The best things to do in Los Angeles this week
Find concerts, screenings, art exhibits and more of our critics’ picks with the best events and things to do in Los Angeles this week
If we could write the rules of living in Los Angeles this would be our No. 1, always at the top of our list: When you live in this city, there’s no excuse for boredom just because it’s a weeknight. There are hundreds of things to do in Los Angeles each week, including concerts, comedy shows, happy hour deals, free museum days—and that’s really only scratching the surface. Well, we don’t make the rules, but we will provide you with plenty of ideas for your next free weeknight right here. Now put down that TV remote. There you go. Now get out of the house and tackle these things to do in L.A. this week.
Time Out loves
Tiki Mug Party at the Mermaid
Avast ye! This month you can taste the fun of the sea, no matter how much of a landlubber you are. The Mermaid, Little Tokyo’s nautical-themed bar, is going even more tropical than usual because this month, the fun-loving, tastefully kitschy, women-owned and -operated cocktail destination is throwing a party in honor of the bar’s first foray into making its own tiki mugs.
Twilight on the Pier
It has a new name, a new schedule and refocused curation, but the former Twilight Concert Series is returning to the Santa Monica Pier with more free Wednesday night concerts.
The Rolling Stones
The world’s grayest…er, greatest rock & roll band is back to get its rocks off in Pasadena with a show at the Rose Bowl. The reason to hit the road is, well, because they still can.
Dance Downtown
The Music Center offers a free, joyous mash-up of music and dancing all summer long, with different themes (90s, line dancing, cumbia, etc.) and free dance lessons plus live bands. Head to Grand Park and join in the fun—no dance experience required.
Ty Segall
For this summer residency, Segall will play through a different fuzzed-out album every Friday night at the Teragram Ballroom.
Friday Night Wine Tastings
Perched atop Olive Hill on the west lawn of the historic Hollyhock House (which you can tour during the evening for an additional $15), the Barnsdall Friday fundraisers include fine selections of boutique wines provided by Silverlake Wine with a spectacular sunset and 360-degree views of the city.
Little Bao Pop-Up at Sari Sari Store
For two days only, the beloved Hong Kong bao spot will make its way to Sari Sari Store at Grand Central Market.
The Improvised Shakespeare Company
The actors (including Thomas Middleditch) speak in faux British accents, employ Elizabethan-era speech and play up any number of Shakespearean tropes, yet this show is anything but gimmicky. Good improv rises above.
D23 Expo
Every two years, Disnerds come together at the Anaheim Convention Center to celebrate all things Disney and see what sort of magic the company has been working on.
Kacey Musgraves
Young country star Kacey Musgraves mixes a classic, honeyed sound with a subversive lyrical take on the traditionally straitlaced genre.
Popular
Tiki Mug Party at the Mermaid
Avast ye! This month you can taste the fun of the sea, no matter how much of a landlubber you are. The Mermaid, Little Tokyo's nautical-themed bar, is going even more tropical than usual because this month, the fun-loving, tastefully kitschy, women-owned and -operated cocktail destination is throwing a party in honor of the bar's first foray into making its own tiki mugs. Tuesday nights are usually Tropical Tuesday here, but on August 20, the team is letting out the sails and heading into tiki territory with $5 tropical drinks and other specials running from 5pm to midnight. Want to pick up one of those gorgeous new green-and-blue mermaid-themed tiki mugs? You can pre-order ahead or buy them at the door, and each mug comes with one complimentary "MerTiki" cocktail for the evening. Time to set sail.
The Improvised Shakespeare Company
The actors (including Thomas Middleditch) speak in faux British accents, employ Elizabethan-era speech and play up any number of Shakespearean tropes, yet this hugely popular Chicago show is anything but gimmicky. Good improv rises above.
Retro Roller Rink
Lace up a pair of skates and glide around in the city’s most handsome train station. Union Station is setting up a retro roller rink inside of its historic ticketing hall this August, complete with DJs spinning disco tunes and performances from the L.A. Roller Girls. You’ll find the rink open on August 24 from noon to 9pm and August 25 from noon to 4pm, with one-hour sessions available for $7 in advance and $10 at the door (skate rentals are included in the price).
Joseph Geiskopf Guest Dinner at Atrium
One of L.A.'s most innovative chefs is teaming up with one of Los Feliz's best new restaurants next week, and the menu already has us salivating. Joseph Geiskopf flipped the script on coffee-house cuisine when he launched Echo Park's Triniti, and on August 27, the Destroyer and Noma alum teams up with Atrium chef-partner Hunter Pritchett for an eight-course meal that alternates dishes from the two talented chefs. Expect Geiskopf courses such as mushroom tea with sea grape and cilantro, and asparagus with egg yolk, chicken fat, and pine miso, while Pritchett's courses involve oysters with heirloom tomato, horseradish and preserved lemon, and grilled watermelon with sake kasu, trout roe, Chinese olives and shiso. Tickets run $130 per person, and can be booked via Atrium—and speaking of Atrium, it's hard to imagine a more stylish, serene spot to enjoy that menu. We'll race you there.
Eat|See|Hear
Eat|See|Hear travels to different locales throughout the city each Saturday during the summer, showing cult flicks on an inflatable screen taller than your average Malibu mansion. Bring your own bites or sample snacks from the impressive roster of resident food trucks and show up early for a set from local L.A. bands. Parking is free at most of the venues, and tickets for screenings at the Autry even include admission to the museum. What’s more? If you want to skip the crowds and stroll in casually during the opening credits, spring for an exclusive “Fashionably Late” pass, which guarantees you a reserved seat in front. All of the events dog-friendly, and a portion of ticket sales benefit Best Friends Animal Society.
Free
Skirball Cultural Center Sunset Concerts
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. Attendees are encouraged to sing along, dance in the aisles and gather at the foot of the stage to celebrate with the performers. The concert is free, but parking is $15.
Moonlight Movies on the Beach
The best things in life really are free—love, happiness and an evening spent watching movies on a giant inflatable screen at the beach. On select dates from June until August, pack up your folding chairs, grab your kids and head to Long Beach for this unique outdoor screening. Thanks to Alfredo’s Beach Club, you can give your babysitter the night off while you and the fam enjoy a host of kid-friendly flicks. Bring your own picnic, or munch on eats from the nearby snack stand. You’ll find the event hitting Granada Beach, Cherry Beach and Shoreline Village.
Smorgasburg LA
Indulge your inner foodie and shopaholic at this weekly food-focused market. The Brooklyn export has landed in the Arts District and become a hotbed of fantastic food and retail vendors, with some that are testing out their dishes before launching a full-blown brick-and-mortar in the city. Bonus: there is plentiful (and free, for two hours!) parking in the nearby parking garage.
“Contact High: A Visual History of Hip-Hop”
Celebrate the photographers responsible for helping to define hip-hop’s visual identity with this display of unedited contact sheets for famous photo shoots. Author and curator Vikki Tobak has assembled over 140 works from more than 60 photographers alongside rare videos, memorabilia and music. The era-spanning exhibition features photos of both the anonymous faces who showed up to hear early hip-hop at clubs and roller rinks in the late-’70s, as well as the genre’s biggest stars: Notorious B.I.G., Tupac, Snoop Dogg, Dr. Dre, Salt-N-Pepa, Kendrick Lamar, Cardi B and more. You’ll spot instantly recognizable images, as well as behind-the-scenes moments, like Nas in the studio recording Illmatic and Kanye West getting a haircut during the cover shoot for The College Dropout. The exhibition pulls from a visual book of the same name, and it features a few Annenberg-only additions, including a contact sheet of Nipsey Hussle driving around town with his daughter sitting in his lap, as well as a photo of Mac Miller playing piano that was the inspiration for a memorial mural on Beverly Boulevard.
KCRW's Night Market at The Bungalow
Summer's just heating up, but thanks to a new nightlife partnership it's set to be scorching: Santa Monica mainstay the Bungalow teamed up with beloved radio station KCRW to throw a night market every Thursday just a block from the beach. KCRW's no stranger to killer programming and putting on a great party (see also: Chinatown Summer Nights), and now, every week at the Bungalow you can expect KCRW DJ sets, plus to-be-announced live performances that take over the Fairmont Miramar scene. Once all that dancing's worked up an appetite, you can hit the food trucks and take a seat at one of the picnic tables spread throughout the space (or, you know, just camp out at a picnic table all night long—we wouldn't blame you if you're just here for the food). What's more, this event is family-friendly and free to enter for all ages. The fun runs every Thursday into fall, from 5 to 10pm.
Concerts
The Rolling Stones
The world’s grayest…er, greatest rock & roll band is back to get its rocks off in Pasadena with a show at the Rose Bowl. The reason to hit the road is, well, because they still can. When we last saw them, they ripped, though it took a handful of songs for them to loosen their ligaments.
Ty Segall
The prolific singer-songwriter finds room for lo-fi garage-rock riffs and acoustic strums at his shows, sometimes performed solo and at other times with the backing of his many associated bands. For this summer residency, Segall will play through a different album every Friday night at the Teragram Ballroom. Expect a noisy, fuzzed-out set during these Freedom Band-backed performances, which include playthroughs of Melted, Goodbye Bread, Emotional Mugger and Manipulator, as well as a to-be-announced slate each night (the first 500 people to purchase three or more tickets to different shows will received a limited 7” of new, unreleased music, so we wouldn’t be surprised if it’s tied to that). Tickets are available for individual shows ($28–$30) starting Friday, April 26 at 8am, or you can see all 10 for $200.
Kacey Musgraves
Young country star Kacey Musgraves mixes a classic, honeyed sound with a subversive lyrical take on the traditionally straitlaced genre. Tickets go on sale Friday, April 26 at 10am.
MUSE/IQUE’s Summer Series
Treat your ears to a vibrant concert on a balmy summer night this year, by attending MUSE/IQUE's annual summer series. This monthly series of performances, held outdoors at San Marino’s Huntington Library, features a mix of movie-inspired musical performances: a vocal-and-cello tribute to iconic movie songs, a showcase of the train as musical muse, and a ballet-featuring deconstruction of the modern movie score. Show up early to mingle and dine before each performance.
Blink-182 + Lil Wayne
Because why not? Pop-punk stalwarts Blink-182 (still minus UFO enthusiast Tom DeLonge) and hip-hop elder statesman Lil Wayne join forces for this summer tour, with support from Neck Deep. Expect plenty of head-scratching moments if the announcement mash-up of “What’s My Age Again?” and “A Milli” is any indication.
Movies
Moonlight Movies on the Beach
The best things in life really are free—love, happiness and an evening spent watching movies on a giant inflatable screen at the beach. On select dates from June until August, pack up your folding chairs, grab your kids and head to Long Beach for this unique outdoor screening. Thanks to Alfredo’s Beach Club, you can give your babysitter the night off while you and the fam enjoy a host of kid-friendly flicks. Bring your own picnic, or munch on eats from the nearby snack stand. You’ll find the event hitting Granada Beach, Cherry Beach and Shoreline Village.
Eat|See|Hear
Eat|See|Hear travels to different locales throughout the city each Saturday during the summer, showing cult flicks on an inflatable screen taller than your average Malibu mansion. Bring your own bites or sample snacks from the impressive roster of resident food trucks and show up early for a set from local L.A. bands. Parking is free at most of the venues, and tickets for screenings at the Autry even include admission to the museum. What’s more? If you want to skip the crowds and stroll in casually during the opening credits, spring for an exclusive “Fashionably Late” pass, which guarantees you a reserved seat in front. All of the events dog-friendly, and a portion of ticket sales benefit Best Friends Animal Society.
Cinespia Cemetery Screenings
It isn’t summer in L.A. until the first cemetery screening brings hoards of movie-lovers to Hollywood Forever, toting folding chairs, picnic blankets, snack spreads and lots of booze. Each year, Cinespia brings classic cult favorites to the hallowed resting place of such Hollywood greats as Rudolph Valentino and Bugsy Siegel. The series typically releases its slate one month at a time, most recently for August: Point Break (Aug 3), Boyz n the Hood featuring a John Singleton tribute from Questlove and DJ Pooh (Aug 10) and Psycho (Aug 24). Of particular note: the 9th Annual Slumber Party on August 24, with a trio of sleepover staples including Never Been Kissed, I Know What You Did Last Summer and Jawbreaker. Angelenos line up for hours to partake in the concept—and to enjoy DJ sets, dance parties, sleepovers and more magical mischief otherwise strictly forbidden behind the cemetery gates. It’s an L.A. rite of passage, a quintessential summer experience and one of the best film venues in the city. Just be sure to get your ticket early, arrive early (doors open at 6:45pm), pee early… it’s getting a bit overcrowded, to say the least.
Poolside Cinema at Mr. C Beverly Hills
Supplement your typical summer drink date with a little cinema at Mr. C Beverly Hills' poolside screening series. Grab a cocktail and settle in to enjoy a classic film, alongside alfresco eats, a special poolside menu and traditional movie snacks, like popcorn and candy. Films begin at sundown every Tuesday through Labor Day. This year's roster of crowd favorites includes A Star is Born (June 11), Bridesmaids (July 2) and Avengers: Infinity War (Aug 20), to name a few. You’ll need to book a dining reservation to secure a spot—and plan to possibly need an Uber home.
Rooftop Movie Night at Madame Tussauds
Madame Tussauds Hollywood is hosting a rooftop screening series, and somehow House of Wax isn’t on the slate. But you will find a trio of screenings paired with facsimilies of their stars: Crossroads with wax figures of Britney Spears and Zoe Saldana, a Golden Girls marathon with Betty White’s wax look-alike and Magic Mike with a guest performance by the Hollywood Men.