Los Angeles

Weekend roundup

December 12-15

Events

Santa Monica Pub Crawl

Dec. 14. The 16th annual Santa Monica Pub Crawl returns this weekend, benefiting the Westside Food Bank. Over 20 bars and restaurants will feature $6–$9 drink specials, discounted food, free entry, live entertainment and access to Santa’s Secret After Party at Mon Ami with an official wristband. Choose from Main Street or Promenade routes, or opt for the VIP Route Hopper wristband for access to all locations. Festive attire is encouraged, with prizes for best holiday spirit and scavenger hunt winners. Saturday at 4 p.m. For specific pub crawl locations visit santamonicapubcrawl.com


Meet Me Under The Fig Tree

Dec. 15. Fairmont Miramar Hotel & Bungalows is hosting a free holiday celebration featuring live music, performances and family-friendly activities like photos with Santa (reservations required), cookie decorating, a bounce house and a snow machine. Enjoy dishes from FIG Restaurant and local favorites like BOA Steak and Sushi Roku, plus a fire truck showcase, SMDP horses and hourly raffles with prizes. Donations will benefit Santa MoniCARES, the Westside Food Bank and Chrysalis. Sunday, from 1-4 p.m. 101 Wilshire Blvd., Santa Monica. fairmont-miramar.com


Meet Me Under The Fig Tree

Dec. 14. Kismet teams up with Flamingo Estate for a festive Holiday Puppy Party, featuring adoptable dogs from Wags & Walks and Pups Without Borders, two organizations committed to finding loving homes for rescue pups. Guests can meet adoptable dogs, enjoy the seasonal atmosphere, and sample Kismet’s slow-cooked treats for dogs. Adding to the holiday cheer, Kismet co-founders Chrissy Teigen and John Legend will be on-site to greet attendees and their four-legged friends. Saturday, 2-5 p.m. 5638 N. Figueroa Street, Los Angeles. More Information


PetCon

Dec. 14. One of the nation’s premier pet events, PetCon, arrives at Playa Vista’s upscale Wallis Annenberg PetSpace this weekend. The event features meet-and-greets with pet influencers, a holiday market and engaging speaker sessions. Guests can bring their pets for caricatures, treats from Woof Gang Bakery and an agility course led by Baloo the Bunny Eared Bully. On-site pet adoptions will also be available. A portion of ticket sales supports the Wallis Annenberg PetSpace Extraordinary Care Fund. Saturday at 10 a.m. 12005 Bluff Creek Drive, Los Angeles. petcon.co


Food + Drinks

Palma Ristorante

Now Open.This new upscaled dining just recently arrived in Burbank with a focus on fresh seafood, grilled steaks, artisanal pastas and wood-fired pizzas crafted by Chef Emidio Tidu of Rome. The open kitchen offers a view of the culinary process, while the space features an oyster bar, a steak carving station, a wood-fired pizza oven and a dessert program with imported gelato and housemade pastries, creating a refined yet approachable dining experience. Hours vary. 269 E Palm Ave., Burbank. Reserve Now


8 Nights at Birdie G’s 

Dec. 12. The annual dinner series hosted by James Beard-nominated chef Jeremy Fox concludes its run at Birdie G’s in Santa Monica from December 9–12. This special event features collaborative, family-style menus crafted with award-winning guest chefs from acclaimed spots like Yangban, Baroo, Chez Noir in Carmel and Lula Café in Chicago. This week they have with Chef Jason Hammel from Lula Café and Chef Kwang Uh from Baroo. Thursday at 5 p.m. 2421 Michigan Ave., Santa Monica. Reserve Now


Camphor Steak Frites Pop-Up: A Special Holiday Treat

Dec. 12-14. Michelin-starred Camphor from DTLA’s Arts District is hosting a limited-time steak frites night at Lumière Brasserie in The Fairmont Century. Only this weekend, guests can enjoy a $65 prix-fixe menu featuring expertly crafted steak, golden fries, crisp salad and freshly baked baguette with butter. Enhance the experience with signature desserts and craft cocktails. Both lunch and dinner seatings are available. Hours vary. 2025 Avenue of the Stars, Los Angeles. Reserve Now


Be Merry & Bright Menu

Now Serving. Be Bright Coffee welcomes the holiday season with its holiday menu, available through year-end at its Melrose cafe and Smorgasburg LA. The menu includes festive drinks like the peppermint mocha (espresso, chocolate ganacheand peppermint cold foam), The Grinch (matcha with a peppermint twist) and The Ghost of Eggnog Past ( house-made eggnog, espresso and nutmeg). Other options include Snow on the Beach with toasted coconut syrup and macadamia milk. Open daily, 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Store front, 7311 Melrose Ave., Los Angeles. More Information


Arts + Culture

Once Upon a Mattress

Now Showing. Sutton Foster stars as Princess Winnifred in Once Upon a Mattress at the Ahmanson Theatre, a reimagining of Hans Christian Andersen’s The Princess and the Pea. Directed by Tony nominee Lear deBessonet (Into the Woods) and adapted by Amy Sherman-Palladino (The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel), the production features classic songs like “Shy” and “In a Little While” while celebrating Winnifred’s spirited transformation of a repressed kingdom. Hours vary. 135 N. Grand Ave., Los Angeles. centertheatregroup.org

Billie Eilish at The Kia Forum

Start Dec. 15. Grammy and Oscar winner Billie Eilish, known for her unconventional approach and free-spirited artistry, brings her “Hit Me Hard and Soft: The Tour” to the Kia Forum for five nights. The L.A. native and generational icon continues to captivate audiences with her unique blend of pop, blending unexpected elements like samples from The Office and horror-inspired visuals. First show is this Sunday at 7 p.m. 3900 W. Manchester Blvd., Los Angeles. Get Tickets Now

Gay Men’s Chorus of Los Angeles Sugarplum Fairies

Dec. 14-15. The cornerstone of the city’s performing arts for over 40 years, The Gay Men’s Chorus of Los Angeles presents its annual holiday show at the Saban Theatre in Beverly Hills. This year’s Willy Wonka-themed performance celebrates both the classic film and the recent adaptation, featuring a mix of festive holiday songs and nods to the iconic story, all while supporting LGBTQ+ awareness and advocacy. Saturday at 8 p.m. Sunday at 3:30 p.m. 8440 Wilshire Blvd., Beverly Hills. gmcla.org


Marina del Rey Holiday Boat Parade

Dec. 14. Experience the charm of a small-town fishing village at the Marina del Rey Holiday Boat Parade. Gather at Fisherman’s Village or Burton Chace Park to watch nearly 70 boats adorned with festive lights and decorations compete in categories such as best theme, best animation, best band and best lights. This year’s theme, “A Margaritaville Holiday,” honors the legacy of iconic singer-songwriter Jimmy Buffett. Saturday at 5:45 p.m. 13650 Mindanao Way, Los Angeles. mdrboatparade.org


Photo credit: Once Upon a Mattress courtesy of Joan Marcus. Billie Eilish courtesy of StubHub. PhotoDog in sunglasses courtesy of Petcon. Holiday photos courtesy of SANTA Monica Pub Crawl. All other images are courtesy of the venues and businesses featured.

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