Easter egg hunts, AC/DC at the Rose Bowl, Baths at the Echo, a Peep show, new trails open at Griffith Park and Easter brunches galore.
Highlights:
In its 16th year, the DragonMarsh Peep Show showcases handmade scenes with the lovable marshmallows, as well as a Peep Museum, plus games, tastings and more. There’s even a best-dressed contest and you must be wearing a Peep in some, erm, fashion.
Get ready to be shook all night long as AC/DC brings their Power Up tour to the Rose Bowl. The Australian '80s hard rockers are still at it, touring behind their latest album.
Fifteen new trails are opening at Griffith Park and the Earth Day Celebration with local officials is their big debut. Join volunteers in planting native flora at the Griffith Park Visitor Center and learn more about environmental programming and stewardship opportunities.
Last weekend, I celebrated Passover in the backyard of friends in Venice with more than 70 people from a wide range of backgrounds, Jewish and not. It was filled with songs and poems, a reminder of all the community we build across neighborhoods, traditions and families. We might not have real seasons in L.A., but it felt like spring and like some hope was finally here.
Continuing on that theme as we head into Easter weekend, there are dozens of events around the area for holiday fun with kids (and without!), plus joyful music and indulgent brunches. I can’t help you if you’re hunting for a VIP pass at the Polo Field, but if it’s Easter eggs you’re after, we’ve got you.
For more to explore, visit LAist.com, where you can grab tickets to Saturday’s Go Fact Yourself Live, read about how movie theaters are adapting in the streaming age and uncover the mystery of the 40-mile gap in my personal favorite freeway-that-is-barely-a-freeway, the 90.
Events
April 19-20 Easter egg hunts Multiple locations COST: VARIES
Move over, Bad Bunny; make way for Big Bunny as the L.A. Zoo celebrates Earth Day and Easter with special events all weekend. Photo ops with Big Bunny, performances from 3rd Rock Hip Hop, story time with the “Grumpy Monkey” creators, an Earth Expo with community and conservation groups, and of course special animal events with zoo staff are all on tap.
Saturday, April 19, 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. DragonMarsh Peep Show Riverside Main Library 3900 Mission Inn Ave., Riverside COST: FREE; MORE INFO
As someone who has been obsessed with the Washington Post’s annual Peep diorama contest for years, this event in Riverside sounds like the ideal in-person West Coast version. In its 16th year, the DragonMarsh Peep Show showcases handmade scenes with the lovable marshmallows, as well as a Peep Museum (featuring a — yikes — petrified Peep), plus games, tastings and more. There’s even a best-dressed contest and you must be wearing a Peep in some, erm, fashion.
Friday, April 18, 7 p.m. AC/DC Rose Bowl 1001 Rose Bowl Drive, Pasadena FROM $129; MORE INFO
Brian Johnson during AC/DC Pwr Up World Tour at Johan Cruyff Arena on June 5, 2024.
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Get ready to be shook all night long as AC/DC brings their Power Up tour to the Rose Bowl. The Australian '80s hard rockers are still at it, touring behind their latest album and keeping themselves and the rest of us young.
Sunday, April 20, 7 p.m. Baths The Echo 1822 Sunset Blvd., Echo Park COST: $27.50; MORE INFO
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Courtesy Basement's Basement and Chromatic PR
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Perhaps at the complete opposite end of the music spectrum of AC/DC — but we aim to please here at Best Things to Do — electronic musician (and Tarzana native) Baths performs his unique brand of experimental sounds at the Echo. The show closes out the headlining tour for his new album Gut, which was on Pitchfork’s most anticipated albums of the year list.
Saturday, April 19, 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. BlissIn Out: Bloom into Spring Electric Lodge 1416 Electric Ave., Venice COST: FROM $29.34; MORE INFO
Soundbath, music, mindfulness and CBD-infused granola (and sober options too) — what better way to ease into a new season? Musician Jeremy Cone provides the tunes for this soulful evening at Venice’s Electric Lodge.
Sunday, April 20, 7:30 p.m. Cory Henry presents: Church The Miracle Theatre 226 S. Market St., Inglewood COST: FROM $29; MORE INFO
Spend Easter Sunday in Inglewood with Grammy-winning gospel artist Cory Henry. The Miracle Theater (apropos name!) hosts Henry for a one-night-only, all-ages show highlighting his latest album Church (like I said, on theme for Easter!). Plus, Henry is offering free tickets to families affected by the Eaton Fire.
Weekends through May 5 Aristotle/Alexander Company of Angels 1350 San Pablo St., Lincoln Park COST: $40; MORE INFO
Alexander the Great and Aristotle go head to head in this play by Ovation Award winner Alex Lyras at Company of Angels. Hitting on themes relevant to today (ahem, democracy), the show uses original texts brought to life with music and innovative immersive video elements on stage.
Outdoor Pick
Saturday, April 19, 8:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. Earth Day 2025 celebration + Griffith Park Explorer kickoff 4730 Crystal Springs Drive, Griffith Park COST: FREE; MORE INFO
Hikers utilize the trails at Griffith Park in Los Angeles.
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Fifteen new trails are opening at Griffith Park, and this Earth Day event with local officials is their big debut. Join volunteers in planting native flora at the Griffith Park Visitor Center, and learn more about environmental programming and stewardship opportunities.
Viewing Pick
Friday, April 18, 8 p.m. Los Feliz Social Club: The Lost Boys LOOK Dine-In Cinemas 128 Artsakh Ave., Glendale COST: $23.18; MORE INFO
The Coreys (Haim and Feldman), Alex Winter, Jason Patric, and of course, Kiefer Sutherland are forever teenagers in Joel Schumacher’s 1987 vampire cult classic, The Lost Boys. The movie made a character out of the Santa Cruz Boardwalk and inspired a string of sequels. Tickets benefit Neighborhood Housing Services of L.A., and even if you can’t make this one, Los Feliz Social Club is consistently programming fun events in the neighborhood, so give them a follow.
Dine & Drink Deals
April 18-19, 7 p.m. & 10 p.m. Zimbabwe Dinner Series Flavors from Afar 5652 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood COST: $81.88; MORE INFO
Chef Kuda Grace honors the land, traditions and stories of Zimbabwe with a meal that is accompanied by music played on traditional Zimbabwean instruments. The unique night includes dishes like Kiwano horned hale salad, sadza (sorghum) with bean stew, goat stew and masawu pie with housemade vegan vanilla ice cream.
Sunday, April 20, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Put an Egg on Everything Day: Caviar Edition Smorgasburg 777 S. Alameda St., Downtown L.A. COST: VARIES; MORE INFO
Leave it to Smorgasburg to take Easter eggs up a notch. Enjoy caviar on almost everything at the weekly food fair at downtown’s the Row for their annual Put an Egg on Everything Day: Caviar Edition. Eggs are pricey; eat caviar instead!
Through April 20 Greek Easter at Zaytinya 8801 Washington Blvd., Culver City COST: $55; MORE INFO
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Katrina Frederick
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Celebrating the intersecting cultures and cuisines of Greece, Lebanon and Turkey, José Andrés’ Zaytinya is featuring a special four-course brunch this Easter, with options including spring pea tzatziki, dilly seared salmon, roasted asparagus with preserved lemon, and smoked lamb shoulder with lemon potatoes. There are also signature cocktails like the Medi, made with mastiha liqueur, yuzu, lavender-infused honey and cava bubbles.
Sunday, April 20 Easter Brunch at Habana Costa Mesa and Irvine locations COST: $65; MORE INFO
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Habana is hosting two Easter brunch experiences at its Orange County locations. In Costa Mesa, they will serve a three-course prix-fixe menu, and at the Irvine location, the buffet brunch includes a BBQ station, honey mustard ham, café con leche French toast and a selection of desserts. Plus, bottomless mimosas ($18), bellinis ($19) or sangria ($20).
Sunday, April 20, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Easter brunch & bubbles Pasea Hotel and Spa 21080 E. Pacific Coast Highway, Huntington Beach COST: $140.56, AGES 5-12 $71.21, KIDS 4 AND UNDER FREE; MORE INFO
Pasea is hosting brunch in the ballroom with seafood, breakfast favorites and more — plus an outdoor egg hunt on the Ocean Lawn, playful Easter-themed activities for kids, live entertainment, pictures with the Easter bunny and bottomless mimosas.
Robert Garrova
explores the weird and secret bits of SoCal that would excite even the most jaded Angelenos. He also covers mental health.
Published December 13, 2025 5:00 AM
Interior of Healing Force of the Universe records in Pasadena, where a benefit concert is held on Sunday to help fire survivors build back their record collections.
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Erin Grace Kim
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Topline:
This Sunday, a special donation concert at Pasadena's Healing Force of the Universe record store helps fire survivors get their vinyl record collections back.
The backstory: The record donation effort is the brainchild of musician Brandon Jay, who founded the nonprofit Altadena Musicians after losing his home and almost all of his family’s musical instruments in the Eaton Fire. Now, he has turned his efforts on rebuilding people's lost record collections.
Read on ... to find details of the show happening Sunday.
In the wake of the Eaton Fire, Altadena and Pasadena’s music community have really shown up to support fire survivors, especially fellow musicians who lost instruments and record collections.
That effort continues this weekend with a special donation concert at a Pasadena record store, with the aim of getting vinyl records back in the hands of survivors who lost their collections.
“You know, our name is Healing Force of the Universe, and I think that gives me a pretty clear direction… especially after the fires,” said Austin Manuel, founder of Pasadena record store, where Sunday’s show will be held.
The record donation effort is the brainchild of musician Brandon Jay, who founded the nonprofit Altadena Musicians after losing his home and almost all of his family’s instruments in the Eaton Fire. Through Altadena Musicians’s donation and registry platform, Jay said he and his partners have helped some 1,200 fire survivors get their music instruments back.
Brandon Jay.
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Now, that effort has fanned out to restoring vinyl record collections.
“All of that stuff evaporated for thousands of people,” Jay said. “Look at your own record collection and be like, ‘Wow, what if that whole thing disappeared?’”
You might know Jay from several bands over the years, including Lutefisk, a 1990s alt-rock band based in Los Angeles. He and his wife, Gwendolyn Sanford, composed music for TV shows, including Orange is the New Black and Weeds.
Jay plans to play some holiday tunes at Sunday's record donation show (which LAist is the media sponsor), along with fellow musician Daniel Brummel of Sanglorians. Brummel, who was also a founding member of Pasadena’s indie-rock sensation Ozma, said he was grateful to Jay for his fire recovery work and to Manuel for making Healing Force available for shows like this.
Brummel, who came close to losing his own home in the Eaton Fire, recalled a show he played at Healing Force back in March.
Ryen Slegr (left) and Daniel Brummel perform with their band, Ozma, on the 2014 Weezer Cruise.
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“The trauma of the fires was still really fresh,” Brummel said. After playing a cover of Rufus Wainwright’s “Going to a Town,” that night — which includes the lyrics “I’m going to a town that has already been burnt down” — Brummel said his neighbors in the audience told him the rendition hit them hard. “It felt really powerful. And without that space, it just wouldn’t have occurred.”
Details
Healing Force of the Universe Record Donation Show Featuring: Quasar (aka Brandon Jay), Sanglorians (Daniel Brummel) and The Acrylic. Sunday, Dec. 14; 2 to 5 p.m. 1200 E. Walnut St., Pasadena Tickets are $15 or you can donate 5 or more records at the door. More info here.
Fire department honored with 'Award of Excellence'
Makenna Sievertson
covers the daily drumbeat of Southern California — events, processes and nuances making it a unique place to call home.
Published December 12, 2025 4:30 PM
The "Award of Excellence Star" honoring the Los Angeles Fire Department on Friday.
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Topline:
The Hollywood Walk of Fame has a new neighbor — a star dedicated to the Los Angeles Fire Department.
Why it matters: The Fire Department has been honored with an “Award of Excellence Star” for its public service during the Palisades and Sunset fires, which burned in the Pacific Palisades and Hollywood Hills neighborhoods of L.A. in January.
Why now: The star was unveiled on Hollywood Boulevard on Friday at a ceremony hosted by the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce and Hollywood Community Foundation.
Awards of Excellence celebrate organizations for their positive impacts on Hollywood and the entertainment industry, according to organizers. Fewer than 10 have been handed out so far, including to the LA Times, Dodgers and Disneyland.
The backstory: The idea of awarding a star to the Fire Department was prompted by an eighth-grade class essay from Eniola Taiwo, 14, from Connecticut. In an essay on personal heroes, Taiwo called for L.A. firefighters to be recognized. She sent the letter to the Chamber of Commerce.
“This star for first responders will reach the hearts of many first responders and let them know that what they do is recognized and appreciated,” Taiwo’s letter read. “It will also encourage young people like me to be a change in the world.”
LAFD Chief Jaime E. Moore, Eniola Taiwo and LAFD firefighters with the "Award of Excellence Star" Friday.
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The Award of Excellence Star is in front of the Ovation Entertainment Complex next to the Walk of Fame; however, it is separate from the official program.
What officials say: Steve Nissen, president and CEO of the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, said in a statement Taiwo’s letter was the inspiration for a monument that will “forever shine in Hollywood.”
“This recognition is not only about honoring the bravery of the Los Angeles Fire Department but also about celebrating the vision of a young student whose words reminded us all of the importance of gratitude and civic pride,” said Nissen, who’s also president and CEO of the Hollywood Community Foundation.
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L.A. City Attorney Hydee Feldstein Soto was accused of an ethics breach in a case the city settled for $18 million.
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Topline:
Fallout from allegations of an ethics breach by Los Angeles’ elected city attorney has reached the City Council. Councilmember Ysabel Jurado introduced a motion Friday requesting a closed-session meeting about an allegation that City Attorney Hydee Feldstein Soto improperly contacted a witness days before her office entered into one of the city’s biggest settlements in recent years. The motion came a day after LAist reported about the allegation.
The case: In September, the city settled a lawsuit brought forward by two brothers in their 70s who said they suffered serious injuries after an LAPD officer crashed into their car. Days before the $18 million settlement was reached, lawyers for the brothers said Feldstein Soto called an expert witness testifying for the plaintiffs and “attempted to ingratiate herself with him and asked him to make a contribution to her political campaign,” according to a sworn declaration to the court by the plaintiffs’ attorney, Robert Glassman.
The response: Feldstein Soto did not respond to an interview request. Her spokesperson said the settlement “had nothing to do” with the expert witness. Her campaign manager told LAist the city attorney had been making a routine fundraising call and did not know the person had a role in the case, nor that there were pending requests for her office to pay him fees.
What Jurado says: In a statement to LAist, Jurado said she wants to “make sure that the city’s legal leadership is guided by integrity and accountability, especially when their choices affect public trust, civic rights and the city’s limited resources."
What’s next: The motion needs to go through a few committees before reaching the full City Council. If it passes, the motion calls for the city attorney to “report to council in closed session within 45 days regarding the ethics breach violation and give updates to the City Council."
Topline:
Fallout from allegations of an ethics breach by Los Angeles’ elected city attorney has reached the City Council. Councilmember Ysabel Jurado introduced a motion Friday requesting a closed-session meeting about an allegation that City Attorney Hydee Feldstein Soto improperly contacted a witness days before her office entered into one of the city’s biggest settlements in recent years. The motion came a day after LAist reported about the allegation.
The case: In September, the city settled a lawsuit brought forward by two brothers in their 70s who said they suffered serious injuries after an LAPD officer crashed into their car. Days before the $18 million settlement was reached, lawyers for the brothers said Feldstein Soto called an expert witness testifying for the plaintiffs and “attempted to ingratiate herself with him and asked him to make a contribution to her political campaign,” according to a sworn declaration to the court by the plaintiffs’ attorney, Robert Glassman.
The response: Feldstein Soto did not respond to an interview request. Her spokesperson said the settlement “had nothing to do” with the expert witness. Her campaign manager told LAist the city attorney had been making a routine fundraising call and did not know the person had a role in the case, nor that there were pending requests for her office to pay him fees.
What Jurado says: In a statement to LAist, Jurado said she wants to “make sure that the city’s legal leadership is guided by integrity and accountability, especially when their choices affect public trust, civic rights and the city’s limited resources."
What’s next: The motion needs to go through a few committees before reaching the full City Council. If it passes, the motion calls for the city attorney to “report to council in closed session within 45 days regarding the ethics breach violation and give updates to the City Council."
Destiny Torres
is LAist's general assignment and digital equity reporter.
Published December 12, 2025 3:38 PM
Luis Cantabrana turns the front of his Santa Ana home into an elaborate altar in honor of La Virgen de Guadalupe.
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Topline:
Today marks el Día de La Virgen de Guadalupe, or the day of the Virgen of Guadalupe, an important holiday for Catholics and those of Mexican descent. In Santa Ana, Luis Cantabrana builds an elaborate altar in her honor that draws hundreds of visitors.
What is the holiday celebrating? In 1513, the Virgin Mary appeared before St. Juan Diego, asking him to build a church in her honor. Her image — a brown-skinned woman, wearing a green veil with her hands clasped in prayer and an angel at her feet — miraculously appeared on his cloak. Every year on Dec. 12, worshippers of the saint celebrate the Guadalupita with prayer and song.
Read on … for how worshippers in Santa Ana celebrate.
Every year in Santa Ana, Luis Cantabrana turns the front of his home into an elaborate altar in honor of La Virgen de Guadalupe that draws hundreds of visitors.
Along the front of the house, the multi-colored altar is filled with lights, flowers and a stained-glass tapestry behind a sculpture of the Lady of Guadalupe. Cantabrana’s roof also is lit up with the green, white and red lights that spell out “Virgen de Guadalupe” and a cross.
Visitors are welcomed with music and the smell of roses as they celebrate the saint, but this year’s gathering comes after a dark year for immigrant communities.
Luis Cantabrana stands in front of the stunning altar he built in front of his home in honor of La Virgen de Guadalupe. Every year, his display draws hundreds of visitors.
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Why do they celebrate?
In 1513, the Virgin Mary appeared before St. Juan Diego between Dec. 9 and Dec. 12, asking him to build a church in her honor. Her image — a brown-skinned woman wearing a green veil with her hands together in prayer and an angel at her feet — miraculously appeared on his cloak.
To celebrate in Santa Ana, worshippers gathered late-night Wednesday and in the very early hours Dec. 12 to pray the rosary, sing hymns and celebrate the saint.
Cantabrana has hosted worshippers at his home for 27 years — 17 in Santa Ana.
The altar started out small, he said, and over the years, he added a fabric background, more lights and flowers (lots and lots of flowers).
“It started with me making a promise to la Virgen de Guadalupe that while I had life and a home to build an altar, that I would do it,” Cantabrana said. “Everything you see in photos and videos is pretty, but when you come and see it live, it's more than pretty. It's beautiful.”
The Santa Ana home's elaborate altar in honor of La Virgen de Guadalupe draws hundreds of visitors each year.
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Gathering in a time of turmoil
Many also look to the Lady of Guadalupe for protection, especially at a time when federal enforcement has rattled immigrant communities.
“People don’t want to go to work, they don’t want to take their kids to school, but the love we have for our Virgen de Guadalupe,” Cantabrana said. “We see that la Virgen de Guadalupe has a lot of power, and so we know immigration [enforcement] won’t come here.”
Margarita Lopez of Garden Grove has been visiting the altar for three years with her husband. She’s been celebrating the Virgencita since she was a young girl. Honoring the saint is as important now as ever, she said.
“We ask, and she performs miracles,” Lopez said.
Claudia Tapia, a lifelong Santa Ana resident, said the VirginMary represents strength.
“Right now, with everything going on, a lot of our families [have] turned and prayed to the Virgen for strength during these times,” Tapia said. “She's a very strong symbol of Mexican culture, of unity, of faith and of resilience.”
See it for yourself
The shrine will stay up into the new year on the corner of Broadway and Camile Street.
