This month, Los Angeles is celebrating spring, our planet, and the people of Los Angeles with a slew of events. Here’s what’s on our radar for things to do in April in LA.
On the first Sunday of April, thousands of foodies will venture to nearby Pasadena for one of LA’s most beloved annual food events. Masters of Taste sees the Rose Bowl transform into a culinary destination, with some of the city’s top restaurants and bars offering unlimited tastings. Proceeds from the day go towards Union Station Homeless Services, which, for more than 45 years, has provided care to Los Angeles individuals and families facing poverty and homelessness. Learn more on the Masters of Taste website.
Head to DTLA’s Grand Park to kick off Earth Month ten days before Earth Day (April 21). Expect live performances, recycled art projects, plus educational initiatives like drought-tolerant plant tours and eco-technology presentations. Learn more at Grand Park’s Earth Day LA website.
For more than 20 years, the LA Times has hosted its annual Festival of Books, gathering writers, artists, poets and other storytellers under one roof for a series of talks, readings, book signings, and award ceremonies. Upwards of 150,000 bibliophiles attend, making it the largest literary festival in the country. Featured speakers this year represent America’s diverse voices, with rising talents like Hafsah Faizal, an American muslim who just published “We Hunt the Flame,” her buzzy first novel, alongside established authors like American Book Award-winner Jericho Brown. Learn more about this festival, held at University of Southern California just ten minutes from DTLA at the LA Times Festival of Books website.
MOCA is celebrating its 40-year history with a behind-the-scenes exhibition on its past, entitled 40 for LA. To curate the multimedia show, which runs from April 14 until September 16, the museum opened its vaults to showcase rare photographs, objects, timelines, and architectural pieces. The retrospective exhibition tells MOCA’s own origins, examining how it’s become one of Southern California’s most prominent cultural institutions. Learn more at MOCA’s 40 For LA website.
Falsettos, nominated for five Tonys in 2017, is now on tour, and plays in DTLA for one month this spring. The groundbreaking musical tells the story of Marvin, who’s just left his wife for his (male) lover, as he tries to keep his now not-so-traditional family together. Expect lots of laughs as Marvin, his wife and their son navigate their new life with the help of their psychiatrist and lesbian neighbors. Get tickets at Lincoln Center Theater’s website.
Grammy-winning band The National is in town on April 26 to promote their upcoming album, I Am Easy to Find. The hit rock group has captivated audiences (and nabbed awards) for two decades, earning a reputation for humanitarian efforts along the way. Tickets to this sold-out concert are still available on resale sights, including Stubhub.
Come end of month, it’ll be worth the half-hour journey to Century City for Annenberg Center for Photography’s new exhibition Contact High: A Visual History of Hip Hop. Based on the best-selling book of the same name, the exhibition includes nearly 140 photographs from 60 hip hop photographers, including more than 75 original contact sheets. Expect iconic portraits of Notorious B.I.G. alongside early snaps of current stars like Jay-Z, Kendrick Lamar, and others. It’s an intimate look of the music genre through an up-close and personal lens. Learn more about Contact High online here.
Photos top to bottom, via: lacma.org; @iheartradio on Instagram; thebroad.org; and @vincestaples on Instagram.
We’re continually inspired by the creative energy of Downtown Los Angeles. For local recommendations—and to hear from the diverse individuals who make DTLA what it is today—head to our Meet You Downtown blog.
