Events
Friday Night Wine Tastings
Starts May 29. One of Los Angeles’s most beloved summer traditions returns to the lawns of Barnsdall Park, where weekly wine tastings overlooking the city continue to draw packed crowds each season. Set beside the historic Hollyhock House atop Olive Hill, the Friday evening fundraiser features boutique wine selections curated by Silverlake Wine, rotating food trucks, DJ sets, picnic-friendly lawn seating and panoramic sunset views stretching across Los Angeles. The 21-and-over gathering has become a favorite date-night destination over the years, with proceeds supporting Barnsdall Park’s arts programming and ongoing preservation efforts at a time when the park continues facing proposed city budget cuts. First day is this Friday, 5:30 p.m. 4800 Hollywood Blvd., Los Angeles. barnsdall.org
Horror, Monsters and Movie Magic Take Over Pasadena
May 29-31. Monsterpalooza returns to Pasadena with more than 100,000 square feet dedicated to the worlds of horror, science fiction, fantasy and practical effects filmmaking. The internationally recognized convention brings together over 450 exhibitors, renowned special effects artists, monster makers, film studios and collectors for a weekend packed with screenings panels, live makeup demonstrations and exclusive exhibits. Visitors can explore a horror museum filled with screen-used props, meet industry legends and get an up-close look at the artistry behind some of cinema’s most memorable creatures and characters. Friday-Sunday at 6 p.m. 300 E. Green Street, Pasadena. Get Tickets Now
Holey Moley Golf Club Is Turning Graduation Season Into a Full-On Par-Tee
Now Open. Graduation season gets a playful upgrade at Holey Moley Golf Club, where neon-lit mini golf courses, karaoke suites, cocktails and over-the-top themed spaces turn a typical celebration into a full-on par-tee on the Third Street Promenade. Guests can putt through immersive holes featuring giant pizza boxes, towering dinosaurs and colorful pop-art-inspired installations before diving into shareable bites like Southern fried chicken sliders and elote corn ribs or sipping cocktails served inside whimsical unicorn glasses. Hours vary. 1315 3rd Street Promenade, Santa Monica. holeymoley.com
Marilyn Monroe’s Hollywood Legacy Comes to Life at the Academy Museum
Starts May 31. Timed to coincide with the 100th anniversary of Marilyn Monroe’s birth, Marilyn Monroe: Hollywood Icon offers a deeper look at the actress not only as a movie star but as a savvy image-maker who carefully shaped her place in Hollywood history. Featuring hundreds of original objects, including photographs, portraits, production materials, personal letters and rarely displayed artifacts, the exhibition explores Monroe’s evolution from Norma Jeane Mortenson into one of cinema’s most enduring cultural figures. Wednesday-Sunday, 10 a.m.–6 p.m. 6067 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles. academymuseum.org
Food + Drinks
Baja Bites and Frozen Margaritas Debut at Caravan Cantina
Now Open. Perched beside the pool at Hotel June West LA, this new Baja-inspired taqueria and bar captures the kind of relaxed indoor-outdoor dining experience Angelenos gravitate toward once summer hits. Guests can settle into frozen margaritas, tequila- and mezcal-forward cocktails, crushable wines and elevated spirit-free drinks while sharing fresh fish tacos, octopus aguachile tostadas, ceviche, grilled meats and citrus-heavy seasonal plates layered with herbs and spice. Enjoy sunset-facing pool views, an easygoing social atmosphere and flavors rooted in coastal Baja cooking. Open Daily, 11 a.m.-10 p.m. 8639 Lincoln Blvd., Los Angeles. thehoteljune.com
Enjoy Patio Nights at West Adams’ New Picala
Now Open. Designed around the Spanish tradition of gathering over shared plates, live-fire cooking and long conversations, Picala is preparing to debut as one of West Adams’ newest dining destinations inside the emerging Cumulus District. The restaurant blends a social, neighborhood-driven atmosphere with ingredient-focused Spanish-inspired cooking, inviting guests to grab cocktails and tapas at the bar, settle into the patio with friends, or stay for a larger feast centered around fire-driven dishes and communal dining. Tuesday-Thursday, Sunday, 5-9 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 5-10 p.m. 3337 S. La Cienega Blvd., Los Angeles. picala.com
Fire-Kissed Japanese Grilling Takes Over the Arts District at Engara
Now Open. Built around the slow-burning precision of binchōtan charcoal and traditional genshiyaki grilling, Engara has officially opened in the Arts District as a more casual offshoot from the team behind Smoke Door. The shareable menu moves through raw, cured, fried and charcoal-grilled dishes including kobujime ocean trout, uni kiritampo, crispy pork belly tacos wrapped in mochi “tortillas,” and an A4 wagyu katsu sando, all paired with a beverage program focused on sake, shochu, Japanese beer and low-ABV cocktails. Hours vary. 806 E. 3rd Street Ste 140, Los Angeles. Reserve Now
Lucia Anniversary Party
May 29-31. One of Los Angeles’s most talked-about restaurant openings of the past year is celebrating its first anniversary with a weekend inspired by the energy and flavors of Caribbean Carnival. Guests can expect live DJ sets, surprise entertainment and a first look at new creations from chef Cleophus Hethington, including scallop green mango chow, octopus pholourie and tamarind black garlic pepper wings alongside the restaurant’s regular menu of Afro-Caribbean favorites. The celebration offers a glimpse into what’s next for the acclaimed dining destination while bringing extra energy to one of the city’s most stylish dining rooms. Friday-Sunday at 6 p.m. 351 N. Fairfax Ave., Los Angeles. luciala.com
Arts + Culture
Yo-Yo Ma & Gustavo Dudamel Reunite at the Walt Disney Concert Hall
May 28 & 30. Legendary cellist Yo-Yo Ma joins Gustavo Dudamel and the Los Angeles Philharmonic for the world premiere of Mundillo, a new concerto by Puerto Rican composer Angélica Negrón inspired by underwater field recordings and the interconnected ecosystems of coral reefs and sea sponges. Rooted in the Puerto Rican lace-making tradition of mundillo, the piece explores themes of collective care, patience and interconnectedness through layered orchestration and Ma’s emotionally rich cello performance, sparked in part by a creative workshop involving the Billion Oyster Project in New York. Thursday and Saturday at 8 p.m. 111 S. Grand Ave., Los Angeles. laphil.com
Under One Roof Art Exhibition
Until May 31. Santa Monica Studios 3026 will host the closing reception for Under One Roof, a multi-disciplinary group exhibition curated by renowned art critic Peter Frank featuring works from 32 resident artists inside the historic Airport Arts Center. Guests can explore sculpture, photography, ceramics and painting while touring the resident studios managed by Community Arts Resources (CARS), alongside hosted wine, snacks, artist conversations and a special silent auction beginning at 4 p.m. The afternoon offers a rare opportunity to experience one of Santa Monica’s longstanding creative communities through open studios and an expansive showcase of local contemporary art. Thursday-Sunday, 12-5 p.m. 3026 Airport Ave., Santa Monica. airportartscenter.com
JAPAN HOUSE Los Angeles Debuts New WASHOKU Exhibition
Now Open. Built around the traditions, techniques and philosophy behind Japan’s UNESCO-recognized culinary heritage, WASHOKU | Nature and Culture in Japanese Cuisine explores how food became one of the country’s most defining cultural expressions. Through multimedia installations, natural specimens, food models and interactive displays, visitors can trace the ingredients, craftsmanship, seasonality and history that shape Japanese cuisine while examining the deeper relationship between food, ritual and nature in everyday Japanese life. Monday-Friday, 11 a.m.–7 p.m. Saturday-Sunday, 11 a.m.–8 p.m. 6801 Hollywood Blvd., Los Angeles. japanhousela.com
Free Outdoor Movies Return to Ovation Hollywood This Summer
Starts May 31. Movie nights under the stars return to Ovation Hollywood with a free outdoor screening series set beneath the center’s iconic archway. Guests who RSVP in advance can grab complimentary popcorn, borrow a cozy blanket from the Ovation Hollywood booth and settle in for a relaxed evening of film in the heart of Hollywood. Located steps from the TCL Chinese Theatre, the series combines classic movie-going nostalgia with open-air city views, discounted concessions and one of the most recognizable gathering spaces in Los Angeles. Friday at 6 p.m. 6801 Hollywood Blvd., Los Angeles. ovationhollywood.com
Photo Credit: Wonho Frank Lee courtesy of Bengara. All other images are courtesy of the venues and businesses featured.
