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Life! Feb 23, 2022
Ballet BC dancers Brandon Alley and Emily Chessa in "Romeo + Juliet." | Photo by Michael Slobodian
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February is already coming to an end but there’s still time to squeeze in a little fun before this short month is over. It’s also a good time to start planning for next month.
Segerstrom Cabaret: Caissie Levy
Segerstrom Center for the Arts | 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa, CA 92626 | Feb. 25-26 | scfta.org
After two years of a successful Broadway run, Caissie Levy took her last bow as Elsa, the role she originated in Disney’s production of “Frozen.” This will be Levy’s debut in the cabaret series. Levy has also starred as Fantine in the Broadway revival of “Les Misérables”, and is known to Broadway and West End audiences for originating the roles of Sheila in the Tony Award-winning revival of “Hair”, and Molly in “Ghost.”
Rock En Español: Enanitos Verdes vs. Soda Stereo Tribute Night
The Mixx | 443 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena, CA 91101 | Feb. 25 | themixxclub.com
Kick your weekend off with a battle of the tribute bands. Will the tribute to Soda Stereo or Enanitos Verdes win?
The Great Junk Hunt
Fairplex Expo Hall 9 |1101 W. McKinley Ave., Pomona, CA 91768 Feb. 25-26 | fairplex.com
The Great Junk Hunt has gathered a group of curated vendors selling vintage, handmade and repurposed goods, cocktails and live music.
Women Of Will: Shakespeare’s Heroines With Amanda and Miranda
Zoom | Feb. 26 | bostoncourtpasadena.org
Shakespeare scholar Miranda Johnson-Haddad and cabaret legend Amanda McBroom discuss Shakespearean heroines and the portrayal of women in Shakespeare’s plays.
626 Night Market Mini
Lot 27 | 1324 5th St., Santa Monica, CA 90401 | Feb. 26-27 | 626nightmarket.com
Starting a new series of events in Downtown Santa Monica from 1-10 p.m., 626 Night Market Mini will have food vendors like Shake Ramen, Tao’s Bao, Chick N’ Skin, Ghostix and Rockin’ Gyoza.
The Encore Float
Bear Statue at Griffith Park | 2100 Fern Dell Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90027 | Feb. 26 | whatthefloat.com
What the Float is bringing back Float Out of this World after fans voted for their favorite pick of 2021. Get to Griffith Park by 4 p.m. with your comfiest hiking shoes on because you won’t want to miss the floats, music, sunset, guided meditation or snacks..
African American Festival
Aquarium of the Pacific | 100 Aquarium Way, Long Beach, CA 90802 | Feb. 26 | aquariumofpacific.org
The 20th annual African American Festival will feature music, dance, storytelling and historical displays.
Ballet BC
The Soraya | 18111 Nordhoff St., Northridge, CA 91330 | Feb. 26 | thesoraya.org
Ballet BC presents two new works: “Garden” by Artistic Director Medhi Walerski and “The Statement from Crystal Pite,” both originally created for Nederlands Dans Theatre. The program also includes a Pas de Deux from Walerski’s “Romeo + Juliet.”
Reggae Fest LA
Globe Theatre Los Angeles | 740 S. Broadway, Los Angeles, CA 90014 | Feb. 26-27 | reggaefest.com
DJs will be spinning the best in dancehall, reggae, soca, afrobeats and more.
Heartbeat Opera
The Broad Stage | 1310 11th St., Santa Monica, CA 90401 | Feb. 26-27 | thebroadstage.org
Heartbeat Opera — the New York indie opera company whose re-imagined, re-orchestrated, and stripped-down stagings of classic operas have been called “radical” by The New Yorker and “pioneering” by The New York Times — has mounted a four-city tour of its powerful 2018 adaptation of Beethoven’s masterpiece “Fidelio,” which Heartbeat artistic director Ethan Heard conceived for the era of Black Lives Matter.
A Song Returns
South Pasadena Theatre Workshop | 1507 El Centro St., South Pasadena, CA 91030 | Feb. 26-27 | eventbrite.com
According to event organizers, “A Song Returns consists of vocal performances, accompanied and a cappella, that celebrate a mix of modern music with the ancestral sounds of bygone eras and faraway homelands, interspersed with curated prose and poetry.”
Fan Girl Cafe Presents: Jax, Kat Cunning, TRACE, Alicia Blue And More
Troubadour | 9081 N. Santa Monica Blvd., West Hollywood, CA 90069 | Feb. 27 | eventbrite.com
A new music oriented neighborhood cafe and wine bar focusing on female musicians, queer artists and community building, Fan Girl Cafe is gathering up-and-coming artists like Jax, Kat Cunning, TRACE, Alicia Blue, KingQueen and Noah Vonne for its first event hosted by KROQ’s Megan Holiday and drummer/podcast host Jess Bowen.
LA Quinceañera Expo
Fairplex Expo 6 | 1101 W. McKinley Ave., Pomona, CA 91768 | Feb. 27 | eventbrite.com
This is your one-stop shop for any quinceañera needs. Quinceañera Magazine has gathered vendors for quinceañeras, brides, sweet sixteens and prom queens.
Fast Times ‘80s Concert Experience
Whisky a Go Go | 8901 W. Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood, 90069 | Feb. 28 | eventbrite.com
Fast Times performs the best of ‘80s rock and new wave music and to complete the spectacle, there will be LED screens, lasers and fog machines.
Stellabrate Mardi Gras
San Antonio Winery – Ontario Wine Tasting, Gift Shop & Event Center | 2802 S. Milliken Ave., Ontario, CA 91761 | March 1 | eventbrite.com
Celebrate Fat Tuesday with good food and wine in the Outdoor Country Patio.
Stephen White & Guests Present ‘A Country Called California’
Vroman’s Bookstore | 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena, CA 91101 | March 1 | eventbrite.com
Stephen White, Jonathan Spaulding and Suzanne Lummis present “A Country Called California: Photographs 1850-1960,” tracing the history of the state through photographs from the 19th century onwards.
Joystick: An LGBTQ Mixer
Player One | 5126 Lankershim Blvd., North Hollywood, CA 91601 | March 2 | fb.me/e/1h23Wxwzf
Thi bi-monthly mixer for members of the LGBTQ community features retro arcade games, cocktails and prizes.
On The Yard: Historically Black Colleges & Universities Caravan
Pasadena City College Quad | 1570 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena, CA 91106 | March 2 | eventbrite.com
Anyone interested in connecting with HBCUs can attend to learn more about the admission process, scholarships, student life and more.
Billboard Women In Music
YouTube Theater | 1011 Stadium Drive, Inglewood, CA 90305 | March 2 | billboardwomeninmusic.com
Hosted by Ciara, Women in Music 2022 will have appearances and performances by Woman of the Year Olivia Rodrigo, Gabby Barrett, Phoebe Bridgers, Doja Cat, Karol G, H.E.R., Bonnie Raitt, Saweetie, and Summer Walker.
Vacations USA Tour
The Glass House | 200 W. 2nd St., Pomona, CA 91766 | March 3 | eventbrite.com
An indie alt band from Australia, Vacations’ 2020 “Young” went viral and has amassed over 450,000 video uses on TikTok and 50 million streams.
JoJo
The NOVO | 800 W. Olympic Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90015 | March 3 | lalive.com
Singer-songwriter JoJo, the artist behind hits like “Too Little Too Late” and “Leave (Get Out)”, will be joined by QUIN, Lindsey Lomis and Sophia Galate. In the past year, she collaborated with PJ Morton on the Grammy-winning R&B song “Say So.”
Bach By Beltrami
The Soraya | 18111 Nordhoff St., Northridge, CA 91330 | March 3 | thesoraya.org
Two-time Academy Award nominee, composer Marco Beltrami—known for his musical scores for “The Hurt Locker,” “A Quiet Place,” and Wes Craven’s four “Scream” films—defies his childhood music teacher’s warning not to mess with Bach’s “Preludes.” He deconstructs and reimagines Bach’s most sacred works, with the help of firebrand violinist Sandy Cameron, Lucia Micarelli, cellist Eric Byers, and L.A.’s own Delirium Musicum Chamber Orchestra.
The Gaucho Experience: Tango Dinner Show
Gaucho Grill | 1129 W. West Covina Parkway, West Covina, CA 91790 | March 4 | eventbrite.com
After a long work week, enjoy a tango show on top of a specially designed four-course menu and handcrafted cocktails.
Swingtronic Speakeasy
The Airliner | 2419 N. Broadway, Los Angeles, CA 90031 | March 5 | eventbrite.com
Celebrations kick off with swing dance lessons for beginners, followed by three sets from the band.
Sidepiece
Hollywood Palladium | 6215 Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90028 | March 5 | insomniac.com
Sidepiece presents “Kiss and Tell” at the Hollywood Palladium alongside Gene Farris, KC Lights, Freak On and Wenzday.
Claremont Concert Orchestra March Concert
Garrison Theater | 241 E. 10th St., Claremont, CA 91711 | March 5-6 | eventbrite.com
The Claremont Concert Orchestra will perform Mozart’s “Exsultate Juliate”, Camille Saint-Saëns’ piano concerto no. 5, allegro animato, Richard Wagner’s “Prelude from Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg”, and many other pieces.
re:love
Woodley Park | 6350 Woodley Ave., Van Nuys, CA 91436 | March 6 | fb.me/e/2oODAYnmr
Dance and frolic in the park to house and techno while overlooking beautiful views of LA at sunset. This is a family friendly event for kids as well.
Soulful Sunday Mardi Gras
San Antonio Winery | 737 Lamar St., Los Angeles, CA 90031 | March 6 | eventbrite.com
Enjoy delicious New Orleans food prepared by Taste with Grace Catering, beverages, live music and wine at this Mardi gras brunch event.
“Full Circle: A Return To The Land”
Descanso Gardens | 1418 Descanso Drive, La Cañada Flintridge, CA 91101 | Through March 13 | descansogardens.org
This exhibition chronicles human interaction with the land in and around Descanso Gardens from the Tongva through various cultures, up to today.
“Assassins”
East West Players | 120 Judge John Aiso St., Los Angeles CA 90012 | Through March 20 | eastwestplayers.org
East West Players, the nation’s longest-running Asian American theater and the largest producer of Asian American theatrical works, is resuming in-person productions with “Assassins.” With music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, and book by John Weidman, “Assassins” is a darkly comic Tony-award winner that examines the motives of the nine notorious Americans who took their shot at the President of the United States
Enrique Martinez Celaya ‘SEA SKY LAND: towards a map of everything’
USC Fisher Museum of Arts | 823 W. Exposition Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90089 | Through April 9 | fisher.usc.edu
This exhibit brings together 30 large-format paintings and sculptures created by Enrique Martinez Celaya. Each of the three galleries at the Fisher Museum will present the artist’s writings alongside paintings and sculptures dedicated to one of three motifs—sea, sky, and land.
Mixpantli: Space, Time, and the Indigenous Origins of Mexico
LACMA | 5905 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90036 | Through May 1 | lacma.org
LACMA is marking the 500th anniversary of the fall of Tenochtitlan, the Aztec capital and site of Mexico City. According to LACMA, the exhibition “subverts the traditional narrative of conquest by centering the creative resilience of Indigenous artists, mapmakers, and storytellers who forged new futures and made their world anew through artistic practice.”
Tupac Shakur. Wake Me When I’m Free
The Canvas at L.A. Live | 944 Georgia St.,Los Angeles CA 90015 | Through May 1 | wakemewhenimfree
Created in collaboration with the Shakur Estate, this exhibit delves into Tupac’s activism, music and revolutionary art through technology, art and artifacts from the rapper’s personal archives.
Mapping Fiction
The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens | 1151 Oxford Road, San Marino, CA 91108 | Through May 2 | huntington.org
This new exhibit focuses on the ways authors and mapmakers have built compelling fictional worlds. The exhibit includes a first edition of James Joyce’s “Ulysses,” early editions of Lewis Carroll’s “The Hunting of the Snark, Robert Louis Stevenson’s maps from “Treasure Island” and “Kidnapped,” J. R. R. Tolkien’s map from the trilogy “The Lord of the Rings,” and science fiction writer Octavia E. Butler’s hand-drawn maps from notes for “Parable of the Talents” (1998) and her unpublished novel “Parable of the Trickster.”
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