The winds are kicking up and it’s a busy weekend out there in Los Angeles with street festivals, food festivals, and all sorts of strange, fun things to see, hear, and taste.
SEE: GLOW Festival
It’s Saturday Light Fever as the GLOW Festival illuminates the night with works that are beyond trippy. Hanging sculptures of interwoven LED lights and crystals, a giant model train with 15-foot sculptures of a ghost and sea maiden, and large, undulating quartz-like lights perched atop poles are just a few of the works on display. More information (September 28; Santa Monica Beach)
EAT: A Decadent Chef’s Cookout
Find the epicenter of the foodquake when culinary superstars such as Suzanne Goin (Lucques, A.O.C., Tavern) and husband David Lentz (The Hungry Cat) join forces with L.A. Loves Alex’s Lemonade to serve a cornucopia of delights alongside big-time drink slingers. More information (September 28; Culver Studios)
Experience: Abbot Kinney Festival
Nearly two dozen food trucks, 300 vendors, and 120,000 people are expected to show up for this popular annual street festival. AM & Shawn Lee, Chain Gang of 1974, and Cosmic Kids headline the musical acts. More information (September 29; Abbot Kinney between Main Street and Venice Blvd.)
HEAR: Zola Jesus
Zola Jesus is the stage name of Russian American singer/songwriter Nika Roza Danilova, who has evolved from experimental teenage noisemaker into an internationally celebrated electronic pop musician. There’s no better venue for her haunting vocals and electronic pop atmospherics than the Hollywood Forever Cemetery. More information (September 27; Hollywood Forever Cemetery)
READ: 12th Annual West Hollywood Book Fair
This year’s festival will feature literature, art, music, and performanceas well as a lineup of notable authors including T.C. Boyle, Debbie Reynolds, William Friedkin, Lynda Obst, Victoria Chang, Aaron Hartzler, D.H. Pelligro, Veronica Reyes, and others. More information (September 29; West Hollywood Park & Library)
HEAR: Depeche Mode
The British synth pop stars are invading the world’s big arenas in a very modern way with the release of this year’s Delta Machine. Definitely not your typical 80’s nostalgia trip—these guys mix it up by playing the hits along side forgotten acoustic gems and Delta blues-inspired swampy pop. More information (September 28-29, October 2; Staples Center)
LAUGH: Yakov Smirnoff: Happily Ever Laughter
Russian-born comedian Yakov Smirnoff returns to L.A. after an absence of many years with his one-man show Happily Ever Laughter. The yukster aims to not only leave viewers in stitches but renew their faith in love and relationships. More information (Through September 28; ACME Comedy Hollywood Theater)
EAT: Thai Food Festival
Thai Culinary Ambassador and chef Jet Tila hosts L.A.’s first Thai food festival. The event will feature culinary panels, cooking demonstrations, and grub from chef Andy Ricker of Portland’s Pok Pok along with local talents Sang Yoon, Kris Yenbamroog, and Susan Feniger. More information (September 29; Paramount Studios)
SEE: H.P. Lovecraft Film Festival
Bring on the weird. A film festival dedicated to influential horror writer (and creator of Cthulhu) H.P. Lovecraft returns to L.A. for the fourth year, this time featuring The Coon Trilogy from South Park co-creator Trey Parker. More information (September 27-29; Warner Grand Theatre)
EAT: Italian Feast of San Gennaro
Jimmy Kimmel and fellow Italian American funnyman Adam Carolla host a three-day celebration fit for the whole family. Enjoy music, rides, and a round of bocce ball before sampling eats from some of L.A.’s best Italian spots. And of course, no Italian feast would be complete without copious amounts of wine. More information (September 27-28; Hollywood and Highland)
SEE: Metallica Through the Never
Fact blends with fiction in a 3-D flick that captures the larger-than-life antics of heavy-metal gods Metallica. It makes Moonwalker look like a flipbook. More information (September 27 – Octboer 4; IMAX theaters)
