Fun Things to Do in Los Angeles
This Week: Aug 7, 2023 – Aug 10, 2023
Monday
Make Back-to-School Season a Breeze with BJ’s Restaurant & Brewhouse’s eGift Program
Back-to-School season means busy days and action-packed schedules for the entire family, so BJ’s Restaurant & Brewhouse is making meals simple and delicious with its new eGift program this Fall! Through 8/20, guests who purchase $50 in gift cards will receive an additional $10 free, with bonus cards valid from 8/21 – 9/30.
Looking for delicious and affordable dinner options for the family? Planning dinner during the first weeks of school has never been easier with BJ’s Restaurant’s Family Meal Deals starting at $45. Available exclusively for takeout and delivery, BJ’s family meal deals are designed to satisfy everyone’s taste buds without breaking the bank. Whether craving handcrafted burgers, flavorful pizzas, or refreshing salads, BJ’s menu has something for everyone in the family. Various hours and locations
Tallula’s x Hotville Chicken
Next up in their Hecho Con Amor series, which celebrates chefs, artisans and friends in the agave spirits world, coastal Mexican spot Tallula’s hosts Hotville Chicken Chef & Owner Kim Prince for a full takeover on Monday nights in August. Her family started the hot chicken tradition back in the 1930s in Nashville, so Kim is “excited to bring some heat to the beach with a little South in ya mouth at Tallula’s!” Highlights from the à la carte menu include Hot Fried Chicken and Fish, “The Shaw” Chicken Sandwich, Mac & Smokin’ Cheese, a variety of vegan and vegetarian sides like KaleSlaw, Collard Greens, Warm Potato Salad and a BBQ Baked Bean Trio, plus more. The Tallula’s team is also shaking and stirring up cooling cocktails to temper that heat. Reservations are recommended, but walk-ins are accepted (including in the expansive, outdoor “Beer Garden”). Mondays through 8/28; 118 Entrada Dr., Santa Monica, CA 90402,; 310-526-0027
Now Serving: Personalized Paellas at Telefèric Barcelona
Don’t like sharing? Don’t worry! Telefèric Barcelona is now serving personalized paellas so you can enjoy the signature Spanish dish all to yourself. Available during lunch only , the Brentwood Spanish restaurant will offer their most popular paella dishes in single-serving sizes, perfect for a midday pick-me-up or weekday lunch celebration. The paella offerings consist of:
- Ibérico Pork Paella ($29) – Acorn-fed pork chop, pork belly, mushrooms
- Paella Mixta ($28) – Pork, chicken, gulf shrimp, octopus
- Paella Negra ($29) – Squid ink, gulf shrimp, scallops, octopus, clams
- Veggie Paella ($25) – Mushrooms, cauliflower, artichokes, seaweed stock
Mondays – Fridays, 11:30 am – 3:00 pm; 11930 San Vicente Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90049; 424.832.7595
Skybar at Mondrian Los Angeles Debuts New Mural Art Installation by Artist Sküt
Skybar at Mondrian Los Angeles unveils a new mural art installation dubbed “Happiness” on the Sunset Strip by Artist Sküt (Scott Lewallen). The new art project has been commissioned by Dunn Edwards Paints in collaboration with Artlounge Collective. The mural incorporates eight original rainbow colors from Gilbert Baker’s LGBT Pride Flag commissioned by Harvey Milk in 1978, in a series of eight enormous candy colored smiling heart faces. It covers a 30×10 foot wall along the entrance to Skybar, where patrons enter the venue known for popular pool parties and headliner DJ events. Sküt completed the project in four days. “I live and breathe design,” says Sküt. “I snapped photos of the wall, sketched ideas on my iPad, and crunched numbers to quickly scale and tackle this challenge.” In honor of the new mural Slybar is hosting a mural unveiling party tonight. Free entry; Wednesday, 7 – 10:00 pm; Skybar at Mondrian Los Angeles – 8440 Sunset Blvd, West Hollywood, CA 90069; 323.650.8999
Taylor Swift’s “The Eras Tour” Concludes 6-Night Run in Los Angeles
Calling all Swifties, your girl is coming to Los Angeles! Taylor Swift’s continuing her 6-night run of “The Eras Tour” at SoFi Stadium. Grab your bestie and your dancing shoes because this tour has been making waves as being her best yet! And, in honor of Taylor’s LA takeover, two of your favorite LA hotels are offering special Taylor Swift programming. Monday – Wednesday, 6:30 pm; SoFi Stadium – 1001 Stadium Dr., Inglewood, CA 90301; 424.541.9100
Ventura County Fair Features Fun, Food, and Festivities
Get ready for the ultimate summer bash at the Ventura County Fair! Experience the thrill of an agricultural show, hop on thrilling carnival rides that’ll make your heart race, and indulge in scrumptious food booths that’ll tempt your taste buds. But that’s not all – every single night, get ready to groove and rock out to the coolest concerts under the starry skies! This year features performances from Patti LaBelle, Ashanti, and Trace Adkins. The Ventura County Fair is the place to be for non-stop fun and excitement! $15 (adults) and $10 (children under 13 and seniors); Monday – 8/13, various hours; Ventura County Fairgrounds – 10 W. Harbor Blvd., Ventura, CA 93001; 805.648.3376
Tuesday
Last Day to Attend the LA Rams 2023 Training Camp
Are you ready for some football?! The 2023 Rams Training Camp is back at UC Irvine. Witness your favorite Rams players in action, sharpening their skills and preparing for the upcoming season. It’s a chance to get up close with the team, experience the thrill of the game, and potentially interact with players and coaches in a unique and immersive football environment. Free with ticket; 8/8; 9:00 am -12:00 pm; UC Irvine – 903 W Peltason Dr., Irvine, CA 92617
Café Gratitude Pop-Dinner w/ Chef Anne Thornton
Café Gratitude’s Chef Collaboration Series Presents: A California Summer- Inspired Dinner with Chef Anne Thornton & Chef Seizan Dreux Ellis! Guests can enjoy an evening of fresh, plant-based ingredients beautifully crafted into California summer-inspired dishes by Café Gratitude’s Executive Chef, Dreux Ellis, and Chef Anne Thornton with the option to pair the menu alongside natural wines and non-alcoholic beverages. Celebrate the spirit of summer with dishes like the Artichoke Caponata Toasts made with artichoke, asparagus, celery, olives, sun-dried tomato pesto, gluten-free focaccia, and an Amuse-Bouche, a charred and chilled heirloom tomato soup with crema ajo blanco and herbed crouton. Next, enjoy a Lemon Herbed Summer Polenta crafted with white beans, oyster mushrooms, market vegetables, capers, pistachios, and crispy shallots. Lastly, enjoy Summer Stone Fruits for dessert with cardamom coconut cream, and superfood crumble. $125; Tuesday 7:00 pm; 512 Rose Avenue Los Angeles, CA 90291; 424.231.8000
Wednesday
Just Dance! It’s Salsa Night at Riviera 31
Hump Day just got a whole lot better, thanks to Riviera 31’s Salsa Night. Every Wednesday, the incredible Angelo Pagan and his band spread their caliente Cuban and Puerto Rican rhythms at the spiciest and sexiest Salsa Night in town. Whether you’re a professional salsa dancer or an enthusiastic beginner, come feel the Latin vibes at Riviera 31! “Discover the night where Marc Anthony and Jamie Foxx come to sing and where Hollywood celebs go to hang out and dance, like E!’s Total Bellas sisters Nikki and Brie Bella, DWTS stars Peta Murgatroyd and Maksim Chmerkovskiy, and famous couple Cara Delevingne and Ashley Benson!” Seatings are available only with bottle service. To reserve your table, call or text 310.770.1654. $20 cover at the door (no cover with tables reservation); Wednesdays, 8:00 pm; Sofitel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills – 8555 Beverly Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90048; 310.278.5444
Thursday
Jazz Night at TATEL Beverly Hills
On Thursday evenings, TATEL Beverly Hills’ indoor dining room comes alive with live jazz by the Ice Gonzalez Quartet. It’s the perfect excuse for a night on the town, and to try Chef Marva’s refreshed dinner menu. Reservations are recommended. $28+; Thursdays, 5:00 pm – 12:00 am; 453 N. Canon Dr., Beverly Hills, CA 90210 310.651.8553
Coming Soon
(8/11): Black Angus Steakhouse’s End of Summer Grill-Off Competition at the Ventura County Fair
As the saying goes, “All good things must come to an end,” which includes… summer and essentially, grilling season; but before it does, make sure to experience the best things to do in the summer and head to the Ventura County Fair and eat some good food, provided by Black Angus Steakhouse, the popular west coast steakhouse chain, while they host their annual Grill-Off competition on 8/11. This year, the popular fair will feature a variety of entertainers performing throughout the weekend such as Trace Adkins, Patti Labelle, Collective Soul, and for the first time, a grill-off competition hosted by the American restaurant chain steakhouse, Black Angus Steakhouse. During the hour-long competition at the fair, the event will include a face off against Chef Fernando Garcia, Black Angus Steakhouse’s Culinary Director, who will compete against a contender to complete a signature steak dish featuring their choice of Black Angus Steakhouse’s 21-day aged Fresh Butcher-cut steaks and paired with a specialty cocktail. The finished dishes will be evaluated by a panel of three judges in front of Ventura County Fair’s spectators as they enjoy bites, drinks and giveaways provided by the steakhouse. $15 (adults) and $10 (children under 13 and seniors); 8/11, 3 – 4:00 pm; Ventura County Fairgrounds – 10 W. Harbor Blvd., Ventura, CA 93001; 805.648.3376
(9/10): Visionary Women to Host Once-In-A-Lifetime Outstanding in the Field Dinner on Malibu Pier
Los Angeles’ premier social impact non-profit organization for women, Visionary Women, will host a once-in-a-lifetime sunset dinner experience on the Malibu Pier with Outstanding in the Field on 9/10. Set on the iconic Malibu Pier, the extraordinary culinary experience will pair a multi-course meal with breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean and offer an incredible night celebrating the origins of food and the land, among a group of powerhouse women across various professional fields. The spectacular culinary experience is open to Visionary Women members and the public, with a portion of ticket proceeds benefiting Women’s Earth Alliance; a nonprofit that supports women leaders working to mitigate the effects of climate change and protect their communities. Additional proceeds will benefit Visionary Women’s mission in support of initiatives elevating women and girls. The elevated dinner will be prepared by female executive chef Bricia Lopez, behind the James Beard American Classic award-winning Guelaguetza Restaurant in LA and the experience is sponsored by Geary’s Beverly Hills and The Wall Street Journal. $495; 9/10, 5 – 8:00 pm; Malibu Pier – Malibu Pier Malibu, CA 90265 United States
