Chalming Culture Club 029
Featuring a book festival, a 4.20 block party, and Taylor Swift listening parties for every kind of Swiftie.
Welcome back to the 29th edition of Chalming Culture Club.
Happy Taylor Swift day to all who celebrate. And happy weekend two of Coachella to all who are participating (especially those of you who are blasting The Tortured Poets Department on the drive to Palm Springs).
If you’re staying put in L.A. but want to watch the action unfold from the comfort of your couch, after a weekend spent in the desert we’d highly recommend tuning in for Lana del Rey, No Doubt, Tyler, the Creator, and Doja Cat — whose performance on Sunday may just have been the weekend’s best. Music moments aside, there’s plenty happening in L.A. this weekend, including a 4.20 block party, a book festival (and another book reading and wine drinking event), and a dinner party at Bucatini.
Without further adieu, we’re excited to bring you the #29th sitting of the Chalming Culture Club.
What we’re doing…
It’s the Festival of Books this weekend, featuring over 200 conversations and performances, book signings, cooking demos, poetry readings, and more.
Baby Bistro is popping up at Bucatini for a 22 person, 5 course + dessert dinner on Friday night from 7:30pm. Get your reservation fast.
Cafe Nido is hosting its first flea market, featuring vintage treasures, artisanal goods, and lots of locally curated pieces, from photo prints to mezcal, flowers to art. Sunday 21st, 10am-4pm.
There’s a 4.20 block party in Silverlake at Bravo Toast on Saturday, featuring food, drinks and live music. Details here.
BYOBook takes place on the third Sunday of the month at Tabula Rasa Wine Shop in NoHo. Bring your own book (or borrow one of theirs) and sip on a wine while you read.
There’s a Taylor Swift album listening party happening at The Virgil on Friday night. Expect drag performances and themed drinks. Or if night markets, cookies, mocktails and friendship bracelets are more your thing, thankfully, there’s a night for you, too.
What’s better than pancakes? Free pancakes! The Pancakes & Booze Art Show is back in DTLA on Friday and Saturday. Eat pancakes while listening to music by some of the city’s leading emerging artists.
What we’re watching…
High & Low, the new documentary on influential fashion designer John Galliano's rise and fall. It’s out in cinemas now and available on Mubi from next weekend.
What we’re listening to…
What else? The Tortured Poets Department, the 11th studio album by Taylor Swift which was released last night.
What we’re reading…
Dead Animals, British writer Phoebe Stuckes’ debut novel, a chilling revenge tale that centers around a survivor of sexual assault.
What we’re eating…
Venice Beach’s French bistro Coucou just opened a second location in West Hollywood. Coucou, indeed!
What we’re drinking…
Whiskey highballs at Gran Blanco, the cocktail lounge in Venice Beach by the founders of Great White, that reopened today.
What we’re shopping…
GANNI and supermodel Paloma Elsesser teamed up to design a size-inclusive collection that launched on Wednesday.
What we’re thinking about…
Fashion critic Cathy Horan’s deep-dive into Taylor Swift’s style. Are those maroon knee-high socks as calculated as we think they are? (Probably).
Where we’re going…
Point Dume in Malibu where the Giant Coreopsis wildflowers are in bloom at the area’s natural preserve.