Category: events

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Weekend Events: May 21 – 23, 2021

From cinema under the stars to new exhibits and more, check out the events happening this weekend that will surely provide fun for the whole family!

Los Angeles

Dance at Dusk

When: Until July 18
Where: The Music Center, Downtown
What: Break out your dancing shoes and head to DTLA. Live dance returns to the Music Center with a number of outdoor performances. While you won’t be the one hitting the dance floor, you’ll be able to see a series of ticketed ballet, tap, and modern dance performances on stage. The shows will take place in the Jerry Moss Plaza, with free streaming on Sunday evenings. For more information, visit musiccenter.org.

Cinespia Cemetery Screenings

When: Until May 22
Where: Greek Theatre, Griffith Park
What: While the return to L.A.’s favorite cemetery screening has not yet returned to its original form, it will come back to life this weekend for a drive-in. Happening right outside the Greek Theatre, the beloved feature beneath the stars will briefly resurrect for a weekend of fun. Enjoy familiar fixtures like DJs, a concession stand, and tasty meals to go. It may not be as ghoulish but it is sure to be just as enchanting as the Cinespia we know and love.

OFF/ON

When: May 21-May 28, 2021
Where: Hollywood Palladium, Hollywood
What: While it is not the kind of shows we are used to seeing at the Music Venue, the Hollywood Palladium’s current exhibit worth a visit. The free show, titled OFF/ON features neon and mixed media works from over a dozen artists. The exhibit is showcased in the venue’s windows and aims to bring a bit of light into the darkness of the past year through art.

Westside
SOAR: Tropical Butterflies

When: Until November 30
Where: South Coast Botanic Garden, Rancho Palos Verdes/Rolling Hills Estates
What: If you love butterflies and nature, the South Coast Botanic Garden has the perfect exhibit for you. Taking place now through November 20, you can walk through the pavilion, surrounded by fluttering butterflies. The new exhibit will feature tropical butterflies in early spring before transitioning to monarch butterflies in the late summer and early fall. Don’t miss out on this beautiful attraction!

Paws & Pages at Annenberg PetSpace

When: Until June 27
Where: Wallis Annenberg PetSpace
What: Calling all animal lovers! Visit Annenberg PetSpace for a socially distanced storytime, Pet Encounter, and take-home craft. Bring your little one to this fun family-friendly event, where they can build communication skills and self-confidence by reading with adoptable pets or listening to a story. Tickets are $3 and must be purchased in advance.

Self-Care Saturdays

When: Sat, May 22, 2021 | 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM PDT
Where: 3rd Street & Arizona Avenue | Santa Monica, CA 90401
What: Take some YOU time this weekend with Downtown Santa Monica. This weekend’s free workout will be all about Plyojam. PlyoJam is a cardio dance mixed with Plyometrics. Modifications included and no equipment needed. Bring your own yoga mat and come prepared to sweat and have fun at this socially distanced weekend workout.

The Valley

Movies on Location

When: Until July 18
Where: Various Locations
What: Location! Location!! Location!!! Movies on Location is taking you to where some of your favorite films shot their most notable scenes. Don’t miss out on this series of movies in the Valley, screening at the locations and landmarks the fit the film’s theme. This fun and immersive experience will be on until July 18. Chairs will be provided to moviegoers so that all you need is your movie fandom and advanced ticket purchase—Head to tickets.myvalleypass.com for more information.

44th Annual Ojai Art in the Park

When: Memorial Weekend | May 29 and May 30, 2021
Where: Libbey Park, 210 S Signal St, Ojai, CA 93023
What: Ojai Art Center kicks off their 44th annual ‘Art in the Park celebration’ with a Memorial Weekend celebration on May 29 and May 30, 2021. Walkthrough downtown Ojai’s Libbey Park and enjoy fine art in a stunning setting. Admission is free. Call 805-646-0117 for further information.

Electric Dusk: Drive-In Summer Series

When: Until May 30
Where: Glendale
What: While the influx of drive-in shows last year may seem like a new thing, that is not the case for Electric Dusk. The drive-n movie event has been bringing outdoor old-fashioned screenings to LA for years, albeit with new venues on occasion. Currently, you can catch a flick at the old Sears parking garage in Glendale. This weekend’s showings feature flicks like Star Wars: The Last Jedi, Moana, and Jumanji (the original), with a slew of other titles on schedule. Book your tickets in advance!

Scenes at the Greens: New West Symphony Trio

When: May 28, 2021
Where: Los Robles Greens, Thousand Oaks
What: Even though this event is still a week away, we are adding it to this week’s event list so you can get your tickets ahead of time! The ‘Scenes at the Greens’ concert series is not one to be missed. Taking place outside, you can enjoy live soothing music from world-class artists, all while enjoying the beautiful Thousand Oaks weather. The May 28 show features familiar tangos by Piazzolla, Porgy and Bess by Gershwin, and Russian dance by Tchaikovsky. For more information and to purchase tickets visit Conejo.com.

Westlake Village Farmers Market

When: Sunday, May 23, 2021, at 10:00 am
Where: 2797 Agoura Road, Westlake Village
What: Stock up on delicious fresh produce and organic treats at the Westlake Farmers Market. Buy from local vendors and help to support your community. This weekend’s market opens at 10:00 am.

 

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Goat Yoga, The BH Art Show and Jurassic Park | Weekend Events May 14-16

Don’t miss out on this weekend’s best events! It’s a jam-packed week in the city of angels, so we’re sharing the best things to do in L.A., the westside, and the valley. From finding your zen with goats at the Gamble House to the bi-annual BH Art Show. Enjoy all that your community has to offer with these family-friendly activities!

Los Angeles

BH ART SHOW, Goat Yoga, Outdoor Movies
Goat Yoga at Gamble House

When: Until July 10, 2021

Where: Pasadena

What: You’ve probably already heard of the goat yoga craze, well now you can take part in it at the famed Gamble House. Get your zen on while a trip of goat’s throat around during this relaxing series on the front lawn of one of SoCal’s most beautiful homes. Presented by Pasadena’s Arts and Crafts, you’re invited to get in touch with your inner yogi through stretch and practice. Oh, and did we mention you’ll have 15 minutes for petting and pictures with the goats in attendance.

Hildur Guðnadóttir Gallery Talk

When: May 18

Where: Virtual

What: Hildur Guðnadóttir, the Oscar-winning Joker composer, joins Academy Museum curator Jenny He to discuss her work. Join them in conversation about Guðnadóttir’s compositions and her approach to designing the museum’s composer’s inspiration gallery.

The Beverly Hills Art Show Online

When: May 10 – 16, 2021, 24/7

Where: Virtually 

What: The BH Art Show goes virtual this year for the bi-annual event. Enjoy interviews with artists, painting instruction, and more! The virtual online gallery will provide the chance to view artwork from over 200 artists from around the country. As in previous years, the BH Art Show will showcase a selection of art, including painting, sculpture, photography, mixed media, and more. Also, like in previous years, artists will have artwork for purchase as well.

Westside

BH ART SHOW, Goat Yoga, Outdoor Movies
Ai Weiwei: Trace

When: May 15-Aug 1

Where: Skirball Cultural Center

What: Chinese artist Ai Weiwei brings his Alcatraz exhibit “Trace” to the Skirball Cultural Center in this limited engagement. The exhibition displays portraits of activists and prisoners of conscience made from millions of LEGO bricks. Ai Weiwei was inspired to create this installation after being imprisoned in Beijing due to his political activism.

 

Rooftop Cinema Club – Final Dates

When: Until May 31, 2021

Where: Santa Monica and El Segundo

What: Everyone’s favorite outdoor cinema experience has just a few more showings left before summer officially kicks off. The masters of alfresco rooftop movies have a range of flicks that you can catch outdoors on the big screen, from Mean Girls to Grease. Choose between the Santa Monica drive-in and a new rooftop in El Segundo for your weekend movie fix.

 

Mesopotamia: Civilization Begins

When: Until August 16

Where: Getty Villa, Pacific Palisades

What: Take a trip back in time, a few millennia, to be exact, for the Getty Villa’s latest exhibit. View ancient jewelry, sculptures, and cuneiform writing from the Sumerians, Babylonians, and Assyrians. The objects on loan from the Louvre are broken up into three galleries. Because tickets must be timed for social distancing purposes, be sure to book your spot in advance.

 

The Valley

Street Food Cinema Presents Jurassic Park

When: May 15

Where: King Gillette Ranch, Calabasas

What: Let’s all head to the movies! Enjoy outdoor movie season at the drive-in with Street Food Cinema. The beloved summer series has made some friendly-socially-distanced tweaks for their current schedule. You can bite into this weekends showing with Jurassic Park and their range of delicious food trucks. 

Old Town Newhall Farmers Market

When: May 15, 2021, at 8:30 am

Where: Old Town Newhall Library

What: If you are searching for some of your fresh market favorites, look no further than this weekend’s Old Town Newhall Farmers Market. Specialty food purveyors and California farmers come together each Saturday, rain or shine, to bring you the finest in fresh and seasonal fruits and vegetables. At this local event, you’ll also be able to pick up baked goods, flowers, herbs, cheeses, and prepared foods.  The Market offers locals a chance to come face to face with their food source. And the parking… it’s free and plenty.

We Rise 

When: Until May 31

Where: Various locations

What: Don’t miss the  ‘Celebration of Wellbeing’ for May’s Mental Health Awareness Month.  Taking place at various locations throughout the Valley and Los Angeles, you can participate in various activities and information related to mental health. 

David Ruggeri: Call of the Wild Exhibit

When: Until May 31, 2021

Where: San Fernando Valley Arts & Cultural Center

What: ‘Call of the Wild’ and exhibit by artists David Ruggeri is in its last two weeks at the San Fernando Valley Arts & Cultural Center. This installation, SCORE (Southern California Open Regional Exhibitions), celebrates the artistic relationship with flora and fauna in nature. 

Sound Mind Mental Health Music Festival

When: May 20, 2021

Where: Ventura County Fairgrounds, Ventura

What: While this event is not taking place until next Thursday, we wanted to give you the heads up so you can reserve your spot. Enjoy music from artists like All Time Low, Fitz, and the Tantrums, lovelytheband, and Charlotte Lawrence for this drive-in concert. Taking place at the Ventura County Fairgrounds, proceeds from the event support the National Alliance on Mental Illness of Ventura.

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Weekend Events: Oct 16 – Oct 18 

Spice up your weekend, and check out this weekend’s events digital and throughout. From Comedy to the Food & Wine Festival, we have you covered!

Comedy Crossing

When: Friday Oct 16th 7PM-830PM

Where: DIGITAL 

RSVP: http://comedycrossing.eventbrite.com 

It’s the world’s first-ever Animal Crossing standup comedy show. And yes, ANYONE can watch this show online (in the world’s CUTEST ZOOM MEETING) even if you do NOT play Animal Crossing. (I mean…anyone means anyone over 18 years old. This is STILL a grownup’s comedy show) #ComedyCrossing is a free online standup comedy show held inside Animal Crossing, the world’s cutest and most gentle video game.

Hosted by Jenny Yang @jennyyangtv, one of Variety’s “10 Comics to Watch” for 2020, writer for Fox’s hit sitcom Last Man Standing, and former writer and performer for E!s late-night talk show Busy Tonight. 

So Cal Etsy Guild Market 

When: Oct 16 – Oct 18

Where: Northridge Fashion Center 

RSVP: N/A 

This is a three day event taking place at the Northridge Fashion Center in Northridge Southern California featuring handmade artisan vendors, artist, food, DIY activities, live art, give aways and much more! Please exercise caution when attending any live event + please social distance.

LA Westside Food Wine & Spirits Festival 

When: Sunday Oct 18th 2PM – 6PM 

Where: DIGITAL 

The 6th Edition of the VirtuWestside Food, Wine & Spirits festival benefiting Westside Food Bank. Live Music, Entertainment, giveaways, etc

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Weekend Events: Oct 9th – Oct 11

There is plenty to do out and about in Los Angeles and the Valley socially distant. Check out our round-up of some events perfect to attend or celebrate with your quarantine pod!

The Magic Castle

When: Friday, October 9-Sunday October 11

Where: The Magic Castle (Hollywood)

Cost: $125 per car for up to 5 people

There’s so little live comedy right now in LA that this bi-weekly drive-in series at the Magic Castle almost seems like a miracle. This weekend’s lineup includes a slew of Improv/Comedy Store regulars including Sarah Tiana, Preacher Lawson, Jamie Kennedy, and a ton more. There’s food available to order, too, including fried chicken sandwiches and burgers from the Magic Castle kitchen.

Screamfest Screenings

When: Tuesday, October 6-Thursday, October 15

Where: The Regency Van Nuys 

Cost: Varies

The longest-running horror film festival in the U.S. is back again, with in-person drive-in screenings at the Regency Theaters in Van Nuys. Screenings include a bunch of new low-budget horror shorts and features, as well as some of the classic “Halloween” films and a free screening of the new Steven King thriller, “Mr. Mercedes.”

Celebrate Filipino American History Month

When: Saturday, October 10

Where: Your Home!

Cost: $20-90

October is Filipino American History Month, and the Filipina-owned gin bar Genever has teamed with HiFi kitchen for a one-off dinner/cocktail/show extravaganza, featuring a traditional Kamayan feast (Chicken adobo/saltado/sisig/fixings), a cocktail by Genever’s Jesse Smith, and the hosts of This Filipino American Life podcast schooling viewers on Filipino history. Food is available for pickup or delivery for an additional fee.

Golden Road’s Oktoberfest Pop Up

When: Saturday, October 10-Sunday October 11

Where: 1300 Glendale Ave, Echo Park

Cost: $40-$75

Raucous Oktoberfest parties may be off the menu this year, but that’s not stopping beloved local-gone-national brewery Golden Road from celebrating the season: in addition to a new Oktoberfest Bier, they’ve collaborated with ultra-colorful clothing brand The Quiet Life on a capsule collection. Order any of the clothes to pick up at their popup this weekend (ranging from a logo-heavy hat to tie-dye shirts) and they’ll throw in a 6-pack of the new beer as well as a limited edition tote.

West Adams Ballot Party

When: Sunday, October 11

Where: Delicious Pizza (West Adams)

Cost: Free

Hip-hop inspired, party-hearty pie-slinger Delicious Pizza is getting civically involved with this socially-distant get-out-the-vote event. Bring your ballot by for a pop-up photo booth, voter guides to help you figure out how/who you’re going to vote for, and DJs all day.

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Home Tips: Pumpkin Painting Ideas

It’s time to get into the Halloween spirit! A fun family activity (that is less messy than carving pumpkins) is painting pumpkins! Check out these creative ways to paint pumpkins for the interior and exterior of your home this season.

Chalk-Painted Pumpkins

The chalk paint trend is ever strong, has inspired us to create a set of these elegant floral pumpkins. We love the combination of a matte chalk finish and these large stencil designs! Thy match any fall décor perfectly.

Glittered Pumpkins

There’s no denying it – everything is better with glitter. Both pumpkins are coated in a fine sprinkling of shimmer – gold and copper, respectively – and one is polka-dotted while the other is crafted with the visual effect of dripping in luxury.

Falling Leaves Pumpkin

Autumn-inspired silhouettes add simple charm. To paint this pumpkin, adhere the leaf stencil to the pumpkin and pounce the inside of the stencil with white craft paint. Slowly, peel off the stencil and re-adhere it to a new spot on the pumpkin. Repeat this method until the pumpkin’s entire rounded surface is covered in leaves.

Abstract Expressionist Art Pumpkins

Abstract Expressionist artists – Pollock, Rothko, and Franz Kline – all use sophisticated designs. Similarly, the trio of pumpkins pictured here is inspired by some of the greatest artists of our time.

Skeleton Pumpkin

A skeleton with a devilish grin like this is just the thing your front porch needs this Halloween. Kids will love to help come up with their own spooky, silly, up-to-no-good expressions.

Content Sourced from: Martha Stewart Living
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Outdoor Events To Kickoff Autumn

Let’s kickoff Autumn on the the right foot. As we adjust to life during a pandemic, there is only so much we can do outdoors. If you feel comfortable, we have rounded up some events across Los Angeles, the Valleys, and Orange County. Check them out!

Malibu Bike Tours

Where: Saddlerock Ranch 
When: Now thru Dec 31, 2020

Pedal your way past vineyards and toward mountain backdrops during this bike tour and wine tasting at Saddlerock Ranch. You’ll do all of the pedaling first, with some light refreshments provided along the way, and then wrap up the hour-and-a-half guided tour with a flight of four two-ounce pours of Saddlerock wines. The two-mile route tackles mostly flat terrain, but the bikes are equipped with electric assist if you need a little extra help with the pedals; helmets are required (and will be provided). In case the wine didn’t tip you off, you must be 21 or older to make a reservation, and eight spots are available per time slot.

Heritage Square Museum Self-Guided Walking Tours

Where: Heritage Square Museum, Montecito Heights
When: September 25, 2020 – October 9, 2020 

See L.A. as it looked over a century ago with a walk around Heritage Square, a collection of beautiful Victorian-era houses from L.A.’s past. Though museums around the region have had to shutter indoor spaces, Heritage Square is hosting self-guided walking tours of its grounds and gardens on most Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. You’ll need to reserve a time slot to enter (and wear a face covering), but once inside you’re welcome to stroll or picnic for as long as you like. You can’t step inside any of the half-dozen late-19th-century structures, but the beautiful churches, train depots and houses offer plenty to gawk at from the outside.

Late Night Drive In 

Where: Andaz West Hollywood 
When: September 25, 2020 – October 10, 2020 

Just like old times, you can catch movie screenings and comedy shows from smack dab in the middle of the Sunset Strip—but this time around, you’ll be watching both from your car. Andaz West Hollywood is screening a mix of ’70s L.A. classics alongside tales of counterculture and rebellion during this drive-in series in partnership with civic engagement group YEA! Impact. Hungry? Each event comes with the option to order off of the Andaz menu (think sliders, beer and cocktails, plus traditional concessions like hot dogs, popcorn and candy). You’ll find each screening atop the third level of the hotel’s open-air parking garage.

Concerts in your Car

Where: Ventura County Fairgrounds 
When: September 25, 2020 – October 24, 2020 

It’s been months since we’ve seen a live music performance in the flesh. And while seeing a show at a drive-in might not be quite the same as being in the pit, it’s a much-appreciated socially-distanced substitute. Concerts in Your Car is doing, well, just that this summer at the Ventura County Fairgrounds. The sprawling parking lot there has been converted into a theater-in-the-round that fits 700 cars, all pointed toward a stage with a band performing live (plus four massive video screens in case your view isn’t the best). Just tune in via your car’s FM radio and you’ll be able to catch sets through September from the likes of Ozomatli, Third Eye Blind, Fitz and the Tantrums and more.

Knott’s Taste of Fall-O-Ween

Where: Knott’s Berry Farm
When: September 25, 2020 – November 1, 2020 

The park is technically still closed, but Knott’s Berry Farm is still finding a way to make the season spooky. Normally California’s oldest theme park goes all-out for Halloween with haunts and trails during Knott’s Scary Farm, but this year, it’s instead throwing a brand new food festival on just a portion of the grounds. The new Taste of Fall-O-Ween is set to include food stations packed with all the pumpkin-spiced treats, apple cider, funnel cakes, soup bread bowls and other fall fare you could want, plus more eerie options such as frozen “bloody” lemon slime margaritas. And while there will be adult concoctions to purchase, it’s a family-friendly event—so much so that there’s even a children’s trick-or-treating trail.  There’s no admission needed for the fest, but you will need to purchase a tasting card, with five tastes for $35, or $20 for a kids card with three tastes. Find the full story on Taste of Fall-O-Ween here.

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Status on Reopening of Gyms, Movie Theaters, and Schools

As we enter the next phase of the reopening of California within Los Angeles, there are many guidelines unique to the particular place of interest that we will need to follow. The Mayor of Los Angeles issued a statement on social media regarding what will be open on June 12th, and what he is holding off on. 

“In alignment with the County of L.A., gyms and fitness centers, museums, galleries, hotels for leisure and day camps, and their pools within the City of L.A. may reopen Friday. Film, TV, and music production can resume. Stadiums and arenas can resume without spectators.

Every business that is reopening is required to implement the County’s detailed public health protocols. Physical distancing and wearing face coverings will be required. Protocols and guidelines can be found at Coronavirus.LACity.org/Business.

There are still many types of businesses and activities that will remain closed: nail salons, tattoo shops, bars and wineries, movie theaters, concert halls, arcades, and bowling alleys. All gatherings and parties, inside or outside, are still not allowed.”

OPEN IN LOS ANGELES:

Gyms

In order to reopen, fitness facilities are told that they should require patrons to wear face coverings (at least while they enter and exit the facility). During the work out it is optional to wear face masks but encouraged to do so if they can do so. It was common courtesy at the gym is for the patron to wipe down the equipment after they use it — this is something that is now required. Equipment is required to be spaced out by at least six feet. 

See more guidelines here: https://covid19.ca.gov/pdf/guidance-fitness.pdf 

Have yet to open in LOS ANGELES:

Movie Theaters (and other family entertainment establishments) 

Movie theaters, bowling alleys, miniature golf courses, batting cages, and arcades are allowed to reopen on Friday, June 12th in the state of CA. However, the city of Los Angeles is postponing the opening of these establishments. When they do open, they are all required to cap their capacity at a much lower rate. For example, movie theaters are limited to 25% of the theater or a maximum of 100 people — whichever number is lower. Theaters are encouraged to promote physical distancing, use disposable or washable seat covers, and provide the means to disinfect hands for patrons. 

See more guidelines here: https://covid19.ca.gov/pdf/guidance-family-entertainment.pdf 

Schools 

Schools in California will be allowed to reopen on June 12th, but most won’t reopen until the next school year as most are already out on a summer break. School districts are currently convening to make sure they are in compliance with the list of health and safety guidelines released by the Department of Education. Within the list of guidelines that they must remain compliant on are keeping students spaced out by at least 6 feet in the classroom, staff to wear a face mask or shield, eliminating self-service buffets, and implementing a staggering of start times by grade or class to lower the number of bodies passing by others. 

See more guidelines here: https://www.cde.ca.gov/ls/he/hn/documents/strongertogether.pdf

 

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Streaming: Movies to Celebrate Pride Month

With protest comes pride. The L.A. Pride Parade and Festival has been revived to express solidarity with the African-American community following the death of George Floyd. Los Angeles Pride had cancelled the parade due to concerns about COVID-19 and a potential lack of social distancing, but now says they will protest June 14 in Hollywood where the first permitted Pride Parade took place. Face coverings, of course, are recommended. In the meantime, you can commemorate the hard-fought progress that has been made from your own home by streaming any of the following films as we recognize LGBTQ Pride Month.

Moonlight

Streaming on: Netflix

This Oscar-winning drama follows a young man named Chiron from his impoverished childhood to adulthood as he grapples with his sexual identity as well as the consequences of poverty and abuse. All the while he strives to escape a life that appears unavoidable. In addition to winning Best Picture, the film’s director, Barry Jenkins, claimed the screenwriting Oscar while Mahershala Ali was named Best Supporting Actor.

Philadelphia

Streaming on: Netflix

Jonathan Demme’s 1993 drama threw a high-wattage spotlight on the AIDS crisis, earning acclaim and $200 million worldwide. In doing so, it brought the plight of the LGBTQ community into the mainstream like no film before it. Tom Hanks won the Oscar for his portrayal of a lawyer fired from his powerhouse law firm because they realized he was HIV-positive. Denzel Washington is the homophobic lawyer who takes on the David v. Goliath case.

Carol

(L-R) CATE BLANCHETT and ROONEY MARA star in CAROL

Streaming on: Amazon Prime

Legendary writer Patricia Highsmith, who penned the psychological thrillers The Talented Mr. Ripley and Strangers on a Train, also authored The Price of Salt in 1952, adapted decades later by filmmaker Todd Haynes. Cate Blanchett stars as a wealthy woman in a grim, loveless marriage who begins an affair with a young shopgirl (Rooney Mara). Lust, love and loss ensue.

Brokeback Mountain

No Merchandising. Editorial Use Only. No Book Cover Usage.
Mandatory Credit: Photo by Focus/Kobal/REX/Shutterstock (5884718b)

Streaming on: Hulu

Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal star as Wyoming cowboys in the 1960s who fall in love only to discover they can’t ever quit each other — even as the decades wear on and their marriages to Michelle Williams and Anne Hathaway crumble. A trailblazer, even though it is only 15 years old, Ang Lee’s tender, thoughtful drama was nominated for multiple Oscars and won for director and screenplay. Controversially and inexplicably, it wasn’t named Best Picture.

Hedwig and the Angry Inch 

Streaming on: Hulu

John Cameron Mitchell directed, adapted and starred in this poignant 2001 film based on the 1998 stage musical he co-wrote. It follows transgender rock singer Hedwig (Mitchell) on a quest to track down the former lover who stole her music and became a star.

Bound 

Streaming on: Amazon Prime

Before they entered The Matrix, the Wachowski siblings wrote and directed this sultry, noirish thriller about lovers (Jennifer Tilly and Gina Gershon) who conspire to rip off the mob. Twisty, exciting and crammed with style, it rivets with the same sleek, storytelling energy as that aforementioned Keanu Reeves-led science-fiction saga.

The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert

Streaming on: Amazon Prime

The movie is named for the bus that drag queen Anthony (Hugo Weaving) uses to transport himself — as well as young drag queen Adam (Guy Pearce) and transsexual Bernadette (Terence Stamp) — across the less-than-welcoming Australian outback for a gig at a casino in a remote town. Released in 1994, the film was a sleeper smash, helping to introduce international audiences to positive LGBTQ characters.

Milk

Streaming on: Hulu

Sean Penn is electrifying as Harvey Milk, the first openly gay man elected to public office in America. In 1977, Milk won a seat on San Francisco’s Board of Supervisors — only to be slain a year later. Wisely, the drama, directed by Gus Van Sant (My Own Private Idaho), does not dwell on the murder, choosing instead to chronicle the years of tumult and tenacity that ultimately led Milk to emerge as a national icon for equality.

Beginners

Streaming on: Amazon Prime

Ewan McGregor stars as a man whose father (Christopher Plummer) comes out during the last year of his life. The revelation strengthens the bond between the men, who were never close, as the son reflects on his own childhood, relationships and his father’s closeted past. Plummer won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor. In addition to Plummer and McGregor, Mike Mills’s tender, affecting film also features a talking (with subtitles) Jack Russell terrier.

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Virtually Out and About: L.A. Museums

Think of it as a virtual staycation. While museums like the Louvre and the Guggenheim welcome interactive, international visitors with tours of their exhibitions, self-isolating Angelinos have plenty of culture, history and science to explore right here – from behind the safety of their screen, of course. Take these five local institutions, for example. They may be shuttered, but thanks to online archives, activities and resources, they’re hardly off-limits to the public.

The Getty

If you were thinking of dropping by the Getty Center or Getty Villa before the lockdown, good news: some of its most popular exhibitions are open to virtual visitors. That includes Michelangelo: Mind of the Master, which examines rare drawings by the artist, ranging from sketches to detailed figure studies. Listen along to a free audio tour as you browse his work. For something fun, in addition to the online archive of art, videos and books, you can download a free coloring book filled with some of the museum’s most iconic artwork.

The Grammy Museum

The doors are closed, but the music plays on. On their website, you can enjoy archived performances by artists ranging from Common to the late Kenny Rogers. Join their album club, which is sort of an interactive book club for music fans, and follow along as founding executive director Bob Santelli discusses such classic albums as Bruce Springsteen’s Born in the U.S.A.

 

Natural History Museum

For families wanting to hit pause on streaming movies and TV, the Natural History Museum offers the chance to link up with scientists and other students for virtual adventures and crowd-sourced science. It also boasts an impressive video selection. For example, after learning about the animals and plants we share Los Angeles with, you can watch a clip chronicling how scientists uncovered the skull of the prehistoric world’s smallest dinosaur preserved in amber.

California Science Center

For burgeoning young scientists, the California Science Center live streams “Stuck at Home Science” every weekday at 10 a.m. Considering topics include “gross science,” it’s fair to say the goal is to keep children engaged and interested as they learn. Don’t worry about having to leave the house for materials, either. All the projects use common household items.

Museum of Contemporary Art

MOCA offers an entire schedule of interactive activities throughout the week, designed to help the community stay connected. Available on the website as well as across MOCA’s social media channels, these include workshops, classroom curriculum discussions, an Instagram takeover series with a new artist every week, a book club and “Feel Good Friday,” which focuses on meditation and other exercises to relax the mind and reduce stress.

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Out and About: Virtual Tourism

There’s never been a better time to explore the world. From the Louvre to the Smithsonian to the Guggenheim, the largest museums around the globe are now as close as your screen, thanks to the arrival of virtual tours designed to carry you through their corridors and exhibits. For a population increasingly isolated as current events unfold, this online arena offers a welcome reprieve from confinement and the chance to glimpse cultures, civilizations and works of art that might have otherwise gone ignored. From Manhattan and Paris to London and Sao Paulo, here are 10 museums to seek out – without ever having to step foot in an airport. 

British Museum: London

And now for something truly epic, this legendary museum’s interactive virtual tour of the world’s history spans roughly two million years. Along the way, you can explore the religions, conflicts, and triumphs of a multitude of civilizations that have dotted our planet through the ages. Additionally, the museum, which is closed due to the pandemic, allows virtual tourists to wander its halls and discover artifacts including the Rosetta Stone. If that still leaves you unsatisfied, supplement the virtual tours by listening to A History of the World in 100 Objects, a podcast narrated by the museum’s director Neil MacGregor.

Smithsonian Museum of Natural History: Washington, D.C.

Especially for kids, you can’t go wrong with dinosaurs, fossils and mysterious creatures from the depths. So take them along for this virtual tour and embrace the adventure.

The Louvre

The world’s largest art museum, this Paris landmark, located on the Right Bank of the Seine, measures more than 782,000 square feet and displays more than 38,000 artifacts and works from prehistory to the present – all of which can be appreciated from your home now.

African American History and Culture: Washington, D.C.

This museum and its 35,000 artifacts set out to do nothing less than telling the story of America. Although the virtual tour offers only a glimpse of all that the museum has to provide visitors, it’s impressive nonetheless.

Russia’s State Hermitage Museum: St. Petersburg, Russia

This stunning video – remarkably filmed in 4K in one continuous take on an iPhone 11 Pro – spans more than five hours as it carries you through this museum in St. Petersburg, Russia. All told, the tour covers 45 galleries and 588 artistic masterpieces.

Uffizi Gallery, Florence 

One of the most prestigious art museums in Italy and the world, the Uffizi Gallery sits adjacent to the Piazza Della Signoria in the Historic Centre of Florence in Tuscany, Italy. Built-in 1560, its treasures include works from the Italian Renaissance, all of which can be explored here.  

MASP, Sao Paulo 

Considered Brazil’s first modern museum, the Museu de Arte de São Paulo is a non-profit boasting a collection of more than 8,000 works, including sculptures, paintings, and photographs from across continents. 

Guggenheim Museum, New York 

As renowned for the skylight and spiral staircase at its center as its vast collection of art, now you can explore both, thanks to Google’s Street View feature. 

Musée d’Orsay, Paris

Located on the left bank of the Seine, this museum is housed in a former railway station and features mostly French works dating from 1848 to 1914. Take their virtual tour and browse masterpieces from the likes of Monet, Renoir, Seurat and Van Gogh.

National Museum of Anthropology, Mexico City

Focused on Mexico’s pre-Hispanic civilizations and culture, this museum features more than 20 exhibit rooms, complete with Mayan artifacts. 

  

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