From creepy interactive theater (what we used to call a haunted house) to a great new documentary (and book) about ’60s L.A., there’s a lot to do this fall. Just be sure to make time for some lazy outdoor café sitting too.
6 Things Angelenos Are Talking About Right Now
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Published Sep 18, 2019
1. The Cool Dance Festival
The Los Angeles Dance Project is poppin’—the small troupe, led by choreographer Benjamin Millapied (who choreographed Black Swan), is performing six new world premieres among its fall festival lineup, the cumbersomely titled “L.A. Dances, a Festival of 13 Dance Works.” Running September 26 to October 25 and November 14 to 24, it includes works by Madeline Hollander, who choreographed the scary ballet sequence in thriller Us, and Charm La’Donna, who has constructed work for Kendrick Lamar and Spanish pop star Rosalía.
2245 E. Washington Blvd.; 213-622-5995 or ladanceproject.org
2. An Icy-cold Facial
Call it the Valley effect: The best way to make a sweaty complexion look better—tightening skin, reducing fine lines and wrinkles, and creating an antibacterial layer to quiet breakouts—is to treat your skin to a five-minute cryotherapy facial, in which blasts of super-cooled water vapor are shot into the pores. You’re going to be impressed with how taut and glowing your skin looks.
16830 Ventura Blvd., Encino, or 8457 Melrose Ave., Unit A, West Hollywood; cryocafela.com
Greenwich Entertainment
3. A ’60s Nostalgia Trip
The new documentary Linda Ronstadt: The Sound of My Voice chronicles the life and times of the legendary singer and Grammy winner—and it’s getting universal raves. Beloved also (but considerably more grubby) is California Trip, a just-reissued photojournalism work from Magnum photographer Dennis Stock, who took a five-week road trip in 1968 along California highways at the height of the counterculture hippie scene.
Instagram/jfiproductions
4. Social Media Gets Creepy (er, Creepier)
The Haus of Creep is a combination interactive performance piece and haunted house that skewers social media culture—in set pieces that have some swears, some nudity, some simulated violence, oh my. The tableaux riff on the thicket of Instagrammable pop-up “museums,” and 50 guests a night will explore a sultry lounge, small dark spaces, shadow plays and, most creepily of all, deranged puppet shows.
777 S. Alameda St., Bldg. 2, Level 1; creepla.com
Fia Restaurant
5. It’s Peak Patio Dining Season
It may be all cooler temps and falling leaves elsewhere, but it’s peak season for patio eating here in SoCal. Whether you’re in the mood for a fried seafood basket at Malibu’s casual Neptune’s Net (63 years strong) or rustic Italian fare at Santa Monica’s new Fia (order the octopus and enjoy this quiet little corner in the middle of all the hustle and bustle), there’s a terrace, garden or backyard for every mood.
2454 Wilshire Blvd., Santa Monica; 310-586-1707 or fiarestaurant.com
6. Socially Responsible Home Decor
One-of-a-kind pendant lamps, kilim-upholstered chairs and rustic pottery are among the riches commissioned by the owners of new boutique Maison of Hand, a shop that taps Tunisian villagers to make the sort of sunny pieces that look right at home in L.A.’s similarly hot-and-dry climate.
456 S. La Brea Ave.; 213-328-4005 or maisonofhand.com
