Well, it looks like we’ll lean into the SoCal weekend with a few Friday sprinkles, but things should clear up in time to enjoy a bevy of excellent outdoor events. You ready?
This April 5-7 in Los Angeles, check out an Elvis-themed pop-up in the Arts District, Aristotle/Alexander at The Getty Villa Theater Lab, First Fridays at NHM, the City of STEM Festival and LA Maker Faire, Masters of Taste at the Rose Bowl, the the Renaissance Pleasure Faire, ED RUSCHA / NOW THEN at LACMA, and more. Let’s get into the full list below.
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Things To Do This Weekend
M = Less than .5 miles from an L.A. Metro Station, FA = Free Admission, TP = Top Pick
Love Me (Bar) Tender – M FA > Fans of The King may recognize the Jungle Room as Elvis Presley’s personal retreat within his Graceland mansion. Now, a replica of this iconic room, complete with its shaggy green carpet, tiki bar, rock waterfall, and mid-century furnishings, is making its way to Los Angeles this Friday and Saturday. For just two nights, the Jungle Room commandeers Truly LA in the Arts District, transforming it into an Elvis-themed pop-up bar offering attendees themed food, a Trulixir menu, Memphis-inspired tunes, and ample photo opportunities. Organized by the city tourism agency Memphis Travel, free timed ticket slots are now available on Eventbrite. More info here.
Kimpton La Peer Disco Court – FA > The Kimpton La Peer invites the public to the rooftop of their West Hollywood hotel every weekend for a 70’s inspired “Disco Court” featuring a DJ spinning tunes under a sparkling disco ball and free plays on the Pickle Ball court. Disco Court runs from 4 to 8 p.m. on Fridays and, 2-8 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. More info here.
Aristotle/Alexander at The Getty Villa Theater Lab – FA TP > The Getty Villa’s Theater Lab is an ongoing workshop series highlighting new translations of Greek and Roman plays as well as contemporary works inspired by ancient literature. This Friday to Sunday catch the Lab presents Aristotle/Alexander, which dramatizes the real-life relationship between between Aristotle and a teenaged Alexander the Great. Written and directed by Ovation Award-winner Alex Lyras. Performances run once a day from April 5-7. Free to attend with advance reservation. More info here.
First Fridays in Bixby Knolls – FA > First Fridays in Long Beach is back on Friday, April 5 with a “Long Beach County Fair” edition of the monthly activation along Atlantic Ave. Expect a roaming band, balloon art, face-painting for kids, street food specials at local restaurants and extended hours at participating businesses. Runs 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. More info here.
Laugh it Off Comedy Night at the Viceroy -> On Friday, The Viceroy Santa Monica presents an outdoor comedy night featuring comedic performances by Sean Grant, Kevin Tate, Zak Johnson, Adam Richmond, Bridget Sell, and headliner Ron G. This event is for ages 21 and up, with a two-drink minimum. Sugar Palm bites will be available for purchase. Tickets are $15 in advance and $20 at the door. More info here.
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NHM First Fridays – M > Natural History Museum’s signature monthly series returns for 2024 this Friday with an event theme of Nature and Gender. The evening includes live music, DJ sets in the nature garden, pop-up experiences throughout the museum, plus interesting discussion on this months theme. First Fridays run 5 to 10 p.m. Tickets are $20. More info here.
The Other Art Fair -> This Thursday – Sunday The Other Art Fair returns to Los Angeles with a four-day event featuring thousands of original art works, immersive installations, DJ’d music, and drinks. Tickets for opening night (Thursday) are $45, and general admission on Friday to Sunday are $20-$30. The fair runs through Sunday. More info here.
Corgi Beach Day – FA > Corgis, costumes, cuteness. It’ll be there at the annual Corgi Beach Day, taking place at Huntington Dog Beach this Saturday. Expect special vendors, food trucks, costumes, and plenty of photo ops, whether you’re there with your pup or just want to see the spectacle of it all. The event is free to attend. More info here.
City of STEM Festival and LA Maker Faire – M FA TP > City of STEM the biggest festival of science, technology, engineering and math in Los Angeles and Los Angeles Maker Faire, the region’s largest gathering of creative thinkers will both take place at LA State Historic Park, this Saturday. The event features free STEM activities and special guests and participants like science influencer Tutor Tori, to PBS and major museums. Runs 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. More info here.
Corey Helford Gallery presents Small Time Buffoonist by Travis Lampe – FA > Corey Helford Gallery in Downtown Los Angeles presents “Small Time Buffoonist,” a major solo show featuring new works by Chicago-based artist, illustrator, and toymaker Travis Lampe. Premiering this Saturday, the exhibit offers a glimpse into Lampe’s whimsical world, inspired by vintage aesthetics from Steamboat Willie to Betty Boop and Dr. Seuss. Free and open to the public, “Small Time Buffoonist” will host an opening reception on Saturday from 7 to 11 p.m. in Gallery 2. The event coincides with a solo show by renowned Spanish painter and sculptor Okuda San Miguel, titled “Kisses Between Universes,” in the Main Gallery. Both exhibitions will be on display until May 11.
L.A. Beer Fest -> On Saturday the 16th annual L.A. Beer Fest brings 80+ breweries together with over a dozen top local food trucks for a day of tastings, music, and fun, all at L.A. Center Studios. General admission starts at $50 per person. More info here.
Renaissance Pleasure Faire -> Starting this weekend, the Renaissance Pleasure Faire returns to the Santa Fe Dam Recreation Area in Irwindale, offering ren-faire enthusiasts can over 200+ artisans, merchants, and vendors, plus costume contests, games, rides, a food court and more. Runs Saturdays and Sundays through May 19. Adult single-day admission starts at $42. More info here.
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Creative Communal Market – FA > On Saturday, Creative Communal Market brings 30+ local vendors and artisans to Runway Playa Vista for a day of shopping fun. Runs 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Free to attend. More info here.
Masters of Taste – TP > On Sunday, Masters of Taste returns to the field of Pasadena’s historic Rose Bowl for food samplings from over 100 food and beverage masters. This years’ Host Chefs for Masters of Taste is Chef Bret Thompson and Lucy Thompson-Ramirez of Pez Coastal and Pez Cantina. The 2024 lineup of vendors includes faves like Ayara Thai, Poppy + Rose, Happy Ice, Saucy Chick Goat Mafia, Agnes and many others. Tickets cost $155 GA and $225 for VIP, but remember you can use the promo code WELIKELA for $15 off. All proceeds from the event go directly to Union Station Homeless Services, and as in years past We Like L.A. is a proud media sponsor of the event! More info here.
ED RUSCHA / NOW THEN at LACMA – TP > Starting this Sunday, LACMA debuts ED RUSCHA / NOW THEN, the iconic artist’s first cross-media retrospective in over 20 years. The exihibition showcases remarkable breadth of Ruscha’s career, offering viewer’s over 250 works to explore including painting, drawing, printmaking, photography, and artist’s books. The range of material spans Ruscha’s early European works and the Chocolate Room (his only single room installation) to Los Angeles County Museum Of Art on Fire (first time every on display at LACMA) and his ongoing photographic documentation of Los Angeles streets. NOW / THEN runs from April 7, 2024 through Oct 6, 2024. GA tickets start at $23-$28 per adult (L.A. County vs. non-county resident). More info here.
Gumby & Friends at Lodge Room -> Ready to throw thing back with a night of classic animation? Highland Park’s Lodge Room is hosting a Gumby & Friends night this Sunday, where they’ll screen episodes from the 50’s, 60’s and 80’s on the big screen followed by a Q&A session with stop motion animator Rich Zim (Pee Wee’s Playhouse, Nightmare Before Christmas, Coraline, James & the Giant Peach). Tickets are $17. Show starts at 8 p.m. Get more info here.
Family Festival: Celebrating Getty Gardens -> This Sunday, the Getty Center welcomes spring with an interactive family festival that takes full advantage of the blooming central garden setting. Activities and entertainment for the day include a puppet show, dance by Hālau Hula Keali’i O’ Nalani, costumed life drawing with Valley Art Workshop, and story time with True Thomas. The festival runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Free to attend, but parking is not included. More info here.
Montrose Craft Beer Fest (April 7) -> The Montrose Craft Beer Fest showcases brewers and breweries from the Los Angeles area. Happening this Sunday, guests can enjoy beers paired with delicious food samples, various booths, lawn games and music. Tickets start at $55. More info here.
BLOOM! at South Coast Botanic Garden -> Discover the vibrant beauty of spring at the South Coast Botanic Garden’s “Bloom” event. Stroll through breathtaking displays of blooming flowers, enchanting landscapes, and serene gardens. Engage in family-friendly activities, including scavenger hunts and educational workshops, perfect for nature enthusiasts of all ages. Free with garden admission. More info here.
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Dining & Drinking
(picks by Christina Champlin)
High Tea at The Studio Cannabis Lounge at The Artist Tree -> This Sunday, you can experience a unique twist on High Tea at The Studio Cannabis Lounge located at The Artist Tree in West Hollywood. From noon to 3 p.m., guests are invited to indulge in traditional high tea fare featuring finger sandwiches, assorted pastries, teas, and other delights. What sets this event apart is the option to select cannabis products to enjoy alongside the classic offerings in the lounge. While the food served with admission will remain un-infused, attendees can elevate their experience by choosing their favorite flower, pre-rolls, edibles, and more. Live classical music will also accompany tea time. Tickets are on available for $45 per person. More info here.
Panorama Mezcal at ATLA Venice -> This Sunday, ATLA Venice and Panorama Mezcal will co-host a mezcal event from 2 to 7 p.m. Attendees will have the chance to sample from over 100 agave spirits provided by 50 producers, all while enjoying delectable bites from ATLA. Throughout the event, three seminars will be conducted to enhance guests’ knowledge of mezcal. Tickets are priced at $70 per person, with VIP tickets available for $99. More info here.
Valerie Confections’ Saturday Afternoon Tea -> This month Valerie Confections’ Saturday Afternoon Tea is back on the Glendale bakery’s outdoor patio. Enjoy a modern twist on the British tradition with a new menu featuring assorted teas like Genmai Matcha and Early Grey, alongside delightful treats such as creme fraiche scones, seasonal tea sandwiches, pastries, a jasmine panna cotta and exquisite rose petal petit fours. The experience cost $75 with two seatings available at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m., reservations at limited to 22 seats per session. More info here.
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