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The official start of summer is one month away, but the options for local to-dos are multiplying, and this weekend’s list is one of our biggest so far this year.
From May 20-22 in Los Angeles, check out a Late Night at Skirball, a new immersive forest experience, a kite festival at L.A. Historic State Park, a Getty 25 festival in Lincoln Heights, Museums of the Arroyo Day, the LA IPA Fest, an Off the 405 concert, Taco Madness at Santa Anita, and more. Hope you find something in today’s rundown that tickles your fancy. And enjoy your weekend!
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Things To Do
Late Night at Skirball -> This Friday, Skirball Cultural Center takes their I’ll Have What She’s Having: The Jewish Deli exhibition late night with special after-hours access to galleries, food for purchase from deli pop-up stands, and DJ’d music. Tickets are $10. More info here.
A Forest for the Trees -> A brand new experience by artist Glen Kaino (artistic producer of In & Of Itself on Broadway) is now open at Ace Mission Studios near DTLA. A Forest for the Trees pushes visitors to rethink their relationship to the natural world by immersing them in a surreal forest environment built within 28,000 square-feet of warehouse space. Check out animatronic head pieces, illusions of fire, and a dazzling light performance built upon the re-creation of a 144 year-old fig tree that once stood on Olvera Street. Adult tickets (non-peak hours) start at $20 per person during non-peak hours, and go for $30 during peak hours. Runs Wednesday to Sunday through the end of the summer. Get more info here.
Metro Art Presents Dorian Wood -> This Friday evening at Union Station, Metro Arts will host a special concert event by multi-disciplinary artist Dorian Wood. Wood, accompanied by the Isaura String Quartet and guitarist Michael Corwin, will perform Xavela Lux Aeterna, a tribute to legendary Costa Rican and Mexican singer Chavela Vargas. The event take place at the Old Ticketing Hall, and is free to attend. Seating is first-come, first-served. More info here.
L.A. County Fair -> The centennial edition of the L.A. County Fair continues at Fairplex in Pomona with a new spring timeframe, and its usual assortment of carnival rides, concerts, and way-too-greasy food. Advanced purchase adult tickets start at $15. Open Thursday to Sunday through the end of the month. More info here.
AAPI Heritage Month Movie Night -> To celebrate Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, the Million Dollar Theater is hosting a pair of Asian produced, directed, and performed films to screen on the final two Fridays of May. This Friday catch The Farewell, staring at 8 p.m. Tickets are $5. More info here.
Jazz at LACMA -> This Friday at 6 p.m., the Los Angeles County Museum of Art welcomes MFUO with Jacques Lesure & Marvin “Smitty” Smith to the Smidt Welcome Plaza as part of the ongoing Jazz at LACMA series, which continues every Friday evening through June 24. Admission is free, however seating is limited and first come, first served. More info here.
Create to Destress -> On Fridays in May, artist Carmela Morales leads special workshops on making personalized embroidered canvas bags as a way to destress, spur mental health conversations, and learn a new skill. The sessions run from 5 to 7 p.m. in Virginia Avenue Park in Santa Monica, and are free to attend. The workshops are part of the month-long We Rise 2022 event series, which aims to reshape mental health treatment by promoting awareness and increasing community access to health and wellness resources. More info here.
2nd Annual People’s Kite Festival -> This Saturday, Clockshop and California State Parks are hosting Community & Unity, a second annual People’s Kite Festival that runs from 2 to 6 p.m. at the Los Angeles State Historic Park. Expect demos from kite masters, special workshops, curated snacks for purchase, and tons of colorful kites sailing through the sky. Free to attend, and donations welcome. More info here.
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New at The Broad -> Two new exhibitions open at The Broad this Saturday, headlined by Takashi Murakami: Stepping on the Tail of a Rainbow. The specially ticketed exhibition is Murakami’s first solo show at the museum, and includes 18 of his works along with new immersive environments created by the artist and his studio, Kaikai Kiki Co., Ltd. Also debuting on May 21 is This Is Not America’s Flag, an examination of the cultural identity through the works of twenty individual artists and their treatment (and often subversion) of the iconography of the flag. Tickets to access both new exhibitions are $18, and include same-day access to The Broad’s third floor galleries.
LA Opera’s Aida -> A new production of Aida comes to the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion starting this Saturday, featuring a full chorus, orchestra, ballet, and new designs from iconic Los Angeles-based artist RETNA. LA Opera’s Aida runs on select dates through June 12. Tickets start as low as $29. More info here.
Off The 405 at The Getty -> Live outdoor music returns to The Getty this Saturday with the Off the 405 concert series, presenting a performance by singer/songwriter Zsela. Concerts continue on select Saturdays in June, July and August. Free to attend with reservation. More info here.
LA IPA Fest -> This Saturday, the 8th annual Los Angeles IPA Fest comes to Brennan’s in Marina del Rey. Over 50 breweries will be submitting with local faves including Smog City (Torrance), Eagle Rock Brewery, Highland Park Brewery, Mumford, El Segundo Brewing, and Beachwood among the lineup. GA Tickets start at $38. More info here.
Getty 25 Community Festival-> This summer, The Getty celebrates its 25th anniversary via a series of free pop-up community festivals held throughout Los Angeles County. Each event highlights curated experiences reflective of the host community, including interactive workshops, live music and performances, an artisan marketplace, food trucks, giveaways, photo booths, and more. The series continues this weekend with events in Lincoln Heights on Saturday and Sunday. More info here.
Asian American & Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander Heritage Day -> This Saturday at King Gillette Ranch in the Santa Monica Mountains, the National Park Service will host a special event to honor Asian American and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander culture. The day of activities and performances includes Taiko drumming, Hawaiian feather work and lei-making, Japanese and Chinese calligraphy, Japanese music, and historical presentations on Chinese abalone fisherman by rangers from neighboring Channel Islands National Park. Runs 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Free to attend. More info here.
Taco Madness -> On Saturday, savor the city’s best tacos during LA TACO’s annual Taco Madness event. Happening this year at Santa Anita Park, confirmed vendors include Villas, Sonoratown, Macheen and much more. Tickets cost $15 per person.
San Gabriel Play Day -> Families in the SGV can head to Vincent Lugo Park this Saturday for a free midday event featuring games, crafts, DJ’d music, chalk art, and multiple food vendors including Oaxaca on Wheels and Nomad Ice Pops. Free to attend. Runs 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. More info here.
Pride Night at The Aquarium -> Saturday is Pride Night at the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach. The annual celebration of the LGTBQ community includes plenty of special activities, including encounters with animal ambassadors, drag storytelling, DJ-spun tunes, special photo-ops, and more. General admission is $24.95 for adults. Runs 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. More info here.
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NHM’s Bug Fair-> The Natural History Museum gets buggy with a two-day (Saturday and Sunday) event highlighting exotic insect collections, bug-inspired artwork and jewelry, bug-tastic crafts, live animal demos, and bug-related products such as honey and silk. Tickets are $7-$15 (depending on age). Get more info here.
Daily Harvest Chop Shop Pop-Up -> Daily Harvest will debut their latest plant forward item to the public through Chop Shop, an old school deli (but make it vegan) experience in the heart of Venice. The pop-up celebrates Daily Harvest’s latest product, Crumbles, a plant-based protein made entirely of fruit and veggies. The plant-powered deli counter will offer Italian classics such as meatball subs, pesto paninis, and chopped salads made with Crumbles for free to anyone who stops in Saturday or Sunday.
EEEEEATSCON -> The Infatuation’s signature food fest comes to the Santa Monica Barker Hangar this Saturday and Sunday with a bevy of top restaurants from L.A. and the East Coast under one roof, plus live music and plenty of panels. GA tickets start at $20, but you’ll still have to pay for food samples once you’re inside. Get more info here.
Museums of the Arroyo Day -> On Sunday, Museums of the Arroyo (MOTA) Day returns with a day of cultural appreciation and free family fun centered in and the around the Arroyo Seco. Attendees can get free admission to six local museums and cultural sites: the Gamble House, Heritage Square Museum, The Los Angeles Police Museum, Lummis Home, and the Pasadena Museum of History. More info here.
Abuelita’s Kitchen: Mexican Food Stories -> Starting this Sunday, a new multimedia exhibition opens at LA Plaza Cocina, which is the nation’s first museum and teaching kitchen dedicated to Mexican food. Abuelita’s Kitchen: Mexican Food Stories examines the importance of the abuela, or grandmother, in Mexican cuisine by showcasing the personal journeys of ten Indigenous, mestiza, Mexican-American, and Afro-Mexican women through a selection photographs, texts, recipes, and a documentary film. The exihibixotn runs Wednesday to Sunday through Sep. 4. Entry is free. More info here.
Great Big Family Fun Day -> On Sunday, a kid-friendly festival hosted by SoCal Moms takes over grounds of The Autry Museum in Griffith Park with a day of storytelling, live musical performances, and family activities. Event runs from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tickets range between $5-$10. More info here.
Concerts in The Dome -> Mount Wilson Observatory launches the 2022 season of its classical concert series this Sunday, hosted inside the historic 100-inch telescope dome, where the acoustics are said to be some of the finest in the world. There will be two musical performances, one at 3 p.m. and the other at 5 p.m., with an artists reception in between the shows at 4 p.m. Tickets are $50. -> More info here
Nadia Lee Cohen: HELLO MY NAME IS -> This Sunday, the Jeffrey Deitch gallery will host an all day opening for British artist, photographer, and filmmaker Nadia Lee Cohen. The first major solo exhibition in the United States, Cohen’s photographic works as well as an immersive installation featuring never-before-seen video works will all be on display. The exhibit runs May 22 through July 9, 2022. More info here.
Torrance Antique Street Faire -> Check out over 200 antique and specialty sellers on Sunday at the Torrance Antique Street Faire. The fair also features an antique appraisal booth and live musical entertainment.
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Dining
Who Likes Happy Hours? -> Christina has a brand new happy hour guide featuring 40+ spots throughout Los Angeles County. If happy hour is your happy place, you’ll want to check it out.
AAPI Vendors at Smorgasburg LA This Month -> This month, Smorgasburg highlights Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month by celebrating AAPI vendors and inviting special pop-up guests to the market. On Sunday, Smorg welcomes the AAPI LA Market. For one day guests can enjoy signature and one-off food items and goods from local AAPI chefs, bakers, chocolatiers and artisans. The A-Sha Noodle Bar food truck from A-Sha Noodles will also make a stop offering their new Flying Noodle Bowl, where their signature air-dried noodles are suspended in mid-air. Live performances by AAPI musicians and singers will also be part of the day’s festivities. A percentage of sale proceeds from the day will support AAPI LA and its effort to champion AAPI non-profit organizations.
nomoo Dog Friendly BOGO Promo -> It’s National Burger Month and plant based nomoo | new american burgers is offering a BOGO deal on all their burgers when diners bring their dog to the restaurant. Purchase a burger and nomoo will treat your furry buddy to a pup cup created with vegan whipped cream.
Any notes or corrections? Want to suggest an event we should add to an upcoming list? Hit us up at [email protected].
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