There’s lots more to do this weekend in Los Angeles than just eat turkey and shop. Here are our top L.A. weekend event picks for November 22-25.
By William Yelles
EVENTS
Turkey Trot Los Angeles
Nov. 22. Spend Thanksgiving morning in downtown L.A., taking in a scenic 5K or 10K route through the area’s historic streets. The race starts at City Hall and takes runners past Grand Park and Walt Disney Concert Hall. There is also a Widdle Wobble 1K for kids. Proceeds benefit charity the Midnight Mission. 5K 8 a.m.; 10K 8:45 a.m.; Widdle Wobble 10 a.m. $15-$70. 200 N. Spring St., downtown, 310.821.7898. turkeytrot.la
“Queen Mary Christmas: Where Holidays Set Sail”
Opens Nov. 23. On board the ship, an 80-foot-tall Christmas tree decorated with more than 45,000 LED lights is illuminated nightly accompanied by a spectacular music and light display. More Christmas trees can be found lining the ship’s Promenade Deck. At the Gingerbread Village, the Queen Mary is replicated in cookie dough and icing. Speaking of icing, guests can don their skates for a spin on the ice rink located on the Sports Deck. See website for complete schedule of activities, hours and ticket prices. 1126 Queens Hwy., Long Beach, 562.499.1739. queenmary.com
The Three Stooges Film Festival
Nov. 24. Nyuk, nyuk, nyuk. Laugh your cares away at the Alex Film Society’s 21st annual big screen salute to The Three Stooges. This year’s program of six classic Stooges shorts: Three Little Beers (1935), Three Dumb Clucks (1937), Three Missing Links (1938), Three Little Pirates (1946), Three Dark Horses (1952) and Three Sappy People (1939). Stooges family members, friends and special guests will be in attendance. 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. $13-$17. 216 N. Brand Blvd., Glendale, 818.243.2539. Tickets
Craft and Folk Art Museum Holiday Marketplace
Nov. 24-25. Browse handmade goods made by a curated selection of dynamic and vibrant makers in Los Angeles at the museum’s annual gift-shopping event and fundraiser. Find handcrafted textiles, jewelry, handbags, wallets, housewares, ceramics and more while enjoying music and complimentary refreshments. Sa 11:30 a.m.-5 p.m., Su 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Free with museum admission ($9 GA on Saturday; donation based on Sunday). 5814 Wilshire Blvd., L.A., 323.937.4230. cafamshop.org
The Hollywood Christmas Parade
Nov. 25. Welcome the holidays at this annual holiday parade, with a concert beforehand and celebrity grand marshal Nancy O’Dell. The procession winds through Hollywood and features floats, balloons, characters, marching bands and equestrians. Concert 5 p.m.; parade 6 p.m. Grandstand tickets are sold out, but grab a free spot on the sidewalk to watch the parade starting on Hollywood Boulevard at Orange Drive, east to Vine Street, south on Vine to Sunset Boulevard and west on Sunset, back to Orange, 866.727.2331. thehollywoodchristmasparade.org
Westfield Topanga “Light the Night”
Nov. 25. DJ Lance Rock (Yo Gabba Gabba) will host and deejay several sets of holiday-inspired music at this evening of family-friendly joy and merriment. Also on the bill are an exclusive performance by dance troupe iLuminate plus the season’s first snow with Santa as The Village at Westfield Topanga’s holiday lights are turned on for the first time. A very special musical guest will immediately follow. 6-8 p.m. Free. The Village at Westfield Topanga, 6320 Topanga Canyon Blvd., Woodland Hills. westfield.com
Winter Festival at The Langham
Nov. 25. The Langham Huntington Pasadena kicks off the holiday season with a festive family-friendly event featuring a tree lighting, a visit with Santa, cookie decorating and a performance by the Lythgoe Family Panto. A portion of proceeds benefits Elizabeth House, an organization committed to ending the cycle of homelessness and abuse in women and children. 4-7 p.m. $15-$45. The Langham Huntington Pasadena, 1401 S. Oak Knoll Ave., Pasadena, 626.568.3900. Tickets
FOOD + DRINK
Thanksgiving Brunch and Dinner Cruises
Nov. 22. Join Hornblower Cruises for a two-hour brunch cruise or three-hour dinner cruise. Enjoy buffets of holiday classics, unlimited Champagne and live entertainment. Brunch: 11:30 a.m.; $75. Dinner cruise: 4 p.m.; $99. Departs from Departs from Fisherman’s Village Marina, 13755 Fiji Way, Marina del Rey, 310.301.6000. hornblower.com
Vegan Thanksgiving at Beelman’s
Nov. 22. Plant-based pub Beelman’s is offering a prix-fixe vegan Thanksgiving dinner. The menu includes one main, one side and one dessert. Main course options are a choice of field roast stuffed celebration roast, chickpea loaf or “chicken” drumstick. Available sides are slaw, spiced cranberry sauce, brussel sprouts, mashed potatoes with gravy, curried sweet potato tots and yam bisque. For dessert, there is pumpkin pie with bourbon, and mint chocolate ice cream with deep-fried Oreos. 5-10 p.m. $25. 600 S. Spring St., L.A., 213.622.1022. beelmans.com
Black Friday Brunch at The Gables
Nov. 23. Santa Monica’s newest all-day neighborhood café will be open for brunch for those looking to take a break from Black Friday shopping on the Third Street Promenade. Sip on mimosas while enjoying elevated brunch dishes like The Gables’ buckwheat babycake and chilaquiles. 8 a.m.-5 p.m. 331 Wilshire Blvd., Santa Monica, 424.280.4470. thegablesla.com
Black Friday Lunch at Crustacean
Nov. 23. Elizabeth An’s recently renovated modern Vietnamese restaurant celebrates Black Friday with a special luncheon menu, taking inspiration from the 1940s-’60s—the golden age of “ladies who lunched” while they shopped. A modern dim sum cart is featured. 11 a.m.-2:30 p.m. 468 N. Bedford Dr., Beverly Hills, 310.205.8990. crustaceanbh.com
Miracle Bar at The Kimpton Everly
Opens Nov. 23. This holiday season, The Ever Bar at The Kimpton Everly Hotel will transform into Miracle Bar—a retro-inspired Instagrammable winter wonderland featuring kitchy, throwback holiday décor, a 20-foot inflatable Santa and Christmas-themed cocktails. Su-W 4:30 p.m.-midnight; Th-Sa 4:30 p.m.-2 a.m. 1800 Argyle Ave., Hollywood, 213.279.3532. everlyhotelhollywood.com
“Deviled Eggs Burlesque Brunch”
Nov. 25. Brack Shop Tavern will host its next “Deviled Eggs Burlesque Brunch” with a “naughty Santa” theme. In this raucous new show, the current state of the world has sent Santa spiraling into a depression, and it’s up to Mrs. Claus and her band of booze-slingin’ elves to bring back his holiday cheer. Guests can enter an Ugly Christmas Sweater contest to try and win a Brack Shop Tavern gift card. “Deviled Eggs” is a collaboration between Brack Shop Tavern and L.A.-based event production company Drunken Devil. 21+. 10:30 a.m.-1 p.m. $55. 525 W. Seventh St., L.A. Tickets
“Kitchen Brunch” at WP24
Starts Nov. 25. The WP24 “Kitchen Brunch” takes diners on a personalized journey through the kitchen as the culinary team shares techniques and best practices for preparing some of the restaurant’s most celebrated Asian dishes along with traditional breakfast favorites. 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. seatings; $75; $25 children 12 and under. The Ritz Carlton Los Angeles, 900 W. Olympic Blvd., L.A., 213.743.8800. ritzcarlton.com
ARTS + CULTURE
“Stanley Kubrick’s Sound Odyssey”
Nov. 23-25. The Los Angeles Philharmonic and Los Angeles Master Chorale led by conductor Jessica Cottis perform a program of music selections and accompanying clips from some of Kubrick’s most celebrated films, including 2001: A Space Odyssey, A Clockwork Orange, The Shining, Barry Lyndon and Eyes Wide Shut. Actor Malcolm McDowell hosts. F-Sa 8 p.m., Su 2 p.m. See website for ticket prices. Walt Disney Concert Hall, 111 S. Grand Ave., L.A., 323.850.2000. Tickets
“Bob Baker’s Nutcracker”
Opens Nov. 24. Bob Baker’s adaptation of the ballet classic is one of Bob Baker Marionette Theater’s most beloved shows since it began in 1969. Bob Baker’s Nutcracker features over 100 handcrafted puppets to take the entire family on an adventure through the wizardry of strings and into the enchanted world of the fantastic. This is the first time that the show is being performed outside of its original location. See website for show times. $20. Pasadena Playhouse, 39 S. El Molino Ave., Pasadena, 626.356.7529. pasadenaplayhouse.org
“Dear Evan Hansen”
Through Nov. 25. Last call to catch the acclaimed Broadway hit—which won six Tonys, including for best musical—in L.A. on its national tour. The personal and contemporary work follows high school senior Evan Hansen’s misguided attempt to fit in after the death of one of his classmates. See website for show times and ticket prices. Ahmanson Theatre, 135 N. Grand Ave., downtown, 213.628.2772. centertheatregroup.org
Turkey Trot Los Angeles photo courtesy Generic Events. “Queen Mary Christmas” courtesy @thequeenmary/Instagram. The Three Stooges Film Festival photo ©2018 Courtesy of C3 Entertainment, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Craft and Folk Art Museum Holiday Marketplace photo courtesy @cafam/Instagram. Hollywood Christmas Parade photo courtesy Hollywood Christmas Parade/Facebook. Westfield Topanga “Light the Night” photo courtesy DJ Lance Rock/Facebook. Winter Festival at The Langham photo courtesy @langhampasadena/Instagram. Thanksgiving Brunch and Dinner Cruises photo courtesy Hornblower Cruises. Vegan Thanksgiving at Beelman’s photo courtesy Beelman’s. Black Friday Brunch at The Gables photo courtesy The Gables. Black Friday Lunch at Crustacean photo courtesy Crustacean. Miracle Bar photo courtesy The Kimpton Everly. “Deviled Eggs Burlesque Brunch” photo by Forest Casey. “Kitchen Brunch” at WP24 photo courtesy WP24 by Wolfgang Puck. “Stanley Kubrick Sound Odyssey” photo (Malcolm McDowell) courtesy LA Phil. “Bob Baker’s Nutcracker” photo courtesy Bob Baker Marionette Theater. “Dear Evan Hansen” photo by Matthew Murphy.
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