Cocktails with a Curator at the Hammer Museum

Most museum visits happen in daylight, with a crowd and a wall label. Cocktails with a Curator is the opposite: the galleries after hours, a curator walking you through the work, and a drink in your hand afterward. The Hammer Museum hosts this one on Tuesday, November 10, 2026, starting at 6:00 PM, and it is worth knowing about if you keep a list of upcoming events in Los Angeles that go a little deeper than a gallery stroll.

What happens

Two curatorial assistants lead the walk-throughs. Jennifer Buonocore-Nedrelow takes the exhibition Huguette Caland: A Life in a Few Lines, and Jessi DiTillio guides visitors through Mavis Pusey: Mobile Images. Expect the kind of talk you rarely get on a regular visit: why a work was chosen, how a show was put together, what the artist was chasing. Small groups after hours also mean you can actually look at the art without a shoulder in the way.

When the tours wrap, the evening moves to the Annenberg terrace for drinks and appetizers. It is a relaxed setting for talking over what you just saw, and a decent excuse to linger in Westwood on a weeknight.

Who can come

This is not an open-door event. The Hammer says it is exclusive to members at the Immerse level ($250) and higher. RSVP is required and capacity is limited. The museum asked for replies by Friday, November 2, so call 310-443-7050 or write to membership@hammer.ucla.edu to ask whether any space remains. If you would like to upgrade your membership to join, that same contact can help.

If you are not a member, the museum itself is free to enter, and a regular visit is an easy way to see both exhibitions on your own schedule.

Practical info

• Before the tours, stop by LULU or the Hammer Store for 10% off your purchases.
• The museum sits at 10899 Wilshire Blvd. in Westwood, next to UCLA.
• Gallery hours are Tuesday to Sunday, 11 AM to 6 PM, and Mondays it is closed, so this evening program runs past regular hours.

For anyone sorting through things happening in Los Angeles this month, this is one of the more intimate arts evenings on the calendar. The official page has the latest on availability and RSVP details.

When: Tuesday, November 10, 2026, 6:00 PM Where: Hammer Museum, 10899 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90024 Who: Hammer members at the Immerse level ($250) and higher RSVP: 310-443-7050 or membership@hammer.ucla.edu

More arts events are on the arts and culture page.