AFI FEST
Los Angeles’ film fest returns this weekend. AFI FEST presented by Audi is the American Film Institute’s annual celebration of international cinema from modern masters and emerging filmmakers. It features nightly red-carpet galas, special screenings, conversations and tributes. Free; Through November 16th; more info here.
L.A. Comedy Fest
Enjoy films, live comedy acts and a screenplay competition. Through November 19th; Let Live Theatre, 916 N. Formosa Ave, Los Angeles, CA
MOCA Day Party
Celebrate the recently opened site-specific exhibition, Adrián Villar Rojas: The Theater of Disappearance, with a day at The Geffen Contemporary at MOCA. Enjoy food trucks, a cash bar, Spaceland-programmed DJ sets, and exhibition-responsive, family-friendly activities. Spaceland Lineup: Cuz’n Roy: 11 am–12:30 pm; Will Ivy: 12:30– 2 pm; and Qwess / Suga Shay: 2–5 pm. Free; Sunday, 11 am-5 pm; 152 North Central Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90012; 213.621.1741
Designer Con
The annual art and design convention offers everything from the design world. Find collectible toys, customs, plush, designer apparel and more with urban, underground and pop art. The convention also features panels, parties and access to exclusive merchandise. $10-$35; Saturday & Sunday; 300 East Green St, Pasadena, CA
American Indian Arts Marketplace
Celebrate Native American Heritage month at Southern California’s largest dedicated Native American arts fair. Discover unique wares from 200 artists representing 40+ tribes, plus enjoy food, films, poetry, informative demonstrations and more. Saturday & Sunday, 10 am-5 pm; The Autry Museum in Griffith Park, 4700 Western Heritage Way, Los Angeles, CA
National Happy Hour Day at Islands Restaurants
Islands Restaurants will have specials all day in the bar area to celebrate national happy hour day. Repeat: all day happy hour! Specials include $5 mai tais, mojitos, margaritas, sliders and cheddar fries (everything on the menu is under $10), as well as two new cocktails: the Maui Mojito with Don Q coconut rum, Myers Rum, pineapple, lime and mint; and the Blue Hawaiian featuring blue Curacao, rum, piña colada and pineapple. Both were created by Islands employees and will be available for a limited time. Plus, Sunday, football fans can catch all the games with NFL Redzone, Sunday Ticket and plenty of big screen TVs at every location. Sunday; locations here.
After five years of recipe development, Jeni Britton Bauer, founder of Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams, is unveiling the company’s newest flavor: dairy-free, vegan Dark Chocolate Truffle (yay)! Dark Chocolate Truffle is no exception to Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams’ commitment to whole ingredients, so Jeni settled uses high-quality coconut cream and Fair Trade cocoa to create the ice cream. Since fat carries all the flavor in ice cream, the fat content in coconut proved to be a superior base. You can expect the Dark Chocolate Truffle flavor to be ultra-creamy vegan ice cream. Friday, locations here.
Cole’s 109th Anniversary
The city’s oldest restaurant is celebrating its birthday with a multi-course dinner prepared by chefs Neal Fraser (Redbird) and Christian Page (Cassell’s Hamburgers). Enjoy gourmet French dip sandwiches, lamb and salmon, along with classic American sides and pie. Tickets also includes two cocktails from Cole’s and The Varnish, live jazz music and more. $70; Friday; Cole’s, 118 East 6th St, Los Angeles, CA
Sausage Fest 2017
Spend the afternoon with L.A. chefs Youself Ghalaini (FIG Restaurant) and Joel Miller (The Wallace). Enjoy live music, brats and artisan beers from local breweries like Verdugo West Brewing, Boomtown and Santa Monica Brew Works. You can also sip on FIG’s newest dry, white wine, the Georgina Jones Grüner Veltliner—named after the wife of Senator Jones, the founder of Santa Monica—which makes its debut at the festival. $50 (includes all you can eat and sip); Sunday, 1-5 pm; FIG Restaurant at Fairmont Miramar Hotel & Bungalows, 101 Wilshire Blvd, Santa Monica, CA
Dominique Ansel Opens
The James Beard Award-winning pastry chef who sparked the Cronut craze across the world makes his West Coast debut with a new restaurant and bakery at The Grove. Expect a full range of French pastries—including the Cronut—in addition to L.A. exclusives. The second-floor restaurant starts dinner service starting Saturday and also offers Ansel’s decadent take on weekend brunch during the day. Friday; The Grove, 189 The Grove Dr, Los Angeles, CA; 323.602.0096 (restaurant), 323.601.1167 (bakery)
Little Ruby Opens in Santa Monica
Partners Nick Mathers (Eveleigh; Goldie’s; Dudley’s NYC; Duke Bistro Sydney), Tim Sykes (Ruby’s Café), and Thomas Lim (Goldie’s LA; Dudley’s NYC; Duke Bistro Sydney) bring Little Ruby’s beachy vibe to Santa Monica. The Aussie café first landed in New York in 2003, with comfort fare like avocado toast, flat whites, hearty salads, and surfer’s breakfasts. Dishes at Little Ruby Santa Monica are made of signatures from the original menu and fresh creations inspired by its new beachside home. Chef/partner Lim cooks up favorites like the Crispy Rice Bowl made with cucumber, radish, tomato, red onion, herbs, haloumi, fried egg and lime; the Rag Bol with grandma Ruby’s pepper-zucchini bolognese; and the Bronte Burger with its secret sweet chili sauce. Lim’s new additions range from market-driven salads like a Cauli Rice Bowl with heirloom cauliflower, kohlrabi, pear, arugula, fennel, puffed rice, comte, and spicy buttermilk dressing to Crispy Chicken with soft-boiled egg and a sweet chili-mustard dressing. Desserts include a Sticky Date Pudding and by the Aussie favorite Banoffee Pot, a mix of bananas, dulce de leche, cream and a cookie crumble. Breakfast include Ricotta Hotcakes with honeycomb butter; soft-scrambled Green Eggs with braised greens, avocado, peas, and kale; the Big Breakfast with bacon, eggs, mushrooms, roast tomatoes, baked beans, hash browns and toast; Avocado Toast; Coffee Granola and Homemade Banana Bread with passionfruit butter. Drinks will combine Regal Rouge, a distinguished vermouth blend of native Australian aromatics, with bright, refreshing ingredients such as The Lively which mixes Regal Rouge Lively White with watermelon, lime, fresh mint and fresh apple slices and The Bold that balances Regal Rouge Bold Red, ginger beer, fresh orange juice, ginger root, and topped with a fresh orange wheel. Friday; 109 Santa Monica Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90401
Movember Foundation’s 10th Mo’versary Party!
The Movember Foundation, a global men’s health charity is turning 10! Join in to enjoy food trucks, music, games and prizes to celebrate men’s healt. Free (cash bar); Friday, 4-8 pm; Movember HQ, 8559 Higuera St, Culver City, California 90232
Citadel Outlets’ Tree Lighting Concert
Get in the holiday spirit early this year at this 16th annual tree lighting. Forever In Your Mind will headline the evening and a 30-person chorus will sing holiday classics as the world’s tallest live tree lights up for the holidays. Bring a new, unwrapped toys to donate to a local children’s charity. Free; Saturday, 5-8 pm; 100 Citadel Dr, Los Angeles, CA
Terranea Resort‘s Friendsgiving
Using promo code “FRIENDS,” you can celebrate as a group and indulge in a holiday package that includes luxury accommodations, a private cabana at a resort pool, a s’mores kit for roasting by the fire, nightcaps at the Lobby Bar, valet parking, and more. Visit here for full details. Through November 30th; 100 Terranea Way, Rancho Palos Verdes, CA 90275; 866.261.5873
