The City Prolific: Weekend Events July 5 - 7

I was in New England last weekend, in the humidity, and under clouds of mosquitos, barbecuing, blowing bubbles, and lighting fireworks. It's a very Americana summer back there.  Back in LA, I've been all about the beach, but it seems, according to this weekend's events, that I ought to shift my leanings toward Downtown.

FRIDAY, JULY 5

Grand Performances Presents a Tribute to Nina Simone

Did you know that there is a large amphitheater on a beautiful man-made pond in a plaza called California, on top of Bunker Hill to which you can ride Angel's Flight?  Did you also know that an organization called Grand Performances holds free outdoor concerts there, to which you can bring a picnic, with beer and wine? If you didn't know all of this, it's probably because California Plaza is nestled between sky scrapers, with no clear pedestrian access - that is, if you're just wandering down Grand Avenue or Olive Street, you'd have no idea it's there, up those stairs and behind those buildings. In any case, Grand Performances offers a lot of great concerts throughout the summer, and tonight's is a tribute to Nina Simone, hosted by KCRW DJ Tom Schnabel.

Free

8:00pm

California Plaza
350 S Grand Ave
Los Angeles 90071

(Avoid driving, if you can since parking is a pain - take the train to 7th Street Metro.)

Friday Night Sing-a-Longs Present Soul Train Classics

Fun! Since you're going downtown for Grand Performances anyway, swing by the Walt Disney Concert Hall to admire the architecture, and the acoustics, along with the sound of your own voice. Friday Night Sing-Alongs provide an opportunity for song birds of all stripes to raise their voices with musical backing by a live band. Tonight's event will lead you through a communal belting of Soul Train Classics.

-The event is FREE. However, tickets are required for this event and are distributed beginning at 6PM on the day of event. One ticket per person waiting in line.
-There is limited seating, so come early.  First come, first served.
-Easy-to-use song sheets are provided.

Free

6:30pm - 8pm

Walt Disney Concert Hall
111 South Grand Avenue
Los Angeles 90012

Once again, don't drive - take the train.

Pershing Square Friday Night Flicks Presents Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid

Or, since you'll be downtown for the soul train sing-along, head over to Pershing Square with your picnic (but no booze), for a screening of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. Aside from being one of the best examples of Robert Redford and Paul Newman's legendary screen partnerships, this film also features one of the best (maybe the only?) cinematic uses of the song "Raindrops are Falling on My Head."

8:00pm

Pershing Square
532 S Olive St
Los Angeles 90189
Old Pasadena Film Festival

Tonight is the kick off of the Old Pasadena Film Festival, which runs through July 27, with a screening of The Endless Summer, the 1966 documentary of surfer lifestyle, as well as Annie Hall, the quintessential Woody Allen flick, and The Ring, that remake of Ringu.

The Endless Summer: 8:00pm at Distant Lands, 20 S. Raymond Ave.
Annie Hall: 8:30pm at One Colorado Courtyard, 41 Hugus Alley
The Ring: 8:30pm at Central Park, 275 S. Raymond Avenue

Free

8-10pm

Old Pasadena

Check the website for the full festival program.

Jazz@LACMA presents Larry Nash and the Jazz Symphonics

Renowned pianist Larry Nash is joined by saxophonist Rickey Woodard along with an all-star rhythm section. For over four decades, Nash has performed and recorded with such artists as Eddie Harris, Joni Mitchell, Tom Scott, Etta James, and Bill Withers.

This concert features Larry Nash (piano), Roy McCurd (drums), James Leary (bass), Rickey Woodard (saxophone), Steve Huffsteder (trumpet), and Tony Poingsett (percussion).

Free, no reservations

6:00pm

BP Grand Entrance
LACMA
5905 Wilshire Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90036

SATURDAY, JULY 6

Swimming with Sharks

Champagne specials, squirt gun battles, dj sets, free vodka jello shots, scantily clad flirts and pool-side posers (so many instagrammable moments)!  It really is a good time.

Free to first 100 with RSVP.
1pm - 10pm

The Standard Downtown
550 South Flower Street

Los Angeles, CA 90071

Bootie LA Beach Party

Haven't made it to the beach yet this holiday weekend? That's okay! Wear your beach attire to the club & dance to summertime mashup hits! Bootie pirate beach balls & more! FREE Bootie mashup CDs to the first 100 people through the door.  Bootie LA’s resident dance crew R.A.I.D. (Random Acts of Irreverent Dance) will bust out a sizzlin’ hot summer number for the Midnight Mashup Show, and will provide the on-stage go-go eye candy. And finally, house photographers SceneSnaps will be there with their Photo Booth, ready to capture all the action.

$10

9:00pm - 2:00am

Bootie LA
1154 Glendale Ave
Los Angeles 90026

Eat | See | Hear presents Stripes

Eat | See | Hear sets up downtown at the State Historic Park (one of the best open spaces in all of Los Angeles) for a screening of Stripes with Bill Murray.  Food trucks will be plentiful, but feel free to bring a picnic.

$10 Advance General Admission
$12 General Admission At the Door (cash or credit)

Doors: 5:30pm
Band (The Steelwells): 7:00pm
Movie: 8:30pm

Los Angeles State Historic Park
1245 N Spring St
Los Angeles, CA

Take the Gold Line to Chinatown Station.

Street Food Cinema presents Jaws

This'll be one of those outdoor screenings where everyone knows all the words, and recites them in unison along with the actors on screen.

$10-15

Doors open 5:30pm
Band (KingQueen) at 6:30pm
Movie at 8:00pm (sunset)

Street Food Cinema
Exposition Park
700 Exposition Park Dr
Los Angeles 90037

Roman Holiday presented by Cinespia

Ah, Audrey Hepburn. She's adorable in this movie.

$10

7:00pm

Hollywood Forever Cemetery
6000 Santa Monica Blvd
Los Angeles 90038

SUNDAY, JULY 7

Drawing a blank. Maybe this is your day of rest. Am I wrong? Have I missed something? Email me here.

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