Coronavirus is wreaking havoc on schools, stores, businesses and events. With in-person concerts, talks, comedy shows, food festivals and other gatherings cancelled, we have turned our events column into a "nonevents" column. It will remain this way as long as social distancing and stay-at-home orders are in effect.

During this difficult time, please consider contributing to your local arts organizations or to individual artists and performers.

Attend the Hollyshorts Film Festival. Watch a Linda Ronstadt tribute concert. Find out why it's so easy to get away with murder. Celebrate Italian cuisine virtually. Get in shape while raising funds for the Derby Dolls. Listen in on a conversation between Steve Martin and Martin Amis.

Monday, Nov. 16; 7 p.m.

HollyShorts Film Festival: Drive-In Celebration
Electric Dusk Drive-In
236 N. Central Ave., Glendale
The Oscar-qualifying film fest wraps with a screening of spooky shorts and Justin Simien's horror film Bad Hair. The director will also be honored with this year's Indie Maverick Award.
COST: $25 for car and driver; each extra passenger $9; MORE INFO

Monday, Nov. 16 - ongoing

Sparkle DTLA
The Bloc
700 W. 7th St., downtown L.A.
The shopping destination kicks off the holiday season with a light show that runs nightly between 5 and 9 p.m. The Bloc is also treating shoppers to giveaways and gifts with certain in-store purchases.
COST: FREE; MORE INFO

Monday, Nov. 16 - Sunday, Nov. 22

World Week of Italian Cuisine 2020
Celebrate Italian food with a week of online presentations, workshops and exhibitions. View filmmaker Federico Fellini's drawings of food at Eataly Los Angeles. Watch for the launch of DiscoverItalyinLa, the first complete map of Italian restaurants in Los Angeles. Watch the Gelato Festival Competition and attend No Ketchup on Spaghetti, a guide on how to shop, eat, and cook like an Italian by Ale Gambini.
COST: FREE; MORE INFO

Monday, Nov. 16; 7 p.m. and Tuesday, Nov. 23; 4 p.m.

The Realistic Joneses
The Sierra Madre Playhouse continues its virtual readings with streamed performances of a play by Will Eno. Bob and Jennifer and their new neighbors, John and Pony, are two suburban couples who have even more in common than identical homes and a shared last name. As their lives intertwine, the Joneses must decide between their perfect fantasies and their imperfect realities. There's a virtual talkback with the director and cast following the Tuesday show (requires separate registration).
COST: FREE with RSVP, but donations accepted; MORE INFO

Through Sunday, Nov. 15

Derby Doll 5K
The all-female, banked-track roller derby league is raising funds to help the organization weather the pandemic. Join a virtual 5K event where participants can run, walk or skate to raise funds, get outside and exercise.
COST: $30; MORE INFO

Tuesday, Nov. 17; 5 p.m.

Martin Amis and Steve Martin
Writers Bloc welcomes Martin Amis and Steve Martin to discuss their careers and new books. Amis' Inside Story is a "novelized autobiography" that shifts between his life and his fictionalized characters. Martin's latest venture, A Wealth of Pigeons, is a book created with New Yorker cartoonist Harry Bliss. As expected, the one-panel cartoons and captions tickle the funny bone. Writers Bloc asks that guests support the authors by buying the books from Chevalier's. Both authors will sign a limited number of bookplates for this event.
COST: FREE with RSVP; MORE INFO

Tuesday, Nov. 17; 1 p.m. PST

Why Is It So Easy To Get Away with Murder?
If you commit murder in the United States, there's a 40% chance you'll get away with it. This Zócalo event grapples with that statistic. Buzzfeed's Jessica Garrison, author of The Devil's Harvest: A Ruthless Killer, a Terrorized Community, and the Search for Justice in California's Central Valley, discusses the case of Jose Martinez, who killed three dozen people over three decades.
COST: FREE with RSVP; MORE INFO

Wednesday, Nov. 18; 8 p.m. PST

A Tribute to Linda Ronstadt at The Soraya
This concert, which was filmed live, features Aida Cuevas, La Marisoul, David Hidalgo, Sara Watkins, Mariachi Garibaldi de Jaime Cuéllar and La Santa Cecilia covering some of Rondstadt's greatest songs including "Desperado," "Por un Amor," "Los Laureles" and "You're No Good. Listen for duets of "Rogaciano el Huapanguero" and "Somewhere Out There." The tribute airs on KCET on Wednesday, Nov. 18, followed by an encore on PBS SoCal on Nov. 28 at 7 p.m. The program will be available for streaming immediately following the broadcast at kcet.org/southlandsessions as well as on the free PBS App and https://www.thesoraya.org.
COST: FREE; MORE INFO

Wednesday, Nov. 18 - Sunday, Dec. 20

Citizen Detective
The Geffen Playhouse presents the world premiere of a virtual show that mixes theater, mystery and code-breaking, written and directed by Chelsea Marcantel. The interactive event centers around an unsolved 1920s Hollywood murder, with audience members playing detectives to solve the case. The show changes every night depending on how the home audience uncovers evidence and follows clues. Crime author Mickie McKittrick will be the audience's guide.
COST: $65; MORE INFO

Thursday, Nov. 19; 7 - 9 p.m.

Points of Access: Visual and Graphic Design
The California African American Museum and Art + Practice present a panel discussion that looks at the importance of documentation as part of the artistic process. JJ Anderson, Symrin Chawla, Janna Ireland and Hassan Rahim discuss the use of visual mediums to document processes, ideas, people and events. Moderated by Shelley Holcomb, an artist, curator, and CEO and creative director of Curate LA. This program is presented via Vimeo Livestream.
COST: FREE with RSVP; MORE INFO

Thursday, Nov. 19; 5 p.m.

Collaboration & Innovation: Mixografia's Revolutionary Printmaking
The L.A. Public Library's ALOUD series welcomes Lea, Luis and Shaye Remba to discuss the history of their family's fine arts printing, publishing and workshop, Mixografia. They'll be in conversation with ALOUD's Jessica Strand and will talk about how L.A.-based artist Analia Saban pushes the boundaries of printmaking.
COST: FREE with RSVP; MORE INFO

Thursday, Nov. 19; 6 p.m. PST

Dynasty Confidential: Joel Kim Booster
Comedian Joel Kim Booster wants you to tell him a secret. But be prepared for what he does with it. Wat to share your secret during the livestream? Email boxoffice@dynastytypewriter.com.
Tickets: $5 - $10; MORE INFO

Thursday, Nov. 19; 4 p.m. PST

The United States Steel Hour: 'The Man Who Knew Tomorrow'
The UCLA Film & Television Archive presents an episode of the TV anthology series starring Cliff Robertson and Jeanie Crain. The spy thriller, which first aired in 1960, features a mystery writer whose sanity becomes blurred as his characters come to life. The series, which began in 1953, was sponsored by United States Steel Corporation (hence, the name). The screening will be introduced by television archivist Mark Quigley.
COST: FREE with reservations; MORE INFO

Thursday, Nov. 19; 7 - 8 p.m. PST

Cooking with Gas Show
Groundlings alum Lisa Kudrow joins the comedy troupe's online edition of its short-form improv show. What happens onstage (virtually) is completely dependent on audience suggestions. The show is directed by Lisa Schurga (Dead To Me).
COST: $12; MORE INFO

Thursday, Nov. 19; 6 p.m.

In Stitches: A Night of Laughs with Whitney Cummings and Friends
Laugh the night away while raising funds for the Hydrocephalus Association, which works to benefit those with hydrocephalus (an accumulation of fluid in the brain). The virtual live event features comedy sets from Cummings, Kurt Braunohler, Chris Estrada, Jamie Lee, Dan Levy and Esther Povitsky as well as a musical performance from Natasha Bedingfield and appearances by Debbie Allen, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Max Greenfield, Neil Patrick Harris, Wayne Brady and Meghan Trainor. The evening will kick off with a silent auction and a red carpet photo opportunity.
COST: Tickets start at $50; MORE INFO

Thursday, Nov. 19 - Tuesday, Nov. 24; 3 and 6 p.m. daily

The Croods: A New Age Drive-In Screening and Experience
Universal CityWalk
1000 Universal City Plaza, Universal City
Catch a sneak peek of the new comedy adventure at the drive-in, which features a giant LED screen that's visible at night and during the day. Before the screening, enjoy an immersive experience in the world of The Croods featuring photo ops without leaving your car. The screening also includes DreamWorks Animation content and a snack box, courtesy of Universal CityWalk. Reservations required. Ticket proceeds will be donated to Feeding America.
COST: $10 per car; MORE INFO

Thursday, Nov. 19

Hirshberg Foundation's Pop-Up Boutique
375 Homewood Rd., Brentwood,
For World Pancreatic Cancer Day, small businesses participate in an outdoor boutique from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. to raise money for cancer research. Participating vendors include FlowerTruckLA, Ace Yoga, A2A Designs, Kerri Wilder Jewelry and 27 Miles Malibu. There's also a virtual happy hour from 5:30 to 7 p.m. co-hosted by mixologist Gordon Bellaver. The duo will present purple to-go cocktails for COVID-19 (purple is the official color for pancreatic cancer).
COST: FREE admission to pop-up, $50 - $100 for cocktail kits; MORE INFO

Through Sunday, Nov. 29

Kristina Wong for Public Office
The first professionally shot full production for the Center Theater Group's Digital Stage series is only available for a few more weeks. Written and performed by Kristina Wong and directed by Diana Wyenn, the 75-minute comedic show follows the performance artist's current stint as an actual elected representative of L.A.'s Koreatown neighborhood. She's now part of the system she used to ridicule — and there's comedy gold in that.
COST: $10; MORE INFO

Dine & Drink Deals

Who doesn't miss going out to eat or stopping by a bar for a drink? Here are a few options from restaurants and bars as we work our way back toward normal.

• Neighborhood bistro Gigi's, from NYC-native Alex Wilmot and Samantha Ressler, debuts Friday. It serves a Californian interpretation of French cuisine (steak tartare, smoked trout rillettes, Parisian gnocchi) in Hollywood. The restaurant is open for dinner and late night dining.
• Emanuele Filiberto, the grandson of Italy's last king, has dubbed himself the Pasta Prince of LA. In addition to his fresh pasta food truck, he's adding to his kingdom, opening The Prince of Venice, a fast-casual Italian restaurant in Westwood. Savor handmade pastas (conchiglie, maccheroni, bucatini and creste di gallo) as well as Roman-style pizzas. Order meals to go or dine outdoors.
• Enjoy Friendsgiving tapas at Bianca in Culver City on Thursday, Nov. 19 from 3 to 6 p.m. The restaurant serves Spanish and Italian inspired bites, seasonal pies and wine cocktails with a Thanksgiving twist. Reservations required. $62 per adult.
• Pastry chef Zac Young's signature dessert, The PieCaken, is now available at Carlo's Bakery on the 3rd Street Promenade in Santa Monica for $39.95. The creation involves layers of pumpkin pie, pecan pie and spice cake held together with cinnamon buttercream and topped with apple pie filling. For the first time, the Piecaken is available by the slice.