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Home / Life! / Live / Things to do this week: March 18-27

Things to do this week: March 18-27

by F Diaz
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With the time change, it’s starting to feel a lot like spring and the outdoors are calling to us. Whether you’re a vegan foodie, a thespian or simply want some good music to enjoy, we’ve got a lot for you to check out around the Southland this week.

Knott’s Boysenberry Festival

Knott’s Berry Farm | 8039 Beach Blvd., Buena Park, CA 90620 | March 18-April 24 | knotts.com

Knott’s “food-inspired” festival features a lineup of dishes with a boysenberry twist, and desserts and drinks only available during this limited time. The festival also features local crafters, live music, stage shows and fun activities. 

“Mamma Mia!”

Arcadia Performing Arts Center | 188 Campus Drive, Arcadia, CA 91007 | March 18-19 | eventbrite.com

Directed by Steven Volpe, the award-winning high school theatre students of Arcadia Stage present their rendition of “Mamma Mia!,” a musical told through the music of Abba.

Luck O’ The Flambo

Silverlake Lounge | 2906 Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90026 | March 18 | instagram.com/p/Ca0AmLeP6yx 

Remember to wear green when you attend this stand-up comedy show featuring Sarah Shtern, John Luna, Mitchell Lamar, Carly Kane, Eilise Guilfoyle, and Dan Donohue. 

Mariachi Manchester’s Tribute To The Smiths & Morrissey

The Mixx | 443 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena, CA 91101 | March 18 | themixxclub.com

Mariachi Manchester isn’t your typical mariachi, they put their own twist on The Smiths’ and Morrissey’s greatest hits. On top of great music, enjoy an art show by local artists, giveaways, and DJs keeping you dancing.

LA Full Moon Meditation

Peace Point Meditation | 865 E. Monrovia Place, Azusa, CA 91702 | March 18 | eventbrite.com

At the end of a long work week, the last thing you may want to do is go out and socialize in loud, crowded venues. Detach, destress and immerse yourself in the positive, healing energy of a full moon. 

A Week Of French Language Cinema

Theatre Raymond Kabbaz | 10361 W. Pico Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90064 | March 18-23 | eventbrite.com

Theatre Raymond Kabbaz partners with the consulates of France, Belgium, Switzerland, Canada, the Quebec Government Office in Los Angeles, and Le Lycée Français de Los Angeles to present nightly screenings of critically acclaimed French language films.

Pasadena Symphony and POPS Presents Mozart Symphony no. 40

Ambassador Auditorium | 131 S. St. John Ave., Pasadena, CA 91105 | March 19 | pasadenasymphony-pops.org

Mozart’s Symphony No. 40 will be the star of this program with Grieg’s Piano Concerto performed by Cuban pianist Aldo López-Gavilán. The orchestra will also perform Grammy-nominated composer Adam Schoenberg’s “Finding Rothko.”

Douglas Roegiers Tribute To Frank Sinatra

Cicada Restaurant and Lounge | 617 S. Olive St., Los Angeles, CA 90014 | March 19 | cicadaclub.com

Crooner Douglas Roegiers presents a tribute to “The Chairman of the Board,” ol’ blue eyes, Frank Sinatra from his time with Tommy Dorsey to the wild nights at The Sands hotel in Las Vegas.

Neighborhood Treasure Block Party

Canyon Learning Center | 1000 S. Canyon Blvd., Monrovia, CA 91016 | March 19 | eventbrite.com

Monrovia Area Partnership and Art in Public Places continues to celebrate historically significant Monrovians through public art installations in the community. The sixth installation in the series will honor civil rights activist, and former teacher and principal of Huntington School, Almera Romney.

The Takács Quartet With Julien Labro

The Broad Stage | 1310 11th St., Santa Monica, CA 90401 | March 19 | thebroadstage.org

The Takács Quartet, winners of the Grammy Award, Gramophone Classical Music Awards 2021, Chamber category, and Presto Music Classical Recording Award 2021, is joined by Julien Labro on bandoneón for two new commissions for the Takács by Brazilian-American composer Clarice Assad and Grammy-winner and The National rock band guitarist Bryce Dessner for quintet and three of Labro’s own works. The program concludes with Ravel’s String Quartet from 1903, the only quartet he ever composed.

The Martha Graham Dance Company

The Soraya | 18111 Nordhoff St., Northridge, CA 91330 | March 19 | thesoraya.org

A lost 1952 dance creation by Martha Graham herself—a primal artistic force of the 20th century—is reborn with the Martha Graham Dance Company’s world premiere of “The New Canticle for Innocent Comedians.” This new “Canticle” is based on the same themes and format as the original and will be accompanied by Jazz pianist and composer Jason Moran performing his new music commissioned by The Soraya.

“Can’t Pay? Don’t Pay!”

The Actors’ Gang Theater | 9070 Venice Blvd., Culver City, CA 90232 | March 19-April 30 | theactorsgang.com

“Can’t Pay? Don’t Pay!,” written by Nobel Laureate Dario Fo and Franca Rame, follows Antonia who, fed up by rising prices and stagnant wages, joins a revolt of women at the local supermarket. “Can’t Pay? Don’t Pay!” questions why, in a world of bailed-out banks and overpriced prescription drugs, theft is only a crime when it is committed by those truly in need

Bonsai Show

The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens | 1151 Oxford Road, San Marino, CA 91108 | March 19-20 | huntington.org

The 64th annual Bonsai Show from The Huntington and the California Bonsai Society will feature dozens of specimens created by bonsai masters.

‘Deborah Roberts: I’m.’

California African American Museum | 600 State Drive, Exposition Park, Los Angeles, CA 90037 | March 19-Aug. 20 | caamuseum.org

In a series of collages and paintings, artist Deborah Roberts “critiques notions of beauty, race, and identity in contemporary society through the depiction of Black children.” Roberts, in this traveling exhibit, investigates how beauty standards and violent racism impacts Black children. Among the works on display is a large mural, “Little man, little man.” 

Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra

Ambassador Auditorium | 131 S St. John Avenue Pasadena, CA 91105 | March 20 | laco.org

Two prominent musical artists, esteemed guest conductor Roderick Cox and 26-year-old violin phenom Randall Goosby, make their joint Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra debuts. Goosby performs Mendelssohn’s lyrical masterpiece Violin Concerto in E minor, considered a cornerstone of the violin repertoire. Cox, winner of the prestigious 2018 Sir Georg Solti Conducting Award, also conducts Wagner’s intimate and blissful Siegfried Idyll, a symphonic poem for chamber orchestra, and Brahms’ lilting Serenade No. 2 in A major.

MOLAA Afro-Latinx Festival

Museum of Latin American Art | 628 Alamitos Ave., Long Beach, CA 90802 | March 20 | molaa.org

Celebrate Cuban culture through a presentation from Cuban choreographer, dancer and educator Kati Hernandez titled “Empowering and Healing Through the Rich Afro-Cuban Dance Diaspora”

Long Beach Antique Market

Long Beach Veterans Stadium | 4901 E. Conant St., Long Beach, CA 90808 | March 20 | longbeachantiquemarket.com

The Long Beach Antique Market bills itself as “The flea market with style” for its offerings of unique, vintage items. From 6:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. (you can pay to enter early at 5:30 a.m.), hunt down some treasures to take home. 

Spring Equinox

Online | March 20 | griffithobservatory.org

Mark the start of spring with a live online talks and a live broadcast at noon and sunset (weather permitting). Griffith Observatory staff will discuss how the sun’s changing trajectory causes seasonal changes.

13th Annual Celebration Of Nowruz

UCLA | 10745 Dickson Court, Los Angeles, CA 90095 | March 20 | farhang.org

The Farhang Foundation rings in the Iranian new year with this free event featuring musical performances, arts and crafts, activities for children, dancers, traditional musicians, stilt walkers, the Grand Haft Sîn display, a Persian tea house and much more. 

Froot Basket

10 ½ | 330 S. Broadway, Los Angeles, CA 90013 | March 20 | eventbrite.com

Froot Basket is an inclusive queer comedy event benefiting ReachLA (helping LGBTQ people of color) featuring standup, drag, game shows and more.

Butterfly Pavilion

Natural History Museum | 900 Exposition Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90007 | March 20-Sept. 5 | nhm.org

Walk among hundreds of colorful, beautiful butterflies at this popular seasonal exhibit also featuring native plants.

Swanzyland

Station 1640 | 1640 N. Cahuenga Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90028 | March 20-21 | eventbrite.com

The official launch party of Swanzyland features hip hop and R&B from DJ Swanzy, hookah, a 360 photo booth, bottle service and more music.

Daughtry

The Novo | 800 W. Olympic Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90015 | March 21 | lalive.com

The rock band Daughtry brings “The Dearly Beloved Tour” to The Novo. “Whether or not the glitchy, stadium-scaled rock on ‘Dearly Beloved’ is your cup of tea, there’s a poignant thrill to hearing an artist break out of his industry fetters and do exactly what they want to do.” wrote Morgan Enos for the Recording Academy.

“Ann”

Pasadena Playhouse | 39 S. El Molino Ave., Pasadena, CA 91101 | March 22 – April 24 | pasadenaplayhouse.org

Tough as nails. Funny as hell. Emmy-winning and Tony-nominated Holland Taylor (“The Chair,” “Hollywood,” “Two and a Half Men”) brings former Texas Governor Ann Richards to the stage for the last time in this dynamo Tony-nominated performance that captures the fire, heart, and brains of Ann herself.

Snow Patrol Acoustic Tour

The Cathedral Sanctuary at Immanuel Presbyterian | 3300 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90010 | March 22 | discoverlosangeles.com

The Northern Irish-Scottish rock band behind “Chasing Cars” performs an acoustic set featuring their new single “Reaching Out to You,” written on Instagram Live during lockdown.

All Things Motherish 7 Deadly Sins Cocktail & Food Pairing

Arroyo Collective at Cisco Homes | 474 S. Arroyo Parkway, Pasadena, CA 91105 | March 22 | eventbrite.com

Depart on a culinary adventure through the seven deadly sins with seven courses of food and wine tasting. 

Vegan Playground LA Arts District

Boomtown Brewery | 700 Jackson St., Los Angeles, CA 90012 | March 23 | eventbrite.com

This weekly night market celebrates all things vegan from over 25 vendors. The market is dog friendly, features music, giveaways, photobooths, pool, darts, beer and pinball.

Enter The Giggleverse

Wisdome LA | 1147 Palmetto St., Los Angeles, CA 90013 | March 23 | eventbrite..com

This psychedelic standup comedy experience hosted by Josh Edleman inside an immersive dome features Erica Rhodes (Netflix/Amazon), Luke Null (“SNL”), Alex Hooper (“America’s Got Talent”), Blair Socci (Comedy Central), Chris Estrada (Hulu/HBO), Ahmed Alkadri (TikTok), Nikki Bon (Improv).

Pet Portrait Painting Class

Paint Lab | 1453 14h St., Santa Monica, CA 90404 | March 23 | eventbrite.com

Every pet parent needs a portrait of their fur-baby! Even if your pet doesn’t have fur, you still need one! Instructors at Paint Lab will guide you through the process of painting your pet on canvas.

The Rocky Horror Burlesque Picture Show

The Mixx | 443 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena, CA 91101 | March 24 | themixxclub.com

The Mixx pays tribute to “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” with a cabaret performance that includes the audience, props, music and dancing. 

“The Godfather” 50th Anniversary

Melrose Rooftop Theatre | 603 N. La Cienega Blvd., West Hollywood, CA 90069 | March 24 | melroserooftoptheatre.com

Upgrade the typical dinner-and-movie experience by enjoying the 50th anniversary of Francis Ford Coppola’s film masterpiece under the stars after enjoying a three-course dinner.

things to do this week
St. Lawrence String Quartet. | Photo by Luis Luque

St. Lawrence String Quartet

The Soraya | 18111 Nordhoff St., Northridge, CA 91330 | March 24-25 | thesoraya.org

The St. Lawrence String Quartet (SLSQ) performs John Adams: “Second Quartet” Second Movement; Osvaldo Golijov’s two new arrangements for the quartet: Astor Piazzolla’s “Escualo” and the traditional Yiddish song, “Arum dem Fayer,” an octet to be performed with four members of Delirium Musicum; and Doug Balliet’s 2019 composition for SLSQ “Zefiro Tornado”, performed with Purcell: Fantasia on One Note.

AFI

Hollywood Palladium | 6215 Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90028 | March 25 | thehollywoodpalladium.com

AFI’s 11th studio album has ushered in the Bodies Tour with Cold Cave as guests. 

We Own The Laughs

The Pasadena Comedy | 1194 E. Walnut St., Pasadena, CA 91106 | March 25 | eventbrite.com

D’Maurier Johnson hosts a night of laughs featuring Katherin Yoon, David Shelton, Alyssa Poteet, Kyrei Kennedy, Teresa Lo, Tyson Paul, Katie K., and Subhah Agrwal.

The Replicas

Urban Press Winery | 316 N. San Fernando, Burbank, CA 91502 | March 25 | eventbrite.com

While you dine in an Italian garden-inspired patio, The Replicas take you through many musical eras and genres while engaging the audience with banter and whimsey. 

Family Movie Night: “Inside Out”

236 W. Mountain St. Unit 103, Pasadena, CA 91103 | March 25 | eventbrite.com

Therapeutic Play Foundation streams “Inside Out” to introduce children to the basics of mental health and emotions. Free snacks and desserts will be provided. 

Outdoor Movie Night & Market

9679 Las Tunas Drive, Temple City, CA 91780 | March 26 | eventbrite.com

Delicious Chengdu has invited young filmmakers to showcase their projects and discuss their production process. Local artists and artisans will set up an art market featuring paintings, ceramics, candles, plants and more. Popcorn, snacks, soda, hot tea, food and desserts will be available. 

French Macarons Class

Chef Cregg’s Place | 1010 ½ Fair Oaks Ave., South Pasadena, CA 91030 | March 26 | cocusocial.com

French macarons are notorious for being difficult to make ⸺ I have failed twice at trying to make these expensive delicacies ⸺ so do yourself a favor and learn from a pro. Guided by Chef Cregg, you’ll whip meringue and mix batter full of cocoa flavor. Then you’ll pipe the ganache filling to finish off your macarons.

Allman Brothers Band, Creedence Clearwater Revival, John Fogerty Tributes

Royal Vista Golf Club | 20055 Colima Road, Walnut, CA 91789 | March 26 | eventbrite.com

Rock away under the stars to music from some of the biggest acts of the ‘60s and ‘70s.

626 Night Market Mini 

Lot 27 | 1324 5th St., Santa Monica, CA 90401 | March 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.

Oddities Flea Market

Globe Theatre Los Angeles | 740 S. Broadway, Los Angeles, CA 90014 | March 26-27 | eventbrite.com

With three floors of medical history ephemera, anatomical curiosities, natural history items, osteological specimens, taxidermy, home decor, jewelry, one-of-a-kind art, and much more, you’ll have plenty to shop from.

Vegan Street Fair 2022

Vegan Street Fair | 11223 Chandler Blvd., North Hollywood, CA 91601 | March 26-27 | eventbrite.com

Though we can’t independently confirm, event organizers claim this is the “World’s largest vegan festiva.” The festival will also feature multiple DJ stages, live entertainment, karaoke, a beer and booze garden and entry is free.

Sierra Madre Wistaria Festival

Sierra Madre Boulevard | March 27 | eventbrite.com

Spend the afternoon in Sierra Madre by visiting its local shops, fine dining establishments, check out the auto show or musical performances and, of course, the beautiful, blooming wistarias. 

Mariachi Women Warriors: Tradition & Innovation

Placita Olvera | 5-11 Olvera St., Los Angeles, CA 90012 | March 27 | eventbrite.com
Talk, listen, dance and sing with the Mariachi Women’s Foundation at this bilingual community talk with mariachi women and a performance from Mariachi Divas. Those unable to attend in person can stream on https://evt.live/mariachiwomenwarriors.

“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.”

“Archival Intimacies: Queering South/East Asian Diasporas”

ONE Archives at the USC Libraries | 909 W. Adams Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90007
| Through May 29 |
one.usc.edu

Three artists-in-residence at ONE Archives at USC Libraries, Prima Jalichandra-Sakuntabhai, Vinhay Keo, and Pamila Matharu were invited to develop new works in response to the archive. Jalichandra-Sakuntabhai and Keo’s work investigates the remnants of embodied history, migration, exile, and queerness. Accompanying these works is “Satrang at 25: Queer South Asian Diaspora(s) in Context,” on view at ONE, examining the history of Satrang, an organization supporting queer South Asian communities in Southern California and placing its evolution in the context of broader queer diasporic histories.

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