Each month we share five unmissable things to see and do in the Golden State. You heard it here first.
Words by DAVID NASH and ELIZABETH VARNELL
WONDER VALLEY
A Desert Oasis With an Element of Surprise
Situated on a 200-acre property where the Mojave National Preserve and Joshua Tree National Park intersect in Wonder Valley, California, FOLLY MOJAVE is the second off-the-grid sustainable desert vacation property from owner-operator Hillary Flur. Set against a sun-dappled backdrop of sandy beige, terra-cotta, golden brown, and brilliant blue, a series of four stand-alone suites — architecturally simple, yet immensely inviting — are poised like something erected from the imagination of James Turrell or the cinematic vision of Quentin Tarantino. Of the four Element Suites, Water — a 1,000-square-foot, well-appointed minimalist dwelling with a sprawling king-size bedroom, separate living area, indoor-outdoor bathroom with a soaking tub and rain shower, private heated pool, firepit, and retractable roof sky terrace — is currently the only one taking reservations, with Wind, Fire, and Stone accepting bookings for the near future. Enjoy an array of activities from stargazing with your own astronomer to a private sound bath, along with campfire dining curated by local culinary talents, bespoke picnic arrangements, and the convenience of a fully stocked refrigerator and bar in your suite. Also on-site, a self-serve wellness pavilion, Mojave Mara, is an indulgent spot for transformative treatments from an expert team of therapists. From $1,100 per night. follycollection.com. D.N.
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L.A.
A Retrospective Redux for Photographer Diane Arbus
Although not well known by the general public when she took her own life in New York City in July 1971, 48-year-old Diane Arbus was admired by fellow photographers and artists for the intensity of her photographs — from children and the elderly in their natural surroundings to cross-dressers and the nouveau riche — that ultimately helped to elevate photography to fine-art status. In November 1972, just over a year after her death, the Museum of Modern Art in New York opened a retrospective exhibition curated by John Szarkowski that paved the way for institutions, collectors, and the public to recognize and embrace the medium’s power. In commemoration of the artist’s monumental and posthumous retrospective, DAVID ZWIRNER and FRAENKEL GALLERY have joined forces to present Cataclysm: The 1972 Diane Arbus Retrospective Revisited. The show recreates the groundbreaking exhibition’s catalog of 113 images and serves as the first major survey of Arbus’s work in L.A. in two decades. Seminal images like Tattooed man at a carnival, MD. 1970, Triplets in their bedroom, N.J. 1963 and A very young baby, N.Y.C. [Anderson Hays Cooper] 1968 underscore the ferocity of her talent and poignancy of her work more than 50 years later. Apr. 24–June 21. 606 N. Western Ave., L.A.; davidzwirner.com. D.N.
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LAGUNA HILLS
This O.C. Hot Spot Returns With South Asian Cuisine
Come halal or high water, one of South Orange County’s most popular dining spots, MINT, was bound to reopen with a bang. After a fire extinguished its earlier renovation work in 2022, the perception-shifting halal restaurant is once again welcoming its loyal following while redefining Western ideas of Desi cuisine. The sister concept to four-time Michelin-recognized Khan Saab Desi Craft Kitchen in Fullerton and Hawaiian Gardens’ Shor Bazaar offers an impressive menu crafted by head chef Jamil Hosseini and award-winning consulting chef Ali Mookhi that showcases the culinary traditions of India and Pakistan’s diverse regions and subcultures. Dishes like steaming goat karahi, a Pakistani staple served tableside in a wok, and a unique veg biryani, made with Thai chiles and charred market-fresh vegetables, are prepared with refined presentations and techniques. Its fully reimagined interior — with intricate wood accents, rustic exposed brick walls, contemporary metallic fixtures, rich velour seating, and brilliant jewel tones — feels like a Bollywood film. Sticking with halal tradition, the alcohol-free bar program — crafted by the group’s master mixologist, Ahmad Hosseini — features a creative array of tasty mocktails, like the Falsa-tini, made with Grewia asiatica pulp and black salt. 25381 Alicia Pwy., Laguna Hills, 949-297-8480; mintdesikitchen.com. D.N.
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SILVER LAKE
Make Tracks to This Runner’s Paradise
Billed as “a home base built for runners, by runners,” Bandit Running has expanded its footprint with BANDIT LA, the brand’s first brick-and-mortar location in Silver Lake. The new outpost was born out of the existing partnership with Renegade Running (which is located next door) to serve as a model for how specialty retail shops can connect with local communities. The one-stop destination for runners offers a place to come together, recharge, and get moving through a planned series of annual events, brand activations, and unique experiences. When brothers and running enthusiasts Nick and Tim West cofounded the performance apparel line in 2022, Renegade was their first retail partner, making this a natural evolution in the relationship. With its polished concrete floors, light wood paneling with LED accents, a custom marble and glass cash desk, editorial LED wall screens, and a back patio designed for postrun gatherings, the contemporary space will feature an exclusive six-piece capsule collection including hoodies, tees, hats, and other accessories, as well as the new spring collection and Steady State pieces. 3118 W. Sunset Blvd., L.A.; banditrunning.com. D.N.
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SAN FRANCISCO
Ruth Asawa’s Hand-Looped Wonders Come Home
Ordinary industrial materials are transformed in the hands of California-born sculptor, painter, and printmaker RUTH ASAWA, whose sinuous work covers 14,000 square feet of SFMOMA’s fourth floor in a stunning new show. Ruth Asawa: Retrospective showcases the airy, hovering wire sculptures she handcrafted using a basket-looping technique she learned on a 1947 trip to Toluca, Mexico, and more than 300 other works. The exhibition, created in partnership with MoMA, highlights the spectrum of her six-decade practice, including incarceration with her Japanese parents during World War II. Her midcentury arrival in San Francisco is also highlighted, as is the role of her Noe Valley studio and home and the inspiration she found in her garden for late plant and flower drawings. Apr. 5–Sept. 2. 151 3rd St., S.F., 415-357-4000; sfmoma.org. E.V.
April 2025
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