Events
Afro-Latinx Family Festival
Feb. 18-27. Celebrate the richness and diversity of the African heritage in Latin American culture during The Museum of Latin American Art’s annual Afro-Latinx Family Festival. Available via Zoom this year, the fest features a myriad of conversations, performances and presentations—with artists, scholars and community organizers such as Ariana Brown and Alán Pelaez López (pictured)—highlighting the history and experiences of Afro-Latinx. See website for schedule. Free. molaa.org
NFMLA’s Monthly Film Festival
Feb. 20. Tune in to watch NewFilmmakers Los Angeles host its February Monthly Film Festival and annual InFocus: Black Cinema program, along with a selection of top local and international indie short films. The day’s programming kicks off with films from NFMLA’s winter program, followed by a selection of films from emerging Black creators in front of and behind the camera. The evening concludes with the world premiere of Taliya, a gripping, fantastical feature by award-winning Kenyan TV writer/director Arnold Mwanjila. 12:30-9 p.m. $10 per single film program and industry panel tickets; $30 for all-access pass. newfilmmakersla.com
Food + Drink
Pacific Terrace Pop-Up
Opens Feb. 19. Dine with ocean views at Shutters on the Beach’s new outdoor rooftop dining space Pacific Terrace along with a pop-up sustainable seafood menu from chef Brian Bornemann’s soon-to-open Crudo e Nudo. Pacific Terrace offers both a tented space with heaters and tables, and a spacious living room setting with decor provided by Veuve Cliquot. The pop-up menu is available on Fridays and Saturdays; on Sundays, Mondays and Thursdays, enjoy a menu featuring the best of Shutters on the Beach dishes and new Veuve Cliquot cocktails. Th-M 3-9 p.m. 1 Pico Blvd., Santa Monica, 310.458.0030. shuttersonthebeach.com
National Margarita Day at STK
Upcoming | Feb. 22. Sip sip, hooray—it’s National Margarita Day! To celebrate this boozy day, STK Steakhouse is offering two margarita specials, its Spiced Watermelon that is made with Patron Silver, St~Germain, WTRMLN WTR, fresh lime and jalapeño; or the Green With Envy containing Volcán tequila, fresh lime, cucumber and muddled bell pepper. Sip away (responsibly) while dining with STK for dinner, or come early for happy hour, where all signature cocktails are half-off daily from 3-6:30 p.m. Open daily 11 a.m.-10 p.m. 930 Hilgard Ave., L.A., 310.659.3535. stksteakhouse.com
Krispy Rice’s “Plenty of Fish in the Sea”
Through Feb. 28. The playful, delivery-focused Japanese concept teams up with global dating platform Tinder for a “Plenty of Fish in the Sea” partnership in honor of Singles Awareness Day (Feb. 15) and National Flirting Week (Feb. 14-21). The collab includes a limited-edition combo box from Krispy Rice, along with a free one-month membership of Tinder Gold, which includes features like Passport, Rewind, Unlimited Likes, five Super Likes per day, one Boost per month, and Likes You. As part of the promotion, diners will have the option of three limited-edition Krispy Rice combination boxes with each order. Available for delivery daily via major delivery platforms. krispyricebysbe.com
Arts + Culture
Mars: An Artistic Mission
Opens Feb. 18. To mark the landing of the Mars 2020 spacecraft Perseverance on the Red Planet, the historic California Art Club presents this virtual exhibition of Mars: An Artistic Mission through May 31. The online display spans fact, fiction and fantasy, as artists with this century-old fine art organization use their talents to celebrate the rover’s landing day by interpreting the Martian landscape and its lore into paintings and sculptures. The exhibition will unveil after the rover lands at approximately 12:55 p.m. californiaartclub.org
Matthew Bourne’s Romeo and Juliet
Feb. 18-21. Get swept up in this musical re-imaging of Shakespeare’s star-crossed lovers by world-renowned British choreographer and dancer Matthew Bourne. This contemporary take on Romeo and Juliet is set in the not-too-distant future at ‘The Verona Institute’ where the two young lovers are mysteriously confined against their will by a society that seeks to divide and crush their youthful spirits. See website for schedule to watch from home. $10 per household. centertheatregroup.org
Yasmina Reza’s Art
Begins Feb. 18. Have a laugh during International City Theatre’s 36th season opener Art—a virtual presentation of Yasmina Reza’s Tony Award- and Olivier Award-winning play. The plot takes a hilarious look at the bonds of friendship viewed through the prism of modern art. Viewers can stream this on demand every Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday through March 7. $30 per household. ictlongbeach.org
LA Opera Digital Short: Death
Begins Feb. 19. LA Opera presents the online world premiere of Death, a new digital short showcasing the music of one of the most celebrated composers of our time, Tyshawn Sorey (pictured). Death features Sorey’s newly commissioned musical setting of the short poem “Death” by Paul Laurence Dunbar (1872-1906), the most influential Black poet of his time. The piece is performed by mezzo-soprano Amanda Lynn Bottoms and pianist Howard Watkins. Available for streaming starting Feb. 19 at 11 a.m. on LA Opera’s Facebook and YouTube channel for free. laopera.org
deader than dead
Feb. 21. Join Hammer Museum for a special event featuring a conversation between movement artist and scholar Mlondi Zondi with Made in L.A. 2020 artist Ligia Lewis, followed by a screening of Lewis’s dance performance deader than dead. Conceived, choreographed and directed by Lewis for Made in L.A., this screening not only documents a performance of the piece, it represents the potential of a live performance to come. There will be a Q&A with Zondi and Lewis after the screening. 1 p.m. Free with RSVP. hammer.ucla.edu
Photo credits: Krispy Rice courtesy Wagstaff Media & Marketing. “Preparing for Entry” Mars oil painting by Nanette Biers. Yasmina Reza’s “Art” by Mike Bradecich. All other images are courtesy of the businesses and venues.
