Gillian Glover

We don’t know about you, but our mind is always focused on the weekend. It can never come soon enough—which is why we’re already thinking about what new restaurants we want to try or where we can drive for the day. Whether you’re looking to scope out the latest museum exhibitions or watch a movie outdoors, you’ll find plenty of things to do in L.A. this weekend. We curate an L.A. weekend itinerary of the city’s best concerts, culture and cuisine, every weekend, just for you. This weekend, a handful of Coachella acts are playing local shows around town leading up to Weekend 2 of the legendary music festival. If you’re sticking around L.A., you can help clean up the L.A. River, listen to your favorite authors at the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books, shop for witchy goods at Magic Market, sample food from some of the city’s top chefs at Masters of Taste or watch some high-octane action at the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach.

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, whether you hit the beach at sunset or go for a morning bike ride, or catch a concert or a comedy show—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 go out and tackle these things to do in L.A. this week. We curate an itinerary of the city’s best concerts, culture and cuisine, every week, just for you. This week, a handful of Coachella acts are playing local shows around town leading up to Weekend 2 of the legendary music festival. If you’re sticking around L.A., you can help clean up the L.A. River, flash back to the ’90s at the Grammy Museum’s Sublime retrospective, listen to your favorite authors at the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books, shop for witchy goods at Magic Market or sample food from some of the city’s top chefs at Masters of Taste. 

Looking for the best things to do in Los Angeles? We have you covered with the very best that L.A. has to offer. I’m a Los Angeles native and have lived here all my life, and take it from me: There’s always more to discover and explore. Whether you’re a culture vulture, an outdoorsy type or simply a lover of our fine city, you’ll find more than enough here to keep you busy. Even lifelong Angelenos can find something new to add to their to-do list, between the city’s landmark attractions, an ever-changing inventory of the best restaurants in Los Angeles, essential L.A. museums and even some off-the-beaten-path secrets. How many of the best things to do in Los Angeles will you try? Updated April 2026: Spring is in full swing, and while cherry blossoms and wildflowers are already starting to wane, there are still lots of things to do that scream spring. Coachella returns to the desert for two weekends this month, but even those not springing for a pass this year will find lots of local concerts by fest acts. Another great live music option is the brand-new Downtown venue Pacific Electric, which comes from Ben Lovett of Mumford & Sons. The Dodgers are also back in action—playing on the newly christened Uniqlo Field. And another springtime tradition—the Original Renaissance Pleasure Faire—returns with turkey legs, steins of ale and cosplayers galore. If that’s a bit too extra for you, there are four free art walks and craft fairs this month where you can shop for bespoke treasures

Every spring in SoCal brings wildflower excitement and hopes of a super bloom. And while last year was a bit of a letdown, bloom-wise, this season has immediately shown more promise, starting strong with early blooms at a number of parks. In fact, California State Parks has predicted a “moderate-to-strong wildflower bloom across desert state parks.” You can thank the widespread rainfall Southern California has experienced on-and-off since the holidays. A super bloom requires a specific set of circumstances, and one is above-average rainfall (wind and warm—not too hot—weather also play a part). And though we might not see a full-blown super bloom this year, it’s definitely worth planning a trip to one or more of these lovely wildflower destinations. Even if you miss peak bloom periods, embarking on one of the best hikes in L.A. or taking a day trip to one of our state parks is never a bad idea. In the meantime, we’ll keep you updated on any wildflower developments. What’s the latest bloom status? As of early April, wildflower season has wrapped up for the most part. While you may be able to scout out some scattered flowers, nearly all of the parks on our list have reported that peak bloom has passed. The exception is Idyllwild, which sees its wildflowers flourish in May, due to its higher elevation.  We’ve checked in on some of our favorite spots to see SoCal wildflowers and their current bloom status. We’ll update each location as soon as there’s some new bloom activity. It’s

Los Angeles—and California as a whole—is a pretty amazing place, botanically speaking. Stick practically any plant in the ground and it’ll grow, hence L.A.’s palm-tree-lined streets and the ubiquitous jacaranda tree bloom. Even though some of us can reach out our windows and pluck an avocado from a tree, a trip to one of the region’s many botanical gardens (easily among the best things to do in L.A.) reveals vegetation that simply can’t be found on our city streets. I’ve rounded up some of my favorites—broken up by category, like Japanese gardens or museum grounds—which range from botanical gardens in the San Gabriel Valley to a hidden oasis in a Hollywood Hills park.

Coachella might steal the spotlight, but April has so much more to offer beyond the behemoth music fest. In fact, it’s long been my favorite month of the year—there’s something about the perfect weather (beach days are almost here), cherry blossoms and wildflowers in bloom, and weekends full of festivals and cultural events—many of them free—teeming with uniquely L.A. programming. This year, I’m especially excited about the Night of Ideas, Gloria Molina Grand Park’s Easy Mornings and, one of my faves, the Festival of Books. There are also lunchtime classical concerts, an Easter celebration at the Rose Bowl, Earth Day events, museum exhibitions and many more ways to celebrate springtime without opening your wallet this month.

Among L.A.’s many beautiful botanical gardens, none are quite as tranquil as Japanese gardens. Though they vary in size, most share a few common centerpieces: koi ponds, arched bridges and traditional teahouses—plus cherry blossoms in the spring. From a Little Tokyo rooftop to a Pasadena-area museum, these eight Japanese gardens—which rank among the best things to do in L.A.—are the most beautiful in Los Angeles.

Shed that sweatshirt—spring is here. Fill your lungs with the sweet, less-smoggy air on one of the best hikes in L.A., or set out in search of some (fingers crossed) wildflower blooms and cherry blossoms. Whether you’re looking for things to do around town or a weekend getaway, there are plenty of springtime happenings and fun festivals to find in our March events calendar. RECOMMENDED: Full events calendar for 2026 and 2027

It’s Coachella time, but Angelenos have plenty of other reasons to sing April’s praises, too: Beach weather is basically here, and we’re on the lookout for wildflowers, too. From major museum exhibitions to lots of concerts, free events and festivals, there are plenty of fun things to do packed into our April events calendar. As always, we’ll continue to add more events to this page as they’re announced, so check back here often. RECOMMENDED: Full events calendar for 2026

Well before the jacaranda trees bloom and just as the California poppies begin to flower, Los Angeles also greets the springtime with cherry blossom season. If you’re after blossoming buds, you’ll want to head to a botanical garden or Japanese garden between March and April, though some cherry blossoms began blooming as early as January and February this year. As of late March, you can still spot Pink Cloud cherry blossoms at South Coast Botanic Garden and Akebono blossoms at Descanso Gardens, both of which are in full bloom.  You’ll also find some cherry blossom festivals, where a handful of Southern California cities salute their Japanese roots. Oddly enough, while some of these fests take place in parks and along city streets adorned with those delicate pink flowers, others don’t actually feature any cherry trees. Peak blooms are pretty short-lived, so we suggest checking each spot (Instagram tends to be particularly useful) for up-to-the-minute photos before you trek on over. It’s worth noting that the area fills with pink trees of all different kinds this time of year, so even if the cherry blossoms are past their peak, you’ll likely never be disappointed by a visit to one of these botanical gardens. RECOMMENDED: Where to see wildflowers in Southern California

Los Angeles isn’t really a St. Paddy’s Day kind of town. We do have our old standby Irish pubs and a thriving beer and brewery scene that are the perfect complement to St. Patrick’s Day events in Los Angeles. But outside of a couple of festivals, Celtic music performances and parades, March isn’t nearly as shamrock-filled as some other major U.S. cities. That said, here are a few events where you can have a bit of craic on St. Patrick’s Day in L.A. RECOMMENDED: St. Patrick’s Day in Los Angeles

There’s never been a better – or more important – time to celebrate cinemas. They’re the places we go to dream, focal points of our communities, and an all-round great escape. Yet movie theatres are faced with challenges that even lovelty popcorn holders can’t help with. But they’ve survived the advent of TV, Hollywood strikes, a couple of pandemics, and so far, they’re holding firm against streaming and surging costs – and there’s reasons for optimism, too: younger, Letterboxd-savvy audiences are embracing the big-screen experience like never before, and filmmakers like Ryan Coogler, Christopher Nolan and Chloé Zhao are championing it at every opportunity. Just try booking an IMAX ticket for The Odyssey. With that in mind, Time Out’s local experts have collaborated on a celebration of the best cinemas from across the globe. From cult Tokyo cinemas and grand Parisian film temples to beloved Sydney picturehouses and LA film dream palaces, from a Berlin kino with its own nuclear bunker to a Canadian cinema with only 12 seats, we’ve pointed the spotlight on a hundred magnificent movie palaces that all movie lovers should know about – and visit.  NB We’ve gone almost entirely with single-use cinemas rather than venues that double up as theatres or gig venues.  Greatest cinemas at a glance: 🍿 The greatest cinema in the world: TCL Chinese Theatre, LA 🌔 The world’s best outdoor cinema: Cine Paris, Athens 📽️ The coolest cult cinema in the world: The New Beverly, LA Jump to list

The Regent brand’s last foray to the West Coast was in Beverly Hills; the Beverly Wilshire, now a Four Seasons hotel, was originally the “Regent Beverly Wilshire” back in the ’90s when Pretty Woman was filmed there. But after a long absence—and being acquired by IHG Hotels & Resorts—Regent opened this coastal resort to fanfare in fall 2024, and the Santa Monica hotel now serves as the brand’s first flagship property within the Americas, joining a portfolio of properties around the world, from Cannes to China. I was lucky enough to check out the hotel myself over my birthday weekend. After driving up to the grand yet somewhat bland building on Ocean Avenue—it’s taken over the former Loews Santa Monica Beach—I was wowed when I stepped into the luxe lobby. The opulent yet understated space is technically on the fourth of eight floors, boasting sky-high ceilings and offering a glimpse of the property’s grandness. The lobby, and the entire property, has nautical inspirations, marrying the natural beauty of the ocean with the glamour of Los Angeles. During my stay, I realized that the Regent Santa Monica Beach is a world unto itself, allowing you to escape the hustle and bustle of L.A. even as you’re only steps from PCH. What are the rooms like at Regent Santa Monica Beach? There are 167 guestrooms and suites at the hotel—that’s half the amount as when the property was a Loews. The Regent renovated the rooms with a focus on quality over quantity, tapping Wimberly Interiors to desig

It only opened last summer, but New York import Spencer’s has already made quite the splash in Los Angeles’s wellness scene—an impressive feat in a city full of high-end hotel spas. Spencer’s brings something different to the party, though. Inspired by a summer escape to Provence, it’s hidden behind hedges inside a 1920s Spanish bungalow in West Hollywood (on a side street off Robertson with plenty of free parking). You check in at a she-shed in the front yard and then are led inside after changing into cashmere socks (that you get to take home with you). The waiting room is a literal living room that exudes warmth and understated elegance with fresh flowers, wood accents and cream sofas. Massages take place within the house’s bedrooms or in the backyard—I enjoyed my signature massage inside another chic shed out back, which instantly imbued the experience with a cozy and special feel. Spencer’s has been so successful in its first year, in fact, that it recently expanded into the address next door—a more traditional storefront—where it exclusively offers all of its facials. I got to experience the anti-aging cryotherapy facial, which incorporates warming radio-frequency and cooling cryotherapy. My facialist was skilled, knowledgeable and offered helpful skin care recommendations on my way out—Spencer’s doesn’t have its own line or exclusive brand it uses in treatments, so there was no pressure to buy specific products. I left both of my visits to Spencer’s feeling pampered, r

There’s a lot of history to unpack in Here Lies Love, the disco musical about the rise and fall of former Filipino first lady Imelda Marcos: not just the long and winding story of Marcos, but the long and winding story of this show itself. Here Lies Love began as a 2010 concept album with music and lyrics by the Talking Heads’s David Byrne and additional beats by Fatboy Slim. In its 2013 Off Broadway premiere, the audience moved around amid a fully immersive, 360-degree staging; similar productions followed in London and Seattle. When the musical moved to Broadway in 2023, producers spent millions of dollars to radically transform the Broadway Theatre into a gleaming nightclub space. Here Lies Love’s Los Angeles premiere at the Mark Taper Forum, where it is playing through April 5, is the first attempt to mount the show in a traditional proscenium space. Director Snehal Desai occasionally places actors on platforms within the audience, but that’s very different from the immersion in previous versions. Time Out awarded both the Off Broadway and Broadway productions four stars; theater critic Adam Feldman, reviewing the “sensational” staging of the latter, noted that “audience members—often literally standing in the middle of the action—get swept up in the shifting tides and undertows of history.” In the absence of that dynamic, the storytelling isn’t always strong enough to create a satisfying theater experience.  Photograph: Jeff LorchAura Mayari and the company of ‘Here Lie

Back in 2017, I took my first-ever solo getaway. For my destination, I chose Ojai—I’d never been before, despite its proximity to L.A.—and when searching for a place to stay, I landed on the Hummingbird Inn, mainly for its price point. Back then, it was your run-of-the-mill roadside motel—nice, clean and safe, but nothing to write home about. But when I found out that Shelter Social Club had purchased and renovated the property, I knew I had to come back and check it out. If you’re not familiar with Shelter Social Club, they’re experts in buying retro motels and turning them into destination-worthy stays, imbuing spots with a chic sense of style. In Ojai alone, they also run the Capri Hotel and Ojai Rancho Inn, and the Hummingbird Inn is their most recent acquisition. And while the building’s exterior still looks much the same—styled after a Spanish villa, with bougainvillea climbing up the staircases—the rooms, the lobby and the overall feel of the property have been updated with the kind of carefully curated, minimalist aesthetic that’s catnip to millennial travelers (myself included). What are the rooms like at the Hummingbird Inn? The Hummingbird offers standard and (pet-friendly) patio rooms with either two queen beds or one king bed. There are also a couple of stand-alone bungalows, which offer more privacy. For my visit, I was lucky enough to stay in the king suite—and I wish I could have holed up there for a couple of weeks. The colorway—warm wood and terra-cotta tile

Hollywood’s beloved British pub has been hosting its annual St. Patrick’s Day celebration for over four decades. The all-day parking-lot party—part of Re:Her’s Women’s History Month Festival—kicks off at noon and runs till 11pm (get your food orders in by 10pm, when the kitchen closes). To eat, there’s traditional corned beef and cabbage, as well as split pea soup, corned beef sliders, a veggie roasted cauliflower option and, for dessert, Guinness chocolate cake. From 4pm to 6pm, there will specials on Irish beers Guinness and Harp, followed by a burlesque show by Miss Marquez at 8pm. We recommend showing up early in the day to stake out a spot—the pub isn’t taking reservations.

At dinner party Tasting Color, the menu and decor are all determined by—you guessed it—color. The sensorial series curated by Seven Senses brings together local artists, artisans and makers. After green and indigo soirees, this third installment is all about orange, and it will coincide with the grand opening of Filipinotown's new Jōdo Saké Bar. Don your best orange outfit to enjoy a creative, monochromatic menu by chef Tracy Tober, paired with orange cocktails and wine and a dance performance by Jasmine Albuquerque.

A display of over 30 mummified people and animals is back at the California Science Center; after the exhibition debuted there back in 2010, it traveled through the U.S. and Europe before returning to L.A., which is the final stop on its tour before the artifacts are returned to their lending museums. This time around, you can see a selection of specimens never before shown in Los Angeles. Mummies are, of course, most often associated with ancient Egypt, and while Egypt is represented here, you’ll also see mummified remains that were discovered in Germany, Hungary, Peru—even the University of Maryland, which in the 1990s carried out the first ancient Egyptian-style mummification performed in 2,800 years. Memorable artifacts include the two Peruvian “bundle” mummies making their West Coast debut, amulets and organ jars (just like you learned about in history class), an ancient Egyptian cat mummy and a shrunken (but still very cute) sloth head. Be warned, though, that as you make your way through the different rooms, the displays become more macabre and, dare I say, haunting, with mummified organs and babies—so make sure you (and any kids in attendance) know what you’re getting into before visiting the exhibition. The museum’s IMAX theater will be screening the complementary 40-minute Mummies 3D: Secrets of the Pharaohs, and if you buy combo tickets for both the exhibition and film, you get a small discount on both.

This South Bay Lunar New Year celebration offers live entertainment, dancers, arts and crafts, food trucks and more at Crafted at the Port of Los Angeles. The free, family-friendly event typically boasts a petting zoo, too, where visitors can get close to roosters, sheep, goats and pigs—maybe even horses in honor of the Year of the Horse. Parking is also free; head to 22nd and Miner streets to park and catch a free ride to the event from the San Pedro Downtown Trolley. 

If you’ll follow wherever Gilmore Girls leads, then you’re going to need to embark on the Warner Bros. Studio Tour this holiday season. For the final couple weeks of the year, the Burbank backlot is again supplementing its regular tour with the “Holidays Made Here” addition, which decks out the Stars Hollow section in festive decor, including the gazebo and Luke’s Diner, where you can sip coffee or cocoa from “Luke” actor Scott Patterson’s own brand—oh, and did we mention Patterson himself will be appearing in person each afternoon? In honor of the show’s 25th anniversary this year, this year’s event is bigger and better than ever. The studio has kicked things up a notch with new re-created sets, merch, a food passport add-on option and a nightly holiday light show. Miss Patty’s School of Ballet—where those famed town meetings took place—has been rebuilt, and a string of new storefronts and dining spots are open to explore, shop at and dine inside. Get a banana split or “boyfriend shake” (team Jess all the way) at Taylor’s Olde Fashioned Soda Shoppe; pick up some more sweet treats at Weston Bakery; shop sweaters emblazoned with quotes of dialogue at the new knitting shop; and step into an old-school video shop with Rory’s photo in the window as “citizen of the month.” Holidays Made Here runs as part of all studio tours from December 18, 2025, to January 4, 2026 (it’s closed on Christmas Day). There’s also an event-only ticket option this year; while it’s the same price ($76),

The city’s coolest indie concert promoter finally has its own venue. Sid the Cat Auditorium opened in South Pasadena at the end of 2025 to sold-out crowds, an exciting addition to the charming suburb. The club, which can fit 500, is located in a former elementary school that dates back to 1885. Concerts by under-the-radar bands take place in the school’s original auditorium, giving nostalgic recital vibes. Sid the Cat’s founders are known for adding a personal, tangible touch to the live music scene, even crafting custom matchbooks and artist trading cards to enhance the experience at their intimate concerts. In a classroom down the hall, you’ll find drinks and DJ sets at Sid’s Bar, which is open to all, not just concertgoers. And the cherry on top: There’s a big, free adjoining parking lot (because, you know, schools). 

Willy Wonka meets Louis Vuitton at ButterLove&Hardwork, a whimsical new chocolate shop that’s taken up residency at the Kimpton La Peer Hotel. You’ve probably seen pastry chef Chris Ford’s chocolate Breakables on Instagram, which you smash open with a mallet to get to the treats inside. Now he’s opened a proof of concept in West Hollywood that will run through early 2026. Inside the stylish space straight out of Twin Peaks, you can shop Ford’s seasonal showstoppers and nostalgic treats that let you be a kid again—you can even lick the spoon. The prices are relatively reasonable, too, starting at $15 for milk chocolate puffs. There’s also a gourmet vending machine, plus coffee and pastries in the morning, including crisp cube “Chrissants,” Ford’s namesake creation. 

Not only does the Huntington boast superlative library holdings, artwork and botanical gardens, but its gift shop is objectively wonderful too. The store is divided into 10 different themed sections, stocked with everything from tea-party accoutrements to housewares decked out in William Morris floral designs to gifts for literature lovers. You can even purchase seed packets that will help you re-create the gardens’ blooms at your home. While a visit to the Huntington is always a good idea, you don’t need to pay for admission to visit the gift shop.

Summer may still be a couple months off, but some of our favorite annual alfresco events are already announcing their return, including two free concert series: Jazz at LACMA kicks off its season May 1 (which is bound to be even more popular than usual, given the opening of the new David Geffen Galleries), and the Getty Center in Brentwood has unveiled the Off the 405 lineup early this year. The museum’s popular concert series will feature five evenings of eclectic programming kicking off at the end of May. The best part: Tickets—like admission to the Getty Center—are free, though you’ll want to try to secure a reservation well ahead of time; tickets tend to open up about three weeks before each show and sell out fairly quickly. The locally beloved Off the 405 series has been drawing crowds to the Getty’s courtyard since 2009 (besides taking a couple years off during the pandemic). With past headliners including Moses Sumney, Allah-Las, Chicano Batman and Shannon and the Clams, the series’ curated lineup always spans a range of genres and regularly showcases some of the most exciting up-and-comers in the independent music scene. Each Saturday-night performance starts at 7:30pm and will be preceded by a DJ set at 6pm. Listening to free live music while watching the sun set over the L.A. skyline in one of the city’s best museums—what could be better? And if you need any added motivation to make it out to a show, remember that the Getty Center will be closing for a year for plan

There are some 2,500 works of art inside and around LACMA’s long-awaited new building, the David Geffen Galleries. But we wanted to focus on what really matters: which are the most photogenic. You know, so you can prove just how cultured you are with the quintessential souvenir—the perfect photo.  Of course, LACMA is no stranger to photogenic art. Since it was installed in 2008, Urban Light, a constellation of 202 historic streetlamps along Wilshire, has become one of the most photographed landmarks in L.A. So as a handy guide, we’ve ranked each of these 10 new picks with “lightbulb” scores, gauging how they stack up to Urban Light in photogenic-ness on a five-point scale. Some of our picks are longtime LACMA holdings which have been cast in a new light (literally), some are new acquisitions, and some are brand-new works that have been specially commissioned by the museum. And some aren’t even art but rather uniquely “Los Angeles” views and photo ops. (I mean, the LACMA Erewhon just sounds like a punchline from SNL’s “The Californians.”) Note: Keep in mind that, even if these pieces call out to you, you’re still in a world-class museum with priceless art—so no touching. Henri Matisse’s La Gerbe—and that view  Photograph: Michael Juliano for Time Out 💡💡💡💡💡 The walk up to the very western tip of the David Geffen Galleries is already vying for one of the most breathtaking views in L.A., an impossibly cinematic vantage point that seems to float above the LACMA campus and

After nearly two decades of planning, five years of construction and $724 million, LACMA’s David Geffen Galleries are finally ready to welcome visitors. Chances are you’ve already seen pictures of the concrete, amoeba-like design by Swiss architect Peter Zumthor—you may have even driven beneath it on Wilshire Boulevard. But now the 110,000-square-foot set of galleries—all housed in one building on a single floor—steps into the spotlight, reinventing LACMA in the process. I got the chance to visit the David Geffen Galleries during a press preview on Thursday, and walking through the space was incredible, unlike any other museum experience in Los Angeles. But when can the public check out the new building? Here’s everything you need to know. When do the David Geffen Galleries open? The David Geffen Galleries open to LACMA members on Sunday, April 19, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. The members-only preview period continues through May 3. On May 4, the new building will finally be open for the general public to experience. How can I visit the David Geffen Galleries? One of the best things about the David Geffen Galleries is that they’re now home to LACMA’s permanent collection (versus special exhibitions). That means entry to the galleries will be included in general admission tickets, and you won’t have to purchase separate tickets to see the space or artwork on display. Will there be free admission? Tickets to LACMA normally cost $25 for L.A. County residents and $30 for those

It’s been a big week for Jack White. After Saturday Night Live delighted audiences last weekend by pairing host Jack Black and musical guest Jack White, the former White Stripes frontman dropped by The Late Show With Stephen Colbert, announced a fall tour (including two L.A. dates at the Hollywood Palladium and one at the Fox Theater in Pomona) and was revealed as a surprise performer for the first weekend of the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, taking place in the desert April 10 to 12 and April 17 to 19.  Though the headliners for this year’s music festival—Sabrina Carpenter, Justin Bieber, Karol G and Anyma—are primarily pop artists, there is some rock royalty in attendance. White joins the likes of the Strokes and fellow Detroit icon Iggy Pop (no pun intended) on the bill. Here’s everything we know—and a few things we predict—about his performance before he takes the stage once again at the Empire Polo Club in Indio. What day is Jack White performing at Coachella? Jack White is scheduled to play in the (relatively midsize) Mojave tent on Saturday, April 11. So far, he’s only been confirmed to play the first weekend of the fest—and if the past few years are any indication, there will likely be a different last-minute surprise act added to the second weekend. What time will Jack White play the Mojave Tent? White will take stage as the first Saturday performer in the Mojave tent, playing from 3pm to 3:45pm. Has Jack White played Coachella before? Yes, White has a lo

As Angelenos try to score tickets for the L.A. Olympics in 2028, Los Angeles itself is getting ready to host the Games. In addition to expanding the Metro system (to accommodate whatever a “car-free Olympics” will look like) and eagerly awaiting the opening of the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art, today news broke that two of the city’s best museums will be closing for improvements, with plans to reopen in time for L.A. to host the Summer Games. The La Brea Tar Pits Museum and Brentwood’s Getty Center both announced on Thursday they would be temporarily shutting their doors. The Miracle Mile museum will be open to visitors until early July of this year, while the Getty will remain open until March 2027. Here’s everything you need to know. The La Brea Tar Pits Museum opened in 1977, but it’s never undergone a major renovation—until now. In fact, Time Out has long praised the “delightfully old-fashioned museum”—officially named the George C. Page Museum—with its simple, instructive displays of items found in the pits, from the bones of a 15,000-pound Columbian mammoth to a wall of 400 wolf skulls. Now, WEISS/MANFREDI and Gruen Associates have been tapped to rethink the property both inside and out, introducing state-of-the-art exhibition halls and labs you can peer into, an immersive theater, indoor/outdoor educational spaces and a rooftop terrace with views of the surrounding 13-acre park and the museum’s iconic Ice Age frieze. The design will also incorporate the newly created S

Starting in 2029, the Oscars will no longer be broadcast from the film capital of the world (though that arguably hasn’t been Hollywood for some time now). While they’ll still be held in Los Angeles, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and AEG announced Thursday morning that, after more than two decades there, the glitzy award ceremony will move from the Dolby Theatre nine miles or so to Downtown—the Peacock Theater in L.A. Live, to be exact. The venue change will coincide with the Academy Awards’ on-screen move from ABC to YouTube. The Disney-owned broadcaster has aired the awards for 50 years, but the traditional televised version of the show will end after the 100th edition of the Oscars, the same year the awards will make their move from their longtime home of the Dolby. The Academy’s new partnership with AEG will continue through 2039. The move to the current Peacock Theater (the venue’s name is expected to be changed by that time) isn’t surprising in and of itself. The massive theater has been hosting television stars at the Emmy Awards for the better part of the last two decades—stretching back to when the oft-renamed venue was called the Microsoft Theater and, before that, the Nokia Theatre. The Grammy Awards, meanwhile, are typically held right across the street at the Crypto.com Arena. The Peacock’s 7,100-capacity space means that more of the Academy’s 11,000 members will be able to attend the show (versus the 3,400 that the Dolby holds), and L.A. Live’s

Spring is officially here (though it already feels like summer), wildflowers are in bloom and the city’s best museums are busy prepping a slate of new spring shows. From a Sublime retrospective to tech-savvy tapestries to the long-awaited opening of LACMA’s David Geffen Galleries, here are 12 exhibitions we can’t wait to check out when they open. (And for even more shows that will be opening later this year, check out our guide to the 22 exhibitions we’re most excited about in 2026.) Psst: You can see nearly all of our picks below without having to pay for admission if you brush up on L.A.’s free museum days first. Photograph: Courtesy GRAMMY MuseumSublime. “Sublime: Straight From Long Beach”Grammy Museum, March 27–Sept 7 Any time of year, the distinctly Southern California band Sublime is “well-qualified to represent the L.B.C.”—including in the springtime, when this exhibition at the Grammy Museum opens, exploring the band’s legacy and how their hometown of Long Beach shaped their sound. After skyrocketing to fame in the ’90s for their unique blend of reggae, punk, ska and alt-rock, the trio tragically lost its lead singer, Bradley Nowell, right before the release of their self-titled third album; today, Nowell’s son, Jakob, tours with his dad’s former bandmates. See memorabilia including handwritten lyrics to hits including “Wrong Way,” a bucket hat worn by Nowell, and instruments and equipment used by the band’s original lineup. A special public program is planned for J

L.A.’s live music scene is booming—from South Pasadena’s new Sid the Cat Auditorium to the forthcoming Long Beach Amphitheater. And this week, a major player in the space is opening in a warehouse nestled between Chinatown and Mission Junction. Pacific Electric is the first West Coast project from tvg Hospitality, which entrepreneur and musician Ben Lovett of Mumford & Sons founded in 2016. The company develops venues that combine local character with state-of-the-art design, and Pacific Electric in particular hopes to be a creative hub for culture and community in L.A. While construction on the mid-size concert venue was still in process, I got to take a hard-hat tour with the senior general manager, Stacey Levine, who’s operated L.A. venues including the Wiltern and Hollywood Palladium over the years. She gave me a behind-the-scenes look at what Angelenos can expect from a show at Pacific Electric. The venue opens March 19 with a private show by L.A. folk rockers Dawes—“a statement of intent for a venue that puts local talent first”—and has a packed schedule for the foreseeable future: TimeCop1983 plays the first ticketed show on March 20, followed by a KCRW-presented show by indie pop band Voxtrot on March 26. Other highlights in the coming months include a soulful set by Norah Jones (May 10), the daylong California Chaos festival, with California-based acts including Militarie Gun and Stateside (April 11), and lo-fi Joaquin Phoenix look-alike Cut Worms (April 28). Pacific

The Los Angeles Philharmonic is a more than century-old institution, but its star has definitely risen since Gustavo Dudamel took over as music and artistic director back in 2009. So we’re already feeling separation anxiety ahead of the dynamic leader’s departure for the New York Philharmonic later this year. You still have a chance to see him at the Hollywood Bowl this summer—where he’ll lead four star-studded shows—but officially, after the season ends, he’s decamping to NYC. But according to the just-announced lineup of L.A. Phil shows for the 2026–27 season at the orchestra’s winter home, the Walt Disney Concert Hall, Dudamel won’t be a stranger: He’ll be returning to the venue to conduct three programs in December 2026 and May 2027. And in the meantime, Dudamel’s predecessor—current conductor laureate Esa-Pekka Salonen—will be stepping up to serve as the L.A. Phil’s new Judith and Thomas L. Beckman creative director. Dudamel will lead the L.A. Phil in Beethoven’s “Eroica” and three of the composer’s successive piano concertos, joined by longtime artistic partner pianist Rudolf Buchbinder, on December 4 to 6—a little early Christmas present for classical fans—which will be followed by performances of Beethoven’s Fifth and Piano Concerto No. 4 (Dec 10–13). He’ll return May 6 to 9 to conduct works by Prokofiev and Stravinsky, as well as a new L.A. Phil commission by Zosha Di Castri. “We are thrilled to reaffirm the enduring bond between Gustavo Dudamel, the LA Phil and our

New York and Chicago go all out when it comes to St. Patrick’s Day, but in Los Angeles, it’s a bit less of a thing. You actually have to seek out a bit of craic on the Irish-American holiday—it’s not like we dye the L.A. River green. Nevertheless, there are still lots of ways to celebrate if you’re so inclined—from family-friendly festivities to lots (and lots) of drinking. (Note: St. Patrick’s Day falls on a Tuesday this year, so several events are taking place early, over the weekend.) A Parade Hermosa Beach, in particular, is full of Irish spirit during its annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade. For the 30th year, bagpipers, marching bands, Irish dancers and classic cars decked out in green will all make their way along the coastal city’s parade route. The procession kicks off at 11am near City Hall on Valley Drive, heads west on Pier Avenue and ends at the corner of Hermosa Avenue and 8th Street. The free festivities also include live music and Irish dancing nearby at Pier Plaza. If you want to start the shenanigans early, there’ll be a pre-parade party 6pm on March 13 at local Irish pub Patrick Molloy’s, with more music, food and drinks. Movie Screenings Another family-friendly option is a Paddy’s Day movie screening. Rooftop Cinema Club will lean into millennial nostalgia with the Disney Channel original movie The Luck of the Irish (which director Ryan Coogler recently credited with influencing Sinners), screened atop LEVEL DTLA on March 17 at 7:30pm. In the meantime, this we

Good luck to all those running the L.A. Marathon on Sunday. Also, good luck to anyone thinking about driving anywhere near the L.A. Marathon route on Sunday. This is your friendly annual reminder that thousands of runners will descend on 26.2 miles of L.A.’s streets this weekend, and an even greater mileage of rolling road closures will shut down traffic near Dodger Stadium, around Downtown, toward Hollywood and in Beverly Hills. (Of course, you’re always welcome to use the Metro to avoid some of these closures and cheer on the runners.) When the L.A. Marathon kicks off on Sunday, March 8, you’re going to want to avoid driving near some of the city’s busiest areas starting at 4 or 5am until later in the morning or afternoon: Steer clear of Downtown until a little after 10am, avoid Hollywood (specifically near Hollywood Boulevard) until around noon and Beverly Hills until 1pm. West of there, things get a little more complicated. This year’s marathon once again drops the classic stadium-to-the-sea route in exchange for a “Stadium to Stars” route that makes a U-turn around Brentwood and then wraps up in Century City. So Santa Monica won’t be affected by street closures, but Brentwood, Westwood and Century City will be doubly impacted: All of Santa Monica Boulevard from Wilshire Boulevard to Sepulveda Boulevard will stay closed until 6pm, while San Vicente Boulevard in Brentwood will be closed until 5pm. And consider Century City, where you’ll find the finish line and festival, s

It’s an age-old struggle when going to a concert: Do you eat dinner at home before you go, do you find the perfect restaurant near your destination and try to time it perfectly, or do you just fill up on snacks and drinks at the show? I’ve encountered that dilemma several times when seeing a show at the Hollywood Palladium, and while its refreshment offerings are a cut above most—churros, popcorn and predictably pricey cocktails—its new lounge, Vinyl Room, offers a solution for an elevated dinner-and-a-show experience. Last week, I got the chance to experience Vinyl Room before it opened to the public just in time for the venue’s two sold-out Gorillaz shows, and it was one of the most exciting openings I’ve checked out in a while. The first-of-its-kind lounge and dining destination from Live Nation offers pitch-perfect vibes for concertgoers. Vinyl Room will be open exclusively on concert nights, beginning 90 minutes before door time and remaining open during and after the night’s show. You enter the restaurant off El Centro Avenue (but there’s also a ramp that provides access straight to the Palladium’s lobby). The room—which used to serve as storage space—was cavernous yet warm, and much bigger than I expected. I had no idea all that square footage was hiding inside the venue, which itself just underwent an extensive renovation in 2023. Photograph: Gillian Glover for Time Out Vinyl Room certainly lives up to its name: It’s wallpapered with records by artists who have play