Memorial Day is a federal holiday in the United States for remembering the people who died while serving in the country’s armed forces. The holiday, which is currently observed every year on the last Monday of May is being celebrated all week long in DTLA! And for good reason..,.
10. Center Theatre Group’s 50th Anniversary Celebration – Center Theatre Group has welcomed to its stages some of today’s biggest stars, including Matthew Broderick, Sterling K. Brown, Viola Davis, Jane Fonda, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Neil Patrick Harris, Nathan Lane, Angela Lansbury, Al Pacino, Chris Pine, Denzel Washington and more. Just announced, Tyne Daly, Louis Gossett Jr., Thomas Sadoski, Jimmy Smits, René Auberjonois, Jon Robin Baitz, Bill Cain, Anthony Crivello, Culture Clash, Merle Dandridge, Tim Dang, Keith David, Shaila Essley, Davis Gaines, Harry Groener, Clint Holmes, David Henry Hwang, Gregory Itzin, Dale Kristien, Doug LaBrecque, Tzi Ma, Alan Mandell, Dakin Matthews, Christina Saffran, Benjamin Schrader, Shoshannah Stern, Lisa Vroman, Ed Waterstreet and Aryana Williams are set to take the stage at Center Theatre Group’s 50th Anniversary Celebration. The performances will draw from the many landmark productions that have been brought to life on Center Theatre Group’s stages, as well as its continuing role in creating new work and helping to define the role of theatre both in Los Angeles and beyond. Saturday, May 20th. Grand Park 200 N. Grand Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90012. For more information about Center Theatre Group’s 50th Anniversary Celebration, please visit www.CenterTheatreGroup.org/50thCelebration.
9. Kent Twitchell’s Celebration in the Arts District – DTLA Patriot and famed muralist Kent Twitchell will be celebrating his new creation, another iconic mural, this time, a portrait of Ed Ruscha outside of the Arts Districts American Hotel. Overlooking Joel Bloom Square, the American Hotel, once home to punk rock dive bar paradise “Al’s Bar”, continues to be a staple of the Arts District and gladly hosts the work of Twitchell who spent over ten years working to have a City ordinance against mural creation overturned a few years back. Thursday, May 25th, sponsored by Los Angeles Downtown Arts District Space, The American Hotel, Arts District Brewery and Council District 14. 701 E. 3rd Street, LA 90012.
8. LA Salsa Fest – Mark your calendars, you don’t want to miss this – Coming to the Bonaventure Hotel, the 19th Annual LA Salsa Fest dancing and festivities brought to Downtown LA by acclaimed salsa choreographer turned event planner Albert Torres. Promising 5 days of non-stop dancing with daytime workshops, contests, speakers, midday pool parties, nighttime Djs and live performances that continue until the early morning hours, LA Salsa Fest showcases the world’s best in Salsa, Bachata, Kizomba, Zouk & Hip Hop dancers, many of which are hand picked by Torres by special invite. During the festival the Westin Bonaventure will fill with merchants, world-class instructors, world champion performers, Caribbean dance and music enthusiasts, fans, musicians and travelers from around the globe who faithfully return each year to participate. Also included this year is a Latin Tribute to Michael Jackson. Western Bonaventure Hotel. May 25th – May 29th. 404 S Figueroa St, Los Angeles, CA 90071.
7. Clifton’s Canteen’s Tribute to the 1940s USO Shows – Dance with your favorite Jr. Hostesses and watch legends of the ’40s come to life in this all new show! Clifton’s is celebrating Memorial Day weekend by honoring the men and women of service. CAC Studios joins Clifton’s for a full-scale U.S.O. star-studded bash! Punch up your dance card while dancing with the stars and fill up on food and drinks with your ration card while you enjoy the show! Flash back to an era gone by when the Andrew Sisters and the stars of the ’40s entertain the troops with standards that you know and love, all played by a jazz hot band! This one-time event, with all new stars, is one that you won’t want to miss! So brush off your ’40s fashion and come celebrate in style! 648 S Broadway, Los Angeles, CA 90014. Sunday, May 28th – Monday, May 29th.
6. Pacific Dining Car’s Monday Night Special – Celebrate Memorial Day in one of DTLA’s most iconic restaurants opened way back in 1921. Fred and Grace Cook open the Pacific Dining Car, a restaurant built to resemble one of the sumptuous dining cars of the era is open 24 hours a day. Although it never rode the rails, the restaurant still fed the thousands of travelers, from both near and far, that passed through Los Angeles in those days. It was also a hit with the locals, who eagerly awaited the day’s thick-cut steaks and lighter-than-air apple pies. Best of all Memorial Day is on a Monday, and the Monday night Special at Pacific Dining Car from 4pm to 10pm will allow you a specially selected red or white wine included in the price of your purchase of any 2 dinner entrees. Monday, May 29th. 1310 W. 6th Street, Los Angeles, CA 90017.
5. CALIFORNIA SOL – Daytime Rooftop soirée with Motown On Mondays LA & Friends – Spinning Motown, classic soul, funk, and disco sounds. Originals, remixes, re-edits, and more…? Yes! The Ace DTLA has got LA’s favorite Monday night weekly dance party, MOM LA (Motown On Mondays), so be prepared to celebrate your memorial day in style, on the rooftop of Ace Hotel! Soak in the sunshine & lovely view of Downtown Los Angeles with the MOM LA Players plus special guests serving up feel good music for your dancing pleasure. For the thirsty & hungry party goers, the rooftop bar will have a fine selection of craft cocktails, draft beers, and gourmet bites. All sun worshipers & swimmers are invited to enjoy the rooftop pool area. Grab your dancing shoes, tell a friend, and get ready for a funky good time! Featuring special guests DJ’s SKRATCH BASTID (Canada), THE GAFF (Canada) and DJ KITSUNE (Germany) along with The MOM LA Players EXPO, DJ JEDI, C-MINUS plus MOM DJs Founder GORDO CABEZA.Massage Therapy Service by Gabriela Halleck. Monday, May 29th. 933 S. Broadway Street, Downtown LA, CA 90015.
4. Historic State Park – Nothing says Memorial Day better than BBQ, cold drinks and acres of green space especially when it comes to celebrating with family and friends. Now that LA’s Historic State Park is reopened you can plan your Memorial Day festivities and partake in their long list of spring/summer events. Los Angeles State Historic Park is located at 1245 N. Spring Street, Los Angeles CA, 90012.
3. Museum of Ice Cream – I scream, you scream, all of DTLA is screaming for Ice Cream. Wow, and what a past couple of months its been, first with Little Damage, bursting in out of nowhere and blowing up the scene with their darkened varieties followed shortly after by the Museum of Ice Cream and their interactive madness of free licks. This is the last week for the museum that heads back to the freezer May 30th, so if you were lucky enough to have purchased your ticket you still have a few days left to get your sprinkle on, if not our guess is you probably feel like you did when you dropped your first ice cream cone as a kid. #missingout. 2018 E 7th Place, Los Angeles, CA 90021.
2. Bjork Digital at the REEF – As if things couldn’t get any stranger in the land that is Bjork, now you can enjoy the digital version of this world renown eclectic singer-composer . This virtual reality exhibit is presented by the LA Philharmonic, and if you can’t get enough of Bjork floating around the realm of your VR existence in her digitized version you can catch the real Bjork May 30th at Walt Disney Concert Hall accompanied by a 32 piece stringed orchestra. The Reef is located at 1933 S Broadway, Los Angeles, CA 90007.
1. Manuela presents ‘The Farmer and The Chef Festival” – Now here’s a celebration championing the art of consciously-sourced cooking. As part of the Los Angeles Times Food Bowl, Ten Los Angeles chefs and ten farmers will be paired up and combine their culinary talents and seasonal produce to create flavorful, locally-grown dishes. Chefs confirmed to participate are Evan Funke, Nyesha Arrington, Kris Tominaga, Jason Kim, Nicole Rucker, Marshall Blair, Jerry Su, Jason Hall, and more, while farms such as Schaner Farms, Flora Bella, Coleman Family Farms, Windrose, Rutiz, Straus Family Creamery, California Family Farms, Weiser Family Farms and more will be present. Local bartenders, spirits and brand ambassadors will also be creating signature cocktails from the farms’ produce. Spirits confirmed are Mulholland Distilling, Wild Turkey, Black Cow, Campari, Greenbar, Cutwater Spirits, and a cocktail by Ori Menashe at Bestia. Tray passed food, food stations, open bars, local brewery participation, Q&A and live music will make this festival one to remember. The Farmer and The Chef festival will turn the courtyard of Hauser & Wirth into a bustling marketplace where the farm is put right on the table. All profits will be donated to the following charities: Farm Aid, No Kid Hungry and Inner-City Arts. Sunday, May 28, 4-9pm, tickets ($150) available here.
