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Los Angeles has the country’s most exciting and expanding museum landscape, an exploding array of art galleries, dozens of theaters, stellar comedy clubs, a young dance scene with West Coast hip-hop at its heart, dazzling dive bars, the nation’s most essential orchestra, art-house cinema, magic shows, indie opera — and more.
But how do you navigate this sprawling world if you don’t even know where to start?
We get it. That’s why every Wednesday we’re bringing you L.A. Goes Out, where we gather top recommendations from the Los Angeles Times staff for exploring and experiencing our city. Whether new shows, the best exhibitions or the weekend’s most offbeat offerings in the most unexpected places, our picks come to you with the expertise and authority of our critics and reporters immersed in all things L.A.
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Your host
I’m Steven Vargas, and I’ll be your guide, gathering a quick breakdown of the week’s best events. I’ll share the top five things to do right now alongside suggestions for your date night or day with the kids, a heads-up on tickets going on sale (or released for free!) and a rundown of those must-see shows closing soon. Every now and then, I’ll bring some tips straight from the source — sharing what artists of L.A. have to say about what to see and where to find it. Sign up here or on our newsletters page.
Join us on the adventure ahead. Also, share your discoveries along the way at [email protected].
Recent Newsletters from Steven Vargas
If you take “Romeo and Juliet,” place it in a nondescript institution and inject it with the vitality of youth, you’ll get Matthew Bourne’s revival.
An exhibition shares works by the late artist Sam Gilliam before his death in 2022.
Yuri Yuan’s ‘A Thousand Ships’ at Make Room transports you somewhere between Troy and home with an emotional journey of loneliness and longing.
Count down to 2024 with some rowdy wrestling, holiday tunes and Willy Wonka. L.A. has a little bit of everything for your New Year outings.
Whether you’re Santa’s little elf or a straight-up Grinch, here are 11 events to keep the fun going in SoCal this holiday season.
Gagosian’s latest exhibition by Ewa Juszkiewicz hides the faces of women in grand manner style portraiture to deconstruct perceptions of beauty.
Jeffrey Deitch’s latest exhibitions offer a breadth of artistry, from painted tees to computer-coded sculptures. Check out what’s new this weekend.
What do L.A.’s latest art shows and these productions of ‘The Nutcracker’ have in common? They’re perfect for your weekend plans.
Light up your holiday celebration with these tree lighting events across SoCal, from Rodeo Drive to the Music Center.
These art exhibitions are filled with guns made of cameras, Black choral singers and assemblage art by the genre’s pioneer.
