Things to do in L.A. this weekend

The Academy Museum’s second-ever special exhibition is an essential and energetic display that spotlights an entire century of often-overlooked filmmaking and demonstrates that Black artists have been a vital part of cinema since its inception. “Regeneration” uses posters, costumes and film clips to dive into the works of Black actors, directors and production companies from the birth of the motion picture industry through the Civil Rights era.

Famous architect Frank Lloyd Wright’s first California design has been closed since the start of the pandemic, but the Hollyhock House is finally reopening for tours—and with a free lawn party to celebrate. Self-guided tours resume on August 18 (Thu–Sat 11am–4pm; $7), but Barnsdall Art Park is throwing a proper party on August 20 (4–8pm) with free performances from the Bob Baker Marionette Theater (5, 6:30pm), music, crafts and—thanks to FORT:LA—100 free hot dogs on a first-come, first-served basis.

This two-weekend celebration of Japanese culture closes out with a festival, taiko drumming and a dance ceremony, all in Little Tokyo.

Don’t know your rescue pup’s birthday? Enter DOGust, the universal birthday for shelter dogs that’s celebrated on August 20. The Wallis Annenberg PetSpace is throwing a proper party for the occasion with dog-friendly activities, including a splash pad and photo ops. Vendors include, Grounds & Hounds Coffee Co., Kono’s Kitchen, Shop Sunny Tails, Little Ganshik and Wag City Clothing, plus pet portraits from Annie B. And just like a regular birthday party, gifts are appreciated—in this case for the pups in L.A.’s shelters that are waiting for their forever homes.

The pedestrian and bike-friendly event pedals its way through East, West and plain-old-vanilla Hollywood. The 6.6-mile car-free route will span Hollywood Boulevard, down Highland Ave and across Santa Monica Boulevard on August 21.

Have you ever wanted to own a restaurant-grade outdoor grill? Now you can, thanks to this Sunday morning yard sale at Guerrilla Tacos. Munch on $3 tacos and $10 mimosas while you peruse the Arts District taqueria's selection of home decor (think potted plants and pendant lights) as well as assorted tiki mugs, glassware and refurbished kitchen appliances.

After a meteoric rise in recent years, the L.A. quartet comes home to awe us with more eerily sweet psychedelia and experimental melodrama at the Ford.

In love with all things pounded, breaded and fried? Head to the second iteration of h.wood group (Delilah, The Nice Guy) and Off The Menu’s Tenderfest. During the daylong food festival, chefs from the best fried chicken restaurants in L.A. (Howlin’ Rays, Dino’s, Go Go Bird and others) will go head-to-head against celebrity chefs to compete in the National ConTender Championships. Each GA ticket allows unlimited samples of every chef’s chicken tender entry, unlimited fries and dessert and two drink tickets.

When the calendar and your area code align it’s time to celebrate, apparently: Westfield Topanga & the Village will host an extended weekend that pays homage to the San Fernando Valley. You’ll find vintage arcade games, live music, kid-friendly crafts (Fri–Sun) and a beer garden (Thu 5–7pm; Fri–Sun 2–6pm) that features rotating pours from four nearby breweries, including 8one8 Brewing (Thu), San Fernando Brewing Company (Fri), Cellador Ale (Sat) and Hand-Brewed (Sun). The Valley Relics Museum will also organize a pop-up display of neon signs from Malibu Grand Prix Car, Valley Relics Vegas, Bulls Eye and Norman’s Rare Guitars. You’ll find most of ther activities at the first-floor expansion court, by the Cheesecake Factory.

It’s been at L.A. State Historic Park and Coachella, but pan-Asian music and media collective 88rising’s music fest has seemed to settle on the grounds outside the Rose Bowl for its summertime home. For the 2022 edition on August 20 and 21, the Head in the Clouds lineup includes Jackson Wang, NIKI, Rich Brian, Yebi Labs (Joji DJ Set), BIBI, Jay Park, CHUNG HA and more, plus a food fest from 626 Night Market.

If the word Hallyu means anything to you, then pencil this annual K-pop convention into your calendar this summer. For three days, the L.A. Convention Center hosts panels, workshops, signings and more, as well as Crypto.com Arena concerts on Saturday and Sunday stocked with Korean celebs and superstars.

Excited to learn about the allocation of government infrastructure funds? Not really? Well how about a communal hike, free old-timey train rides and live music? Maybe we should’ve led with that one… Assemblymember Laura Friedman and councilmember Nithya Raman are celebrating $4 million in transit and safety improvements for Griffith Park by throwing this community celebration. Highlights include extended hours (until 7pm) and free miniature train rides at Travel Town, a communal hike and equestrian ride (5:30pm) and then an hour of food and music.

Come on down to Hollywood for this 25th anniversary celebration of South Park. The free, touring shipping container exhibition includes props, memorabilia, artwork, collectibles, scripts, storyboards and concept art from the potty-mouthed animated show. You’ll find it on Saturday, August 20 from 10am to 6pm at the corner of Hollywood and Vine.

“Immersive King Tut: Magic Journey to the Light” will be the next show to take over Hollywood’s Lighthouse ArtSpace, the former Amoeba home turned digital Van Gogh and Frida host. Put together in collaboration with the Egyptian Council for Tourism Affairs, the exhibit will translate the ancient funerary text the Amduat into a projection-based display of King Tut’s passage into the afterlife.

Familiar KCRW DJs and local buzz bands will be providing free, open-air tunes on select nights from July through September at the Hammer Museum, One Colorado, CAAM, Descanso Gardens, Bowers Museum, the Geffen Contemporary at MOCA, JANM and—our favorite—the party-till-midnight bashes at Chinatown Central Plaza.

The Hollyshorts Film Festival is a week and a half of networking events, Q&As with filmmakers and screenings of short films produced around the world. The annual fest screenings will be held at the TCL Chinese 6 (that’s the multiplex behind the famous one), and promises numerous 40-minute films (or less) from early afternoon to midnight. The all-access badge sets you back $150, but you can just opt for a single day for a third of the price.

Say goodbye to dusty thoroughfares and violent porta-potties: Splash House takes the music festival concept off of sweltering desert land and places it poolside. Movers and shakers at this multi-location getdown are shuttled between the Saguaro, the Margaritaville and the Renaissance to lap up big-name dance acts and DJ sets. For this year’s August lineup, you’ll find sets from JUNGLE, Polo & Pan, Nora En Pure, Sonny Fodera, Malaa, John Summit, SG Lewis, Elohim, VNSSA and more.

As sunset creeps later and later into the evening, the Huntington is taking advantage of the extra daylight with this coveted after-hours series. Formerly open on select dates and just for members, Summer Evening Strolls is now open to the public, too, and will extend the San Marino garden’s hours until 8pm on Saturday and Sunday evenings in the summer, with a few holiday weekend Fridays thrown in, too.

The Music Center offers a free, joyous mash-up of music and dancing all summer long, with different themes (K-pop, Bollywood and voguing, among them) and free dance lessons plus live DJ sets. Head to the Music Center plaza and join in the fun—no dance experience required.