Dust Off Your Cowboy Hats Angelenos, It’s Stagecoach Season
Plus, an orange wine fair, new restaurants, and other fun things to do in LA for those staying in the city this weekend.
Spring is the best season in LA, or it’s at least tied for first. Yeah, it’s probably tied for best season with fall, summer, winter, Dodger, and mariscos. Days are warm and getting longer, nights are crisp and cool, and it’s the perfect time to get outdoors. Embark on a scenic beer tour in Mammoth or head up to Napa Valley for a mud bath, and if you're staying in LA, you can kick back at the city's top-notch spas and dispensaries. And if you’re looking for something a little more timely, we’ve put together this handy guide to the best things to do in LA this weekend.
Food and Drink Events in Los Angeles
Weekend-long
Mid-City, Prices vary
This new bar from Jared Meisler—the same guy that’s behind perennial favorites like The Roger Room and The Brig—boasts a classic feel with black banquettes and white marble tables. The drinks are obviously killer and include the Pavo with Byrrh Quinquina, sweet vermouth, fresh berries, lemon, and apricot as well as the Cassiopeia Spritz with kumquat, jasmine, Cocchi Rosa, lemon, and pét nat. There’s also a piano and entertainment ranging from crooners to disco every night.
April 26
Silverlake, Prices vary
Beloved LA chef Debbie Lee is popping up weekly at the former Bar Morunu space with a preview of her forthcoming brick and mortar Korean fried chicken concept Yi Cha. Expect twice-fried Mary’s chicken with garlic sauce and pickled daikon and Korean nachos with crispy rice cakes and pork belly. The permanent location is expected to open later this summer.
April 25–26
Long Beach, Free with purchase
This marketing ploy is too ridiculous not to mention: for two days at a single Shake Shack location in Long Beach, any order that includes avocados will have the pitted fruit delivered tableside, with the customer then choosing which particular avocado to use and getting a lesson right there in how to slice it. Don’t live in Long Beach but love avocados? Don’t fret; they’re free as a topping at every SoCal Shack from April 25–28.
Music Festival Events in the Desert
April 26–April 28
Indio, Prices vary
Coachella’s younger, yee-hawier sibling is back for another round in the desert. The country-leaning Stagecoach Festival features the typical performers you’d expect, like Miranda Lambert and Willie Nelson, along with a few curveballs like Diplo, The Beach Boys, Nickelback, and Post Malone. In addition to the music, Guy Fieri is hosting a slew of the country’s top BBQ pitmasters on the field, with demos all three days and of course, delicious barbecue. Tickets are officially sold-out, but aftermarket prices are comparable to face value at press time.
April 28
Palm Springs, $20-$25
If three days of country music in the desert is just too much, you may want to head to this Country Themed Pool Party at Casa Cody, Palm Springs’ oldest operating hotel. Tickets include a canned cocktail and chair massages, as well as a themed DJ playing boot-scootin hits all day.
Festivals in Los Angeles
April 27
Avalon, Free
If you’ve been looking for an excuse to take the ferry to Avalon, consider this a sign: the Catalina Island town’s tiny museum is hosting their very first tamale festival, with multiple vendors providing cornmeal goodness as well as dancing, margaritas, and merch. At the end of the night, the audience will crown a tamale winner, so make sure your taste buds are prepared.
April 27
Hollywood, $59
This NYC-based fest comes to LA for the first time with 80 wines to try as well as tacos from Simon Mexican Food Truck. The fest showcases the ever-so-trendy orange wine, which is actually made with white grapes but uses red wine processes to get that orange hue. Winemakers from the Republic of Georgia will also make an appearance, which is where this style got its start 8,000 years ago
April 27–28
DTLA, $125 and up
LA’s reputation as a pizza-free city is thankfully long dead, but this two day festival at LA Live should put the final nail in the coffin. They're offering up dozens of pizzas from the city’s best spots including Pizzana and Prime Pizza, as well as discussions and panels like “Making Perfectly Good If Not Exceptionally Delicious Pizzas at Home” from beloved cookbook author Noah Galuten.