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Ready to kick off your April in style? We’ve got of ideas to help welcome the new month around Los Angeles.
This April 1-5, catch BLOOM! at South Coast Botanic Garden, Bergamot Comedy Festival, The Other Art Fair, Aristotle/Alexander at The Getty Villa Theater Lab, First Fridays at NHM, DTLA Art Night, and more.
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Things To Do This Week
M = Less than .5 miles from an L.A. Metro Station, FA = Free Admission, TP = Top Pick
BLOOM! at South Coast Botanic Garden -> Discover the vibrant beauty of spring at the South Coast Botanic Garden’s “Bloom” event. Beginning this Monday, stroll through breathtaking displays of blooming flowers, enchanting landscapes, and serene gardens. Engage in family-friendly activities, including scavenger hunts and educational workshops, perfect for nature enthusiasts of all ages. Free with garden admission. More info here.
Synth Club at Common Space – FA > Every first Monday of the month, the LA Synth Club hosts a monthly meet-up and jam session at Common Space Brewery in Hawthorne. Musicians are invited to bring their favorite synthesizers, drum machines, or any other electronic instruments to experiment / jam with. Runs 6 to 10 p.m. More info here.
Bergamot Comedy Festival – M > The Crow present a week-long comedic arts festival which will host educational panels, workshops, and nightly showcases from Monday, April 1 through Saturday, April 6 in Santa Monica. General admission is $20 with a VIP options for $45. More info here.
The Billboard Creative – FA > Celebrate a decade of creativity with The Billboard Creative (TBC) as they present their 10-year anniversary show. From April 1-30, billboards across Los Angeles will features the works of 27 contemporary artists. All you need to do is find them here on a map.
Benson Movie Interruption – M > What’s better than seeing a terrible/awesome movie with your friends and making fun of it while you watch it? One word: Celebrities! This Tuesday at Dynasty Typewriter, Doug Benson hosts a “your choice” version of his Movie Interrupted series with special guests Riki Lindhome and Paul F Tompkins. Audience members are invited to bring in a Blue Ray / DVD of their choice, and the crowd will vote on what to watch before the show begins. Doors open at 6:30 p.m., and the show starts at 7. Tickets are $20 in advance, or $25 the day-of. More info here.
Trivia with Mama – M > Mama Shelter’s rooftop hosts a trivia night every first and third Wednesday of the month. Join them at 7 p.m. happy hour also runs through 8 p.m.and free popcorn will be provided throughout. More info here.
First Wednesday Lecture at The AoP -> Every first Wednesday evening of the month, the Aquarium of the Pacific hosts a guest lecture and cocktail reception at the Pacific Visions Theater. For April 3, the session will highlight one of the smartest and most surprising invertebrates on earth, the octopus. Tickets are $5 in advance, or $10 the day of. Runs 7 to 9 p.m. More info here.
DTLA Art Night – M FA > DTLA Art Night runs every first Thursday of the month, activating 25+ galleries along Downtown’s Historic Core all free to attend. More info here.
UCLA x Westwood Village: First Thursdays – FA > First Thursdays in Westwood pops up along Broxton Ave. This months theme is LA Vibes featuring a roller skating rink, food trucks, sustainability games and photo opportunities. Runs 7 to 10 p.m. More info here.
The Other Art Fair -> This Thursday to Sunday, The Other Art Fair heads back to Los Angeles with a four-day event featuring thousands of original art works, immersive installations, DJ’d music, and drinks. Tickets for Thursday’s opening night are $45, and general admission on Friday to Sunday is $20-$30. . More info here.
Love Me (Bar) Tender -> Fans of The King may recognize the Jungle Room as Elvis Presley’s personal retreat within his Graceland mansion. Now, a replica of this iconic room, complete with its shaggy green carpet, tiki bar, rock waterfall, and mid-century furnishings, is making its way to Los Angeles this Friday through Saturday. For just two nights, the Jungle Room will commandeer Truly LA in the Artist District, transforming it into an Elvis-themed pop-up bar. Attendees can expect themed food and a Trulixir menu, music reminiscent of Memphis, and ample photo opportunities. Organized by the city tourism agency Memphis Travel, free timed ticket slots are now available on Eventbrite. More info here.
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NHM First Fridays – M > Natural History Museum’s signature monthly series returns for 2024 this Friday with an event theme of Nature and Gender. The evening includes live music, DJ sets in the nature garden, pop-up experiences throughout the museum, plus interesting discussion on this months theme. First Fridays run 5 to 10 p.m. Tickets are $20. More info here.
Aristotle/Alexander at The Getty Villa Theater Lab – FA TP > The Getty Villa’s Theater Lab is an ongoing workshop series highlighting new translations of Greek and Roman plays as well as contemporary works inspired by ancient literature. This Friday to Sunday catch the Lab presents Aristotle/Alexander, which dramatizes the real-life relationship between between Aristotle and a teenaged Alexander the Great. Written and directed by Ovation Award-winner Alex Lyras. Performances run once a day from April 5-7. Free to attend with advance reservation. More info here.
First Fridays in Bixby Knolls -> First Fridays in Long Beach is back on Friday, April 5 with a “Long Beach County Fair” edition of the monthly activation along Atlantic Ave. Expect a roaming band, balloon art, face-painting for kids, street food specials at local restaurants and extended hours at participating businesses. Runs 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. More info here.
Laugh it Off Comedy Night at the Viceroy -> On Friday, The Viceroy Santa Monica presents an outdoor comedy night featuring comedic performances by Sean Grant, Kevin Tate, Zak Johnson, Adam Richmond, Bridget Sell, and headliner Ron G. This event is for ages 21 and up, with a two-drink minimum. Sugar Palm bites will be available for purchase. Tickets are $15 in advance and $20 at the door. More info here.
Rooftop Movies at The Montalbán – M > Rooftop Movies returns to The Montalbán in Hollywood beginning this Friday with a screening if Batman (1989). Tickets start at $20 person and come with complimentary popcorn. More info here.
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Dining & Drinking
(picks by Christina Champlin)
KUSHIBA~ -> KUSHIBA~ opens its doors this week (April 3, 2024) in Echo Park, led by Michelin-Starred Chef David Schlosser of Shibumi. This casual izakaya aims to transport diners to the lively streets of Osaka, Japan. The aesthetic reflects the early 1920s-30s Showa Era, featuring period-appropriate furnishings, regional artisanal décor, and curated glassware evoking mid-century Japan. The menu boasts 20 types of kushikatsu, including seasonal skewers of meats, seafood, and vegetables, each delicately coated in crispy panko and perfectly fried. Additionally, there’s a selection of appetizers to pair with the skewers, including Doteyaki, a beef tendon stew, and Chilled Tofu with chili crisps topped with peanuts. The entire menu is designed for pairing with highball cocktails and Japanese beers. Start with the Ume Sake Bomb, featuring plum wine, and then progress to whisky, sake, or shochu throughout the meal. Complete the experience with a traditional Coffee Jelly and Soft Cream dessert. For now KUSHIBA~ is operating Wednesday to Monday from 4 p.m. to midnight.
Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams Space Themed Flavors -> Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams is now scooping a Punk Stargonaut collection, featuring edible space dust and three new cosmic inspired flavors. Nebula Berry, a blend of blueberry and raspberry and fragrant elderflower; Cosmic Bloom, featuring mandarin, kiwi, and passion fruit; and Purple Star Born an intensely juicy flavor with Concord grape and blackcurrant alongside the returning favorite Supermoon that taste like candied violet and marshmallows. They’re also introducing Space Dust, a fizzy popping topping. Starting April 5, customers can get complimentary eclipse glasses at the scoop shop when they add Space Dust to their Punk Stargonaut flavors for $0.50. On eclipse day (April 8), Space Dust will be free with any Punk Stargonaut flavor purchase.
Monty’s Good Burger $12.99 Combo -> Monty’s Good Burger has brought back its discounted meal offer. On Tuesdays and Wednesdays, you can get a single burger with fries or tots and a drink for $12.99. Monty’s has locations in Echo Park, Koreatown, Culver City, and Riverside. More info here.
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