ART
Herb Ritts: L.A. Style
Apr. 3-Aug. 26. In the wake of the pop art movement of the 1960s and ‘70s, Herb Ritts’ photographs created a synergy of art, popular culture and business. Now, Ritts’ unique images of fashion models, nudes and celebrities are on display at the Getty Center. Opening the exhibit are portraits of celebrities such as Britney Spears, Richard Gere and Madonna; Ritts’ anti-glamour style of portraiture is known for giving these famous faces a more natural look, revealing their inner qualities and making them more accessible to fans. The exhibition also includes fashion photographs, examples of Ritts’ unique work with nudes, portraits of well-known athletes and dancers, music videos and commercials. 1200 Getty Center Drive, L.A., 310.440.7300. getty.edu
EASTER | PASSOVER
Petrossian
Apr. 8. Dine on a luxurious three-course brunch at Petrossian that features highlights like their festive egg royal, smoked salmon bagel with caviar, caviar scrambeled eggs, caviar flatbread, vanilla panna cotta and more. $45/pp. Also take the option to add on 30g of classic Transmontanus caviar and a lavender mimosa. 321 N Robertson Blvd., L.A., 310.271.0576. petrossian.com
Tres by Jose Andres, SLS Hotel at Beverly Hills
Apr. 8. Dine on decadent Hellenic-inspired Easter offerings including avgolemono (egg-lemon) soup with roasted chicken, orzo pasta and lemon zest; patata hara with loukaniko (sausage), fried potatoes, aleppo peppers and poached egg; tiganites pancakes with greek yogurt and attiki honey; and Greek Easter Mayiritsa Lamb Soup with grape leaves and pearl onions. $49/pp. 465 South La Cienega Boulevard, 310.246.5551. slshotels.com
Culina, Modern Italian
Apr. 7-10. Culina offers a modern Italian four-course Passover dinner, complete with a selections of grilled asparagus with a sunny side egg; fegatini chicken liver; brood con pollute chicken broth with matzo-chicken meatballs; peace alla mosaic petrale sole in tomato sauce with capers and olives; braciole lamb braised in a Neapolitan ragu with broccolini; and chocolate budino with caramel sea salt and coconut macaroons. $49/pp. 300 South Doheny Dr., Beverly Hills, 310.860.4000. culinarestaurant.com
The Grove
Apr. 7. Easter fun in the park includes activities, crafts, face painting, with additional crafts at participating retailers. 1-4 p.m. The Easter bunny is also in the house for photos through Apr. 8. 3rd Street and Fairfax Avenue, L.A., 323.900.8080. thegrovela.com
Click HERE for our full list of Easter activities
EVENTS
For the Record – The Coen Brothers
Apr. 5-29. This 360-degree theatrical concert and dining experience features world-class performers who bring the movies to life with signature songs and moments from films directed by the Coen brothers including O Brother, Where Art Thou, Fargo, Hudsucker Proxy and The Big Lebowski, among others. Arrive early and enjoy Barre Vermont’s California cuisine and cocktails. Thurs.-Sun. $35. 1714 N. Vermont Ave., L.A., 323.661.6163 fortherecordlive.com
LA Beer Festival
Apr. 7. Swig dozens of international and domestic beers, which are accompanied by food from LA’s most popular food trucks, and music from Black Crystal Wolf Kids and Howl at the Moon. Beerfest has two sessions for day-drinkers and night-owls: noon-3 p.m. and 5-8 p.m. $40. Paramount Studios. drinkeatplay.com/labeerfest
5-Second Films Festival at Mohawk Bend
Apr. 10, 17, 24. For the next three Tuesdays, Echo Park’s gastropub Mohawk Bend screens three different one-hour segments of L.A.’s own 5-Second Films—minifilms with 2 seconds of beginning titles, 5 seconds of film, 1 second of end titles. In addition to showing the films on TV’s in the pub area, they’ve set up a giant movie screen and projector just for the event. THey’ve also created the “5-Second Film Maker” (a twist on the boilermaker) that can be made and consumed in five seconds, along with custom eats and special snacks, including fancy popcorn. 2141 W. Sunset Blvd., L.A. More Info.
The Movie Guys Live
Apr. 5. Created by The Second City alum Paul Preston, “The Movie Guys LIVE” is an original sketch comedy show all about movies packed with insanity and energy. Based on the popular podcast, The Movie Guys take a look at the month’s slate of new releases and gives them the business. Expect straight-up lampooning, sketches you can only see live and edgy rants. Runs first Thursday of every month through Dec. The Second City, 6560 Hollywood Blvd., Second Floor, L.A. laughstub.com/The-Movie-Guys
MUSIC
Carolina Chocolate Drops
Apr. 6. Steeped in the rich (yet largely uncelebrated) tradition of African-American string bands of the old South, the Grammy-winning Carolina Chocolate Drops have been making a name for themselves with a uniquely modern vibe and approach. Since forming in 2005, the up-and-coming quartet has recorded four albums of brilliant material – including the Grammy-winning album Genuine Negro Jig – that Rolling Stone praises for its “dirt-floor-dance electricity.” Mexo-Americana folk group David Wax Museum opens. ULCA Live, Royce Hall, UCLA Campus, Westwood. uclalive.org
EAT | DRINK
Brunch at Lazy Dog Cafe
Spend your weekend unwinding over brunch fare from Mediterranean omelets to breakfast chimichangas and wild blueberry pancakes with maple bacon butter. Menu also features $5 bloody Marys and mimosas, or the new specialty bacon bloody Mary featuring housemade crispy bacon infused Bloody Mary mix, pepperoncini, pickled cherry pepper, olive, and bacon-corn nut salt ($7.50). Del Amo Fashion Center, 3525 West Carson St., Torrance. lazydogcafe.com
THEATER
The Bungler
Apr. 7-May 27. Moliere’s first romp is written in verse, and one of the greatest hits of his lifetime. This rarely produced play 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
Waiting for Godot
Through Apr. 22. Together for the first time, Alan Mandell and Barry McGovern — two of the most distinguished interpreters of Samuel Beckett’s work — delightfully debate the meaning of life and the absurdities of human behavior in this new production exclusively at the Mark Taper Forum. 135 N. Grand Ave., downtown, 213.972.7353. centertheatregroup.org
Mamma Mia!
Through Apr. 8. Smash-hit musical that combines ABBA’s greatest hits, including “Dancing Queen,” “S.O.S.,” “Super Trouper,” “Take A Chance on Me” and “The Winner Takes It All,” with an enchanting tale of love, laughter and friendship. Pantages Theatre, 6233 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood, 323.468.1770. broadwayla.org
American Idiot
Through Apr. 22. Slinging razor guitars , thundering drums and an antihero named Johnny: not the prelude of typical entries in the canon of musical theater. But the musical based on Green Day’s 2004 rock album American Idiot was a hit on Broadway, and it travels to downtown’s Ahmanson Theatre on a 15-city national tour. Ahmanson Theatre, 135 N. Grand Ave., downtown, 213.628.2772. centertheatregroup.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