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Best things to do this weekend in Los Angeles and Southern California: April 11 - 13
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Ericka Kreutz
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Courtesy Bob Baker Marionette Theater
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Our Picks
No Coachella? No problem! Of course you can Couchella all weekend long, but you could also get out there and see some great music within the confines of L.A. and Orange County, like the Avett Brothers at the Greek (feeling like summer already!), Laura Jane Grace at Teragram Ballroom, or some excellent jazz stylings at the Getty.
It’s also the culmination of L.A. Climate Week and what amazing sunshine we’re having for it.
For more to explore, visit LAist.com, where you can check out photos from last weekend’s “Hands Off” protests, learn about the new MyLA311 app, and take a side in the pickleball vs. tennis debate going on in one local neighborhood (and probably yours, too).
Events
Friday, April 11 (opening reception) through Saturday, May 24
Young-II Ahn, selected works 1986-2019
Perrotin Gallery
5036 W. Pico Blvd.
Mid-City
COST: FREE; MORE INFO
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Young-Il Ahn, "California F-57," 1994. Oil on canvas board.
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Evan Bedford
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Courtesy the Young-Il Ahn Estate and Perrotin
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Korean art, music and culture have only grown in popularity here in L.A. and around the world (see: the Bong Joon Ho exhibit at the Academy Museum and BlackPink superstar Lisa’s turn in The White Lotus, just to name two). But Young-Il Ahn’s artistry took hold before any of that. He was the first Korean American artist to have a solo show at LACMA back in 2017 and now thirty years of his work is on exhibit at Perrotin, with a public opening reception on Friday night. The show, which includes his Water paintings, is organized by Senior Director Jennifer King, an art historian and former curator at LACMA.
Saturday, April 12, 8 p.m.
Brian Stokes Mitchell
La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts
14900 La Mirada Blvd.
La Mirada
COST: FROM $28; MORE INFO
I will age myself here by telling you all that I saw Brian Stokes Mitchell in Ragtime on Broadway in 1998 and have never been the same. See the “last leading man” take the stage at La Mirada for an evening of Broadway, cabaret songs and general smoldering.
Sunday, April 13, 7 p.m.
Laura Jane Grace & the Mississippi Medicals
Teragram Ballroom
1234 W. 7th St.
Downtown L.A.
COST: FROM $34; MORE INFO
Laura Jane Grace performs at Riot Fest 2024 at Douglass Park on September 22, 2024 in Chicago.
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Barry Brecheisen
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Getty Images
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Against Me! frontwoman Laura Jane Grace hits the Teragram Ballroom with her new group, the Mississippi Medicals, where she’s joined by her wife, Paris Campbell Grace, as well as Drive-By Truckers bassist Matt Patton and The Erg’s Mikey Erg. The mini supergroup plays folk, noise and pop fueled by rage against the status quo. Check out their Tiny Desk Concert from last year here.
April 12-13
Sounds of L.A.: Celebrating the jazz legacy of Altadena
The Getty Center
1200 Getty Center Dr.
West L.A.
COST: FREE; MORE INFO
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Chris Bair
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Unsplash
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It’s hard to believe it’s been three months since the fires tore through the Palisades and Altadena. Take some time to reflect and celebrate the resilient spirit of our community with a weekend jazz lineup of local musicians at the Getty. The Sounds of L.A. series features jazz artists from Altadena and honors the history of the Black music community there, with jams from the Bennie Maupin Ensemble on Sunday and Tony Dumas, Quinn Johnson, Joel Taylor and Louis Van Taylor on Saturday.
Sunday, April 13, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Bob Baker Day 2025
Los Angeles State Historic Park
1245 N. Spring St.
Downtown L.A.
COST: FREE, SUGGESTED DONATION $20; MORE INFO
Marionettes from Bob Baker's 'The Circus.'
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Courtesy Bob Baker Marionette Theater
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Bob Baker Day is back for the 11th year in a row at the L.A. State Historic Park as the marionettes take the stage. Fun for all ages, the day kicks off with a parade led by none other than Grand Marshalls Sponge Bob SquarePants and Patrick Star at 10 a.m., plus there are arts and crafts activities for kids, David Arquette playing Bozo the Clown, a kids talent show and much more.
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Saturday, April 12, 4 p.m.
Bada Swing
Dynasty Typewriter
2511 Wilshire Blvd.
Westlake
COST: $20; MORE INFO
Never heard of Bobby Bingus and Tommy Linguini? You’re in for a treat. After performances at 54 Below in New York, Bada Swing celebrates two 1960s jazz crooners in a lounge musical about “two disgusting old men.” An opening set from comedian Aparna Nancherla starts off the afternoon (afternoon! We love it!) of comedy.
April 10-12, 8:30 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Will Rawls' [siccer]
RedCat at Disney Hall
631 W. 2nd St.
Downtown L.A.
COST: $27; MORE INFO
Through August 24
ICA Contemporary
1717 E 7th St.
Arts District
COST: FREE; MORE INFO
Make a double header of it downtown to check out both the ICA installation from artist Will Rawls (up through August 24) and his live performances at REDCAT (this weekend only). In [siccer], Rawls examines how Black bodies are documented and distorted in the media. The show at ICA uses stop-motion, animation, photography and sound to “both literally and metaphorically speak to the complex visibility of Blackness in contemporary society.” The project’s title is driven by the usage of [sic], “a Latin adverb which indicates incorrect spelling within a quotation, often employed to contrast Black vernacular with standard English.” The April 11 performance includes a post-show Q&A with Will Rawls.
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Friday, April 11, 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Circular Culture Hub
HEXI at The Deco Bldg
5209 Wilshire Blvd.
Mid-City
COST: $25; MORE INFO
Bring your old clothes and give them a new life at the mending station, learn about sustainable local brands, and connect with other folks who are passionate about zero-waste fashion and design at this L.A. Climate Week event. Following a panel discussion, there will be a poetry performance by Diandra Marizet and a sustainable fashion runway show.
Outdoor Pick
Saturday, April 12, 8 a.m. to 11 a.m.
Jane Goodall’s Roots & Shoots x Friends of L.A. River habitat restoration
Sepulveda Basin Wildlife Reserve
6350 Woodley Ave.
Van Nuys
COST: FREE; MORE INFO
One of two rehabilitated white pelicans was released by the International Bird Rescue back into Wildlife Lake at the Sepulveda Basin Nature Reserve in Los Angeles in 2012.
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Allen J. Schaben
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Los Angeles Times via Getty Images
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Get up early and get your hands dirty as you join the Jane Goodall Roots & Shoots team and Friends of the L.A. River for a morning at the Sepulveda Basin Wildlife Reserve. Volunteers will be removing invasive plant species, planting new native plants, making seed bombs and enjoying a guided tour of restoration progress.
Viewing Pick
Sunday, April 13, 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Earth
Billy Wilder Theater at the Hammer Museum
10899 Wilshire Blvd.
Westwood
COST: FREE; MORE INFO
The popular Family Flicks series has a climate theme this month, presenting the 2007 BBC documentary, Earth, which follows our planet from its first days of the asteroid hit to now — a lot to cover in 90 minutes! Recommended for ages six and up.
Dine & Drink Deals
Sunday, April 13, 5 p.m.
Passover seder
JAR
8225 Beverly Blvd.
Fairfax
COST: $275; MORE INFO
Passover is a holiday about storytelling, and chefs are some of the best storytellers in this town. JAR hosts its annual dine-in seder with Rabbi Ellen Nemhauser and a menu from Suzanne Tracht, featuring matzo ball soup (natch) as well as pot roast, halibut, spring asparagus and more holiday favorites.
Throughout April
Donation match for wildfire relief
Lawry’s The Prime Rib, 100 La Cienega Blvd., Beverly Hills
Five Crowns, 3801 East Coast Highway, Corona Del Mar
SideDoor, 3801 East Coast Highway, Corona Del Mar
COST: VARIES; MORE INFO
As we hit three months since the fires, many restaurant workers are still struggling to make ends meet. You can help and get a bonus to spend yourself as Lawry’s The Prime Rib in Beverly Hills, SideDoor and Five Crowns are matching a portion of guest donations to Restaurants Care this month. VIP member guests who donate will receive a $25 bonus reward for every $10 donation (up to $50 total), which can be used at any Lawry’s restaurant. Non-members who contribute at least $10 and enroll in the VIP Rewards program will also receive $25 in rewards.
Saturday, April 12, 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Talula’s Kitchen x Wanderlust Creamery Venice
Wanderlust Creamery
609 Lincoln Blvd.
Venice
COST: VARIES, MORE INFO
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Max Milla
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Courtesy Talula Dempsey x Wanderlust
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Talula Dempsey, of Talula’s Kitchen, is popping up at Wanderlust Creamery Venice for a cookie collab. Every scoop of ice cream will come with two of Talula’s chocolate chip cookies to make the ultimate DIY ice cream sandwich. In addition to the cookie pairing, Talula’s Chocolate Chip Cookie Mix will be for sale, so you can recreate the taste at home.
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