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The Brief

The most important stories for you to know today
  • Pygmy pipehorse, others added to Library of Life
    Close up of an small silver, purple and pink speckled fish underwater
    This new sponge-dwelling goby (Bathygobius mero) can be found across Indonesia, the Philippines, and Australia.

    Topline:

    Researchers at the California Academy of Sciences have unveiled a list 138 new animal, plant and fungi species that have been added to the Library of Life.

    What's on the list? Some of the new species discovered and described by scientists this year are a pygmy pipehorse camouflaged in sponges found off the coast of South Africa, an edible and endangered Oaxacan dahlia that looks like a succulent, and 136 other fishes, leaf bugs, worms, sea slugs, spiders, ghost sharks and more.

    Why it matters: Shannon Bennett, Cal Academy virologist and Chief of Science says, "finding and describing new species is vital for understanding the biodiversity of our planet and protecting it from further loss.”

    Researchers at the California Academy of Sciences have unveiled a list of all the new animal, plant and fungi species that they added to the Library of Life in 2024.

    The new species include a pygmy pipehorse camouflaged in sponges found off the coast of South Africa, an edible and endangered Oaxacan dahlia that looks like a succulent, and 136 other fishes, leaf bugs, worms, sea slugs, spiders, ghost sharks and more.

    These discoveries expand our understanding of Earth’s biodiversity. Below, KQED has compiled a list of some of the most eye-catching of the new plants and critters.

    A damselfish from the twilight zone

    A small silver fish seen underwater, tucked against some rocks
    Chromis abadhah pictured in Faadhippolhu Atoll, Maldives. (Luiz Rocha/California Academy of Sciences)
    (
    Luiz Rocha California Academy of Sciences)
    /
    California Academy of Sciences
    )

    Scientists found Chromis abadhah, a stunning, milky white damselfish in the Maldives’ mesophotic coral reefs, which lie between 100 and 500 feet beneath the ocean surface — what researchers call the twilight zone. It is one of 35 species of fish the Academy discovered this year.

    This opalescent fish brings attention to the beauty — and vulnerability — of this deep zone of the ocean, said Academy Ichthyology Curator Luiz Rocha.

    “It’s a really pretty fish. The minute we saw it when we were diving, even before we collected a specimen, we knew it was a new species just because of how distinctive the color was,” Rocha said.

    Rocha and his collaborators chose to name the damselfish with the epithet “abadhah,” which means “perpetual” in Dhivehi, the language of the Maldives. It is meant to honor the commitment to finding solutions to the planet’s environmental challenges through science and innovation.

    “I think it’s really important to give these [new] species names,” Rocha said. It makes it a lot easier to learn more about how to protect their habitats, he added. “Otherwise, we’re going to lose them even before we know what’s there.”

    A sponge-dwelling goby found in Indonesia and a deep-sea ghost shark in the South Pacific were other fish species researchers at the Academy described this year.

    South African pygmy pipehorse

    A brown seahorse seen underwater floating above the seafloor made of grains of sand
    New-to-science pygmy pipehorse Cylix nkosi photographed in Sodwana Bay, South Africa. (Richard Smith/California Academy of Sciences)
    (
    Richard Smith
    /
    California Academy of Sciences
    )

    The pygmy pipehorse Cylix nkosi was discovered off South Africa’s rugged coast. These tiny, elusive creatures — no bigger than a golf tee — camouflage among sponges on the ocean floor.

    Scientists found the genus of this pipehorse originally in the cool temperate waters surrounding the North Island of New Zealand. But this new species was discovered in the subtropical waters off the coast of South Africa, officially expanding the known range of this group into the Indian Ocean.

    “We heard about an unfamiliar species from local divers in South Africa’s Sodwana Bay, so we suspected we’d find something new,” said Richard Smith, an Academy research associate. “We examined a single male specimen from the South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity collection — which had remained unidentified since it was collected in 1987 — to complete the study.”

    The species’ name, “nkosi,” honors its crown-like head and the Zulu word for “chief.”

    The endangered and edible Dahlia from Oaxaca

    Close up of a purple flower with 8 petals.
    This new species of dahlia, Dahlia gypsicola, was found in the nutrient-poor gypsum outcrops of Mexico’s Sierra Madre del Sur mountains.
    (
    Arturo Castro-Castro
    /
    California Academy of Sciences
    )

    The critically endangered Dahlia gypsicola species grows in Oaxaca, Mexico, where nutrient-poor gypsum soils challenge most plants. Its semi-succulent leaves and thick roots have adapted to survive these harsh conditions.

    “This discovery confirms a geographic pattern of species richness, as it highlights Oaxaca as the center of biodiversity and draws our attention to the areas of Mexico that we must continue to explore,” Arturo Castro-Castro, co-author and collaborating researcher on the study, said in a statement.

    “It also contributes to Mexico’s rich biocultural heritage, as the roots and flowers of many dahlia species are edible,” Castro-Castro added.

    “The leaves of Dahlia gypsicola, which are semi-succulent and aromatic, are consumed as a raw quelite [wild, edible greens] by the inhabitants of San Sebastián Tecomaxtlahuaca and Santiago Juxtlahuaca in the Mixteca Region of Oaxaca.”

    Marine worms add to the Museum of Life

    Close up of an orange and white sea slug underwater. It is thick and short with what appears to be an antennae protruding from on top of it
    Avaldesia tamatoa is one of eight new nudibranchs, or sea slugs, described by Academy Curator Terry Gosliner, PhD in 2024.
    (
    Jeanette Johnson
    /
    California Academy of Sciences
    )

    The Academy’s invertebrate zoology collection manager, Christina Piotrowski, co-authored a paper describing eight distinct species of marine worms that, until now, were taxonomically lumped together. These small, segmented worms play essential roles in marine ecosystems, recycling nutrients and supporting biodiversity.

    By analyzing DNA data and studying museum specimens from populations around the world, Piotrowski and her collaborators were able to characterize different species of the Iphione group.

    “These museums, including the Academy’s Invertebrate Zoology Collection, function collectively as a library of the planet’s biodiversity, allowing scientists to make new discoveries and test new theories about species definitions and boundaries,” Piotrowski said.

    “We need to learn as much as we can more rapidly because some of these habitats are in peril right now due to changes in the natural environments and climate issues such as warming waters.”

  • Inaugural Santa Monica jazz festival rolls out
    Stanley Clarke playing an upright bass in a Topanga studio
    Music legend Stanley Clarke plays an upright bass in a studio in Topanga

    Topline:

    The inaugural Santa Monica International Jazz Festival kicks off on Friday, curated by legendary bassist Stanley Clarke. It runs from May 1-9 with headliners Kamasi Washington, Isaiah Collier and Lakecia Benjamin.

    What to expect: The Santa Monica International Jazz Festival is the brainchild of master bassist Stanley Clarke, a five-time Grammy winner who has played on every festival stage from Montreux to Monterey. Clarke will be performing two sets during the festival. One will be a tribute to John Coltrane. The other will feature drummer Stewart Copeland from The Police.

    The future: Clarke said the community will ultimately decide if this festival becomes a part of the fabric of Santa Monica. " I think for a jazz festival, the main thing is it's not just music," Clarke said. "It's community, food, weather, scenery and we have all of it. It's the royal flush."

    Read on... for information on how to attend the event.

    A new music festival comes to Santa Monica this weekend, curated by a living legend. The inaugural Santa Monica International Jazz Festival is the brainchild of master bassist Stanley Clarke, a five-time Grammy winner who has played on every festival stage from Montreux to Monterey. He said the idea to bring a jazz fest to Santa Monica came to him during a walk on the Third Street Promenade.

    " I live very close to Santa Monica and I'm pretty much in Santa Monica all the time," Clarke said. "That whole area down there is really beautiful, and I thought, 'Man, what a perfect place for a jazz festival.' And it was really that simple. Just in my head. Bing."

    The festival runs from May 1-9 and includes performances from headliners Kamasi Washington (who recently won a Grammy with Kendrick Lamar), Isaiah Collier and Lakecia Benjamin. Clarke will also be performing two sets during the festival. One will be a tribute to John Coltrane. The other will feature drummer Stewart Copeland from The Police. Clarke said over time, jazz has become a more undefined term to him.

    "It's a lot of different things for me," Clarke said. "Where I'm at on the definition is that any music that has improvisation in it, where guys playing solos and are jamming, I can say that it has a jazz feel. So, the term jazz is more of a feel to me now than anything."

    In a modern world of TikTok fads and music made by artificial intelligence, jazz may seem like it belongs to an older generation. But Clarke said he isn't worried about the genre's future.

    "I actually think that jazz is definitely in the city of Los Angeles exploding," Clarke said. "We have my festival.  There's another festival called the L.A. Jazz Festival. There's the Blue Note that just opened up too.  So, there's a resurgence."

    Clarke said education plays a key part in promoting jazz. Because of that, an afternoon slot on the festival will feature the Santa Monica High School jazz band.

    "All these new groups and all these new young people that are just doing stuff," Clarke said. "I don't think it's so conscious where everyone's getting together and having a meeting going, 'Hey, we're gonna expand jazz.' I think it just human nature. Things just come together."

    Clarke said the community will ultimately decide if this festival becomes a part of the fabric of Santa Monica.

    " I think for a jazz festival, the main thing is it's not just music," Clarke said. "It's community, food, weather, scenery and we have all of it. It's the royal flush."

    Performances on May 3 at Third Street Promenade are free to the public. Tickets for all other events are available at the festival's website.

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  • Supreme Court ruling could hurt Dems
    A person, slightly out of focus in the background, votes in a voting booth with other booths around it with an American flag waving design and "VOTE" on the side.
    A voter fills their ballot at a voting center at ​​Powers-Ginsburg Elementary School in Fresno on March 5, 2024. Residents all over California are participating in the primary elections throughout the state.

    Topline:

    The U.S. Supreme Court has narrowed the Voting Rights Act over the past decade. The law in California was primarily used to help Latinos gain political representation.

    The backstory: Wednesday’s Supreme Court ruling narrowing the Voting Rights Act undermines legal protections that have helped Latinos gain representation in politics, California Democrats and activists say. The case centered on the boundaries of a Louisiana congressional district. The court found by a 6-3 majority that Louisiana had relied too heavily on race to decide the borders.

    What it means for California: The ruling will not change California’s congressional districts, which were redrawn to favor Democrats after voters approved Proposition 50 last November. Partisan gerrymanders are permitted under the constitution, the Supreme Court has previously ruled.

    Read on... for more on what the ruling means to California.

    Wednesday’s Supreme Court ruling narrowing the Voting Rights Act undermines legal protections that have helped Latinos gain representation in politics, California Democrats and activists say.

    The case centered on the boundaries of a Louisiana congressional district. The court found by a 6-3 majority that Louisiana had relied too heavily on race to decide the borders.

    “One may lament partisan gerrymandering, but … partisan gerrymandering claims are not justiciable in federal court,” wrote Justice Samuel Alito for the majority. “And in a racial gerrymandering case like the one before us, race and politics must be disentangled.”

    The ruling scales back Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act, which prohibits voting practices that discriminate against people based on their race.

    The ruling will not change California’s congressional districts, which were redrawn to favor Democrats after voters approved Proposition 50 last November. Partisan gerrymanders are permitted under the constitution, the Supreme Court has previously ruled.

    The decision also nullifies the California Republican Party’s “Hail Mary” attempts to invalidate the state’s new maps, which the GOP argued were a racial gerrymander to favor Latinos.

    But when it comes to House majority math in the U.S. Congress and which party clinches a majority in the November election, the curtailing of Section 2 could make Democrats’ Prop. 50 gains moot.

    Gov. Gavin Newsom put forward the measure after Texas Republicans redrew congressional boundaries to favor the GOP. Prop. 50 was meant to help Democrats pick up five additional California seats.

    After the new ruling, several southern states in particular could redraw their maps to eliminate “majority-minority” districts that were drawn to magnify the power of nonwhite voters. Such a move could oust as many as 12 Democrats, according to a New York Times analysis, and shift the long-term balance of power in the House toward Republicans. The GOP could then control Congress’s lower chamber even if the party loses the popular vote by a wide margin.

    Newsom called the new ruling “outrageous.” Attorney General Rob Bonta, also a Democrat, said in a statement that while it’s unclear what impacts the changes will have on California, the ruling overall endangers minority voters in other states.

    “While the full impact of this ruling is still uncertain, we know from past experience that decisions striking down, or effectively gutting, provisions of the Voting Rights Act are often followed by new state laws that restrict access to the ballot for voters of color,” Bonta said in a statement.

    Kristin Nimmers, policy and campaigns manager of the Black Power Network, said in a statement that the decision rolls back “generations of progress.”

    “The ability of voters to challenge discriminatory districts manipulated to drown out people’s voices based on race is a critical safeguard against being silenced,” Nimmers said.

    In California, Voting Rights Act violations aren’t only a memento of Civil Rights-era discrimination. As recently as 1990, a federal judge cited Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act in declaring the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors had unconstitutionally gerrymandered their districts to exclude Latino voters.

    Section 2 required that redrawn district maps must be “equally open to participation” from protected groups — including racial minorities. The Supreme Court decision on Wednesday left Section 2 intact, but significantly curtailed how it could be applied by raising the bar for violations to “a strong inference that intentional discrimination occurred.”

    The high court’s three-justice liberal minority argued that the changes to Section 2 effectively dismantled the Voting Rights Act. The conservative majority on the court has been narrowing the law since 2013.

    Conservatives in California celebrated the ruling.

    Chris Kieser, senior attorney with the Pacific Legal Foundation, said the ruling was a victory long hoped for by California conservatives who had argued that Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act improperly used race in redistricting.

    “The very idea of a majority-minority district and having a candidate of their choice is kind of antithetical to democracy,” Kieser said. “Voting is an individual right, it’s not a group right.”

    The Voting Rights Act has been primarily used to help the state’s growing Latino population achieve political representation from the 1960s to the 1990s. Thomas A. Saenz, president and general counsel of the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund, said the ruling is unlikely to have much immediate impact in California.

    The ruling won’t affect California’s recent redistricting effort, he said, nor will it affect the independent state redistricting commission’s decisions.

    “I don’t believe there is any challengeable gerrymandering in this state,” Saenz said.

    But Rosalind Gold, chief public policy officer of the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials Educational Fund, said the ruling has dire long-term implications for Latino representation in California.

    “By eviscerating the Voting Rights Act, this could open the door to counties and localities looking at how they used Section 2 to draw their maps and challenging those maps,” Gold said.

    This article was originally published on CalMatters and was republished under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives license.

  • How Westlake is LA's secret arts district
    Two people use a printing machine in a classroom with art on the wall.
    A printmaking class at Art Division.

    Topline:

    Explore the hidden arts ecosystem of Westlake, from the Frida Kahlo Theater to the creative incubator of Art Division.

    About Westlake: The neighborhood’s development arc is long. In the mid-19th century, it drew newcomers chasing California’s promise — the Gold Rush, the weather, the mythology of the West. Over time, the neighborhood evolved through many identities: home to members of the Hollywood and business elite, a more affordable enclave for middle- and working-class Angelenos, and later, a refuge for immigrants fleeing political unrest in Central America during the 1980s. That layered past now finds expression in an unlikely form: art.

    Why it matters: What truly sets Westlake apart from the many other artsy L.A. neighborhoods is how friendly it is to up-and-coming artists of all ages and backgrounds.

    Read on... for more on the art scene in the neighborhood.

    This story first appeared on The LA Local.

    Westlake has never been an easy neighborhood to summarize.

    At its center sits MacArthur Park — a landmark that has come to embody the city’s sharpest contradictions, a place of beauty and crisis, history and neglect, that now anchors one of Los Angeles’s most contentious debates over how to address its unhoused crisis.

    The neighborhood’s development arc is long. In the mid-19th century, it drew newcomers chasing California’s promise — the Gold Rush, the weather, the mythology of the West. Over time, the neighborhood evolved through many identities: home to members of the Hollywood and business elite, a more affordable enclave for middle- and working-class Angelenos, and later, a refuge for immigrants fleeing political unrest in Central America during the 1980s.

    That layered past now finds expression in an unlikely form: art. 

    But what truly sets Westlake apart from the many other artsy L.A. neighborhoods is how friendly it is to up-and-coming artists of all ages and backgrounds. Admittingly, that that ecosystem is fragile: Astralab, a cultural hub serving Southwest Asian and North African diaspora communities, was recently forced out of the neighborhood where it has operated for nearly two years. 

    With Astralab’s loss, it becomes even more important to highlight four other institutions anchoring it, each operating on the conviction that creative life should be available to artists of every age and background, not just those who can afford a trendy address. 

    A man holds a photo on stage next to paper cutouts of bodies with photos people's faces on the heads and names written on the body.
    Frida Kahlo Theatre — Moisés Rodríguez Ovidio González and Christopher John Magallanes en Ruben Amavizca-Murua’s “Ayotzinapa Situacion Desaparecido.”
    (
    Courtesy Ruben Amavizca-Murua
    )

    Mexican Center for Culture & Cinematic Arts

    There is no shortage of Mexican artistry represented throughout the City of Angels, and few places offer a stronger starting point than the Mexican Center for Culture & Cinematic Arts.

    Located within the Consulado General de México en Los Ángeles (Mexican Consulate General in Los Angeles), the venue showcases a wide range of work by Mexican and Mexican American artists, as well as creators whose work explores Mexican culture more broadly.

    With both a gallery and theater space, the Mexican Center hosts art exhibitions, film screenings, lectures, conferences and cultural programming throughout the year, serving as a bridge between artistic expression and community identity.

    Address: 2401 W. Sixth St.
    Hours: Varies — check their events calendar for details
    Website: https://www.cccmla.com/

    Art Division

    A classroom with multiple people wearing aprons painting on canvases on a table.
    A painting class at Art Division.
    (
    Courtesy Art Division
    )

    Founded in 2010, Art Division was created by Dan McCleary, who recognized a critical gap in arts education for young adults over the age of 17.

    This nonprofit is dedicated to supporting aspiring artists ages 18 to 27 — particularly those from underserved communities — as they continue developing their craft beyond high school.

    Art Division’s campus includes a library of more than 10,000 books, studios for multidisciplinary workshops, a printmaking studio — where students learn linoleum and woodblock techniques — and a gallery space that hosts exhibitions throughout the year. 

    The organization functions not only as a creative incubator but as a launchpad for emerging artists navigating professional pathways.

    Address: 2418 W. Sixth St.
    Hours: ​​Monday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
    Website: https://www.artdivision.org/

    Heart of Los Angeles

    For younger artists looking to develop their skills, Heart of Los Angeles (HOLA) has served children in grades K-12 since 1989 with programming that spans academics, athletics, music and visual arts.

    HOLA has partnered with respected institutions such as the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the Eisner Foundation and the Los Angeles Children’s Chorus, offering students access to high-quality musical instruction and mentorship.

    For visual artists, the organization provides classes, public artist residencies, exhibitions, field trips and additional creative opportunities that nurture both artistic growth and personal development, including classes, public artist residencies, field trips, exhibitions and more.

    Address: 2701 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 100
    Hours: Varies — check their programs page for details
    Website: https://heartofla.org/

    Frida Kahlo Theater

    A man pushes a woman on wheelchair.
    At the Frida Kahlo Theatre, Ruben Alejandro and Dina Jauregui in Ruben Amavizca-Murua's “Frida Kahlo.”
    (
    Courtesy Ruben Amavizca-Murua
    )

    The Frida Kahlo Theater is where the Grupo de Teatro SINERGIA hosts its groundbreaking productions in both English and Spanish, all of which shine a spotlight on stories and voices from Latin America.

    Beyond its performances, the theater functions as both an incubator for rising talent and an educational platform for young creatives seeking a welcoming environment to explore storytelling and performance.

    Programming includes the annual 10-Minute Play Festival (as well as the Theater Youth 10-Minute Play Festival), the Staged Reading Series and on-site workshops that foster artistic development across generations.

    Address: 2332 W. Fourth St.
    Hours: Tuesday through Sunday, 1 to 6 p.m.
    Website: https://www.fridakahlotheater.org/
    Actors dressed as police officers stand on stage
    Frida Kahlo Theatre — Daniel Mora, Itzel Ocampo and Eden Vera en “Yellow” by Jose Henrickson.
    (
    Courtesy Catherina Cojulun
    )

  • Taco Madness, spring football and more
    A light-skinned man sits on the floor cross-legged, smiling and pointing between two Black men sitting on chairs.
    'Master Harold and the Boys' is at the Geffen Playhouse in a revival that's drawing rave reviews.

    In this edition:

    Taco Madness, UCLA's spring game, a critically acclaimed revival of a classic play and more of the best things to do this weekend.

    Highlights:

    • Get a taste of L.A.'s best tacos from favorites like Taqueria Frontera, Tire Shop Taqueria, Evil Cooks, LaSorted's and many more at Taco Madness 2026.
    • South African playwright Athol Fugard’s now-classic 1982 play Master Harold and the Boys takes a deep look at race, power and betrayal during apartheid. The Geffen Playhouse's revival got a rave from the L.A. Times.
    • The Bruins head across town to the Rose Bowl for their Spring Game — well, less a game game and more a preview of the upcoming fall football season under new head coach Bob Chesney. The free day includes a Cinco de Mayo Marketplace featuring handmade jewelry, clothing, music and local resources, plus lots of food and drink options.

    I spent the weekend in my other favorite LA — Louisiana, that is, at the annual New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival. Seeing Stevie Nicks in the rain and the Pine Leaf Boys in the sun was worth the trip. But the jazz love doesn’t have to end now that I’m back home, because the first annual Santa Monica Jazz Festival kicks off this Friday at venues around the Westside (and one downtown).

    If you’re not festivaled-out yet post-Coachella/Stagecoach/Jazzfest/wherever you got to in the past few weeks, BeachLife takes over Redondo Beach all weekend long. Headliners are Duran Duran, The Chainsmokers, James Taylor and The Offspring. Beyond that, Licorice Pizza has more music picks, including Health at the Hollywood Palladium and Helloween with Beast In Black bringing the darkness to the YouTube Theater on Friday.

    Saturday, Lewis Capaldi is at the Hollywood Bowl, the Wedding Present performs their classic album Seamonsters in its entirety at the Lodge Room, Pup with Illuminati Hotties will be at Pomona’s Glass House and Shoreline Mafia plays Ontario’s Toyota Arena. Also on Sunday, L.A. club impresarios and drag pioneers the Boulet Brothers will bring their Dragula to the Fonda.

    Elsewhere on LAist, you can take a look at the Natural History Museum’s new orca exhibit, read about a shipping container turned into art and get your tickets to celebrate 100 years of the L.A. Public Library with us on Saturday.

    Events

    L.A. TACO: Taco Madness

    Saturday, May 2, 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. 
    Gloria Molina Grand Park, Downtown L.A. 
    COST: $25; MORE INFO 

    Get a taste of L.A.'s best tacos from favorites like Taqueria Frontera, Tire Shop Taqueria, Evil Cooks, LaSorted's and many more — so come hungry and support our fellow non-profit media friends at L.A. TACO. There’s also craft beer from Boomtown Brewery and DJ sets from Slow Jamz, Ambiente Central, Camilo Lara (Mexican Institute of Sound), Spiñorita, El Marchante and Sonrisita.


    Irene Tu

    Saturday, May 2, 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. 
    Hotel Cafe
    1623 Cahuenga Blvd., Hollywood
    COST: $30; MORE INFO 

    A light-skinned woman wearing glasses speaks into a microphone on stage.
    Irene Tu will do two shows at Hotel Cafe.
    (
    Michael Tullberg
    /
    Getty Images
    )

    Comedian Irene Tu takes the stage for two shows at the intimate Hotel Cafe — one is a taping for a TV special, the other a late show. Tu’s relaxed comedy style often goes viral in social media clips; her stories focus on everyday life and her experiences as a lesbian Asian American woman. Tu was featured as one of Vulture's "Comedians You Should and Will Know,” and will also perform during the upcoming Netflix Is a Joke festival as part of the "Asian Nation" show hosted by Margaret Cho.


    Cinco de Mayo at UCLA Spring Game 

    Rose Bowl 
    1001 Rose Bowl Drive, Pasadena 
    COST: FREE; MORE INFO 

    A wide shot of the endzone of the Rose Bowl stadium, with UCLA painted in the endzone and large UCLA signage covering the seats. The San Gabriel Mountains are visible in the background.
    UCLA's spring game this Saturday will be the first for new coach Bob Chesney.
    (
    Luke Hales
    /
    Getty Images
    )

    The Bruins head across town for their Spring Game — less of a game game and more a preview of the upcoming fall football season under new head coach Bob Chesney. The free day includes a Cinco de Mayo Marketplace featuring handmade jewelry, clothing and local resources, plus lots of food and drink options. There’s also a boxing tournament in the Court of Champions and live music.


    Teen Beat Live: '80s Movie Mixtape

    Through Sunday, May 17 
    CineVita 
    1248 District Drive, Inglewood
    COST: FROM $59; MORE INFO

    A light-skinned man in an all-gold suit sings into a microphone. Behind him onstage several other people sing into microphones.
    (
    Courtesy Teen Beat Live
    )

    The '80s come alive at this immersive music experience at the new CineVita theater at Hollywood Park. The mirror-lined Spiegeltent brings the action to you, with jams from your favorite classic teen movies like Footloose, Fast Times at Ridgemont High, Dirty Dancing, Back to the Future and more. Totally rad.


    Master Harold and the Boys 

    Through Sunday, May 10 
    Geffen Playhouse
    10886 Le Conte Ave., Westwood 
    COST: FROM $45; MORE INFO

    A Black man in a gold jacket and black bowtie holds out one hand. Behind him a Black man in a white shirt and suspenders looks on.
    (
    Jeff Lorch
    /
    Geffen Playhouse
    )

    South African playwright Athol Fugard’s now-classic 1982 play takes a deep look at race, power and betrayal during apartheid. The Geffen’s revival got a rave from the L.A. Times, where Charles McNulty noted the relevance of its message of hope in times of political darkness.


    Khorus Harmonia

    Through Saturday, May 2
    Hudson Theatres 
    6539 Santa Monica Blvd., Hollywood
    COST: $65; MORE INFO 

    A poster with an illustrated circle of people with tree roots for feet standing around a fire. It reads "Khorus Harmonia Music and Feels in 66 Minutes."
    (
    Courtesy Shelter PR
    )

    Fans of Sons of Anarchy will want to book in for this latest collaboration between the show’s masterminds (and married couple) Katey Sagal and Kurt Sutter. Khorus Harmonia is a 66-minute-long choral concert that Sagal conceived following the L.A. fires to build community. The result is an event that combines artists and instrumentalists performing music from favorites like Bon Iver and U2, with choral arrangement and direction by Steven Argila. All proceeds from ticket sales will benefit The Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights & the Wounded Warrior Project.


    HERITAGE BARBECUE X Genevieve Taylor Guest Chef Dinner 

    Friday, May 1, 5 p.m.
    31721 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano
    COST: $200 per person; MORE INFO

    A picture of a woman and a man sharing a plate of food across a picnic table, above a poster with information for "Heritage Barbecue x Genevieve Taylor."
    (
    Courtesy FWD PR
    )

    British barbecue expert and cookbook author Genevieve Taylor pays a visit to San Juan Capistrano’s Heritage Barbecue to celebrate the release of her newest book, How to BBQ: The Definitive Guide to Fire Cooking. The evening will feature a five-course menu prepared by Taylor using recipes from the book, including dishes like maple-cured cold-smoked bass crudo with lime and tequila dressing, smoked honey carrots, ribeye tagliata parmesan and more.


    World Labyrinth Day 

    Saturday, May 2, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
    Various locations, including Peace Awareness Labyrinth and Gardens
    3500 West Adams Blvd., West Adams
    COST: FREE; MORE INFO 

    A light-skinned woman stands with hands in prayer position at the middle of a large stone circle against a green backdrop of trees and grass.
    (
    Courtesy Peace Awareness Labyrinth & Gardens
    )

    Avid walkers and hikers in L.A. have been charmed many times over by the peaceful labyrinths amid the hiking trails and gardens in our fair city. Discover new ones and celebrate the world of meditative walking on World Labyrinth Day. The annual event includes time slots at the Peace Awareness Labyrinth in West Adams (which is designed after the one at Chartres Cathedral in France), as well as many others marked throughout the region on this map.