From Cinco de Mayo celebrations to rooftop film screenings, here are the top LA weekend events for May 3-6.
Edited by Christina Wiese.
EVENTS
L.A. Times Food Bowl
Through May 31. All month long, the Los Angeles Times’ citywide food festival celebrates L.A.’s food scene and promotes awareness about food waste and hunger. Food Bowl brings together L.A.’s best bars, cafés, hotels, markets, restaurants and the world’s top chefs for more than 200 dining events, panel discussions, chef collaborations and other happenings. Highlights include Night Market, from May 16-20 at Grand Park, where an estimated 45,000+ attendees will enjoy 50 food vendors, outdoor dining and entertainment. lafoodbowl.com
Rooftop Cinema Club
May 1-31. The U.K.’s “Number One Outdoor Cinema Series” returns to the rooftops of the historic Montalban Theatre and Level Downtown Los Angeles. Enjoy street food and drinks while you take in views and watch acclaimed films, including recent Oscar winners (I, Tonya; Dunkirk; Get Out) and classics (The Godfather). See website for full lineup and schedule. Ages 18+; select screenings 21+. $17-$28. 1615 Vine St., L.A.; 888 S. Olive St., downtown. rooftopcinemaclub.com
Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival (LAAPFF)
May 3-12. The 34th annual fest will showcase the best in Asian Pacific American and international cinema. Expect screenings, conversations with artists, educational talks, special events and more across various L.A. venues. See website for complete lineup. vconline.org
Malibu Movie Under the Stars
May 4. May the fourth be with you on this special night under the big blue SoCal sky as Malibu Wines continues its film series with a screening of Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope. Free, walk-ins welcome. Malibu Wines, 31740 Mulholland Hwy., Malibu. malibuwines.com
VRLA 2018
May 4-5. Step into a new universe at the largest immersive technology festival in the world. Learn from VR, AR and MR experts through a variety of formats: keynotes, workshops, presentations, panels and more. $30-$299. Los Angeles Convention Center, 1201 S. Figueroa St., downtown. virtualrealityla.com
Eat/See/Hear
Starts May 5. Traveling outdoor movie-event series, presented by Showtime, boasts the largest outdoor inflatable screen on the West Coast, as well as food trucks and live musical performances. Venues include the Autry Museum in Griffith Park and Los Angeles State Historic Park. See website for a full schedule. Doors 5:30 p.m.; band 7 p.m.; movie 8:30 p.m. $8-$21, under 5 free. 213.267.4393. eatseehear.com
Kentucky Derby Viewing Party
May 5. Let your Southern style shine at this annual viewing party complete with DJs and a live stream of the biggest race day of the year. Executive chef Travis Strickland will be serving up Southern favorites including a Kentucky hot brown sandwich and classic Juleps. 1-4:30 p.m. 11647 San Vicente Blvd., L.A. baltaire.com
Masters of Taste
May 6. Pasadena’s luxury food and drink festival lets you stroll the Rose Bowl’s field while feasting on fare from top L.A. chefs and restaurants (e.g., Redbird and Spring), sipping signature cocktails by the city’s master mixologists and tasting offerings from eclectic California wineries and local craft breweries. All proceeds benefit Union Station Homeless Services. 21+. 4-7 p.m.; VIP 3-7 p.m. $105-$165. 1001 Rose Bowl Dr., Pasadena, 626.791.6677. mastersoftastela.com
4th Annual White Party
May 6. Don your best white outfit and join over 500 people for an afternoon of conga lines, poolside dancing, Caribbean barbecue and libations to keep you refreshed throughout the day. The first 200 guests to arrive will receive complimentary white sunglasses. Viceroy Santa Monica, 1819 Ocean Ave., Santa Monica. Tickets
I Create Music Expo
Upcoming | May 7-9. Today’s top charting artists and music creators gather for three unique days of panels, workshops, master classes, keynotes and one-on-one sessions. Artists Meghan Trainor, Jason Mraz, St. Vincent and JoJo are set to appear. $379+. Loews Hollywood Hotel, 1755 N. Highland Ave., L.A. ascap.com
CINCO DE MAYO
Cinco de Mayan Gigante!
May 4-5. L.A.’s longest running, action-packed variety show returns this year to The Mayan Theater. Expect huge heapings of Mexican masked wrestling, tequila, tamales, mariachi, aerial dancers, folkloricos, low riders, comedy and much more. 21+. Doors 7 p.m., show 8-10:30 p.m. $48.50+. 1038 S. Hill St., downtown. luchavavoom.com
Hecho in LA: Taco Madness 2018
May 5. Back for a second year, celebrate the taco lifestyle with a curated selection of tacos from the city’s top trucks and restaurants. Wash it all down with micheladas, local craft beers, cocktails from Jägermeister or a premium cocktail from Partida Tequila. 21+. 5 p.m.-midnight. Free, VIP $25. La Plaza de Cultura y Artes, 501 N. Main St., downtown. lataco.com
Madre
May 5. Get ready for an all-day fiesta featuring live music, margarita pitchers and more. Special to this locale is over 265 bottles of mezcal … the largest selection in all of Los Angeles. ¡Salud! 1261 Cabrillo Ave., #100, Torrance, 310.974.8005. madrerestaurants.com
Tallula’s
May 5. After soaking in the sun at the beach, head to Tallula’s for their first-ever Cinco de Mayo fiesta. Expect blood orange margaritas, palomas, nachos sencillo and a special Cinco de Mayo XL Taco. 2-10:30 p.m. 118 Entrada Dr., Santa Monica, 310.526.0027. tallulasrestaurant.com
Fiesta de Mayo
May 5-6. This free, family-friendly celebration features traditional dance numbers by the Ballet Folklórico Company and the youth mariachi troupe Mariachi Los Pollitos. After the performances, enjoy festive decor, street tacos from Ruby’s Diner and score savings up to 70 percent off 130 on-site brands. Noon-7 p.m. Citadel Outlets, 100 Citadel Dr., Suite 480, L.A. citadeloutlets.com
FOOD + DRINK
Effervescence
May 3-5. This celebration of Champagnes and sparkling wines—the first of its kind in the U.S.—features master classes led by world-renowned experts at the Kimpton La Peer Hotel in West Hollywood, gourmet pairings at acclaimed L.A. restaurants (Viale dei Romani, Kali, République) and bubbly tastings at the historic Avalon Hollywood. Dom Pérignon, Krug and Moët & Chandon are among more than 50 participating producers. A portion of the proceeds benefits the T.J. Martell Foundation and Heal the Bay. 21+. $125+. effervescencela.com
Lei Day Week
Through May 5. Crackin’ Kitchen, a new Hawaiian-Cajun eatery in Pasadena, is celebrating the spirit of Aloha with a week-long Lei Day celebration. At dinner service, each guest will receive a complimentary lei and whoever pays the bill will receive a $20 gift card; the first 51 customers of the evening will also receive 30 percent off their total dinner food bill. 115 E Colorado Blvd., Pasadena. crackinkitchen.com
ARTS + CULTURE
“School of Rock”
May 3-27. Based on the Jack Black-starring comedy, this Tony-nominated musical features all the original songs from the movie, 14 new songs from Andrew Lloyd Webber and musical theater’s first-ever kids rock band. See website for showtimes and ticket prices. Hollywood Pantages Theatre, 6233 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood, 323.468.1770. hollywoodpantages.com
“In the Fields of Empty Days: The Intersection of Past and Present in Iranian Art”
Opens May 6. Explore more than 125 Iranian works of art in a variety of mediums at this ground-breaking exhibition at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA). Expect photography, paintings, sculptures, animation, political cartoons and more. See website for hours and ticket prices. 5905 Wilshire Blvd., L.A. lacma.org
“Significant Other”
Through May 6. After a successful Off-Broadway and Broadway run, playwright Joshua Harmon’s comedy about love and 20-something urban life arrives in L.A. See website for showtimes and ticket prices. Gil Cates Theater, Geffen Playhouse, 10886 Le Conte Ave., L.A., 310.208.5454. geffenplayhouse.org
Beyond the Streets
May 6-July 6. Beyond the Streets brings graffiti and street art inside, filling a Chinatown warehouse with exhibits of original works by artists such as Shepard Fairey, Guerrilla Girls and Takashi Murakami. Tu-Su noon-7 p.m. GA $25, 3 and under free. 1667 N. Main St., downtown. beyondthestreets.com
Lucha VaVoom photo by Hon Hoang, Eat|See|Hear photo courtesy of organization, Kentucky Derby Viewing Party photo courtesy of White Oak Communications, I Create Music Expo photo by Lester Cohen/Getty Images for ASCAP, Madre photo courtesy of White Oak Communications, “School of Rock” photo by Tristram Kenton, “In the Fields of Empty Days: The Intersection of Past and Present in Iranian Art” Photo © Museum Associates:LACMA, “Significant Others” photo by Chris Whitaker, POSE photo by Lyndon French.
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