Gillian Glover

Looking for things to do in L.A.? You’ll find plenty in our June events calendar. We’re talking outdoor movie screenings, music festivals, museum exhibitions, live theater and plenty of Pride events. That’s, of course, in addition to fun-in-the-sun staples like going to the beach, hiking or even lounging on a rooftop. As the weather warms up, head outdoors for this month’s big events—including a little thing called the World Cup—and fests.   RECOMMENDED: Full events calendar for 2026

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. We’re already to the end of May, and it’s a great weekend to plan a museum visit: The Broad’s has a new Yoko Ono exhibition, the Academy Museum has a new show for Marilyn Monroe’s 100th birthday, and the Skirball just unveiled a trio of new exhibitions worth a trip. On Sunday, Museums of the Arroyo Day offers free admission to five Pasadena institutions, including the Gamble House and Heritage Square, and the Kidspace is joining the fun with its own free block party. And Hauser & Wirth is celebrating a decade in DTLA with a cultural celebration—complete with free biscuits from Manuela. This weekend also sees the return of two of our favorite summer traditions: Friday Night Wine Tastings at Barnsdall Art Park and Off the 405 at the Getty Center, where aja monet will take the stage for first free Saturday-night concert of the season. And if you feel like getting away, the Catalina Wine Mixer—inspired by the Stepbrothers punchline—is back for its 11th edition on the island.

You can almost hear the antsy teenagers tapping their toes as the school year wraps up. That’s right, May is the last month to enjoy your favorite L.A. attractions before summer vacation (and crowds) arrive—parents, time to start brushing up on some kids activities. So make the most of that sweet, pre-summer stretch between Cinco de Mayo and Memorial Day with lots of music fests and concerts, outdoor movies, eye-opening exhibitions and free things to do in our May events calendar. RECOMMENDED: Full events calendar for 2026

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. The long weekend may be over, but hey, at least that means it’ll be a short week. It’s a great time to plan a museum visit: The Broad’s new Yoko Ono exhibition opened over the weekend, and the Skirball just unveiled a trio of new shows worth a trip. And on Sunday, Museums of the Arroyo Day offers free admission to five Pasadena institutions, including the Gamble House and Heritage Square. This week also sees the return of two of our favorite summer traditions: Friday Night Wine Tastings at Barnsdall Art Park and Off the 405 at the Getty Center. aja monet will take the stage for first free Saturday-night concert of the season. If you feel like getting away, the Catalina Wine Mixer—inspired by the Stepbrothers punchline—is back for its 11th edition on the island.

There’s nothing better than a well-stocked bookstore with friendly staff. Los Angeles has lots of great independent retailers offering both new and used titles, art books, literary fiction, travel guides, political tomes and children’s tales. Some even have coffee shops inside—and lots have resident cats (could it get any cozier?). Check out these top indie bookstores in Los Angeles for the best bargains, out-of-print titles, author readings and community events; they’re also a great place to find gifts, escape the heat (or a rainy day) or pick out your next favorite novel.

Memorial Day weekend? Must mean summer. Even in a place that’s blessed with perpetually pleasant weather, the long weekend seems to signal a change of seasons with the sudden onset of even more outdoor movies and concerts. Whether you’re looking to spend some time on the beach, at a music festival, at a fun fair or even indoors at a new museum exhibiton, you’ll find plenty to do during the three-day weekend with these Memorial Day events in Los Angeles. RECOMMENDED: See more things to do during Memorial Day weekend in Los Angeles

With so many world-famous sites and attractions to visit, deciding on the best things to do in Los Angeles can be a bewildering task. If it’s your first visit, you may be inclined to beeline it to Hollywood—but, in addition to probably walking away a bit disappointed, you’d be missing out on all of L.A.’s essential museums. Or you might have your heart set on getting star-struck in Beverly Hills—but, in addition to probably walking away a bit more broke, you’d be overlooking all of the remarkable restaurants farther to the east. Our point is: L.A. is big, and stuffed with so many worthwhile experiences that you’ll never be asking yourself what to do but instead when you’ll find time to relax on the beach in Santa Monica, dine along the vibrant streets of the Arts District and grab a drink in super-hip Silver Lake. There are so many great places to visit and things to see, it can be hard knowing where to start and what to fit in. This list should help you decide and get the most from your L.A. getaway.

Summer in Los Angeles may not officially start until June, but with the arrival of the L.A. County Fair (which in recent years has moved from September to the cooler month of May), summer sure feels like it’s already here. Every year, thousands of people make the trip to the Fairplex in Pomona to eat fried foods, take a plunge on a carnival ride and maybe win a prize at one of the many game booths. But there are more attractions at the fair than just the food and rides—learn how to make the most of it with our guide to the L.A. County Fair.  When and where is the L.A. County Fair 2026? The L.A. County Fair runs from May 7 to 31, 2026, at the Fairplex (1101 W McKinley Ave) in Pomona. What are the fair’s hours? The hours are 11am to 11pm from Thursday to Sunday (plus the Monday of Memorial Day). How do I get there?  If you’re coming from Los Angeles, take the 10 East, get off at the Fairplex Drive exit, turn left and follow signs to the Fairplex. Another option is to exit at White Avenue, turn left and follow signs to the fair. If you’re not coming from L.A., you can find directions from various Southern California locations here. Don’t want to drive or pay for parking? You can take the Metro A Line to the La Verne/Fairplex Station, located across Arrow Highway from the Fairplex. You can also take the Riverside line and get off at the Pomona Metrolink Station. From there, grab the Foothill Transit 197 bus to the Fairplex. How much does the fair cost?  Ticket prices vary dependi

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 May 2026: It may not be summer yet, but all of the city’s best alfresco events are already popping up. Cinespia is back in action, kicking off its 25th season of programming over Memorial Day weekend, as are several other of the city’s outdoor film series. The L.A. County Fair offers more outdoor fun, as do Barnsdall Art Park’s Friday Night Wine tastings. Meanwhile, Netflix Is a Joke fills the city with hundreds of comedy shows, and historic ocean liner the Queen Mary turns 90 with a free celebration. And perched a mile high in the San Gabriel Mountains, the Mount Wilson Observatory has a full calendar of talks, concerts and film screenings starting this month. But the biggest news this month might just be the David Geffen Galleries finally opening to the public, right in time for Jazz at LAC

Though summer doesn’t (unofficially) start till Memorial Day weekend, the entire month of May is full of festivals, outdoor movies, concerts and more fun things to do—and, luckily, some of the best events are completely free. You’ll find lots of live music, alfresco art shows, free museum days, exciting exhibitions at the city’s best museums and Clockshop’s annual Kite Festival—plus plenty of other excuses to get out and enjoy the city without breaking the bank.

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 and 2027

Who says L.A. lacks culture? Not only do we boast an impressive array of amazing museums, but almost every single one offers free admission, either on select days or all the time. Aesthetes and culture vultures can get their fix for free at the spots below, which even with their affordable price point removed from the equation would still rank among the best things to do in the city. Whether you prefer the greatest hits at LACMA or off-the-beaten-path museums, it’s easy to plan a free museum visit (especially if you have a library card)—as long as you keep some key dates and times in mind. Here are the best free museums in Los Angeles, whether they offer free admission year-round or on select free days.  RECOMMENDED: See the full list of free things to do in L.A.

Beyond a proliferation of podcast tapings, this year’s Netflix is a Joke Fest is incorporating a lot more music, which is a welcome addition. Case in point: this unexpected mash-up at the Ford, featuring pianist and singer Ben Folds (whose lyrics often lean toward the comical anyway) and Emmy-winning comedian Alex Edelman, who blends stand-up with compelling storytelling. 

It’s time to put a bird on it! It’s been eight years since Fred Armisen and Carrie Brownstein’s sketch-show send-up of Portland and all its quirks ended—though it lasted a full eight seasons without ever seeming to run out of ideas. The friends and creative partners will reunite at the Ford for a nostalgic evening of “storytelling, jokes, conversation and more.” And given the caliber of guest-stars the IFC show attracted, I wouldn’t be surprised if some stopped by.

Stamptown is something of an enigma to me—but it comes highly recommended via word of mouth, which is why I’m excited to check it out in person. Led by professional clown Zach Zucker, the zany live variety show is taping its first special as part of the festival. Expect a 90-minute raunchy and chaotic production; past comedian guests have included Neil Patrick Harris and Rachel Sennott. A third show was just added by popular demand, so you have three chances to see what the buzz is about. 

One of our picks for up-and-coming L.A. comedians to watch, this comedy-music trio returns to Netflix is a Joke with a set at the Troubadour, where you can hear tracks from their eponymous debut album and brand-new EP. Guitarist Ethan Edenburg, drummer Eric Jackowitz and keyboardist Tom McGovern have only been performing together for a few years, but the band has been on a steady rise, earning devoted fans and praise from the likes of Jack Black. Calling to mind Flight of the Conchords and “Weird Al” originals, their songs are insanely catchy and expertly produced, and they’re even more fun live. 

I’ll watch anything Demetri Martin does since the days of Important Things on Comedy Central, but I’m particularly intrigued by his latest effort. Known for incorporating both music and drawing into his live shows, this later addition to the Netflix Is a Joke lineup finds the comic staging a comedy show inside a gallery of his paintings—located at 729 N Fairfax Ave—all of which will be for sale to visitors. The gallery space itself will be open all week, and Martin himself will pop in for a few free shows, including Saturday, May 9 at 3pm. Email studio@artjokes.com to RSVP.

Run by a husband-and-wife team, A Good Used Book has quickly become a community staple since it opened in Echo Park Village in 2023. In addition to an expertly curated selection of used books—bins of shrink-wrapped paperbacks in pristine condition make you feel like you’re flipping through an exciting record collection—along with some new editions, the bookstore hosts markets spotlighting local retailers and food vendors each weekend. 

Stay past closing time to see a new side of the Central Library at this after-hours festival presented in part by the Library Foundation of Los Angeles and LAist. The halls will come to life with art, music, storytelling and poetry in the form of live performances, interactive installations and hands-on activities. The art deco landmark—which is celebrating its centennial this year—will host contemporary dance in the rotunda, a puppet show by Bob Baker Marionette Theater, sound installations by dublab, live poetry, tarot readings, board games, librarian talks and more. You can even pick up some books to bring home with you at pop-ups from Angel City Press, Skylight Books and the Ripped Bodice, plus treats from Altadena Cookie Company and the Chocolate Dispensary. All in all, it sounds like a quintessentially L.A. night.

Nestled amid the clothing boutiques and coffee shops on Studio City’s bustling stretch of Ventura Boulevard (and a block down from the Bookstar Barnes & Noble) is this inviting bookstore with its pink facade—a picture-perfect shop prime for the BookTok era. Founded in 2022 by 19-year-old Annabelle Chang, the store specializes in YA fiction but carries adults’ and children’s books as well, alongside cute, giftable bookish goods.

A family-friendly staple on the main stretch of Montrose—the idyllic neighborhood near La Cañada Flintridge—Once Upon a Time is the oldest dedicated children’s bookstore in the country. There are tons of books for kids of all ages, as well a curated selection for parents to browse while kids flip through picture books in the red-barn-shaped playhouse. There’s a full calendar of family-friendly programming, including author appearances and PJ story times every Friday morning. The shop is celebrating 60 years—it originally opened in 1966 on a Montrose corner, but it relocated down the street in 2007. Throughout the decades, it’s maintained its magic and the power to instill imagination and a love of reading in little ones—just like it did for me when I spent many afternoons there as a kid. 

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

You might have seen ads on Instagram over the past couple of months for Hospital of Emotions—a colorful, cartoony flyer that heralds a site-specific art pop-up located in a real hospital with the tagline “a place to heal your heART.” The conceit intrigued me off the bat: 70 artists (both local and international) given hospital rooms as a canvas to transform as they wished. Hospital of Emotions ads are also referring to it as “the experience of the year.” We’re only in May so that’s still TBD, but I do think the exhibition—which is inhabiting the former St. Vincent Medical Center in Westlake and is officially open to the public as of May 27—is well worth your time. While the entire experience is hospital-themed—you walk through a waiting room and are given an intake form and hospital wristband, employees are in doctors’ coats—it’s not the cheesy type of immersive exhibition (read: selfie factory) that you might expect. Instead you’ll find 80 rooms filled with thought-provoking, visually dazzling and, yes, eminently photogenic installations. But there’s both style and substance here. And though the tickets are definitely on the pricey side, there’s so much to see—I spent nearly two hours there during my visit—that it (almost) makes up for it. After checking in, you’ll take an elevator to the top floor of the hospital, then walk the hallways and go down sets of stairs till you make your way back down to the ground level. Off of each hallway, you’ll peer into patient rooms, opera

Universal Studios Hollywood never sleeps. It’s not even summer yet, the theme park’s Fan Fest Nights—an immersive after-hours event introduced last year that prioritizes fandom over frights—only wrapped up last Sunday, and already preparations are underway for Halloween Horror Nights. On Thursday, the amusement park announced the theme of the first haunted house from this year’s upcoming event: Sinners. Fans will be invited into the Ryan Coogler–helmed blockbuster’s world of blues and vampires beginning this September. The commercial and critical favorite from 2025 is a natural fit for Horror Nights. Guests will be transported back to Club Juke in 1930s Mississippi and have to survive the night while dodging vampires Remmick, Bert and Joan—as well as the warring Smoke and Stack. The Warner Bros. film won four Oscars this year—for screenplay, best actor, cinematography and original score—so I can’t wait to be immersed in the blues soundtrack (with the sound of screams in the background). Photograph: Courtesy Universal Studios Hollywood‘Sinners’ at Universal Studios Halloween Horror Nights. “Partnering with Halloween Horror Nights gives fans the chance to step even deeper into the world of the film—to feel the music, the atmosphere and the tension all around them. Watching it come to life on this scale has been really special for all of us,” Coogler and fellow Sinners producers Zinzi Coogler and Sev Ohanian said in a joint statement. Following this first announcement, we c

It’s finally here: Memorial Day, and the unofficial start of summer. Luckily we have a three-day weekend—and a practically perfect weather forecast—to kick off the season in style. We’ve rounded up 20 summery ways to spend your days off that go beyond a basic beach trip. Read on for the best Memorial Day events in L.A.  1. Catch the first Cinespia screenings of the seasonSat, Sun It isn’t summer in L.A. until the first cemetery screening brings hoards of movie-lovers to Hollywood Forever Cemetery toting folding chairs, picnic blankets, snack spreads and lots of booze. First up on the film lineup this year is a Saturday screening of E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, followed by Moulin Rouge! on Sunday. Other outdoor film series are showing flicks including Barbie, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest and Pride & Prejudice across the city this weekend as well—check our full outdoor movies calendar for more. Photograph: Courtesy Kelly Lee Barrett/Cinespia 2. Sip pickle lemonade on a Ferris wheelSat–Mon The L.A. County Fair is nearing the end of its 2026 run in Pomona, but you still have two weekends to indulge in carnival rides, games and all the wild foodie fare you’d expect at a fair—including a new Dubai chocolate funnel cake. 3. Shop and stroll at a South Bay street partySat–Mon A long-standing Memorial Day weekend tradition, the free Fiesta Hermosa is back with an arts festival, shopping, a carnival, a wine garden and live music on the beach. 4. Dig the groovy vibes at To

If you ask the internet, the creepiest place to find yourself these days isn’t in some creaky, haunted house. It’s in a “liminal space”—typically empty and lit by fluorescent lights, with a soulless, eerie feel. (Think the hallways of Severance, an abandoned mall or, in the case of the Backrooms, a bland room with yellow wallpaper and damp beige carpet). And now the Backrooms concept has been given the A24 treatment, with an upcoming horror film starring Chiwetel Ejiofor, Renate Reinsve and Mark Duplass due out May 29. To get audiences in the right mindset of existential dread, the studio has created an immersive Backrooms experience in Burbank, where you can walk through the eerily bright space—for free. The conception of the Backrooms as we know it dates back to 2019, when a prompt on 4chan asked users to post “disquieting images that just feel ‘off.’” Among the many responses was a photo of the now-famous yellow room, uploaded by an anonymous user (avid online researchers later pinpointed its location as a former furniture store in Wisconsin). Someone else chimed in: “If you’re not careful and you noclip out of reality in the wrong areas, you'll end up in the Backrooms, where it’s nothing but the stink of old moist carpet, the madness of mono-yellow, the endless background noise of fluorescent lights at maximum hum-buzz, and approximately six hundred million square miles of randomly segmented empty rooms to be trapped in.” Thus the seed of the Backrooms was planted, and th

LACMA’s David Geffen Galleries are finally open to the public, following two weeks of members-only previews—not to mention five years of construction and two decades of development—which means you can finally book a ticket and go inside. But you’d be remiss if you didn’t spend some quality time outdoors with the public art—which includes some very photo-op-friendly pieces. In fact, you could probably leave satisfied even if you only saw the free pieces outside the new building. From returning pieces to new commissions, classic French sculptures to a playful newcomer, here’s a handy guide to the pieces you can see entirely for free. Alexander Calder, Three Quintains (Hello Girls) Photograph: Michael Juliano for Time Out Located right outside of the museum’s Erewhon cafe, this work by Alexander Calder—part mobile, part fountain—has a history inextricably entwined with the museum’s. It was commissioned especially for LACMA’s opening back in 1965 and was one of the campus’s original outdoor sculptures—it even inspired a poster touting the museum’s opening day. For a long time, it was installed in the now-closed Director’s Roundtable Garden, and even loaned out to the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, but now the kinetic work is back in the spotlight, its colorful paddles moving amid the water jets and breeze. Iris and B. Gerald Cantor Sculpture Garden Photograph: Gillian Glover for Time Out In conjunction with the galleries’ opening, the Iris and B. Gerald Cantor Scul

If you’re looking to see poppies, floral fans know that Antelope Valley is the place to head. And while this year’s wildflowers didn’t reach full super-bloom status, thanks to lots of rainy days, there were lots more to see than there were last year. Poppy season typically lasts from March to mid-April, but alas, as of April 1, the Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve posted that the hot weather in Antelope Valley had officially caused the poppy season to end, with the namesake flowers giving way to silverpuffs and buckwheats. But it turns out maybe that was nature’s April Fool’s joke, because this Wednesday, the Poppy Reserve shared that the park is experiencing a “second bloom” season—surprise! In a social media post, the Poppy Reserve announced the new wave of flowers. Two of the park’s longtime volunteers theorized that the heavy rain SoCal experienced in February caused additional plants to sprout. View this post on Instagram A post shared by A V California Poppy Reserve (@poppy.reserve) Poppies are show-stoppers when they cover the desert hillsides in orange flowers. But poppies are also fickle: If there’s too much rain, the Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve can only expect a moderate poppy season. Too dry? Not a great bloom either (but you could still potentially see some other wildflowers). But luckily, after last year brought only sporadic poppies, this spring’s conditions have been more favorable. Though if you want to catch the bloo

We can’t even give you a precise number of shows that Netflix is a Joke Fest is staging, because that number seems to increase by the hour. (As of publication, it was upwards of 440.) There are so many events to see during the third iteration of this city-spanning comedy marathon, but as an Angeleno with only so much time and money, you simply can’t see everything—or really even more than a small fraction of the fest, which runs from May 4 and 10. So where do you start? You have your heavy hitters: theater and arena-sized headlining sets from the likes of John Mulaney, Chelsea Handler, Nate Bargatze, Dave Chappelle, Atsuko Okatsuka and Shane Gillis, among others. And amphitheater-filling spectacles like a star-studded Seth Rogen–hosted show and a Flight of the Conchords reunion at the Greek Theatre or Night of Too Many Stars at the Hollywood Bowl. But this is L.A., where you can see big names drop into intimate comedy clubs almost any night of the week. With that in mind, we set out to spotlight some of the standout shows (ones that still had tickets left) on the Netflix is a Joke Fest lineup that feel like truly one-of-a-kind occasions, either due to their extraordinary lineups or unprecedented premises. With that in mind, these are the 11 shows that we think stand out as some of the most unique ones to see at this year’s Netflix is a Joke Fest. Celebrating the 40th Anniversary Of Pee-wee’s Playhouse The Greek TheatreMay 4 at 8pm Today’s secret word is: essential. Because a

The historic Helms Design District seems like it’s constantly evolving. Just last year, it said goodbye to the new Helms Bakery and luxury furniture store HD Buttercup. But this weekend, it’s saying hello—or hej—to a special urban location of Swedish retailer IKEA (and all of the BILLY bookcases and meatballs that entails). And though it will literally be called “IKEA Culver City,” the store is being touted as the first IKEA in the City of Los Angeles. (We checked this—it’s actually true.) You can get a first look at the new store this Saturday, May 2, during an “Unboxed Block Party” on Helms Avenue in honor of the grand opening. IKEA is the latest tenant in the historic district, which has seen a lot of turnover since 1931, when it opened with a bustling, mega-successful bakery. More recently, Sang Yoon, the chef behind the complex’s burger restaurant Father’s Office, opened a bona fide bakery in the Helms Bakery building—marking the first time the complex had housed a working bakery since 1969. Though the effort garnered a lot of buzz and praise for its pastries, it sadly closed just over a year after opening.  Photograph: Courtesy IKEA Now referred to as the Helms Design District, the complex is home to several home furnishings stores including Room & Board and Scandinavian Designs, as well as the now-closed H.D. Buttercup, whose former location IKEA is taking up residence in. (Don’t worry—unlike IKEAs’ typical bright-blue, boxy facades, this location will keep its histo

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