The Best Things To Do In LA And SoCal This Week: March 28 – 31

Check out The Black Version (of movies) live on stage. View artworks at The Other Art Fair. Take in the music and dance of Ballet Folklórico de México de Amalia Hernández. Give back to the community for Cesar Chavez Day. Participate in Food Waste Week L.A.
Please check ahead of time to confirm event status and vaccine/testing requirements for entry.

Monday, March 28: 7 p.m.

Send in the Sondheim
The Bourbon Room 
6356 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood 
The new monthly cabaret series Broadway at The Bourbon Room presents a night honoring the late Stephen Sondheim. This edition, produced in collaboration with the Geffen Playhouse, encourages audience members to sing along to their favorite Sondheim songs and enjoy showstopping performances by Broadway and L.A.’s best performers.
COST: $15 – $25; MORE INFO

Monday, March 28: 8 p.m.

Back at the Store!  
The Comedy Store 
8433 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood
The creators of the pandemic drive-in comedy series Magic Asphalt at The Magic Castle and Asphalt Comedy on Melrose bring their comedy lineups back to the club’s Main Room. Monday’s performers include Jim Jefferies, Sherri Shepherd, Eleanor Kerrigan, and Kennelia. 21+ only with a two-drink minimum.
COST: Tickets start at $20; MORE INFO

Monday, March 28: 7 p.m.

Halloween II
Los Feliz Theatre
1822 N. Vermont Ave., Los Feliz
Cinematic Void screens the sequel to the Michael Myers saga, written and produced by John Carpenter and Debra Hill (the same team responsible for the original). Directed by Rick Rosenthal, the second film picks up right where Halloween ended. Dr. Sam Loomis (Donald Pleasence) searches frantically for the murderous Myers, who is hunting for Laurie Strode (Jamie Lee Curtis).
COST: $8 – $13; MORE INFO

Monday, March 28: 8 p.m.

The Black Version
The Groundlings Theatre
7307 Melrose Ave., Fairfax
A cast of all Black comedy actors improvise a movie title that’s been suggested by the audience. No late seating. Ages 16+.
COST: $20; MORE INFO

Wednesday, March 30: 8 p.m.

Gianmarco Soresi
Dynasty Typewriter
2511 Wilshire Blvd., Westlake
The NY-based comedian, actor, and podcaster brings his solo show to this coast this week, headlining L.A. for the first time. His comedy special Shelf Life is available on Amazon Prime. Ages 18+.
COST: $20 – $25; MORE INFO

Wednesday, March 30 – Sunday, April 3

TapFest California Festival
Musco Center for the Arts 
415 North Glassell St., Orange 
Chapman University’s Department of Dance holds its first-ever, five-day celebration of tap with master classes, a panel discussion, and performance by the all-female tap ensemble Chloe Arnold and Syncopated Ladies.
COST: Varies; MORE INFO

Wednesday, March 30: 5 p.m. PT

MusiCares: Music on a Mission
Virtual
The virtual concert celebrates the power of music and Joni Mitchell as the 2022 MusiCares Person of the Year honoree. Watch performances by Brandi Carlile, Shawn Colvin, Jason Isbell, Jesse & Joy, k.d. lang, Fantastic Negrito, Gian Marco, Dante Spinetta, Amythyst Kiah, Fitz of Fitz and the Tantrums, morgxn, Zach Person, and Emily Wolfe. Ticket proceeds will be distributed to music community members in need.
COST: Tickets start at $25; MORE INFO

Wednesday, March 30: 8 p.m.

Ballet Folklórico de México de Amalia Hernández
Segerstrom Center for the Arts
600 Town Center Dr., Costa Mesa
Founded in 1952 by dancer and choreographer Amalia Hernández, the company features 76 folk dancers and has developed choreography for 40 ballets. Making its home at the historical Palacio de Bellas Artes in Mexico City, the shows include festive music, swirling dances, and colorful costumes from pre-Columbian times through the modern era.
COST: Tickets start at $29; MORE INFO

Thursday, March 31 – Friday, April 1; 7 p.m.

Letterkenny Live
Theatre at Ace Hotel
929 S. Broadway, downtown L.A.
Cast members from the popular Crave and Hulu series are currently on tour, bringing the 90-minute comedy experience to the Ace for two nights. The series tracks the high jinks of residents living in a rural Canadian town, and the live show includes Letterkenny‘s cast: Jared Keeso (Wayne), Nathan Dales (Daryl), Michelle Mylett (Katy), K. Trevor Wilson (Dan), Dylan Playfair (Reilly), Andrew Herr (Jonesy), Tyler Johnston (Stewart), Evan Stern (Roald), Mark Forward (Coach), and Jacob Tierney (Pastor Glen).
COST: Tickets start at $75; MORE INFO

Thursday, March 31

L.A. Works’ César Chávez Day of Service 
Virtual
To honor the legacy of civil rights activist César Chávez, the volunteer action organization holds a virtual day of service. This year’s focus is a critical issue that has surfaced in the wake of the pandemic: education equity, particularly within the Latinx community. Participate in a virtual workshop and book drive, or take a remote orientation workshop that puts you on the fast track to becoming an online tutor.
COST: FREE with RSVP; MORE INFO

Thursday, March 31 – Sunday, April 3

The Other Art Fair Los Angeles
4317 Beverly Blvd., East Hollywood
View works from more than 140 independent artists who are showcasing original art, including painting, photography, sculpture, mixed media, and new media. Highlights of this edition includes guest artist Anna Marie Tendler, L.A. Dance Project, an NFT collection curated by Rarible x Tezos — plus live DJ sets, local food vendors,  tattoos by artist Siobhan, and a pop-up print shop. If you’re looking to buy new works, prices range from under $100 to $10,000.
COST: $15 – $45; MORE INFO

Now through Friday, April 1

The Aeromobil
Petersen Automotive Museum 
6060 Wilshire Blvd., Mid-Wilshire 
The Aeromobil, which may become the world’s first commercially available flying car, is now on view at the museum for a limited time. The vehicle is said to be capable of transforming from a supercar to an aircraft in less than three minutes, expanding from a width of seven feet to a wingspan of 30 feet.
COST: $12 – $17; MORE INFO

Through Wednesday, Aug. 31

Color Fields 
Blush Studios
147 North Mission Rd., downtown L.A.
Artist and architect Brian Zamora has created an immersive exhibition that explores light, shape, blending, movement, and self in five distinct rooms. The exhibit encourages the visitor to slow down and experience a modified reality.
COST: $35 (general adult admission); MORE INFO

Ongoing

The Light at the End of the Tunnel – Heart of Los Angeles
Exit of the 3rd St. Tunnel (facing Flower St.)
Artist Tory DiPietro’s neon art installation was conceived in 2020 at the height of the pandemic. The public artwork is meant to remind Angelenos and visitors that there is hope and light — even during the darkest times.
COST: FREE; MORE INFO

Viewing Pick

Lizzo’s Watch Out for the Big Grrrls: Season 1
ICYMI, Lizzo’s reality competition show dropped all eight episodes on Friday, streaming on Amazon’s Prime Video. The music icon searches for her next Big Grrrl dancers among the 13 hopefuls who arrive in Hollywood to compete. Lizzo created the show in response to dance agencies that weren’t able to deliver what the singer wanted: bigger, plus-size dancers. The selected performers will dance alongside Lizzo at the Bonnaroo music festival, along with other dates. Lizzo’s Watch Out for the Big Grrls is available to stream now.

Dine and Drink Deals

Check out the 411 on restaurant, bar, and food happenings in SoCal this week:

• Smoke City Char Bar opened its doors last week in the Arts District. The sit-down restaurant serves locally sourced meats, naturally smoked onsite by executive chef Omari Williams. Offerings include brisket, tri-tip, pulled pork, and turkey, in addition to salmon and jackfruit. 
• The private Vinohead Social Club holds a Pizza and Pinot pop-up event on Thursday, March 31 from 7 to 10 p.m. at Prince Street Pizza in West Hollywood. The $40 ticket includes 4-5 wine tastings and all-you-can-eat pizza.
• Piccalilli, the Cali-Asian restaurant in Culver City, partners with other neighborhood restaurants Wise Sons, Maple Block Meat Co., and Pizzette for a self-guided food tour on March 30 beginning at 5 p.m. Be prepared to eat and drink a lot, as the menu features dishes including spicy crispy rice salad, Margarita pizzette, brisket tacos, and Mekong sours. Tickets: $100.
• The alternative music duo Foreign Air is pairing dinner parties with intimate performances. On Tuesday, after stops in NYC and D.C., they’re teaming with chef Stella Alvarez and Checker Hall in Highland Park for a Mexican-influenced dinner. A portion of the proceeds will be directed toward the Power of 10 Initiative, which works on changing the impact that COVID-19 had on many restaurants. Tickets ($100) include a three-course meal, a select adult beverage, and live music.  
• Chef Travis Passerotti and The Tasting Kitchen in Venice have recently started curing meats in-house for new charcuterie and salumi offerings. Made of Heritage breed pigs, the TTK team handles the entire process from grinding to fermentation, hanging, and drying on-site. A rotating selection includes nostrano, calabrese-type styles, coppa, salami and rillette served with fresh Jyan Isaac Bread, and pickled and marinated seasonal vegetables.  
• From March 28 – April 3, Imperfect Foods brings its Food Waste Week to L.A. for the first time, partnering with local restaurateurs, chefs, and speakers in an effort to educate the community and save 1,000 pounds of food in just one week. Throughout the week, L.A. eateries will create limited edition, wasteless menu items. Imperfect Foods will host panels, tastings, demos, and workshops. Participating restaurants include The Rose Room, Cafe Gratitude, Plant Food + Wine, and Venice Ale House. For every meal sold at participating restaurants, Imperfect Foods will make a donation of $5 to The Hollywood Food Coalition.