Best Of LA - Week Of October 12
There seems to be a week to celebrate everything, and this week it's martinis. Stop by Nick + Stef's Steakhouse and enjoy one of seven martini specials in their newly renovated space. Unofficially, it's also a great week to celebrate the stage. For a lighthearted romp, don't miss the opening of Annie the Musical. If you prefer your drama a bit more dramatic, performances of Stravinsky's Rite of Spring and Bram Stoker's Dracula provide blood pumping entertainment. This weekend seafood lovers should head to the Santa Monica Pier for a day of all you can eat oysters, shrimp, fish, and more at the first annual OFF THE HOOK Santa Monica Seafood Festival, while polo enthusiasts head a bit north to the Palisades for the fourth annual Veuve Clicquot Polo Classic. End the week with a bit of drawing as Grand Park transforms into a huge canvas to bring together the community for The Big Draw.
"Martini Week" at Nick + Stef's Steakhouse
Nick + Stef's Steakhouse
330 S. Hope St.
Los Angeles, CA 90071
(213) 680-0330
www.patinagroup.com
Nick + Stef's Steakhouse celebrates their grand reopening in style with Martini Week. Through October 16th, guests are invited to check out the expansive redesign of the Downtown Los Angeles' premiere steakhouse while enjoying one of several martini specials. Seven martinis for $7 each will be served up from 3pm - 7pm, and include the New American Martini, 50/50, Marguerite, Nick + Stef's Martini, Tuxedo #2, Martini #2, and the Reverse Vesper. Enjoy one (or two, or three) of the spirits at the sleek new mid-century modern bar, or al fresco in the patio with an urban skyline view of surrounding Bunker Hill.
Opening Night: Annie the Musical
Hollywood Pantages Theatre
6233 Hollywood Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90028
(323) 468-1770
www.hollywoodpantages.com
Everyone's favorite red-headed orphan is back, as "Annie the Musical" opens tonight at the Pantages. The story of a young orphan who never loses hope despite her hard knock life, Annie remains one of Broadway's biggest musical hits. For this run, original Broadway lyricist and director Martin Charnin returns for the 19th time to direct a new incarnation of the Tony Award-winning musical. Though this will be new version of the show, audiences can still count on favorite numbers like "Easy Street" and the eternally optimistic "Tomorrow." Annie the Musical will be at the Pantages for a limited three-week engagement, and is recommended for musical-lovers ages three and over.
Joie au Choix Dinner Menu at Petrossian
Petrossian West Hollywood
321 North Robertson Blvd.
West Hollywood, CA 90048
(310) 271-6300
www.petrossian.com
If you loved those Choose Your Own Adventure books growing up, you'll love the newly introduced Joie au Choix ("Joy of Choice") menu at Petrossian in West Hollywood. The new menu offers a five course dinner, with four choices of appetizer, first, second, main course, and dessert. Guests are given the freedom to build their own tasting menu with up to 20 combination choices, or order a la carte. The five course menu is priced at $125 ($175 with wine pairings), and includes coffee and tea service. A few menu highlights include egg royale topped with vodka whipped cream and caviar, truffle risotto, foie gras torchon, flatiron wagyu, and palet d'or.
Rite of Spring
Walt Disney Concert Hall
111 S. Grand Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90012
(323) 850-2000
www.laphil.com
Immortalized by the controversy and uproar it created at its premiere, Stravinsky's Rite of Spring has remained an icon of revolutionary change. Though grounded in Russian folk music, the heart-pumping piece is a powerhouse, and is a signature piece of the LA Philharmonic. Tonight they will be performing it along with Stravinsky's Suites Nos. 1 and 2 for small orchestra , and Andriessen's Mysteriën - a kindred spirit to Rite of Spring, from a composer profoundly influenced by Stravinsky. Learn all about the tumultuous history of the piece and more with a pre-concert talk an hour before the show.
Bram Stoker's Dracula
Archway Studio/Theatre
10509 Burbank blvd.
North Hollywood, CA 91601
(818) 980-PLAY
www.archwayla.com
Get into the Halloween mood early with a new stage adaptation of Bram Stoker's classic horror masterpiece Dracula. Staying close to Stoker's original novel, this production follows Dracula to England where he attempts to transform his long-lost love into his eternal bride, wreaking havoc along the way. No performance of Dracula would be complete without coffins, conflicted emotions of passion, heroic opposition, and bloody stakings, which there is plenty of in this production. Archway Theater will play home to Dracula through Nov. 22, and tickets are $24.
OFF THE HOOK Santa Monica Seafood Festival
Santa Monica Pier
200 Santa Monica Pier
Santa Monica, CA 90401
www.offthehookseafoodfest.com
Celebrate National Seafood Month with the first-ever OFF THE HOOK Santa Monica Seafood Festival. The festival is equal parts food indulgence and community fundraising event, with a portion of proceeds benefiting sustainable seafood awareness group Seafood For the Future. A $70 ticket gets you unlimited food tastings, beer, wine, and champagne tastings, and access to the main stage with live music and educational pavilion. Or splurge for a $100 ticket and gain access to the VIP Lounge with reserved seating, curated cocktails, raw bar, chef demos, and more. Many of LA's best seafood restaurants will be in attendance, including The Lobster, Del Frisco's Grille, Gladstone's, James' Beach, and Rusty's Surf Ranch, just to name a few.
Veuve Clicquot Polo Classic
Will Rogers Historic State Park
1501 Will Rogers State Park Rd.
Pacific Palisades, CA 90272
veuveclicquot.tumblr.com
Don your most stylish 1920s fashion and get ready to hobnob with celebs, because it's polo time. The Veuve Clicquot Polo Classic will take place on the beautiful grounds of Will Rogers State Historic Park this Saturday from 11:00am - 5:00pm. Sip champagne, play games, and watch world-renowned polo player Nacho Figueras and his team take on some of the best polo players in the world. Food trucks will be on hand to soak up some of that champagne, or pack a picnic (sans booze, as no outside alcohol is allowed). The event is rain or shine, and strictly 21 and over.
The Big Draw LA
Grand Park
200 N Grand Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90012
(213) 972-8080
www.grandparkla.org
Grand Park becomes an urban drawing studio as the park teams up with Ryman Arts to present The Big Draw. Now in its fourth year, the flagship event brings the community together for a fun-filled, creative celebration of art though an array of drawing activities. Students of Ryman Arts will lead participants as they experiment with colored tape, create comics, masks, banners, and more. Art materials are provided free of charge, encouraging all Angelenos to be a part of something that demonstrates that art is for everyone, and the impact art can have on a community.
