Weekend Roundup
Find the best Los Angeles things to do for the weekend of 5.11.12
MOTHER’S DAY
Wolfgang Puck at Hotel Bel-Air
May 13. Dine on Mother’s Day brunch over views of Swan Lake at Wolfgang Puck at Hotel Bel-Air. The three-course menu features highlights such as warm Maine lobster club sandwich; hand-cut campania artichoke agnolotti with mascarpone and parmigiano reggiano; and loup de mer “Acqua Pazza” with La Ratte potato, Bouchot mussels, Maine lobster, sweet shrimp and saffron tomato broth. $120/pp, $60, children under nine. 11 a.m.-3 p.m. 701 Stone Canyon Rd. Bel Air, 310.909.1644. hotelbelair.com
Scarpetta Beverly Hills
May 13. Scott Conant’s extensive Italian buffet brunch includes carving, baked pasta, whole roasted fish, omelet and dessert stations. Also find a fresh-from-the-farmer’s-market salad station; and an extraordinary dessert buffet. $88/pp, $35 for children, $17 for bottomless bloody marys, bellinis and mimosas. 225 North Canon Drive, Beverly Hills, 310.860.7970. scottconant.com
Blushington
May 13. Treat yourself to a full face makeup application at Blushington and Mom gets a full face application for free. Plus both you and Mom will receive a Stila lipgloss trio to take home. You can choose from their menu of six signature looks or design your own. 8591 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood, 310.652.5874. blushington.com
Click here to view our full Mother’s Day Guide
EVENTS
L.A. Vegan Beer Festival
May 12. Sip on unlimited pours by brewers from California and beyond (Anchor, Epic, Fireman’s Brew, Golden Road Brewing, Green Flash, Hangar 24, Karl Strauss, Smog City and more). Expect food from local vegan businesses and vegan food truck favorites: Seabirds, Mandoline Grill, Fresh Fries, Doomie’s, Frankenstand, Plant Food for People, Amanda’s Bakery—in addition to live music from Torrey Summer, 28 North, Kevin Martin, and The Country. VIP ticket holders will have access to vip area “On the Rox,”in addition to specialty kegs. noon-5 p.m. Roxy Theatre, 9009 W. Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood. roxy.la/LAVBFtix
Apt2B Pop-Up Shop
Through May 31. Your favorite one-stop online furniture, design and housewares store celebrates their first anniversary with a pop-up shop at Alpha. This is the first time you’ll be able to see things in person that have only ever been featured online. Check it out for exclusive in-store specials and to get dibs on several new furniture pieces and other additions to the Apt2B brand. Apt2B also offers their virtual online happy hour in the pop-up space every Friday from 3-7 p.m. 8654 Melrose Ave., L.A. Apt2B.com
Unique LA
May 12-13. Shop from over 325 hand-selected designers and artists including Eva Franco, Treacherous Minx and LAVUK. Other highlights include the opportunity to play at the infamous Caine’s Arcade right at the show, DIY projects from bloggers I Spy DIY and Swellmayde, and more. $10 (children 12 and under, free). Admission includes: a cotton tote bag, free drinks, contests, photobooth pics, DIY crafts & workshops. California Market Center, Penthouse, 110 East 9th St., downtown. stateofunique.com/unique-la
National Public Gardens Day at Getty Villa
May 11. Celebrate public gardens at the Getty Villa with tours through the Villa’s herb garden, where you can enjoy the mythological stories and uses associated with plants and learn about Roman recipes. During the tour, you can create a bouquet garni for flavoring ancient dishes using herbs from the garden. The day also includes an an hour-long Villa Gardens Toga Tour with Getty grounds supervisor Michael DeHart. Dressed in a Roman toga, DeHart discusses the ancient Roman uses of the plants and flowers throughout the site’s various gardens. Also find special menu items at the Getty Villa Cafe and a 20% discount on garden related items in the museum store. 17985 Pacific Coast Hwy., Pacific Palisades, 310.440.7300. getty.edu
National Train Day
May 12. Train celebration features live entertainment, children’s activities, model trains, culinary demonstrations, train tours. 11–4 pm. Free. Union Station, 800 N. Alameda St., downtown, 213.683.6875. nationaltrainday.com
MUSIC + DANCE
LA Boheme
May 12. LA Opera presents Giacomo Puccini’s classic love story about four young artists living in poverty together in a Paris garret, circa 1830. The production stars Ailyn Pérez and Stephen Costello—married in real life—as young lovers Mimi and Rodolfo. 135 N. Grand Ave., downtown, 213.972.8001. laopera.com
Next Wave LA
May 12-27. Acclaimed Southern California choreographers Kitty McNamee, Sonya Tayeh, Stacey Tookey and Josie Walsh each premiere a new work in this series of performances by the Los Angeles ballet that takes place at the Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center (May 12), Alex Theatre (May 19), and the Broad Stage (May 26-27). losangelesballet.org
EAT | DRINK
Four for $24 at WP24
New daily happy hour at Wolfgang Puck’s WP24 Lounge at The Ritz-Carlton, Los Angeles features a rotating selection of WP24’s signature small plates (think Peking suck roll, mini pork belly bao buns and shrimp and lobster spring roll), served over views of the LA basin in the 24th floor lounge. Pair these with new summer cocktails like pineapple moitos, inspired by ingredients sourced from the restaurant’s rooftop cocktail garden. Make sure to stop by the new dessert cart (Mon.-Sat.) for sweet treats to top off your night. 900 W. Olympic Blvd., downtown, 213.743.8824. ritzcarlton.com
Dominick’s Crawfish Boil
Saturdays in May. Celebrated West Hollywood Italian eatery Dominick’s brings back a festive local favorite: its annual crawfish boils. Drawing upon his New Orleans heritage, chef Brandon Boudet takes over the eatery’s patio on Saturdays from noon to 4 p.m. to boil 300 pounds of Louisiana crawfish. In addition to the crawfish, available for $10.99 per pound, diners can enjoy a selection of Boudet’s Big Easy-inspired dishes, including Po’ Boy sub sandwiches, Creole boiled artichokes with remoulade and Dominick’s Dago red and white wines by the bottle. For dessert, the chef offers New Orleans Sno Balls—snow cones drizzled with house-made syrups—in multiple flavors, served with an optional shot of Old New Orleans spiced rum. Space is limited; reservations for the crawfish boils are recommended. 8715 Beverly Blvd., L.A., 310.652.2335. dominicksrestaurant.com
THEATER
Follies
Through Jun. 9. A 28-piece orchestra and a cast of 41 bring to life the Broadway production about two couples remembering their past and facing the harsher realities of the present. The show is at the Ahmanson Theatre downtown for a six-week run. Ahmanson Theatre, 135 N. Grand Ave., downtown, 213.628.2772. centertheatregroup.org
The Heiress
Through May 20. Catherine Sloper, who stands to inherit a fortune from her ailing physician father, is a plain-looking young woman living under his malevolent scrutiny, as well as his well-meaning but cold-hearted demeanor. Dr. Sloper disapproves of Catherine’s passionate suitor Morris Townsend, certain that the penniless young man has proposed marriage to win Catherine’s inheritance. Catherine’s too much in love to consider this potential betrayal. Pasadena Playhouse, 39 S. El Molino Avenue, Pasadena, 626.356.7529. Click here: pasadenaplayhouse.org to use code HEPC10 for 10% off tickets.
The Convert
Through May 19. he Center Theatre Group commissioned Obie Award-winning playwright Danai Gurira to write this powerful new play about a teenage girl in colonial southern Africa torn between family and faith. Kirk Douglas Theatre, 9820 Washington Blvd., Culver City, 213.628.2772. centertheatregroup.org
Good People
Through May 13. Nominated for a 2011 Tony Award for Best Play, Pulitzer Prize winner David Lindsay-Abaire’s Good People takes an affectionate look at the ‘haves’ and ‘have nots’ through the eyes of characters who won’t be ignored. Geffen Playhouse, 10886 Le Conte Ave., Westwood, 310.208.5454. geffenplayhouse.com
The Bungler
Through May 27. The Bungler is comic genius. Moliere’s first romp written in verse, and one of the greatest hits of his lifetime. This rarely produced gem is a non-stop cavalcade of wily servants, dim-witted young lovers and avaricious old men on a bumbling, tumbling, tackling, wild and woolly ride. A Noise Within, 3352 East Foothill Blvd., Pasadena, 626.356.3100 x1. ANoiseWithin.org
Antony and Cleopatra
Through May 13. Shakespeare’s seminal tragedy is based on larger-than-life figures caught up in an empire-shattering dance of lust, love, politics and war. “Its appeal is the fascinating relationship between Antony and Cleopatra, who love each other deeply but in a way that is not sustainable… Because of their flaws, we can identify with the lovers and see a part of ourselves in them,” muses director Julia Rodriguez-Elliott. A Noise Within, 3352 East Foothill Blvd., Pasadena, 626.356.3100 x1. ANoiseWithin.org
