Stars Wars Day, Alice Wang’s extraterrestrial art and more LA culture
Hello and May the 4th be with you! From a cultural galaxy near, near by, the Essential Arts newsletter is back again, corralling the best…
Roasting LACMA’s big bet in Vegas
John Valadez’s 2024 acrylic painting “Chaos,” 84 inches by 144 inches, at Luis de Jesus gallery in Los Angeles. (Courtesy of John Valadez and Luis…
Festival of Books at USC, Andrew Scott and your ultimate culture guide to the weekend and beyond
(Dania Maxwell/Los Angeles Times) Apparently some lady named Taylor has a new album — or two. We’re still trying to make sense of “Tortured Poets…
Best things to do in L.A.: ‘Chocolate Room,’ Maurice Sendak
Ed Ruscha, “Chocolate Room,” 1970, chocolate on paper (Christopher Knight / Los Angeles Times) It’s been asked before, and we’ll ask it again: If music…
What to do in L.A.: ‘Fat Ham,’ Coachella, Virginia Woolf dance
Welcome to another edition of Essential Arts, where the question of the week just might be: How have 99 Cents Only Stores shaped L.A.’s cultural…
Essential Arts: Easter music, Butterfly Pavilion, the Broad
It’s a new Essential Arts! Based on feedback from readers, we’re rethinking this newsletter and adding recommendations from our prize-winning writers on the very best…
Carolina Miranda on chronicling L.A.’s rich artistic communities
It’s the weekend and my main goal is to get over to Café Tropical for a Cuban sandwich. I’m Carolina A. Miranda, art and design…
‘Frida’ doc on Amazon Prime Video captures painter’s voice
It’s the weekend and I’m dreaming about sushi from Waka Sakura in Gardena. I’m Carolina A. Miranda, art and design columnist at the Los Angeles…
How 2024 Oscar noms ‘Barbie’ and ‘Poor Things’ use design
It’s that time again! The blocks around the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood have been transformed into a security zone worthy of Baghdad in wartime in…
L.A. design is focus of New York Review of Architecture edition
In these trying, rainy times, I’ve been eating all the comfort foods, but I have developed special reverence for the oyster and mushroom porridge at…
‘Big Data’ downloads humor and humanity in a play about tech
Full disclosure: I used numerous technological devices to build this newsletter spotlighting a new play about our use of technological devices. I’m entertainment reporter Ashley…
Taylor Swift, Travis Kelce reunite ahead of Sydney shows
Can I go where you go? Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce have reunited in Australia after a whirlwind week-and-a-half post-Super Bowl. The Kansas City Chiefs…
Ed Templeton captures skating life at Long Beach Museum of Art
I’ve been thinking a lot about noodles. And how the Fantastic World of the Portuguese Sardine has limited-edition sardines in honor of the film “Poor…
With Oceanwide Plaza, L.A. joins cities with dead high-rises
There’s nothing like a week that includes both a monster California storm and Supreme Court arguments on Trump’s ability to run for dictator, I mean…
Can Taylor Swift park a private jet for Vegas Super Bowl?
Taylor Swift needs to get from Tokyo to Las Vegas this weekend. Chances are she’ll be using a private jet to get from Japan’s capital…
How Netflix’s ‘Griselda’ captures ’70s cocaine excess
It’s been a week! When I’m not obsessing over the Nicki Minaj-Megan Thee Stallion feud (I’m Team Megan), I’m knee-deep in narco novelas. I’m Carolina…
Movies ‘Settlers,’ ‘White on White’ tackle art and colonialism
It’s been a devastating week at the Los Angeles Times, with the layoffs of countless colleagues. That is going to mean some changes around here.…
‘Dwell Time’ and the Getty reveal the art of preserving art
I’ve had Nancy Sinatra’s “These Boots Are Made for Walkin’” on repeat for no good reason. I’m Carolina A. Miranda, art and design columnist at…