From epic food fests to King James’ Lakers debut, check out our top 19 Los Angeles weekend event best bets for October 18-21.
Edited by William Yelles.
EVENTS
Museum of Selfies
Now Open. Formerly a pop-up exhibit, Museum of Selfies—an interactive museum that explores the history of the selfie—has opened up a permanent base in Hollywood. Photo ops include the infamous “bathroom selfie,” in a two-sided illusion room lacking an actual mirror and the “Hollywood selfie,” where individuals can experience what it’s like to be a star at the Selfie Oscars. Su-Th 10 a.m.-10 p.m., F-Sa 10 a.m.-midnight. $25 GA; $20, ages 5-12; children 4 and under, free. 6757 Hollywood Blvd., L.A. museumofselfies.com
Dogs on Deck Cruise
Oct 20. Treat your furry friend to Hornblower Cruises’ “yappy hour” harbor yacht excursion. Wine, beer and appetizers will be available along with special pet snacks for doggie guests. An onboard “Howl-oween” costume contest adds to the fun. A portion of the proceeds benefits L.A. Animal Services. 1:30 p.m. boarding; 2-4 p.m. cruise. $55. Fisherman’s Village Marina, 13755 Fiji Way, Marina del Rey, 310.301.6000. hornblower.com
LeBron James Viewing Party
Oct. 20. W Hollywood celebrates King James’ highly anticipated Los Angeles Lakers home debut with a viewing party at the hotel’s outdoor venue The Station. The hotel will broadcast the game on a 30-foot screen and guests will be able to order from a Lakers and LeBron themed menu. Attendees who wear Lakers gear will be eligible to win a complimentary overnight stay. 21+. 7:30 p.m. Free. 6250 Hollywood Blvd., L.A., 323.798.1355. marriott.com
Out of the Darkness
Oct. 20. Join the Out of the Darkness Community Walk and raise funds to fight suicide and support those touched by suicide. The event includes speakers, entertainment, remembrance activities and a community resource fair. The three-mile oceanfront walk itself starts and ends at the Santa Monica Pier; friendly dogs are welcome to participate. Proceeds benefit the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. Free to participate; donations encouraged. 8:45 a.m.-1 p.m. Santa Monica Pier, 1 Parking Lot North. afsp.org
Strut Your Mutt
Oct 20. Best Friends Animal Society hosts its annual fund-raising walk to save homeless dogs and cats. Join a team from one of Best Friends’ partner rescue groups or walk individually (dogs welcome but not required). In addition to the walk, there’s a family-friendly festival featuring vendors, food trucks and activities. 11 a.m.-3 p.m. $15 GA; $10, ages 6-12. Exposition Park, 700 Exposition Park Dr., L.A. bestfriends.org
Taste of Soul
Oct. 20. Dubbed the largest street festival in L.A.—over 350,000 attended last year—the annual Taste of Soul event features a taste of all things “soulful” including food from local restaurants, live entertainment, displays from local artists, and exhibits from local businesses and organizations. See website for schedule of activities.10 a.m.-7 p.m. Free. Crenshaw Blvd. between Stocker St. and Rodeo Rd., L.A. tasteofsoul.org
Halloween Family Festival
Oct. 21. Boomtown Brewery’s kid-friendly Halloween event promises plenty of fun activities including a Halloween-themed bounce house, costume contest, face painting and trick or treating. Burger Shop will be on hand providing eats. Noon-6 p.m. Free. 700 Jackson St., L.A., 213.617.8497. boomtownbrew.com
Outlaw Music Festival Tour
Oct. 21. Country music artists Willie Nelson, Sturgill Simpson, Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real and Margo Price are among the lineup of the Outlaw Music Festival Tour. Deadheads can join in the fun as Phil Lesh & Friends is also on the bill. 5 p.m. See website for ticket prices. Hollywood Bowl, 2301 N. Highland Ave., L.A., 323.850.2000. hollywoodbowl.com
FOOD + DRINK
Burbank Beer Festival & Street Fair
Oct. 20. This fest takes over the streets of downtown Burbank to celebrate craft beer. Expect more than 85 craft beers on tap, live music, vendors and more. Street fair: noon-7 p.m., all ages, free. Craft-beer tasting sessions: noon and 4 p.m., 21+, $40-$45. San Fernando Blvd., between Magnolia Blvd. and Angeleno Ave., Burbank. burbankbeerfestival.com
Eastside Food Festival
Oct. 21. Now in its fifth year, this annual celebration of the vibrant food and dining cultures within L.A.’s Eastside communities will feature unlimited tastings from exciting local restaurants—including Los Feliz’s Kismet, Highland Park’s new Otoño and mainstays like Jeni’s Ice Creams and HomeState—as well as cooking demos, discussion panels, live music, podcast recordings and a VIP area with perks and prizes. 21+. 4-7 p.m.; VIP Happy Hour 3-4 p.m. $54-$105. Mack Sennett Studios, 1215 Bates Ave., L.A. eastsidefoodfest.com
Maple Blocktoberfest
Oct. 21. Maple Block Meat Co.’s second annual celebration features an all-you-can-eat menu including sliced brisket, chopped pork shoulder, pork spare ribs, rib tips, sausages, brisket tacos and more. Also craft beer samplings and live music. Kids’ activities include a bounce house and pumpkin decorating. Noon-4 p.m. $65 GA; kids 11 and under eat free. Maple Block Meat Co., 3973 Sepulveda Blvd., Culver City, 310.313.6328. Tickets
ARTS + CULTURE
“Dear Evan Hansen”
Opens Oct. 17. The acclaimed Broadway hit—which won six Tonys, including for best musical—arrives 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
“The Woman in Black”
Opens Oct. 17. Get into the Halloween spirit with Pasadena Playhouse’s production of the London West End smash hit. (28 years and counting!) The adaptation of Susan Hill’s novella concerns a man who believes his family has been cursed by a ghostly woman in black. See website for show times and ticket prices. Pasadena Playhouse, 39 S. El Molino Ave., Pasadena, 626.356.7529. pasadenaplayhouse.org
“Notorious RBG: The Life and Times of Ruth Bader Ginsburg”
Opens Oct. 19. Based on the New York Times best-seller of the same name, this Skirball Cultural Center exhibition provides an entertaining yet deeply personal look at the life of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Tu-F noon-5 p.m.; Sa-Su 10 a.m.-5 p.m. $7-$12; free Thursdays. 2701 N. Sepulveda Blvd., L.A., 310.440.4500. skirball.org
Ballet Folklorico de Mexico de Amalia Hernandez
Oct. 19-21. The acclaimed Mexico City-based folklorico company returns to L.A. with a program that brings together the music, dance and costumes of Mexican folklore from pre-Columbian civilizations through the modern era. Hernández founded the Ballet Folklórico de México in 1952. F-Sa 8 p.m., Su 6 p.m. $28-$50. The Luckman Fine Arts Complex at Cal State LA, 5151 State University Dr., L.A., 323.343.6600. luckmanarts.org
Beverly Hills artSHOW
Oct. 20-21. This long-running outdoor art showcase displays artwork from over 245 exhibitors twice a year. Wine and beer gardens and food trucks are also on-site. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Free. Beverly Gardens Park, along Santa Monica Blvd. from Rodeo to Rexford drives, Beverly Hills, 310.285.6830. beverlyhills.org
“Quack”
Opens Oct. 21. World premiering here, this new comedy is about a daytime talk show host whose reputation is ruined by a take-down piece of journalism, exploring the fleeting nature of 21st-century fame. See website for show times and ticket prices. Kirk Douglas Theatre, 9820 Washington Blvd., Culver City, 213.628.2772. centertheatregroup.org
Jill Soloway in Conversation
Oct. 21. The Emmy and Golden Globe Award-winning creator of Transparent and I Love Dick reflects on shifting family dynamics—from a parent coming out as transgender to Soloway’s evolution from straight, married mother of two to identifying as queer and nonbinary—and how these experiences fueled a creative vision to transform the male-dominated landscape of Hollywood. 8 p.m. $30. Largo at the Coronet, 366 N. La Cienega Blvd., L.A., 310.855.0350. Tickets
STYLE + BEAUTY
WestEdge Design Fair
Oct. 19-21. Find home-decor inspiration at Santa Monica’s Barker Hangar during this modern-design showcase. The fair offers the opportunity to shop from premium home furnishings brands—many new to the West Coast—and meet the designers behind thousands of inspiring products. F-Sa 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Su 10 a.m.-5 p.m. $25 GA; free, children under 12. 3021 Airport Ave., Santa Monica, 312.404.5508. westedgedesignfair.com
Eastside Food Festival photo by David Arellanes. Museum of Selfies photo courtesy Museum of Selfies. Dogs on Deck photo courtesy @hornblowercruises/Instagram. LeBron James photo courtesy @lakers/Instagram. Out of the Darkness photo courtesy American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. Strut Your Mutt photo by Brad Novak. Taste of Soul photo courtesy Los Angeles Sentinel/Taste of Soul. Halloween Family Festival photo courtesy Boomtown Brewery. Outlaw Festival photo courtesy @willienelsonofficial/Instagram. Maple Blocktoberfest photo courtesy Maple Block Meat Co. “The Woman in Black” photo by Roger Mostroianni. “Dear Evan Hansen” photo by Matthew Murphy. “Notorious RBG” photo of Ruth Bader Ginsburg teaching at Columbia Law School, courtesy Columbia Law School. Ballet Folklorico photo courtesy Luckman Fine Arts Complex/Facebook. Beverly Hills artSHOW photo (Michael Madzo, “The Orderly Flight of Thought,” mixed media, 38×29) courtesy Beverly Hills Art Show. “Quack” photo courtesy Center Theatre Group. Jill Soloway photo ©Jesse Chamberlin Marble courtesy Penguin Random House. WestEdge Design Fair photo courtesy WestEdge Design Fair.
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