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Arts & Entertainment

Best Things To Do This Week in Los Angeles and Southern California: April 29 - May 2

Laura Hertzfeld
Laura Hertzfeld
Published Apr 29, 2024 5:00 AM
Ali Wong leans against a jukebox with Netflix Is a Joke branded on the top. She's wearing a white and black dress.
Ali Wong attends the Netflix FYSee Kick Off Party in 2018.
(
Rachel Murray
/
Getty Images for Netflix
)

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It feels impossible that it’s already the end of April, but here in Southern California that means the butterflies are out at the South Coast Botanic Garden and the laughs are in bloom at the Netflix Is a Joke Festival.

This week you can also get a new perspective on plants from author Michael Pollan, make a maraca with your kids ahead of Cinco de Mayo, or if you’re already jealous of everyone’s springtime in Europe Instagrams, head over to Santa Monica for the Accidentally Wes Anderson exhibit.

Visit LAist.com for more to explore, including a look at the studios getting in on the live events industry, drought-friendly plants to put in your garden, and How To L.A. goes deep on whether imported New York tap water makes L.A. pizza better.

Events

  • The image is a man sitting in a chair while smiling while speaking on stage. He is seen from the knees up with a big smiles with a maroon background
    Mon, Apr 29

    Michael Pollan

    • Segerstrom Center for the Arts
      3333 Avenue of the Arts, Costa Mesa

    The conversation will be moderated by podcaster Rico Gagliano and is sure to, uh, blow your mind.
  • Promo image hat features a woman - Ali Wong on the right side of the image with the dates of her residency on the left side behind a white background.
    Sun, May 12

    Netflix Is a Joke

    • Greek Theatre
      2700 N Vermont Ave., Griffith Park
    • The Wiltern
      3790 Wilshire Blvd., Koreatown
    • Hollywood Palladium
      6215 Sunset Blvd., Hollywood

    From Ali Wong to Zainab Johnson, from Big Mouth to Lil Dicky, there’s a comedy show for whatever suits your fancy at the Netflix Is a Joke Festival, happening at venues around the city over the next two weeks.
  • The image is a promo for The billboards creative art celebration. The image also features different types of artwork.
    Tue, Apr 30

    SURREAL: The 2024 Installation

    The Billboard Creative is hosting its 10th-anniversary show through the end of the month with work from 27 artists displayed on billboards throughout Los Angeles.
  • Image of a small green house at the bottom center of the image surround by water with a foggy covered mountain in the background.
    Thu, Jun 20

    Accidentally Wes Anderson Exhibit

    • Santa Monica Art Museum
      1219 3rd Street Promenade, Santa Monica

    Paying tribute to the king of cinematic symmetry, a new exhibit on Third Street Promenade features photographs of 200 destinations around the world that may as well be sets from The Royal Tenenbaums or Asteroid City.
  • Image of a Calavera Sugar Skulls for Cinco De Mayo. The image only shows a pile of colorful skulls.
    Wed, May 1

    Cinco de Mayo Music Fiesta

    • Huntington Park Library
      6518 Miles Ave. , Huntington Park

    Shake off the after-school energy by learning about the different musical genres and instruments used to celebrate Cinco de Mayo ahead of the holiday.

  • Image is inside a bedroom features a bed but around the bed and on the walls are super colorful variations of Kawaii. There's also a shredded colorful teddy bear and another same shrreeded smaller bear sitting in the lap of the bigger bear.
    Sun, Nov 3

    Yes, Kawaii Is Art

    • Japan House Los Angeles
      Ovation Hollywood, Hollywood

    Art can be cute and cute can be art at Japan House’s latest exhibit, which shows the history and artistry behind the uniquely Japanese concept of “kawaii.”
  • A digital poster for the Popular Kids Club live comedy show, featuring headshots of 7 performers, including Rachel Bloom.
    Thu, May 2

    Popular Kids Club

    • Permanent Records Roadhouse
      1906 Cypress Ave., Cypress Park

    Popular Kids Club is an outdoor comedy event every first and third Thursday.

Outdoor Pick

  • An orange, black and white butterfly that has landed on a purple flower in a field of flowers.
    Sat, Aug 31

    Soar Tropical Butterflies

    • South Coast Botanic Garden
      26300 Crenshaw Blvd., Palos Verdes Estates

    Starting Wednesday, hundreds of tropical butterflies take flight at the South Coast Botanic Garden.

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