Los Angeles & Southern California - Andrea Schulte-Peevers [163]
Along the coast, you can listen to jazz, cabaret and pop music against the backdrop of sailboats at the Marina del Rey Summer Concerts (www.visitthemarina.com; Thu & Sat) in Burton Chace Park, or enjoy an ocean-view picnic during Music by the Sea (www.musicbythesea.org; Sun) concerts in San Pedro’s Point Fermin Park.
Museums also get into the music game. At LACMA, art and jazz prove an irresistible mix to culture vultures and desk jockeys alike during Friday Night Jazz (www.lacma.org/art/music/music.htm), which actually runs from April to November. The Hammer Museum presents just-about-to-get-big LA and UK bands in a double bill during Also I Like to Rock (www.hammer.org; Thu). And the Skirball Cultural Center, near the Getty, brings quality world-music acts to a stage surrounded by a lily pond during Sunset Concerts (www.skirball.org; Thu) at the beautiful Skirball Cultural Center.
Last but not least, Pasadena has the One Colorado Summer Series (www.onecolorado.net; Sat) featuring jazz, salsa, blues and classical music.
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Catalina Bar & Grill (Map; 323-466-2210; www.catalinajazzclub.com; 6725 W Sunset Blvd, Hollywood; cover $10-18 plus dinner or 2 drinks; closed Mon; ) LA’s premier jazz club is now tucked in a ho-hum office building (enter through the garage), but once inside the spacious yet sultry room, all is forgiven. The booking policy is top-notch and brings in such top talent as Art Blakely and the Marsalis brothers, but up-and-comers are spotlighted too. Two shows nightly.
Vibrato Grill & Jazz (off Map; 310-474-9400; www.vibratogrilljazz.com; 2930 Beverly Glen Circle, Bel Air) Trumpet-legend Herb Alpert is the man behind this posh Bel Air supper club, and he’s got the pull to bring in Billy Childs, Toots Thielemans and other big-name acts. Bright abstract paintings, also by Alpert, adorn the walls, while bronze busts of Louis Armstrong & Co preside over the sleek wood and granite bar. There’s usually no cover with dinner or a two-drink minimum; all ages.
For more cool tunes, check out Backstage at the Vault (Map; 562-590-5566; www.backstagejazz.com; 330 Pine Ave, Long Beach), an intimate jazz and blues supper club out the back of Vault 350.
LATIN & WORLD
El Floridita (Map; 323-871-8612; 1253 N Vine St, Hollywood; cover $10, free with dinner; Mon, Wed, Fri & Sat) The original Floridita in Havana was Hemingway’s favorite hangout and the Hollywood version is the place for grown-up salseros to go cubano. Order a mojito and watch the beautiful dancers do their thing (or join in if you feel you’ve got the moves). The Monday night jams are legendary; make reservations at least a week in advance (for any day, for that matter).
Club Mayan (Map; 213-746-4674; www.clubmayan.com; 1038 S Hill St, Downtown; 9pm-3am Fri & Sat; ) Kick up your heels during Saturday’s Tropical Nights when a salsa band turns the heat up a few notches. Pull out your nattiest suit and slinkiest cocktail dress and start hitting the dance floor. Don’t know how? Come early for lessons. On Fridays it’s house and hip-hop.
Zabumba (Map; 310-841-6525; 10717 Venice Blvd, Culver City; cover $3-8; closed Mon) See if you can keep your hips from moving when being doused with bossa nova, jazz, axé, samba and salsa at this Brazilian restaurant-bar-club right on LA’s ‘Little Rio’ strip.
Club El Baron (Map; 818-231-2565; http://clubtropical.tangoafficionado.com; 8641 Washington Blvd, Culver City; cover $10, with class $15; Wed) Every Wednesday, tango mania grips this simple Salvadoran restaurant, where the Los Angeles Tango Trio gets nattily dressed couples sashaying across the floor. No experience necessary: just show up at 8pm for an expertly taught intro classes.
Nightclubs
So what about the hottest Hollywood clubs? Consider this: One, hotness is temporary. Two, bouncers can be aggressively unfriendly. Three, you’ll be standing on the sidewalk all night while the celebutantes slip in the back. Still