Best Of LA: Week Of September 7
To many, Labor Day signals the end of summer, but that doesn't mean summer fun has to come to an end. This week starts strong with Labor Day events that include an art deco experience, a Greek festival, and free ice cream. PaleyFest is back for Fall TV Previews, as is the Long Beach Comic Con, now in its seventh year. Those feeling artsy can join in on the Downtown Art Walk, or check out the new play American Falls, opening Friday. An outdoor screening of the classic Princess Bride and a Live Talk with Jason Segel about his latest book end the week on a comedy high.
Celebrate Labor Day!
Free Ice Cream at Dog Haus
Dog Haus
105 N Hill Ave.
Pasadena, CA 91106
(626) 577-4287
www.doghaus.com
Aside from our guide of the Best Things To Do On Labor Day in LA, stop by SoCal hot dog, burger, and sausage eatery Dog Haus which is teaming up with Fosselman's Ice Cream Company to offer locals a cool Labor Day deal - free ice cream! For the first time in its history, Alhambra-based Fosselman's premium ice cream will be available in soft-serve form at Dog Haus. In addition to the classic vanilla soft serve available in a sugar cone or cup, ultra-indulgent shakes made with vanilla, salty caramel, and dutch chocolate milk will be available as well. Dog Haus has several Los Angeles area locations, and all will be participating in this sweet deal.
Related: Best Free Labor Day Activities In LA and Best Family-Friendly Labor Day Activities In LA.
11th Annual Art Deco Festival
Queen Mary
1126 Queens Hwy.
Long Beach, CA 90802
(877) 342-0738
www.queenmary.com
It's the last day to catch the 11th Annual Art Deco Festival on the Queen Mary. Climb aboard and be transported back to the 1920s - 1940s with elaborate parties, musical entertainment, vintage dress, food and beverage tastings, lectures, and more. Walking tours examining art deco design elements found on the Queen Mary will provide an in-depth look at a living art history collection built at the peak of the movement. Festivalgoers can indulge in a sampling of 1930s era comfort foods, as well as Prohibition Mixology Tastings. For a fully immersive experience, check out the pop-up hair salon and score a total vintage look. Tickets start at $29.
66th Annual Greek Festival by the Sea
Assumption Church Long Beach
5761 E. Colorado St.
Long Beach, CA 90814
www.lbgreekfest.org
Head down to the LBC and go Greek this Labor Day as the grounds at Assumption Church are transformed into a Grecian Village complete with all the best the Greeks have to offer. Authentic Greek dance performers will perform at 3:00pm and 6:00pm, and free Greek dance lessons will be offered for those looking to get in on the action. Lots of tasty food will be available, including rotisserie chicken, gyros, Greek salad, and roasted leg of lamb. For those looking to snack, mezedes (appetizers) like those found at Greek sidewalk cafes will be served, as well as coffee and sweet treats, Greek wine and beer, and what Greek festival would be complete without a little ouzo. Cooking lessons, a children's carnival, and continuous live Greek music round out the day of fun. The festival is open noon to 9:00pm, and is $3.00 for adults, free for children under 12.
Garden-to-Glass Cocktail Flight
Tanzy Restaurant
10840 Wilshire Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90024
(310) 307-7004
www.tanzyrestaurant.com
Italian dining concept Tanzy introduces a special garden-to-glass cocktail flight this month. Master Mixologist and Advanced Sommelier Adam Seger has created a flight of four 5 oz. cocktails using garden-fresh ingredients and fresh herb and fruit garnishes. Flights include a Fennel Gin & Tonic, Apple Margaritas, Vodka Spiked Strawberry Lemonade, and Basil Rum Punch. Priced at just $11 you score four cocktails for less than the price of one. While there, why not go all out and indulge in their popular doughnut stack, chocolate peanut butter bar, or ambrosia raspberry sundae topped with toasted marshmallows, whipped cream, and Pop Rocks.
PaleyFest Fall TV Previews
The Paley Center for Media
465 N. Beverly Dr.
Beverly Hills, CA 90210
(310) 786-1000
www.paleycenter.org
Wondering what all your favorite tv stars have been up to lately, or what new shows you can look forward to this Fall? All your questions are about to be answered as PaleyFest opens today for a week of preview events. PaleyFest Fall TV Previews gives fans a sneak peek at upcoming shows debuting and returning in the fall with screenings and exclusive conversations with the cast and crew behind some tv's hottest shows. Tonight a food and drink reception starts the evening at 6:00pm, and is followed by screenings and panel discussions of NBC's Truth Be Told and Undateable. The rest of the week offers evenings with the other major networks, including a special farewell to CSI. The week long PaleyFest goes through September 16th, and both individual and week passes are available.
Downtown Los Angeles Art Walk
Downtown Historic Core
Between 4th & 7th and Spring & Main Streets
www.downtownartwalk.org
Founded in 2004, the Downtown Los Angeles Art Walk has become one of the most prominent events in the local community. The walk is a self-guided tour along the Historic Core downtown, exploring galleries, restaurants, and bars in the area. Food trucks will be on hand for grab-and-go eats while you explore everything from street art to gallery works. The area is expansive, so a great place to start is the Art Walk Lounge, located at 634 S. Spring Street, Los Angeles, CA 90014. The lounge is open from 6:00pm - 10:00pm, and offers free Official Art Walk maps. Participating galleries include: DAC Gallery, These Days, Gloria Delson Contemporary Arts Gallery, Carol Cirillo Standley Studio Gallery, The Spring Arts Collective, and the LA Fashion District.
See The Play "American Falls"
Atwater Village Theatre
3269 Casitas Ave
Atwater Village, CA 90039
(310) 307-3753
www.EchoTheaterCompany.com
Playwright Miki Johnson and director Chris Fields bring a kind of modern day Our Town to the Echo Theater Company with American Falls. A poetic interplay of stories and monologues, the play exposes the inner life of every-day people looking for love and meaning in small town America. Simultaneously heart-breaking and hilarious, the all too real stories remind us no matter what happens, we will always carry with us family, home, and love. The play opens tonight and runs through October 18th.
Long Beach Comic Con
Long Beach Convention Center
300 E Ocean Blvd.
Long Beach, CA 90802
www.longbeachcomiccon.com
This Saturday and Sunday the Long Beach Convention Center will be transformed to a comic lover's dream. Stars and writers from shows like Arrow, Marvel's Agents of Shield, and Daredevil are on the guest list, as well as comic book writers and artists from Guardians of the Galaxy, Marvel's Captain Marvel, Star Wars, and many more. Over 175 guests, 100 panels, 300 artist alley exhibitors, and 475 exhibitors will pack the main exhibition hall at the Long Beach Convention Center. Exclusive panel discussions will cover everything from How to Break Into Hollywood, to How to Create Your Own Character in Video Games, to Buffy the Vampire Slayer. In addition to the comic craze, the Columbia Memorial Space Center is partnering with LB Comic Con for Space Expo 2015, a one-of-a-kind program connecting comic book attendees directly with the world of scientific discovery through panel discussions and interactive exhibits.
Eat | See | Hear: "Princess Bride"
Centennial Square in front of Pasadena City Hall
100 Garfield Ave
Pasadena, CA
(626) 744-4000
www.eatseehear.com
It may seem inconceivable that EatISeeIHear's outdoor screening series is coming to an end, but concluding the season with beloved classic "Princess Bride" promises to end it on a high note. With fencing, fighting, torture, revenge, giants, monsters, chases, escapes, true love, and miracles, "Princess Bride" is truly a movie the whole family can enjoy. Doors open at 5:30pm, which gives you plenty of time to hit up one of the city's best gourmet food trucks, plop down with a blanket, and enjoy some live music (beginning at 7:00pm) before the movie starts at 8:30pm.
Live Talks Los Angeles: An Afternoon With Jason Segel
Ann and Jerry Moss Theatre
New Roads School
Herb Alpert Educational Village
3131 Olympic Blvd.
Santa Monica, CA 90404
www.livetalksla.org
How I Met Your Mother and Forgetting Sarah Marshall star Jason Segal broke into the children's publishing scene last year with the New York Times bestseller Nightmares! In this special Live Talk, Segel discusses the next installment in the series, Nightmares! The Sleepwalker Tonic. Inspired by Segel's own childhood experience with night terrors, Nightmares! was originally conceived as a movie screenplay, but has evolved into a trilogy of stories for middle-grade readers. Stories feature young characters grappling with relatable struggles and fears, and are illustrated by Karl Kwasny. Tickets are $20 for General Admission; $25 for General Admission and a book; and $30 for a Family Package that includes 1 adult, 2 kids, and 1 book.
