This is a great weekend to take a road trip to see the super bloom going on in Southern California. It’s so big you can even see it from space! One of the best places to go at the moment is Carrizo Plain National Monument, east of San Luis Obispo. A shorter distance away, if you are traveling from Los Angeles, is Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve, which still has some flowers in bloom. You could also check out desert flowers blooming at Joshua Tree National Park which, like all National Parks, is free this weekend (4/15-4/16) and next weekend (4/22-4/23).
For more information on the wildflowers, the best places to see them, and current images- check here.
Things to do in Los Angeles this weekend (4/13-4/16/17)-
(*note- this is Easter Weekend and Coachella, so listings are a little more limited this week)
Thursday
The Buttertones are playing a free show at Amoeba Records and the band will be signing their new album Gravedigging after the show
Artist Michael Smith is speaking at the Hammer Museum (free)
Cinefamily is showing the film Somewhere Beautiful with a live set by Avi Buffalo and Andrea Silva (who have songs in the film). The director of the film, Albert Kodagolian, will also be present with the director of the film that inspired him, Atom Egoyan.
Writer Annabelle Gurwitch is in conversation with Jonathan Gold at Skylight Books to launch her new collection of essays- Wherever You Go, There They Are
Friday
Subject: Los Angeles is a four night program at The Bob Baker Marionette Theater consisting of “L.A. ephemera featuring archival films, guest presenters, music, and puppets that explore hidden threads of L.A. history”. Tonight is Subject: Los Angeles as Eden which explores the ways L.A.’s image has been presented as a paradise.
LACMA is screening an episode of the CNN original series, United Shades of America with W. Kamau Bell, titled Immigrants and Refugees, with a discussion with Bell to follow (free)
Julia Jacklin is playing at the Bootleg Theater with Gold Star and Christian Lee Hutson opening
Saturday
Marco Benevento is performing at the Bootleg Theater with Wyndham, and The Eagle Rock Gospel Singers opening
The VRLA (Virtual Reality) Expo 2017 is at the Los Angeles Convention Center with panels, presentations and a chance to check out new games
The Egyptian Theatre is hosting a double feature for their Hollywood Feud: Bette vs Joan series, with All About Eve and Mildred Pierce
Kid Wave is playing with Sudan Archives, Aalok and Hydro Kitten at The Echo
Sunday
The Aero Theatre is showing Bugs Bunny Cartoon Classics, including Easter themed ones, at 2pm with free candy for kids
Later, the Aero is showing Donnie Darko, with director Richard Kelly in person
Things to do in Los Angeles this weekend (4/6-4/9/17)-
Thursday
CAFAM is hosting a zine making workshop with L.A. Zinefest followed by a special film screening of Flight in Heels and a reading with the “Afrofuturistic women’s liberation artist collective”, #SNATCHPOWER. ($7 includes on drink, access to the gallery shows and materials for the workshop- RSVP requested)
The Damned are playing with Alice Bag and the Sissy Bears at the Belasco theater
Bleached, The Regrettes, Upset and The Side Eyes are playing at the Echoplex
Terry George who directed Hotel Rwanda and more recently The Promise, about the Armenian genocide, will be in conversation with producer and physician Eric Esrailian and Dr. Stephen D. Smith, executive director of the USC Shoah Foundation, at the Hammer museum, moderated by journalist and filmmaker Carla Garapedian. They will be discussing the challenges and politics of representing real-world atrocities within the constraints of the film medium. (free)
David Bazan is playing at the Bootleg Theater with The Mynabirds opening
Friday
Steady Holiday is playing at Resident with Saígo and Haathi
The Natural History Museum is having its First Friday event, this time with lectures on the future of food, DJs, and performances by the bands Sunflower Bean and Tonstartssbandht
The Aero Theatre is showing a double feature of Walter Hill’s films The Warriors and Streets of Fire with Hill discussing them in between screenings
It might be worth taking a road trip to see Sigur Rós play at the Santa Barbara Bowl
Great Horror Movie Night is showing a double feature of Fright Night and Ghostbusters at the Griffith Park Old Zoo
Saturday
The 6th Annual Kite Festival is taking place adjacent to the Santa Monica Pier from 11am-4pm and will be honoring Disney artist Tyrus Wong
Broke LA (formerly BROKECHELLA) is back with bands that include James Supercave, Bloodboy, and BOYO, art installations, comedians and more for $25.
Or you could head to The Observatory in Santa Ana for the two day festival- When We Were Young. Saturday’s lineup includes Morrissey, AFI, Cage The Elephant, Joyce Manor, Beach Fossils, and more.. ($100 for Saturday only)
Jason Reitman brings his Live Read series back-this time at The Theatre at Ace Hotel- for a reading of Juno with Ellen Page and Jennifer Garner reprising their roles from the film and Tracee Ellis Ross, Tig Notaro, Alia Shawkat, Kristin Wiig and more providing additional voices (all proceeds benefit Planned Parenthood)
Artists Justin Cole and York Chang will be giving a talk about their exhibition at Samuel Freeman gallery in Culver City
Sunday
At The Observatory in Santa Ana it’s day two of the festival- When We Were Young. Band today include Descendents, FIDLAR, Silversun Pickups, Dr. Dog, Tijuana Panthers, Sunflower Bean and more ($60 Sunday only)
Chairlift and Kristin Kontrol have added an early show (2pm) at the Echoplex after the Saturday night show sold out
Hammer Museum is hosting Stand Up and Fight Back: Tactics and Strategies for Effective Creative Activism at The Wiltern with Reverend James Lawson and Nadine Bloch (free but RSVP)
British band Sleaford Mods are playing their first ever U.S. show at the Echoplex– it’s sold out but it might be worth hunting down some tickets
Things to do in Los Angeles this weekend (3/30-4/2/17)-
Thursday
Artist Kerry James Marshall will be in conversation with Helen Molesworth at the Colburn School (200 South Grand Avenue) which will include discussion of his MOCA exhibition (free but get there early!)
The Orwells are playing with No Parents and The Walters at the Regent Theater
Angel City Brewery is hosting the opening of “What Does DTLA Mean to You?” an exhibition showcasing the work of artists from the Arts District and Skid Row
Drill Los Angeles Music Festival at the Echo and Echoplex begins tonight with 3 day passes starting at $46.50, or you can buy tickets for the individual shows. Tonight Bob Mould is playing with Immersion and Alina Bea.
Hammer Museum is hosting a free panel discussion- The Not So Silver Screen: Black Women in Media with actress Diahann Carroll, actress and director LisaGay Hamilton and more
Kane Strang, Tracy Bryant, and Emily Edrosa are playing at the Bootleg Theater
Mikal Cronin is playing with a string & horn ensemble as part of Drill Los Angeles at the Echo. Wand, Laetitia Sadler, Fitted, and more are also on the bill
The Aero Theatre is showing 2001: A Space Odyssey with a brand new 70mm print
Why? are playing at the Regent Theater with Open Mike Eagle and Rituals of Mine
Methyl Ethel are playing at the Bootleg Theater with Vorhees and BOYO
Saturday
The Getty Museum is having multiple performances of Selected Shorts: April Antics: Fictions & Foolery, a chance to see the popular podcast live with Jane Kaczmarek hosting and a cast that includes Yvette Nicole Brown, Sharon Gless, Liev Schrieber and more (also Sunday)
Electric Six are playing at the Bootleg Theater with Residual Kid and VOWWS
For the last night of Drill, Wire will be performing at the Echo as well as Julia Holter, Mild High Club and more.
Sunday
CAFAM is hosting- Social (Media) Politics of Photography in the Digital Age- A Discussion with Arpad Kovacs & Ramin Talaie for “Focus Iran 2: Contemporary Photography and Video”. This is a good opportunity to check out that exhibition as well as Chapters, which includes a great variety of the book arts of Southern California. CAFAM is pay what you wish on Sunday but RSVP for the talk if you are interested.
Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears are playing at the Troubadour
The Rock ‘N’ Roll Flea Market returns to the Regent Theater for its monthly event
The Broad is hosting a screening of Tony Conrad: Completely in the Present at The Theatre at the Ace Hotel as part of their Un-Private Collection series. The film examines the life and work of artist, musician, and educator, Tony Conrad, directed by Tyler Hubby. Afterwords there will be a conversation with Hubby and Tony Oursler (whose work is on view in the collection installation, Creature, at The Broad through March 19) moderated by Henry Rollins. Kim Gordon, who collaborated with Tony Conrad, will perform to close out the night. Your ticket for this program also lets you skip the line at The Broad for general admission entry from March 14-19, 2017.
Monument, the musical tribute to Dan Flavin’s sculpture, returns to MOCA Grand Ave with musicians Patrick Shiroishi, Dylan Fujioka and Paco Casanova performing. (free and a chance to see the new and excellent exhibition Kerry James Marshall: Mastry.)
Friday
GØGGS (another Ty Segall band) are playing at The Echo with Flat Worms, Warm Drag and Naked Lights
The Egyptian Theatre is showing a Patrick Swayze double feature- Point Break and Roadhouse
Artist Tony Oursler will be in conversation with author Branden Joseph at The Broad ($10 includes same night access before the program to the museum)
It’s St. Patrick’s Day and a bunch of bars in town are having events- Angel City Brewery has bands, corned beef tacos and green ice cream and churros to go along with the debauchery and Tom Bergin’s Irish pub will have it’s annual party in their parking lot all day and night
Saturday
Early in the afternoon LACMA is showing several films by artists connected to Virginia Dwan’s galleries in conjunction with their recent exhibit- Los Angeles to New York: Dwan Gallery, 1959- 1971 (free)
A little further away on a campground near Santa Barbara is the Starry Nites Festival. The line-up for the two day event includes Elvis Depressedly, The Kills, Teenage Fanclub, The Dandy Warhols, Kolars, Feels, Cat Power and many more. You can go for the day or camp on the grounds.
The Dig are playing at The Echo with Nico Yaran, and Boone Howard
Sunday
The LA Marathon runs from Dodger Stadium to Santa Monica- keep your eyes on street closures when making plans
GØGGS are playing at The Hi Hat with Yah Mon and Enemy
For LACMA’sBring the Noise series, tonight they are pairing a live performance by the band YACHT scoring the film Alien
Downtown Art Walk’s theme this month is Herstory, and includes a one night only exhibition of women artists for Women’s History Month
Death by Unga Bunga are playing with The Fontaines at The Satellite
Warbly Jets are playing at the Bootleg Theater with Twin Temple, Gutxi Bibang, and Starcrawler
Friday
Art Night Pasadena returns for its biannual event with free museums, music, and performances and free shuttles to take you to the different locations. You can also combine it with Old Pasadena’s Happy Hour Week (running until 3/17)
Terry Malts is playing at The Hi Hat with Acid Tongue, Wyatt Blair and Gabbi Green
The Egyptian Theatre is showing a Terrence Malick double feature, with two of his best- Badlands and Days of Heaven
Lady Lamb is playing with Dustin Lovelis at the Bootleg Theater
Chastity Belt are playing with Summer Cannibals, Lisa Prank and Mint Field at Resident
The Molochs are playing with Feels, Franky Flowers, and Surfbort at The Echo
Pure Bathing Culture are playing at the Echoplex with Big Search, Ablebody, and American Nights
Saturday
Trisha Brown Dance Company will be performing In Plain Site starting at Chris Burden’s Urban Light sculpture at LACMA (free)
The Creation Factory and Gateway Drugs are opening for The Warlocks at The Hi Hat
Grand Park is hosting Downtown Bookfest, with performances (including one by Cut Chemist), readings and activities
Alex Lahey is playing at The Echo with Emerson Star, and Liv Slingerland
Cinefamily is screening John Carpenter’s They Live (also Sunday)
Trisha Brown Dance Company will be performing In Plain Site again, and this time the location is Hauser & Wirth
With LA experiencing a housing shortage, it’s a good time to brush up on tenant rights and LACE is hosting the Los Angeles Tenants Union Workshop for Artists- Know Your Rights & Gentrification 101
Currently at Walter Maciel Gallery is With Liberty and Justice for Some, for which the gallery invited artists from across the country to do 8×8 inch portraits of individuals who came to the United States as immigrants- including historic subjects, personal friends, relatives, strangers, and sometimes self portraits. The gallery is also donating a portion of each sale to various non-profit groups including ACLU, Planned Parenthood, The Trevor Project, Center for Reproductive Rights, and the LA and SF LGBT Centers. Also showing at the gallery is I.D. Please!, with works by artists Hung Liu, John Bankston, Lezley Saar, John Jurayi, Maria E. Piñeres, Nike Schröder, Dana Weiser and Monica Lundy, who have all developed studio practices based around notions of identity.
Things to do in Los Angeles this weekend (3/2-3/5/17)-
Thursday
Cultural critic and philosopher Slavoj Zizek is giving a talk at the Broad Art Center on UCLA’s campus (free)
Machine Project is hosting Meeting #2 of the Legion of Hackers for the Revolution
Poet Sesshu Foster and artist Arturo Romo are reading at MOCA Grand Avenue (free)
AOE is playing with Tolliver and Abjo at the Bootleg Theater
Friday
For the Natural History Museum’s First Friday event, Japanese Breakfast and Emily Wells are performing and there will be tours, a discussion on food, and DJs
For SCUM’s first year anniversary The Smell is hosting a party with performers that include Alice Bag, Seth Bogart, Xina Xurner plus drag performances and DJs
Elohim, WRLD, and smle are playing at the Echoplex
Saturday
Temples are playing with Night Beats, Deap Vally, Froth and JJUUJJUU at The Regent Theater
Artists Jeffrey Sklan, Christopher James, Spacegoth, 8333, along with curators Jason Ostro and Elena Jacobson are giving an informal talk at the Gabba Gallery
Best Coast, Grouplove, The Lovely Bad Things, Liz Phair and more are performing at the El Rey Theatre with all proceeds to benefit Planned Parenthood
LACMA is having a free screening of the first episode of Patriot, a new TV series from Amazon, and a conversation with creator/executive producer Steve Conrad, executive producers James Parriott and Charlie Gogolak, executive producer Gil Bellows, and actors Michael Dorman, Kathleen Munroe, and Chris Conrad
The Aero Theatre has a Shirley MacLaine double feature- The Apartment (which was just referenced at the Oscars) and Being There
Sinkane are playing at the Bootleg Theater with Grateful Shred
Sunday
Mykki Blanco is playing at The Roxy with Cakes Da Killa
Photographer Jules Allen will be discussing his recent book Marching Bands with UC Irvine Professor Joe Lewis at LACMA Art Catalogues (free)
Cosmonauts are headlining My Bloody Valentine Nite at the Echoplex with Thigh Master, Echolust and Deaf Dance
The Rock ‘N’ Roll Flea Market returns to The Regent Theater for its monthly event
Laura Stevenson, Chris Farren, and Ogikubo Station are playing at the Bootleg Theater
(above work by 
