Best Activities To Do This Week In L.A. - August 1

This week is packed with great activities for Angelenos of all ages. Start the week by sipping a new summer cocktail, sure to take away any case of Monday Blues. Tuesday is all about family, as a fun and free olympics themed family night takes place at the Kidspace Museum in Pasadena, while Wednesday has you at a museum on the other side of town to see a film documenting the construction boom and its fallout in Beijing. Two amazing musical shows end their runs this week, so you won't want to miss performances of "Cabaret" or "Hershey Felder as Irving Berlin." A beer event at the zoo on Friday, and a fireworks spectacular on Saturday, cap off a week that proves it's great to be in L.A.

Cool Down With A New Summer Drink
Various Locations
www.theatricum.com

In these Dog Days of Summer, it's important to stay hydrated. That's why it's the perfect time to try one of the many great new summer cocktails being offered around the city. Downtown L.A.'s Westbound is offering a month of boozy milkshakes, including a London Fog with Earl Grey ice cream, house-made lemon sorbet, and gin; Matcha Madness made with vegan matcha ice cream, rye, honey syrup, Amaro Montenegro, and matcha powder; and a mint chip Grasshipster (a play on the 70s favorite "Grasshopper" cocktail). Feel like a kid again with Hopdoddy's Bootleg Kool-Aid, a sweet combo of moonshine, pomegranate grenadine, raspberry hibiscus tea, fresh lime juice, and lemon-lime soda, or, for a little international flair, try Le Petit Paris' Le Balsamique, which includes fresh strawberries, vodka, balsamic vinegar, and fresh lime juice, or the new Cuban-inspired St. Tropez Daisy from Faith & Flower, which is a modern riff on a canchanchara cocktail, made with Rhum Agricole, Ferrand Dry Curacao, honey, lime, and orange bitters. Cheers!

Free Family Night
Kidspace Children's Museum
480 N. Arroyo Blvd.
Pasadena, CA 91103
(626) 449-9144
www.kidspacemuseum.org

Kidspace Museum offers free admission from 4pm - 8pm the first Tuesday of every month, and tonight they've got something special. In honor of the upcoming Rio Summer Olympics, a Kidspace Olympics course will take place at various exhibits throughout the museum. Kids can test their balance, endurance, and other skills on the course, earning a jelly ring at the end of each station in a different color representing the iconic Olympic rings. They'll also have a chance to participate in making Olympic crown laurels and 3D sculptures, as well as learn how to do some cool soccer tricks in a workshop hosted by Innovation LA (following a 6:00pm performance). With so much to do and see, it's the perfect place to take the whole family for a fun evening out.

Film Screening: New Beijing: Reinventing A City
The Fowler Museum at UCLA
308 Charles E. Young Dr. N.
Los Angeles, CA 90024
(310) 825-4361
www.fowler.ucla.edu

Tonight, the Fowler Museum presents a special screening of Georgia Wallace-Crabbe's "New Beijing: Reinventing a City." The film documents the construction boom in Beijing that not only produced several architectural wonders, but also the classic dilemma of what happens when development and progress confront preservation. Before the film, check out current exhibit MAO to NOW, where artist Stephen Verona showcases his two very different trips to China through photography. The contrast between his initial 1980 trip and his 2014 return show both positive and negative effects of change that have taken place as China's economy has transitioned from the stagnant Maoist era to its current rapid growth. Admission is free, and the film begins at 7:30pm.

"Cabaret"
Hollywood Pantages Theater
6233 Hollywood Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90028
(800) 982-2787
www.hollywoodpantages.com

Direct from Broadway, the hit musical "Cabaret" has taken up residence at the Pantages for a limited, three-week engagement. This production reunites many of the same creative team behind the Tony-Winning 1998 revival production, and it just as electrifying. A favorite among musical buffs, "Cabaret" tells the story of the infamous Kit Kat Klub, where audiences are entertained nightly by a raucous ensemble. Set during pre-WWII, everyone is eager to leave their troubles at the door, but as life in Germany grows increasingly uncertain, so does the comfort and fun of the Berlin nightlife. Around since the 60's "Cabaret" has some of the most memorable songs in theater, including "Cabaret," "Maybe This Time," and "Willkommen." It's the last week to catch the show, so don't miss it before it leaves town.

Brew At The L.A. Zoo
L.A. Zoo
5333 Zoo Dr.
Los Angeles, CA 90027
(323) 644-6042
www.lazoo.org

One of the L.A. Zoo's most popular summer events is back for another night of boozing it up with the animals. Guests 21 and over are invited to an after-hours party with five ounce beer samples from over 40 local breweries. Drink and dance the night away to an eclectic music lineup that includes 80s rock, traditional Zydeco, live karaoke, and even a German Polka band. If that dancing works up an appetite, you've got lots of great food options in addition to the zoo's regular grill menu. Up-close encounters and keeper talks are also on the evening's agenda. Designated Drivers have a discounted ticket option, and if early entry and exclusive access to complimentary food, snacks, and cocktails is your jam, splurge on a VIP Lounge ticket. But don't wait to buy your ticket, as the event has sold out in previous years.

Tchaikovsky Spectacular with Fireworks
Hollywood Bowl
2301 Highland Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90068
(323) 850-2000
www.hollywoodbowl.com

You know when you see the words "spectacular" and "fireworks" in an event title, it's going to be something good. Gustavo Dudamel will conduct the L.A. Philharmonic in this beloved annual tradition that features music, dance, and of course, the Bowl's famous pyrotechnic display. In addition to a performance of some of Tchaikovsky's most popular works, including selections from Swan Lake and his iconic 1812 Overture, members of the American Ballet Theatre and the USC Trojan Marching Band will also make special appearances. The event begins at 8:00pm, and will also take place Friday night.

"Hershey Felder as Irving Berlin"
The Pasadena Playhouse
39 South El Molino Ave.
Pasadena, CA 91101
(626) 356-7529
www.pasadenaplayhouse.org

Today is the very last day to see the critically acclaimed production of "Hershey Felder as Irving Berlin" at The Pasadena Playhouse. Directed by Trevor Hay, the play is the musical story of an immigrant boy who overcame the odds of anti-semitism to ultimately become "America's Composer." As the title suggests, Hershey Felder brings to life the remarkable story of Irving Berlin, a composer who gave us such popular and enduring songs like "God Bless America" and "White Christmas." Not only does Felder provide his impressive acting and singing chops in this production, but he also wrote the book.