Things to do in Los Angeles today

Each summer, Bard fanatics watch their favorite works come to life at the historic Old Zoo in Griffith Park. Independent Shakespeare Co. puts on a series of lively productions each week, inviting audiences to take a seat on the grass (read: bring a picnic blanket) and enjoy performances like this season’s headliners: Knight of the Burning Pestle (July 2–31) and Macbeth (Aug 6–Sept 4). You’ll find a few changes to the 2022 season that’ve carried over from last year: Since work is still underway on a permanent performance stage, the Independent Shakespeare Co. is instead setting up slightly farther up the hill at the Old Zoo. That means each performance will only be able to accommodate about 450 people, so reservations will be required. Registration opens on June 24.

The masters of alfresco rooftop movie viewing have returned for another season of screenings in Downtown L.A., the Arts District and El Segundo. Known for excellent film choices and a steady supply of snacks and booze, Rooftop Cinema Club is your snazzy, comfortable and less stressful alternative to other outdoor movie screenings. You don’t even need to bring your own blanket or camping chair—Rooftop Cinema Club provides you with your very own comfy lawn chair, as well as blankets on request for the ultimate cozy experience. And instead of listening to the movie over loudspeakers, you’ll get a set of wireless headphones so you never have to miss a word.

Summer’s just heating up, but thanks to a returning nightlife partnership it’s set to be scorching: Santa Monica mainstay the Bungalow teamed up with beloved radio station KCRW to throw a night market every Thursday just a block from the beach.  KCRW’s no stranger to killer programming and putting on a great party (see also: Summer Nights), and now, every week at the Bungalow you can expect KCRW DJ sets, plus to-be-announced bartender takeovers that take over the Fairmont Miramar scene. Once all that dancing’s worked up an appetite, you can hit the food trucks and take a seat at one of the picnic tables spread throughout the space (or, you know, just camp out at a picnic table all night long—we wouldn’t blame you if you’re just here for the food). Food vendors include Tacos 1986, River Street BBQ, ManEatingPlant, Steamin’ Burger, Gone Bananas Bread Co. and Bubba Ice. What’s more, this event is family-friendly and free to enter for all ages. The fun runs every Thursday into fall, from 5 to 11pm. 

Say goodbye to dusty thoroughfares and violent porta-potties: Splash House takes the music festival concept off of sweltering desert land and places it poolside. Movers and shakers at this multi-location getdown are shuttled between the Saguaro, the Margaritaville and the Renaissance to lap up big-name dance acts and DJ sets. With the added comforts of AC rooms and critically acclaimed restaurant fare just steps away from the party scenes, the experience will make you question whether to bother with more punishing locales come next year’s festival season. For this year’s August lineup, you’ll find sets from JUNGLE, Polo & Pan, Nora En Pure, Sonny Fodera, Malaa, John Summit, SG Lewis, Elohim, VNSSA and more.

The Skirball puts on its annual series of free summer concerts, highlighting indie, folk and world music from L.A. and beyond. Guests can arrive early and visit the museum’s galleries for free, dine under the stars and grab a seat for the show in the beautiful central courtyard. The concert is free (and reservations are required), but parking is $10 in advance or $20 at the venue. This summer’s lineup includes Mamak Khadem (July 21), Rocky Dawuni (July 28), Nefesh Mountain (Aug 4), Booker T. Jones (Aug 11), Ak Dan Gwang Chil (Aug 18) and Son Rompe Pera (Aug 25).

See posters, zines and flyers from the Sex Pistols, the Clash, the Damned, X, Siouxsie Sioux, the Slits, Grace Jones, Iggy Pop and so many more at this exhibition of punk and new wave graphic design. You’ll find it at the Pacific Design Center’s Design Gallery, the former MOCA PDC space.

West Hollywood’s ultra-chic restaurant and rooftop bar, E.P. & L.P., is serving much more than handcrafted cocktails and modern American bites. The spot also hosts Melrose Rooftop Theatre, an outdoor screening series that runs much of the year on the rooftop space attached to its open-air bar, L.P. Its all-VIP seating setup means everyone gets their own bean bag to watch a mix of cult classics and newly released films, with the audio piped in to provided sets of wireless headphones. Opt for the dinner-and-a-movie package and you’ll get a pre-show starter, main and dessert—or you can skip it and just opt for a cocktail during the movie.

A bit of Westeros is hatching in L.A. at the Natural History Museum’s new Game of Thrones-inspired, dragon-filled exhibition. Yes, the exhibit is cleary an in-person promo for this summer’s prequel series, House of the Dragon. But who are we to argue with getting to see props and costumes from the upcoming HBO show? “House of the Dragon: The Targaryen Dynasty” will also include tutorials on the Valyrian language, dragon eggs and a replica of the House of the Dragon version of the Iron Throne (judging by the prequel’s trailer, it’s spiked with way more swords than the GoT one). Access to the 2,500-square-foot exhibit, which is open from August 5 to September 7, is included with a standard admission ticket ($15, but L.A. County residents can visit for free from 3 to 5pm) and available on a first-come, first-served basis. (Oh, and if you’re thinking, this is an odd fit for this museum, the Natural History Museum actually has one of the oldest collections of Hollywood memorabilia, a fact we weren’t even aware of until the “Natural History of Horror” exhibition a few years again.)

Takashi Murakami will be the center of the Broad’s specially ticketed spring exhibition, alongside a second exhibition that explores the symbolism of the American flag. Both will be on display in the museum’s first-floor galleries from May 21 to September 25, 2022. All of the Murakami pieces in the Broad’s collection will be on view in “Takashi Murakami: Stepping on the Tail of a Rainbow.” Known for his colorful smiling flowers and cartoonish pop art murals, you’ll be able to see 18 works from the contemporary Japanese artist, as well as some to-be-detailed immersive environments from the artist’s studio. “This Is Not America’s Flag” will feature pieces from 20 artists who’ve both championed and challenged the symbolism of the stars and stripes and channeled that into their own works. Born out of the summer of 2020’s grassroots movements for racial justice, the exhibition includes Jasper Johns’s Flag and David Hammons’s African-American Flag, as well as works from Laura Aguilar, Nicole Eisenman, Jeffrey Gibson, Hank Willis Thomas and Alfredo Jaar (whose A Logo for America inspired the exhibition’s name). Timed tickets for both exhibitions, which also include access to the otherwise free third-floor galleries, go on sale Friday, April 15 at 10am and cost $18 for adults and $12 for students, and are free for children 17 and under. The museum notes that it’ll also announce some free days at a later time.

Support under-the-radar Black-owned restaurants with Black Restaurant Week's return to Los Angeles For 10 days straight, this celebration of African-American, African and Caribbean cuisines highlights participating restaurants across the city who'll all be offering prix-fixe plate specials. There's also a BINGO card to keep score of your visits and enter you to win gift cards, plus a virtual cocktail contest and a database of local, independent Black-owned restaurants to use year round. Find the full list of participating L.A. spots here.