Find the best Los Angeles things to do for March 2-5
Edited by Christina Xenos
EVENTS
First Fridays
March 3. This year’s foodie-themed First Fridays series at the Los Angeles County Natural History Museum continues. The provocative event offers discussions from top scientists, prestigious food writers and farm and garden experts, along with live music and DJ tunes. Drop by this month for cutting-edge science and musical performances by Emily Wells and Japanese Breakfast, and DJ performances from KCRW Resident DJ Anne Litt and DJ Masha. 5-10 p.m. 900 Exposition Blvd., L.A., 213.763.DINO. nhm.org
Tater Tots & Beer Festival
March 4. Taste through dozens of domestic, imported and crafted beers while you nosh on delicious tater tot creations. Also find live music and other entertainment. 3-6 p.m. Montecillo De Leo Politi Park, Scott and Academy Roads, L.A. tatertotfestival.com
PPLA Food Fare
March 2. Thirty-eighth annual food event—it started as a cooking demonstration with Julia Child—features tastings from more than 150 of the city’s best restaurants, caterers, wineries and breweries. Taste offerings from venues including 71Above, AR Cucina, Baldoria, Lucques and Miro. Clementine’s Annie Miler is being recognized as chef of the year. Proceeds benefit Planned Parenthood Los Angeles. Daytime session 11 am-2 pm; evening session 6:30-9:30 p.m. $150-$250. Barker Hangar, 3021 Airport Ave., Santa Monica, 213.284.3300. pplafoodfare.com
Odd Market at Santa Monica Pier
March 4. Head to the Santa Monica Pier to shop from 75 pop-ups including vintage, hand-made and local makers, art, music and food trucks, in addition to other oddities. Free. Noon-5 p.m. West Lot of the Santa Monica Pier Parking Lot, 200 Santa Monica Pier, Santa Monica. theoddmarket.com
Cherry Blossom Festival
March 4-5, 11-12. Descanso Gardens welcomes spring with its annual celebration of the pretty pink Japanese blooms. The family-friendly fest features live music, origami and food. 1418 Descanso Drive, La Cañada Flintridge, 818.949.4200. descansogardens.org
Helios Dance Theater
March 5. Laura Gorenstein Miller’s LA-based dance company presents the world premiere of Minor Obsessions at The Theatre at Ace Hotel. Minor Obsessions is made up of ten duets and an eight-piece finale performance that offer a voyeuristic peephole into the complexities of modern love in a time of compromised privacy from pervasive technology. 933 S Broadway, downtown. acehotel.com
Imagine Tea
March 5. This special children’s event at the Langham Huntington, Pasadena pairs all the delicacies of high tea with a touch of magic. The experience features junior magicians from the Academy of Magical Arts performing close-up magic, while children dine on a specialty menu of magically decorated cookies, ham, turkey and PB&J sandwiches and whimsical desserts, all accompanied by pink lemonade, milk and a selection of fruit-infused, caffeine-free teas. Young tea guests will also have the opportunity to make their own magic during the tea, as they are invited to attend dressed as whichever character, person or animal most appeals to their imagination. $48/adults, $36/children 12 and under. Seatings at 10 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Reservations required. (Also happens June 4 and Sept. 17.) 1401 S. Oak Knoll Ave., Pasadena, 626.585.6218. pasadena.langhamhotels.com
MUSEUMS
theBlu: An Underwater VR Experience
March 6-April 28. Swim alongside manta rays, angler fish and a blue whale without leaving land. The Natural History Museums’s new virtual reality exhibit takes you on underwater journey to parts of the ocean few people get to see up close. The experience will take you through various environments like a sunken ship surrounded by sea life; coral reef where you can interact with sea anemones and jellyfish; and down to the ocean floor, where you check out a whale skeleton and bioluminescent fish. The six-minute adventure is the museums’s first. It was created by Wevr, a Venice, California-based VR studio in consultation with NHMLA scientists and directed by Jake Rowell (Call of Duty, Final Fantasy, Superman Returns). 900 Exposition Blvd., downtown, 213.763.3466. nhm.org
FOOD + DRINK
Dudley Market
The Venice neighborhood staple—steps from the beach and iconic boardwalk—once again builds on its daytime menu to offer dinner service. Spearheading the delicious endeavor is new chef Wesley Barden. While chef Barden just arrived at the restaurant, he isn’t new to the neighborhood, having grown up there while he cut his teeth on the LA culinary scene. He then moved on to gain experience in the kitchens of culinary heavy hitters like Jardiniere, Chanterelle and Barnyard. Barden’s dinner service is inspired by his repertoire of inspiration from Italian, Spanish, French and Thai cuisine, in addition to what’s available at the Santa Monica Farmers Market. The menu varies with market offerings but includes dishes like mackeral escabeche with nameko mushrooms, soubise and lucques olives; curried pork belly pinxos with cauliflower cous cous, sultana raisins and basil; and spicy crispy black rice Thai salad with green papaya, peanuts, chicories, lime and peanuts. Sean Wolcott will continue as Dudley Market’s pastry chef and in-house baker, baking English muffins, bagels, pastries, desserts and Seany Cakes for brunch. 9 Dudley Ave., Venice, 424.744.8060. dudleymarket.com
Bar Angeles
If you’ve ever wondered what’s behind the mural in Silver Lake made popular by the late musician Elliott Smith, you’ll soon find out. Bar Angeles is a new restaurant inspired by the musician and its dynamic neighborhood from the hospitality force behind local institutions like Horse Thief BBQ, Cafe Birdie, and Good Housekeeping. Expect classic comfort dishes like bone marrow with fried herbs and celery leaf; wild mushrooms with crispy polenta; and short ribs au poivre served with french fries and chives, in addition to a selection of gourmet pizzas. Also find cocktails paying homage to the City of Angels and a curated wine and beer selection. 4330 West Sunset Blvd., L.A. barangeles.com
Double Take
The film industry-inspired bar and restaurant at Hotel Palomar features a state-of-the-art game room alongside modern American cuisine from executive chef Bryan Podgorski. The menu features dishes like housemade ricotta toast and coconut pancakes for breakfast. An array of small and large plates designed to share follow for dinner. Highlights include deviled eggs with Maine lobster; Haas avocado “fries” with spiced lime aioli; and beet “Reuben” with roasted beets, sauerkraut, emmental cheese and thousand island dressing. Double Take debuts as part of Hotel Palomar Los Angeles – Beverly Hills’ $12 million, property-wide renovation led by award-winning, Seattle-based Dawson Design Associates. 0740 Wilshire Blvd., L.A. doubletakela.com
Cassoulet Night at Lucques
March 5. Chef Suzanne Goin, Caroline Styne and chef de cuisine Javier Espinoza off their third annual cassoulet night at Lucques. Dine on a three-course menu that features a traditional cassoulet of duck confit, sausage and white beans as the star. If you’re craving the dish, but can’t attend the dinner they are also offering cassoulet to go for $38/pp. 5-9:30 p.m. $65/pp. 8474 Melrose Ave., West Hollywood, 323.655.6277. lucques.com
Sundays on the Riviera
March 5, 12, 19, 26. Unwind at THE Blvd Restaurant & Lounge over a special selection of Carbonadi Vodka martinis, caviar and live piano music. Every Sunday in March THE Blvd will feature the special menu that includes three featured martinis—or a martini flight of all three—and caviar menu showcasing Petrossian Ossetra and Kaluga caviars. 6-10 p.m. THE Blvd Restaurant & Lounge, Beverly Wilshire, A Four Seasons Hotel, 9500 Wilshire Blvd., Beverly Hills, 310.385.3901. theblvdrestaurant.com
THEATER
Finding Neverland
Through March 12. This popular musical follows playwright J.M. Barrie as he is inspired by four young brothers and their mother to dream up the magical world of Peter Pan. Pantages Theatre, 6233 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood, 323.468.1770. hollywoodpantages.com
Fun Home
Through April 1. This groundbreaking Broadway show and Tony winner for best musical is based on cartoonist Alison Bechdel’s best-selling graphic novel about her childhood. (Photo by Joan Marcus.) Ahmanson Theatre, 135 N. Grand Ave., downtown, 213.628.2772. centertheatregroup.org
Zoot Suit
Through March 19. Demián Bichir (A Better Life, The Hateful Eight) stars in this much-anticipated revival of Luis Valdez’s landmark 1978 play. (Photo courtesy of Center Theatre Group.) Mark Taper Forum, 135 N. Grand Ave., downtown, 213.628.2772. centertheatregroup.org
Long Day’s Journey Into Night
Through March 18. Eugene O’Neill’s semi-autobiographical masterpiece won the Pulitzer Prize for drama in 1957. Jane Kaczmarek and Alfred Molina star in this powerful portrait of a single day. Gil Cates Theater, Geffen Playhouse, 10886 Le Conte Ave., Westwood, 310.208.5454. geffenplayhouse.com
Plasticity
Through April 10. The multilayered, multimedia theatrical event aims to take audiences on an often comedic tour of the collective unconscious. Ovation Award-winning co-writers Alex Lyras and Robert McCaskill (The Common Air) team with Grammy Award-nominated composer Ken Rich, visual artist Corwin Evans and two-time Emmy Award-winning editor/producer Peter Chakos (The Big Bang Theory) to examine how the brain is able to rewire and heal itself. In it, a comatose man recreates his identity by delving deeply into his memories, while hovering family members and loved ones (all played by Lyras) divide into scheming camps over grave neurological decisions. Hudson Theatre, 6539 Santa Monica Blvd., L.A., 323.960.7787. plasticitytheplay.com
The Found Dog Ribbon Dance
Through March 12. Professional cuddler Norma’s quest to return a lost dog to its rightful owner leads her to encounter a slew of oddballs, and maybe even discover a second chance at love. The world premiere of the bittersweet romantic comedy is about loneliness, oxytocin and the healing power of Whitney Houston. $30. The Echo Theater Company @ Atwater Village Theatre, 3269 Casitas Ave., L.A., 310.307.3753. echotheatercompany.com
