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If the start of a new month has you itching to get out and explore Los Angeles, then you’ve come to the right place.
This May 2-6 in L.A. you’ll find a new exhibition at the Natural History Museum, the start of the 2022 L.A. County Fair, Cinco de Mayo celebrations and special menus, free jazz at LACMA, a May The Fourth Be With You edition of Movies on Location, Lucha Libre at The Mayan, and more.
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Things To Do
L.A. Underwater: The Prehistoric Sea Beneath Us -> Opening today (May 2), the newest exhibition at the Natural History Museum focuses on L.A.’s prehistoric past, when much of the land we see together was covered by ocean, and sea creatures. Included with general admission to NHM, which starts at More info here.
Netflix is a Joke: The Festival -> Netflix’s first-ever live comedy festival will bring over 100 live shows to 25 Los Angeles venues from April 28 to May 8. The lineup is, frankly, too big to list here, but if they have a Netflix comedy special, rest assured they’re probably part of this show. More info here.
Lee Alexander McQueen: Mind, Mythos, Muse -> The first west coast display of the iconic fashion designer’s works is now in exhibition at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art . Mind, Mythos, Muse examines McQueen’s artistic legacy through a display of garments from the Collection of Regina J. Drucker alongside artworks from LACMA’s permanent collection. Runs through Oct. 9. LACMA is open Thursday to Tuesday. More info here.
Your (Un)natural Garden -> A new installation experience created by artist Adam Schwerner is now open daily at Descanso Gardens. Your (Un)Natural Garden offers colorful, interactive pop-up works and installations located inside the Sturt Haaga Gallery, Boddy House. Touching the art is definitely encouraged. Runs through Jan. 8, 2023. Included with garden admission. More info here.
New at Skirball –> Two new exhibitions are now open at the Skirball Cultural Center, both firmly rooted in the immigrant experience. “I’ll Have What She’s Having”: The Jewish Deli traces the Jewish immigrant experience in America through the lens of the delicatessen, while Talking Back to Power: Projects by Aram Han Sifuentes centers on stories of immigrant garment workers in the United States. Skirball is open Tuesday through Sunday. General admission is $12, and free on Thursdays. You can find a photo preview of the new exhibitions here.
1982: The Summer of Movies -> What did the blockbuster look like 40 years ago? Starting this week, American Cinematheque takes you back to the summer of 1982 with a slate of classic film screenings that continues through May 13. The series opens this Tuesday with Fast Times at Ridgemont High at Los Feliz 3, and you can also catch John Carpenter’s The Thing at Aero Theatre on Friday. GA tickets are $13. More info here.
Beyond the Lists: Can We Eat Our Fish and Have It Too? -> Every first Wednesday evening of the month, the Aquarium of the Pacific hosts a free guest lecture and cocktail reception. This month, Kimberly Thompson , director of the Aquarium’s sustainable seafood program, interrogates the myths, realities, and sometimes conflicting messages associated with sustainable seafood. Free to attend with RSVP. Runs 7 to 9 p.m. More info here.
Movies on Location -> My Valley Pass celebrate “May The Fourth Be With You” Day this Wednesday with a special screening of Star Wars: The Force Awakens at Neiman & Company in Van Nuys, the former home of Industrial Light and Magic. GA tickets start at $20. More info here.
L.A. County Fair -> This week the centennial edition of the L.A. County Fair returns to Fairplex in Pomona with a new spring timeframe, and its usual assortment of carnival rides, concerts, and way-too-greasy food. Advanced purchase adult tickets start at $15. Open Thursday to Sunday through the end of the month. More info here.
Cinco De Mayo at Desert 5 Spot -> On Thursday, Desert 5 Spot celebrates Cinco De Mayo with a complimentary three hour open bar with Avion Cristalino Tequila starting at 8 p.m. Guests can also expect a Mariachi band and a menu of specialty cocktails.
Cinco de Mayo at I|O Rooftop -> Spend Thursday taking in the scenic views of the city at I|O Rooftop enjoying tequila tastings, live food stations, and live DJs. The fun starts at 3 p.m. and goes till midnight. Tickets cost $10 per person. This is a 21 and over event.
Martial Arts Museum Free Admission -> Every first Thursday of the month, the Martial Arts Museum in Burbank offers free admission from 3 to 6 p.m. If you want more free museum ideas for this month, check out our May cheatsheet.
Lucha Libre Rides Again with Cinco de Mayan -> This Thursday and Friday, The Mayan hosts a special two-night Cinco de Mayo celebration featuring Lucha VaVoom’s signature combination of Mexican masked wrestling, burlesque, and comedy. Tickets are $65. More info here.
Cinco De Mayo Mercado -> This Friday, San Gabriel’s Cinco de Mayo Mercado brings a festive evening to the Mission District, including a tribute to Selena by Grammy Award-winning artist Adelaide Pilar and a live performance by Ballet Folklorico Sol de Fuego. There will also be artisan vendors to browse, a beer garden, and food trucks onsite with bites for purchase. Free to attend. More info here.
First Fridays at NHM: Plant Powered -> Natural History Museum continues its 2022 First Fridays series in May with Plant Powered on Friday, May 6. Dance to tunes spun by DJ Sammi G and catch a panel discussion featuring Ricardo San Martin, director of UC Berkeley’s ALT:MEAT lab and Jocelyn Ramirez, founder of Todo Verde. Cap the evening by enjoying live musical performances by Empress Of and Loyal Lobos. Tickets are $20 for non-member adults. More info here.
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Jazz at LACMA -> This Friday at 6 p.m., the Los Angeles County Museum of Art welcomes the Louis Van Taylor Quintet to the Smidt Welcome Plaza as part of the ongoing Jazz at LACMA series, which continues every Friday evening through June 24. Admission is free, however seating is limited and first come, first served. More info here
PCH Movies & Moonlight -> Long Beach retail center 2nd & PCH continues their free outdoor movies series this Friday with a screening of The Goonies, to begin just after sunset. Seating is complimentary, but spots are first come, first serve. Get more info here.
Dining
Capri Opens at Eataly L.A. -> Eataly’s latest pop-up concept, Capri, aims to transport guests to the Amalfi Coast through southern Italian cuisine and refreshing beach side sips. Named after the island of off the coast of Naples, the space is decorated with the region’s world famous lemon trellises with plenty of Limoncello drinks featured on the beverage menu as well. Beverage Director and Napoli native Luigi Capasso developed a special cocktail menu for the pop-up where guests can build their own spritz, enjoy an Italian ice pop swirled in a glass of Prosecco or keep it simple with a selection of Italian beers and wines. Open for lunch and dinner the menu created by Executive Chef and another Napoli native Giuseppe Mancois pays tribute to the beachside restaurants along the Amalfi coastline. Guests are treated to tender baby octopus in tomato sauce served with grilled bread; Scialatielli pasta with mussels and clams; Frittura di paranza (fried seafood) with potato crisps; and grilled swordfish dressed simply with lemon and capers. Other can’t miss dishes include a Paccheri ragú and a Caprese cart experience where guests enjoy fresh mozzarella served table side with a selection of local tomatoes and other accompaniments. Capri is scheduled to remain at Eataly for the rest of 2022 giving Angelenos a taste of summer all year long.
Pitfire Pizza x Sonoratown -> In celebration of Cinco de Mayo, Pitfire Pizza and Sonoratown have come together for an epic pizza collaboration to benefit No Us Without You. For one day (Thursday, May 5) all Pitfire Pizza locations will offer “The Chivichanga,” a pizza take on Sonoratown’s popular burrito. The pie starts with Pitfire Pizza’s sourdough base where slow cooked shredded chicken, Monterey jack, mild cheddar are topped before going in the oven and finished off with sliced radish, onion and lime. The Chivichanga is served with dippers of Sonoratown’s signature Spicy Chiltepin Salsa and avocado crema. The collaboration pizza (available for dine-in, take-out and delivery) cost $15 with $5 from each pizza sold goes to support No Us Without You.
Guerrilla Tacos One Day Only Taco Bell Inspired Menu -> Guerrilla Tacos is hosting a Cinco de Gringo special putting a spin on Taco Bell favorites. Only available on Cinco de Mayo, menu items include Bell Beefy Beefer, GT Mexican Pizza, Cinnamon Twisties and Baja Blasted Cocktails. A portion of proceeds from that evening will go to No Us Without You.
Get ‘Machete-Style’ at Trejo’s Tacos this Cinco de Mayo -> Trejo’s Tacos invites guests to turn tacos on the menu at Trejo’s into ‘Machete-Style’ tacos. For $2 any taco can be served “Machete Style” in a burnt cheese-crusted tortilla topped with avocado slices. A Strawberry Fantasy Jalapeño Margarita ($13) will also be on special for the day, made with Strawberry Fanta, jalapeño, tequila blanco, and lime. Say hello to the man himself on Cinco de Mayo, Danny is set to stop by his Farmers Market Trejo’s Tacos location from 4-5 p.m. and his Hollywood Trejo’s Cantina from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Lunetta Taste of Puerto Nuevo -> Chef Raphael Lunetta is taking guests south of the border with his four course Taste of Puerto Nuevo menu. Kicking off this Wednesday at Lunetta in Santa Monica and running for two weeks the tasting menu ($68 per person) starts with tortilla soup and then a choice of starter like campechana made with Spanish octopus, rock shrimp, bay scallops, cucumber, and heirloom tomatoes; a choice of main like the wood-grilled Mexican wild shrimp and carne asada plate; or a crispy Mexican Seabass and a Tres Leches berry parfait to complete the meal.
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Holy Basil -> Holy Basil is getting into the Cinco de Mayo spirit offering two special menu items on Thursday. The Thai hot spot in Downtown Los Angeles will feature a Taquito stuffed with Thai basil and potato top with shredded Beef Panang curry and pickled shallots; and a Sope with Kua Kling Ground Pork Avocado, stink beans and salsa verde.
Cinco de Mayo at Gracias Madre -> The plant-based Mexican restaurant in West Hollywood is throwing an all-day Cinco de Mayo extravaganza complete with a live DJ, mariachi band, raffle, taco cart, flowing tequila, mezcal and other surprises. Stop by on Thursday between 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Gracias Madre as well as event sponsors that day will be donating a percentage of proceeds from select cocktails sold at the event to No Us Without You.
Any notes or corrections? Want to suggest an event we should add to an upcoming list? Hit us up at [email protected].
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