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Best Things To Do Memorial Day Weekend In Los Angeles And Southern California: May 24 - 27
Welcome to the official start of summer, Best Things To Do readers!
It’s Memorial Day weekend and there are pools to swim in, parties to crash, music to get down to, and ships to board, so let’s get to it.
You have until 2025 to see the phenomenal Simone Leigh exhibit at LACMA and CAAM, but don’t sleep on this week’s opening party. There’s also a celebration for Pico Union Project’s tenth anniversary, Fleet Week events in San Pedro, new dinosaurs for dino-obsessed kids at O.C.’s Discovery Cube, and an outdoor screening of Almost Famous at the Rose Bowl.
For more to explore, visit LAist.com, where you can plot out your long weekend hike on the Park to Playa Bridge with our new series, LAist City Treks, get the first scoop on new food offerings at Dodger Stadium, and dive into the history of our beloved purple jacarandas (achoo!).
Events
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Sun, May 26
Simone Leigh Opening Celebration
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LACMA (Los Angeles County Museum of Art)
5905 Wilshire Blvd., Mid-Wilshire
LACMA has teamed up with the California African American Museum downtown to be the last stop on the U.S. tour for Leigh, who explores themes of Black femininity and history in her work and was the American representative at the Venice Biennale in 2022.
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LACMA (Los Angeles County Museum of Art)
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Mon, May 27
Los Angeles Fleet Week
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LA Fleet Week Expo
250 S. Harbor Blvd., San Pedro
Salute sailors in their whites, thank them for their service, and climb on board to explore active duty visiting ships – the USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier and the U.S. Coast Guard Fast Response Cutter Terrell Horne.
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LA Fleet Week Expo
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Sun, May 26
Rooftop Pool Party
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Desert 5 Spot
6516 Selma Ave. , Hollywood
Desert 5 Spot launches its ongoing Sunday rooftop pool party, Swimsuits & Cowboy Boots, from 2 p.m. until close. Get your cowboy karaoke song ready.
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Desert 5 Spot
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Sat, May 25
'Interrogation: True Crime Stories'
See if you have the stuff when you spend the evening with hosts Korey David and Daniel Van Kirk and get to the bottom of these real cases.
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Sun, May 26
Pico De Mayo
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Pico Union Project
1153 Valencia St., Pico-Union
Enjoy food from local vendors, see performances and more at the 10th-anniversary celebration of the Pico Union Project.
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Pico Union Project
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Sun, Jun 30
Dino Quest
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Discovery Cube: Orange County
2500 N. Main St., Santa Ana
Grab the biggest dinosaur fan in your house and roar down to Orange County for a day filled with life-sized dinosaurs at the new Dino Quest at Discovery Cube.
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Discovery Cube: Orange County
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Mon, May 27
Topanga Days
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Topanga Community Center
1440 N. Topanga Canyon Blvd., Topanga Canyon
The annual event feels like a time machine back to simpler days, with an eclectic parade and games for all ages.
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Topanga Community Center
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Sat, May 25
'The Lion King': 30th Anniversary Concert
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Hollywood Bowl
2301 N. Highland Ave., Hollywood
The Lion King comes to life under the stars at the Hollywood Bowl, with the help of many special guests.
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Hollywood Bowl
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Sun, May 26
Chaplin + 'The Immigrant'
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Linwood Dunn Theater
1313 Vine St., Hollywood
Charlie Chaplin’s 1917 film The Immigrant jumps from screen to stage alongside a live performance by pianist Gabriela Montero.
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Linwood Dunn Theater
Guests: Imperfect Paradise host Antonia Cereijido and Janice Llamoca, an audio producer and host. You might have heard her work on Latino USA, Vice AND she was the host of the amazing LAist Studios podcast Party Crews: The Untold Story.
Here’s what each person pitched for YOUR social calendar:
- The Hollywood Bowl: check out Maestro of the Movies with John Williams
- Pro Tip! Get a shuttle pass and BYOB (wine and beer only)
- Theodore Payne Foundation: learn about native plants, take a garden tour, buy some plants, take a workshop!
- Check our your neighborhood bars that give the true down home vibe!
- In West Adams (Brian's hood), check out Chulita, Johnnys, Delicious Pizza and Alta
- Gold Room and Bar Flores in Echo Park
- Or Bar in WeHo
- Hot Dog at El Cid in Silver Lake
Guests: Imperfect Paradise host Antonia Cereijido and Janice Llamoca, an audio producer and host. You might have heard her work on Latino USA, Vice AND she was the host of the amazing LAist Studios podcast Party Crews: The Untold Story.
Here’s what each person pitched for YOUR social calendar:
- The Hollywood Bowl: check out Maestro of the Movies with John Williams
- Pro Tip! Get a shuttle pass and BYOB (wine and beer only)
- Theodore Payne Foundation: learn about native plants, take a garden tour, buy some plants, take a workshop!
- Check our your neighborhood bars that give the true down home vibe!
- In West Adams (Brian's hood), check out Chulita, Johnnys, Delicious Pizza and Alta
- Gold Room and Bar Flores in Echo Park
- Or Bar in WeHo
- Hot Dog at El Cid in Silver Lake
Viewing Pick
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Sat, May 25
Cinespia: 'Almost Famous'
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Rose Bowl Stadium
1001 Rose Bowl Dr., Pasadena
Cinespia brings its outside movies to the Rose Bowl for the first time with Almost Famous.
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Rose Bowl Stadium
Outdoor Pick
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Sun, May 26
Stand-Up Paddle Board + Yoga
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Mother’s Beach
13977 Palawan Way, Marina Del Rey
Kick off summer by trying out SUP Yoga (that’s stand-up paddle boarding + yoga) in the Marina.
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Mother’s Beach
Dine & Drink Deals
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Sat, May 25
Corvette Car Show And Chili Cook-Off
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Zimmerman Automobile Driving Museum
610 Lairport St., El Segundo
Check out classic Corvettes while sampling (or even participating in!) a chili cook-off.
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Zimmerman Automobile Driving Museum
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Fri, May 31
National Burger Day Menu
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Irv’s Burgers - La Brea
1000 S La Brea Ave., La Brea -
Irv's Burgers - Malibu
23401 Cross Creek Rd., Malibu -
Irv's Burgers - West Hollywood
7998 Santa Monica Blvd., West Hollywood -
Irv's Burgers - Newport Beach
600 E Bay Ave., Newport Beach
Irv’s Burgers is teaming up with Lee Kum Kee and Eddie Sanchez to launch “Hungry in LA’s Just For You Burger."
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Irv’s Burgers - La Brea
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Fri, May 31
Chobani x Fly By Jing
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Suá Superette
144 North Larchmont Blvd., Larchmont
The yogurt brand is popping up at Larchmont’s Suá Superette, pairing their Greek yogurt with spicy Sichuan chili sauce.
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Suá Superette