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 is all about comedy: Netflix Is a Joke is back and filling the city with hundreds of laugh-out-loud shows through Sunday. We’ve picked some of our favorites here. But even if you’re all comedied out, there are lots of other great things to do. The L.A. County Fair kicks off Thursday in Pomona, Mount Wilson Observatory resumes its summer film series with a screening of Wall-E, and Clockshop’s free Kite Festival lets you take to the skies on Saturday. Plus, the inaugural Santa Monica International Jazz Festival continues with two jam-packed jazz shows this weekend. And this Sunday is Mother’s Day (don’t forget!). You can shop for last-minute gifts at Unique Market or In Todo’s BIPOC Craft Fair, then take Mom to one of the best brunches in town or check out the aerial performances at Theatricum Botanicum’s annual MOMentum Place.

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

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 is all about comedy: Netflix Is a Joke is back and filling the city with hundreds of laugh-out-loud shows through Sunday. We’ve picked some of our favorites here. But even if you’re all comedied out by mid-week, there are lots of other great things to do. The L.A. County Fair kicks off Thursday in Pomona, Mount Wilson Observatory resumes its summer film series with a screening of Wall-E, and Clockshop’s free Kite Festival lets you take to the skies on Saturday. Plus, the inaugural Santa Monica International Jazz Festival continues with two jam-packed jazz shows this weekend. 

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

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.

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.

Skim through the must-visit attractions in Los Angeles and you’ll notice a trend: It’s a lot of outdoorsy fun. So committing to a day inside of a museum might be a tall ask. In fact, choosing anything over a 75-and-sunny day at the beach is a hard ask—especially if you’re visiting from somewhere with a climate that’s not as consistently comfortable as SoCal’s.  But here’s the thing: No matter how good the weather, visiting L.A.’s museums is a must. In fact, not only are they among the city’s best things to do, but Los Angeles museums can increasingly stand toe to toe with ones in cultural capitals like New York, Chicago and Washington, D.C. And, lucky you, a handful of them have stunning outdoor campuses with hilltop views, sculpture gardens and sunny courtyards. I’ve spent the past decade-plus visiting all of L.A.’s museums (and revisiting them as each riveting new exhibition and expansion opens). There are even more institutions in the L.A. area than just the ones on this list (including plenty of quirky, off-the-beaten-path museums), but I think the 21 below are the very best—and I’d say the top five in particular are borderline essential for any trip to L.A. If you’re on a budget, don’t worry: L.A. is flush with free museums. In fact, of the ones on this list, nearly half of them don’t cost a dime, and most of the rest offer regularly scheduled free days. Sure, you might have to pay for parking or trek across town, but that’s nothing a Metro trip or ridesharing service ca

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.

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. 

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.

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. 

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

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

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