11 Things To do in September
Author:Abigail StoneAfter the lazy days of summer, September brings, along with pumpkin spice lattes, the promise of a new start. It also brings a plethora of new adventures. No time for sitting by the pool, you’ve got places to go!
Start with art! The fourth edition of Saatchi Art’s The Other Art Fair, returns to the Barker Hanger in Santa Monica on Thursday, September 5th and runs through the weekend. With over 140 emerging artists including a strong lineup of Los Angeles-based talent, it’s a fun and low-pressure atmosphere in which to explore and discover new work, talk to its creators and hang with curators. (opening image by Felicidad De Lucas)
Seth Rogen and Lauren Miller Roger’s Hilarity for Charity, which raises money for Alzheimer’s care, support and brain health education, hosts their inaugural country fair on Saturday, September 14 at Skylight ROW DTLA in Los Angeles. Celebrity guests include Bill Hader, Ike Barinholtz, Kate Micucci and Tony Hawk, as well as a special performance by Anderson Paak. Elevating the classic carnival with rides and fair games hosted by comedians, the fundraiser includes a premium open bar and food trucks. Tickets for 21+ available here.
The Huntington Gardens in Los Angeles (okay, technically it’s in Pasadena) kicks off its yearlong centennial celebration in September with exhibitions, performances, lectures, conferences, art shows and conversations including a chat between Susan Orlean and Viet Nguyen on November 4th. Check out the newly expanding Chinese Gardens while you’re there and don’t forget to make a reservation for their famous afternoon tea.
Spend some time in LA’s Arts District and marvel at the changes that the past few years have wrought: start your morning with a pastry at Bon Temps, then head across the street to Wilding Cran Gallery to see the work of both February James and Robert Moreland. Grab a bottle of organic wine at Wine Stop DTLA and something for the kids at Art & Craftsman Supply. Browse the aisles of art bookstore Hennessey + Ingalls, the clothing racks at Hue. Finish off with a cocktails at Firehouse Hotel and dinner at Bestia and call it a great day. You don’t even need your car!
Get up close and personal with artist Tala Madani at David Kordansky Gallery before everyone else does. The show, which runs from September 7 – October 19, pre-dates a mid-career retrospective of the artist that will be shown at The Museum of Contemporary Art next year.
The holidays will be here before you know it. Get a jump on your holiday shopping now! Barnsdall Art Park will host their popular Art and Craft Fair on Sunday, September 22 from 10am to 3pm. The event, which showcases diverse work from Barnsdall Art Center students and faculty is a great place to find gifts from handcrafted jewelry and ceramics, to cards, prints, paintings, drawings and photography.
If you’ve never visited The Getty Center, what are you waiting for? The monorail ride up to the hilltop museum alone is worth the $20 price of parking. Plus, on Saturday, September 7th, the museum will be celebrating Mort Garson’s “Plantasia”. The recently reissued, pioneering 1970s electronic album composed for plants — and the people who love them — will serenade the blooms and bushes of Robert Irwin’s Central Garden—a custom listening experience of this groundbreaking album as it was meant to be heard: surrounded by lush vegetation. Commune with nature!
Starting September 29, The Hammer Museum will present a retrospective of the work of Lari Pittman. Entitled “Declaration of Independence,” it’s the the most comprehensive look at the the work of the American artist, teacher and social critic and will include approximately 80 paintings and 50 works on paper drawn from the museum’s own holdings as well as from many public and private collections throughout the world.
The Library Book by Susan Orlean, who’ll be at The Huntington Gardens in November (see above), is a fascinating, deep dive into the importance of these institutions to our cities. More than just lending libraries, they’re hubs of information, unlocked via a library card. Streaming service Kanopy is one of it’s many free perks. Catch up on your movies — including classics from The Criterion Collection — before Awards Season kicks off with the Emmys on September 22nd.
San Francisco’s month-long Architecture and City Festival kicks off September 1st. This years festival theme, “We the City”, aims to explore how cultural diversity and connectivity inspire and inform the built environment. From the Dogpatch to the Outer Sunset — San Francisco is a unique, diverse, and multi-generational mosaic. For a full calendar of events, including home tours, click here.
Take in a baseball game. On September 27, 28 and 29th, the San Francisco Giant play The Los Angeles Dodgers at Oracle Park. While the Los Angeles vs. San Francisco question will never be answered, it’s always fun to cheer on your team. Get tickets and more information here.
Shape the future of Los Angeles! Since its installation in 2008, Chris Burden’s “Urban Light” sculpture at LACMA has drawn visitors and natives alike to Wilshire Boulevard. Now the adjacent Hancock Park is hoping to get a little love as well. The Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, which oversees the active excavation area, has embarked on the a master plan to update the 12 acre site. Entitled “Reimagining LaBrea Tarpits“, the exhibit, which will be at the park’s Page Museum through September 15th, asks the public to weigh in on proposals from three architectural firms — Dorte Mandrup (Copenhagen), WEISS/MANFREDI (New York) and Diller Scofidio + Renfro (New York). Review the concepts and weigh in on your favorite!
