Top Things to Do in SoCal This Week: September 1-7, 2025
Watch Master Printmakers Transform Wood and Ink
Get a front-row seat to ink, creativity, and hand‑carved magic at Artist‑at‑Work: Printmaking. A free, drop‑in series at the Getty Center where talented artists bring centuries‑old woodcut and linocut techniques to life live in the courtyard. Led by visual storytellers Marianne Sadowski (through August) and Victor Rosas (in September), this family‑friendly experience is part art demo and part cultural conversation. Bring your curiosity and let yourself be inspired by the rhythm of carving tools, fresh ink, and tradition remixed.
1200 Getty Center Dr
How Archives Keep L.A.’s Cultural Memory Alive
Experience the heart of L.A.’s community memory come alive at “LA Made Presents: VC Archives – Stories and Conversations Across Generations” at the Central Library’s Taper Auditorium. This dynamic event brings together archivists, storytellers, and multigenerational audiences in conversation centering on Visual Communications’ treasure trove of multimedia narratives that reflect the diverse cultural fabric of Los Angeles. Dive into a live dialogue that explores how grassroots archives, oral histories, and image-sharing shape and preserve our shared urban identity. Catch this rare chance to witness memories, media, and voices from LA’s past and present collide and uncover the individual stories that weave the larger, vibrant tapestry of the city.
630 W 5th St
Explore San Clemente’s Roots with Stories and Seaside History
Step into San Clemente’s past with Free Family Sundays: All About History at Casa Romantica! Docents roam the beautiful Spanish Revival estate, weaving vibrant tales about the city’s founding, Ole Hanson’s dream of a “Spanish Village by the Sea,” and the architecture that still frames the coast. Kids can dig into history with a hands-on archaeology puzzle, while the rest of the crew can wander through garden paths and historic rooms, soaking in stories of community, culture, and discovery.
415 Avenida Granada
Turn Old Family Photos Into Living Stories
Ever wish you could preserve dusty photo albums and bring family stories to life? “Capturing & Sharing Our Family Stories” at the Chinese Family History Group is your chance to do just that. Join LA Public Library staff for a friendly, hands-on session all about scanning old photos, digitizing heirloom recordings, and recording oral histories that preserve personal legacies. Plus, enjoy a heartfelt reading from their Writing Group and a standout video made by one member’s granddaughter making it a perfect intergenerational mix of nostalgia and fresh perspective. Come ready to learn, connect, and maybe spark a family story you never knew you needed.
639 N. Hill Street
Keep History Alive with Grassroots Archives and Storytelling
Unearth the hidden threads that bind L.A.’s neighborhoods together at “Saving Our Stories: Community Archives and Why We Need Them,” a vital conversation hosted by The Autry. Join local archivists, artists, and scholars as they spotlight how our communities are preserved and celebrated through archived memories, storytelling, and art. This free event (members, plus museum admission for non-members) is your chance to explore how personal histories, DIY archives, and grassroots memory projects safeguard the spirit of communities from Southeast L.A. to East of El Monte and why those stories matter now more than ever.
4700 Western Heritage Way