
From new restaurant openings to fireworks at the Hollywood Bowl, here are the top LA weekend events for August 17-20.
Edited by Christina Xenos.
EVENTS
Aug. 17-20. This free, all-ages music festival focuses on the music, creativity, diversity and small businesses of Echo Park. Enjoy music on multiple stages and activities throughout the weekend. Check website for lineup and set times. Th 7 p.m.; F-Sa 2 p.m.; Su noon. Free. Stages located on the main routes of Sunset and Glendale boulevards, Alvarado Street and Echo Park Avenue, L.A. epr.la
Aug. 18-19. Witty conductor Bramwell Tovey commands the stage during this annual tradition of classical and cannons. The USC Trojan Marching Band joins the L.A. Philharmonic for the “1812 Overture,” complete with thrilling instrumentation and pyrotechnics. 8 p.m. See website for ticket pricing. 2301 N. Highland Ave., Hollywood, 323.850.2000. hollywoodbowl.com
Aug. 19. The 7th annual craft beer festival offers unlimited tastes of more than 100 styles of microbrews and hard ciders from both popular and startup breweries. Noon-5 p.m. (alcohol service ends at 4 p.m.). Advance purchase $28–$40. Shoreline Aquatic Park, 200 Aquarium Way, Long Beach, 714.375.1132. tasteofbrews.com
Aug. 19-Sept. 4. Grand Park celebrates its 5th anniversary by paying tribute to the Angelenos who embraced the location and made it their own. The photographic exhibition by 10 Los Angeles photographers will include 100 images of residents from across the county. The images will be projected at approximately 150 feet high and 100 feet wide onto the south wall of the Los Angeles County Hall of Records and will be shown from sundown until midnight each day of the exhibition. The series kicks off with a party on Saturday night from 8-10 p.m. that features DJ tunes, a photo booth, screen printing and a chance to mingle with the photographers. Free. 200 N. Grand Ave., downtown. grandparkla.org
Aug. 19. Celebrate the beloved singer and film under the stars with Street Food Cinema. Live music from emerging artists and food from the city’s top trucks will also be on-hand. Doors 5:30 p.m.; band 6:30 p.m.; movie 8:30 p.m. $6-$21; under 6 free. Los Angeles State Historic Park, 1245 N. Spring St., L.A., 323.254.5068. streetfoodcinema.com
Aug. 19-20. “Cruise” back in time to the Golden Age of Travel for a weekend aboard one of the greatest Maritime Monarchs in history. Drink, dine, dance and discover the opulence of this by-gone era immersed among the largest collection of Art Deco in the World. See website for schedule and tickets. Queen Mary, 1126 Queens Hwy., Long Beach. queenmary.com
Aug. 20. Making his first performance in LA in three years, Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter Rufus Wainwright brings an intimate evening to Angelenos. This special evening features the work of Canadian musicians beloved across generations, selected and sung by Wainwright with his own distinct interpretation. 8 p.m. Tickets from $55. The Ford Amphitheater, 2580 Cahuenga Blvd. E., L.A., 323.461.3673. fordtheatres.org
Aug. 20. LA’s most innovative and creative teams of amateur drivers of non-motorized homemade soapbox crafts will race each other down the twists and turns of Angels Point Road in Elysian Park. 9 a.m. Free. Elysian Park, 929 Academy Rd. L.A. redbullsoapboxrace.com
Aug. 20. Celebrate the end of summer by donning your finest whites and spending the afternoon sipping cocktails on the Viceroy Santa Monica’s chic Cast Patio. 1-4 p.m. $30-$45. 1819 Ocean Ave. Santa Monica. Tickets
ARTS + CULTURE
Aug. 20-Feb. LACMA continues its summer run of openings with A Universal History of Infamy and Sarah Charlesworth: Doubleworld. Also included in The Getty’s ambitious Pacific Standard Time: LA/LA, A Universal History of Infamy highlights 16 U.S. Latino and Latin American artists working in a range of media. Sarah Charlesworth: Doubleworld explores the role photographic images play in contemporary culture. See website for museum hours. Adults $15; Seniors and Students $10; Children (17 and under) and Members, free. LACMA, 5905 Wilshire Blvd, L.A., 323.857.6000. lacma.org
FOOD + DRINK
After serving cutting-edge California cuisine at ink. on Melrose Ave., acclaimed Los Angeles chef Michael Voltaggio reopens his flagship as ink.well in an expanded location on La Cienega Blvd. Expect menu signatures from ink., along with more approachable dishes specific to the new spot. Also enjoy a detached bar area—triple the size of its former location—that offers Voltaggio’s list of crafted cocktails with a refined, modern twist, as well as a wider selection of beers on draft. 826 N La Cienega Blvd, West Hollywood, 310-358-9058. mvink.com
Silver Lake’s new produce-driven modern Mexican restaurant is the brainchild of acclaimed chef Maycoll Calderón and partner Walter Meyenberg. Calderón brings his signature “cocina de campo” (country kitchen) style of Mexican cooking to Los Angeles, with a refined, seafood-centric menu that emphasizes crudo and raw dishes alongside charcoal and wood-fired meats. In addition to the Mexican tropics-inspired cocktails served alfresco, Tintorera features an indoor speakeasy, highlighting a separate craft cocktail menu from Mexico City bartender David Mora, as well as a small snack menu. The restaurant is still in soft opening with full operations coming soon. Email for reservations: info@tintorera.la. 2815 Sunset Blvd, L.A. tintorera.la
Through Aug. 31. Celebrate the final nights of summer by relaxing on CHAYA Downtown’s outdoor patio over drink and food specials and games from air hockey to shuffleboard. The festival features drink specials on everything from Sapporo to cherry blossom summer sorbet cocktails. Executive chef Joji Inoue is also firing up the yakitori grill to dish out a variety of skewers, in addition to octopus tacos, pork belly noodles and grilled squid. From 4 p.m. 525 S. Flower St. downtown, 213.236.9577. thechaya.com
ink.well photo by Bobby Kim/The Hundreds. CHAYA Downtown Summer Festival photo by Michael Ryan.