The best things to do in Los Angeles this week

In light of the recent ICE activity in Los Angeles, Search Party star John Early is teaming up with comedy pals Reggie Watts, Kate Berlant, Ron Funches and Vanessa Gonzalez for a show at the Regent Theater. Ticket proceeds will benefit the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights’ rapid response work to help families targeted by raids.

Backed by the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Oscar-winning film composer Alexandre Desplat takes to the stage at the Hollywood Bowl to conduct selections from his scores for The Imitation Game, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, the King’s Speech, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, The Shape of Water and a trio of Wes Anderson flicks: Fantastic Mr. Fox, The Grand Budapest Hotel and The French Dispatch. Note that unlike the bulk of the Bowl’s film programming, this is purely a classical music performance and won’t feature any visuals from the highlighted movies.

The Hammer revives its series of outdoor concerts, staying open late on three summer nights for an eclectic lineup of concerts, art-making, cocktails and food. Swing by on July 17 for L.A. rock band Dummy, July 31 for Colombian vallenato group Very Be Careful and August 19 for art rapper Open Mike Eagle. Each night kicks off with a happy hour (6:30–7:30pm) and DJ set, plus after-hours access to the museum galleries. The shows are free and first-come, first-served, but RSVPing ahead of time is encouraged. 

If you’ve been spending the last few weeks simultaneously thirsting over Jeremy Allen White (yes, chef!) and salivating over the on-screen food while watching The Bear season 4, this is the culinary pop-up for you: On Saturday, July 19 and Sunday, July 20, Chicago’s own Mr. Beef—which served as the inspo for the Berzatto family’s Original Beef of Chicagoland from the FX show—will be popping up at the 3rd Street location of Uncle Paulie’s Deli for a one-weekend-only takeover. Try Mr. Beef’s classic Italian beef sandwich (dipped in homemade au jus, loaded with tangy giardiniera and served on French bread) for yourself—but arrive early to get yours before the anticipated sell-out.

Typically a status report on the city of Santa Monica, this year the State of the City is a community event kicking off a six-month celebration coastal city’s 150th anniversary. Celebrate with refreshments and a tour of the newly revived and reopened Miles Memorial Playhouse, then head outside to Christine Emerson Reed Park, where you can spread out a blanket, picnic and enjoy live performances by local outfits, plus a beer garden by Santa Monica Brew Works. 

Drink minimums at comedy shows feel kind of antiquated at this point. But stand-up at a wine bar? Now that’s something we can get behind. Venture into the Santa Monica Mountains for this stand-up show held at Malibu’s scenic Barn at Cielo Farms. Sean Leary hosts.

See murals and installations sprout up across Long Beach during this city-wide art festival. The event coincides with the return of Art Renzei, a multimedia showcase along the coast. Together, the two are celebrating 10 years of transforming the city’s streets into canvases. This year’s theme is “Art: A Catalyst for Change,” featuring murals by 12 renowned and emerging artists—including the tallest mural in Long Beach Walls’ history (86 feet high!). You’ll also find live painting, artist talks, a night market and more—and all events are free and open to the public.

In case “uncensored” wasn’t enough warning, make sure you leave the kids at home for this one. Part puppet show, part improv show, “Puppet Up! Uncensored” combines top puppeteering talent with music, jokes and shenanigans. It’s not just about watching the puppets either—you’ll be mesmerized by the sheer skill of the puppeteers on full display, who are coming up with songs on the fly while manipulating puppets onstage. If you’re a Jim Henson buff, this show is not to be missed: It’s put on by Brian Henson and Henson Alternative (the official adults-only arm of the Jim Henson Company), and you’ll see re-creations of Henson classics with a twist.

Set your clock to island time this weekend as the Arboretum hosts its 11th annual celebration of the fragrant flowers that are a hallmark of Hawaii (though they’re actually native to the Caribbean, Mexico and South America). Shop for exotic plants and floral souvenirs, walk amid more than 100 flowering trees in the Plumeria Grove, listen to talks by botanical experts, make your own leis, and enjoy live entertainment—think Tahitian drumming and Polynesian fire dance—food trucks and cocktails.

Think men could do a bit of a better job listening when it comes to dating? This Bachelorette-style game show runs with that conceit as its one rule: The four men competing for a date can’t speak. Instead, they’ll nod and doodle while host Allison Goldberg searches their phones and dials their moms. You can usually find Love Isn’t Blind staged monthly (and you can even apply to participate in it).

Listen to sets from Doc Martin, Desert Dwellers, Lee Burridge, Double Touch, Tim Green and more as this local art, wellness and dance music fest returns to Shoreline Aquatic Park in Long Beach. In between sets, enjoy beachfront yoga, immersive workshops, live art, a vendor village, food court, “relaxation station” and more.

Celebrate the legacy of Pasadena’s century-plus-old arch bridge as Pasadena Heritage throws a party in its honor. Though many of the kid-friendly activities and major programming—music, crafts, rare cars—typically take place just east of the bridge near Orange Grove Boulevard, you can expect the party to spill over onto the iconic structure itself.

Drive down the newly reopened PCH to the Malibu Pier and support the city’s small businesses as they rebuild and recover in the wake of the Palisades Fire. Every second Sunday this summer, the boardwalk will be filled with free live music (courtesy of Aviator Nation Dreamland), food and drink, plus pop-ups from local vendors. A portion of every purchase will support California State Parks. What better way to spend a summer Sunday?

Mix fried food, carnival attractions and the occasional rodeo or demolition derby, and you’ve got the OC Fair. What started as a quaint fair in 1889 has since grown into a nearly monthlong fest in the middle of summer. It also boasts a lineup of alfresco live music that’s more impressive than most fairs’—this year you can catch the Psychedelic Furs with Rooney, Fitz and the Tantrums with Aloe Blacc, Beck with the Pacific Symphony and Molly Lewis, X and Ludacris, among others. See the full lineup here. 

Carlos Miguel Prieto conducts the Bowl’s beloved annual tradition. The San Francisco Ballet will be on hand for selections from Swan Lake, and the night will culminate with the iconic “1812 Overture” with the LA Phil, the USC Trojan Marching Band and the Bowl’s famous pyrotechnic display.

Listen to classical and jazz in a dome more than a mile above L.A. during this mountaintop concert series. The Mount Wilson Observatory is hosting monthly concerts this summer inside the dome of its 100-inch Hooker telescope, which was the largest telescope in the world for much of the first half of the 20th century. This weekend’s sold-out concert celebrates the first walk on the moon, with astronaut-violinist Sarah Gillis performing “Rey’s Theme” from Star Wars—just as she did from space last year. Works by Beethoven and Schumann will follow. And, for the first time ever, a piano will be brought up the mountain and played in the dome. 

About a month and a half before the start of the NFL season, you can see the Chargers take the field at their training facility in El Segundo—and for free, no less. For four weeks in July and August, the team holds practices at the Bolt that are open to the public, with covered bleacher seating behind the north end zone. Admission is limited to 1,500 fans per session; tickets are available the Monday prior to each practice week (so sessions from July 21 to 26, for example, are available to book on July 14). Look out for a handful of themed days, including a family day, a celebration of women in sports and a happy hour with some Chargers legends—just note that select days are exclusive to season ticket holders.

Pick up some items at an open-air market and grab a bite to eat before the outdoor movie screenings commence at this monthly summertime series in front of the Queen Mary.

The Skirball puts on its annual series of free summer concerts, highlighting indie, folk and world music from L.A. and beyond. Guests can arrive early and visit the museum’s galleries for free, dine under the stars and grab a seat for the show in the beautiful central courtyard. The concert is free (and reservations are recommended), but parking is $20.

This summer’s lineup includes Helado Negro and Rodrigo Amarante (July 17), Meridian Brothers and La Perla (July 24), Frente Cumbiero and MULA (July 31) and Say She She and JOJO ABOT (Aug 7).

A thundering herd of 100 life-sized elephants has taken over Beverly Hills as part of this free, public exhibition spanning four blocks of Beverly Gardens Park all month. The powerful art-meets-conservation display arrives in L.A. after a 5,000-mile journey across the U.S. that began on the East Coast. Each sculpture was made from invasive lantana by Indigenous artisans from India’s Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve and modeled after real elephants. On July 20, the installation gets even more stylish with Wrapped in History, a textile takeover featuring 70 bespoke blankets created by global designers. And on August 1, stop by for a public farewell event called “Kiss Them Goodbye,” hosted by luxury beauty brand Chantecaille.

When you listen to Paul Simon’s latest albums, you’re quickly reminded: Wait a minute—this guy is a pop star. That is to say, not just a prescient urban-folk bard and boomer hero but an actual hit maker. His songs are often wildly infectious, effortless-seeming reprisals of Graceland’s brain-teasing, booty-moving mastery. Catch him over five nights at the Walt Disney Concert Hall for the live debut of his acoustic composition Seven Psalms and a collection of his timeless hits.

This musical, which we awarded three stars during its New York run, charts gruff singer-songwriter Neil Diamond’s rise to stardom.

Explore the Autry into the evening at the Griffith Park museum’s Thursday-night series that spotlights the city’s emerging and established artists, musicians, poets, writers. Programming ranges from a sound bath to alfresco music to hands-on silkscreen printing. The museum galleries stay open late, too, plus drinks and food trucks are also on offer.

The Original Farmers Market is host to a plethora of fun, family-friendly outdoor events, and its Thursday-night concerts during its Summer Music Series are some of its best. Take a load off near the end of the work week and stop by the Market Plaza from 7 to 9pm to hear a genre-spanning mix of live music. The series runs through August, but July is Altadena Musicians Month—nonprofit Altadena Musicians will be on hand collecting monetary and musical donations for artists impacted by the wildfires who’ve been separated from their instruments.

Now one of L.A.’s most treasured summer traditions, Barnsdall Park’s wine tastings regularly attract sell-out crowds. Perched atop Olive Hill on the west lawn of the historic Hollyhock House (which you can tour during the evening for an additional $36), the Barnsdall Friday fund raisers include fine selections of boutique wines provided by Silverlake Wine with a spectacular sunset and 360-degree views of the city. Bring along a blanket and a picnic basket, or just nosh on the variety of food trucks parked up there. Though there used to be lots of kids running around, the event lawn is now 21-and-up—perfect for a date night. Proceeds support the park’s art programs and historic renovations.

Swing by Redondo Beach’s Fisherman’s Wharf on Thursday and Saturday evenings in the summer for a free series of concerts held on the west end of the pier. You can expect tribute shows on Thursdays (from the Eagles to Oasis cover bands) and local contemporary acts on Saturdays.

Watch a slate of classics from the past couple of decades on one of the prettiest rooftops—now called Oasis—in Hollywood at this outdoor screenings series. All movies are piped in over sets of provided wireless headphones. Before showtime, make sure to hit up the bar or the on-site kitchen.

One of L.A.’s best free live-music offerings, Jazz at LACMA has featured legit legends over its three-decade run at the museum. Seating for the program is available in the museum’s plaza on a first-come, first-served basis, though you’re welcome to picnic on the grass, too (you won’t really be able to see the show, but you’ll still hear it). You’ll find the series on Friday evenings in LACMA’s welcome plaza (just behind Urban Light) throughout the summer.

The Music Center offers a free, joyous mash-up of music and dancing all summer long, with different themes (salsa, Bollywood, cumbia and disco among them) and free dance lessons, plus live DJ sets so you can show off your new moves. Head to the Music Center’s Jerry Moss Plaza and join in the fun—no dance experience required.

Walk through a pavilion of fluttering tropical butterflies you can’t normally glimpse in Southern California, and peep a chamber with pupae and caterpillars at South Coast Botanic Garden’s seasonal exhibition. For an extra $6, you can pick up a flower vial filled with nectar to attract and feed the butterflies yourself. Carve out some time to explore the gardens afterward.

Known for excellent film choices and a steady supply of snacks and booze, Rooftop Cinema Club is your snazzy, comfortable and less stressful alternative to other outdoor movie screenings. You don’t even need to bring your own camping chair—Rooftop Cinema Club provides you with your very own comfy lawn chair. And instead of listening to the movie over loudspeakers, you’ll get a set of wireless headphones so you never have to miss a word. Enjoy a steady stream of modern classics (Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, Pride & Prejudice) and local favorites (La La Land, Friday), as well as the occasional TV marathon. 

As sunset continues to stick toward the later end of the evening, the Huntington is taking advantage of the extra daylight with this coveted after-hours series. Formerly open just for members, Twilight Garden Strolls is now open to the public, too, and will extend the San Marino garden’s hours until 8pm on select evenings in the summer. The 1919 Cafe will be open until 7:30pm (hot food stations close at 7pm), so you can even have dinner on the patio. Just a heads-up that you’ll need a timed ticket that’s separate from regular morning or afternoon admission.

The Getty Villa reopens to the public five and a half months after its Palisades Fire closure with this international loan exhibition dedicated to the Greek Mycenaean civilization and the kingdom of Pylos, which Homer immortalized in the Iliad and Odyssey. It’s the first major museum show in North America devoted to the Late Bronze Age Mycenaeans. See treasures excavators unearthed from Messenia, the Palace of Nestor and burial sites including the tomb of the Griffin Warrior (1450 BCE)—think clay tablets, gold cups, ornate weapons and tiny signets and sealstones adorned with awe-inspiring amounts of detail. 

You know it’s summer in L.A. when the live outdoor music starts swelling all over the city, including at MacArthur Park’s Levitt Pavilion. The Westlake concert series returns this summer with free shows almost every Saturday. Expect a genre-spanning mix of local acts that range from cumbia to ska to EDM. This weekend, Medusa, Beat Junkie Institute of Sound, No Easy Props and Zócalo perform.

Life imitates art, literally: Classic paintings, statues and murals take on a new dimension as real people dress and pose to re-create original masterpieces—a trick popularized by vaudeville artiste Lolita Perine at the first festival in 1932. A professional orchestra, a narrator, intricate sets and theatrical lighting help bring the works to life at the Festival of Arts in Laguna Beach. This year’s theme, “Gold Coast: Treasures of California,” breathes life into the state’s history be re-creating both monuments and masterpieces from museums including the Getty, LACMA and Norton Simon Museum.

Theater meets thrills as Six Flags Magic Mountain welcomes the heroes (Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman) and villains (the Joker, Harley Quinn and Catwoman) of DC Comics during this theme park festival. Billed as a “fully immersive, theatrical takeover of the park,” in reality the action is limited to the center of Six Flags’ DC Universe area and consists mostly of stage shows where the characters sing, dance and duke it out for control of Gotham City—with an emphasis on the dancing. The highlight is the stunt-driven “Superhero Smackdown” at the end of the night—it’s a bit like a live-action episode of Adam West’s Batman. In the meantime, make sure you ride all the roller coasters on your list, as the event runs right up until closing time. The fest takes place Fridays and Saturdays, starting at 5pm, through July 26.

Each summer, Bard fanatics watch their favorite works come to life at the historic Old Zoo in Griffith Park. For 15 years running, Independent Shakespeare Co. has put on a series of lively productions each week, inviting audiences to take a seat on the grass (read: bring a picnic blanket) and enjoy performances like this season’s headliner, early Shakespeare comedy Love’s Labour’s Lost, which will be followed by Christopher Marlowe’s Doctor Faustus. With construction of a permanent stage currently in process on the main lawn, this summer’s shows will again be held in the dell at the top of the Old Zoo—meaning available space is smaller, and although performances are still free, reservations are required.

Hotel rooftop bar Desert 5 Spot flips into a poolside cinema on Thursday nights this summer, with cocktails, popcorn and concessions available.

Culver City’s staircase-dominated plaza screens free, family-friendly flicks on Fridays in July. Complimentary popcorn will be provided while supplies last. Each screening starts at sunset.

Expand your mind on breezy summer nights by listening to the words of the Bard for free. The program, founded in 1998, will put on two plays—As You Like It and Julius Caesar—with the help of talented local actors. “By the Sea” is a bit misleading; though some of the locations are ocean-adjacent, and largely in the South Bay and Long Beach, the troupe takes the plays on tour all across Los Angeles, performing for audiences from Downtown to Beverly Hills to Altadena’s Loma Alta Park, which was recently restored post–Eaton Fire.

For more than 50 years, this venue has drawn theatre aficionados to its storied, open-air stage for engaging productions in a magical setting. The 299-seat amphitheater in Topanga Canyon hosts audiences of all ages for plays from a wide range of genres, from Shakespearean classics to folk tales. This season, whose theme is “A Season of Resilience,” catch highlights such as William Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing and A Midsummer Night’s Dream, as well as a Malibu-themed retelling of Anton Chekhov’s The Seagull and Strife by Nobel Prize-winning writer and activist John Galsworthy.

Melrose Rooftop Theatre is on hiatus until the fall, but in the meantime the event deck on the E.P. & L.P. rooftop is hosting this open-air roller rink. The rooftop rink is a 21+ affair, serving up cocktails, appetizers and some of the best views in the city. Tickets are available in one-hour time slots and include skate rentals and a drink—a VIP option with a plate of nachos is also available, as is a pricier date night package, which comes with a three-course meal from E.P & L.P.

Summer’s just heating up, but thanks to a returning summer event series it’s set to be scorching: Beginning May 29, Santa Monica mainstay the Bungalow will host its night market every Thursday just a block from the beach. Over the summer, expect food from the likes of Tacos 1986, House of Empanadas, Lei’d Cookies and All About the Cinnamon. As in previous years, families can enjoy a kids’ play area with complimentary face painting. The event will  will also feature a variety of brand activations, celebrity guest appearances, and DJ and musical performances with more info to be announced as the summer kicks off. The fun runs every Thursday night through Labor Day, from 5 to 11pm. 

After popping up at D23 and Long Beach shopping center 2nd & PCH, themed mini-golf experience Pixar Putt has landed at its most logical home: the Pixar Place Hotel, close to California Adventure and its Pixar Pier. Putt your way through 18 themed holes and step into the stories of Pixar favorites including Toy Story, The Incredibles, Monsters, Inc., Finding Nemo, Coco, A Bug’s Life, Wall-E and Inside Out. Opening weekend is sold out, but don’t worry: The course will remain open through June 1.

The Getty Center’s new featured exhibition explores the transformative role photography has played in the history of the LGBTQ+ community as a tool for exploring gender, sexuality and self-expression since the mid-1800s. See examples of the homosocial, homoerotic and homosexual imagery that helped shape the world’s awareness of queer life. During your visit, be sure to check out the accompanying exhibition “$3 Bill: Evidence of Queer Lives,” a look at the contributions of LGBTQ+ artists in the last century, in the museum’s Research Institute Galleries. 

The Broad’s upcoming special exhibition makes its way to Downtown L.A. from the 2024 Venice Biennale, where Jeffrey Gibson became the first Indigenous artist to represent the United States with a solo exhibition. Known for his signature use of geometric patterns, patterned text, vibrant color, glass beads and found objects, the Colorado-born artist explores his Indigenous identity and pays tribute to histories of resistance in thought-provoking and optimistic ways. The first-floor galleries will be transformed into a kaleidoscopic environment with 10 paintings, seven sculptures, eight flags, three murals and one video installation by Gibson. The special exhibition will normally cost you $15, but you can visit for free on Thursday evenings.

The California Science Center is inviting kids to get in the game with a new 17,000-square-foot exhibition about the power of play and the human body in motion. Besides teaching about the science behind sports, it also offers interactive challenges and video coaching from a team of Los Angeles-based mentor athletes including dancer Debbie Allen, the Dodgers’ Freddie Freeman, Olympic medalist softball player Rachel Garcia and more. For the first time ever, the center has commissioned public art—all by local artists—to complement the exhibition, including a Dodgers mural by Gustavo Zermeño Jr. The free exhibition kicks off May 15 and will remain at the Science Center at least through the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Nature lovers, rejoice! Spend a day at the Natural History Museum’s Butterfly Pavilion, which will be open March 23 through August 24 and be home to up to 30 butterfly and moth species, as well as an assortment of California plants. The seasonal outdoor exhibit allows for adults and children alike to witness nature up close—we’re talking walking amid hundreds of butterflies and having them land on your arms or shoulders. Tip: The prime time for these unique butterfly flight experiences is typically between 10am and 11am each morning.

On the 50th anniversary of the Norton Simon Museum, look back to when Simon took over management of the Pasadena Art Museum in 1975, then ahead to the museum’s exciting future at this retrospective exhibition. See rare photos from the museum’s archives, and learn about the history of its major acquisitions, exhibitions, building and gardens—which are currently undergoing a transformation.

Frank Lloyd Wright’s Hollyhock House—centerpiece of Barnsdall Art Park and Los Angeles’ only UNESCO World Heritage Site—just might be the most stunning backdrop for an art exhibition. And, in this case, the home is the subject itself, too. L.A.-based photographer Ireland captured the intricate details of the Hollyhock House in 21 photographs on display throughout the onetime residence.

See over 50 garments from Diane von Furstenberg, best known for her iconic wrap dress, during this career-spanning exhibition at the Skirball. Alongside artwork and fabric swatches, the show will also focus on her philanthropic work as well as how her life was shaped as the daughter of a Holocaust survivor.

The Natural History Museum’s taxidermy dioramas turn a century old this year, and to celebrate the museum is reviving an entire hall of displays that’ve been dark for decades. Expect some fresh approaches to these assembled snapshots of the wilderness, including alebrijes made of recycled materials, a crystalline depiction of pollution and a tech-driven display of the L.A. River.

More than 50 works on display at the Autry showcase how Indigenous artists have crafted visions of alternative futures in the face of enduring colonial trauma, with surreal spacescapes from Wendy Red Star, pop culture commentaries by Andy Everson and a site-specific space odyssey created by Virgil Ortiz.

Study the technical and cultural background of colorful clay vessels, textiles, bark-paper pages and sculptures in the Indigenous Americas—and how their significance has been downplayed among colonialist histories—during this LACMA exhibition.