Things to Do in Hollywood

Before guest conductor Mei-Ann Chen marks her historic Pasadena Symphony debut with a program that features Tchaikovsky’s Fifth Symphony, Grammy award-winning violinist James Ehnes showers the crowd with pulled and stuttered notes in a virtuosic performance of Korngold’s Violin Concerto. Having performed in more than 30 countries and appeared with some of the world’s most renowned orchestras, Ehnes tugs sonic rainbows from his stringed companion in a solo work that earned him Grammy, Juno, and Western Canadian Music awards. Captive audiences seated in Section B will have precious little time to slingshot their rose bouquets onto the stage before Mei-Ann Chen claims her place as the first woman to conduct the Pasadena Symphony’s assemblage of gifted musicians from the motion-picture industry.

Shecky's Girls Night Out makes planning a social outing between friends easy with its dozens of fashion, jewelry, and beauty product displays and samples to peruse. Having started as a published guide to New York City nightlife, Shecky's now stages stylish shindigs across the country and has garnered nationwide notice from media outlets—including Bloomberg News —for its ladies-only soirees. Drawing on its roots as a party-planning brain trust, Shecky’s relies on a talented staff to augment vendor wares with complimentary snacks and cocktails, goody bags, and makeovers. Take a peek at one of Shecky’s past events, where, like the locker room at a WNBA game, men are conspicuously absent.

J.R.'s Comedy Club stocks an ever-crisp rotation of established and up-and-coming comedians. At both of the club's locations, longtime actress and regular host Diana Angelina ushers each new crop of comics into the spotlight and around the stages' knock-knock-joke-activated trapdoors. J.R.’s Comedy Club also schools aspiring stand-up jokesters with its six-week comedy workshop, and works closely with the community to host fundraisers that benefit schools, churches, medical facilities, and sports teams.

Holding certifications from organizations such as the American Mountain Guide Association, the guides behind OnRope Consulting formed the rock-climbing school to offer training for all levels of climbers. Held at one of the many mountainous locations surrounding Los Angeles, onsite classes range from introductory-level climbs to personal training. Beyond helping outdoorsman scale summits, the guides organize wilderness adventure trips, including sea kayaking, whitewater rafting, or backpacking across California's rugged, awe-inspiring terrains. For groups, they also lead team-building programs that bring people together through activities such as rope courses, camping, and hair-braiding circles.:m]]

Originally built in the late 1800s as a vaudeville theater and then seeing time as a German film theater in the 1950s, today Bogart's stands as a portal to a world of live music. Six bars stand at the ready to keep rocking bodies hydrated, and three concert-viewing levels ensure pristine sightlines so that lead singers can have midconcert staring contests with anyone they choose.

Santa Monica Bike Rental rents out bikes for 1-, 5-, or 10-hour blocks, letting customers tour Santa Monica and Southern California's nearby beach cities. Located just a tricycle's throw from the Pacific Ocean, the rental shop serves as the perfect starting point for rolling explorations of Santa Monica State Beach, quaint side streets, and public recreation areas such as Ocean View Park and Santa Monica Pier. The business rents both standard beach cruisers and electric G-bikes—powered scooters that can zip down Santa Monica's shopping district or travel up the Pacific Coast Highway and on toward Malibu.