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Arts & Entertainment

Best Things To Do Memorial Day Weekend In Los Angeles And Southern California: May 24 - 27

Sailors aboard a trolley pose for the camera, smiling. On the right, one sailor in glasses is holding up the peace sign.
US Navy sailors ride on a double-decker trolley in Los Angeles during Fleet Week.
(
Patrick T. Fallon
/
AFP via Getty Images
)

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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!).

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Events

  • Sun, May 26

    Simone Leigh Opening Celebration

    • 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.

  • Mon, May 27

    Los Angeles Fleet Week

    • 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.

  • Sun, May 26

    Rooftop Pool Party

    • 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.

  • 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.

  • Sun, May 26

    Pico De Mayo

    • 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.

  • Sun, Jun 30

    Dino Quest

    • 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.

  • Mon, May 27

    Topanga Days

    • 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.

  • Sat, May 25

    'The Lion King': 30th Anniversary Concert

    • 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.

  • Sun, May 26

    Chaplin + 'The Immigrant'

    • 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.

Listen 26:35
#279: Hey, How to LA listeners! We’re back with another social calendar to talk about the interesting, fun, new happenings in the city.
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
#279: Hey, How to LA listeners! We’re back with another social calendar to talk about the interesting, fun, new happenings in the city.
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

  • Sat, May 25

    Cinespia: 'Almost Famous'

    • Rose Bowl Stadium
      1001 Rose Bowl Dr., Pasadena

    Cinespia brings its outside movies to the Rose Bowl for the first time with Almost Famous.

Outdoor Pick

  • Sun, May 26

    Stand-Up Paddle Board + Yoga

    • 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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From the The Los Feliz 3 to Vidiots, there’s something for everyone playing this weekend.

Dine & Drink Deals

  • Sat, May 25

    Corvette Car Show And Chili Cook-Off

    • Zimmerman Automobile Driving Museum
      610 Lairport St., El Segundo

    Check out classic Corvettes while sampling (or even participating in!) a chili cook-off.

  • Fri, May 31

    National Burger Day Menu

    • 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."

  • Fri, May 31

    Chobani x Fly By Jing

    • 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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