Best things to do in Los Angeles and Southern California: March 28 - 30

Last weekend, I checked out the French language film festival at Theatre Raymond Kabbaz and saw Julie Delpy’s new film, Les Barbares, a smart comedy (yes, comedy) about a French village whose residents are confronted with their own prejudices when a Syrian refugee family comes to live there. It’s meaningful and clever, and Delpy was there to discuss the film after — such a fun and very L.A. treat. The Before Sunrise films are some of my favorites and Delpy’s work really made up a chunk of my early 2000s film obsessions.

Speaking of that era, this coming Saturday’s concert celebrating the 20th anniversary of Garden State at the Greek is sure to bring all the indie early aughts feels back. The Shins are playing, and writer, director and star Zach Braff is hosting, but ticket prices are steep.

For more to explore, visit the rest of LAist.com, where you can get the latest info on Yosemite camping reservations for the summer, learn which tomato varieties to get planting, and read up on celebrity chef Andrew Gruel, Huntington Beach’s newest city councilmember.

Events

Friday, March 28, 6 p.m. 
Lucy Dacus listening party
Licorice Pizza Records
12230 Ventura Blvd.
Studio City 
COST: FREE WITH RSVP; MORE INFO 

Find your fellow boygenius superfans at a listening party for Lucy Dacus's new solo album, Forever Is a Feeling. The indie sweetheart’s new tracks will be the highlight, plus there will be gifts, giveaways, and more at Licorice Pizza Records in Studio City.

Saturday, March 29, 8 p.m. 
Franz Ferdinand 
The Wiltern 
3790 Wilshire Blvd.
Koreatown 
COST: FROM $59; MORE INFO

Alex Kapranos of Franz Ferdinand performs at O2 Shepherd's Bush Empire on March 5, 2025, in London.

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Jim Dyson

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Continuing my personal obsession with Scottish bands of the '90s and early aughts playing The Wiltern (sorry, not sorry), this time we have indie favorites Franz Ferdinand taking the art deco venue’s stage, touring behind their sixth and latest album, The Human Fear. I want you to take me out (if that wasn’t clear already)!

March 28-30
WonderCon 
Anaheim Convention Center
800 West Katella Ave.
Anaheim 
COST: FROM $42; MORE INFO

Andrew Cripps, president of international theatrical distribution at Warner Bros. Pictures, director Tim Burton, Jeff Goldstein, president of domestic distribution at Warner Bros. Pictures, and actress Monica Bellucci at WonderCon 2024.

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Eric Charbonneau

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Getty Images for Warner Bros.

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Nerddom unites at the annual WonderCon at the Anaheim Convention Center. Growing to rival its sibling event — San Diego Comic-Con — WonderCon puts the focus on anime, graphic novels and fantasy with more than 900 exhibitors, speaker panels and meet-and-greets, and programming like the 25th-anniversary celebration of The Emperor’s New Groove.

Friday, March 28 through Sunday, March 30
USC Comedy Festival 
USC Campus
3507 Trousdale Parkway
University Park
COST: FREE; MORE INFO

Get a sneak peek at new films and TV shows like Friendship (A24) and Deli Boys (Hulu), plus check out panels on writing for late-night TV, podcasting and more at the seventh annual USC Comedy Festival, taking place on campus all weekend long. The event will also honor L.A. filmmaker Jason Reitman (Saturday Night, Up in the Air, Juno).

Ongoing
Two Pacific Palisades art galleries reopen
Gallery 169, 169 W. Channel Road, Santa Monica 
Bruce Lurie Gallery, 608 Santa Monica Blvd., Santa Monica
COST: FREE

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Courtesy Marta Chaffee, the artist

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Art heals and nowhere is it more needed than in areas of L.A. hit by the January fires. The good news is that two major Palisades galleries are now reopened and with powerful shows. Gallery 169 has an exhibition of works by local Palisades artist Marta Chaffee. Chaffee, 89, did not lose her home in the fires and is donating some of the proceeds from the show to wildfire relief. And in Santa Monica, the Bruce Lurie Gallery is showing Renascence, a collection of works from 21 artists working across different mediums, in a new space since losing their Palisades space. The opening is Saturday from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Saturday, March 29, 2:30 p.m.
Spies Among Us 
Little Tokyo (specific location revealed day of event)
COST: $29; MORE INFO

A mystery is afoot in Little Tokyo. Will you be the one who sniffs out the mole? Spies Among Us is doing a special immersive event with the Mermaid Bar, so put on your best incognito fishtail, grab some friends and check it out.

Saturday, March 29, 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. 
Selected Shorts: Lost and Found
Getty Museum 
1200 Getty Center Dr.
Brentwood 
COST: $20; MORE INFO 

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Bogomil Mihaylov

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Short stories come to life at the Getty, where beloved actors breathe their talents into contemporary short stories. Hosted by Selected Shorts podcaster and bestselling author Meg Wolitzer (The Interestings), Jason Alexander, Michael Urie, Melora Hardin and many more will read stories by Simon Rich, Jonathan Lethem and more authors.

Sunday, March 30, 9 a.m. 12 p.m. 
Donut Media Cruise-In 2025
Peterson Automotive Museum 
6060 Wilshire Blvd. 
Miracle Mile 
COST: $25-$49; MORE INFO 

General admission and Show Car tickets are still available for the big cruise-in at the Peterson Automotive Museum. Check out classic cars and meet fellow hot rod enthusiasts. Last year’s event saw more than 2000 attendees and 200+ cars.

Outdoor Pick

Saturday, March 29, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. 
Breath of Life: Slam Dunk for a Future With Clean Air
Esther Snyder Community Center
4100 Baldwin Park Blvd. Baldwin Park
COST: FREE; MORE INFO

Breathe Southern California hosts Breath of Life: Slam Dunk for a Future with Clean Air health fair, a free community event dedicated to promoting clean air, lung health and environmental awareness. Families and community members from Baldwin Park and surrounding areas are invited to join for a fun and informative day filled with interactive activities, health resources and exciting giveaways.

Viewing Pick

Through March 31 
National Theatre Live: Dr. Strangelove
Multiple Laemmle theater locations
COST: $13; MORE INFO 

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Courtesy National Theatre Live

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Last fall, I spent some time in London and was lucky enough to be in the very front row for an early performance of Dr. Strangelove, Kubrick’s classic satire adapted for the stage by Veep mastermind Armando Iannucci. Steve Coogan (The Trip) brilliantly takes on the Peter Sellers role — portraying even more characters than Sellers!

The satire didn’t do enough for me to break away from the original film, but the great performances and clever staging are well worth a watch. The National Theatre Live does an incredible job of bringing theater into the movies — their filming of Gillian Anderson in A Streetcar Named Desire from several years back is one of my favorites.

Dine & Drink Deals

Sunday, March 30, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. 
Collected Muse: A Sensory Tasting
Dada Market
1606 W. Sunset Blvd.
Echo Park 
COST: $45; MORE INFO

The fourth annual Collected Muse is a unique tasting and cultural event spotlighting women innovators in wine, food and culture. More than just a tasting, the afternoon is an interactive experience where guests can engage with brands redefining food and beverage like etteilla wines and stuffed dates from Gato Dates. Proceeds benefit wildfire relief work.

Saturday, March 29, 7:30 p.m.   
Strong Words
Socalo 
1920 Santa Monica Blvd.
Santa Monica 
COST:$10 PLUS FOOD + BEVERAGES; MORE INFO 

Enjoy a night of storytelling, music and mezcal! Local storytellers will take the stage at Socalo while the mezcal flows at this popular event.

Saturday, March 29 
Festival of Forgotten Grapes 
Mica Studios
356 S Mission Road
COST: $69; MORE INFO

Four kinds of wine.

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Maksym Kaharlytskyi/Unsplash

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Who needs cabernet sauvignon when you could try a sémillon or a nebbiolo from right here in California? The Festival of Forgotten Grapes celebrates California wines that sometimes get overlooked for their mass-appeal siblings. Do your best Paul Giamatti in Sideways impression, but don’t you dare try to find a merlot.