City Watch: Los Angeles

If you’re still mourning the end of Spooky Season, head to Ho-Ho-Horror, Reign of Terror’s special event, this Friday and Saturday (Dec 6 - 7).

Also this weekend is Live Night: Cruising Bodies, Spirits, and Machines, presented by CAP UCLA and REDCAT. Programming includes MUXX, an artist collective. In 2022, MUXX staged BIGUIDIRIBELA, an arresting multimedia performance at LA Dance Project (co-presented by LACMA).

There are just a few spots left for Great Gold Bird, a new wanderplay by Twin Alchemy. It’s a beautiful, lyrical journey for audiences of one to three people. Don’t miss it, especially if you’re a fan of The Nest.

Chromasonic Field opens Dec 14 in DTLA (closes Feb 15, 2025). For folks unable to make this run, Chromasonic’s Satellite One is a permanent installation in Venice.

Balloon Museum looks like family-friendly experience (it is). It’s also a quality production with installations by acclaimed, international artists.

Paul McCarthy’s Tomato Head lives on through a new show at Jeffrey Deitch gallery (opens Dec 13).

Doug Aitken’s Lightscape opens at the Marciano Foundation on Dec 17. The multimedia installation will be accompanied by live performances on select dates (closes Mar 15, 2025).

Blended Worlds: Experiments In Interplanetary Imagination, is running until Jan 4, 2025. Located at the Brand Library in Glendale, it’s a wondrous respite from standard holiday programming.

For more library action, explore the utterly delightful Bureau of Nooks and Crannies, which includes audio pieces and experience kits at select branches.

Cosm has a holiday special of Nancy Baker Cahill’s SEEK (Dec 19 - Jan 2, 2025). If you’re keen to see a stunning example of dome storytelling, this is it.

Non-dinner Dinner Theatre by DARRENCORP has three dates in January (creator of Erotic Cotillion and I Swing, You Swing: A Pregnancy Mystery Party).

Olafur Eliasson’s OPEN at MOCA Geffen is superb (closes July 6, 2025). If you’re already at the Geffen Contemporary location, make a day of it by visiting Climate Change, Josh Kline’s excellent show at MOCA Grand (closes Jan 5, 2025).

Simone Leigh has two shows nearing the end of their run at LACMA and CAAM.

Mark Dion’s Excavations is a behind-the-scenes installation at the Page Museum and La Brea Tarpits (closes Sept 15, 2025).

If you’ve not yet been to a Moment Factory experience, Astra Lumina is worth a visit (ends Jan 31, 2025).

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