Events
Samba Dance Lesson
Sept. 4. Celebrate the end of summer with the ultimate party dance lead by instructor (and nurse) Fransini Giraldo. With Giraldo’s guidance, participants will get their body moving with the Brazilian beats and fast footwork of Samba. This event is part of the Music Center’s free annual summer series, Digital Dance DTLA, offered every Friday. 7-8 p.m. musiccenter.org
Taste of Japan
Sept. 6. Don’t miss out on the ultimate Japanese street food pop-up in Long Beach! Get your fill with yakitori, ramen and other mouthwatering street foods from eateries including Shin-Sen-Gumi, Tsujita Artisan Noodle, Tanota Takoyaki, Drinking Buddy Japanese Artisan Snacks and Kagura Tokyo Tonkatsu & Sake Bar. Highly recommend pairing your food with cold craft beer from Ten Mile Brewing Company. Pre-order instructions available online; masks required during pick-up. 4-7 p.m. Ten Mile Brewing Company, 1136 E. Willow St., Long Beach. tasteofjpn.com
Labor Day Weekend
Labor Day Feast and Derby Vittles
Sept. 3-4. Celebrate Labor Day and the Kentucky Derby with a holiday takeout/delivery feast and derby vittles kit from Redbird chef and owner Neal Fraser. The feast features peel-and-eat shrimp, Beeler’s baby back ribs, Mary’s free-range chicken thighs, and more. Don’t forget to order the derby vittles kit, which includes biscuits and ham, deviled eggs, spicy pork rinds and garden pickles. Pre-order by Sept. 3 at 10 p.m.; curbside pickup and delivery on Sept. 4 from 2-6 p.m. Feast: $58 per person; Derby vittles: $28 per person. 114 E. Second St., Los Angeles, 213.788.1191. redbird.la
L.A. Fleet Week
Sept. 4-7. Bob Hope USO, in partnership with the L.A. Fleet Week Foundation, have reimagined the annual celebration of the nation’s Sea Services into a series of virtual events that can be enjoyed at home this Labor Day weekend. The virtual celebration consists of a multi-day schedule of ship tours, special appearances, performances and more. Join Bob Hope USO in honoring and strengthening our military community by tuning in on the website. lafleetweek.com
Virtual Pie Making Classes
Sept. 6. Calling all pie enthusiasts! Put your baking skills to the test with these pie making classes, just in time to enjoy the dessert on Labor Day. Pastry chef Clémence Gosset will guide bakers on how to make a blueberry pie at 10 a.m. or s’mores and key lime pies at 1:30 p.m. from the comfort of their own homes. Upon registration, each participant will receive a shopping list and Zoom I.D. number in preparation for their time in the kitchen. cookingschoolsofamerica.com
Food + Drink
Sausage Roll World Tour at Strings of Life
Begins Sept. 3. Aussie celebrity chef Monty Koludrovic’s newly opened alfresco café is bringing a taste of international flavors to L.A. with the Sausage Roll World Tour. Each week, S.O.L. collaborates with some of the city—and world’s—top culinary talent, who will put a spin on the Australian pastry classic. Kicking off the tour is L.A. chef Nancy Silverton with an Italian take on the roll with Calabrian lamb. The limited-edition rolls ($10) will be available first-come, first-serve for pickup/takeout with limited quantities available each week. Open daily 7 a.m.-4 p.m. 8535 Melrose Ave., West Hollywood. sol-losangeles.com
Fingers Crossed
Now Open. Found in a quaint piazza in Hollywood, the new Roman pizzeria concept by two-time James Beard-nominated chef Evan Funke is officially open! While indulging in chef Funke’s take on pasta and pizza (we’re currently drooling over the one pictured), pair your meal with a classically executed Italian cocktail or a glass from the curated wine program. And, in true Italian fashion, Fingers Crossed also offers a selection of caffé, espresso, Italian soda and birre. Su, W-Th 5:30-11 p.m.; F-Sa 5:30 p.m.-midnight. 6417 Selma Ave., Los Angeles. fingerscrossedhollywood.com
Alfresco Dining at The Nice Guy
Reopened. With a heat wave coming this weekend, it’s a great excuse to get out of the house and enjoy warm summer nights dining out—especially at The Nice Guy! The intimate restaurant’s new outdoor space is decorated with hanging twinkle lights and bright red umbrellas and then completed with plexiglass dividers between each table to better ensure the health of all guests. Tu-Sa 6-11 p.m. 401 N. La Cienega Blvd., Los Angeles, 310.360.9500. theniceguyla.com
Virtual Tastings at Esters
Now Available. If you’ve got a group of friends (who’ve been quarantining at home or social distancing properly, of course) that you’d like to host at home, the Santa Monica wine shop and bar is now offering virtual tastings for groups of six or more! For the tasting, each group receives four little tasting bottles, interactive tasting sheets and the option to meet one of the sommeliers (including co-owner Kathryn Coker) via live Zoom. 1314 Seventh St., Santa Monica, 310.899.6900. esterswineshop.com
Arts + Culture
Poetry in Color
Sept. 5. For those who have a love for art and literature, watch these two come together during this virtual poetry slam inspired by contemporary visual artist Julie Mehretu’s mid-career survey at LACMA. Featured poets in this event are Fisseha Moges, Yaw Kyeremateng (pictured) and Tonya Ingram, who will draw from the vast visual language embedded in Mehretu’s work—from monumental paintings to intimate drawings—addressing themes such as colonialism, displacement, diaspora and abstraction. This event will take place online via Instagram Live. 7:30-8:30 p.m. Free. lacma.org
Video Premiere of Concert in Where the Truth Lies: The Art of Qiu Ying
Sept. 6. Enjoy a virtual concert of classical Chinese music inspired by the extraordinary work of Ming dynasty painter Qiu Ying. Filmed in the exhibition galleries, musicians Pui-Yuen Lui, Li Cen, Roy Luo and Bo Pang perform songs using traditional Chinese string instruments. This event will be presented on LACMA’s YouTube channel. RSVP recommended to receive an email reminder on the day of the event. 5-5:45 p.m. Free. lacma.org
Photo credits: L.A. Fleet Week courtesy The ACE Agency. Strings of Life and Fingers Crossed by Josh Telles. Esters by Lindsey Huttrer. Qiu Ying, The Emperor Guangwu Fording a River, Ming dynasty, c. 1534–42, hanging scroll; ink and colors on silk, 67 1/2 × 26 in. courtesy National Gallery of Canada, Ottawa. All other images are courtesy of the venues.
