Best Activities To Do This Week In L.A. - July 4

This week starts out with a bang as the country celebrates Independence Day Monday, and we've got some of the best spots in L.A. to enjoy your 4th. Keep the excitement going by visiting a new attraction opening at Universal Studios Hollywood that will give you a nice adrenaline rush. A round-up of some great spots to chow down for National Fried Chicken Day is here for you, as are some must-see shows. Thursday is the perfect day to see what all the buzz is about for Ayad Akhtar's play "Disgraced," with a special pre-show "Community Conversation." There's nothing like a summer evening at the Hollywood Bowl to kick off the weekend, followed Saturday by a free outdoor concert at Century Park that'll get you moving and grooving. The week ends with a nice way for the family to stay cool, as the Hammer Museum offers a free screening of the baseball classic Angels in the Outfield.

Celebrate the 4th of July!
Various Locations

There are tons of great ways to celebrate Independence Day, whether it be eating, drinking, firework watching, or all of the above. For one of the best displays in the city, head to the Hollywood Bowl's annual show, featuring a fireworks spectacular with Chicago and the U.S. Air Force Band of the Golden West. Or head downtown for the 4th Annual Grand Park + The Music Center's 4th of July Block Party, where music, dancing, food, and fun will take over The Music Center Plaza, ending with an all-new fireworks show that will light up the downtown sky. Down in Long Beach, the Queen Mary will continue its annual party by celebrating "America from Coast-to-Coast," bringing the East, South, Southwest, and West Coasts together for a day of patriotic fun, with a musical firework finale over the Pacific Ocean. For a slice of small town life, don't miss Theatricum's Old Fashioned Family Barn Dance and BBQ, complete with a hoedown, barn dance, pie-eating contest, cake walk, relay races, and more family games.
 
Looking for our complete list of firework shows? Visit Los Angeles' List of Firework Shows By Area

New Attraction Opening: "The Walking Dead"
Universal Studios Hollywood
100 Universal City Plaza
Universal City, CA 91608
(800) 864-8377
www.universalstudioshollywood.com

This week Universal Studios Hollywood is unlocking the iconic "Don't Open, Dead Inside" doors, and unleashing an all-new permanent attraction based on AMC's The Walking Dead. No longer relegated to a Halloween Horror Nights maze, the full, daytime attraction gives guests the chance to experience the post-apocalyptic world overrun by hordes of flesh-eating Walkers 365 days a year. Come face-to-face with both live and animatronic zombies as you make your way through the walk-through attraction created in collaboration with the show's award-winning production team. Whether you're a huge fan of the show, or just enjoy a good scare, you won't want to miss this new addition to the park.

Celebrate National Fried Chicken Day

Various Locations

Monday might be all about hot dogs and hamburgers, but today it's nothing but fried chicken as we celebrate National Fried Chicken Day. For a good cheap eat, a trip to South L.A. institution Jim Dandy Fried Chicken is in order, serving up a nice juicy bird alongside not-to-be-missed deep fried, powdered sugar dusted corn fritters. Honey's Kettle Fried Chicken in Culver City fries up their chicken in huge kettle drums, creating a perfect crispy coating just begging to be slathered in honey. If you need a little carb with your protein, there are several spots to get an amazing fried chicken sandwich. R+D Kitchen's famous Ding's Crispy Chicken Sandwich with equally famous vinaigrette slaw is always a solid bet, as is Executive Chef Jason Witzl's Crispy Chicken Sandwich at Herringbone Santa Monica, served with coleslaw, 1,000 Island, and bread and butter pickles.

"Disgraced"
Mark Taper Forum
135 N Grand Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90012
(213) 972-7355
www.centertheatregroup.org

Although Ayad Akhtar's "Disgraced" premiered four years ago in 2012, it could have easily been written in response to today's current political landscape. The Pulitzer Prize winning drama is a contemporary exploration of identity and religion, as the play follows a dinner party thrown by a married couple in the Upper East Side of Manhattan. The husband, Amir, was raised Muslim, and though he has left that faith far behind, booze-fueled conversation eventually turns to religion, terrorism, and all matter of political incorrectness. Thursday's performance offers a special ticket that includes "Community Conversations," with a pre-show conversation with leading experts, activists, and scholars from Los Angeles' Muslim community and beyond, as well as light fare and wine.

Star Trek Film + Concert
Hollywood Bowl
2301 Highland Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90068
(323) 850-2000
www.hollywoodbowl.com

Join your friends at the Bowl and "boldly go where no one has gone before" at tonight's Star Trek concert. J.J. Abrams' 2009 blockbuster hit will be projected in its entirety on the Bowl's big HD screen, accompanied by the Los Angeles Philharmonic. The group will play Oscar-winning composer Michael Giacchino's score live-to-picture, presenting the film as you've never seen or heard it before. Combining stunning visual effects with a sense of star-spanning adventure, Abrams' Star Trek was a global hit, and is sure to be appreciated by audience members of all ages tonight. The show starts at 8:00pm, and an additional performance will take place tomorrow night as well.

Lotus Festival
Echo Park Lake
751 Echo Park Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90026

With the weekend here, take advantage of Echo Park's incredible Lotus Festival. Floating flowers will be on the lake, and you can expect great food, music, boat races and full bloom lotus flower beds. The event, which celebrates Asian-Americans contributions to LA, is in its 36th year.

Angels in the Outfield
Hammer Museum
10899 Wilshire Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90024
(310) 443-7000
hammer.ucla.edu

Beat the summer heat today by heading to The Hammer Museum, where they're presenting another installment of their Family Flicks movies with Angels in the Outfield. Don't expect to see Joseph Gordon-Levitt flapping his arms though, as they'll be screening the black and white original from 1951. In this version, a little girl's prayers are answered when an angel offers her beloved Pittsburgh Pirates some divine help - in exchange for a little less swearing and fighting from the curmudgeonly manager. The screening is totally family-friendly, and starts at 11:00am. While you're there, be sure to check out "Made in L.A. 2016: a, the, though, only," highlighting artists working throughout Los Angeles and the surrounding area by exploring dance, fashion, literature, music, film, and performance.