A new recurring series is connecting local businesses with the artists who live and work around them. In Los Angeles, it’s not uncommon for neighborhoods to feel divided between the people who live and work there and those who simply visit. Arts District After Dark LA aims to shift that dynamic by bringing activity back into spaces that already exist.
Built as a recurring series across multiple locations, the project brings everyone together under one umbrella, creating a structure where all sides can benefit from a shared experience.
The series is being developed by Baxter Garfield, who has spent years working in live events and production at a high level. The idea didn’t come from trying to create just another event, but from recognizing a deeper need within the community. Garfield’s approach is informed by that experience, but the intention here is more personal: creating something that directly impacts the neighborhood he’s now part of in a way that feels natural and consistent.
Photos courtesy Arts District After Dark LA
DT Weekly had the pleasure of catching up with him to talk about his plans for the future and what led him to community organizing.
Garfield has lived in Los Angeles for the past 25 years. He and his wife previously lived in Pasadena and, like many others, lost their home to smoke damage from the Altadena fire. They frequently visited the Arts District—spending weekends exploring local shops and restaurants—and ultimately decided it would become their new home.
Since moving, he has immersed himself in the neighborhood and noticed a disconnect between businesses and artists.
“There are so many artists here who are looking for places to show their work and perform,” Garfield says. “At the same time, local businesses want people coming through their doors. This is really about bridging the gap between the two.”
Photos courtesy Arts District After Dark LA
He points to the recent closure of Angel City Brewery after nearly 30 years in Los Angeles and 13 years in the Arts District as a sign of shifting dynamics in the neighborhood.
“That was the perfect spot for DJs, game nights, trivia nights—they even had free poker nights,” Garfield says.
Reflecting on the broader changes in the community, he adds, “No one’s really talking to each other anymore. I think COVID played a big role—people stayed inside and got used to being isolated. When things reopened, there was hesitation around reconnecting, sharing ideas, even just talking to neighbors.”
“When I moved into the neighborhood, I started sharing information and connecting people. I don’t see how that couldn’t improve the future here—just getting people to talk to each other, to see not only what’s left from pre-COVID, but what’s being created now.”
Photos courtesy Arts District After Dark LA
That mindset is already taking shape through new initiatives, including free poker nights at Bar Americano produced in collaboration with Arts District After Dark and Parlour Poker.
He spends his days exploring the Arts District, visiting local galleries, connecting with artists and business owners, and seeing the neighborhood’s creative energy in action.
“Honestly, just show up,” he says. “Show up to the neighborhood, show up to the events. I have a website, I post upcoming events online, I’m on Meetup, I have Instagram. Some of the businesses I’ve started working with are now promoting more events too. It really just starts with showing up and meeting people.”
Rather than being tied to a single venue, Arts District After Dark LA operates across multiple spaces. Each participating business hosts its own event—from comedy and live performances to game nights, fashion shows, meetups, and artist-led experiences—while maintaining its own identity within the larger series.
The upcoming May 16 event, Legally, A Comedy Show at Art Share LA, will feature a comedy variety format blending stand-up, sketch, and improvisation into a tightly produced experience. But that’s just one piece of a broader vision.
For Garfield, it all comes back to connection.
“It’s about getting people who are already here working together,” he says. “When that happens, everything becomes stronger—the businesses, the artists, and the community itself.” An evening of original sketches, improvised moments, and stand-up comedy awaits you at Art Share L.A. on May 16, 2026, from 6:30 PM to 10:30 PM.
