Wednesday, February 18, 2026

Weekly What To Do: Oh, You're Still Celebrating The Lunar New Year

Coming up on Wednesday February 18th is Ignition Press Day. Have you been reading any of this new publisher's debut titles such as No/Place, Ripcord, Bloodland, Deluge, Arcadia, Voyeur, Just Brutal, Root Madness or Murder Podcast?
 
FEB 18-MAR 1

The Industry celebrates the return of its LAB series, in partnership with REDCAT, featuring new works in opera by renowned artists Guillermo E. Brown, Carmina Escobar, and Matana Roberts.

 

Anything That Moves writer/director Alex Phillips and actor Hal Baum in-person for a post-film Q&A.
NoHo 7 on Feb 19th
 
Zebulon
Free
21+
 
 
February 21 & 22, 2025
210 East Main St. Alhambra CA, 91801.
VIP ADMISSION: $25, Saturday Feb 21, 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM (early exclusive access) Tickets HERE
FREE ADMISSION: Saturday & Sunday, 11:00 AM – 6:00 PM 

Brought to you by the shop Indietoy, INDIETOY CON, now a two day event, will be hosted at Gallery Nucleus. Featuring a gallery full of select independent toy makers and creatives, come check out the latest and greatest! With new exclusives, door prizes, and raffle giveaways, there is something for all ages. There will be over 30 vendors exhibiting. Come learn more about indie toys and don't miss this unique event!
 
 
Saturday, February 21, 1:00 PM 4:00 PM
Chinatown
Free 
 
The Golden Dragon Parade — There are many amazing live performances, such as Lion Dance, dance troupes, music groups, and participation of government dignitaries, local business leaders, cultural groups, and much more. The parade is a rich and diverse experience for all ages and ethnicities across Los Angeles and is supported in part by the Department of Cultural Affairs, Los Angeles.
 
 
Lunar New Year at the L.A. Zoo 
February 21 & 22
10 a.m.–4 p.m.
LA Zoo
Free with paid Zoo admission and for L.A. Zoo members
 
 Join us in celebrating the “Year of the Horse!”

The Los Angeles Zoo is thrilled to welcome members of our Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) community and all Angelenos to enjoy special activities and performances honoring the Lunar New Year and the Year of the Horse.
 
Lunar New Year at Santa Monica Place
Saturday, Feb 21 from 2 pm to 5 pm PST
Santa Monica Place
395 Santa Monica Place
Santa Monica, CA 90401
Free
 
Lunar New Year is almost here, and Santa Monica Place is inviting the community to celebrate the Year of the Horse with a vibrant, family-friendly afternoon of culture, tradition, and live entertainment. On Saturday, February 21, from 2 to 5 p.m., Center Plaza at Santa Monica Place will transform with red and gold lanterns, cherry blossom Wishing Trees, and immersive cultural programming for all ages. The free celebration will feature traditional Chinese lion dances by Bruce Wen and The Shaolin Entertainment Group, martial arts demonstrations by LA Wushu Club, live music, and hands-on activities including Chinese dough art, calligraphy blessings, and kids crafts.
 
Feb 21-22 
The Huntington
Must Reserve + Admission
 
Welcome the Year of the Horse at The Huntington. This family-friendly event features lion dancers, a mask-changing artist, martial arts demonstrations, contemporary dance, floral arts, music, and more.
 
Saturday, February 21, 2026, 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Port of Los Angeles, 301 S. Avalon Wilmington
Free 

Celebrate the Lunar New Year with the Port of Los Angeles’s annual festival, featuring live entertainment, dancers, crafts, and more at CRAFTED at the Port of Los Angeles. All ages welcome.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Clémentine Bal and Matthew Dutton Shows
The Well of Dreams
By Adrian Cox
Futures
By Chloe Early
OPENING RECEPTIONS
February 21, 2026 | 7:00 pm – 11:00 pm
ON VIEW
February 21 – March 28, 2026
COREY HELFORD GALLERY
571 S. Anderson St. Los Angeles, CA 90033
Open: Tuesday-Saturday, 12:00 pm – 6:00 pm

Another weekend of multiple openings.


 


 
Meet the Z2 Comics creative team of the new original graphic novel THROUGH at Golden Apple on Saturday February 21st from 3-5pm. Writer, creator and actor David Dastmalchian (Late Night with the Devil, Suicide Squad) with artist Cat Staggs (Wonder Woman,Supergrl, Crosswind, Powerpuff Girls, etc.) and cover artist David Mack (Kabuki, Dardevil, Alias, etc.)!

Free autographs with purchase of book only
 
 

SoCal Museums Free-For-All 2026 is Sunday, Feb 22nd. As of writing this, there doesn't seems to be an official web-site for it, we've got a list over at Time Out, but be sure to check each museum's site for details. Like if you still need to make reservations.

Sunday, Feb 22 from 7:30 pm to 11 pm PST
Killer Fitness
822 N Hollywood Way Burbank, CA
$15.71
 
Contra Celluloid presents FREAKED! This 90’s cult classic rarely screens and it’s a sight to behold, join us on Sunday, February 22nd for this incredible film. We will have two special guests in attendance for a Q&A, director Tom Stern and artist Thom Nicolette! We are kicking this one off with a coloring contest, print out this poster, color it, and bring it to the screening for a chance to win production art from the film! Another “you don’t wanna miss” joint.
 
Sunday Scaries (The Vault)
Sunday, Feb 22, 2026, 6:30 PM
The Elysian Theater
1944 Riverside Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90039
$13.29 

Did you feel that? That otherworldly chill that made the hairs on the back of your neck stand up? (Yes, those hairs you meant to shave...)

Witness 3 BRAND-NEW, ORIGINAL HORROR STORIES brought to life by your favorite comedians at SUNDAY SCARIES! A monthly, horror-comedy show that will make you scream, laugh, cry, and possibly pee. Be there or be scared...

 

On view Feb 24 – Aug 2, 2026
MOCA Grand Avenue
Admission

Good on Paper not only provides insight into the centrality of drawing to contemporary art, it also pays tribute to the Burton Family, who have played a key role at MOCA since the very beginning, contributing extraordinary insight, energy, and support to virtually every aspect of the museum’s life. 

 

FRIEZE WEEK EVENTS

Multiple Events as Frieze LA comes into town. 



Even More To Do:
 
Oct 5, 2025 – Mar 1, 2026
HAMMER MUSEUM
10899 Wilshire Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA
90024
Free for good

Made in L.A. 2025 is the seventh iteration of the Hammer’s signature biennial exhibition that showcases artists practicing throughout the greater Los Angeles area. The 28 participants in the exhibition present work not only made in the city but also grounded in its complex and unfolding terrain. Neither myth nor monolith, Los Angeles is many things to many people, and its dissonance is perhaps its most distinguishing feature. The works presented in this year’s biennial include film, painting, theater, choreography, photography, sculpture, sound, and video. Attitude draws them together: Each engages with this city in ways alternately literal, formal, material, and metaphoric. Conceived or made in Los Angeles, they are of this city and nowhere else.
 
  
Free Hours at the Autry
Every Tuesday and Wednesday from 1-4 p.m.
Update: During this Wildfire season, The Autry closes off, please check day of event

Let the Autry cover your next visit with Free Hours at the Autry. Every Tuesday and Wednesday from 1-4 p.m. will be free to all Autry visitors. Enjoy access to all the Autry's exhibitions including Imagined Wests, Reclaiming El Camino and more by reserving your spot today!
 

Thanks to the generous support of the Autry Foundation, Free Hours at the Autry* are every Tuesday and Wednesday from 1-4 p.m.
 
UCB, a cheapo comedy show almost every night, see comedians before they make podcasts and have
stories about the UCB and before they hit the big time.



 
Little Tokyo Farmers' Market Saturdays
9:00 am - 2:00 pm every Sat
Isamu Noguchi Plaza
244 S. San Pedro Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012
Free
 
"Join us at the Little Tokyo Farmers’ Market, a vibrant new Saturday tradition in the heart of Little Tokyo. Presented in partnership by JACCC and Food Access LA, this weekly market brings together fresh, affordable produce, rich cultural experiences, and meaningful community connection."
 

 

American Cinematheque-A celebrated independent theater group that brings both the talent and catalog of films to make for some of LA's best movie nights.
 


Check out classics and cult movies just a few stories above street level. Rooftop Movies at The Montalbán. & Rooftop Cinema Club

 New Bev-Tarantino owned independent theater with old school style
 
Brain Dead Studios-manages to fill its schedule almost every night
611 N Fairfax Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90036
 
Vidiots -A one-of-a-kind hub for film lovers, filmmakers, and everyone curious about cinema. A small theater is more than made-up for with the constant content and special screenings.
4884 Eagle Rock Blvd
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Posted by at
Labels:

Tuesday, February 17, 2026

New Arcade: 2nd Loop Arcade Torrance

 

Dang, we just missed the grand opening, but you still have a brand new arcade in Torrance with quite the selection. 

Check it out this month, here's more info on it 

2ND LOOP ARCADE

18529 S Western Ave
Torrance, CA 90504
 
"With a rotating collection of the best arcade games ever made, 2ND LOOP transports you to the golden age of gaming with hidden gems by SEGA, CAVE, CAPCOM, and more. Plus, discover MaiMai DX, LA’s best selection of gashapon, and fighting game meetups every day of the week."
 
 
Posted by at
Labels: ,

Finally, LACMA to open David Geffen Galleries This April

 

It's been forever, but we finally have word that LACMA will be open this April. To be more specific the David Geffen Galleries or that new building they've been working on for years is finally finished and is ready to house LACMA's permanent collection. Getting to see some of that amazing collection again and enjoy all the aspects of having a world renowned art museum back in the fold are nothing to scoff at.
 
Getting more specific however, it's gonna take it's sweet time coming back. Two weeks of priority member access starting April 19th; then on May 4th the general public can see the place.
 
Leading up to it and during this opening there will be special events will be telling you about as LACMA comes back to life in a big way this Spring.
 
Can't say we were ever fans of the design by architect Peter Zumthor. The industrial concrete look already featured at the Academy Museum nearby makes it look like any parking structure you've been in. We know when it's filled with art, we won't care as much about the location, but that was sort of the point of making a new building. At least we'll have some leg room and tall people will feel safer.
 
Crazy looking from the outside, the new galleries won't be mistaken for any square building design we use today for modern architecture. Every building today looks like a dentist office that could switch into a McDonald's. Sadly, the inside looks as just as friendly as a dentist office or a soviet era monument.
 
Feel free to comment on how LACMA does things, that's one of the joys having a modern art museum in our city, saying how they're doing it wrong. Remember when they spent $10 million on that giant rock?  
 

 
 
Posted by at
Labels: ,

Modernism Week 2026: The Weird and Wonderful World of Industrial Musicals

 By Jonathan Bilski
 "I’m not gonna lie to you, we’re gonna see some deeply messed up stuff," was how Steve Young prepped us for another clip from his private and extremely hard to find collection of industrial musicals. As was explained to us by Steve, these bizarre musicals came from major businesses wanting to show off their own products internally to employees. The amount of money, time and effort is other worldly as shows about subjects a banal as bathroom fixtures, linoleum and paper cups have full fledged musicals productions. Some are for one time productions for conferences, some recorded on small printings on records and others captured on film as some sort of evidence of something so mundane that it should never have been. For the next hour thirty we were trapped in this world. G-d I wanted the song about Purina Dog Food to end!
 
Steve Young, former writer for Letterman and The Simpsons was telling the truth, he took us on an adventure of bizarre sights and even worse songs. In fact, sorry, many of the songs were quite catchy. Bonafide jingles and ear-worms. It's the subject matter that makes them terrible. I still can't believe how much I got into the songs about silicone from GE. Depicted in musical form as a man dumping his girlfriend and falling in love with a new women as a personified silicone. 
 
That's another great part of the musicals and why it's a part of Modernism Week, it's a time capsule of the 50's into the 70's. You can see the sense of style, attitudes towards women and men, and un-muted colors. It seems so upbeat and dated. So childish in the perception of what was allowed. And, a bit sexy sometimes or just plain freaky for trying to make Ford Tractors exciting.
 
Steve takes you through random clips, there isn't really a time based tour from the 50's into now, sort of an ever moving collection of what he thought we might laugh at.
 
He takes it all seriously though as he got to know the people behind all these musicals. It was the only way to find out more. You can see what started out as perhaps a bit for Letterman became a lifelong hobby for Young. I thank him for sharing it with us as much as I'll have strange nightmares he said I'd have after seeing such weird sights.
 
If you want to see some of the clips, but sadly you can't participate in the sing-a-longs like us, you can see the movie about the subject matter called Bathtubs Over Broadway.
 

 
 


 
Posted by at
Labels: ,

Monday, February 16, 2026

The Transformers: The Movie: The Apology Tour

 


Optimus Prime is dead! Now, you can relive the trauma of the 80's movie that destroyed a generation's childhood. Seriously, they were totally out of touch with kids back then. It be like killing one of the KPop Demon Hunters in their movie. To make up for the trauma, 40 years later, Hasbro is having it's horribly named (on purpose) The Transformers: The Movie: The Apology Tour. So, special events, screenings of said sad movie and a whole line of new toys based on the film are coming out this year.

We'll give you updates on any LA/SoCal related The Apology Tour dates when we hear them.

Posted by at
Labels: , ,

Friday, February 13, 2026

Game Hype: Resident Evil Requiem, Dino Crisises, Sucker for Love: Crush Landing, Highguard Fail, God of War Sons of Sparta, Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse & Ass Power!

 

Resident Evil Requiem has a new trailer and is out February 27th. And, in other Capcom news, there's a sale on Dino Crisises on Steam.


"To celebrate the launch, Dino Crisis and Dino Crisis 2 are on sale for a limited time. These beloved titles are both available for 50% off ($5 each) with this special discount. For even more survival horror and dino-blasting action, check out the Capcom Publisher Sale on Steam, which also includes deals on the Resident Evil™ and Onimusha™ series, plus Exoprimal™, and more."

 

Did not have another Sucker for Love game coming out today on my list. Love the new sci-fi slant instead of based on our mythologies.

New online multiplayer game Highguard failed big and the people behind it aren't owning up to it. You can see it in the many comments after Josh Sobel (he worked on the game) explained his version of what happened. I agree with some of Sobel's points, but this might be considered one of the biggest marketing snafu's of all time with another of other problems.

 God of War Sons of Sparta literally was just released the other day on PS5, look cool.

Of course, Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse is from Motion Twin & Evil Empire who made Dead Cells. Perfect fit and can't wait to play later this year. So psyched!


‘Ass power!’ Hundreds gather in L.A. to play a video game about donkeys and the resistance

If you have an LA Times subscription read about asses.masses, a seven-hour interactive video game played with an audience at the UCLA Nimoy Theater. It's both a playable game and has some incite into modern problems people are facing.
 

Free article over at The Guardian 

 No half-assed performance: how playing with a live crowd turns video games into performance art

Posted by at
Labels:

Thursday, February 12, 2026

Local Hype: Villa’s Tacos As Seen In Bad Bunny's Super Bowl Half Time Show & Norms As Seen In Good Luck, Have Fun, Don’t Die

 

Villa’s Tacos, as featured in Bad Bunny's Super Bowl Half Time Show, has three locations in LA. It's been in the news cycle a lot. We're guessing they're going to be doing well this year.  You can read more about it at KTLA 5 or really any LA based news site. Or just head to one and see if they even make your top taco place.

 

 


And as you might recall from our review from last month Norms is featured in the upcoming film As Seen In Good Luck, Have Fun, Don’t Die, out this Friday in theaters.

The Daily News has a great write-up on why it's included in the movie below 

Norms is ready for its closeup in a new movie opening Friday, Feb. 13 

They fooled me with movie magic, because none of it was filmed in LA, but they recreated a classic Norm's diner on a sound-stage.

Going on now till the 28th of Feb are special promotions based on the movie. Norms’ Sno Balls Hotcakes and Milkshakes topped with Hostess Snoballs, you've got to watch the movie to get the joke.


 

Posted by at
Labels: ,
Subscribe to: Comments (Atom)