Best Events This Weekend In Los Angeles - November 18

The weekend is here and that means a welcomed respite from both your work environment and likely your social media timeline. For those lucky enough to live in Los Angeles and the surrounding areas, there is never a shortage of cool things to get into. Art, music, culture, food, and everything in between, the city of Angels is sagging with prime destinations that will help serve as a positive distraction.

Friday, November 18

Planetarium Show
Cal State Northridge, CSUN
18111 Nordhoff St.
Northridge, CA 91330
www.csun.edu

While likely not on your radar, the Donald E. Bianchi Planetarium at Cal State Northridge is one of those destinations that manages to take education and transform it into something widely entertaining. Starting in the early evening, these guided observations are narrated with expertise and insight from staff of the university's physics and astronomy departments. Providing a unique glimpse into the unknown galaxy, guests can explore planets, constellations, and endless skies that are guaranteed to evoke wonder and amazement. On occasion, the planetarium is also used as a tool for lecture, addressing a specific topic pertaining to the great wide-open space. Operating since 2004, this is an important resource for Southern Californians whether you have a college ID or not.

Saturday, November 19

In My Life: A Musical Theatre Tribute to The Beatles
Richard & Karen Carpenter Performing Arts Center
6200 Atherton St.
Long Beach, CA 90815
(562)985-7000
www.carpenterarts.org

Part musical, part theatrical biography, this stage production follows the evolution of one of music's most important contributors, The Beatles. From the early onset of Beatlemania to the final rooftop show at 3 Savile Row, this chronological depiction of John, Paul, George, and Ringo is coupled with live rendition of the music of each distinct era. In total, some 33-songs are performed by renowned Beatles tribute act, Abbey Road. While many know the story of the band, this reimagining told in tandem with the music makes for a compelling stage show.
 

USC Vs. UCLA Football Game
Rose Bowl
1001 Rose Bowl Dr.
Pasadena, CA 91103
www.rosebowlstadium.com

Regardless of the standings in the Pac-12, the battle for Los Angeles bragging rights is always one of the most anticipated games of the national scope of rivalry week. For one week every football season, residents of Los Angeles are divided among those that either pledge their allegiance to Tommy Trojan or to Joe Bruin. With each time having some marginal success this season, the likelihood that this will be a fiercely competitive game is almost a certainty. Not to mention, watching such a passionately polarizing game in the confines of the 92, 000 person capacity Rose Bowl really does amp the adrenaline. For this one, you don't need to be an alumni to pick a side. Grab a ticket and experience the rush of college football during rivalry week.

Sunday, November 20

Mon Laferte
The Roxy
9009 Sunset Blvd.
West Hollywood, CA 90069
www.theroxy.com

Mon Laferte is a Chilean native, a cancer survivor, and one of the most mesmerizing performers in any genre of music. Her masterful blend of big band melodic rock, pop, and soul has long since established her as a star in both Chile and Mexico, but know Mon's appeal has reached the US and the result packed house after packed house. This weekend Mon takes on the rock n roll lore of the Sunset Strip institution in The Roxy. This captivating, powerful songstress has been making tunes since 2003. While the US was slow to get hip, Laferte's sold out shows are emphatic declarations that she has in fact arrived. Clearly destined for a mega crossover, see what all the fuss is about this Sunday as Mon conquers LA.
 

Pop for the People: Roy Lichtenstein in L.A..
Skirball Cultural Center
2701 N. Sepulveda Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90049
(310)440-4500
www.skirball.org

While art majors will fawn over the nuances of Lichtenstein's contribution to American art, his dynamic was that of an artist that merged the world of fine art and pop culture. Drawing inspiration from comic books, marketing material, and even children's books, Lichtenstein utilized line, dot, and color to elevate the everyday. Featuring work from his Bull Profile and Surrealist series, as well as the revered Sunrise and Shipboard Girl, Roy was most revered for his print work and his collaborative efforts that made fine art tangible with Stanley Grinstein and Sidney Felsen, cofounders of the prominent Los Angeles artists' workshop Gemini G.E.L. A history lesson and an engaging visual experience, catch this exhibit before you miss your chance.

Article by Ramon Gonzales.