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Been struggling with the local air these past few days? You’re not alone. Hopefully the cold storage fire situation in Boyle Heights is resolved soon. In the meantime, we’ll put a few to-dos on your radar per usual, but make sure you’ll on alert re: local air quality (Purple Air is our preferred app).
This June 22-26 in Los Angeles, you’ll find the Moth LA GrandSlam, a David Hockney / Yoko Ono double-feature at Heavy Manners, a World Cup Watch Party at The Hammer, the World Cup Fan Zone at Union Station, Shakespeare By the Sea, Dance DTLA, and more.
Things To Do This Week
M = Less than .5 miles from an L.A. Metro Station, FA = Free Admission, TP = Top Pick
The Moth LA GrandSlam: Game On -> The Moth brings another edition of their live storytelling competition GrandSLAM Championship to the Bing Theater on Monday. Expect 10 past open-mic StorySLAM champions back to the stage with stories around the theme of GAME ON. You’ll hear personal tales about throwing down the gauntlet, facing the music, or reaching a pivotal turning point where everything changed. General admission tickets cost $37, and a limited number will be available at the box office before showtime. Doors open at 7 p.m. More info here.
David Hockney & Yoko Ono Documentary Double Feature -> On Tuesday, Heavy Manners Library hosts a documentary double feature highlighting the lives and creative impacts of iconic visual artists David Hockney and Yoko Ono. The evening’s program features two archival television documentaries: The South Bank Show: David Hockney (1983), which offers an intimate look at the painter’s process and philosophy, followed by The Real Yoko Ono (2001), a retrospective profile exploring her avant-garde career and artistic legacy. General admission tickets are $10, and seating inside the intimate library space is available on a first-come, first-served basis. Program begins at 7 p.m., More info here.
Dataland – M > In case you missed it, DATALAND, the world’s first Museum of AI Arts, officially opened its flagship location at The Grand LA over this past weekend. Founded by Refik Anadol and Efsun Erkılıç, the living museum debuts with its inaugural exhibition, Machine Dreams: Rainforest, an immersive showcase spanning five galleries, utilizing the studio’s open-access Large Nature Model trained on vast ecological archives from institutions like the Smithsonian and the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Visitors experience real-time data and biofeedback transformed into dynamic sensory environments, blending ancestral Yawanawá teachings with generative computation, including an Infinity Room (our favorite room from the preview!) featuring the call of the extinct Kauaʻi ʻŌʻō bird. General admission tickets start at $49, with timed reservations needed for entry. More info here.
World Cup Watch Party at The Hammer – FA > The Hammer Museum continues a series of of World Cup watch parties this Wednesday, as they’ll broadcast three blocks of matches on big screens in an indoor-outdoor setting. The live soccer screenings kick off at noon with simultaneous broadcasts of Bosnia-Herzegovina vs. Qatar and Switzerland vs. Canada, followed by an afternoon lineup featuring Scotland vs. Brazil and Morocco vs. Haiti, and concluding with evening games featuring Czechia vs. Mexico and South Korea vs. South Africa. Between the matches, attendees can explore the museum’s galleries, visit the store, or dine at the on-site restaurant. Outside food and non-alcoholic drinks are permitted, and validated self-parking is available in the underground garage. Admission is free, with first-come, first-served seating. Doors open at 11 a.m. First kickoff is at noon. More info here.
The Zócalo Book Prize: America, Can We Take Down the Walls Between Us? -> This Thursday, Zócalo Public Square hosts their16th Annual Zócalo Book Prize, celebrating this year’s winner, anthropologist Anand Pandian. Inspired by his book, Something Between Us: The Everyday Walls of American Life, and How to Take Them Down, the evening will explore the question: “America, Can We Take Down the Walls Between Us?” The program includes a keynote lecture by Anand Pandian, a conversation moderated by political strategist Mike Madrid, and a live poetry reading by Deborah Ager, winner of this year’s Zócalo Poetry Prize Co-presented with The Jar, the event concludes with an interactive reception designed to help attendees connect across differences, featuring small bites and beverages. Admission is free! Starts at 7 p.m.More info and RVSP here.
El Descanso: Yoga at MOLAA -> On Thursday in June, the Museum of Latin American Art in Long Beach hosts El Descanso: Yoga at MOLAA, a welcoming community yoga series designed for all experience levels. Held outdoors in the museum’s Sculpture Garden, the guided one-hour session invites participants to unwind and recharge through movement, breath, and mindfulness. Attendees must bring their own yoga mats to participate, and capacity is strictly limited to 20 individuals to maintain an intimate environment. Single tickets are $20 per person, with a package promotion offering a fifth class free upon purchasing four sessions. Starts at 7 p.m. More info here.
BET Experience -> Beginning this Thursday, the BET Experience returns with four days of music, culture, and community leading up to the annual BET Awards. The 2026 lineup features Saturday headliner Mariah the Scientist with additional performances by B2K, Coi Leray, DESTIN CONRAD, Fabolous, G Herbo, Jaewon, kwn, and Larry Juneand more spread at venues including The Beehive, the USC Galen Center, and the Hollywood Bowl More info here.
DTLA Dog Days – M FA > DTLA Dog Days pops up at Maguire Gardens at the Los Angeles Central Library. The free event features dog-friendly vendors, activities, photo ops, live music, and community walks scheduled for 5 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. The event runs 4 to 8 p.m. More info here.
World Cup Fan Zone at Union Station – M FA TP > This Thursday to Sunday, get into the excitement of World Cup as Los Angeles Union Station transforms into an official Fan Zone featuring live match viewing on giant screens, athlete meet-and-greets, immersive soccer activations, and a steady lineup of live music and food vendors. Admission is free, with the zone opening at 10:30 a.m. daily during the four-day experience. More info here.
Aesop Queer Library -> Aesop’s annual literary initiative returns to select stores from Friday through Sunday, offering complimentary books from queer authors in partnership with the ACLU Foundation. Now in its sixth year, the Aesop Queer Library has distributed more than 115,000 books globally, with this year’s edition centered on writing that explores the queer body and the power of literature to challenge assumptions and build community. In Los Angeles, Aesop Larchmont transforms into a Main Branch Library, where visitors can pick a complimentary title from a curated collection featuring Audre Lorde, James Baldwin, Torrey Peters, Ocean Vuong, Alejandro Varela, and Kristen Arnett. Aesop Abbot Kinney and Aesop Silver Lake will each host smaller-scale Reading Room experiences throughout the weekend. More info here.
Shakespeare By the Sea – FA > The 28th anniversary season of Shakespeare By the Sea kicks off this Friday and Saturday at The Bandshell at Recreation Park in Long Beach with a production of Shakespeare’s Macbeth. All shows are free to attend, but donations are gladly accepted. Performances run at locations throughout L.A. and Orange County through July 25. More info here.
The Music Center’s Dance DTLA – M FA -> Free evening dance parties return to The Music Center’s Jerry Moss Plaza every Friday from June 26 through August 8. At Dance DTLA, instructors will be on hand to teach guests easy-to-follow steps, allowing everyone to get into the groove right from the jump. Kicking things off this week, catch a Global Mix Night that will include a screening of the World Cup match between Spain and Uruguay. The event is always free to attend, and always all-ages. Start at 7 p.m. More info here.
Dining & Drinking
(picks by Christina Champlin)
Vesti Returns to Maydan Market (June 23 – January 2027) -> Vesti is back at Maydan Market’s pop-up counter Club 104, and it’s worth the trip. Chefs and Food Network alums Adam Gertler and Shane Lyons bring playful twists to Italian-American comfort food, serving house-made focaccia sandwiches, fired-to-order pizzas, and small plates packed with flavor. Signature sandwiches, pizzas, and an Australian Wagyu Tomahawk are available à la carte at The Bistro. But the real experience is the $70 Eating Menu at the ten-seat chef counter, where plates keep landing for 1.5 hours, including off-menu surprises. The lineup moves through a satisfying range. A roe-topped beet salad opens things up fresh and bright, followed by triple-fried potatoes dressed with mustard, horseradish, and Point Reyes blue cheese. Savory standouts include Chicken Liver Mousse with torched whipped honey and pillowy focaccia, thick-sliced grilled mortadella sandwiched in Vesti’s signature bread, and a Sicilian-style pizza topped with Zoe’s Meats char pepperoni. The Australian Wagyu steak paired with salmon brings richness without heaviness, and a massive bowl of warm bread pudding closes the meal on a gooey, impossible-to-resist note. At $70 per person, with guests free to keep ordering throughout their seating, it’s a serious value. Reservations are required for the Eating Menu, with seatings at 4, 6, and 8 p.m. daily except Monday.
Holy Basil Atwater launches Lunch Sets -> Fresh off an R&D trip through Bangkok, Chef Wedchayan “Deau” Arpapornnopparat is rolling out a new lineup of summer dishes at Holy Basil Atwater Village built on snacks, grilled specialties, and curries. Try the Nam Pla Thai Aguachile with Hope Ranch mussels. Or the Grilled Snake River Farms Picanha with jaew bong sauce. The Kaeng Lheung, a Southern Thai-style light broth curry with barramundi and green papaya, is something you just don’t get in Los Angeles. Lunch just got an upgrade too. Holy Basil debuts Kao Kaeng, a $28 lunch set inspired by Thailand’s beloved curry shops. The format is simple: one wok-fried dish like the Gra Pow, one curry like the tiger prawn Kaeng Kari, and one fried dish with options like barramundi and chicken, your customized picks. Everything comes with organic jasmine rice and traditional accompaniments.
World Cup Watch Party at OTOTO (June 25) -> Japan takes on Sweden this Thursday at 4 p.m., and there’s no better place to cheer them on than at one of the city’s top sake-focused izakayas. OTOTO is marking the occasion with $10 sake by the glass and a Spicy Shrimp Roll made with poached rock shrimp, spicy mayo, and a buttery brioche bun, alongside regular menu hits like Ode to Mos Burger, seasonal sashimi, and Yakisoba. Walk-ins only, so plan accordingly.
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