With our free press under threat and federal funding for public media gone, your support matters more than ever. Help keep the LAist newsroom strong, become a monthly member or increase your support today.
Best things to do this week in Los Angeles and Southern California: March 17 - 20
Players pose after the exhibition baseball game Sunday between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Hanshin Tigers. The Dodgers take on the Chicago Cubs in the stadium on Tuesday.
(
Yuichi Yamazaki
/
AFP via Getty Images
)
Our Picks
As you’ve probably heard (over and over again, we know), it’s spring membership drive time here at LAist. Please consider becoming a sustaining member and help us produce great stories and newsletters like this one.
Last week, we hosted the Weathered: Inside the L.A. Firestorm premiere with Weathered host Maiya May form PBS SoCal. The film played to a packed house. I had two main takeaways: first, we have some good-looking firefighters in this town. And on a more serious note, the fires that decimated Altadena and the Palisades are not the last fires we’ll see in L.A. That means it’s more important than ever to be prepared for natural disasters by weather-proofing your home and having a plan. Our resource guides can help.
The film launches on PBS SoCal this Wednesday, March 19. Don’t miss it.
For more to explore, visit LAist.com, where you can find new spots for nightlife during Ramadan, the best places to eat Japanese-themed Dodgers opening day snacks, and a guide to the L.A. restaurants that just made the Michelin Guide and now have a chance at earning stars.
Support for LAist comes from
Events
Monday, March 17, 6 p.m. to 11 p.m.
St. Patrick’s Day at Molly Malone’s
575 S. Fairfax Ave.
Fairfax
COST: $10; MORE INFO
The closest to Dublin you can get in L.A. is Molly Malone’s on Fairfax, where the iconic pub will host performances from Irish bands including The Vigils, Sanglorians, Rudy Nuno, Molly Gunner, and Hounds of Belfast. Raise your Guinness!
Thursday, March 20, 9 p.m.
Mumford & Sons
Hollywood Palladium
6215 Sunset Blvd.
Hollywood
COST: SOLD OUT, $400 AND UP ON THIRD-PARTY SITES; MORE INFO
Ben Lovett, Marcus Mumford, and Ted Dwane of Mumford & Sons perform during the American Museum of Natural History's 2023 Museum Gala in New York City.
(
Mike Coppola
/
Getty Images
)
Support for LAist comes from
It will cost you, but British folk rockers Mumford & Sons bring their “Tour Before the Tour” of small venues to the Palladium Thursday night ahead of playing through the summer at arenas and other larger venues across Europe. Their new album, Rushmere, comes out on March 28.
Monday, March 3 through Friday, April 18
Soft Surrealism installation
Adams Square Mini Park Gas Station
1020 E Palmer Ave.
Glendale
COST: FREE; MORE INFO
(
Courtesy Mandy Palasik
)
I know going to see one installation in a gas station feels like a lot to drive across town for, but if you find yourself in Glendale anytime between now and April 18, put a pin in your map and check out Mandy Palasik’s installation Soft Surrealism at the Adams Square Mini Park Gas Station, which has become a hub for unique one-off projects. Like our own little local version of a Desert X installation, Palasik’s abstract sculpture embodies the built environment and is composed of biomorphic inflatables magnetically connected to form amoeba-like creations. The light-weight PVC pieces expand and contract in the gas station, “activating the corners, and framing views on all four sides.”
If you’re driving by when it’s dark out, you’re in luck. At night, colorful beams of light activate the shapes and create an alluring form that changes as you change your perspective.
Support for LAist comes from
Tuesday, March 18, 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Entertainment Without Borders: An Industry Perspective
JAPAN HOUSE Salon, Level 5
Ovation Hollywood
6801 Hollywood Blvd.
Hollywood
COST: $20; MORE INFO
Join industry vets producer Brent Travers, entertainment attorney Shep Rosenman, and casting directors Yoko Narahashi and Carla Hool for a discussion exploring the evolving dynamics of representation and dealmaking in Hollywood and beyond. Japan House has a number of upcoming talks; this one features experts known for their groundbreaking work in Japanese and Latino talent representation.
Wednesday, March 19, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Alana’s Game Night
634 N Robertson Blvd.
West Hollywood
COST: FREE; MORE INFO
(
Nick Fewings
/
Unsplash
)
Board games and community are on tap at the Alana’s Coffee West Hollywood location on Wednesday night. They’ll have a selection of games and treats. Bring yourself and your competitive edge!
Support for LAist comes from
Monday, March 17, 6 p.m. to 2 a.m.
Kiss Me, I'm Irish: St. Patrick’s Day Pub Crawl
Starting at Brittania Pub
318 Santa Monica Blvd.
Santa Monica
COST: FROM $24.55; MORE INFO
(
Courtesy Barcrawlerz
)
The second day of this two-day epic pub crawl goes all night on St. Paddy’s Day, so remember to hydrate before you head to the Brittania where the evening kicks off. The crawl takes you to several bars around downtown Santa Monica before wrapping up the night at the Whaler on Ocean.
March 1 through May 11
The Flower Fields at Carlsbad Ranch
5704 Paseo Del Norte
Carlsbad
COST: $27; MORE INFO
Beat the weekend crowds and welcome the beginning of spring with a weekday adventure to The Flower Fields at Carlsbad Ranch. Explore butterflies, flowers in bloom and farm treats, plus the traveling sculpture exhibit Glass in Flight by Alex Heveri, a defense attorney and sculptor who has been creating larger-than-life steel and glass structures for more than 25 years. Some of her Dalle de Verre glass and steel sculptures of life-like bees, butterflies, birds, beetles and dragonflies tower 12 feet high and together weigh more than 50,000 pounds.
Viewing Pick
Monday, March 17, 7 p.m.
Jim Henson’s Labyrinth with a live band
Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts
18000 Park Plaza Drive
Cerritos
COST: FROM $35; MORE INFO
This one is a must. If you’re a fan of the 1986 Jim Henson cult classic Labyrinth, get yourself to Cerritos for this special screening. For the first time, the movie will play while a live band performs in sync with David Bowie’s original vocals. Escape into the world of the Goblin King for a night!
Dine & Drink Deals
Tuesday, March 18, 4 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Taco Tuesdays
Gelson’s West L.A. Wine Bar
12121 W. Olympic Blvd.
West L.A.
COST: VARIES; MORE INFO
(
Creative Headline
/
Unsplash
)
Get dinner while doing your shopping. This Tuesday and every Tuesday, Gelson’s West L.A. Wine Bar hosts Taco Tuesdays, with tacos, margaritas and mezcals all served in a vibrant, welcoming atmosphere.
Wednesday, March 19
Si! Mon at Majordōmo
1725 Naud St.
Downtown L.A.
COST: VARIES; MORE INFO
(
Courtesy Si! Mon
)
Inspirations from Korea to Italy come together as Chef Tim Mangun of Majordōmo teams up with Venice hotspot Si! Mon to offer a la carte specials for one night only. The menu includes tuna uostada with yuca, honey yuzu dressing and avocado, a selection of chontaduro and black truffle or cashew butter and escabeche bing, A5 wagyu tartar with plantain, uni and caviar, and tasajo smoked prime rib with crispy rice and beans, crema, and kimchi. Reservations are available on OpenTable.
March 18-19, 3 a.m.
L.A. Dodgers Tokyo Season Opener Viewing Parties + Budonoki Pizza Collab
LaSorted's Chinatown
984 N Broadway
Chinatown
COST: VARIES; MORE INFO
Yes, you read that right: 3 a.m. Head to LaSorted’s to watch and celebrate the Dodgers’ first games of the season as they play in Tokyo before coming back for Opening Day here at the end of the month. LaSorted’s is collaborating with Melrose izakaya Budonoki and serving a special pizza called "Curry Pan-Za", a pie with Japanese wagyu beef curry, mozzarella cheese, aji verde and pickled onion pizza, finished with grated parmesan, all on LaSorted's L.A.-style crust. The dish is inspired by one of Budonoki's most popular dishes, the "Curry Pan."
At LAist, we believe in journalism without censorship and the right of a free press to speak truth to those in power. Our hard-hitting watchdog reporting on local government, climate, and the ongoing housing and homelessness crisis is trustworthy, independent and freely accessible to everyone thanks to the support of readers like you.
But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
What do stairs have to do with California’s housing crisis? More than you might think, says this Culver City councilmember. -
Yes, it's controversial, but let me explain. -
Doctors say administrator directives allow immigration agents to interfere in medical decisions and compromise medical care. -
The Palisades Fire erupted on Jan. 7 and went on to kill 12 people and destroy more than 6,800 homes and buildings. -
People moving to Los Angeles are regularly baffled by the region’s refrigerator-less apartments. They’ll soon be a thing of the past. -
Experts say students shouldn't readily forgo federal aid. But a California-only program may be a good alternative in some cases.
Best of LAist