Things To Do

39 Totally Fun Things To Do in L.A. This Week You Need to Know About [4-4-16 to 4-8-16]

April 4, 2016 by Christina Champlin

Every week in Los Angeles there are tons of great things to do (even before the weekend gets started) that we think you ought to have on your radar. With that in mind, we put together a list every Monday morning to keep you in the know about what’s happening in the city you love (or maybe just like).

This week, from Monday, April 4 to Friday, April 8, features the Improvised Shakespeare Co., L.A.’s first-ever Dog Cafe, the brand new Wizard World at Universal, a Magic Festival on the Queen Mary, Beverly Hills Culinary Week, and lots more.

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Hope you find the rundown useful and, as always, enjoy your week!

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Dog Cafe LA Featured

Image via The Dog Cafe

[REMINDER: In some cases We Like L.A. does receive revenue when visitors click on ticket links and make purchases, however we maintain complete editorial control over the events we suggest. Basically, it only makes it on to the website if we think it is cool!]


Monday April 4th, 2016

1. The Independent Shakespeare Co.

With the help of a little audience suggestion, the The Independent Shakespeare Co. creates a fully improvised, brand new Shakespearean masterpiece using the language, style and themes of The Bard himself. There will be two shows at The Largo this week, Monday and Tuesday at 8:00pm.

2. Beverly Hills Culinary Week

Beverly Hills Culinary Week runs Monday, April 4 to Friday, April 8. Over 50 restaurants, hotels, and retail stores in various parts of the city will offer culinary experiences and dining specials during the week including restaurants by Wolfgang Puck, Thomas Keller, and Nobu Matsuhisa.

3. That’s Gold! at The Bootleg Theater

That’s Gold! is a free comedy revue hosted by Karl Hess & Nick Rutherford, put on at the Bootleg Theater every first and third Monday of the month.

4. Salt & Straw April Flavors Invented by LA Students

Salt & Straw partnered up with Larchmont Charter and Westminster Elementary (Venice) students to create the April flavors at the two shop locations. A portion of proceeds from the sales of these flavors will go toward both schools. Come try Caramel Cherry Chocolate Cheesecake, Waffle & Syrup, Coconut Flan and more for a good cause! Flavors only availble until the 27th.

5. Monday Night Tease at Three Clubs

Catch L.A.’s longest running weekly burlesque show at Three Clubs in Hollywood on Mondays. More information on discount tickets available via our friends at Goldstar.

6. BOA’s New Lunch Menu

BOA Steakhouse launched a new lunch menu and it’s delicious. Menu items include Chicken Chilaquiles, Wagyu Flat Iron & Baby Gem, Grilled Chicken Torta, Smoked Wagyu Tri Tip Sandwich and more!

Tuesday April 5th, 2016

7. Rain a Tribute to The Beatles

See The Fab Four’s music brought to life for just one week at the Hollywood Pantages. This Broadway hit features authentic costumes, multimedia effects and perfect live renditions of unforgettable Beatles songs such as “Can’t Buy Me Love,” “I Want to Hold Your Hand,” “Hey Jude,” “Let It Be” and much more. Rain: A Tribute to the Beatles plays April 5-10. Get more information and discount tickets via Goldstar.

8. Free Day At The Natural History Museum! 

On every first Tuesday of the month The Natural History Museum is free.

9. Gregory Peck’s 100th Birthday at The Crest Theatre

The Crest Theatre in Westwood will celebrate the 100th Birthday of Gregory Peck by screening “To Kill A Mockingbird”, naturally birthday cake will be served after the screening in the theatre lobby.

10. ROKU Hosts Teppanyaki Dinner with Table8

West Hollywood’s new Japanese restaurant, ROKU will host an interactive Teppanyaki Dinner in collaboration with Table8. In addition to high-end proteins such as Filet Mignon and Nova Scotia Lobster Tail, all-inclusive tickets will include a complimentary craft cocktail, an order of decadent lobster garlic noodles, and traditional hibachi shrimp. Tickets can be purchased online here.

11. Free Day At Kidspace Children’s Museum 

Kidspace Children’s Museum is free from 4:00pm to close on the first Tuesday of every month.

12. Dave Coulier at Flappers Burbank

“Cut it out” Dave Coulier from Full House and most recently Fuller House will perform an exclusive show at Flappers Comedy Club this Tuesday at 8:00pm. Tickets cost $20.00.

13. Free Day At The Page Museum

On the first Tuesday of every month the Page Museum at La Brea Tarpits is free!

14. Altadena Library Presents a Family Legacy Workshop

Come join the Altadena Library District and Linda Weaver Clarke for a fun and informative family legacy workshop. Linda Weaver Clarke, lecturer and author, flies throughout the United States to present her workshops to libraries. Clarke will be teaching at the Altadena Library this Tuesday from 6:30pm-8:30pm.

15. LACMA Tuesday Matinee Film Series Screens The Maltese Falcon 

Every week LACMA screens a classic film, the ongoing Tuesday Matinee film series cost $2 for members and $4 for non members.

Wednesday April 6th, 2016

16. Broadway Sings Disney

Broadway Sings Disney is a powerhouse concert developed from the Walt Disney catalog’s 80-plus years of magical music. From Steamboat Willie, to Frozen’s “Let It Go,” Broadway Sings Disney is part of SiriusXM podcast, On Broadway’s Supper Club Live, a monthly broadcast sung by some of the brightest of stage and screen. Happening at the Rockwell Table & Stage. Get more information and discount tickets via Goldstar.

17. Scot Nery’s Boobie Trap

This live variety show features big names in a number of specialties like comedy, magic, and music. Happening every Wednesday at Way 2 Much Entertainment in Echo Park all acts have four minutes to be wildly entertaining. Audiences might just see a popular comedian, a crazy trapeze act, a comedy sketch or something completely crazy, you wont know till the show starts! The fast paced variety hour averages about 14 acts per show.

18. Lunchtime Yoga Retreat

Get your sun salutations on in the middle of Downtown in Grand Park! The free yoga class starts at 12:15pm and runs to 1:00pm.

19. El Cid ​Short Film Night

El Cid ​Short Film Night, celebrates L.A. independent film in a speakeasy environment once a month. Watch latest works from some of L.A.’s brightest indie filmmakers while sipping on Spanish inspired cocktails like sangria and jalapeños margaritas. $10 at the door.

20. Morgane Le Fay Santa Monica Sample Sale

Morgane Le Fay is having a eight-day sample sale in Santa Monica from April 6-13. Discounts will start at 80%.

Location: 1109 Montana Ave. Santa Monica

21. Hammer Conversations with Reverend James Lawson & Kent Wong

Reverend James Lawson helped launch the Nashville sit-in campaign that desegregated the Woolworth’s lunch counter in 1960. Inspiring a new generation of civil rights activists he worked with Martin Luther King Jr. and for decades, has supported campaigns for labor rights and remains one of the most important social justice leaders of our time. Joined by Kent Wong, social activist and director of UCLA Labor Center, both will discuss their new book Nonviolence and Social Movements: The Teachings of Rev. James M. Lawson, Jr. A book signing with complimentary coffee, tea and cookies will follow the discussion. This event is free on a first come first served ticket basis. Admission to the Hammer is also free.

Thursday April 7th, 2016

22. Throwback Thursdays Screening of The Jerk

The Throwback Thursdays film series is back at NOHO cinema, the screening features a gourmet food truck onsite, and guest may bring their food inside the theater!  Get more information and discount tickets via our friends at Goldstar.

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23. L.A.’s First Dog Cafe Opens!

The Dog Cafe, situated in Silver Lake, will have their grand opening celebration this Thursday. What’s a Dog Cafe? It’s a coffee shop where adoptable four legged friends roam around for your cuddling pleasure!

24. Escape Room LA: The Cavern

Play Indiana Jones for a day with Escape Room LA! Find clues and solve puzzles to get your hands on a lost civilization’s ancient treasures hundreds of feet below Downtown Los Angeles! You’ll have less than an hour to escape, working with your team to solve challenging puzzles to break free. Get more information and discount tickets via Goldstar.

25. Free Day At The Skirball Cultural Center 

The Skirball Cultural Center is free to all every Thursday.

26. Pop-Up Magazine at the Theatre at the Ace Hotel

Pop-Up Magazine is a live magazine, created for the stage and performed in front of an audience. Some of the country’s most interesting creators from filmmakers, comedians to radio producers are set to perform. There’s also a big party after the show!

27. Throwback Thursday “Tacos & Tequila” at Casa Vega

For Casa Vega’s 60th year, guests can take advantage of their Throwback Thursday “Tacos & Tequila” promotion every Thursday until June 1st. Here’s how it works, order founder Ray Vega’s namesake margarita “The Boss” and you automatically get access to a 60¢ “taco-back” Grilled Chicken Taco. “The Boss” margarita is made with Patron Silver Tequila, Patron Citronage, Grand Marnier, and Fresh Lime it cost $13.50.

28. Escape Room LA The Alchemist

Imagine this… you discover a secret passage inside an ancient library that leads you into the mysterious lab of an ancient alchemist. Suddenly the door slams shut and locks you inside the musterious labatory where you’ll one hour to uncover and unite the four lost elements to release the hidden power of the Philosopher’s Stone in order to escape the room. This live action event at Escape Room L.A. is a frantic challenge that requires critical thinking, creativity and plenty of teamwork. Get more information and discount tickets via Goldstar.

29. Free Day At The Japanese American National Museum 

Japanese American National Museum from 5:00pm to 8:00pm every Thursday!

30. G2 Gallery’s Co-Sponsored Earth Month Los Angeles 2016 Opens at El Tranquilo Gallery

Earth Month Los Angeles kicks off its second year with an exhibit on Olvera Street in the DTLA – EMLA 2016 will showcase photographs of indigenous and tribal lands, national parks and more. The exhibit, co-sponsored by Western National Parks Association, G2 Gallery and El Pueblo de Los Angeles Historical Monument, opens on April 7th with a celebratory reception at 6:00pm with wine and appetizers offered. This event is free to the public.

31. The Wizarding World of Harry Potter Open’s at Universal Studios

The new Harry Potter themed attraction is finally here. Featuring a signature ‘Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey’ 3-D adventure, a Flight of the Hippogriff roller coaster plus a massive Hogwarts Castle recreation for visitors to explore, needless to say opening day will be very crowded.

32. MOCA Free Night

Every Thursday evening from 5:00pm – 8:00pm admission is free to both the MOCA on Grand and The Geffen Contemporary.

Friday April 8th, 2016

33. Skirball Cultural Center Presents: Take Me Out to the Movies

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The Skirball Cultural Center is highlighting their newest exhibition by kicking off a summer-long movie series with America’s pastime on center stage. It’s called Take Me Out to the Movies. Four family friendly classic baseball films screened over the course of 5 months, starting with The Sandlot on April 8. Each screening guests will enjoy DJ’d music, ballpark themed snacks like cracker jacks and hot dogs, plus full access to the Skirball galleries to explore Chasing Dreams, a celebration of baseball that highlights the role of the game’s biggest cultural influencers through a showcase of over 130 artifacts, original films, and interactive experiences. Discount tickets for The Sandlot screening can be found via Goldstar.

34. Broadway in Leimert Park

From Ella and Dizzy to Holiday and Sinatra and beyond, celebrate National Jazz Appreciation Month in April with a lineup of fantastic tributes to all the greats. Broadway in Leimert Park will run April 1-24. Get more information and discount tickets via Goldstar.

35. The Queen Mary FantaSea: Magic Festival

Spend a magical weekend aboard the Queen Mary April 8-10. Salons and decks of the ship will be transformed into the Hocus Pocus Parlour & Pub, Abracadabra Café, The Secret Circle Study and more. Activities include: a magic mixology, mysteries of magic dinner show, plus a haunted after-hours tour. We spotted some discounted tickets via Goldstar for Saturday and Sunday.

36. The 6th Annual Palm Desert Food & Wine Festival

The sixth annual Palm Desert Food & Wine Festival will host three extraordinary days of wining and dining in an iconic California desert backdrop. The weekend-long event features a multi-course James Beard Luncheon, live cooking demonstrations from celebrity chef talent, cookbook signings, and samplings from over 40 restaurants and 60 premium wineries, breweries, and spirits purveyors.

37. Laurent Quenioux Pop-Up at Sangers and Joe

Award winning Chef Laurent Quenioux is hosting a weekly pop-up at Sangers and Joe, in Pasadena. Stop by every Friday and Saturday until the end of April and treat yourself to an incredible raw bar, Quenioux’s acclaimed cheese cart, and much more. We tasted items on the raw bar menu with 20 plus top notch selections that included cherry stone clams, abalone and geoduck -this is a real treat for seafood lovers in Los Angeles. See our seafood platter here. Walk-ins are welcome but make a reservation if you want to be seated at a desired time.

38. The Groundlings: The Completely Different Late Show

The Completely Different Late Show is a hilarious improv show by the cast of the Groundlings’ Main Company. Audience shout suggestions throughout the night for improvisational scenes performed by some of the best in the business. It’s also a testing ground for brand new material for the Groundlings’ main show. Get more information and discount tickets via Goldstar.

39. Noise in the Hood Underground Music Festival 2016

Dubbed as “Hoodchella” TheBearcapsocial will hold their second annual Hood Underground Music Festival, three days of live music, delicious food, live art, dj’s, art vendors, clothing vendors and more. Held at a top secret location, last year over 60 artist from around the world performed in a 16 hour span, this year 100 artist will perform.

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