Friday, October 11, 2024

Clock Tower: Rewind Preview Event

If you've tried the ice cream, you should try the game, out Oct 29th.

Halloween Hype: Uzamaki Echh, The Witches of Los Feliz, #SaveChucky & Ghost Stories

Hoo boy, lots of problems with the Uzamaki mini-series and it's a shame.

No, The Craft showing, lame!

Oh, and if you wanted even more witchery in your life.

October 12, 2024 - October 27, 2024
Opening Reception / Oct 12, 5:00PM - 8:00PM
NUCLEUS
210 East Main St
Alhambra CA 91801
Free
 
Something wicked this way comes...

Gallery Nucleus is proud to present a new collection of illustrated work from the incredible illustrators Loïc Locatelli Kournwsky, Miko Kitka, and Sibylline Meynet! Focusing on witches and the supernatural, this spectacular show will have both an opening and a closing reception, with artist Miko Kitka attending on the opening and on its final weekend with artists Sibylline and Loïc in attendance to sign books and prints for fans.

 

SAT OCT 12, 2024 8:00 PM

PET SEMATARY

$10.00 (member) ; $15.00 (general admission)

Egyptian Theatre | Q&A with filmmaker Mary Lambert. Moderated by Kristen Lopez. 

35th Anniversary!

Ghost Stories our favorite horror comedy anime with some very foul-mouthed kids is now on Prime.

Our Halloween Guide Lives


We keep reminding you and hopefully you're listening, our Halloween Guide is up now! We added even more screenings, you have so many chances to see a horror movie. We mean, so, so many. We just have so many places from independent theaters, museums and even regular old theaters re-showing films so studios can make money again, because many of their choices this year have been bad.

...can't wait for Nosferatu on Christmas. Yes, there's something very wrong if a big budget horror movie is set for Christmas.

 

 


Saturday, October 12, 2024
Academy Museum
$10

Stark terror that strikes in the dark! Cold fear that grips the heart! Raw shock that sears the mind!

From the depths of the world’s largest collection of movie trailers at the Academy Film Archive, this program unearths and reassembles the cult classic thrills and chills of pre-show entertainment—presented entirely on 35mm film. These retro horror trailers span decades of suspense, from artfully macabre camp monstrosities to deranged slashers calling from inside the house. To avoid fainting, keep repeating it’s only a trailer… only a trailer… only a trailer.

Here's an article and effort put into the screening, let's hope more than 10 people show up.

‘Don’t Go Into the Vault’ Is the Academy Museum’s Halloween Present to Film Lovers

Thursday, October 10, 2024

The Lobster: Santa Monica’s Seafood Shack at the End of The Trail

Dining room at The Lobster restaurant with tables and chairs, offering a picturesque view of the Santa Monica Pier during late afternoon sunlight.
The Lobster restaurant celebrates its 25th Anniversary Celebration on National Lobster Day in Santa Monica, California on September 25, 2024. All pictures by Eric Harris / TTDILA.



By Eric Harris


The Lobster restaurant in Santa Monica recently celebrated its 25th anniversary since its re-opening, and Things To Do In LA had the privilege of attending its VIP and media preview event. This exclusive occasion offered a chance to taste some of Executive Chef Govind Armstrong’s favorite dishes and cocktails, along with a preview of his latest creations designed to mark this milestone.

Group of people enjoying drinks at The Lobster restaurant's bar in daylight.

Perched above the Santa Monica Pier, where historic Route 66 meets the ocean and next to the iconic Santa Monica Pier Sign, The Lobster boasts extraordinary views. The restaurant provides a breathtaking 190-degree panorama of Santa Monica Bay and the Malibu coastline, delivering one of the premier ocean views in Southern California dining.

Diners in The Lobster’s dining room and pedestrians outside observe the sunset over Santa Monica Bay and Malibu coastline.

The Lobster’s current menu features a diverse array of seafood dishes, with lobster as its centerpiece. During the commemorative event, we experienced several of Chef Armstrong’s signature dishes.

Plate of fresh tagliatelle with Maine lobster and lemon breadcrumbs, featured as a new entrée for The Lobster's 25th anniversary menu.
Fresh tagliatelle with Maine lobster and lemon breadcrumbs, a new entrée created for The Lobster’s 25th anniversary menu.

Regrettably, due to unforeseen circumstances, we were unable to complete a full review of Chef Armstrong’s menu. Nonetheless, we enjoyed an extensive tour of the restaurant, bar, and kitchen and had the opportunity to engage in a conversation with Chef Armstrong about his cuisine and latest offerings. The view from The Lobster is extraordinary, easily ranking among the best panoramic ocean views of any Southern California restaurant. Although we cannot fully endorse The Lobster based on its food alone at this time, we can certainly recommend the restaurant for its spectacular view. The Grilled California Spiny Lobster remains on our radar, and we look forward to returning soon to provide a more comprehensive review.

Group of diners sitting at tables, eating and admiring the scenic views of the Santa Monica Pier


Location

The Lobster
1602 Ocean Ave., Santa Monica, 90401

Parking

Valet parking next to restaurant
Public Parking nearby

Hours

Monday - Thursday
12:00 – 9:00 pm

Friday - Saturday
11:30 am – 10:00 pm

Sunday
11:30 am – 9:00 pm

Reservations are recommended

Contact

www.thelobster.com
(310) 458-9294



Woman wearing a lobster sweater overlooking the Ferris Wheel at Pacific Park, a family amusement park on the Santa Monica Pier.

Woman wearing a lobster sweater overlooking the Ferris Wheel at Pacific Park, a family amusement park on the Santa Monica Pier.

Kitchen staff and Executive Chef Govind Armstrong posing for pictures in The Lobster's kitchen.
Kitchen staff and Executive Chef Govind Armstrong (rear) posing for pictures in The Lobster’s kitchen.

Dining room of The Lobster with tables and chairs, offering views of the Santa Monica Pier at twilight.

Dining room of The Lobster with tables and chairs, offering views of the Santa Monica Pier at twilight.

Group of people enjoying drinks at The Lobster restaurant's bar at twilight.

The Lobster restaurant bar during twilight hours, with ambient lighting.

Group of people taking pictures under the “End of the Trail” sign marking the end of historic Route 66 on the Santa Monica Pier.
A group of people taking pictures under the famous “End of the Trail” sign on the Santa Monica Pier.


Dungeons & Degenerate Gamblers Review: Hello New Addiction


Let's get it out of the way, the reason we went for this game was because of our addiction to Balatro, another roguelike card game that was based on poker. Dungeons & Degenerate Gamblers is based on blackjack and can be pretty addictive for a game that looks like it was made for early CRT monitors. Oh, and that name, that's too silly a name. What keeps us playing? Let's get started.

Dungeons & Degenerate Gamblers has you take on an establishment and the fun and strange characters
inside like games of old on PC. And, we mean, way old. This game looks like it was made in the early 90's. It wasn't, but the pixel art is charming. It plays super easy for today's standards too. So, a modern, old-school looking game.

You play through a series of battles in poker, but your cards and the cards you get along the way have special power-ups...sadly so does your enemies/other patrons. You'll try to get the best strategy of hitting 21 without going over with the cards your dealt and that's where the frustrating fun begins.

You'll earn different cards per run, but sadly, you'll start at the bottom/tavern each time. Not the happiest about that, it can get annoying not to be able to skip to a certain spot, but that's roguelikes for you...at least ones that don't seem concerned with story. You at least get somewhat farther in Inscryption.
 
In any case, we've only cracked the surface or the basement as you can choose to go up or down after beating the first floor. Going down has you dealing with more old school game enemies like rats and witches and of course, teachers. 

Beating them (arrrgh, teachers) requires a mix of luck and strategy from strange cards and special chips that give you special power or MP points to use your more powerful cards. Like a card that can fire batarangs (not official) or scratching at their hit points. There's a wide variety of different cards that hurt not only your opponent, but you.

We see a lot of effort was put in and the game has a lot of potential, but we could see a lot of it could have been changed to be something even better and it does have patches here and there.

It's something we could see getting lost in if we ever put down Balatro, which has no story or characters, minus a Joker that taunts you. This one takes a bit more effort to get into and learn what works. But we could easily see it taking up too much of our time. This game has a much more sillier tone to the other roguelike card games out there and for that we recommend you try it. 


Dungeons & Degenerate Gamblers is out now on Steam


Game provided by publisher for review purposes.

Wednesday, October 9, 2024

Cover Your Eyes & Pin-Up Ghouls Art Shows

Weekly What To Do: Get Out & Sea Food


October 10
United Theater
$
 
"Nouns Fest promises to melt your face with the world premiere of 50 brand new animations from some of the most cutting-edge animators in the world. A diverse mix including both masters of the craft and rising stars from around the globe are descending on Hollywood for this one-night-only movie premiere screening and soiree at the historic United Theater on Broadway! ."
 
 
Pepperonccini & Choo & Give Me~! TOMOTAKA
OPENING RECEPTION: OCTOBER 11TH, 6 – 9PM
Show will run from:
October 11th – October 27th
3045 West 8th Street
Los Angeles CA 90005

 
"We are incredibly honored to be debuting the work of Give Me~! TOMOTAKA in an exhibition based in the USA. We’ve curated a selection of Give Me~! TOMOTAKA’s most iconic works, showcasing them alongside equally striking works by Pepperonccini & Choo, all presented as striking poster-sized Risograph prints. The rich textures & vibrant colors of Risography bringing a bold new dimension to each artist’s unique style & palette. This will also mark the first time these works by Pepperonccini & Choo will be made available as Risograph prints.

“Turn It Up! To 100° C” celebrates the distinctive themes & aesthetics of these artists. The fiery tones, the underlying temperaments, & the slightly sinister right below the surface, resonate like the first bubbles rising as water approaches a boil."
 
October 11 - October 14, 2024
Egyptian Theatre
6712 Hollywood Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90028
Los Feliz Theatre
1822 N Vermont Ave Los Angeles, CA 90027
$

More than just a series of film screenings, the German Currents Film Festival is a platform for cultural exchange, connecting German films and filmmakers with the greater Los Angeles community. 

LIVE COMEDY PERFORMANCE for these shows begins at approximately 7:00PM!

Come dressed as your favorite character, past or present!
 
Oct 11
Select Theaters
 
Another anime screening in theaters this week.
 
Fri / Oct 11, 2024 - 8:00PM
The Ford 
$
 
 
Little weird on the erev of Yom Kippur 
Alan Cumming (Cabaret, The Good Wife) and Ari Shapiro (NPR’s All Things Considered) both transport audiences to other worlds through their stories. Now, they’re joining forces in song. Witness the debut of their acclaimed evening of tunes and tall tales titled Och & Oy! A Considered Cabaret, with musical direction by Henry Koperski.
 
October 12, 2024 - October 27, 2024
Opening Reception / Oct 12, 5:00PM - 8:00PM
NUCLEUS
210 East Main St
Alhambra CA 91801
Free
 
Something wicked this way comes...

Gallery Nucleus is proud to present a new collection of illustrated work from the incredible illustrators Loïc Locatelli Kournwsky, Miko Kitka, and Sibylline Meynet! Focusing on witches and the supernatural, this spectacular show will have both an opening and a closing reception, with artist Miko Kitka attending on the opening and on its final weekend with artists Sibylline and Loïc in attendance to sign books and prints for fans.

 
RIVER SESSION Mile 15:
Brackish Water Los Angeles & South Gate Museum Art Walk
SATURDAY, OCT 12 1-4PM
 CSU Dominguez Hills University Art Gallery
1000 East Victoria Street Carson, CA 90747
$32.78

 
Join us for an afternoon exploring the intersection of art, science, and community in South Gate – an area previously considered wetlands before the channelization of the LA River.

 
Celebrating Indigenous Peoples’ Day 2024
Saturday, October 12, 2024, from 11 am - 4 pm
Getty Center
Free advance tickets

In honor of Indigenous Peoples’ Day, Getty hosts its third annual family event to learn about Southern California's vibrant Native American cultures. The theme this year celebrates flora, with activities sharing traditional and contemporary Indigenous perspectives and narratives.
 
CicLAvia – Heart of LA
Sunday, October 13, 2024; 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Free

 CicLAvia’s popular signature route, welcomes everyone of all ages and abilities to its 56th car-free open streets event connecting several of the most important and historic Los Angeles neighborhoods which include Boyle Heights; Chinatown; Downtown LA; Echo Park; the Arts District and Little Tokyo. Highlights include the 6th Street Viaduct, Echo Park Lake, and the Historic Core of DTLA, for participants to jog, ride, bike, skate, run, walk, skateboard, spectate, play, and enjoy the 7.5-mile route. Always free, CicLAvia participants just show up anywhere along the route at any time to enjoy the open streets and to take the time to explore the ‘Heart of LA.’
 
Oct 13-20
Hammer Museum
Free

Forget Shark Week! The bees are coming to take over the Hammer with a week of bee talks, honey tastings, and screenings.


 
 
"On October 12th and 13th, the center will be putting on a weekend of live music, exclusive deals inspired by the year the center's opening year of 1964, and an immersive experience that honors the heart and soul of Century City.

Join us for a far-out weekend of celebration with live music from the decades, exciting throwback specials, exclusive promotions, and more from our shops and eateries!"
 

"This is an autograph signing of the Trade Paper Back that collects all five issues happening on Sunday October 13th from 1-3pm. *Must buy a book to attend our event. Free autographs What If Aliens TP & Comics and one personal item per person, just like our John Carpenter event, but no pre-sales. Just show up on 10/13 by 1pm and get in line. First come, first served. "

Sunday, October 13 
Santa Monica Pier
$

This beloved ocean-inspired tasting event features the city's top chefs and restaurants and their favorite underwater ingredients. Attendees will enjoy seafood samplings, beer gardens, wine tastings, live yacht rock music, oyster-shucking competitions, games, and more fun in the sun. Throw on those ascots and sailor hats… Yacht rock attire is highly encouraged!

Extra: 


 
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.
 


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.
 

Street Food Cinema-Outdoor cult or recent hits you'll love.

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


 New Bev-Tarantino owned independent theater with old school style

Cinelounge - Hollywood based tiny theater, showing off indies you've never heard of
 
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
 
Art
 
Now-2025
Japanese American National Museum
100 North Central Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90012
Admission $

Giant Robot Biennale 5 features artists Sean Chao, Felicia Chiao, Luke Chueh, Giorgiko, James Jean,
Taylor Lee, Rain Szeto, and Yoskay Yamamoto, among others. Since 2007, JANM has partnered with Eric Nakamura, founder of Giant Robot, to produce the Giant Robot Biennale, a recurring art exhibition that highlights diverse creative works celebrating the brand’s ethos.
 
 
05.02.2024 (Thu.) – 11.03.2024 (Sun.)
JAPAN HOUSE Gallery, Level 2
Free
 
 “Yes, KAWAII is Art -EXPRESS YOURSELF-” is the first exhibition in which Masuda, known as the “King of Kawaii,” brings together multiple artworks unravelling the concepts within the phenomena while introducing his personal story of sharing kawaii with the world. Through his collection of artifacts from the origins of the culture and dazzling immersive art installations, visitors are invited to explore the cultural context and significance of the kawaii movement and step into the colorful world to feel the aesthetic for themselves, emphasizing its role in fostering a sense of joy, innocence, and community as a tool for self-expression and representation of a worldwide tribe to which we can all belong.