Masters of Taste at The Rose Bowl. Photo by Brian Champlin
As we glide into another weekend, let’s get you prepped with some of our best picks to enjoy.
On deck this April 17-19 in Los Angeles you’ll find the Somos NELA Block Party, the LA Times Festival of Books a Joimo Kombucha Tasting Event, Masters of Taste at the Rose Bowl, Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach, Easy Mornings at Grand Park, Meet the Grunion at Marine Cabrillo Aquarium, and more.
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Things To Do This Weekend
M = Less than .5 miles from an L.A. Metro Station, FA = Free Admission, TP = Top Pick
Somos NELA Block Party – FA TP > The Somos NELA Block Party returns to Frogtown this Friday, doubling in size and extending its hours for 2026. Expect over 40 local vendors specializing in food, handmade crafts, and holistic healing. The event serves as a vibrant community hub, offering live music throughout the night, family-friendly activities, and essential community resources. Runs 5 to 9 p.m. Free to attend. More info here.
Susumu Yokota’s Songs of Joy, Anger, Sorrow & Happiness -> This Friday, spend an evening listening to albums from seminal Japanese electronic producer Susumu Yokota in a private Japanese garden with a glass of Japanese whiskey in hand. In collaboration with Lo Recordings, In Sheep’s Clothing and JACCC present a listening session dedicated to Skintone Edition, an archival project spanning 11 aliases, 30-plus albums, and countless EPs. Listening sessions and DJ sets are hosted by the In Sheep’s Clothing team, with Japanese whiskey, beer, and wine available throughout. Tickets are $15. More info here.
MAFter Hours – FA > This Friday, experience the Marciano Art Foundation after dark during the first-ever MAFter Hours. This special event offers a rare opportunity for visitors of all ages to explore the foundation’s expansive galleries and current exhibitions well into the evening. Guests are encouraged to visit the 2nd-floor Window Gallery and the 3rd-floor Ballroom Gallery around sunset to witness the dramatic shift in natural light as it interacts with the artwork. Runs 6 to 10 p.m. Free to attend, but you must reserve a timed slot in advance. More info here.
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UCLA AMIA Student Chapter Takeover: Avant-Garde Animation – FA > The Hammer Museum and the UCLA Film & Television Archive present a unique takeover by the UCLA AMIA Student Chapter, highlighting the experimental edge of animated cinema. This curated screening showcases films that reject traditional linear narratives in favor of abstract concepts, rhythmic visual textures, and sensorial exploration. The program serves as a reminder of the power of visual and aural elements to communicate outside the boundaries of conventional language. Program begins at 7:30 p.m. Free to attend. More info here.
Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach – M > This Friday to Sunday, this annual racing event brings three days of grand prix action to Downtown Long Beach accompanied by a lifestyle expo and a variety of fun activations. Tickets start at $58 for one-day access. More info here.
The 5th Annual ‘Gloria Molina Grand Park’s Easy Mornings’ – M FA > Easy Mornings are back at Grand Park this Saturday, offering Angelenos of all ages the chance to unwind and recharge in the heart of Downtown L.A. Enjoy free activities, including special workshops, performances from the Bob Baker Marionette Theater, and yoga sessions. Both dates run 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Free to attend. More info here.
LA Times Festival of Books – M FA > The 31st Los Angeles Times Festival of Books returns to the campus of USC this Saturday and Sunday with a two-day event featuring hundreds of book and merchandise exhibitors, multiple outdoor stages and activity areas, expert panels, performances, demos, and more. Admission to the festival is free to attend with some programing ticketed. More info here.
Parsons Dance: 40th Anniversary Tour -> This Saturday and Sunday, celebrate four decades of athletic and high-energy contemporary dance as Parsons Dance come to BroadStage Santa Monica. Known for a joyous, “dance your heart out” style, this internationally acclaimed ensemble is a staple of American modern dance, praised for its breathtaking technique and accessible, bold choreography. The program features a mix of classic repertory and new works that showcase the company’s signature precision and dynamic movement. Tickets start at $52. More info here.
FOLAR Habitat Restoration Day & Earth Month Celebration – FA > On Saturday, experience an Earth Day Extravaganza hosted by Friends of the Los Angeles River (FoLAR). This event offers a day packed with environmental themed festivities and community engagement at the Sepulveda Basin Wildlife Preserve Whether exploring the River Rover mobile museum, participating in cleanup efforts, or making native seed balls there’s something for everyone at this lively celebration. More info here.
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Joimo Kombucha Tasting Event – FA > Explore the art of fermentation at the Joimo Tasting Room in the Arts District during an exclusive open house and tasting event this Saturday. The session offers a rare opportunity to go behind the scenes of a local small-batch brewery. Attendees can enjoy complimentary pours of refreshing kombucha straight from the tap while learning about the specific biological processes and quality ingredients that define the Joimo craft. Tours start at 11 a.m., but reservations (free) are required. More info here.
Masters of Taste – TP > We Like L.A.’s favorite food festival of the year is back this Sunday as Masters of Taste takes the field at the iconic Rose Bowl Stadium for its eighth installment. The 2026 event is hosted by acclaimed chefs Thomas and Vanessa Tilaka Kalb of Pasadena’s Agnes Restaurant & Cheesery, and guests can expect unlimited tastings from over 100 “Culinary Masters,” handcrafted cocktails from 25+ spirit brands, local craft brews, and live entertainment—all situated directly on the stadium field. Tickets start at $170 for GA, and remember that 100% of the proceeds will directly benefit Union Station Homeless Services, a non-profit organization providing over 50 years of homeless services. Event runs from 3 to 7 p.m. Use the code WELIKELA26 for $15 off tickets too! More info here.
Wiggle Waggle Walk – > This Sunday, the 27th Annual Wiggle Waggle Walk helps to raise funds for the Pasadena Humane Society’s mission to care for animals. This years fundraiser is more important than ever as PHS has taken in an enormous amount of animals during the fires in January. Registration starts at $50 per person. The three-mile route or one-mile morning loop around the Rose Bowl welcomes everyone including dogs and children. Before the walk dogs can take a run through the training course and humans can explore the vendor marketplace. More info here.
Earth Day at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County – M > On Sunday, NHM invites the public to spend a day enjoying hands-on activities, such as birding, nature photography, and more. Free with paid admission to the museum. More info here.
Meet The Grunion -> For the second time in April, Cabrillo Marine Aquarium hosts a evening dedicated to the fascinating biology and “mating dance” of the California grunion—a fish that famously leaves the ocean to spawn on sandy beaches. The Sunday evening program begins with an educational auditorium session and a “hatching experience” where you can watch baby grunion emerge from their eggs in real-time, followed by a staff-led guided walk to the shoreline for (hopefully) live observation. Event kicks off at 9 p.m. and is $10 for non-members. More info here.
Dining & Drinking
(picks by Christina Champlin)
The 5 Fat Fried Chicken at Darling. Photo courtesy of Darling.
Happy Hour at Darling (Wednesday to Saturday) -> Sean Brock’s West Hollywood restaurant Darling launches a new happy hour running Wednesday through Saturday from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Cocktails are $13 and the bar bites menu is worth the trip alone. Highlights include Fat Fried Chicken with house hot sauce, honey and pickles, Shaved Southern Country Ham with apple butter and thyme, and Deviled Eggs with Bluefin Tuna Belly and Sansho.
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Mid East Eats at Maydan Market ( April 14 to April 26) -> South LA Palestinian home restaurant Mid East Eats takes over Maydan Market in West Adams for two weeks, serving lunch and dinner Tuesday through Sunday. The menu spotlights musakhan, Palestine’s national dish, alongside falafel nachos, kunafeh, and more. Open 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 5 to 10 p.m., walk-ins only. More info here.
Nighttime Happenings at Boxx Coffee (Thursday through Saturday)-> Arts District Boxx Coffee Roasters is staying up late with Boxx at Night, a new after-hours experience launching April 16 through 18 and continuing every Thursday through Saturday from 6 to 10 p.m. The concept transforms the space into an evening gathering spot centered around a menu of non-alcoholic coffee and tea-based cocktails. Standouts include She Wore a Yellow Ribbon, a layered cold brew oolong with passionfruit, blood orange, and non-alcoholic rum; 49 Undefeated, a savory cold brew with cucumber, dill, yogurt, and non-alcoholic gin; and Grampus 8, a bright matcha and berry tonic with non-alcoholic vodka.
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