring The Huntington’s botanical marvels and spectacular themed gardens during Twilight Garden Strolls. This Sunday, as day turns to dusk, relax and discover The Huntington, just 12 miles from downtown Los Angeles. Sunday, 4:30–7:30 p.m. 1151 Oxford Road, San Marino. More info at huntington.org
The Little Mermaid’ Immersive Experience
Now Open. Families can dive into Ariel’s world at Disney’s The Little Mermaid x CAMP in Westfield Century City, an immersive 5,300-square-foot undersea adventure behind CAMP’s Magic Door. Highlights include singing along to hit songs, exploring King Triton’s Palace, searching for treasures in Ariel’s Grotto, climbing through a shipwreck, watching a magic show in Ursula’s lair and shopping exclusive merchandise. Open daily at 10 a.m. Westfield Century City, 2nd Floor, Los Angeles. camp.com
All Out for Fallout Day
Aug. 15. Fans of Amazon’s Fallout series can look forward to ‘All Out for Fallout Day,’ as Amazon MGM Studios partners with 33 local businesses to celebrate. In tribute to Vault 33, popular spots like The Window will offer double burgers for 33 cents, Sweet Rose Creamery will serve 33-cent ice cream and Trejo’s Coffee & Donuts will give out free Fallout-themed donuts. Beyond food, Sunset Ranch is hosting 33-cent “Guided Ghoul” horseback tours in Beachwood Canyon, featuring views of the Griffith Park Observatory, a key series location. For specific times and locations, visit alloutforfallout.com
Nisei Week Japanese Festival
Until Aug. 18. Join the downtown L.A. community for the 82nd Nisei Week Japanese Festival, featuring free Japanese cultural activities, including music, entertainment and food. The final weekend includes a beer garden, free cultural exhibits and the Taiko Gathering at JACCC Plaza. Nisei Week concludes with Ondo street dancing on Little Tokyo’s First Street, accompanied by taiko and a special program celebrating Little Tokyo’s 140 years. Hours vary. 244 S. San Pedro Street, Los Angeles. niseiweek.org
Taste of Downtown: Waterfront
Aug. 15. The Waterfront in Long Beach marks the 15th anniversary of Taste of Downtown with special bites, drinks, fun activities and live entertainment. The event showcases local restaurants, featuring food samples, beer, wine and cocktails from Downtown’s chefs, brewers and mixologists. Admission is free, with tasting tickets available for $1 each. Thursday, 5-9 p.m. 401 Shoreline Village Drive
Long Beach. downtownlongbeach.org
Food + Drinks
Deme
Now Open. Hotel Figueroa in DTLA introduces Deme, a new flagship poolside named after Demeter, the Greek Goddess of the Harvest, honoring the hotel’s history of empowering women since 1926. The menu, inspired by the flavors of the Eastern Mediterranean and the Aegean Sea, features dishes designed for sharing. Highlights include crispy lobster kataifi with house-fermented harissa, Turkish lamb manti, wagyu intercostal souvlaki, vegan roasted zucchini with skordalia and Greek-inspired glazed Fremantle octopus skewers. Tuesday-Saturday, 5 p.m.-close 939 S. Figueroa Street, Los Angeles. Reserve Now
Koreaworld x Caldo Verde
Aug. 15. This cookbook dinner series, led by James Beard Award winners Suzanne Goin and Caroline Styne, highlights prominent authors in a culinary exchange. This latest event celebrates the release of “Koreaworld: A Cookbook” by Chef Deuki Hong and journalist Matt Rodbard. The four-course menu features interpretation of Korean cuisine, including dishes like grilled kimchi wedge salad and jeju whole fried smash rockfish, followed by banana milk cake with misugaru milk ice cream. Thursday, 5-10 p.m. $85 per person. 1100 S. Broadway, Los Angeles. Reserve Now
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PREGAME with Level 8
Now Serving. Located near Crypto.com Arena and the Los Angeles Convention Center, Level 8 is a great spot to start your evening before an event in downtown LA. Enjoy a 3-course meal at any of Level 8’s restaurants: Mother of Pearl offers seafood platters with oysters, shrimp and spicy bluefin tuna. Maison Kasai features teppanyaki dishes like a wagyu A5 burger or eggplant katsu with curry. Lucky Mizu specializes in sushi and shabu-shabu, offering spicy tuna rolls and prime ribeye. Wednesday-Sunday at 5 p.m. 1254 S.Figueroa Street, Los Angeles. level8dtla.com
Parallel Palates
Aug. 15-16. In a celebration of culinary cross-culture, Japanese curator and tea expert Tomoko Imade Dyen collaborates with Chef Debbie Lee of Joseon for “Parallel Palates,” a two-night event at Joseon in Silver Lake. This exclusive dining experience features a multi-course tasting menu that pairs Japanese and Korean dishes side by side, exploring their contrasts and connections. The evening concludes with a dessert that unifies both cultures. Thursday-Friday, 6-9 p.m. 3709 Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles. Reserve Now
HATCH DTLA
Open. A modern Japanese restaurant specializing in yakitori, inventive dishes and curated drinks. It blends traditional Japanese cooking techniques with bold international flavors, offering a lively dining experience. The beverage program features handcrafted cocktails, a diverse selection of sakes and rare Japanese whiskies. Hours vary. 700 W 7th St, Ste G600, Los Angeles. hatchyalater.com
Arts + Culture
Golda Zahra at Disney Hall
Aug. 16. Fresh off her sold-out performance at the BroadStage, award-winning opera singer and L.A. native Golda Zahra is set to return to the Walt Disney Concert Hall for a grand concert gala production of Puccini’s Turandot. Golda will make her professional debut as Liu in the Pacific Music Festival’s spectacular production celebrating 100 years of Puccini’s life and his opera masterpiece, Turandot! Featuring the Dream Orchestra led by renowned conductor Daniel Suk, Golda joins a world-class international ensemble and cast of 200 performers and the Opera Chorus of Los Angeles. Friday at 7:30 p.m. 111 S. Grand Ave., Los Angeles. dreamorchestra.org
The Gipsy Kings featuring Nicolas Reyes
Aug. 16. Grammy Award-winning group The Gipsy Kings featuring Nicolas Reyes are set to return to the Hollywood Bowl for an evening of flamenco, rumba, salsa and pop. With over 20 million albums sold worldwide, their performance is sure to create a lively atmosphere. Multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, producer, and Eurovision finalist MARO will open the event. Friday at 8 p.m. 2301 Highland Ave, Los Angeles. hollywoodbowl.com
The Civility of Albert Cashier
Aug. 31-Sept. 22. The astonishing true story of a Union Army soldier in the Civil War, now transformed into a powerful and timely new musical, defying definition. Albert Cashier retired as a veteran in Illinois, where a lifelong secret eventually caused an uproar in his small town. The revelation led to a trial, prompting his former comrades to rally together once more. Use code BILLY for $39 discount tickets on Preview shows. Show times vary. The Colony Theatre, 555 N. Third St. Burbank. colonytheatre.org
Watts Culture Fest
Aug. 17. A celebration designed to empower Watts and South Central communities by preserving and sharing their cultural heritage through food and goods with L.A. residents and visitors. Held on WLCAC’s 7-acre campus, which includes visual and media arts studios, features food vendors such as Ankh Juice, Big B the Chef, Jayy’s Lemonade, Magnolia St. Kitchen, Not So Instant Coffee, Tommy’s Good Food and Watts Waffles. Saturday, 3-8 p.m. 10950 S. Central Ave., Los Angeles. wlcac.org
Dan Rosenboom’s Polarity Quintet
Aug. 15. Bringing leading West Coast jazz and improvised music to the Hammer courtyard, JazzPOP returns for its 17th season this summer. The featured performance of the week is artist Dan Rosenboom, a key figure in L.A’s music scene, delivers finely crafted music that blends tight grooves, improvisation and dynamic ensemble interplay. He has also played a pivotal role in energizing the local music community and producing numerous recordings. Thursday at 8 p.m. 10899 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles. hammer.ucla.edu
Photo credit: Deme courtesy of Robiee Ziegler. Gypsy Kings courtesy of The Hollywood Bowl. Food courtesy of HATCH DTLA. Taste of Downtown courtesy of Downtown Long Beach. Little Mermaid Experience courtesy of CAMP. All other images are courtesy of the venues and businesses featured.
