Our picks of places to go + things to do to make the most out of your April.
HEAD TO → The 14th Factory, an interactive art space created by Simon Birch, has transformed an empty warehouse in downtown Los Angeles. Birch and his collaborators take you on a journey through their work in 14 spaces comprised of installation, sculpture, painting, video and performance art. Expect to see unique installations like a replica of 2001: A Space Odyssey and “The Crusher,” a room with hundreds of pitchforks hanging from the ceiling. Definitely not to be missed, the space is open Tuesday – Sunday until April 30.
DON’T MISS → California Poppy Festival April 22 – 23. Finally a reason to be thankful for all the rain we had this year— the beautiful flowers popping up all over. The festival, held at the Lancaster Museum/Art Gallery, offers maps and tips on the best viewing locations so you can wander through the Antelope Valley California Poppy reserve and see the beautiful flowers for yourself. The festival also features music, art, food and fun events to celebrate the orange hillsides. AND THIS → The Museum of Ice Cream takes over L.A. on April 22. The museum will feature one scoop of the week from the best creameries in California including Salt & Straw, Coolhaus, McConnell’s and more. Other highlights include over 30 ice cream products, a banana split comprised of ten thousand bananas, a mint grow house, a melted popsicle jungle and more. The museum also features a swimmable sprinkle pool filled with one hundred million sprinkles. Run—don’t walk—to get tickets, as the New York City launch sold out in five days!
DOWNLOAD THIS → Apple’s new Clips app, borrowing features from Snapchat, Instagram, Vine, Prisma, iMovoe and Qwiki. With options for styling and customizing your video, live titles, filters, overlays and posters, the app encourages users to string together a sequence of clips. The app will also include Smart Suggestions, a way to suggest people you might want to share the video with based on facial recognition software. Look out for the Clips app sometime this month.
EAT HERE → Indian Accent arrives in Palm Springs beginning April 7 and running through the weekend at The Parker Palm Springs. The award-winning restaurant, with locations in New York City and New Delhi proper, will feature a set 10-course menu from corporate chef Manish Mehrotra. Reservations are sure to fill up fast, check out the menu and more details here.
GO SEE THIS → Paul Simon: Words and Music running April 27 – Sept. 3 at the Skirball Culture Center. The only West Coast stop for the traveling exhibition, the show takes visitors through the legendary artist’s music and its reflection on social and culture ideals. Instruments, records, sheet music, handwritten lyrics, photography, costumes and stage maquettes will all be on display. The L.A. show will feature exclusive pieces from Simon’s private archive and a newly created music lab.
DRINK HERE → The 9th Annual L.A. Beer Festival returns on April 8 in downtown Los Angeles. Try over 200 beers, with dozens of local picks, while listening to live music and indulging in food trucks. The festival includes two sessions and tickets include unlimited beer samplings, a souvenir cup and access to the event.
GET GREEN HERE → Earth Day L.A. on April 22 at Exposition Park. The event will feature games, seeds to plant, 50+ exhibitors and fun for the whole family. The exhibit area includes government and non-profit organizations to teach attendees about what goes in a blue recycling bin, where to get free mulch, how to sign up for a free street tree and so much more.
