{"id":473064,"date":"2026-09-23T13:00:17","date_gmt":"2026-09-23T13:00:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/473064\/"},"modified":"2026-09-23T13:00:17","modified_gmt":"2026-09-23T13:00:17","slug":"best-things-to-do-in-los-angeles-and-southern-california-this-weekend-and-beyond-sept-23-29","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/473064\/","title":{"rendered":"Best things to do in Los Angeles and Southern California this weekend and beyond: Sept. 23-29"},"content":{"rendered":"

The big day is finally here: The Lucas Museum of Narrative Art opened its doors<\/a> in Expo Park on Tuesday. But have no fear if you missed the big, celeb-studded bash last weekend (I\u2019m just here scrolling through the Vanity Fair photos<\/a> of Justin Trudeau and Katy Perry, too, my friends); the museum is here to stay. Keep those reviews coming, and I\u2019m planning to work remotely from that gorgeous reading room one day soon.<\/p>\n

Elsewhere on LAist, you read up on Long Beach Aquarium\u2019s plans to save an endangered frog<\/a> and find your favorite fat bear to vote for during Fat Bear week<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Music<\/p>\n

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Tove Lo will be at the Greek on Sunday. <\/p>\n

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Nykieria Chaney<\/p>\n

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Getty Images<\/p>\n

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Let us help you find the most interesting things to do<\/p>\n

Sign up for the Best Things To Do newsletter, our roundup of L.A.’s most interesting events.<\/p>\n

Licorice Pizza\u2019s music picks<\/a> this week include:<\/p>\n

Wednesday<\/p>\n

Thursday<\/p>\n

Friday<\/p>\n

Saturday<\/p>\n

Sunday<\/p>\n

Events<\/p>\n

Tacita Dean: Film<\/p>\n

Through Feb. 2027
Marciano Art Foundation
4357 Wilshire Blvd., Mid-Wilshire
COST: FREE WITH ONLINE RESERVATION; MORE INFO<\/a>\u00a0<\/p>\n

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Tacita Dean <\/p>\n

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Marciano Art Foundation<\/p>\n

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One of my favorite things about writing this column every week is that over time, I get to see how art and culture are on a continuum in L.A. This was one of those weeks. I went to the opening of the new Tacita Dean installation, Film, at Marciano Art Foundation. Dean is a British artist and champion of analogue film (it\u2019s no surprise that she counts Christopher Nolan among her many fans and friends). In April, her work was shown at the now-closed Marion Goodman Gallery, and it\u2019s been a joy to get to know a new-to-me artist this year who has such deep ties to film and L.A. culture. While you\u2019re there, the Foundation also has an enjoyable new exhibit from Belgian artist Pierre Leguillon<\/a> on artists and advertising.<\/p>\n

The Women of Lockerbie<\/p>\n

Through Sunday, Sept. 27\u00a0
The Actors\u2019 Gang
9070 Venice Blvd., Culver City
COST: FROM $28; MORE INFO<\/a><\/p>\n

This play, first produced in the early 2000s, looks at one woman’s search for her son’s remains years after he was killed in the attack on Pan Am 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland. Presented loosely as a Greek tragedy and inspired by true events, the drama looks at the ties that bind people through loss and stars Actors\u2019 Gang regular Kate Mulligan.<\/p>\n

Free pancakes at Redbird<\/p>\n

Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 26-27
Redbird\u00a0
114 E. 2nd St. Downtown L.A.\u00a0
COST: FREE; MORE INFO<\/a><\/p>\n

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I hope these pancakes look like Leia\u2019s buns! To celebrate the opening of the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art, Redbird is offering a free short stack for your table; just show a ticket from your visit to the newest art museum in LA. And don\u2019t worry: If you\u2019re brunching pre-museum, just use the passphrase \u201cmay the force be with you\u201d to secure the sustenance.<\/p>\n

Watts Towers Day of the Drum Festival + Simon Rodia Watts Towers Jazz Festival<\/p>\n

Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 26-27
Watts Towers Arts Center\u00a0
1727 E. 107th St., Watts
COST: FREE; MORE INFO<\/a><\/p>\n

\"People<\/p>\n

The Watts Towers will be the backdrop to two festivals this weekend. <\/p>\n

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Carolyn Cole<\/p>\n

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Los Angeles Times via Getty Images<\/p>\n

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Two festivals are on at Watts Towers, with both days featuring music and culture at Simon Rodia\u2019s ship-shaped temple of tile. Saturday is the 44th Annual Watts Towers Day of the Drum Festival, and Sunday brings the 49th Annual Simon Rodia Watts Towers Jazz Festival.<\/p>\n

Mr. Wash\u2019s First Decade Bday Bash<\/p>\n

Saturday, Sept. 26, 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.
HVW8 Gallery
661 N. Spaulding Ave., Fairfax District
COST: FREE; MORE INFO<\/a><\/p>\n

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President Barack Obama granted clemency to Mr. Wash in 2016 after 21 years of wrongful incarceration. Self-taught while in prison, Mr. Wash has seen his work shown and collected across L.A. at the Hammer Museum, LACMA and the Huntington Library; his latest work is on view at David Zwirner Gallery. Celebrate his first decade out and support his Art By Wash Studio and Community Center in Compton, which will offer all-levels art classes and workshops, creative residencies and \u201creintegration resources for individuals returning home from prison\u201d at the HVW8 party.<\/p>\n

Catch Me If You Can\u00a0<\/p>\n

Through Sunday, Oct. 18
Colony Theatre
555 N. Third St., Burbank\u00a0
COST: $60; MORE INFO<\/a>\u00a0<\/p>\n

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Courtesy Colony Theatre<\/p>\n

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The Colony puts on consistently fun, solid shows, and Catch Me If You Can is no exception. This version of the musical adaptation of the 2002 Leonardo DiCaprio movie is directed by Colony regular Michael Donovan, who most recently directed the theater\u2019s The Wedding Singer. The original musical about con artist extraordinaire Frank Abagnale scored four Tony nominations.<\/p>\n

Art of Storytelling in Admissions<\/p>\n

Friday, Sept. 25, 6 p.m.
Zibby\u2019s Bookshop
1113 Montana Ave., Santa Monica
COST: FREE; MORE INFO\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n

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Courtesy Zibby’s Bookshop<\/p>\n

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It\u2019s that time of year again, and Zibby\u2019s Bookshop in Santa Monica has gathered some student-essay-writing experts to help your teenager through the application process, whether that\u2019s a personal statement for college, a local private or boarding school or any other application. The art of the essay is in self-discovery, so bring your budding writer and strap in.<\/p>\n

35 Years of Speed: The Sonic Art Exhibit<\/p>\n

Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 26-27, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
ARK\/8
115 S. La Brea Ave., Inglewood
COST: FREE; MORE INFO\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n

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Courtesy fortyseven communications<\/p>\n

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I\u2019ve missed iam8bit\u2019s shows, so I\u2019m delighted to see this new partnership with SEGA for all the other ’90s gamers out there. It celebrates 35 years of Sonic the Hedgehog with 35 Years of Speed: The Sonic Art Exhibit, and will feature original works from more than 30 renowned artists who pay homage to Sonic\u2019s journey throughout the years.<\/p>\n