NEW EVENT (3/22/26)
The Art of Noble Gases: Neon, Argon, Krypton, and Xenon, oh my!
Join us Sunday, March 22nd for a Curio Club LA exclusive tour of local, San Fernando Valley, Neon artist Michael Flechtner's studio. Michael has been working as a neon artist for nearly 4 decades. His art has been featured in several museums and gallery shows around the country, as well as internationally. He is on the board at the Museum Of Neon Art in Glendale and has been commissioned to create and fix several neon pieces. During this event, Michael will give us a full tour of his private studio where he creates all his Neon works of art. He will then give us a live demo, in which he will create a fully functional piece of neon before our very eyes. Attendees will have the opportunity to bend their own piece of neon glass tubing, which they will get to take home as a souvenir.
A sneak peek at our events
PAST EVENT (11/22/25)
History, Ruins, and Stories... OH MY!
An Exclusive Talk and Walk with LA Explorer Michael Fritzen
Deep in the heart of Griffith Park lies the haunting, crumbling beauty of the old Griffith Park Zoo—a location filled with more hidden history than any tour map can reveal. Join Curio Club LA, on Saturday, November 22nd, as we go back in time to learn about the history of the old zoo. We are thrilled to host Michael Fritzen, a dedicated historian and passionate LA explorer who knows the secrets of these abandoned grottoes better than anyone. Michael will lead us through the ruins, as he shares stories, pictures, and lore about the old zoo.
PAST EVENT (10/5/25)
The Stories & Secrets of Rubel Castle: Join us for deep dive into the castle. With an introduction by Todd Lerew.
Join us on Sunday, October 5th for a special, unique tour of Rubel castle, including access to a small bar and the print shop, neither of which are included in the regular tours. Attendees will also have the opportunity to run their very own souvenir print on a Vandercook cylinder press!
The tour will begin with a brief introduction and overview of Rubel Castle by Todd Lerew, author of Also On View: Unique and Unexpected Museums of Greater Los Angeles, which explores lesser known institutions and collections around LA. Afterwards, we will be led on a full tour of the castle, by one of the last living and arguably the best storytelling relatives, Scott Rubel.
What people are saying about us...
Curio Club has filled a large void in Los Angeles for tours of the weird and wonderful. Visiting the occult places in LA is one of my favorite past times, and Curio Club has found places I hadn’t even dreamed of but now go out of my way to tell anyone who will listen about them. I’m so thankful this group not only exists, but encourages us to go outside of our comfort zones and experience something new. Ben is a fantastic tour guide, he’s informative and entertaining but leaves time for participants to experience these wonderful worlds for themselves. 10/10 would recommend! - Alyssa K
Curio Club feels like an insider's guide to the strange, unique, and wonderful hidden gems of Los Angeles. Each event is an incredible opportunity for adventure and learning that will make you fall in love with Los Angeles all over again. - Michael M
The folks at Curio Club LA put on fascinating and fun events, but more than that, they can help you find a more personal and special relationship with the city we live in. Their knowledge of hidden curiosities adds color and detail at the edges of the overall LA picture, and makes it feel deeper, richer, and more alive. If you’re craving the spark of stumbling on something you never knew existed (but instantly love), hop on the Curio Club mailing list. Attending their events makes me feel lucky to live in this city - I highly recommend!
- Isaac L
Curio Club has the inside scoop on all things strange and wonderful in SoCal. At every outing, you’re likely to learn about not just something new, but something you never even knew existed. - Randy D
