Los Angeles Entertainment

LA has an overwhelming choice of entertainment options, and planning where to go will be every bit as difficult as organising your daytime activities. From sophisticated bars and trendy clubs to performing arts and rock concerts, LA has it all.

Nightlife

Despite the city's somewhat wild reputation, most locals are early-risers due to the business culture and long commutes that many people face. However, this doesn't seem to stop the party-goers and there are plenty of good nightspots to choose from.

The turnover of bars and clubs (particularly the trendy ones) can be high, so it's best to check the LA Weekly, a free weekly paper available at shops, restaurants and street stands. It has all the most up-to-date news on what's happening at LA's clubs, playhouses and live music venues. The Los Angeles Times has sections on Sundays and Thursdays which are also a good source of information on what's going on in the city.

Los Angeles has some of the most cutting-edge clubs and bars found anywhere. Some of the most popular places can be found along Sunset and Hollywood boulevards in Hollywood and West Hollywood, where you're most likely to see some of your favourite stars. The gay scene has a high concentration of bars in West Hollywood, but there are other places worth visiting in Santa Monica and Venice.

Theatre and music

The Los Angeles Philharmonic is the city's only major classical music company. They perform at the newly completed Walt Disney Concert Hall, located at the intersection of 1st Street and Grand Avenue in the Bunker Hill area. Facilities include a superb 2,200-seat concert hall, outdoor park, restaurant and bookstore. Chamber music and period performance groups have become increasingly popular, the most notable being the LA Baroque Orchestra and Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra.

The city's top two playhouses can be found in the all-purpose Music Center of Los Angeles County on North Grand Avenue in the downtown area. They are home to the Center Theater Group as well as travelling productions, usually from Broadway or London.

The live music scene is as good as you will find in any city, with a wealth of venues and music styles. Many up-and-coming bands are attracted to LA and come looking to get their first break in clubs on the Sunset strip. The two main amphitheatres, the Greek Theater in Griffith Park and the indoor Universal Amphitheater, attract numerous national and international acts year-round. The Staples Center in downtown is a combination sports/event stadium and it has hosted top pop and rock names such as U2 and Prince.

Festivals

As you can imagine, Los Angeles has numerous film festivals throughout the year. There are also many other diverse festivals to choose from, suitable for all the family.

• Pan African Film & Arts Festival in February showcases films from artists of African decent from North America, the Caribbean, South America, Europe and the South Pacific. Over 150 films are shown each year. In addition, live music, poetry readings and speaking engagements are also featured.
• IFP Los Angeles Film Festival in June is held in the heart of Hollywood and features the best of American and international independent cinema. With an attendance of over 40,000 people, the festival screens over 200 narrative features, documentaries, shorts and music videos. Now in its 13th year, the 10-day festival has grown into a world-class event, uniting new filmmakers with critics, scholars, film masters and the movie-loving public.
• Chinese Food Festival in June is the first large celebration of Chinese food and culture in Southern California. Cooking demonstrations featuring local chefs, Chinese beer, boba and tea samplings, cultural entertainment and childrens games and crafts lend Chinese-flavoured fun for the whole family. The festival is held in the historic centre of LA's growing Chinese American community.
• Port of Los Angeles Lobster Festival in September is the world's largest lobster festival. Visitors have the chance to feast on discounted Maine lobsters and then enjoy other attractions such as dancing, street performers, a pirate camp, tall ships and music from various artists.