April 2019 events calendar for Los Angeles
T.S. Eliot may have believed April is the cruelest month, but Angelenos have plenty of reasons to sing its praises: Concerts and festivals in L.A. kick into high gear this month as the weather warms up. A beer fest at L.A. Center Studios, cycling the city streets and our favorite music festival in the desert all have a place in our April events calendar, much-needed rain showers be damned.
RECOMMENDED: Full events calendar for 2019
Justin Timberlake
A consummate pro, J.T. mixes a young Sinatra's swagger and charisma with the airtight funk of Michael Jackson at his peak, making magic night after night with an accompanying big band.
King Tut: Treasures of the Golden Pharaoh
In 1922, British archaeologist Howard Carter unearthed an ancient Egyptian discovery that we’re still talking about and learning from 100 years later. To celebrate the upcoming centennial of the discovery, this traveling exhibition of artifacts from King Tut’s tomb makes its debut in Los Angeles. The exhibit marks more than triple the number of items that have ever been displayed outside of Egypt. Though you won’t see the iconic death mask or gilded coffins, the 3,300-year-old statues and pieces of jewelry are astounding to behold. Though King Tut’s otherworldy possessions have come to L.A. three times previously in the last half-century, this will in all likelihood be their final visit. The Grand Egyptian Museum, which will permanently house all of the 5,000-plus objects discovered, is slated to open in 2019.
See more events in our full calendar
Artists & Fleas Venice
The newest flea market on the block, the Venice outpost of this artisan/craft-focused flea market mini-empire is bringing records, vintage and vintage-inspired clothing, cosmetics, jewelry and more to the Westminster Avenue Elementary School. A handful of small batch confectioners provide sweet treats to snack on or take home, while food trucks and nearby restaurants provide heartier bites. Though relatively small in size, owing perhaps to its prime location bookending the neighborhood’s famed Abbot Kinney stretch, vendors hawk a diverse range of hand-made and expertly curated wares that seems to simultaneously fit in and stand out in one of the nation’s most unusual neighborhoods.
Rose Bowl Flea Market
Perhaps the Los Angeles area’s most iconic flea market, this event around the exterior of the Rose Bowl is staggeringly colossal—but what else would you expect from a 90,000-seat stadium? The sheer size and scale of this flea market means that it encompasses multitudes: new and old, hand-crafted and salvaged, the cheap and the costly. On the second Sunday of each month, an odd mix of vendors populates the loop around the stadium: for every eye-catching artwork, there's a ratty $5 T-shirt, and for each elegant craft there's a competing "as seen on TV" demo. But you may have more luck in the rows and rows of old furniture, albums and vintage clothes and accessories that fill the adjacent parking lot. There are plenty of duds, to be sure, but come out early enough and you may go home with that perfect purchase. This destination flea market attracts bargain hunters, collectors, and antique aficionados from all over the county, so the organizers have instituted an extensive tiered entry/admission system, allowing professional and dedicated shoppers early access at a premium.
Melrose Trading Post
If Melrose Ave is LA’s sceney-est street, then the Melrose Trading Post is the epicenter of that scene. Every Sunday, hundreds of stylish Angelenos head over to Fairfax High School for the beloved Melrose Trading Post ($3 entry, free parking). Smack dab in the middle of Los Angeles, it's much more than a mere flea market: live music, a food court, and expansive grounds bring people out to wile away the day, chat with old friends, and yes, be seen. Fortunately, the Trading Post is also a world-class flea market. With the right balance of new and old, expensive and affordable , the many vendors hustling artwork, succulents, and vintage jackets fill a startlingly expansive space in an urban epicenter.
Cub Scout
Given that Silver Lake is where the bears like to play, is it any wonder that the cubs have taken such a shine to the neighborhood as well? Cub Scout, presented by popular nightlife personalities DJ Chris Bowen and DJ Victor Rodriguez, is a monthly den of sexy fun with cheap drinks and a furry crowd on the first Friday of every month. But don’t be misled: This cruisy, no-frills party attracts boys from all parts of town and every stripe of the rainbow. Bears, cubs, otters, wolves and pups are all welcome and sure to find something—or someone—to cozy up to at this all out man-fest.
“Rauschenberg: The 1/4 Mile”
See Robert Rauschenberg’s magnum opus, a nearly quarter-mile display of 190 painted panels, on display at LACMA. The piece was completed over the span of 17 years and signified the distance between his studio and home on Capitiva Island in Florida. LACMA’s exhibition marks the first time that all of the panels have been displayed together, and it’s easy to see why: the piece takes practically every surface of the museum’s third-floor gallery. A self-contained retrospective of sorts, the installation is displayed chronologically, but there’s no wrong way to navigate it. Fans of Rauschenberg will find something familiar in its mix of paint, photographs, mass media images, textiles, paint, cardboard boxes and found objects like chairs and traffic lights.
Soul of a Nation: Art in the Age of Black Power 1963-1983
This examination of of two decades of Black artists originated at London’s Tate Modern, during which Time Out London lauded its assembly of overlooked artists. The exhibition is divided into sections devoted to different kinds of art production and artists from specific cities—including three galleries about Los Angeles.
Artists & Fleas Venice
The newest flea market on the block, the Venice outpost of this artisan/craft-focused flea market mini-empire is bringing records, vintage and vintage-inspired clothing, cosmetics, jewelry and more to the Westminster Avenue Elementary School. A handful of small batch confectioners provide sweet treats to snack on or take home, while food trucks and nearby restaurants provide heartier bites. Though relatively small in size, owing perhaps to its prime location bookending the neighborhood’s famed Abbot Kinney stretch, vendors hawk a diverse range of hand-made and expertly curated wares that seems to simultaneously fit in and stand out in one of the nation’s most unusual neighborhoods.
