The Best Things To Do In LA And SoCal This Week: March 21 - 24

View the Art of the Ramen Bowl. Visit an expansive exhibition dedicated to the works of Barbara Kruger. Listen to stories about “dealbreakers.” And don your best Regency-era attire for The Queen's Ball: A Bridgerton Experience.

With COVID-19 variants still out there, please check ahead of time to confirm event status and vaccine/testing requirements for entry.

Monday, March 21: 7 p.m. (doors)

School Night
Bardot
1737 Vine St., Hollywood
Watch live music from up-and-comers Halo Kitsch, Corook, Baby Queen and Jackie. Hosted by Jayo and Novena Carmel with music by Chris Douridas. If you can’t make it to Hollywood, then watch the show on Twitch.tv/itsaschoolnight. This is a 21+ event.
COST: $5 - $10; MORE INFO

Tuesday, March 22 - Saturday, March 26

Oscar Week Events 
Samuel Goldwyn Theater
8949 Wilshire Blvd., Beverly Hills
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences presents a series of public programs that celebrates this year’s Oscar nominees in several categories. The programs include Shorts (March 22), Documentaries (March 23), International Feature Film (March 24), Animated Feature Film (March 26), and Makeup And Hairstyling Symposium (also March 26). Livestream viewing is also available.
COST: $13 - $5; MORE INFO

Tuesday, March 22: 7:30 p.m.

Los Angeles StorySLAM: DEALBREAKERS
Los Globos
3040 Sunset Blvd., Silver Lake
Listen to five-minute stories about the little things you just can't get over — that straw that finally breaks the camel’s back. Proof of vaccination will be required for entry. This venue is 21+.
COST: $15; MORE INFO

Holland Taylor stars as former Texas governor Ann Richards at the Pasadena Playhouse.

(

Ave Bonar

)

Tuesday, March 22 - Sunday, April 24

Ann
Pasadena Playhouse
39 South El Molino Ave., Pasadena
Attend the West Coast premiere engagement of Ann, a play written by and starring Holland Taylor and directed by Benjamin Endsley Klein. Holland brings the life of the legendary Ann Richards (the former governor of Texas) to the stage for the last time. Richards’ down-home charm and passion for fair play fueled her leadership and capacity for caring.
COST: Tickets start at $30; MORE INFO

Wednesday, March 23: 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.

Westweek 2022
Pacific Design Center
8687 Melrose Ave., West Hollywood
The showcase for global design returns in-person with talks, programs, installations, and open houses.
COST: FREE; MORE INFO

Thursday, March 24: 1 p.m. PDT

Could Immigration Unite Americans?
Virtual 
Listen to National Immigration Forum president/CEO Ali Noorani, author of Crossing Borders: The Reconciliation of a Nation of Immigrants, as he visits Zócalo to examine how new policies and responses to immigration can be used to build a more welcoming nation. He’ll be chatting with Miriam Jordan of The New York Times.
COST: FREE with RSVP; MORE INFO

Thursday, March 24 - Saturday, April 2

Dance Camera West Film Festival
2220 Arts & Archives - 2220 Beverly Blvd., Westlake
Théâtre Raymond Kabbaz - 10361 W. Pico Blvd., Rancho Park
The film festival returns for its 20th anniversary, screening the top 75 films selected from a record number of 400 submissions. The festival opens on Thursday at 7 p.m. with the documentary Ink & Linda at 2220 Arts & Archives.
COST: $15 - $100 for festival pass; MORE INFO

Dearest reader, your presence is requested at the most exclusive ball of the season: The Queen's Ball, a Bridgerton Experience.

(

Courtesy of Shondaland, Netflix and Fever

)

Thursday, March 24 - Summer

The Queen's Ball: A Bridgerton Experience
Millennium Biltmore Hotel Los Angeles
506 S. Grand Ave., downtown L.A.
With the highly anticipated return of Netflix’s Bridgerton, attend a new 90-minute immersive experience that transports guests to Regency-era England. Mingle with other members of the Ton while listening to a string quartet play songs from Bridgerton's soundtrack. Attendees can interact with high society aristocratic characters from Netflix and Shondaland's hit series. The experience is 18+. Must be 21+ with valid ID to consume alcohol.
COST: Tickets start at $49; MORE INFO

A scene from 'Bedtime Stories, ' which opens at The Wallis.

(

Courtesy of URLAND

)

Thursday, March 24 – Saturday, March 26

Bedtime Stories 
Lovelace Studio Theater
The Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts
9390 N. Santa Monica Blvd., Beverly Hills
Listen to a cast of characters created by actor Thomas Dudkiewicz, who leads audiences into a strange and dark world. Conceived by the Dutch collective URLAND and inspired by radio plays, Dudkiewicz uses his voice — with well-timed sound effects — to spin tales through the eyes of Lilly, a precocious young girl; her father, Max; and grandfather, George, both master storytellers. Recommended for ages 13+; contains profanity and gunfire sound effects.
COST: $40 - $50; MORE INFO

Thursday, March 24: 7:30 p.m.

The Drop: Alaska
The Grammy Museum at L.A. Live
800 W. Olympic Blvd., downtown L.A. 
RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars winner Alaska will discuss her new album RED 4 FILTH, with moderator Monét X Change, followed by a performance of selections from the record.
COST: $25; MORE INFO

Japan House LA opens an exhibition on the Art of the Ramen Bowl, including a skull-spider bowl designed by Japanese pop artist Keiichi Tanaami.

(

Nacasa & Partners inc.

)

Through Tuesday, July 5

The Art of the Ramen Bowl
Japan House Los Angeles
6801 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood
The newly opened exhibition highlights imaginative porcelain ramen bowls (donburi) and spoons (renge) designed by 30 artists who share a love for ramen. The exhibition — seen for the first time outside of Japan — includes a giant, Instagram-worthy ramen bowl created by Japanese plastic food sample manufacturer Iwasaki Mokei. Related virtual event: Delicious Design: Conversation with The Art of the Ramen Bowl Exhibition Curators takes place on March 22 from 5-6 p.m. PST.
COST: FREE with RSVP; MORE INFO

LACMA opened the Barbara Kruger exhibition, 'Thinking of You. I Mean Me. I Mean You,' which is on view now.

(

Barbara Kruger, 'Thinking of You. I Mean Me. I Mean You,' 2019, digital image, courtesy of the artist

)

Through Sunday, July 17

Barbara Kruger: Thinking of You. I Mean Me. I Mean You.
LACMA - BCAM, Level 2
5905 Wilshire Blvd., Mid-Wilshire
LACMA presents the largest and most comprehensive presentation of Kruger’s work in 20 years. The exhibition spans four decades and includes single-channel videos from the 1980s, large-scale vinyl room wraps, multichannel video installations, and audio soundscapes throughout LACMA’s campus.
COST: $16 - $20 (LA County residents); MORE INFO

NHM has opened its seasonal Butterfly Pavilion.

(

Courtesy of the Natural History Museum

)

Through Monday, Sept. 5

Butterfly Pavilion
Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County
900 Exhibition Blvd., Exposition Park
Stroll amidst a kaleidoscope of butterflies in the museum’s seasonal pavilion. View hundreds of butterflies — including up to 30 different species — alongside colorful native plants. Tickets are timed and limited.
COST: $15 - $23;  MORE INFO

Viewing Pick

Atlanta, Season 3 
Nearly four years after the end of season 2, FX’s critically acclaimed series Atlanta returns on Thursday, March 24. Much of the new season takes place in Europe, finding Earn (Donald Glover), Alfred "Paper Boi" Miles (Brian Tyree Henry), Darius (LaKeith Stanfield), and Van (Zazie Beetz) in the middle of a European tour. The first two episodes of the 10-episode season air on FX at 10 p.m., available to stream the next day on Hulu.

Lavo, a new restaurant in West Hollywood, serves up coastal Italian fare like red prawn crudo.

(

Ashley Randall Photography

)

Dine and Drink Deals

Check out the 411 on restaurant, bar, and food happenings in SoCal this week:

• The coastal Italian LAVO Ristorante (from Tao Group Hospitality) is now open in West Hollywood. It’s the fourth location — but the first in California — serving up dishes including red prawn crudo, cacio e pepe pizza, and Wagyu meatballs.
• Billy’s at the Beach in Newport Beach celebrates its 29th anniversary with Hawaiian-inspired specials all month long. Take advantage of the $29 lunch and dinner special that includes a Billy’s World Famous Mai Tai with Billy’s Beach Burger and Malasadas.  
• Coffee Dose opened its Rodeo Public Market location in Stanton last month, serving up coffee, tea and matcha, and light bites from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily. While they offer the “bomb basics” coffees, they also have drinks including The Thicky Thicc, The Keto Queen, and the Thirsty Bitch (aka bottled water).
• Veggietize Me recently opened in Panorama City (14692 Parthenia St.), the first all-vegan restaurant in the city. The restaurant serves up breakfast, burgers, bratwurst, hot dogs, tots, fries, and desserts. Veggietize Me is closed on Wednesdays.