Essential California

Good morning, and welcome to the Essential California newsletter. It’s Monday, Aug. 26, and here’s a look at the week ahead: On Monday, disgraced film mogul Harvey Weinstein will be arraigned in a New York courtroom on an indictment containing a new allegation that has not yet been made public. While the content of the grand jury indictment will remain secret until Monday’s hearing, the Manhattan district attorney’s office recently launched an effort to add to a formal criminal allegation from “Sopranos” actress Annabella Sciorra that she was raped by the mogul in 1993. Weinstein has already been charged with sexually assaulting two women in 2006 and 2013. Also Monday: Golden State Warriors President and COO Rick Welts will lead media on a first-look tour of the new Chase Center in San Francisco. On Wednesday, the Music Center in downtown Los Angeles will reopen its plaza after a 20-month, $41-million renovation. This week’s civic ceremony will be followed by free programming for the publicthroughout Labor Day weekend. (See also: “L.A.’s Music Center was built as an aloof city on a hill. Can a remade plaza change that?” in the Los Angeles Times) Also Wednesday: The Venice International Film Festival opens in Venice, Italy. Here’s a look at the lineup. The Los Angeles County Fair will open on Friday in Pomona and run through Sept. 22. Here are seven ways to get in for free. (See also: “Can extra shade and fried chimichangas draw more visitors to the L.A. County Fair?” in the Los Angeles Times) Also Friday: The Telluride Film Festival will open in Telluride, Colo. The Taste, the Los Angeles Times’ annual celebration of Southern California’s culinary scene, will take place Friday and Saturday at Paramount Studios. (Get tickets here.)