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Arts & Entertainment

Best Things To Do This Weekend in Los Angeles and Southern California: Apr. 19 - 21

Laura Hertzfeld
Laura Hertzfeld
Published Apr 18, 2024 6:35 AM
Patti Lupone performs on stage in a white dress with sheer, sparkling sleeves. There are several microphones in front her of her, and the backdrop behind her in bathed in pink and blue light.
Patti LuPone performs onstage during the 60th Annual GRAMMY Awards in 2018.
(
Kevin Winter
/
Getty Images for NARAS
)

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To say a lot is going on this weekend is an understatement! With Earth Day events from the beach to the basin, and big events like the L.A. Times Festival of Books, CicLAvia, and Bob Baker Day, there’s just no excuse for staying home.

You can get your hands dirty at any number of habitat restorations and nature walks, hear the fabulous Patti Lupone sing her heart out, dive into a new novel, or watch the coolest kids in L.A. get down at the Get Lit poetry slam.

Visit LAist.com for more to explore, including a chance to dance the night away while supporting LAist. There’s also a deep dive into the history of gay travel guides, and a look at Orange County’s lost landmarks.

Events

  • Image is just a pile of books stacked and scattered on top of each other. The random assortment of books take up the whole image and shows nothing else.
    Sun, Apr 21

    L.A. Times Festival of Books

    • University of Southern California
      University Park, Downtown L.A.

    Book lovers wait all year for the L.A. Times Festival of Books and this year features a who’s who of authors and personalities from RuPaul to Henry Winkler, Miranda July to Jonathan Lethem.
  • Promo image for the 10th annual Bob Baker Day. The image is reminiscent of a carnival style poster but only features 3 clowns in the upper right corner and another single clown in the bottom left corner blowing through a horn/trumpet.
    Sun, Apr 21

    Bob Baker Day

    • Los Angeles State Historic Park
      1245 N. Spring St., Downtown L.A.

    Bob Baker Marionette Theater is a uniquely L.A. institution. Their new puppet theater home is alive and well in Highland Park, and this weekend they celebrate Baker’s 100th birthday!
  • Broadway star Patti Lupone sits on stool and smiles at the camera. She's in a studio with a gray background, wearing black high heels, a black suit jacket and skirt, and a black top hat.
    Sat, Apr 20

    'Patti Lupone: A Life in Notes'

    • Dorothy Chandler Pavilion
      135 N. Grand Ave., Downtown L.A.

    Broadway diva and three-time Tony winner Patti Lupone shines at the L.A. Opera for one night only.

  • A young, darker-skinned woman stands on stage during her spoken word performance.
    Sat, Apr 20

    Get Lit Poetry Slam: Finals

    • Wilshire Ebell Theatre
      4401 West 8th St., Mid-Wilshire

    Students from all across Southern California will show off their poetry prowess.
  • Two dancers on stage. The man sits with both arms and one leg outstretched. In one arm, he's holding a stack of small boxes that are toppling over. His other arm and his shoulders are being use to hold up a female dancer, whose legs are kicked into the air as if mid-cartwheel.
    Sun, Apr 21

    'Interior Design'

    • Kirk Douglas Theatre
      9820 Washington Blvd., Culver City

    A couple navigates moving, life, and Ikea assembly in choreographer Laura Karlin’s dance piece, Interior Design.

Earth Day

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Outdoor Pick

  • A crowd of cyclers on Venice boulevard during the daytime, all seen from behind.
    Sun, Apr 21

    CicLAvia: Venice Blvd.

    • CicLAvia - Venice (National Hub)
      8900 Venice Blvd., Culver City
    • CicLAvia - Venice (Mar Vista Hub)
      10993 Venice Blvd., Palms

    Get on your bikes and ride! CicLAvia returns to Venice Blvd this weekend.

Viewing Pick

Dine & Drink Deals

Enjoy these fun dining and drinking options this week.

  • an assortment of food including pizza, a bagel, falafel, salad and soup is set against a blue background
    Sat, Apr 20

    Eat Around the World Food Festival

    • Center Street Promenade
      W. Center Street Promenade, Anaheim

    From Hawaiian BBQ at Blissful Eats to Turkish coffee at Coffee Queens, snack your way around the globe.
  • The exterior for Holy Water bar in West Hollywood, California.It's a brown building. The front door has a blue frame, and there are plants and planters of varying sizes decorating the outside.
    Sun, Apr 21

    The Woods + Holy Water

    • The Woods WeHo
      8271 Santa Monica Blvd., West Hollywood
    • Holy Water
      8275 Santa Monica Blvd., West Hollywood

    A special 42-percent off sale and cannabis brand pop-ups and giveaways all weekend.
  • A male bartender pours a finished cocktail from his shaker into clear plastic cup. On the top in front of him are several rows of the same vibrant, red cocktail.
    Sat, Apr 20

    Food Forward’s Spring Melt Friend-Raiser

    • Jim Henson Company Lot
      1416 N La Brea Ave., Hollywood

    Enjoy food from local chefs and celebrate Food Forward’s mission to reduce food waste.
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