Weekend Roundup
Find the best Los Angeles things to do for Memorial Day
FESTIVALS
JazzReggae Festival
May 26-27. Kick off summer with live music, food, and live art. Headliners of the 27th annual festival include Santigold, Common, Ziggy Marley and many more. $30-65. UCLA Intramural Field, 405 Hilgard Ave., Westwood. jazzreggaefest.com
Topanga Days
May 25-27. Celebrate music, the arts and the work of local artisans at the 40th annual Topanga Days. Spend the weekend listening to live music, while discovering art, jewelry and clothing from local artisans. Musical headliners include: Jim Crawford Band, Franchot Tone, Lee Rocker, and many more. 1440 N. Topanga Cyn. Bl., Topanga, 310.455.1980. topangadays.com
Grand Park Sunday Sessions
May 26. Listen to the best in electronic music every Sunday all summer long at Grand Park. Carefully curated by Eduardo Castillo from The Eclectech, he brings the beautiful soaring sounds beats of local and international DJs and producers to the heart of downtown Los Angeles. The kick off event features Wolf + Lamb with Baby Prince, No Regular Play, among others. Also find food from food trucks and cocktails from Pattern Bar. 2-10 p.m. Grand Park’s Performance Lawn, 200 N. Grand Ave., downtown. grandparkla.org
EVENTS
Skybar Pool Party
May 27. Spend Sundays lounging by the pool on large, oversized daybeds, sipping Skybar’s famous mojitos, and dancing to the sounds of special guest DJ’s at this weekly summer party. Sundays through Sept. 30. Dress to impress. RSVP required, early arrival suggested: 323.848.6025 or email skybarla@mhgc.com. 8440 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood. mondrianhotel.com
XIV Summer Sessions LA
May 26. Each week the XIV Summer Sessions patio transforms into a high energy dance floor with beats by internationally known DJ talent. Embodying the spirit of the exclusive beach parties born in the South of France, expect revelers sporting summer-chic fashions, bronzed cocktail waitresses flaunting sexy Frederick’s of Hollywood bikinis, hours of dancing in the seamless indoor-outdoor space, and more. The party continues at the official after-hours spot at HYDE Lounge, where resident DJ Connor Cruise will spin beats throughout the night. A double-decker bus will transport guests from XIV Summer Sessions to the chic ultra lounge. 5-10 p.m.; 10 p.m.-2 a.m.1743 N. Cahuenga Blvd., L.A., 323.525.2450. xivsummersessions.com
WET Weekends at W Los Angeles
May 27. Spend Memorial Day poolside at the W Los Angeles, sipping cocktails and noshing on food from the Backyard restaurant, all to the tune of DJs spinning throughout the afternoon. Weekly party kicks off Memorial Day and continues on Sundays throughout the summer. Noon-5 p.m. 930 Hilgard Ave., L.A., 310.208.8765. wlosangeles.com
Hyde Beach at Gladstones
May 27. Already established as the premier nightlife destination in Los Angeles, Las Vegas and South Beach, Hyde Lounge brings its energy to the beach this Memorial Day with the Los Angeles debut of Hyde Beach at Gladstones. Situated directly on the sand, Angelenos can kick off the summer in style and dance the night away by the ocean breeze until the sun sets. This exclusive party will feature performances by the hottest DJs, specialty packages, a BBQ on the deck and more. $30+. 17300 Pacific Coast Hwy., Pacific Palisades. play.sbe.com/HydeMalibuBeach
View the full Los Angeles Memorial Day Weekend Guide
MUSIC
Fleetwood Mac
May 25. Believe the Rumours: The multiple Grammy Award–winning and Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductees are back on tour and and stop at the Hollywood Bowl for a night of music under the stars. The tour coincides with the 35th anniversary of the release of their classic album. Hollywood Bowl, 2301 N. Highland Ave., Hollywood, 323.850.2000. ticketmaster.com
ART
James Turrell: A Retrospective
Opening May 26. An innovator in the Southern California Light and Space movement in the 1960s and ‘70s, James Turrell is the subject of an exhibition at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art that explores nearly 50 years of his work. The retrospective includes geometric light projections, light installations and recent two-dimensional work with holograms. A separately ticketed experience, Light Reignfall, is a work from Turrell’s Perceptual Cells series: a 12-minute sensory-deprivation chamber that can be experienced by only one visitor at a time. [Pictured: James Turrell, Afrum (White), 1966.] 5905 Wilshire Blvd., L.A., 323.857.6000 lacma.org
EAT | DRINK
Korean BBQ at STREET
May 26. Because burgers and hotdogs are a bit blasé, Susan Feniger’s STREET and Asian/American pop-culture tastemaker, Giant Robot, are hosting a Korean BBQ on STREET’s patio to celebrate the launch of the summer. Guests can partake in Korean BBQ and saunter up to STREET’s sake lounge, and Susan Feniger will be on hand to spice the party up. 742 N. Highland Ave., L.A., 323.203.0500. eatatstreet.com
Invention
The new swanky members-only bar inside the Los Angeles Athletic club offers cocktails by master mixologists Aidan Demarest and Marcos Tello, in a classic loungy ambiance by designer Tracy Beckmann. Part of the inspiration for the drink menu comes from the vintage scribblings of a former LAAC bartender, and the rest of the offerings are inspired from private club cocktail menus from around the world. The drinking den also offers a wine selection, craft beers and bites like lump crab cakes, deviled eggs, buffalo wings, among others. Social memberships are available to gain access to the space. 213.630.5200. lacc.com
Carson House
The new upscale Beverly Hills pub offers American fare with a twist in four distinct spaces: the dining room, living room, bar and den. Dine on signature dishes like hot pretzels with dipping sauces like housemade beer cheddar, dijon whip and salted caramel; other items include short rib sliders, Kobe corn pups, ahi tuna tar tar tacos, among others like fresh pizzas from the pizza oven. The cocktail menu pays homage to the neighborhood offering selections like The Rodeo (Kettle One, St. Germain, cucumber, garnished with a rose petal) and The Crescent (prosecco, fresh orange juice, strawberry puree, garnished with mint leaves) and a beer list boasts 20 craft brews on tap and 40 by the bottle. 8635 Wilshire Blvd., Beverly Hills, 310.289.2800. carsonhousebh.com
Strand Brewing Tap Takeover at Cinco
May 29. The Torrance-based brewery will be manning eight taps at the cantina y cocina with iconic Strand staples like their 24th Street Pale Ale and Atticus IPA, to the last keg of their 3rd Anniversary beer, the Bahgeera East India Pale Ale. Imbibers can enjoy full pints, half pints and samplers of four, six or all eight beers paired with “Drunken Tacos” featuring Strand Beach House Amber Beer-Battered Shrimp that will also be on tap as a special during the festivities. 3-11:30 p.m. Cinco, 7241 West Manchester Ave., L.A., 310.910.0895. cincola.com
Dominick’s Crawfish Boil
May 25. Celebrated West Hollywood Italian eatery Dominick’s brings back a festive local favorite: its annual crawfish boils. Drawing upon his New Orleans heritage, chef Brandon Boudet takes over the eatery’s patio to boil 300 pounds of Louisiana crawfish. In addition to the crawfish, available for $11.99 per pound, diners can enjoy a selection of Boudet’s Big Easy-inspired dishes, including Po’ Boy sub sandwiches, Creole boiled artichokes with remoulade and Dominick’s Dago red, white and prosecco wines by the bottle and beer. For dessert, the chef offers New Orleans Sno Balls—snow cones drizzled with house-made syrups—in multiple flavors, served with an optional shot of Old New Orleans spiced rum. Space is limited; reservations recommended. Noon to 4 p.m. 8715 Beverly Blvd., L.A., 310.652.2335. dominicksrestaurant.com
THEATER
The Scottsboro Boys
Through Jun. 30. Musical based on a true story about nine African American men accused of a violent crime they didn’t commit. Five-time Tony Award®-winner Susan Stroman (The Producers) directs and choreographs with a book by David Thompson (Chicago revival) and music and lyrics by John Kander & Fred Ebb. Ahmanson Theatre, 135 N. Grand Ave., downtown, 213.628.2772. centertheatregroup.org
The Royale
Through Jun. 2. Discover six intense rounds of riveting storytelling punctuated by syncopated dialogue at the world premiere of Marco Ramirez’s The Royale. Jay “The Sport” Jackson wants a shot at the world title in a time when black and white boxers did not face off. And he’s out to win at ANY cost. No matter the consequences. The Center Theatre Group claims that you’ve never seen, heard or felt a play like this. Wells Fargo is a proud supporter of the Center Theatre Group. Kirk Douglas Theatre, 9820 Washington Blvd., Culver City, 213.628.2772. centertheatregroup.org
Joe Turner’s Come and Gone
Through Jun. 9. In this historic drama by playwright August Wilson, The Great Migration brings a revolving band of strangers to Seth and Berta Holly’s Pittsburgh boarding house. They are migrating to the industrial North in search of work, a new life, somewhere to belong. Phylicia Rashad directs. Wells Fargo is a proud supporter of the Center Theatre Group. Mark Taper Forum, 135 N. Grand Ave., downtown, 213.628.2772. centertheatregroup.org
Agony and The Ecstasy of Steve Jobs
May 29; June 5. Los Angeles audiences finally get the chance to see Mike Daisey’s highly controversial show that examines globalization through the rise and fall and rise of Apple, and the price we pay for our technology. Daisey has now revised the original piece (that ran at New York City’s Public Theater), after his performance of it on This American Life (one of the most downloaded of all time) was retracted for facts being embellished. Daisey made the new script public with this caveat: “The transcript is a theatrical blueprint which can amended or changed as you see fit.” Now, Ovation Award-winning actor Alex Lyras puts his own spin on the work in his first return to the Los Angeles stage since his award-winning play The Common Air debuted in 2008. $20. 8 p.m. Theatre Asylum, 1076 Lillian Way, L.A., 800.838.3006. brownpapertickets.com
