A lego exhibit with more than 100 sculptures and 1 million legos, a comedy show inside the ballroom of the very first Oscars and an interactive theater experience… There is no shortage of things to do in LA right now. As more and more people are getting vaccinated (including us, yay Moderna!), fun activities and events are popping up. In usual form, Kevin and I are always down for an adventure. So get off the couch, and check out our top 3 picks happening in LA right now.
The Art of the Brick: A Lego Exhibit To Re-Live Your Childhood
A lego exhibit with 100+ sculptures
Th Art of the Brick had its original opening at the California Science Center in February 2020. Oh boy, and we all know what happened next. Yep, as you know, the world hit pause (along with this incredible lego exhibit). Well, it’s back once again. And we can say, it’s well worth the wait.
I feel like this Lego sculpture captures so much of 2020. I’m losing my mind!
The story behind this lego art collection is equally as intriguing as the artist himself. Nathan Sawaya has worked for years as a high-powered New York attorney before ditching that job to pursue his passion: creating art with Legos (a toy he loved as a kid). I can only imagine the conversation with his boss as he left, “I’m quitting to go play with toys.” But clearly, he got the last laugh.
The painting American Gothic, in Lego form.
The Lego exhibit includes Sawaya’s original sculptures as well as his re-imagined versions of famous art masterpieces like Michelangelo’s David, Van Gogh’s Starry Night and Da Vinci’s Mona Lisa.
The kids are intrigued. But again, they are just as intrigued with a paper bag at this age!
Other highlights include a 20-foot Tyrannosaurus Rex skeleton, a seven-foot tall Easter Island Moai statue. There will be no shortage of photo opps here. And since the museum is still at limited capacity (with timed entry), the crowds are pretty low. So you’ll have plenty of time to capture some great shots.
My husband and the babies. Oh and big Lego dinosaur. This was such a fun day out!
Clearly, I went photo crazy here. But I couldn’t help but be amazed by so many of these exhibits. It was also much larger than I expected with video displays showing how the sculptures came together and how the art has evolved over time. Our favorite section had to be the multimedia collection of Lego bricks infused with photography by Dean West. Think of these photographs as like a Lego version of Where’s Waldo? Legos were incorporated into each photo including a red Lego dress. This is one dress you don’t want to sneeze in while wearing!
The red Lego dress on display.
The photograph with the model wearing the Lego dress.
Entry to the California Science Center is free, but special exhibits and parking are extra. Timed tickets are required (due to limited capacity) and we recommend getting your tickets in advance, especially if you’re going on a weekend when time slots frequently sell out. Art of the Brick Admission: Adults: $20; Students: $18; Kids: $13. Tickets can be purchased here. The California Science Center has other fantastic exhibits, and we highly recommend the space exhibit where you can see the Endeavor Space Shuttle, which was part of the first service mission to the Hubble Telescope and traveled to the International Space Station.
Finally, you’ll likely be hungry after your visit. We recommend stopping by Mercado La Paloma, a food hall located less than a 3 minute drive from the museum. The walk is about 10 minutes, but you’ll need to go underneath a highway overpass (which is a tent city these days). It was a nice walk except for that part. So we’ll recommend what so many others say in LA…”just drive!” You’ll find several food stalls inside the Mercado, but look no further than Chichen Itza Restaurant. You’ll find seating both indoors and outside right now. The food is cheap but 5 stars. We had a hard time narrowing down what to get, but without a doubt, the “Cochinita Pibil” tacos are a must. This is a slow-roasted pork dish from the Yucatán Peninsula. You can thank us later!
A Comedy Show at Hollywood’s Hotel Roosevelt
Hollywood’s Roosevelt Hotel is legendary. Marilyn Monroe lived here for some time when she first came to LA (and you can stay in her actual room, which is now a suite for a few grand a night!). But for those looking for a taste of the hotel at a much cheaper price, we recommend their evening comedy show. During the height of COVID, the comedy show was done poolside and as a drive-in at the hotel’s parking lot. And since this is Hollywood, you’ll likely be treated to some of the biggest names in comedy. Recent shows have included Jeremy Piven, Michael Rapaport, Sherri Shepherd and even Kato Kaelin (flash from the past, OJ!).
Arriving early at the Hotel Roosevelt in Hollywood. Be sure to check out the pool before the show.
Also check out the Hotel Roosevelt lobby, allegedly the inspiration behind Disney’s Hollywood Tower of Terror interiors. I can definitely see it!
The comedy shows, organized by Max Events, are held select Saturday nights. Check out the Hotel Roosevelt events page where you’ll find the latest including their drive-in movie series, yoga classes and the very LA-experience of a “visual sound bath” that is described as where “sound healing frequencies and stunning live visuals meet to create a powerful consciousness-expanding experience.” I think we’ll stick to the comedy.
The performance space is one of the most unique parts of the experience — located inside the hotel’s Blossom Ballroom, the home to the very first Academy Awards. I can only imagine the history of this place.
Inside the Blossom Ballroom at the Hotel Roosevelt.
Food and drinks are available prior and during the comedy show. The website says it’s a $30 minimum per person (though it didn’t seem highly enforced!). One thing to note. If you are a party of 2, you’ll likely be seated at a table with other guests. This wasn’t explicitly mentioned on their website. We are fully vaccinated, but just something to keep in mind if you’re trying to socially distance right now. Tickets for the comedy show start at $35 per person and can be purchased on the Hotel Roosevelt’s website here.
A Virtual Performance: Geffen Playhouse
Finally, last but not least, the Geffen Playhouse continues to offer some of the best at-home theater since the pandemic hit. The Geffen holds a special place in our hearts since it was the very first theater that Kevin and I went to upon arriving in LA. We lived in San Francisco before coming here, which frankly had some of the worst theater we’ve ever experienced! So we had zero expectations going to the Geffen, which is a smaller, regional theater in LA. But this isn’t your low-budget playhouse. This is one of the premier theaters in the country (and such a breath of fresh air after coming from San Francisco).
The Geffen Playhouse, one of our ultimate favorite theaters in Los Angeles. We can’t wait for it to come back with indoor performances.
The Geffen is currently shut for indoor performances, but has truly embraced the idea of virtual, interactive theater. This past year, we’ve signed up for nearly every performance which has included interactive magic shows, a Bollywood cooking experience and a murder mystery. The latest performance on offer is called “Someone Else’s House,” a tale of one family’s frightening, true-life haunting inside a 200-year-old New England house.
Each performance comes with a “Haunting Kit,” a box of items to help you set the scene for the performance, as well as important artifacts that you’ll interact with during the show. And as always, Kevin had to ask… “Is this going to be scary?” Umm… what do you think!? In truth, it’s not too bad. Think more spooky performance piece than say, Universal Studio’s Halloween Horror Nights (where some Hollywood actor chases you with a chain saw!). Yeah, that won’t be on this blog anytime soon!
Tickets for this latest performance with the Geffen Theater are $75 per household. Tickets typically sell out far in advance (given the limited number of computers allowed due to the audience interaction portion of the show). For the latest showings, visit the Geffen Playhouse website.
Looking for other ideas for special occasions? Be sure to visit all of our recommendations here, including 5 secrets spots in LA you (probably) never knew existed (but should!). Looking for ideas on what to see and do during your staycation? Check out our ideas and itineraries for a fun weekend in downtown LA. Looking for a place to stay? Check out our feature on the hotel in downtown with the best views of Los Angeles.
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