Events
Pizza City Fest
April 27-28. Set to take place in Downtown L.A.’s Sports and Entertainment District, the second annual Pizza City Fest Los Angeles will feature a large lineup of pizzerias, including Hot Tongue, Pizzana, Tribute, Slice & Pint and more. This event offers fans the opportunity to sample an array of pizzas from some of SoCal’s popular pizza makers, all gathered in one location over the course of two days. Saturday and Sunday at 1 p.m. 1005 Chick Hearn Ct., Los Angeles. Get Tickets
Havana Nights at Fairmont Century Plaza
Now Open. The Fairmont Century Plaza’s outdoor Cuban-inspired lounge offers handcrafted cocktails, light bites and a series of cultural events. Monthly activities include DJ nights, live Cuban band performances, themed pop-ups, cigar rolling and rum dinners, establishing Havana Nights as a new social hub for culture and business. Nightly at 5 p.m., check website for specific schedule. 2025 Avenue of the Stars, Los Angeles. fairmontcenturyplaza.com
Chubbies First Annual Splashdown
April 27. The inaugural Chubbies Splashdown is taking over the Santa Monica Pier, where you can ride down on a giant inflatable water slide directly on the pier and receive a free pair of Chubbies swim trunks. There will also be live music, complimentary food and beverages, carnival games, swag giveaways, a 360 photo booth, a custom tote bag section and much more. Saturday, noon–6 p.m. 200 Santa Monica Pier, Santa Monica. More Information
Street Food Cinema
Starts April 27. Experience dinner and a movie in one at Street Food Cinema’s outdoor events, featuring gourmet food trucks and live local bands. Check the schedule regularly for screenings like the kickoff of Barbie at the Autry. Many venues are dog-friendly, so you can bring your pet along to enjoy the fun. Saturday at 8 p.m. 1501 Will Rogers State Park Road, Los Angeles. streetfoodcinema.com
Willy’s Chocolate Experience L.A.
April 28. An independent, detail-focused event in L.A serves as an homage to Glasgow’s notoriously chaotic unauthorized “immersive” Willy Wonka event, incorporating its most notably dismal elements. However, version enhances the experience with a for-charity lineup of “full weirdo experiential” performers from the city’s alternative arts, music and nightlife scenes. Admission costs $44, with proceeds benefiting the National Alliance on Mental Illness. Sunday at 5:30 p.m. 2346 Porter Street, Los Angeles. Get Tickets
Food + Drinks
Guac Daddy
April 27. Set to open this weekend, Guac Daddy offers a taste of a bustling Mexican marketplace featuring mesquite-grilled meats served as tacos, burritos, vampiros (fried crispy cheese tacos) and quesadillas. The menu also features house-made guacamoles, salsas and daily-made agua frescas. To celebrate the grand opening, they will offer free tacos to the first 100 guests and $1 tacos all weekend, accompanied by a live DJ, giveaways and more. Saturday, from 11 a.m.-11 p.m. 1824 N. Vermont Ave., Los Angeles. guacdaddy.com
Westholme Wagyu Fest
April 25. Suzanne Goin and Caroline Styne are hosting a special dinner featuring Westholme Wagyu at their downtown L.A. restaurant, Caldo Verde. The evening will showcase Westholme’s premium cuts, prepared in Chef Goin’s signature style. Priced at $95 per person, the dinner includes an Australian wine pairing curated by Caroline Styne and a dessert by Caldo Verde’s pastry chef, Irene Widjaya. Thursday at 5 p.m. 1100 S. Broadway, Los Angeles. Reserve Now
Ladyhawk Now Serving Brunch
Now Open. Chef Charbel Hayek’s Middle Eastern restaurant has introduced a weekend brunch service featuring classic dishes with a unique twist. The menu highlights include Lebanese fried chicken & waffles served with pomegranate maple syrup, a wedge f’atoush salad, and the Ladyhawk brunch platter. This platter offers a variety including Akawi cheese, string cheese, labneh, black olives, tomatoes, cucumber, makdous, honeycomb and two eggs prepared to your preference. Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. 623 N. La Peer, West Hollywood. ladyhawkrestaurant.com
Rita’s Deluxe Extends
Now Serving. Reopened for seven days a week, Rita’s Deluxe welcomes guests with extended operating hours and a refreshed menu. You can try new combo options that include a single Rita’s burger or fried chicken sandwich paired with crinkle-cut fries and a fountain drink. This month’s special feature is the Chicago Dog, a $9 offering that consists of a Vienna all-beef hot dog topped with a pickle spear, sport peppers, sweet relish, tomato and celery salt, all nestled in a poppy seed bun. Daily, from noon to 7 p.m. 419 W. 7th Street, Los Angeles. ritasdeluxe.com
New Spring Beverage Menu
Now Serving. Be Bright Coffee welcomes spring with a new seasonal menu available at their Melrose location including five specialty coffee and tea drinks. Highlights are a carrot cake latte with carrot cake syrup, espresso and cheesecake foam, strawberry Sichuan tonic featuring espresso with strawberry and Sichuan peppercorn, blue Jasmine palmer and a carrot cake cream cold brew topped with cheesecake foam. Open daily, 8 a.m.-4 p.m. 7311 Melrose Ave., Los Angeles. bebrightcoffee.com
Arts + Culture
Last Call: La Traviata
Until April 27. Rachel Willis-Sørensen stars as the glamorous but doomed Violetta Valéry in a new-to-L.A. production of one of opera’s most enduring tragedies, conducted by James Conlon. Known as the queen of Parisian nightlife, Violetta’s fast-paced life is challenged when she encounters true love with the fresh-faced Alfredo, played by rising star Liparit Avetisyan. However, their romance faces disapproval, exacerbated by Alfredo’s controlling father, portrayed by Kihun Yoon. Saturday at 7:30 p.m. 135 N. Grand Ave., Los Angeles. laopera.org
Puppet Up! Uncensored
April 26-28. An adults-only puppet and improv show that blends top puppeteering with music and comedy. Hosted by Henson Alternative, the show offers a display of puppeteers’ skills as they spontaneously create songs and maneuver puppets onstage, revisiting Jim Henson classics with an edgy twist. The series of special performances will take place on the historic Jim Henson Company Lot in Hollywood, once the studio of Charlie Chaplin. Friday-Sunday, hours vary. 1416 N. La Brea Ave., Los Angeles. puppetup.com
Bartók and Mozart
April 26-28. Inon Barnatan delivers a strong performance of Mozart’s stately Piano Concerto No. 25, showcasing its intricate melodies and technical precision. Alongside him, Karina Canellakis leads the orchestra in Bartók’s Concerto for Orchestra, his final and widely celebrated orchestral work. This piece is noted for its thematic richness, featuring shimmering harps and winds, a folk-like intermezzo from the strings and a dynamic fugue and fanfare by the brass. Friday-Saturday at 8 p.m. Sunday at 2 p.m. 111 S. Grand Ave., Los Angeles. laphil.com
EMEK: 30 Years of AAARGHT!
April 27. Gabba’s new exhibition in Downtown Los Angeles showcases three decades of EMEK’s art, music, and counter-culture influences. Renowned as “The Thinking Man’s Poster Artist” by Henry Rollins, EMEK has produced iconic works for top musicians like the Grateful Dead and Foo Fighters, and is known for his official Coachella posters. The display includes rare archives, new art and collaborations with his parents, Yuval Golan and Lynda “Jikai” Golan, as well as his brother, Gan Golan, a noted author and activist. Saturday, 5-9 p.m.. 238 S. Broadway, Los Angeles. gabbagallery.com
Photo credit: Emek courtesy of Gaba Gallery. Be Bright Coffee courtesy of Farm Design. All other images are courtesy of the venues and businesses featured.
