90 years of the Culver Hotel, Ikea Crayfish Party, Irregular Wine Tasting

On Sept. 6, the Culver Hotel in Culver City will celebrate its 90th birthday. Designed by Curlett & Beelman, also responsible for Art Deco buildings including the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel and downtown’s Eastern Columbia, the Culver was once an entertainment mecca, most famously the home to nearly all of the actors who played the Munchkins during production of “The Wizard of Oz.” Its latest owner, Maya Mallick, has spearheaded its resurgence, and in September the Culver will introduce all-new Prohibition-inspired food and drink menus, led by food and beverage director Louie Spetrini. Breakfast, lunch and dinner menus will feature “modern takes on classic grand hotel dishes,” along with small plates and appetizers for the bar crowd. 9400 Culver Blvd., Los Angeles, (310) 558-9400, www.culverhotel.com.

Ikea is hosting a summer Swedish Crayfish Party at participating stores on Friday, Aug. 15. The crayfish party is a Swedish tradition that dates back to the 1800s, when the lakes in Sweden were full of crayfish in August and September. Tickets are available for $12.99 per person or $4.99 for kids 12 and under at stores (check the store locator). On the smorgasbord menu: crayfish, tossed green salad, cucumber salad, hardboiled eggs with mayo and shrimp, Rhode Island salad with crayfish, najad salmon with horseradish or gravad lax with mustard sauce, cheese pie, crispbread, crisprolls, soft bread, thin bread, Swedish cheeses, meatballs with lingonberries, mashed potatoes, boiled dill new potatoes, strawberry and black currant crumble, cookies and assorted deserts, and coffee, tea and fountain drinks. Seatings at the Burbank store, for example, are at 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. and 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. www.ikea-usa.com.

Stories book store and cafe in Echo Park hosts the latest edition of Irregular Wine Tasting on Friday, Aug. 15, featuring Cava, rose and Montepulciano d’Abruzzo, along with “the bloodiest chapters of ‘Leaving a Doll’s House: A Memoir’ by Claire Bloom.” 7 p.m. $15 per person. Don’t come hungry. RSVP to irregularwinetasting@yahoo.com. 1716 Sunset Blvd., Echo Park, (213) 413-3733, www.storiesla.com.