The East Coast may have foliage drives and wood-burning fires, but Los Angeles offers apple-picking, mild sunny weather, and plenty to do this season.
With mild weather year-round and sunny vibes, there’s never really a bad time to travel to L.A. But there are plenty more reasons to escape to the West Coast this fall—outside of maintaining that tan you’ve worked on all summer. Here’s what’s happening now:
Following much anticipation, the Broad Museum finally opened in Downtown L.A. in September, containing nearly 2,000 works from Eli and Edythe Broad’s personal collection of contemporary art including. Andy Warhol, Cy Twombly, Ed Ruscha, and John Baldessari are all represented, not to mention some of the largest amassments of Jeff Koons and Roy Lichtenstein pieces in the world. The design of the Diller Scofidio + Renfro building is as noteworthy as the works themselves. Best of all, admission is free, but tickets need to be reserved through the reservation site here. If the gallery wasn’t enough of a draw, the on-site Otium restaurant from Tim Hollingsworth—formerly of the French Laundry—coming soon should do the trick.
Though rainfall has been scarce in L.A. this year, there’s some in the form of the wildly popular Rain Room at LACMA, which brought in throngs during stints at the Museum of Modern Art in New York and the Barbican Centre in London. Random International created this simulated downpour, which uses sensors to dodge only the area occupied by the viewer. The exhibition begins November 1; reserved tickets will be available online to the general public beginning October 21. Added bonus: If art enthusiasts book their room through L.A.’s Museum Season promo, those staying at least two nights at area hotels from October 5 through November 15 will get special vouchers for two free adult admissions, and store discounts at 25 of L.A.'s best museums, including LACMA.
It’s true that the city is known for its car culture, but cycling has picked up speed in the past few years, in part due to CicLAvia, a one-day event that closes down designated street routes to vehicles, leaving it open only for bicyclists, skaters, and pedestrians. Started originally in Bogatà, Colombia, in response to vehicle congestion, the festival celebrates its fifth year in Los Angeles Sunday, October 18, with its central meeting point in blossoming Downtown L.A.
There’s hardly a more beautiful time of year to visit wine country than the fall, with the changing colors of the vines and the more temperate weather for leisurely sipping outdoors. Though the harvest was an early one this year due to the drought, there are still plenty of goings-on at the area’s many coastal tasting rooms, including food trucks, live comedy, and music at Malibu Family Wines, as well as art gallery exhibitions and talks at Cornell Winery.
It’s also apple-picking season in SoCal. There are plenty of u-pick farms in Yucaipa, Oak Glen, and Julian, where you can pluck your own fruit off trees for juicing, pie-making or snacking, or even pick up some delightfully tart hard cider from Julian Hard Cidery to bring back home as a quaffable souvenir.
Lastly, L.A. Fashion Week is taking place October 5 through11 at Union Station, featuring four consecutive days of runway shows, presentations, and after-parties showcasing the city’s style.
