Things To Do

37 Awesome Things to do This Weekend in L.A. You Need to Know About [4-1-16 to 4-3-16]

March 31, 2016 by Christina Champlin

Los Angeles provides no limit of things to do, some awesome and some not so awesome. Since time is precious in this fast paced city, we decided to curate a list of things to do in Los Angeles every week end that’ll help you decide how you want to spend your limited supply of attention (not to mention dollars!).

This weekend (April 1 to April 3) includes Masters of Taste at The Rose Bowl, a Roaring Twenties Street Jam, a Great Horror Movie Night, a Literary Death Match,  a BBQ championship, Artwalk at The Brewery, the Long Beach County Fair, and much more.

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So grab some friends or go at it alone, but most importantly have fun and enjoy yourself!

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Vegan Beer Fest 2015

This is what a food fest looks like at The Rose Bowl (from Vegan Beer Fets 2015). Credit: Brian Champlin / We Like L.A.

[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!]

Friday April 1st, 2016

1. The Shining at the Old Griffith Park Zoo

The team behind the Great Horror Movie Nights (same folks who do Great Horror Campouts and the Haunted Hayrides) hosts a spooky screening series from March to May, at the Old Zoo in Griffith Park. The second screening, held on Friday, April 1 will feature The Shining. Get discount tickets (while supplies last) via Goldstar.

2. Literary Death Match

Literary Death Match is an epic one night reading series battle pinning four writers against each other reading from their best material. Featuring New Yorker staff writer Susan Orlean (The Orchid Thief), award-winning poet Chris Albani (The Secret History of Las Vegas and Kristin Valdez Quade (Night of the Fiestas) just to name a few, this is not your regular reading…With celebrity guest judges like Adam Scott (Parks & Rec) and Michaela Watkins (Causal) there will be plenty of laughs and obscure literary games…Pin the Mustache on Hemingway anyone? The evening also features musical performances from Silicon Valley’s Martin Starr and harpist Lucinda Belle. Get more information on discount tickets via Goldstar.

3. Star Trek: The Ultimate Voyage

Star Trek: The Ultimate Voyage will invite guests for a night of symphonic music while iconic scenes from the film and television series are projected in high definition on to a 40-foot wide screen at The Wiltern April 1-2. Keep in mind some discount tickets for orchestra seating (saving over $30) are available via Goldstar while supplies last.

4. Sleepless:The Music Center After Hours

Come to the Music Center’s Dorothy Chandler Pavilion for Sleepless, an after-hours night of fun featuring multiple DJs and music performances, video installations, fun activities, and sonic sculptures.

5. Natural History Museum First First Fridays

Party at The Natural History Museum after-hours, go on guided tours, enjoy scientist led discussions, mingle at the DJ Lounge and rock out to your favorite bands at NHM’s First Fridays. The April 1 installment includes a “In Space No One Can Hear You Emote” discussion, “Stranger Than Foction!”museum tour along with musical performances by Car Seat Headrest and Night Beats.

6. Roaring Twenties Street Jam

Heading over to Los Feliz for a weekend-long celebration of the 1920’s lifestyle with historically themed events including architecture walking tours, Mack Sennett Studios dance party, a fancy gala at the Sowden house, speakeasy nights, dance lessons, and much more. Happening April 1-3.

7. The Long Beach Country Fair

On Friday, April 1 the folks at Bixby Knoll’s First Fridays and Long Beach Fresh presents the 3rd annual Long Beach County Fair, a free showcase of local food producers and organizations from all over Long Beach as well as neighboring urban agricultural communities.

8. All Space Considered

The Griffith Observatory hosts a monthly forum where some of the most amazing phenomena in the known universe are explained and discussed. It’s called All Space Considered and it takes place on the first Friday of every month. Oh, and it’s free!

9. Marty and Elayne’s 35th Anniversary At The Dresden 

Dresden resident jazz singers Marty and Elayne will celebrate 35 years of performing their unique renditions of “Staying Alive” (seen in the movie Swingers), Sinatra, Elvis and even contemporary tunes at the Los Feliz lounge. This special performance requires reservations which can be made by calling 323.655.4204. Show starts at 9:00pm!

10. Public Launch Party for Regal L.A. LIVE: A Barco Innovation Center

This Friday there’s a big (and free) outdoor street party going on outside the Regal at L.A. to introduce the new Regal L.A. LIVE: A Barco Innovation Center. Festivities will take place from 6:00pm to 10:00pm and includes street performers, and local artists, all hosted by KIIS FM Live DJ Manny on the Streetz.

11. Free Night at the Norton Simon Museum 

The Norton Simon Museum is free the first Friday of every month from 5:00pm – 8:00pm. Check out the Marcel Duchamp exhibit titled Duchamp to Pop the museum will show works from the archives of New Painting of Common Objects from 1962 and Marcel Duchamp Retrospective from 1963. In addition roughly 40 works will be on view from Warhol to Ruscha all of which who have been strongly influenced by Duchamps works.

12. 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 Thursday, 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 took a peek at 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. Walk-in are welcome but make a reservation if you want to be seated at a desired time.

13. First Fridays at Venice Beach

On the first Friday of the month head down to Abbott Kinney Blvd. in Venice Beach for tons of food trucks, open galleries and late-night shop hours. Get more information via the official event blog.

14. The Virus an Immersive Escape Room Experience

A deadly virus has swept the earth and a team of scientists (played by you and other folks!) are in an underground laboratory trying to find a cure. Each move becomes crucial to finding an antidote OR if you’re unlucky accidentally setting off the computerized decontamination system, where you might find yourself smashed flat by the slowly constricting laboratory walls. Sounds like your kind of mission? Come down to the Six01 Studio in Burbank and check out one of Los Angeles’ most exciting and immersive escape room utilizing digital technology and virtual reality to create a totally realistic experience. Get more information and discount tickets for this weekend via Goldstar.

15. Free Orchestra Concert by the American Youth Symphony at UCLA

The American Youth Symphony has been presenting extraordinary free concerts at UCLA’s Royce Hall for over 50 years. The next installment will take place this Friday at 7:30pm as part of their 2016 Gala Concert. Reserve your free spot here.

16. 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.

17. Free Day at The Pasadena Museum of California Art

Pasadena Museum of California Art has free admission from 12:00pm- 5:00pm on the first Friday of every month.

18. The JASHFESHT Comedy & Music Festival in Palm Desert 

The weekend destination comedy festival will take place from April 1-3, 2016 with Sarah Silverman, Michael Cera, Reggie Watts, Tim & Eric and more headlining, also a special 4 hour and 20 minute Getting Doug With High marathon, with performances from bands like YACHT and Blonde Redhead. See the full schedule here: http://www.jashfesht.com/schedule/

19. Anthony James: Morphic Fields at Varola Gallery

Varola gallery presents Morphic Fields by Los Angeles-based artist Anthony Jamesa. The installation consist of eight bronze sculptures inspired by Robert Rauschenberg’s cardboard box series (1971-72). Gallery hours are 12:00pm-5:00pm Monday through Friday, the exhibit will run till July 29, 2016.

20. Bailey Blue Sample Sale

Happening from 11:00am-4:30pm score dresses, skirts, and tops for $9 and necklaces for $5 at the Bailey Blue one day sale.

Location: 1850 E 15th St Unit B Los Angeles, CA 90021

21. Free Museum Day At The Long Beach Museum Of Art

The Long Beach Museum of Art is free every Friday!

Saturday April 2nd, 2016

22. Santa Anita Park’s 5th Annual Winner’s Circle BBQ Championship

The 5th Annual Winner’s Circle BBQ Championship brings together some of America’s best grill-masters for California’s first State Championship of the year. Featuring a wide selection of barbecue samples from ribs to pulled pork sandwiches, barbecue nachos and new this year a mac & cheese smackdown. Get more information and discount tickets via Goldstar!

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23. The Brewery Artwalk Returns to DTLA for Spring on April 2-3

The Brewery Artwalk is a twice annual, weekend-long celebration of local artists that features over 100 participating resident-artists displaying their work at the Brewery Arts Complex in DTLA. View new works, speak with artists and purchase pieces directly from the studios. Both admission and parking are free!

24. Esotouric Bus Adventures: Hollywood

Esotouric Bus Adventures hosts a four-hour luxury coach tour of the real Hollywood. Featuring tales of literary lions, criminal masterminds, longstanding mysteries and architectural marvels this bus and walking tour, will take you off the Walk of Fame and on to the side streets, where icons took their last breaths, got into trouble and more. Get more information and discount tickets via Goldstar.

25. Sip Cocktails, See The Sights With The Historic Hollywood: Stars & Bars Gang!

Get a taste of Old Hollywood and sip on classic cocktails as an awesome guide share history tidbits, celebrity stories and more on Urban Adventures tour of Historic Hollywood. For more information and discount tickets check out our friends at Goldstar.

26. TOMATOMANIA! at Descanso Gardens 

TOMATOMANIA! returns to Descanso Gardens on April 2 for a full weekend of tomato themed fun. Dubbed by organizers as ‘the tomato freaks Woodstock’ TOMATOMANIA! started as a west coast phenomenon in the 1990s and evolved over time into a coast-to-coast springtime tradition for tomato-loving gardeners of all types.

27. A Current Affair Vintage Market Place

A Current Affair brings together over 50 premier vintage retailers and private dealers from Los Angeles and beyond for a one stop shop for unique and covetable collections. Shop and enjoy an open bar, sway to DJ tunes, unwind in the lounge and nosh on small bites. The pop up will take place at the Cooper Design Space this Saturday and Sunday.

28. Artists & Fleas Venice 

Brooklyn-born craft market Artists & Fleas is heading to Venice Beach this month and will set up at the Westminster Avenue Elementary School at Abbot Kinney and the corner of Westminster Avenue. A&F runs from 11:00am-5:00pm and features locally made art, fashion, vintage wares, vinyl, edibles and beyond. Join them every first and fourth Saturday of each month. Admission is free.

Sunday April 3rd, 2016

29. Masters of Taste

Savor the finer things during Masters of Taste, a new outdoor luxury food and drink festival making its inaugural debut Sunday, April 3 at the historic Rose Bowl in Pasadena. Some of L.A.’s top master tastemakers will come together for a day celebrating the good life, that includes bites from 40 restaurants, an array of delicious sweets, handcrafted cocktails and tastings from esteemed bartenders, wineries, local craft breweries, pressed juicers and coffee roasters. Proceeds benefit the Union Station Homeless Services. Oh and yours truly We Like L.A. is an official media sponsor of the event so maybe we’ll see you out there!

30. Learn the Olympic Sport of Curling: Beginners Welcome!

Who hasn’t watched a curling match during the Winter Olympics and wondered to themselves… “How do you play that, anyway?” Well, now you no longer have to wonder. For around $25 you can get a beginners lesson featuring an excellent introduction to the basics, including sliding stones, sweeping, and game strategy. All equipment provided! Get more information and discount tickets (while supplies last) via Goldstar

31. Montrose Brews Fest

This outdoor beer-garden party will feature craft breweries and bites from eateries like Zekes Smokehouse, The Elbow Room and Big Mama’s and Papa’s Pizzeria. Get more information on discount tickets via Goldstar.

32. Disney’s Zootopia at El Capitan Theatre

Hollywood’s legendary El Capitan Theatre presents a special engagement of Disney’s Zootopia March 4 – April 10, 2016. Before the movie, guests will be treated to an all-new, interactive Wild Animal Encounter show on the El Capitan stage, featuring Lola the Sloth and her animal friends from the Wildlife Learning Center. Plus, Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde, Disney’s new characters from “Zootopia,” will make their live stage debut at the El Capitan. Get more information and discount tickets  via Goldstar.

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33. Robert Mapplethorpe: The Perfect Medium

LACMA and The Getty Museum will both run exhibitions on the late Robert Mapplethorpe. This is a major retrospective of Mapplethorpe’s work and career as an artist and photographer The Getty’s exhibition will run from March 15 to July 31 and LACMA will open their exhibit on March 20 to July 31.

34. Nature Connects at The South Coast Botanic Garden

Nature Connects features 27 unique, nature-inspired sculptures constructed with over half a million LEGO brick pieces with subjects ranging from a hummingbird to a goldfinch to a 6-ft tall Bison made from 45,000+ individual bricks. On exhibition at the South Coast Botanic Gardens from February 19 to May 8.

35. Pay What You Can Day At Craft And Folk Art Museum

Every Sunday it’s pay what you can day at the Craft and Folk Art Museum.

36. Ranger Ernie Hikes

Ranger Ernie leads a 11.5-mile ADVANCED ONLY hike to Cahuenga Peak in Griffith Park on Sunday morning.

37. Free Day At Museum of Latin American Art

The Museum of Latin American Art has free admission every Sunday!


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