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 SoCal: Mar. 18 - 21

Ooh la la! Theatre Raymond Kabbaz always puts on a great collection of French language films, and this year is no different. Follow up your French-inspired evening with a day amongst the butterflies at the Natural History Museum, a dinner by some of L.A.’s most fab female chefs, or – if you can score a ticket – Andre 3000 live at the Luna Luna exhibition.
Visit LAist.com for more things to explore, including the news about Sweet Lady Jane’s new ownership, a trip to a few favorite family-owned restaurants with How to LA and the L.A. Try Guy, and a list of quintessential L.A. movies you may not have seen.
Events
-
Monday, March 18, 2024 at 7:15 PM
Comedian Tiffany Haddish performs at The Ice House Comedy Club on January 18, 2024 in Pasadena, California.(Michael S. Schwartz/Getty Images)Girls Trip and The Afterparty star Tiffany Haddish is at the Improv on Monday, joined by guests from Roadkill with Tammy Jo Dearen, including Brad Williams, Fahim Anwar, and Adam Conover.
-
March 18, 2024 through March 19, 2024 from 6:00 PM to 11:00 PM
André 3000 performs at Blue Note Jazz Club on February 02, 2024 in New York City.(Astrida Valigorsky/Getty Images for ABA)Andre 3000 just came off a sold-out few nights in L.A. and is back for more, this time at the very cool Luna Luna art installation just over the 6th Street Viaduct. His new flute (yes, flute) album has been getting rave reviews – but if you’re expecting an Outkast concert, you’ll be disappointed. The mystical 1987 art amusement park Luna Luna, with its Jean-Michel Basquiat Ferris wheel and Keith Haring carousel, is sure to make a compelling backdrop.
-
Thursday, March 21, 2024 at 6:00 PM
Juried Art Show: 'A Woman’s Place' Opening Reception
-
The Ebell Lounge
741 S. Lucerne Ave., Mid-Wilshire
The Ebell continues its celebration of Women’s History Month with an art show and sale. The juried competition was whittled down from 900 works submitted by 338 artists on the theme "A Woman’s Place." Artists were asked to interpret "a vision for where women belong and how they take up space." Following the opening, the pieces will be on display by appointment and during Ebell events.
-
The Ebell Lounge
-
March 17, 2024 through August 25, 2024
Butterfly Pavilion Open
-
Natural History Museum of Los Angeles
900 W. Exposition Blvd., Exposition Park
Monarch and Mourning Cloak and Common Buckeye, oh my! Spend an afternoon amongst the more than 30 native butterfly species in season at the Natural History Museum’s Butterfly Pavilion from now through the summer.
-
Natural History Museum of Los Angeles
-
March 20, 2024 through March 24, 2024
Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater
-
Dorothy Chandler Pavilion
135 N. Grand Ave., Downtown L.A.
Alvin Ailey dancers Ashley Kaylynn Green, Samantha Figgins and Coral Dolphin rehearse “Following the Subtle Current Upstream” at New York City Center.(Donna Ward/Getty Images)It’s always a special few days for dance lovers when Alvin Ailey Dance Theater comes to The Music Center. The troupe’s latest repertoire features two programs that explore new work from the ensemble alongside signature pieces, including Ailey’s Revelations. As a bonus, LAist is hosting a community dance class led by artists from the company on Thursday, March 21.
-
Dorothy Chandler Pavilion
-
Wednesday, March 20, 2024 at 7:30 PM
The Museum of Trans Hirstory & Art is a massive undertaking by artist Chris E. Vargas to document and share trans and queer experiences in the art world. In the new book Trans Hirstory In 99 Objects, Vargas takes his MOTHA concept to the page, exploring trans art, activism, artifacts and resistance across more than four centuries to "chart a gender-neutral, trans-centric hirstory of art." The talk at the Hammer will also feature Zackary Drucker, Edgar Fabián Frías, Raquel Gutiérrez, Amos Mac, and Uri McMillan.
-
Wednesday, March 20, 2024 at 9:00 AM
Curious about trying a boxing class to get your fitness on and your rage out? Check out this free class at 2nd & PCH in Long Beach on Wednesday with Rumble Boxing – no boxing experience necessary!
-
Monday, March 18, 2024 at 6:00 PM
Book Talk: Katie Gee Salisbury and Lisa Ling
-
Zibby’s Bookshop
1113 Montana Ave. , Santa Monica
Katie Gee Salisbury’s much-anticipated debut non-fiction book explores the life of Anna May Wong, the first Asian-American movie star, who came to fame on screen in the roaring '20s. Salisbury is joined in conversation this week with journalist Lisa Ling at Zibby’s in Santa Monica and later in the week at Vroman’s in Pasadena with Jeff Yang.
-
Zibby’s Bookshop
Outdoor Pick
-
Tuesday, March 19, 2024 from 7:00 AM to 9:00 AM
Sunrise Birdwatching Walk
-
Theodore Payne Foundation
10459 Tuxford St., Sun Valley
Getting up super early? That’s for the birds! No, literally, go see the birds at this early morning nature walk in the Valley. You’ll learn how to identify and spot our local feathered friends, like the California Thrasher, on this experiential walk and talk with Diego Blanco, a birding expert at the Theodore Payne Foundation.
-
Theodore Payne Foundation
Viewing Pick
-
March 19, 2024 through March 25, 2024
A Week of French Cinema
Cost: $10 per film ; More InfoFor the past 15 years, Theatre Raymond Kabbaz has hosted some of the best contemporary films in French (with subtitles for the less Francophone among us). It’s a great opportunity to see films that have gotten acclaim but may never get a big release here. This year’s crop features films on a wide range of subjects hailing from Quebec, Congo, Switzerland, and Belgium as well as France, of course.
Dining & Drink Deals
Here are dining and drinking deals you can enjoy this week.
-
Thursday, March 21, 2024 at 7:00 PM
It’s a shakeoff as bartenders from across L.A. battle for the winning whiskey cocktail as part of the Meet Your Maker series from Pacifica Hotels. This month, guests will cast their vote after tasting five Whistle Pig Whiskey cocktails and enjoying snacks at the Wayfarer’s Lilly Rose restaurant.
-
Thursday, March 21, 2024 at 5:00 PM
If you haven’t been to Cobi Marsh’s Cobi’s in Santa Monica to enjoy delicious Southeast Asian fare under a canopy of roses, it’s high time to check it out. Marsh, along with Nancy Silverton and Danielle Zucca (Amiga Amore) are coming together for a four-course dinner along the theme "Forget Me Nots" for the Re:HER celebration of women chefs.
-
March 18, 2024 through March 24, 2024
City of Artesia Restaurant Week
Cost: Varies ; More InfoTake a drive out to Artesia to explore dining deals at restaurants like Jonathan Gold-favorite Mian, Cake Korner and L.A. Brisket all week long.
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.

-
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.