Events
“Magic Hour”
Dec. 17-20. With these cooler nights, you can watch the sunset and listen to live music from the warmth of your home thanks to the Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board. Beginning Thursday, “Magic Hour”—a nightly celebration of livestreamed sunsets from Venice Beach—is running for four consecutive evenings, combining the destination’s famous sunsets with live music from local artists on Los Angeles Tourism’s website and social channels. The musical lineup features Street Symphony, Las Colibri, Melody of China and South Side Symphony. discoverlosangeles.com
Josh Groban’s First-Ever Holiday Concert
Dec. 19. The holidays are upon us, so it’s time to get into the spirit with multi-platinum, award-winning singer Josh Groban for his first-ever holiday concert this Saturday. The intimate livestreamed concert will have two different showings (1 p.m. and 5 p.m.); after the second airing, the show will be available to stream on demand for 48 hours. Enter code SPOTLIGHT in the pre-sale code box to ensure that $5 from every ticket purchase will be donated back to The Music Center in support our arts education programs musiccenter.org
Clara’s Virtual Nutcracker Tea Party
Dec. 20. Los Angeles Ballet is bringing the magic home to your family with Clara’s Nutcracker Tea Party. During the virtual event, join Clara as she invites you into her home for an interactive tea party filled with dance, magic, music, crafts and holiday fun for everyone. The afternoon includes excerpts of performances from Snow, Columbine and Harlequin, Russian, and Marie and her Prince from Los Angeles Ballet’s The Nutcracker. 11 a.m. $39.99+. losangelesballet.org
Food + Drink
Virtual Santa Monica Pub Crawl
Dec. 19. Dust off your Santa hats and ugly sweaters, the 12th annual Santa Monica Pub Crawl returns with a virtual bingo game night to support bars and restaurants while raising money for the Westside Food Bank! Join hosts Brian Thomas Smith from the “Big Bang Theory” and DJ Kooleo of Free Space for this holiday party with music, interactive games, bingo, costume contests, trivia, home scavenger hunts and mystery challenges. 6-8 p.m. $20-$55. santamonicapubcrawl.com
Canned Cocktails From Playa Provisions
Now Available. Cheers to the weekend with new canned cocktails from “Top Chef” winner Brooke Williamson’s Playa Provisions in Playa del Rey. These canned drinks are made in-house with a revolving menu of flavors—plus the fan-favorite Del Rey cocktail (think spicy cucumber margarita) as well as a Surfin’ Seltzer, Playa Provisions’ take on a White Claw. Additional flavors include Rum Me Over, Fall-oma, Spiked Covfefe and Moscow Mule. All cans are individually marked with the date they were canned. Purchase these at King Beach Café in Playa Provisions or online via Postmates. $7-$12. playaprovisions.com
Sushi Boxes from Katana
Now Available. Have your chopsticks at the ready because West Hollywood’s Katana is serving up special sushi boxes to enjoy at home. Order the Sushi Fix box ($28) featuring 5-piece nigiri, choice of spicy tuna cut roll or baked crab hand roll, cucumber sunomono and edamame; or the Deluxe Sushi Fix box ($42) that includes 7-piece nigiri, toro jalapeño cut roll, baked crab hand roll and edamame. Katana also offers bento boxes and sushi family packs for to-go and delivery. Su-Th 5-9 p.m., F-Sa 5-10 p.m. 8439 W. Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood, 323.650.8585. katanarobata.com
Arts + Culture
Holidaze Harmony
Dec. 16-20. Broadway veterans and acclaimed recording artists Terron Brooks and Kamilah Marshall star in this spectacular concert event filmed live on the Garry Marshall Theatre stage. This all-new streaming Christmas special is part variety show, part dynamite vocals that’s perfect for families to cozy up in their homes across the world to celebrate the season with the song-stylings of this dynamic duo. World premiere stream Dec. 16 at 7 p.m. World premiere: $35 per household; On demand: $29 per household. garrymarshalltheatre.org
Los Angeles Master Chorale’s Holiday Karaoke
Dec. 17. Celebrate the season with this full-length event led by Grant Gershon, Jenny Wong and some special guests. You’ll hear newly recorded performances and get to sing along to holiday favorites from seasons past. From classics such as the “Hallelujah” chorus to music from around the globe, this digital concert has a little something for everyone. The video will be available to stream through Dec. 31. 7 p.m. Free. lamasterchorale.org
LACLA Student Film Festival
Dec. 18. Latin American Cinemateca of Los Angeles (LACLA) presents the 13th annual LACLA Student Film Festival. Due to the current COVID-19 health crisis, LACLA has decided to practice safe, social distancing by offering their selective student film festival for the first time free of charge in a virtual format. As a means of encouraging and celebrating student film making, the festival features short films created by youth from various media arts programs and middle and high schools in the greater Los Angeles area. Free. lacla.org
Interviewing Miss Davis
Dec. 19. Settle in with your favorite beverage and tune in to Fountain Theatre’s Matinee series this Saturday for an Old Hollywood-themed holiday party filled with joy, games, and (of course) an online play reading. Watch venerable actress Karen Kondazian (pictured) take on the role of Hollywood legend Bette Davis in Interviewing Miss Davis by award-winning playwright Laura Maria Censabella. After the reading, stick around for party games and a celebration of friends, fellow artists and the Fountain’s all-important audience. 5-7 p.m. Free admission. fountaintheatre.com
Photo credits: Sunset at InterContinental Los Angeles Downtown courtesy J Public Relations. Josh Groban courtesy JoshGroban.com. Los Angeles Ballet Ensemble courtesy Reed Hutchinson/Los Angeles Ballet. “Holidaze Harmony” with Terron Brooks and Kamilah Marshall credit Matthew Gilmore. All other images are courtesy of the venues.
