Events
Huntington Evening Strolls
July 16-18. Enjoy some fresh air with a leisurely walk around The Huntington’s grounds in the evenings. The gardens are open from 5:30 to 8 p.m. most evenings in July and August to members and visitors with advance reservations or pre-purchased tickets. Check the online calendar for available dates; tickets will be released for a week at a time. Tickets limited to one evening per week per household. $20 adults, $15 seniors/military/students, $5 children ages 4-11, free for kids 3 and under. 1151 Oxford Road, San Marino, 626.405.2100. huntington.org
Tribeca Drive-In Movies
July 16-19. Take a ride to Pasadena’s Rose Bowl to watch films at Tribeca’s month-long drive-in theater. Featured screenings this weekend include films such as John Wick, The Dark Knight, Mean Girls, Superbad, Invasion!, The Goonies, Be Water, Straight Outta Compton, Friday Night Lights and Wonder Woman. Concessions from local businesses on site, and private screenings available for healthcare and frontline workers. See website for showtimes and tickets. Rose Bowl Stadium parking lot, 1001 Rose Bowl Drive, Pasadena. tribecafilm.com
Winesplaining Zoom Tasting
July 19. The Silver Lake wine shop Vinovore presents a virtual wine tasting with owner Coly Den Haan and special host Zwann Grays from Brooklyn’s Olmsted. They will be joined by wife and wife winemakers Mireia Taribó and Tara Gomez of Camins 2 Dreams; all of the proceeds from this tasting will be donated to Seeding Sovereignty. To participate, purchase the featured wine and then receive a Zoom link via email for the tasting. Wine prices vary depending on the options. See website for more info. 4 p.m. vino-vore.com
Food + Drink
Patio Cocktail Pop-Up
July 15-16. Experience the new patio cocktail pop-up with cocktail chef Matthew Biancaniello, the author of Eat Your Drink. Biancaniello introduces new specially-created cocktails for Akasha based on farm-fresh, organic ingredients. New sips include Akasha 2.0, Peach-Shiitake Old Fashioned, Summer Pimm’s Cup (pictured), Aeolian Dreams, Green Oasis and Kentucky Bubble Bath. Tables are first-come, first serve. 4-8 p.m. 9543 Culver Blvd., Culver City, 310.845.1700. akasharestaurant.com
Alexander’s Steakhouse
Reopened. Elevate your evenings with an outdoor fine-dining dinner service at Alexander’s Steakhouse in accordance with the county, state, OSHA and CDC safety mandates. Not up to dining in? Alexander’s continues to offer takeout and delivery daily from 5 to 8:45 p.m., as well as the online butcher shop. Reservations highly recommended. Tu-Su 5-9:30 p.m. 111 N. Los Robles Ave., Pasadena, 626.486.1111. alexanderssteakhouse.com
Patio Dining at Gracias Madre
Reopened. Spend your evenings in an open-air setting at Gracias Madre to enjoy traditional, plant-based Mexican cuisine. For those that prefer to dine at home, there’s a pared down menu to-go featuring menu items by executive chef Mario Alberto—available to order for pickup or delivery here. Gracias Madre also offers its signature Purista margarita to-go for two! Open for dinner daily from 4-9 p.m.; brunch on Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Open daily 4-10 p.m. 8905 Melrose Ave., West Hollywood, 323.978.2170. graciasmadre.co
Tamales Elena y Antojitos
Now Open. After nearly 30 years as a street vendor/food truck operator, owner and chef Maria Elena Lorenzo welcomes diners to her first brick-and-mortar restaurant in Bell Gardens. Aside from having the distinction of being L.A.’s first Afro-Mexican restaurant, Tamales Elena y Antojitos features a drive-thru and offers takeout and delivery. The menu highlights traditional tamales and popular Mexican dishes from La Costa Chica, in the Mexican state of Guerrero. 8101 Garfield Ave., Bell Gardens. Info
Veranda Al Fresco
Now Available. DTLA’s award-winning Hotel Figueroa invites guests to its new outdoor dining experience, Veranda Al Fresco. The outdoor oasis offers an array of Mexico City-inspired eats and cocktails in an al fresco setting. Indulge in items from the new outdoor menu ($6-$16) such as Baja fish tacos, alambre de carne, shrimp ceviche, squash blossom quesadilla and esquites. To accompany the al fresco food menu is an assortment of cocktails and sangrias ($13-$14). W-Su noon-7 p.m. 939 S. Figueroa St., L.A., 877.724.1973. hotelfigueroa.com
Arts + Culture
In Conversation: Linda Komaroff and Omar Offendum
July 16. Join Linda Komaroff—the curator of Islamic Art and department head, Art of the Middle East—and Syrian-American rapper and spoken word artist Omar Offendum for LACMA’s special, virtual conversation in commemoration of L.A. County’s Muslim American Heritage Month. Noon-1 p.m. Free, RSVP required. lacma.org
Virtual Poetry Workshop
July 16. Curious to explore the world of poetry? The Elysian Valley Arts Collective presents a series of free virtual poetry workshops—streamed live via Google Meet Up—taught by renowned author, journalist, editor, and stage and screenwriter Rex Weiner. On Thursday, Weiner welcomes special guest poet, artist, author and educator Harry Gamboa Jr. 7-8 p.m. Free. evartscollective.com
Teddy Bear Making with Chuck Hohng
July 18. Make your own bears with studio resident Chuck Hohng in this online workshop. Learn about basic teddy bear making and how to create a vintage-looking bear for yourself or to gift to a loved one. Good understanding of hand sewing required. Sewing machine recommended. For intermediate sewers ages 18+. See website to access pre-class instructional video and materials list. 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Free. Sign up
Smartphone Animation with Matt Renolds
July 19. Learn to use the free smartphone app, Stop Motion Studio as part of a larger lesson about creating “location animations” studio resident Matt Reynolds. Participants will be walked through the interface of Stop Motion Studio and create two example sequences. Participants need a smartphone and to download Stop Motion Studio (available for Apple and Android). 1-4 p.m. Free. Sign up
Kendell Carter: Excerpts from the Book of Love
On View. Edward Cella Art & Architecture presents a solo exhibition of L.A.-based artist Kendell Carter. The exhibit features only six artworks from four moments in the artist’s oeuvre over the past decade; the objects exemplify artist’s enduring commitment to pursue the notion of Love as a radical catalyst of transformation and change. edwardcella.com | Viewing room
Photos credits: Patio Cocktail Pop-Up, Mia Wasilevich. Tamales Elena y Antojitos Pozole, Wonho Frank Lee. Omar Offendum, Laith Majali. Teddy Bear Making and Smartphone Animation, City of Santa Monica. All other images are courtesy of the venues.
