Events
Universal Fan Fest Nights
Starts April 25. Universal Studios Hollywood is rolling out a new after-hours series built for superfans. Running on select nights, After Hours immerses guests in the worlds of Star Trek, Dungeons & Dragons, One Piece, Jujutsu Kaisen and Back to the Future—offering a nostalgic nod to the park’s long-gone DeLorean ride. The experience extends to Super Nintendo World and the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, featuring exclusive merch, themed bites, a debut appearance by Mario’s sidekick Yoshi and a new castle light show titled “Hogwarts Always.” Costumes are welcome under specific guidelines. Starts this Friday at 7 p.m. 100 Universal City Plaza, Los Angeles. universalstudioshollywood.com
Festival of Books
April 26-27. Each spring, USC transforms into a literary hub as bibliophiles gather for a two-day celebration of books, ideas and culture. The outdoor festival features bookseller booths, author readings, signings and culinary demonstrations. This year’s lineup includes a dynamic mix of voices from literature, film and food—among them Chelsea Handler, Jenny Slate, Jon M. Chu, Rachel Kushner, TJ Klune, Brooke Williamson and Nicole Rucker. Saturday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. 850 W. 37th Street, Los Angeles. sites.usc.edu
Pizza City Fest
April 26-27. L.A. Live becomes a carb-lover’s paradise as 40 vendors come together for a weekend dedicated to pizza. Attendees can sample slices, watch live dough demos and hear insights from experts like Roxana Jullapat of Friends & Family Pizza Co. and food writer Andy Wang. Local favorites including Pizzana, Hail Mary, Triple Beam Pizza, Prince Street Pizza, Prime, Apollonia’s, LaSorted’s and Ozzy’s Apizza are all on the roster. Saturday and Sunday at 12 p.m. 800 W. Olympic Blvd., Los Angeles. lalive.com
Skirball Puppet Festival
April 27. Celebrate the art of puppetry with a day of live music, hands-on puppet-making and performances ranging from marionettes to shadow and full-body puppets. Throughout the Skirball campus, guests can explore interactive pockets of entertainment as some of Southern California’s top puppetry acts bring stories to life—while larger-than-life puppets roam between shows, ready to charm audiences of all ages. Sunday at 12 p.m. 2701 N. Sepulveda Blvd., Los Angeles. skirball.org
The Eclectic Music Festival and Arts Crawl
April 26. South Pasadena’s charming business district transforms into a lively open-air venue as more than 50 musical acts take over for the 15th annual Eclectic Music Festival. The free, family-friendly event also features beer gardens, food trucks, art activities, local artisan goods and a kids’ zone. This year’s Gold Line Stage, curated by promoter Sid the Cat, adds an indie edge to the lineup with standout performances from Jess Williamson and Christian Lee Hutson, known for his collaborations with Phoebe Bridgers. Saturday at 3 p.m. 1121 Mission Street, South Pasadena. theeclectic.rocks
Food + Drinks
Celebrating 15 Years of Osteria Mamma
April 24. Marking its 15th anniversary, the beloved Larchmont Osteria is launching a new monthly wine tasting series led by sommelier Filippo Cortivo. Guests can explore seasonal Italian wines paired with curated small bites in an intimate, guided experience. Those who stay for dinner afterward will receive a special offer. Last Thursday of every month, start at 6:30 p.m. 5732 Melrose Ave., Hollywood. Reserve Now
New Menu at Wally’s Beverly Hills
Now Serving. Spring has officially arrived on the plate, thanks to the new seasonal menus now available at Wally’s Beverly Hills. Executive Chef Omar Zanders spotlight ingredients at their peak with dishes like sea salt–cured hamachi with yuzu-pea purée, wagyu tartare with shallot and oregano toastine and a wood-oven baked brie drizzled in truffle honey. For pasta lovers, the spaghetti cacio e pepe gets a California twist with Thai basil and green tomato jam. Truffle fans will find plenty to obsess over, from fries to pizzas. Don’t miss the prix-fixe lunch starting at $39. Open daily, 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 a.m. 447 N. Canon Drive , Beverly Hills. wallywine.com/beverlyhills
ROW DTLA Welcomes Weiser Family Farms
April 26. The popular heirloom produce purveyor with deep Southern California roots, is previewing its new ROW DTLA farmstand with a one-day Earth Month celebration. Enjoy live acoustic music, seasonal snacks and lemonade made from Weiser citrus, plus a special birthday cake for Alex Weiser—baked with Tehachapi Heritage Grain Flour in tribute to his work with the Tehachapi Grain Project. Seasonal blooms will be available for purchase, along with limited curated farm boxes. Saturday, from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. 1320 E. 7th St. M2, Suite 140, Los Angeles. rowdtla.com
Tonkotsu on the Westside
Now Open. A cherished name in Japanese ramen, this new Culver City outpost infuses time-honored tradition into every bowl. At its heart is a signature Tonkotsu broth—slow-cooked for over 20 hours to achieve a deep, velvety richness—paired with proprietary noodles crafted for perfect texture. As the latest expansion from globally acclaimed Ippudo, it delivers soulful, authentic ramen to the Westside. Monday-Thursday, from 11:30 a.m.-10 p.m. Friday-Saturday, from 11:30 a.m.-11 p.m. Sunday, from 11:30 a.m.-9:30 p.m. 3847 Main Street, Culver City. ippudous.com
Earth Day Kava Comes to Santa Monica
Through April 30. Celebrate Earth Day at L.A.’s only kava bar with the limited-time “Clean Up the Beach Latte,” a vibrant blend of blue spirulina, coconut milk and matcha served with a shot of kava nectar. Available April 22 through the end of the month at the Santa Monica location, each $10 latte supports Heal the Bay’s efforts to protect our coastline. Sunday-Thursday, 9 a.m.-11 p.m. Friday-Saturday, 9 a.m.-1 a.m. 306 Pico Blvd., Santa Monica. kavahana.com
Arts + Culture
Mozart & Nielsen
April 25-27. Los Angeles-native Ryan Bancroft leads the LA Phil through Carl Nielsen’s powerful Fourth Symphony, a World War I–era work that rages with dual timpani and a surging orchestra, culminating in the composer’s declaration that “music is life… it is inextinguishable.” The program also features Anders Hillborg’s Sound Atlas, an ethereal piece evoking wintry textures with instruments like the glass harmonica. South Korean pianist Yeol Eum Son brings precision and poise to Mozart’s Concerto No. 24, offering a performance that feels both timeless and strikingly modern. Friday at 8 p.m. Saturday-Sunday at 2 p.m. 111 S. Grand Ave., Los Angeles. laphil.com
LA Opera presents AINADAMAR
Starts April 26. Margarita Xirgu reflects on a life marked by exile and loss, haunted by the memory of her friend Federico García Lorca—the poet she couldn’t save from Franco’s regime. In this major company premiere, Resident Conductor Lina González-Granados leads Osvaldo Golijov’s flamenco-tinged score, paired with a poignant libretto by David Henry Hwang. Ana María Martínez stars as Xirgu, while Daniela Mack portrays Lorca in a story that revisits the poet’s brilliance and the tragedy of a voice silenced by war. Opening night, Saturday at 7:30 p.m. 135 N. Grand Ave., Los Angeles. laopera.org
Framing Young Man at His Window: A Closer Look
April 27. First shown with the Impressionists in 1876, Young Man at His Window captures Gustave Caillebotte’s brother René gazing out from their Paris home. In this illustrated talk, exhibition co-curator Scott Allan explores how the painting reflected Caillebotte’s early ambitions as a modern realist. Drawing on unpublished photos and archival material, Allan offers a deeper, more nuanced look at both the painting and the short life of its subject. Sunday at 2 p.m. 1200 Getty Center Drive, Los Angeles. getty.edu
Andell Family Sundays
April 27. LACMA invites families to explore creativity through drop-in workshops inspired by Digital Witness: Revolutions in Design, Photography and Film. Led by artists Bianca Argueta and Jean-Guerly Petion, the hands-on experience encourages guests of all ages to make art, engage with new ideas and enjoy a day of discovery on campus. Sunday, 12:30-3:30 p.m. 5905 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles. lacma.org
Photo credit: The Eclectic Rocks courtesy of The Eclectic Photo Crew. Puppet Show courtesy Skirball Cultural Center and Mercie Ghimire. Pizza chew courtesy of Eric Nopanen. Young Man at His Window, 1876, Gustave Caillebotte. Oil on canvas, 45 11/16 x 31 7/8 in. Getty Museum, 2021.67 courtesy of The Getty. LACMA courtesy of Alexey Taktarov. Wine and Cheese courtesy of Wally’s Beverly Hills. Kavahana Clean Up the Beach Latte courtesy of KAVA. Ramen courtesy of KIM DAEYOUNG.Vegetables Farmer’s Market courtesy of DTLA ROW and Weiser Farms . All other images are courtesy of the venues and businesses featured.
