LA Life: The August Good Stuff
Greetings, Tomatoes! August is coming in hot (especially if you live in the Valley), so if you’re looking for something cool to do, here’s my number one tip: service your AC. But if you’d like to leave your house, there’s plenty of the other kind of cool happenings around town – from Grohl at the Bowl, to musique concrete at the Getty, to sexy singing superheroes, a tribute to Italy and a tribute to jazz, here’s your Guide To The Good Stuff…
CLASSICAL FOO
The great Gustavo Dudamel is saying “adios” this month to his position as artistic director of the L.A. Philharmonic, so it’s only right that he be celebrated in style. And what better way to say “there goes my hero” than by having Dave Grohl and his legendary band, the Foo Fighters, bid him a worthy adieu at his summer home, the Hollywood Bowl. This one night only event, featuring Foo and Phil (the L.A. Phil, that is) promises to be an epic happening of truly “classical” rock. Saturday, August 22nd at 8:00 pm at the Hollywood Bowl, 2301 N Highland Ave, L.A. Can anything ever be this good again? Let’s hope so. GET THE DETAILS.
OFF THE 405
If you can’t score tickets to Gustavo and Grohl at the Bowl – or if they’re too rich for your budget – there’s more music happening on the other side of town on the 22nd. The aptly named “Off the 405” series at the Getty Center is hosting its final show of the season, with artist Laurel Halo. Halo is an electronic composer who uses a variety of styles, including something called musique concrete, which sounds French, so it may involve butter? Anyhoo, the show is free (!!), it’s an evening under the stars, you can dine al fresco, and you can listen to something you likely haven’t heard before. At The Getty Center, Saturday August 22nd, 1200 Getty Center Dr, off Sepulveda in west LA. DJ set at 6:00pm, concert at 7:30. Tickets are free, but reservations are needed. Vive le musique concrete! GET THE DETAILS.
I SCREAM, YOU SCREAM, ETC.
When you’re outside in the heat, of course your body needs to hydrate. But what it really needs is summer’s cure for everything: Ice. Cream. My childhood fantasy was to marry the ice cream man (yes, the one in the truck), but my taste buds have matured since then – along with my husband standards – and I’m pleased to share LAist’s roster of The Best Ice Cream In Southern California. The list goes far and wide, so get ready to put some miles on your car: there’s Kinrose Creamery in Pasadena, Sad Girl in DTLA, All Chill in Liemert Park, Bulgarini in Highland Park, AWAN in WeHo and Venice, and more. Start your engines, people – and get ready to lick your way across L.A.! GET THE DETAILS.
SUPERHEROES, SEX, AND SONG
The new “Spiderman” is the big story at the box office this month, joining 3 other Marvel Universe films as the now biggest money-makers of all time. But here’s something even bigger: a host of Marvel hotties shake their moneymakers on a live stage. And sing, to boot(y). That’s what you get in “MARVELOUS,” the “world’s first adults-only superhero parody” show with the perfect tagline: “Assvengers, Ass-emble!” Expect high energy aerial performances, big singing to a throbbing rock score, risque references, laughter, lots of sinewy bodies, and narration by Deadpool, ‘natch. Just don’t expect Scarlett Johanson or any of the Hemsworth brothers. But it sounds like a rip-roarin’ good time, and a great excuse for a girls’ night – and Spandex. Show runs Wednesday thru Sunday til August 15th, at the El Portal Theater in North Hollywood, 5269 Lankershim Blvd. GET THE DETAILS.
VIVA ITALIA!
Raise your hand if you’d love to spend a day in Italy… but it’s a 10- hour flight, and you haven’t renewed your passport. No worries, Ferragosto is here! This Italian holiday of food, family, and community, celebrated in Italy on August 15th, has landed in L.A. And you can experience all the grande, bellisimo joy of it all at the Helms Design District on – not surprisingly – August 15th. From 1:00 to 6:00 pm (and no lire), imagine yourself having a dreamy Saturday afternoon in an Italian piazza, watching the chefs at Pasta Sisters make tortellini, listening to live music, sampling Italian treats from several local cafes, and wandering through the nearby sdesign showrooms. Helms Design District, 8800 Venice Blvd. in Culver City. Mangia and Divertitevi! GET THE DETAILS.
FILM(ER) ON THE ROOF
Six years after the pandemic shutdown, people are finally going out to the movies in full force. But if you really want to go out to see a movie, check out the rooftop experience at the Montalban Theater in Hollywood. Throughout the month on Friday nights, this cinema ala roof series features some of the biggest and best-loved films of the past few decades, including “Pulp Fiction,” “The Big Lebowski” (the dude abides), “Once Upon A Time in Hollywood,” and perennial rom-com fave “Say Anything.” The al fresco evening offers a full bar, and a tasty menu of upgraded concession fare (Wagyu sliders, anyone?). Fridays through August, at the Montalban Theater, 1615 Vine St. Doors open at 6:00 pm, films start at 8:00 pm. And…action! GET THE DETAILS.
YO, GABBA
“In No Particular Order” is the way I curate this newsletter. But this month, it’s also the title of a new show at Gabba Gallery in DTLA. INPO is actually five individual exhibits by five different artists happening simultaneously, so there should be plenty to take in if you’re feeling extra artsy. Opening reception is Saturday, August 8th from 6:00 to 10:00 pm at Gabba Gallery,
235 S Broadway. Admission is free, and one of the artists is named Thrifty Davinci. Hmmm…is there a theme here, perhaps? GET THE DETAILS.
Stefanie Novik
From Midwest roots to Hollywood hustle, Stefanie Novik has spent the past 40 years soaking up the sunshine and stories of Los Angeles. She came for summer school at UCLA and stayed for the earthquakes, traffic, and endless inspiration. Her path has zigzagged through showbiz—casting assistant, talent manager, sitcom writer, and TV marketing pro—before pivoting to real estate, where she now helps Angelenos find their dream homes (cue the tearful key handoffs). As your Guide to the Good Stuff, she’s thrilled to share the delicious, delightful, and downright dazzling sides of L.A. Life’s a wild ride—let’s enjoy the view.
