Best things to do this week in Los Angeles and Southern California: September 30 - October 3

Is there anything that spooks Angelenos more than going without their cars? MoveLA hopes to change that image of Southern California during SoCal Transit Week, with a host of activities to encourage people to ditch their cars and bike or take public transportation.

There’s a scavenger hunt that goes on all week, a Dress to Impress Day on Monday when you’re encouraged to swap that hoodie for a more stylin’ look, and of course, free fare day (coinciding with Clean Air Day) on Oct. 2 when all Metrolink, Omnitrans, Big Blue Bus, L.A. Metro, Foothill Transit, Pasadena Transit, Riverside Transit, Culver CityBus and Montebello Bus Lines are completely free for everyone to ride – no cash or TAP card necessary!

Singer-songwriter Jessica Pratt returns to Los Angeles for her largest headlining hometown show supporting her most recent release, Here in the Pitch, her most critically acclaimed release to date. On Pitch, Pratt continues to evolve her sound, exploring a more extensive production that blends '60s-'70s British retro folk and pop, capturing a quality of music elusive to the passage of time. Despite her timeless sound, Pratt has managed to garner many well-known fans throughout her oeuvre, including most recently being sampled on Troye Sivan's album with the song "Can't Go Back, Baby," as well being featured with the likes of Mr. Pretty Flako himself, A$AP Rocky, on “High Jack.” – Gab Chabrán

I don’t even know where to begin explaining the origins of Bat Boy: The Musical to anyone who wasn’t a Broadway nerd in the late '90s and early 2000s, but it’s a wacky show based on the infamous 1992 Weekly World News headline about a half-bat, half-boy creature found in a cave and it (perhaps surprisingly) does hit on some serious topics.

The show originated in L.A. at Tim Robbins’ theater, The Actor’s Gang, but has only rarely been produced locally since and this version – “paired with a dream ballet, a drag-inspired Reverend, an immersive pre-show, and innovative design elements” – sounds like a fun Halloween season addition to the culture calendar.

Continuing the National Hispanic Heritage Month celebrations, "The Chicano Collection/La Colección Chicana" art exhibit at the Old Orange County Courthouse in Santa Ana features 26 prominent works by Chicano artists from actor and comedian (and renowned art collector!) Cheech Marin’s extensive personal collection. The historic courthouse is a unique place to see these pieces, which the county aims to help “advance Chicano art as a recognized school of American art, increase public accessibility to this work in cities nationwide and help audiences understand and appreciate the richness of the culture.”

Read this story by LAist's Kevin Tidmarsh to learn even more about the exhibition, including why the courthouse was chosen to display the works.

Five days of performances, screenings, and talks about jazz are on at CalArts (and continuing Oct. 5 at 2220 in Historic Filipinotown), celebrating the 60th anniversary of the October Revolution in Jazz, an event organized by musician-composer, artist, and professor Bill Dixon at New York’s Cellar Club in 1964. More than 40 artists ranging in age from 20 to 90 will participate in honoring the improvised art form.

Mercury will be in retrograde over Thanksgiving, so don’t risk burning the turkey. Get through the holidays prepared with this online conversation about the history of astrology. Learn about the connections between today’s astrology and its origins in the Middle Ages. Whether you think it’s all made up or if your opening line is “What’s your sign?,” astrology has had a hold on culture for hundreds of years. Afterward, head to the Getty where you can see the related show as part of PST ART, Rising Signs: The Science of Medieval Astrology.

Don’t end up in the burn book! Head to coworking space Rita House and show off your Mean Girls trivia prowess. After all, it's October 3.

Some films purely entertain; others urge us to play a bigger role in the world around us. The Awareness Film Festival features movies from a wide range of independent filmmakers focused on topics that inspire, infuriate, and encourage action. From mental health to climate, immigration to spirituality, dozens of stories are on offer, including shorts, features, and even VR experiences.

Venice staple Superba is celebrating 10 years in the neighborhood with several deals, including a special $10 tasting menu on Monday, $1 tacos on Tuesday, and live music on Wednesday.

Somewhere between a theatrical event and a distillery tour is The Obscure, who just announced a new addition to their spirits lineup, an American chestnut-matured rye whiskey called Rites of Fall. A partnership with The American Chestnut Foundation, it is matured exclusively on wood from the functionally extinct American chestnut tree (avid readers will recognize that fun tree fact from Richard Powers’ fantastic book The Overstory). Proceeds from each bottle purchased directly benefit chestnut restoration research.

Just one more day left to order a “Sing out, Louise” – a mix of vodka Campari, Raspberry Gomme, Kola syrup, Lime and club soda – benefitting the Gay Men’s Chorus Los Angeles, which has been entertaining audiences with their unique blend of artistic showmanship and social activism for more than 45 years. Also available as a mocktail!

Bourbon Steak at the Americana at Brand and Santo Tequila are partnering for a special five-course menu pairing Mexican cooking with Santo Tequila’s agave drinks. Menu highlights include a Pulpo a La Brasa with mole negro, pickled stone fruit, pumpkin seeds, tangerine oil, and nasturtium.

Taiwanese dessert chain Meet Fresh is celebrating 10 years in the U.S. with a special collaboration with Chef Max Boonthanakit of the Michelin-starred Camphor and BOON. He’s created a Thai shave ice and $5 of each sale will be donated to No Kid Hungry. More Thai-inspired treats are also now on the menu, including Thai Milk Tea.