You See LA: September 2022
5 things to see and do in LA this fall, handpicked by Lionel Popkin
Lionel Popkin is Associate Dean of Academic Affairs for the school and a Professor of Choreography in the Department of World Arts and Cultures/Dance.
I live in Santa Monica and have a studio in Santa Monica at the 18th Street Arts Center. My kid goes to Santa Monica High School. Only two things really carry me east of Hilgard in the hectic daily life we all lead: art happenings and soccer tournaments. As life increasingly returns to in-person activities this fall, here’s a list of performances and places in and around the region that I’d recommend you add to your agenda:
We are fortunate to have several not to be missed performances by female choreographers coming through LA at different venues starting now. I will be in India for the first two dates on a research trip, but they are all worth seeing in my book.
Thank You For Coming: Space at REDCAT in Downtown LA
First up, on Sept. 15-17, Faye Driscoll, who was also guest artist in WACD during the pandemic, will present Thank You For Coming: Space at REDCAT in Downtown LA. I actually saw this piece in January 2020 (B.C. -Before COVID) in New York. Faye, who has received many accolades is also a Doris Duke and Bessie Award-winner, Guggenheim Fellow, and more. She is amazing. The piece, which is about grief, anger, and resilience, is a real gut punch. Be sure to check it out.
Dastak: I Wish You Me at the Skirball Cultural Center
Next (chronologically), and for one night only on Oct. 21, Ananya Chatterjea will present Dastak: I Wish You Me at the Skirball Cultural Center, which is located in the Sepulveda Pass near Mulholland. Ananya’s work brings together contemporary dance, social justice choreography, and a commitment to healing justice. She is a Guggenheim Fellow, a McKnight Fellow, a UBW Choreographic Choreography Fellow, a Dance/USA Fellow and recipient of a Joyce Award and an A.P. Andersen Award. The week of her performance, Oct. 17-21, she will be teaching two classes on campus in the Department of World Arts and Cultures/Dance. Described as “a powerful meditation on borders, loss, belonging, home, and liberation,” the piece she is performing “traces the dastak," or “knockings” in Farci, of global injustices on our hearts and harkens to the cross-generational love that has carried communities through difficult migrations.” Reserve your tickets on the Skirball’s website.
Banc of California Stadium, home of Angel City Football Club (ACFC) and the Los Angeles Football Club (LAFC)
The fairly new Banc of California stadium at Exposition Park is the home of the Angel City Football Club (ACFC) and the Los Angeles Football Club (LAFC). The stadium is small by big arena standards (20,000+ seats), so there are no bad seats in the house. And, if soccer is not your thing, the stadium doubles as a venue for concerts and special events. If you are new to Los Angeles, you can make a day of the trek east exposition Park, a 160-acre campus that is also home to the California Science Center, the California African American Museum, and the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County. Or simply, stroll the grounds, pack a picnic, and relax in the historic Rose Garden, considered by many one of the city’s “best kept secrets.” The added bonus for me is that all of this is accessible in a straight shot on the Expo line from where I live.
Casablanca Restaurant at 220 Lincoln Blvd., Venice, CA 90291
Local spot: Casablanca. The highlights here are the Margarita cart and the handmade—in full view of the restaurant—tortillas. Why is there a Mexican restaurant with memorabilia from a Bogart/Bergman film crammed into every nook and cranny—including the ceiling—in an unassuming building on the corner of Lincoln and Rose in Venice? I don’t know, but I hear that the owner, Carlos Haro, has one of the largest collections of Casablanca collectibles in the world. When my son was really young this was the best restaurant to play ‘I spy,’ and now it has become a family tradition. Check out their website and this KCRW story.
Oedipus Tyrannus at The Getty Villa Outdoor Theater
There’s so much good stuff to do this fall. My final pick: From Sept.7 – Oct.1, Deaf West Theater is performing their bilingual version of Oedipus Tyrannus at The Getty Villa’s outdoor theater. If you’ve not been to the Getty Villa, you’re in for a treat. Nestled into the hills of Pacific Palisades just above the PCH, the Getty Villa’s building and grounds are modeled after actual Roman architecture and gardens and are home the museum’s collection of Greek, Roman, and Etruscan antiquities. There is a magic to watching theater under the stars in the outdoor amphitheater and you can come early, stroll the gardens, or grab a drink on the terrace. If you are into contemporary architecture, pay close attention to the details as you ascend to villa. Boston-based Machado Silvetti’s award-winning 2007 remodel and update provides a terrific case study in blending the contemporary and the historic. Tickets for Oedipus Tyrannus here.
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