Michael Juliano

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

Outdoor movies combine two things we love about L.A.: an appreciation of movie-making and spending as much time as possible outside. Alfresco screenings usually start to surge across the city in the early spring and continue into the fall and holiday season, be it atop rooftop bars, at L.A.’s best parks or even at a Hollywood cemetery. Most of our favorite outdoor series fall into two formats: Alfresco screenings where moviegoers bring their own chair or blanket and can pack together some picnic food, and rooftop ones where you’ll be offered a seat and some on-site snacks as you catch films both old and new. (If you’re looking for a fun date idea, this one takes the cake.) Be sure to check back all year long for updates on the list, as new screenings are always being added. Looking to see a new movie any night of the week? Check out the best movie theaters in L.A. or the few remaining old-school drive-in movie theaters. And for some at-home inspiration, you can always catch up on the best L.A. movies of all time. For screenings with multiple movies on a single night, each film is separately ticketed unless otherwise noted. Also, unannounced schedule changes tend to occur, but we’ll do our best to keep the list below updated on at least a monthly basis.

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 mid-March, many of our favorite destinations for wildflowers have reported action. While we’re not seeing a super bloom this year, you can spot lots of flowers at the Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve and Carrizo Plain National Monument. The early bloom at Anza-Borrego Desert State Park is now be past its peak, but you can still spot some flowers. And, perhaps most exciting of all: Death Valley National Park is seeing the best bloom it’s had in a decade, and though low-el

Whether a day trip or a Metro ride away, there’s no shortage of music festivals near Los Angeles. We’re not just talking about summer music festivals either—thanks to Southern California’s (mostly) persistently pleasant climate, we can enjoy outdoor fests nearly year-round. So lace up a comfortable pair of shoes for these music festivals within driving distance of L.A., from single-day affairs to camping excursions. We’ve gathered the biggest fests below—and we’ll continue to add more as they’re announced throughout the year.

This list is from 2024. Our latest ranking for 2025 is live here. In 2024, what exactly makes a neighbourhood cool? Craft breweries, natty wine bars and street art are well and good, but the world’s best, most exciting and downright fun neighbourhoods are much more than identikit ‘hipster hubs’. They’re places that reflect the very best of their cities – its culture, community spirit, nightlife, food and drink – all condensed in one vibey, walkable district. To create our annual ranking, we went straight to the experts – our global team of on-the-ground writers and editors – and asked them what the coolest neighbourhood in their city is right now, and why. Then we narrowed down the selection and ranked the list using the insight and expertise of Time Out’s global editors, who vetted each neighbourhood against criteria including food, drink, arts, culture, street life, community and one-of-a-kind local flavour. The result? A list that celebrates the most unique and exciting pockets of our cities – and all their quirks. Yes, you’ll find some of those international hallmarks of ‘cool’. But in every neighbourhood on this list there’s something you won’t find anywhere else. Ever been to a photography museum that moonlights as a jazz club? Or a brewery with a library of Russian literature? How about a festival dedicated to fluff? When communities fiercely support and rally around their local businesses, even the most eccentric ideas can become a reality. And that, in our eyes, is

This list is from 2025. Our latest ranking for 2026 is live here. People who don’t live in cities will tell you they’re busy, lonely and expensive places. But there’s a reason so many people choose to live in them: with world-class art and culture, unbeatable food and nightlife, buzzing neighbourhoods and a dizzying amount of stuff to do and see, there’s simply no better place to be.  Every year, we take the pulse of city living by quizzing thousands of locals across the planet about life in their hometowns. This year, more than 18,500 city-dwellers shared their insights on everything from food, nightlife and culture to affordability, happiness and the overall city vibe. When urban living can sometimes feel isolating and costly, this year we wanted to get a sense of what, exactly, makes a city feel like home. Sure, the nightlife is great, but is the city safe and walkable? Is good quality food and art available at a reasonable price? Is it easy to make friends, find love, and access nature?  Livability was a key factor in our ranking this year. But a great city to live in is, naturally, a great city to visit. So, along with the thousands of responses from locals around the world, we asked Time Out’s global network of city experts to vote on the places they think are particularly exciting right now. After crunching all that data, here we are: Time Out’s definitive ranking of the world’s best cities in 2025. Read on to see how your hometown fared… RECOMMENDED:🛍️ The coolest n

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

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 March 2026: Sure, St. Patrick’s Day is coming up, but to many, March means one thing: the start of spring. Head to L.A.’s botanical gardens this month before you miss the fleeting beauty of their cherry blossoms, tulips and wisteria. Or take a drive out of town to see some wildflowers—a super bloom doesn’t seem to be in the cards this year, but there’s lots more floral activity than there was last spring, including at the Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve. Two culinary fests—the women-centric Re:Her Festival and California Adventure’s Food & Wine Festival—fill March with delicious offerings. And ArtNight Pasadena, one of the city’s best cultural events, is back this month, showcasing some newly renovated museums. Meanwhile, the Academy Museum is helping movie lovers prep for the Oscars

When it comes to wanderlust, it’s tough to compete with the call of the open road in Southern California (spikes in gas prices aside). But road trips aren’t your only option: If you’re willing to put in a little bit of extra time and planning, there are a few train trips from Los Angeles that are even more spectacular than their car-based counterparts. As with standout automobile excursions, we think the journey is just as key as the destination when it comes to train trips. So the routes we’ve selected below all feature pretty stunning coastal scenery, as well as worthwhile cities waiting for you at the end. They also all rely on Amtrak, and we’ve started each itinerary at Union Station in DTLA (though we’ve noted when additional departure stations are available, as well). We’ll admit, though, that Southern California’s train trip options are relatively limited—at least using our pretty particular criteria. Also, just because you can take a train somewhere doesn’t mean you should: A route that only runs at night, takes hours more than a car or bus ride and costs more than a flight isn’t really something we can recommend. Therefore, we’ve limited our picks below to a small number of the very best of the best—and outlined why a couple of notable destinations didn’t make the cut. Also, there are a number of nearby cities reachable by Metrolink (Ventura, Oxnard, Claremont, Orange, San Juan Capistrano, San Clemente and Solana Beach) that we consider commutes more than proper trip

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

Guys, it’s L.A.: There are movie theaters, screening rooms, DIY projections, drive-ins, outdoor screenings and local film events everywhere. When Hollywood is the local industry, you can expect that there’d be no shortage of places to check out the resulting product.  But when you’re looking for the best possible place to plant yourself for two-plus hours of cinematic bliss, there are a few spots that rise above the rest. Whether you’re into arthouse, black-and-white, B-movie bonanzas or the most luxurious assigned-seating dine-in theater, this city has it all. Here are our picks for the best movie theaters and classic cinemas L.A. has to offer. RECOMMENDED: 57 best films about Los Angeles

Though known for its swimming pools and as a place for Hollywood legends to escape, Palm Springs offers so much more than this classic reputation. Everyone knows about Coachella and Stagecoach, but art festivals, food and wine festivals and the annual Pride parade—which hosts thousands of people each fall—are more than enough reasons to book a Palm Springs getaway. While the desert heat may deter some, there’s no reason not to pay a visit in the fall, winter or spring, where the temperatures are cooler, and places to stay, abound.  Hotel personalities are diverse here—from massive resorts to cozy bungalows and boutique hotels with plenty of character, you and your crew are sure to find the right fit. Got a bachelorette? Party hard at a famous hotel known for its pool parties. Planning a romantic anniversary? Book a spa treatment at a hotel that’s hidden away from the rest of the city.  Whatever your vibe, read on to discover our picks for the best places to stay in the desert—oh, and don’t forget to hydrate.  RECOMMENDED: ☀️ The ultimate guide to California 🏠 The best Palm Springs Airbnbs⭐ The best luxury hotels in Palm Springs💰 The best cheap hotels in Palm Springs This guide was recently updated by California-based writer Michelle Poveda. At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines. While we might not stay in every hotel featured below, we've based our lis

This U.S.-via-France arts-and-culture marathon of performances, discussions and screenings returns to the Wende Museum with an all-day program stretching into the night. Daytime highlights include kid-friendly hands-on workshops in animation and climate awareness, a video games forum, a performance by the Bob Baker Marionette Theater and more. Once the sun goes down, hear a new work by composer Victor Le Masne (music director of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games), take a curator tour of the Wende, listen to talks on journalism, art, literature, astronomy and the Declaration of Independence, step into a VR experience and hear data artist Refik Anadol (whose Dataland is set to open this spring) share his thoughts on AI. Did we mention it’s all free?

Every two years, Disney adults come together at the Anaheim Convention Center to celebrate all things Disney and see what sort of magic the company has been working on. Show floor highlights include a peek inside the Disney Archives and the latest ride designs and inventions from Walt Disney Imagineering. If you can secure a seat, the weekend’s keynotes include the celebrity-filled Legends induction ceremony and a look at upcoming releases from Pixar, Marvel, Lucasfilm and both animated and live action Disney movies, as well as the latest from the Disney theme parks. When is this year’s D23? You’ll find the show floor and most of the panels at D23 at the Anaheim Convention Center from August 14 to 16, 2026. The convention center hours are from 9am to 8pm each day. The three headlining panels will all take place at the Honda Center this year, including the film and TV-filled Disney Entertainment Showcase on August 14 at 7pm, the theme park-focused Disney Experiences Showcase on August 15 at 7pm and the Disney Legends Ceremony on August 16 at 1:30pm. Wait, what’s this about the Honda Center? That’s right, to accommodate more guests in the company’s ever-popular showcases, the three main events above were moved off-site to the Honda Center in 2024. And, you know, it was actually a pretty positive upgrade. Expo organizers told us last edition that each of these sought-after events now hold about 12,000 people, almost double what they had been able to when they were held at the co

Travel back to the LBC circa 1996 inside the Grammy Museum’s new celebration of Sublime. Three decades after the release of the legendary Long Beach ska-punk-reggae trio’s self-titled breakthrough—as well as the passing of singer and guitarist Bradley Nowell—the museum has assembled this nostalgic showcase of flyers, instruments and black-and-white performance photos. Highlights include handwritten lyrics to “Wrong Way,” archival live footage and Nowell’s sticker-covered acoustic guitar.

Miracle Mile was the first commercial development in L.A. designed expressly for the benefit of drivers, so a former department store makes an apt home for this museum of car culture. A 2015 redesign replaced the automotive history museum’s old-timey displays with industrial-chic galleries, and the changes have absolutely been for the better: If you’re at all interested in cars, you can’t really top this shrine to the progress, dominance and dazzling good looks of the automobile. The museum’s narrative begins in the third-floor galleries with a bit of automotive history; you’ll find sections dedicated to Southern California road culture and a rotating selection of Hollywood cars, from the Tim Burton–era Batmobile to the ice cream truck from Borat. The second floor puts the focus on industrial design while the ground floor spotlights artistry, but the actual cars on display here swap in and out via multi-month and open-ended exhibitions. That’s excellent news for the average visitor, who might encounter shows dedicated to anything from lowriders and hot rods to Andy Warhol and Keith Haring designs to vehicles featured in James Bond and Fast & Furious films. The Petersen may not be as essential of a stop for first-time visitors to L.A. as, say, the Getty or LACMA. But the familiar and fascinating cars here are always impeccably presented, and if you’ve ever ogled a sports car before, you’re bound to connect with something on display. Car aficionados, meanwhile, will have to con

Of all the old-school stand-up rooms, the Comedy Store is the only one that’s managed to keep its lineups consistently fresh and funny while staying true to its seedy Sunset Strip roots (it dates back to 1972, when it took over a space that was once the notorious club Ciro’s). Three separate stages host a monstrous array of stand-ups more or less every night of the week, and its long showcases are known for arena-caliber drop-ins (just maybe cash out your tab before the doldrums of the last hour of the show). Unlike the alternative spaces that’ve sprouted up across the city in the past decade or two, there’s still a two-drink minimum here, which is a bit of a drag—but it’s a reasonable tradeoff for the top-tier talent that grabs the mic.

This stretch of sand in Long Beach is a pooch-friendly paradise. Indeed, it’s the only one of its kind: The four-acre waterfront spot is the sole legal off-leash dog beach in L.A. County. Even if it had competition, Rosie’s (named after the area’s late local canine celebrity, Rosie the English bulldog) would still stand out for its plentiful parking and spacious, soft sand (it’s not nearly as sticky as the tar-flecked dog beach just across the county border in Huntington Beach). A pair of posts gestures towards the pooch-permitted and human-only portions of the beach, otherwise there are no fences marking the dog-friendly area; you’ll know you’re in the right spot if you see the colorful “Dogs at Play” sculpture and stay roughly between Granada Avenue and Roycroft Avenue (between 6am and 8pm daily). If you’re hungry while you’re there, make sure to stop by Monty’s Dog Beach & Bar, a snack shop near the parking lot with an adorable agility course and some limited beach chair seating (which are very in demand on busy weekends).

Carved into the hills above the Hollywood Reservoir’s walking paths but below a dirt lot of snap-happy sightseers, this grassy field feels like a dog-friendly Shangri-La. You don’t need to have four legs to enjoy the scenery, thanks to a small playground, shaded picnic benches and one of the most fantastic views of the Hollywood Sign. (Sure, you can brashly brave the narrow, winding canyon roads nearby for a closer glimpse, but Lake Hollywood Park offers by far the best balance of accessibility, proximity and photo framing.) Unlike the touristy turnout just up the road, this park stays relatively quiet throughout the day—other than the sound of dogs barking. The verdant retreat is the perfect place to mingle with hills-dwelling pooches, just make sure your dog is leashed (otherwise the park rangers may make sure for you).

Pan-Asian music and media collective 88rising’s music fest once again returns to the grounds outside the Rose Bowl, albeit only for a single-day fest this time around. The 2026 edition’s headliners include KATSEYE (only a few months after their Coachella performance), XG, Dabin.kr, Rich Brian and more.

Geek out with fellow TV nerds at PaleyFest, the annual weeklong festival of exclusive episodes, clips and panel discussions with the cast and creators of the hottest TV shows. The Paley Center for Media-hosted festival is headed back to the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood from April 4 through 12, 2026. This year’s lineup includes cast and creator panels for The Pitt, Pluribus, Emily in Paris, Scrubs, Your Friends & Neighbors, a 50th anniversary celebration of Charlie’s Angels and a pair of beloved L.A.-set shows, Nobody Wants This and Shrinking. Each event includes a screening—usually either a finale or a preview—as well as a conversation, and as you might expect, the talent lineup is pretty staggering. This year’s roster includes—and this is truly just the abbreviated version—Rhea Seehorn and Karolina Wydra (Pluribus); Kate Jackson, Jaclyn Smith, and Cheryl Ladd (Charlie’s Angels); Jason Segel, Harrison Ford and Jessica Williams (Shrinking); Kristen Bell, Adam Brody and Justine Lupe (Nobody Wants This); Lily Collins and Ashley Park (Emily in Paris); Zach Braff, Donald Faison, Sarah Chalke, Judy Reyes, John C. McGinley, Neil Flynn, Christa Miller and Bill Lawrence (Scrubs); Jon Hamm, Amanda Peet and Olivia Munn (Your Friends & Neighbors); and Noah Wyle, Katherine LaNasa and R. Scott Gemmill (The Pitt).

For dinner and a movie, all in one, just follow the food trucks. During the spring, summer and fall, Street Food Cinema throws together a series of outdoor parties that include screenings of some of our favorite movies, paired with an assortment of gourmet food trucks and even a live music performance from a cool local band. The screenings are held in venues across L.A. into October and alternate from week to week, so make sure to check the schedule. Some of the outdoor venues are dog-friendly, allowing you to bring your four-legged cinema lover along. See more of this season’s outdoor movie screenings in L.A.

The aughts indie nostalgia shows no signs of stopping, so it’s no surprise that Just Like Heaven—a music fest that’s featured basically every beloved 2000s indie band—is coming back for its sixth edition. The fest will take over the golf course next to the Rose Bowl on August 22, 2026 with a lineup that’s partially pulled from your old iPod: the Strokes and LCD Soundsystem top the lineup, with additional sets from TV Girl, Chromeo, the Rapture, Feist, Twin Peaks, Matt and Kim, Whitney and more.

It doesn’t matter if you win by an inch or a mile—or if you’re more of a fan of the street racing and respect era or heists and hackers phase of Fast & Furious: There’s plenty of familiar motorized might to behold at this Petersen Automotive Museum exhibition honoring the high-adrenaline film franchise. You’ll find roughly 20 screen-used cars and production prototypes—including ones on loan from Vin Diesel’s private collection, as well as from the late Paul Walker—on display in the second floor of the Miracle Mile museum. It’s a very Fast & Furious kind of year in L.A. between Universal Studios’ roller coaster and this 25th anniversary exhibition. While the Petersen’s exhibition is certainly encyclopedic (the selections here span the entirety of the franchise, with a particular focus on the first three films), it’s not overly academic: Brief labels will let you know the story behind the stunt car you’re staring at, but this is ultimately an opportunity to ogle American muscle cars and custom Japanese imports (as well as the franchise’s melodramatic quotes about family). Highlights on display include the 1993 Toyota Supra “Stunt #3” and 1995 Mitsubishi Eclipse driven by Brian O’Conner (Paul Walker) in the original film, Dominic Toretto’s (Vin Diesel) 1968 Dodge Charger R/T and 1993 Mazda RX-7, and Suki’s (Devon Aoki) very pink 2001 Honda S2000.

Dodger Stadium has a new name—well, part of it, at least. It’ll look the same on Google Maps or freeway signs and even as you first pull through the parking gates. But once you’re inside Chavez Ravine, you’ll start to spot the changes. Baseball games will now take place on Uniqlo Field at Dodger Stadium. The Japanese clothing brand struck a deal with the Dodgers for the naming rights to the field—literally the grass and dirt parts of the stadium—as well as additional signage across the venue. But notably, the stadium name itself has not changed: It’s still just Dodger Stadium, and you can feel pretty confident that’s what most Angelenos will continue to call it. So… what does that actually mean if you’re attending a game? I was invited to an unveiling of the field name on Wednesday, and depending on where you’re looking the changes can be subtle—after all, like most MLB stadiums, there’s already plenty of oversized advertising. The top deck tower high above home plate now has a Uniqlo emblem tucked beneath the Dodgers logo. The facade below the press box that once simply said “Welcome to Dodger Stadium” now says “Welcome to Uniqlo Field at Dodger Stadium,” with a red Uniqlo logo to the left of the brand name. The grass along the first and third base lines now promotes the partnership. And, at least during my preview, much of the digital signage around the stadium was set to sport the full field name.   Photograph: Michael Juliano for Time Out   Photograph: Michael Juliano

We first met L.A.’s 2028 Olympic and Paralympic logo—or rather, the 50-plus variations of the emblem thanks to its wildcard “A”—six whole years ago. But there’s another until-now-unknown design that’s possibly even more important than that: the Look of the Games. This is the uniting visual language you’ll see everywhere, from billboards and building wraps to tickets and rugby balls. (If you just watched the Milano Cortina Winter Games, these were the abstract patterns that lined the ice rinks and alpine slopes.) “It’s the visual language that paints your memories of Olympic Games,” says Ric Edwards, the vice president of brand and executive design director for LA28. “It wraps every building, it wraps every sign, every broadcast, every piece of sport equipment. If you remember the Games, you remember this visual wrapper.” LA28 has unveiled the visual identity for the Olympic and Paralympic Games, and—appropriately enough for all of you wildflower seekers right now—it’s been dubbed Superbloom. The vivid geometric motif pulls together 13 themed elements that act as homages to all different aspects of L.A. Those are all brought to life in shades of poppy, scarlet flag, bluebell and sagebrush, all colors pulled from the bird of paradise (which, you might not even realize, is actually the official flower of the City of Los Angeles).   Courtesy LA28   Some of these 13 “blooms” offer quite literal translations of their tactile inspirations: “the flame” closely resembles a teardrop-

You might not have even realized it, but Los Angeles is kind of a parade city. Whether of the Rose, Pride, Golden Dragon or Hollywood Christmas variety, there’s a major procession somewhere across the county almost every month. The latest entry: the Art Parade. To celebrate the debut of the David Geffen Galleries, the soon-to-open single-building replacement for LACMA’s eastern campus, the Miracle Mile museum will host a block party—with free museum admission—on June 20, as well as a parade of mobile art installations and performances to cap off the day. LACMA’s new galleries will first welcome members and donors for previews starting April 19, and then the general public can step inside from May 4 onward. So the Very LACMA Block Party will mark the first free public event at the new 110,000-square-foot space (museum admission otherwise normally costs $30, or $25 for L.A. County residents—who can also visit for free after 3pm on weekdays). It’s kind of a supersized edition of the monthly Third Weekends at LACMA: The block party, which runs on Saturday, June 20 from 10am to 7pm, includes free admission to the entire museum (both the new David Geffen Galleries and the existing spaces, which will have just debuted “Fashioning Chinese Women: Empire to Modernity”), guided gallery tours, art activities for kids, DJ sets, food and some overlap with the weekly Latin Sounds concert series. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Los Angeles County Museum of Art (@la

You’re not supposed to stare at an eclipse, but nobody ever said anything about projectors. Because how often do you have the opportunity to gaze upon the guts of a decades-old analog projector? To watch two dozen photographs flicker past a lamp in the span of a second? To see a postage-stamp-sized still expand into a wall-sized moving image as it cuts through the darkness? That sort of cinematic magic plays out six times over in director Alejandro González Iñárritu’s latest installation at LACMA. To craft “Sueño Perro,” which runs through July 26, the celebrated Mexican filmmaker pored over a nearly-forgotten trove of a million feet of film that he’d shot for his 2000 debut, Amores Perros. The raw footage was resurrected into roughly 15-minute reels that speed along columns of sprockets and twirl around looping platters to simultaneously play out across six film projectors in a hazy, near-dark gallery of the museum. “This is material that was supposed to be but never was,” the Birdman and The Revenant director says during a late-February preview of the installation. Photograph: Michael Juliano for Time OutSueño Perro: A Film Installation by Alejandro G. Iñárritu A cornerstone of contemporary Mexican cinema, crime drama Amores Perros follows three human (and canine) stories bound by a car crash in Mexico City. (It’s worth mentioning that dog fighting plays a pivotal role in the film, though at LACMA you’ll see some of the behind-the-scenes tricks that kept the production cr

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 award season right now, which means A-list Angelenos are readying their acceptance speeches and practicing how to win with humility or lose with grace. So pardon our manners, as we’re about to gloat for a minute—because it feels good when L.A. comes out on top. Time Out just published its celebration of the 100 greatest cinemas in the world right now, and Los Angeles has claimed four spots on the list, including the No. 1 position. That’s right: The TCL Chinese Theatre has been crowned the best place on the planet to see a movie, with the New Beverly Cinema following not far behind at No. 5; the Egyptian Theatre and the Academy Museum’s David Geffen Theater both appear on the list, as well. Dublin’s Stella Cinema Rathmines, New York’s Film Forum and London’s BFI Southbank fall in between the pair of top-five L.A. institutions, and the rest of the feature spotlights everything from a grand Parisian movie palace to a Canadian cinema with only a dozen seats. The list focuses on single-use cinemas as opposed to multipurpose venues that happen to screen films—so while the Hollywood Bowl is a magical place to catch an outdoor screening on a summer evening, it wasn’t eligible for this list. Photograph: AndyGriffin / Shutterstock.com For out-of-towners, the Chinese Theatre and its handprints and recognizable red-carpet events are about as synonymous with Hollywood as the neighborhood’s hilltop sign—and likely more of a touristy landmark than a place to actually go see a movie.

It’s just shy of four miles long, yet this short-but-stubby Los Angeles subway expansion could easily become one of the city’s  most transformational public transit projects—particularly for tourists. Metro announced today that Section 1 of the D Line Subway Extension Project will open on May 8, meaning that starting about a month before the World Cup, the current DTLA-to-Koreatown route will stretch as far west as Beverly Hills thanks to three new stops: Wilshire/La Brea, Wilshire/Fairfax and Wilshire/La Cienega. These three stops along Wilshire Boulevard will now compete with Downtown L.A. as one of the most cultural institution–rich transit-friendly stretches of the city. The existing span of underground track terminates at Wilshire and Western, across from the Wiltern. Next up comes the first new station at Wilshire and La Brea, about a half block from République and All Season Brewing, and a roughly five-minute walk from the El Rey Theatre. Wilshire and Fairfax will drop riders off right next to the Petersen Automotive Museum and across the street from the La Brea Tar Pits, the Academy Museum and LACMA—only a few days after its new gallery debuts to the general public. Finally, there’s Wilshire and La Cienega, which sits just past the Saban Theatre and will technically become the first Metro station within the City of Beverly Hills. Photograph: Courtesy Aurelia Ventura To mark the occasion, Metro is channeling some real “Chaise Longue” energy by releasing a T-shirt ($2

It’s the worst intersection in Los Angeles: Three major streets converge, the traffic light takes forever and nobody on the road seems to know what they’re doing. We’re obviously talking about… one of any dozen junctions around the city? Every Angeleno thinks that a certain intersection is the worst, whether it’s the six-way stop sign in Beverly Hills or a number of tourist-clogged messes in Hollywood, but if you pitted them all against each other in a March Madness–style bracket, only one could wear the inglorious crown. And that’s exactly what L.A.’s best meme account is trying to find out: Americana at Brand Memes is mounting a monthlong voting campaign to determine, one by one, which intersection is truly L.A.’s worst. Starting March 1, each day around 11am voting will open on Americana at Brand Memes’ Instagram stories to choose between a pair of particularly rotten intersections. The runoff-style voting will continue throughout the month until the worst intersection is chosen on April 1. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Americana At Brand Memes (@americanaatbrandmemes) The L.A. Times recently ranked the worst intersections in the city based on traffic volume and accident data (Highland and Sunset came out the winner/loser). But Americana at Brand Memes’ poll taps more into how these irrational, confusing and aggravating intersections unite Angelenos in their frustration. “I mean, obviously, L.A. is unfortunately a car-reliant city

If this late-winter rain has you feeling a bit gloomy, fear not: Summer is around the corner, or at least it sure feels like it after diving into the upcoming season’s lineup at the Hollywood Bowl. The L.A. Phil has announced its summer 2026 lineup for the iconic amphitheater—the 17th and final one with outgoing music and artistic director Gustavo Dudamel. The celebrated maestro will be at the center of four star-studded late-August performances, most notably an orchestra-backed show by the Foo Fighters. Other highlights include live scores of Wes Anderson movies and Studio Ghibli films (with composer Joe Hisaishi conducting the latter), an evening with St. Vincent and the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra, fireworks-accompanied shows from the Beach Boys and OneRepublic, the Bowl debut of the Los Angeles Ballet and additional sets from the likes of Chance the Rapper, the Roots, Buddy Guy and many more. Courtesy L.A. Phil Before we dive deeper into the lineup, let’s give a quick refresher on the ticketing process: Subscriptions are available now, but you’ll have to wait a couple of months for tickets to single shows. So starting today, February 18, at 10am, you can subscribe to an entire series or pick up tickets for groups of 10 or more to select shows. On March 24, “create your own” packages will go on sale, followed by individual show tickets on May 5 (if there’s one date to remember here, it’s this one). This all applies to the just-announced L.A. Phil-produced shows (which also

Though it may have fictitiously gone full steam ahead in Arrested Development, the permanently-docked Queen Mary can’t leave its retirement home in Long Beach. But what if you could still approximate the experience of setting sail on the 1930s ocean liner? It’s nearly 70 years younger, but the Queen Mary 2 might come closest to mimicking the experience of voyaging aboard the classic ship. Cunard Line, the storied British shipping and cruise company behind both vessels, launched its latest around-the-world cruise on the QM2 in mid-January (a staggering 108-night trip, with alternative options for shorter itineraries), and I climbed aboard while it was docked in San Pedro to partake in afternoon tea and gawk at its Art Deco–inspired spaces. From the outside, the QM2 is aesthetically akin to its namesake—a black hull with white decks and a bold red funnel on top and stripe along the waterline—but with a bit more of a contemporary cruise ship contour. But this technically isn’t a cruise ship: The QM2 specifically bills itself as the world’s only active ocean liner. You’ll find most of the familiar leisure and luxury amenities that you’d have on a cruise ship, but ocean liners are built for speed and transatlantic crossings (including, in this case, semi-regular trips between New York City and Southampton in England); if you put the QM2 alongside other ships, you’ll notice its taller hull and longer bow. Photograph: Courtesy Nick SouzaQueen Mary 2 (left) passes Queen Mary (right)

In the works for well over a decade and under construction since 2020, the David Geffen Galleries, a single-building replacement for LACMA’s eastern campus, will finally welcome museumgoers this spring, starting with two weeks of previews. LACMA announced on Thursday that its amoeba-shaped structure will host a ribbon-cutting celebration on April 19. That’ll kick off two weeks of previews (Apr 19–May 3) for members and donors, including a free day (May 3) for NexGenLA, the museum’s free youth membership program for L.A. County residents 17 years and younger. Finally, access for the general public starts on May 4. Reservations for all of those groups are available now; museum tickets for the general public cost $30, or $25 for county residents. And if all goes according to plan, Metro’s D Line expansion should be operational by the end of the winter—meaning you can take the subway from Downtown L.A. or as far west as the edge of Beverly Hills to a new station just across the street, next to the Petersen Automotive Museum. Photograph: Michael Juliano for Time OutView of Wilshire Boulevard from the David Geffen Galleries at LACMA On top of the preview days, the museum will hold a series of sunset receptions for members, starting with its most elite tiers on April 18 and 19; individual ($90) and dual ($150) members will receive invites for May 1 and 2. In addition, the building’s architect, Peter Zumthor, will sit down for a conversation with LACMA director and CEO Michael Gova

Don’t have the cash to score tickets to the FIFA World Cup? While it won’t be quite the same as having a seat right on the pitch, the Los Angeles World Cup 2026 Host Committee has announced a slate of major watch parties for this June and July’s matches, as well as a handful of community celebrations that lead up to the 39-day tournament. This summer’s World Cup shares its hosting duties across 16 cities in the U.S., Mexico and Canada; here in L.A., all eight locally-staged matches will be held at SoFi Stadium, including the United States men’s national soccer team opener on June 12. But arguably the main hub of activity for the opening weekend of the tournament will be over at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Held from June 11 to 15, the FIFA Fan Festival there will feature live match broadcasts, concerts and food; we don’t know yet exactly how the ticketing process will work, but expect more details to be released in early March. If the Coliseum is a trek, there’ll also be a rotating slate of fan zones across L.A. County, with official watch parties held from Venice to Downtown L.A. to Pomona. Organizers tell us that some of these events will be free while others will have a nominal fee; in any case, the objective here is to get as many Angelenos swept up in the World Cup as possible. The Los Angeles World Cup 26 Fan Zones will take over the following spots: The Original Farmers Market (Fairfax): June 18–21City of Downey: June 20Union Station & LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes