Events
Family Fest: Lunar New Year
Jan. 17. A Lunar New Year edition of the free Saturday-morning Family Fest arrives at The Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts, inviting families to welcome the Year of the Horse with hands-on activities and live performances. The morning lineup includes origami workshops, traditional foods, lion and dragon dances and improv comedy from Asian American troupe Cold Tofu, creating an accessible, all-ages celebration rooted in culture, creativity and community. Saturday at 11 a.m. 9390 N. Santa Monica Blvd., Los Angeles. thewallis.org
1500 or Nothin’ Day 2026
Jan. 17. Rooted in community and culture, the event unites world-class music with local legacy through performances and appearances from artists tied to the 1500 or Nothin’ lineage, with past editions welcoming special guests including Snoop Dogg, Angela Bassett, Leon Thomas and Gunna. Throughout the day, Roland instruments come alive during select performances, adding a hands-on layer to the experience. Officially recognized by the City of Inglewood, the annual gathering was founded by GRAMMY-winning producer Larrance Dopson. Saturday, noon–5 p.m. for the Community Festival (All Ages). 5 p.m.–12 a.m. for the. Main Event (21+). Exact location provided after ticket purchase. 235 W. Florence Ave., Inglewood. 1500day.com
Asian American Expo
Jan. 17-18. Ring in Lunar New Year early with a pan-Asian celebration showcasing the flavors, sights and sounds of Asia at Fairplex . Established more than four decades ago, the expansive expo unfolds across multiple stages and exhibition halls, featuring more than 1,400 vendors, live performances ranging from Chinese acrobatics to Japanese taiko drumming and a wide array of food pavilions. The weekend also hosts concurrent, separately ticketed events spotlighting K-pop, anime and pop culture, creating a high-energy crossroads of tradition and modern fandom. Saturday-Sunday, 10 a.m.-7 p.m. 1101 W., McKinley Ave., Los Angeles. asianamericanexpo.com
The Art of Fresh Pasta-Making
Jan. 16. For one night only, an elevated pasta workshop lands high above the city as The Green Room at Castaway hosts Italian chef Roberta D’Elia in collaboration with Pasta Evangelists. Guests are guided through making cavatelli and orecchiette by hand, fueled by bottomless prosecco and an abundant antipasti spread. Once the dough is shaped and cooked, the group sits down together to enjoy the pasta they’ve made, with sweeping views of twinkling Los Angeles lights below—turning a cooking class into a communal, celebratory dinner experience. Friday at 6:45 p.m. 1250 E. Harvard Road, Burbank. tgrburbank.com
Food + Drinks
Valentine’s Day Dinner: Candlelight & Romance
Starts Feb. 14. Celebrate Valentine’s Day at Esterel Restaurant with an intimate, candlelit dinner featuring a refined three-course prix fixe menu, live Pop & Blues music, and a romantic atmosphere. Menu highlights include pan-seared branzino, Barolo braised beef, specialty pasta, and decadent desserts. $95++ per person. Sofitel Los Angeles at 8555 Beverly Blvd., Los Angeles. Book the Romance
New Year Wellness Spotlight: PLANTA’s
Now Serving. Set along the waterfront in Marina del Rey, PLANTA delivers a polished take on plant-based dining, blending thoughtful sourcing with globally inspired flavors. The menu leans into craveable signatures like bang bang broccoli, dan dan noodles,and an expansive sushi selection that reimagines tradition with inventive swaps—most notably watermelon standing in for ahi tuna. Enjoy a balance between nourishment and indulgence while offering a fresh, modern approach to mindful eating in a scenic coastal setting. Hours vary. 4625 Admiralty Way Ste. 104, Marina Del Rey. plantarestaurants.com
Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams x Bridgerton
Now Serving. Timed to the upcoming fourth season of Bridgerton, Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams is unveiling two limited-edition flavors inspired by the Netflix hit. The rollout mirrors the show’s two-part release, beginning with Queen Charlotte Sponge Cake, an elegant take on a Victoria sponge–meets–Princess Cake layered with bright berries, soft cake and custard notes. Arriving in February, Earl Grey Crème Brûlée infuses fragrant tea into a silky custard base, finished with crackly burnt-sugar candies for a refined, Regency-era flourish. For specific location and extra information, visit jenis.com
Happy Hour at Paradise Dynasty
Now Serving. A new weekday happy hour has quietly arrived at Paradise Dynasty at The Americana at Brand, offering a compelling afternoon window for fans of soup dumplings and classic Chinese comfort dishes. The dine-in–only special features 50% off soup dumplings, dim sum, wontons, fried rice and fried noodles, alongside beer and wine priced at $2.99. Available Monday through Friday from 2:30–5 p.m. 177 Caruso Ave., Glendale. americanaatbrand.com
Arts + Culture
Symphonies for Youth Sensory Symphony
Jan. 17. This immersive family concert by the LA Phil explores how music connects with the body as much as the ear, from the rumbling force of Saint-Saëns’ Third Symphony played on a 6,134-pipe organ to the hypnotic textures of Big Majestic and the radiant color of Finlandia and Sky with Four Suns. The program encourages audiences to experience sound through vibration, breath and emotion. Families are invited to arrive an hour early for themed activities, such as self-guided art projects—setting the stage for a morning of musical discovery meant to resonate long after the final note. Saturday at 11 a.m. 111 S. Grand Ave., Los Angeles. laphil.com
iHeartRadio ALTer Ego
Jan. 17. Radio-friendly rock takes over the Kia Forum as Green Day, Twenty One Pilots and Cage the Elephant headline the annual iHeartRadio showcase, marking its return after a yearlong pause due to wildfires. The lineup also features Sublime, Good Charlotte, Myles Smith, Gigi Perez and Almost Monday. Fans unable to make it to Inglewood can still catch the show live by tuning in to ALT 98.7. Saturday at 7 p.m. 3900 W. Manchester Blvd., Los Angeles. iheart.com
Lorenzo Marini’s Typeland
Opens Jan. 17. Bruce Lurie Gallery presents Typeland, a solo exhibition by Lorenzo Marini, curated by Sen Fu, highlighting the internationally recognized artist’s pioneering role in the TypeArt movement, where typography functions as an expressive visual language. Featuring 15 paintings, the immersive installation Raintype and a sculptural armchair, the exhibition moves through Rationalist alphabets, comic-inspired letterforms and Marini’s iconic Black Call works previously shown at the Venice Biennale. The show also marks one of the first major solo exhibitions since Bruce Lurie Gallery reopened in Santa Monica following the Palisades fire, made possible through the support of the local community. Opening reception this Saturday, 6-9 p.m. 608 Santa Monica Blvd., Santa Monica. lorenzomariniarte.com
The Naked Comedy Show
Jan. 17. Stand-up is already a vulnerable art form, but Naked Comedy raises the stakes for its Los Angeles debut this weekend. The popular New York City series, hosted by Billy Procida, features a lineup of emerging comedians performing—quite literally—with nothing to hide. The body-positive show lands at Elysian Theater for a night of pantless punchlines and radical honesty onstage. If you can’t make it Friday, the series will return, but one rule remains firm: phones stay tucked away, keeping the experience present, respectful and off-camera. Saturday at 8 p.m. 1115 Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles. Get Tickets Now
Photo credit:All images are courtesy of the venues and businesses featured.
