Best things to do this week in Los Angeles and Southern California: October 14 - 17

There are some really great events happening throughout the week in honor of Indigenous Peoples’ Day. To start, maybe take a day trip to Idyllwild to celebrate with Idyllwild Arts on Oct. 14. The organization is hosting events all day at their Idyllwild campus and the day culminates in an evening performance by the Delbert Anderson Quartet (DAQ), led by Diné jazz trumpet artist Delbert Anderson. At the California Native Plant Society, there’s a free online workshop from 7-8:30 p.m. with master gardener Denise Godbout-Avant, who will teach about how the original inhabitants of California used plants in their everyday lives. And at the San Dimas Canyon Nature Center, the short documentary “Saging the World” will screen on Oct. 16 and attendees can also make their own dreamcatchers at the event.

From networking mixers to networking dog walks, AI demos to future fashion previews, crypto talks to a NASA space tour, L.A. Tech Week is back with free and ticketed events showcasing the best that Silicon Beach and beyond have to offer. Meet your next co-founder, hear about a cool new product, or just take advantage of the (often) free drinks, eats and swag at dozens of tech-focused events happening all over the city.

Take a skeleton stroll for a fossilized fright with the whole family through the Nature Gardens at the Natural History Museum Los Angeles. Boney Island comes to life for Halloween all month long! There are pop-up bars for the grown-ups, family-friendly photo-ops, and food trucks from local vendors.

Cerritos Center is starting the holiday cheer early with the first in a series of concerts and discussions from composer and classical music expert Rob Kapilow, starting with The Nutcracker. Did you know Tchaikovsky’s now-ubiquitous Christmas ballet was a flop when it opened in 1892? Kapilow dives into the real stories behind famous works. In February, he’ll take on Schumann.

If you’ve ever coveted a bold print or a wrap dress, you have fashion icon and business pioneer Diane von Furstenberg to thank. The Skirball opens a new exhibition of her life and work this week; the show will explore her designs from the '70s through today. It’s on display through next summer.

Board games are so much more than Monopoly — just ask my other half whose collection boasts more than 80 and takes up most of our shelf space... Join fellow board game geeks and newcomers to the pastime at Game Cult L.A.’s Board Game Night Social, where you can learn a new game, teach others your favorites and make some new friends.

Take a look back on political candidates of yore with Nina Katchadourian’s timely public sculpture, "Monument to the Unelected," on display in Orange through Nov. 17. The yard signs of those who failed to ascend to public office are like a time machine to an alternative past or future, no matter which side of the political sidewalk you lean towards.

It’s Bee Week at the Hammer! Learn about beekeeping, honey bees, varieties of honey, and native California bee and plant species from beekeeper Joe O'Brien. Workshops will also be held next Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 19 & 20 at 11:30 a.m., 2:30 p.m. and 4 p.m.

The Grove welcomes a new Italian spot this week, Sogno Toscano. The brand is a go-to for Italian products and the cafe is its first foray into full-service dining. Enjoy Italian dishes from the popular focaccia sandwiches that seem to be popping up everywhere lately to artichoke salad and pastas, of course.

Many readers have taken a quick trip up the coast to Bell’s, the acclaimed Michelin-starred restaurant in Los Alamos. But this week you don’t have to travel so far as Chef Daisy Ryan is cooking at Caldo Verde downtown for a one-night-only collaboration with Chef Suzanne Goin.

Several local spots are celebrating National Pasta Day, including Naples Ristorante in Anaheim, which will feature fall flavors like pumpkin ravioli and lasagne bolognese. Novikov in Beverly Hills will serve up gnocchi with pistachio pesto and buffalo mozzarella.

Sushi Roku will have a short pop-up series at Robata Bar in Santa Monica through Saturday with 2019 James Beard Award Winner Chef Tony Messina.