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June has arrived. To-dos abound. Let’s talk about a few this week.
From June 1-5 in Los Angeles, you’ll find an Agnes 5-Year Anniversary party, Pride Month karaoke at Akbar, Poolside Movie Nights at Desert 5 Spot, the The Sea Around Us at The Hammer, Summer of Salsa at LA Plaza, LOVE FOR ALL at Common Space, First Fridays at Norton Simon Museum, and more.
Things To Do This Week
M = Less than .5 miles from an L.A. Metro Station, FA = Free Admission, TP = Top Pick
Agnes 5-Year Anniversary Kickoff Party -> Pasadena’s Agnes rings in its fifth birthday with a full month of collaborative chef dinners. The series kicks off Monday June 1 with a ticketed cocktail party featuring chef Teresa Montaño of Otoño alongside Lydia Clarke and Reed Herrick of the now-closed DTLA Cheese Superette and Kippered, with passed appetizers and stations serving paella, tapas, tinned fish, artisanal cheese, tray-passed bites and more. The rest of June brings an LA Farm Dinner with Andrew Holladay of Lula Cafe and Duyen Ha of BONDLE Wines, a Thai Night with Cathy and Vanda Asapahu of Ayara Thai, a whole pig roast with Ray Garcia of Broken Spanish Comedor, and an Anniversary Finale with Neal Fraser of Redbird. More info here.
Learn The Words Bitch -> Kick off Pride Month at Silver Lake’s iconic Akbar with a Monday night of lip syncing, laughs, and hilarious guest judges. Sign-ups open at 8:30 p.m. and the show starts at 9. More info here.
The Sea Around Us -> Confront a hidden environmental legacy at the Hammer Museum this Wednesday during an immersive screening of The Sea Around Us. Created by artist and UCLA professor Rebeca Méndez, this cinematic experience reveals the history of over 500,000 barrels of toxic chemicals—including DDT, acid sludge, and radioactive waste—dumped off the coast of Santa Catalina Island between 1947 and 1972. The film weaves underwater footage with the traditional cosmologies and songs of the Tongva and Acjachemen peoples, framing a call to action for ecological accountability. The screening concludes with a panel discussion featuring Méndez, UCLA English Professor Elizabeth DeLoughrey, and investigative journalist Rosanna Xia. Program begins at 7:30 p.m. Free to attend. More info here.
Route 66 Centennial Caravan – FA > The Route 66 Centennial Caravan kicks off its cross-country journey this Thursday with a free community celebration in Santa Monica. For the first stop, Texas comes to the SoCal shoreline as The Big Texan rolls in with its legendary 72 oz steak challenge in tow. The evening brings Route 66 nostalgia, live entertainment, dancing, local business activations, a kids activity zone, a beer garden, and classic cars from the Petersen Museum. More info here.
Summer Sunsets at Benny Boy -> One Thursday per month this summer, Benny Boy Brewing puts the throwback vibes on overdrive with a sets international Los Angeles-based collective Blaec Elite DJs, spinning a soulful backyard blend of Deep House, Amapiano, Afrobeats, Hip Hop, and R&B. There will be an onsite food truck as well! Runs 6 to 10 p.m. Free to attend. 21+ only. More info here.
Summer of Salsa – M FA > LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes’ Summer of Salsa hosts another edition of their monthly dance this Friday. Roosevelt Cordova, aka El Presidente de la Salsa will headline the music with Super DJ Robby spinning tunes in between sets. Free salsa dance classes precede the show from 6 to 7 p.m. by Dancing 101 with Roberto. Free to attend as always. More info here.
LOVE FOR ALL at Common Space – FA > Common Space Brewery’s Hawthorne location celebrates the release of their Pride Hazy IPA this Friday with a drag and comedy show hosted by Queen Vidja D. Gaymez. Free to attend. The event starts at 8 p.m., with proceeds benefiting PFLAG Manhattan Beach’s mission to build a culture of inclusiveness and equality for the LGBTQ+ community and allies across the South Bay. More info here.
OUTLOUD Music Festival -> This Friday to Sunday, the OUTLOUD Music Festival takes over West Hollywood Park for three days of powerhouse performances featuring The Pussycat Dolls, Ava Max, Jade, Blue Man Group, Ashlee Simpson, and more. Friday night is free with registration courtesy of the City of West Hollywood. Saturday and Sunday single-day passes start at $137.22. More info here.
Unique Eats and Eateries of L.A. Book Discussion -> Danny Jensen’s latest book, Unique Eats and Eateries of Los Angeles, takes readers on a guided tour through the city’s most unexpected and iconic restaurants, diving into the people and stories behind the food. Catch him in conversation with James Beard Award-nominated writer Jean Trinh this Friday at Skylight Books in Los Feliz from 7 to 8:30 p.m. More info here.
Los Angeles Festival of Tarot -> The Philosophical Research Society hosts a weekend of tarot programming on its campus as part of the Los Angeles Festival of Tarot. Friday evening opens with a ritual, an Ecosystems Panel, and a themed afterparty. Saturday brings a full day of talks and workshops, with the free Esoteric Marketplace by Witchy Ways Market open to the public, no ticket needed. All other events are ticketed. More info here.
First Fridays at Norton Simon Museum – FA > The Norton Simon Museum in Pasadena opens its galleries and garden for free every first Friday of the month from 4 to 7 p.m. No reservations or advance tickets needed.
ALO Summer Series -> ALO is filling the next 90 days with community-driven programming across Southern California. The summer series spans outdoor events, Run & Recover programming, studio partnerships, and mall activations, with a mix of RSVP-required and walk-in events open to the public.
Dining & Drinking
(picks by Christina Champlin)
Whole Tuna Breakdown at Uchi West Hollywood (June 2) -> Every first Tuesday of the month, Uchi West Hollywood hosts a live whole bluefin tuna breakdown on the patio. Guests seated by 6:30 p.m. get an up-close look at the craftsmanship and precision behind every cut, followed by an evening of specialty bluefin dishes, seasonal Spritz cocktails, and all-night happy hour alongside the full à la carte menu. Reservations are encouraged. More info here.
Toki Highball Week (June 1-7) -> Toki Highball Week returns to Los Angeles, bringing the energy of Tokyo’s bar scene to some of the city’s best drinking establishments. From June 1 through 7, No Smoking, Accomplice, Lowboy, Death & Co, and Goldline will be amoung the few serving the Toki Highball in its purest form: Toki Whisky, soda water, and a twist of citrus peel. Select venues will feature the Toki Highball Machine, delivering what fans describe as “whisky champagne” with exceptional precision in every pour. More info here.
Our Week With Marilyn at The Formosa Cafe (June 1–7) -> The Formosa Cafe dedicates an entire week to its most legendary regular in honor of Marilyn Monroe’s 100th birthday. The iconic West Hollywood haunt celebrates all week with Piper-Heidsieck Champagne cocktails, Marilyn’s drink of choice, paired with house-made potato chips and dip, a nod to The Seven Year Itch. Nightly programming includes a live tribute performance (June 1), rooftop film screening and trivia (June 2), Old Hollywood close-up magic (June 3), a free screening of The Seven Year Itch (June 5), and a costume contest finale with $300 in prizes (June 7). Costumes and lookalikes encouraged all week. More info here.
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