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Best things to do this weekend in Los Angeles and Southern California: March 21 - 23
Scott Kirkland of the Crystal Method performs in 2022.
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Michael Tullberg
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Getty Images
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Our Picks
The Dodgers won both of their season-opening games in Tokyo, and the UCLA women's basketball team is ranked No. 1 overall going into March Madness. Things are looking up, L.A.
I’d be remiss if I didn’t let you know that tickets are going fast for our live taping of the Splendid Table at the Aratani Theater in Little Tokyo, where host Francis Lam will celebrate 30 years of the NPR food program this Sunday alongside favorite foodies like LAist's own Gab Chabrán and KCRW's Good Food host, Evan Kleiman.
For more to explore, visit LAist.com, where you can learn about the Metro construction that will close a stretch of Wilshire, the best fish taco spots if you’re skipping other meats for Lent, and how to score tickets to this summer’s Pokemon World Championships.
Events
Friday, March 21, 7:30 p.m.
Kelsea Ballerini
Crypto.com Arena
1111 S. Figueroa St.
Downtown L.A.
COST: FROM $45.96; MORE INFO
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Kelsea Ballerini performs onstage during at Bridgestone Arena on January 31, 2025.
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Jason Kempin
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Getty Images for ABA
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Country pop superstar Kelsea Ballerini takes the stage at Crypto.com Arena (will I ever not call it Staples?) to support her new album, Patterns, which came out late last year and features a collaboration with indie-pop it-boy Noah Kahan. This is the first headling arena tour for the singer and newest coach on The Voice.
March 22-23
Los Angeles Folk Festival
The Bellwether
333 S. Boylston St.
Downtown L.A.
COST: FROM $140.75; MORE INFO
The wildfire relief benefits have slowed, but this weekend is another chance to support the city and see some incredible artists. Postponed from the fall, Emmylou Harris, Tommy Prine, Madi Diaz, and more are playing this two-night event at the Bellwether. John C. Reilly and the Milk Carton Kids host, so there’s sure to be some fun interstitial comedy and special guests.
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March 21-22
The Crystal Method
Venice West
1717 Lincoln Blvd.
Venice
COST: $46; MORE INFO
Scott Kirkland of The Crystal Method performs on March 30, 2022.
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Michael Tullberg
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Getty Images
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On the other end — the far other end — of the music spectrum, '90s electronic music pioneers the Crystal Method are playing two nights at the intimate Venice West. Pack your earplugs (I am obsessed with my Loop pair; this is not an ad, I just love them), and head to Venice for their Rabbit in the Moon DJ tour.
March 21-29
PaleyFest
Dolby Theatre
6801 Hollywood Blvd.
Hollywood
COST: VARIES; MORE INFO
Obsessed with Severance? Stanning Agatha All Along? Can’t wait for the new season of Hacks? Paleyfest has you covered. Panels with the casts and creators of your favorite current shows are happening all week long, plus there's a special Gilmore Girls reunion on March 29. Coffee? Yes, please.
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Saturday, March 22, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Golden Dragon Parade
Chinatown Central Plaza
950 N. Broadway
Chinatown
COST: FREE TO ATTEND, GRANDSTAND TICKETS $50; MORE INFO
Lion dancers perform on stage during the 120th Golden Dragon Parade in Los Angeles in 2019.
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Windzepher/Getty Images
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iStock Editorial
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The January fires pushed the annual Golden Dragon Parade celebration from its usual spot around the Lunar New Year, but it’s still the year of the snake, so there’s no time like the present to get in the spirit. The 126th year of the event is one of L.A.’s oldest traditions and features lion dancers, music and more.
Saturday, March 22, 1 p.m. to 2 p.m.
Meditate among the monsters
Pace Gallery
1201 S. La Brea Ave.
Mid-Wilshire
COST: FREE, DONATIONS ACCEPTED; MORE INFO
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If David Lynch left any legacy beyond his movies to the city of L.A., it was his expertise and evangelism of Transcendental Meditation. Honor the great filmmaker and Angeleno by taking an hour for yourself at the serene Pace Gallery, where the exhibit The Monster, a group exhibition curated by Robert Nava, is currently showing — including a painting by Lynch. Proceeds from the event support local fire relief efforts and future community-based programming organized by the gallery.
Saturday, March 22, noon to 4:30 p.m.
Digitization Day
Wende Museum
10808 Culver Blvd.
Culver City
COST: FREE WITH RSVP; MORE INFO
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Courtesy Wende Museum
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Is your house full of family photos just sitting there waiting to be digitized? Is this a project you’ve said you’ll get around to for years? You’re not alone. Head to the Wende Museum (book an appointment ahead!) to get going on your long-awaited digitization project. The museum will host a presentation about how to get started and provide access to copiers and scanners.
Saturday, March 22, 11 a.m.
Venice Love Fest
12252 Venice Blvd.
Venice
COST: FREE; MORE INFO
Venice Beach Wildfire Relief Concert
Windward Plaza
Pacific Avenue and Windward Avenue
Venice
COST: FREE; MORE INFO
Two big events are coming to Venice this weekend.
First, get a little bit of Hawaii at a community-driven event right at Windward Plaza under the iconic Venice sign that includes on-site disaster relief for wildfire survivors and a concert with a special Hula performance led by Kumu Keali’i Ceballos and Hālau Hula Keali’i O Nālani, honoring “resilience, healing and the spirit of Aloha.”
And a little further up Venice Boulevard, the Venice Love Fest features free yoga classes, music acts including School of Rock and La Verdad, local vendors and more.
Outdoor pick
Saturday, March 22, 10 a.m.
Laguna Ocean Foundation: Aliso Beach cleanup
Aliso Beach
2 Monterey St.
Laguna Beach
COST: FREE; MORE INFO
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Brian Yurasits
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Unsplash
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Get some sun while cleaning up at Aliso Beach with the Laguna Ocean Foundation. Plus, Lost Pier Cafe is providing discounted coffee vouchers for volunteers. Bring your own gloves and trash bucket!
Viewing pick
March 19-23
A week of French language cinema
Theatre Raymond Kabbaz
10361 W. Pico Blvd.
West L.A.
COST: $10; MORE INFO
Ooh la la! It’s French cinema week at Raymond Kabbaz — one of my favorite film festivals of the year. New films from across the French-speaking world are featured nightly for just $10 each. Check out films like Plus Que Jemais from Luxembourg, Dahomey from Senegal or Julie Delpy in Les Barbares from France.
Dine and drink deals
Starting Sunday, March 23
Fanny’s Korean 'Sunday Supper' series
The Academy Museum
6067 Wilshire Blvd.
Miracle Mile
COST: VARIES; MORE INFO
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Stan Lee
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Courtesy The Academy Museum
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Fanny's at the Academy Museum is celebrating the new exhibit about Oscar-winning director Bong Joon Ho (Parasite) with a special Korean Sunday Supper series starting this coming Sunday, 3/23. The menu is the brainchild of Fanny’s Executive Chef Jun Bum Oh, who will be drawing on his native Korean heritage to create special dishes like ssam junsik, bibimbap and galbi jjim as well as film-inspired cocktails.
Through April 21
Disney California Adventure Food & Wine Festival
Disneyland Resort
1313 Disneyland Drive
Anaheim
COST: VARIES; MORE INFO
A favorite of Disney lovers every year is the California Adventure Food & Wine Festival, which features culinary demos, special tastings and more throughout the spring.
Sunday, March 23, 4 p.m.
Classic French macaron class
Hilton Garden Inn
1441 S. Manchester Ave.
Anaheim
COST: $64.80; MORE INFO
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Melanie Kreutz
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Unsplash
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Getting that perfect little foot on a French macaron is not as hard as it looks. An experienced chef will guide you through the techniques at this class in Anaheim. And your colorful treats will look like they belong in the window of Ladurée in no time!
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