Coronavirus is wreaking havoc on schools, stores, businesses and events. With in-person concerts, talks, comedy shows, food festivals and other gatherings cancelled, we have turned our events column into a "nonevents" column. It will remain this way as long as social distancing and stay-at-home orders are in effect.
During this difficult time, please consider contributing to your local arts organizations or to individual artists and performers.
Participate in a virtual dance party. Pre-burn Turkey Day calories at a fun run. Explore the glory of slime. Learn how to make an ice cream quenelle. Delve into Cold War culinary trends. Volunteer to help the homeless. And lastly, have a safe and happy holiday!
LACMA Live! Virtual Dance Party
The museum partners with Club House Global for a night of music online via Zoom, Twitch and lacma.org. Tune in for a sneak peek at upcoming exhibitions aas well as DJ sets by Novena Carmel and Rashida.
COST: FREE, but RSVP for Zoom link; MORE INFO
Weird Worms and Pretty Polychaetes
The Natural History Museum and Nickelodeon have partnered on a new video and online series that pairs Nick characters with NHM scientists to explore the "Science of Slime." Each week, segments are dedicated to slimy specimens in the museum's collection. On Monday, meet NHM's Leslie Harris who works with segmented worms. Kids and families can tune in to learn about the many ways these worms use slime to survive.
COST: FREE; MORE INFO
School of Quenelle
Pastry Chef Allison Osorio of Otium Restaurant in downtown L.A. launches her online ice cream-focused cooking school, with the first class going online this week. The classes start with the basics, such as how to make a quenelle (a three-sided oval serving), hand movements and a review of sugar (with her free study guide). Later classes will take students through recipes and a variety of techniques.
COST: $54.99; MORE INFO
Shalom Auslander with Dan Harmon
Writers Bloc presents an online discussion with Auslander, author of the new book Mother for Dinner. The social satire is a novel of identity, tribalism, mothers and Can-Ams -- the oppressed group of Cannibal Americans. He'll be joined in discussion by Dan Harmon, creator of Community and Rick and Morty. Writers Bloc asks that audience members support authors (and small bookstores) by purchasing Mother for Dinner from Chevalier's Books.
COST: FREE with RSVP; MORE INFO
Culinary Space: Debates and Practices
The Wende Museum's Cold War Spaces lunchtime talk is a Thanksgiving-inspired discussion about food and holidays during the Cold War. Jon Verriet, a PhD candidate at the Radboud University in the Netherlands chats with Joes Segal, the Wende Museum's chief curator.
COST: FREE with RSVP; MORE INFO
Happiest Season
Clea DuVall directed and co-wrote this feature film that sounds perfect for the holiday season. When Abby (Kristen Stewart) learns that her girlfriend Harper (Mackenzie Davis) has kept their relationship -- and her sexuality -- a secret from her family, Abby questions their relationship. The queer rom com co-stars Alison Brie, Aubrey Plaza, Dan Levy, Mary Holland, Burl Moseley, Victor Garber and Mary Steenburgen. Watch the film beginning on Wednesday on Hulu.
COST: Varies by subscription; MORE INFO
Golden Friday 5K Registration Deadline
Golden Road's Golden Friday 5K run/walk is being held virtually on Friday, so run or walk 3.1 miles wherever you are on that day. However, to get in on the runner's kits, whuch you pick them up from the OC and L.A. pubs, you must register by Wednesday. (Kits include beer for those 21+, a t-shirt, arace bib and other swag.) Although you can also run for free, $5 of each paid entry goes to Wags & Walks rescue.
COST: $15 - $20; MORE INFO
Santa's Speedway Christmas Lights Drive-Thru Spectacular
Irwindale Speedway
500 Speedway Drive, Irwindale
The speedway holds an all-ages, immersive drive-through experience. Guests drive along the NASCAR track to visit Santa's Village and a series of Christmas vignettes and lighting displays, including the world's largest free standing Christmas tree (decorated with more than 2 miles of lights). Concessions available.
COST: $75 per car (all passengers must have a seat belt; MORE INFO
Windows of Wonderment
Santa Monica Pier
200 Santa Monica Pier, Santa Monica
The rides are closed but the pier and beach are open for strolling so Bob Baker Marionette Theater's puppets are participating in a holiday window show retrospective. The art installation brings marionette magic to the pier's merry go-round and six windows.
COST: FREE; MORE INFO
The 3rd annual Rose Bowl Turkey Run
Because of COVID-19, the Pasadena family tradition of running around the Rose Bowl pivots to a virtual run. Participants can run a 5K from wherever they celebrate Thanksgiving, running their miles between Wednesday at 6 a.m. and Friday at 8 p.m. All entry fees for 2020 are tax-deductible. Registered participants will get access to the app with timed results, a virtual goodie bag, a print-at-home runner bib and custom photo borders so they can share their journey.
COST: $5 - $15; MORE INFO
Gobble Gobble Give
The Blessed Sacrament Church - outdoor playground area
6657 Sunset Blvd., Hollywood
The 23rd annual event that feeds the homeless on Thanksgiving pivots to a COVID-safe donation event at the church. Live DJs spin the tunes as volunteers prep dry goods and pick-up meals. Sign up to pick-up food and/or donate items. Food will be placed into the car trunks of volunteers who will then drop off the food and supplies to those in need. There are other locations in Orange County and the Antelope Valley.
COST: FREE; MORE INFO
BET+'s Tyler Perry's Ruthless
Paley Front Row presents a recorded discussion with the cast and creatives from BET+'s Tyler Perry's Ruthless. The show takes viewers into the world of the Rakudushis religious cult, following one mother as she tries to find a way to free herself and her daughter. The conversation is available now, ahead of the show's midseason premiere on Nov. 26 on BET+. Joining in the conversation are actors Melissa L. Williams, Matt Cedeño, Lenny Thomas, Blue Kimble, Yvonne Senat Jones, Nirine S. Brown and moderator Tonja Renée Stidhum, Staff Entertainment Writer, The Root.
COST: FREE; MORE INFO
Buena Vista Street Reopening
Disney California Adventure Park
1313 Disneyland Dr., Anaheim
What pandemic? Buena Vista Street at California Adventure joins Downtown Disney in welcoming holiday revelers. Restaurants are open for socially distanced outdoor dining and shops are open for holiday purchases. Parks and rides remain closed.
COST: FREE entry; MORE INFO
Ebell Holiday Boutique
The Ebell's women's club hosts a virtual holiday shopping boutique themed "Kiss 2020 Goodbye." It features many female-owned, local businesses. Check out products from more than 40 artisans on The Ebell's web site and use code EBELL2020 at checkout so 20% of sales benefit the Ebell Emergency Fund, developed in response to the Covid-19 pandemic.
COST: FREE; MORE INFO
Who doesn't miss going out to eat or stopping by a bar for a drink? Here are a few options from restaurants and bars as we work our way back toward normal.
