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Another week, another fresh list of SoCal to-dos.
This April 13-17 in Los Angeles, you’ll find College Night at the Getty, a John Waters 80th Birthday Celebration at Cal State L.A., Locals’ Night at the Pier, MAFter Hours, a Somos NELA Block Party, and more.
Things To Do This Week
M = Less than .5 miles from an L.A. Metro Station, FA = Free Admission, TP = Top Pick
College Night at The Getty – FA TP > On Monday, the Getty’s annual after-hours celebration for college students returns this April, offering an exclusive evening of art, music, and behind-the-scenes experiences. Expect live performances, hands-on workshops, and gallery tours designed specifically for the student community. Attendees can explore current exhibitions, including How to Be a Guerrilla Girl and Photography and the Black Arts Movement, while enjoying a festive atmosphere. It all runs from 5:30 to 9 p.m. Tickets are free, but advance RSVP is required. More info here.
Going to Extremes: A John Waters 80th Birthday Celebration -> Celebrate eight decades of gleeful provocation with the “Pope of Trash” himself as John Waters takes the stage at Cal State L.A.’s Luckman Fine Arts Complex this Tuesday. In this special birthday edition of his spoken-word show, the legendary filmmaker and cultural provocateur reflects on a lifetime of breaking boundaries and championing the beautifully bizarre. Expect a high-voltage evening of razor-sharp wit as Waters shares unfiltered stories from his cult-classic films and his adventures in the art world. Program starts at 8 p.m. Tickets start at $54. More info here.
Sketch Party – FA > Sketch Party’s twice-monthly drawing/drinking meet-up comes to Benny Boy Brewing this Tuesday. They’ll hook you up with sketch paper, pens, pencils, and markers, then it’s up to you to create, mingle, hang out, and enjoy BB’s solid lineup of craft beers and ciders. All artistic levels welcome. Free to attend. Runs 7 to 11 p.m. 21+ only. More info here.
East West Players & JACCC Present Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Flower Drum Song – M > East West Players closes out its Diamond Legacy season with the grand finale it deserves, all beginning this Thursday. Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Flower Drum Song returns to the stage with a newly updated book by Tony Award-winning playwright David Henry Hwang, directed by EWP Artistic Director Lily Tung Crystal. Set in 1960s San Francisco Chinatown, the story follows Mei-Li, a young Chinese opera artist fleeing communism who arrives in America and finds herself drawn into the dazzling world of Grant Avenue nightclubs. Hwang’s reworking allows Asian Americans to reclaim this cherished story at a moment when conversations about identity and cultural preservation feel more urgent than ever. Performances run through May 31. Tickets start at $49. More info here.
Locals’ Night at the Pier – FA > Locals’ Night returns to the Santa Monica Pier this Thursday with a “Spring Art Mart” theme. Expect vintage vendors and local makers, a classic car show, and live performances ranging from punk to salsa. Programming runs from 3:30 to 10 p.m. Free to attend. More info here.
All Space Considered – FA > On Thursday, join the Griffith Observatory curatorial staff for their monthly deep dive into the latest astronomical discoveries and space science headlines. For April, guest speaker Jameeka Marshall (Program Manager for Shadow the Scientists (StS) and former Maunakea educator will present on “Making Science Research Accessible: The Shadow the Scientists Experience.” The program begins at 7 p.m. Free to attend. More info here.
Susumu Yokota’s Songs of Joy, Anger, Sorrow & Happiness -> This Friday, spend an evening listening to albums from seminal Japanese electronic producer Susumu Yokota in a private Japanese garden with a glass of Japanese whiskey in hand. In collaboration with Lo Recordings, In Sheep’s Clothing and JACCC present a listening session dedicated to Skintone Edition, an archival project spanning 11 aliases, 30-plus albums, and countless EPs. Listening sessions and DJ sets are hosted by the In Sheep’s Clothing team, with Japanese whiskey, beer, and wine available throughout. Tickets are $15. More info here.
Somos NELA Block Party – FA TP > The Somos NELA Block Party returns to Frogtown this Friday, doubling in size and extending its hours for 2026. Expect over 40 local vendors specializing in food, handmade crafts, and holistic healing. The event serves as a vibrant community hub, offering live music throughout the night, family-friendly activities, and essential community resources. Runs 5 to 9 p.m. Free to attend. More info here.
MAFter Hours – FA > This Friday, experience the Marciano Art Foundation after dark during the first-ever MAFter Hours. This special event offers a rare opportunity for visitors of all ages to explore the foundation’s expansive galleries and current exhibitions well into the evening. Guests are encouraged to visit the 2nd-floor Window Gallery and the 3rd-floor Ballroom Gallery around sunset to witness the dramatic shift in natural light as it interacts with the artwork. Runs 6 to 10 p.m. Free to attend, but you must reserve a timed slot in advance. More info here.
UCLA AMIA Student Chapter Takeover: Avant-Garde Animation – FA > The Hammer Museum and the UCLA Film & Television Archive present a unique takeover by the UCLA AMIA Student Chapter, highlighting the experimental edge of animated cinema. This curated screening showcases films that reject traditional linear narratives in favor of abstract concepts, rhythmic visual textures, and sensorial exploration. The program serves as a reminder of the power of visual and aural elements to communicate outside the boundaries of conventional language. Program begins at 7:30 p.m. Free to attend. More info here.
Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach – M > This Friday to Sunday, this annual racing event brings three days of grand prix action to Downtown Long Beach accompanied by a lifestyle expo and a variety of fun activations. Tickets start at $58 for one-day access. More info here.
Dining & Drinking
(picks by Christina Champlin)
Make Food Not Waste Pop-Up Dinner Series (April 14, 22,23) -> Cult favorite food recycler Mill unites chefs from both coasts for a three-night Earth Month dinner series at Little City Farm, LA’s zero-waste organic farm hidden in the heart of the city. All proceeds benefit LA Compost, Southern California’s largest community composting organization. Each night pairs two acclaimed chefs for a one-night-only sustainable, low-waste collaboration. April 14 brings Heather Sperling of Botanica and Telly Justice of New York’s HAGS for a produce-forward menu. April 22 spotlights no-waste pizza with Mike Fadem of Ops and Aaron Lindell of Quarter Sheets. April 23 closes the series with Jeremiah Stone and Fabián von Hauske Valtierra of Wildair, alongside Fátima Juárez of Komal, drawing on their shared Mexican heritage. Tickets are $125 per dinner. More info here.
Zaytinya Mezze Tasting Menu (Daily) -> José Andrés Group’s Zaytinya in Culver City introduces a Mezze Tasting Menu designed for sharing. For $70 per person, guests choose four small dishes from a lineup of Mediterranean favorites, plus a single serving dessert to finish. Standouts include Hommus with harissa chili crisp, Crispy Brussels Afelia with coriander seed and garlic yogurt, Soutzoukakia cumin spiced meatballs with cinnamon tomato sauce and feta, Chicken Shish Taouk with sumac and garlic toum, and Lamb Chops with smoked labneh and harissa chili crisp. Mix, match, and share freely just don’t forget to order the savory and zesty Za’atar Margarita.
Crudo e Nudo’s 5th Anniversary Series -> Santa Monica’s acclaimed sustainable seafood restaurant and biodynamic wine bar Crudo e Nudo marks five years with a week-long celebration. Chef Brian Bornemann invites some of California’s best chefs and winemakers for daily seafood-driven specials and beverage pairings, running noon to 9 p.m. in a relaxed, à la carte setting. The lineup: Little Fish’s Anna Sonenshein and Niki Vahle with Mazette’s Zach Peterson (April 13), Saw Naing of The Dutchess and Joplin’s with Old World Winery’s Darek Trowbridge (April 14), Betsy’s Tyler Wells with Jolie Laide’s Scott Schultz (April 15), Dom Crisp of Dom’s Taverna with Stirm Wine Co.’s Ryan Stirm (April 16), Scribe Kitchen’s Kelly Mariani with Scribe Winery’s Matt Ahern (April 17), newly-minted Top Chef contestant Duyen Ha with her Bondle Wines (April 18), and Xuntos’ Sandra Cordero with Art Laietà Wines for a dinner-only close (April 19). Reservations via Resy.
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