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Mushrooms and music. Culture and comedy. Dancing and dog days. Lots to choose from in the week ahead!
From June 10-14 in Los Angeles, you’ll find the latest installment of Exploring the Mycoverse at Arlington Garden, a free second Tuesday at LACMA, the Hollywood Fringe Festival, a Culture Fest in San Gabriel, Ivy Station Night Market Summer Kickoff, Movie Night in Downtown Santa Monica, Summer of Salsa at LA Plaza, and much more. Dive into our full list below.
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Things To Do This Week
M = Less than .5 miles from an L.A. Metro Station, FA = Free Admission, TP = Top Pick
Study Country Queer Line Dancing -> Dust off your cowboy boots and two-step your way into June with Stud Country’s queer line-dancing party at Club Bahia in Echo Park. Every Monday and Thursday, Club Bahia transforms into a lively country music haven where you can let loose and enjoy the community spirit. Tickets cost $20 at the door and there will be lessons at 8:30 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. More info here.
Exploring the Mycoverse: Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind – FA > Do you see yourself as a dedicated truffle hound? Or would you say you’re more fungi-curious? If either of those labels fit, consider stopping by Arlington Garden in Pasadena on Monday for the latest edition of Exploring the Mycoverse. This month’s event focuses on Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind, a Japanese Manga which tells the story of a princess on a post-apocalyptic Earth that is covered by a toxic forest of fungal life and plants. There will be a screening of a film adaption followed by a group discussion. The meet-up is being organized by Exploring the Mycoverse, a fungi-focused community education group founded by the mycologist Aaron Tupac. Event starts at 7 p.m. Free to attend. More info here.
Sketch Party LA – FA > Sketch Party’s twice-monthly drawing/drinking meet-up is back at Benny Boy Brewing this Tuesday. They’ll hook you up with sketch paper, pens, pencils, and markers, then it’s up to you to create, mingle, hang out, and enjoy BB’s solid lineup of craft beers and ciders. River St. BBQ will be on hand with food for purchase. All artistic levels welcome. Free to attend. Runs 7 to 11 p.m. 21+ only. More info here.
Free Second Tuesdays – FA > The Los Angeles County Museum of Art offer free admission every second Tuesday of the month. Plus, remember that the nearby La Brea Tar Pits Museum offers free admission to LA County Residents on weekdays from 3 to 5 p.m. Make a day of it!
Big Sunday’s First Annual Pride Night 2024 -> On Wednesday, the non-profit will be filling summer beach bags for LGBTQ+ young people. Volunteers are needed to help pack the bags and or purchase items from the registry ($0.50- $25). As a thank you, Big Sunday will also serve a community dinner with a side of karaoke. All ages are welcome to join. Runs 6 to 8 p.m. More info here.
Comedy Patio at GCM – M FA > Free standup comedy comes to Grand Central Market this Wednesday in the form of The Comedy Patio, a showcase taking place at Maple Block. Jeff Buck hosts a lineup featuring Amy Silverberg, Kyle Ayers, Hay Beacon, Terrence Murphy, Maddy Schmidt, and John Liu. Free to attend, but donations happily accepted. Show starts at 7 p.m. More info here.
Hollywood Fringe Festival -> Starting this Thursday, dozens of venues, including Zephyr Theatre, The Broadwater, and Three Clubs, host a huge slate of comedy, ensemble theatre, dance and immersive performances during the two and a half week run of the annual Hollywood Fringe Festival. The official festival will run from June 13-30, followed by an Awards Ceremony on July 1. More info here.
Pride Celebration at the Original Farmers Market – FA > Farmers Market celebrates Pride Month this Thursday with a performance by tribute band Queen Legion, plus a dog adoption with Wags & Walks, and merchant pop-ups including Kaylin + Kaylin Pickles and Balam The Jaguar Coffee Roasters. Events start at 5 p.m., music goes on at 6:30 p.m. Free to attend. More info here.
Self Help Me w/ Jenny Yang – M > The self-care comedy show, returns this Thursday to Dynasty Typewriter. This month’s topic is White Women with guests Kim Chi, Naomi Smalls, and Caitlin Reilly alongside guest expert Maryam Ajayi. Stand-up comedian this month is Laurie Kilmartin. Tickets coast $20. More info here.
Culture Fest at the Mission District – FA > Culture Fest lights up the Mission District this Thursday night celebrating global culture through performances, food, live music, arts and crafts, community booths, and family-friendly activities. Enjoy performances on the main stage in front of the Mission Playhouse and indoors at Blossom Market Hall. The “Lounge of Fun” on the Patisserie To patio offers international board games and arts and crafts. Savor diverse food options from Blossom Market Hall restaurants and food trucks. In partnership with The Music Center’s Arts Grown L.A., performances include Sakai Flamenco, Melody of China, the Korean Classical Music and Dance Company, and Alfredo Rolando Ortiz’s World Adventures with My Harp. Runs 5:30 to 9 p.m. More info here.
14th Annual Zócalo Book Prize Event: What is a “Latino”? – M FA > This Thursday, Zócalo Public Square honors Pulitzer Prize-winning author Hector Tobar for his book, Our Migrant Souls. Tobar visits Zócalo to discuss the the book took him on—across the country, to Guatemala, and back again—and the epic American journeys that define the “Latino” experience. A pre-talk reading takes place at 6 p.m. at The Hoxton, then the main discussion will be held at the ASU California Center starting at 7 p.m. More info here.
Taste of Downtown: Pine & Promenade -> Taste of Downtown returns to Long Beach on Thursday with live music, DJs, bite-size food samples, beer, wine, and cocktails from Downtown’s vibrant community of chefs, brewers, and mixologists. Hosted by the Downtown Long Beach Alliance, this series lets guests sample signature dishes from local spots. Admission is free, with tasting tickets at $1 each. More info here.
Summer of Salsa – M FA > The LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes Summer of Salsa series continues one Friday each month through the end of summer, highlighting some of the city’s best salsa and Cuban bands in the process. This week, catch a performance by Gabrielito y La Verdad. Doors open at 6 p.m., and music starts at 7 p.m. Always free to attend. More info here.
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Ivy Station Night Market Summer Kickoff – M FA > Ivy Station’s monthly night market kicks off summer this Friday with 30+ local vendors plus food trucks, craft beer, games, and music. Free to attend as always. Runs 5 to 10 p.m. More info here.
Friday Night Wine Tastings at Barnsdall Park – M > After a five-year hiatus, Friday night wine tasting events are back at the Barnsdall Art Park West Lawn. A $45 ticket gets you a flight of wine curated by Silverlake Wine, plus access to a rotation of food trucks, all supported by tunes from local DJs and sweet sunset views of the Hollywood Sign and Griffith Park Observatory. The series continues every Friday through August 30. More info here.
Movie Fridays at Downtown Santa Monica – FA > Downtown Santa Monica’s free outdoor film series, Movie Fridays, is back on the Promenade every second Friday of the month from April through June. Closing out the series this month is a screening of RENT. Events start at 6:30 p.m. with movies beginning at 7:30 p.m. Each event features photo opportunities, complimentary popcorn, and a DJ spinning music before each film. All ages welcome. More info here.
Jazz at LACMA – FA > The Los Angeles County Museum of Art’s annual Friday Night Jazz series is back for a season of free weekly concerts at Smidt Welcome Plaza through November. This week: a performance by Larry Nash & the Jazz Symphonics. Remember that LACMA is free to visit for L.A. County Residents (with I.D.) on weekdays after 3 p.m. Seating is first come, first serve. Music begins at 6 p.m. More info here.
Family Pride Fest at The Crow – M > This Friday and Saturday, The Crow in Santa Monica hosts their inaugural Family Pride Fest. The two-day affairs will be highlighted by a pair of LGBTQ+ storytelling performances on Friday Night, then a free morning of drag storytelling, face painting and dance performances at the Santa Monica on Saturday. Get details on all the events here.
DTLA Dog Days – M FA > DTLA Dog Days return to Pershing Square on Friday and Saturday this week. The free event features dog-friendly vendors, activities, photo ops, and live DJs. Highlights include Bring Your Dog to Work Day, free community dog walks, Puppy Yoga, and a marketplace with local dog vendors. Registration is required for some activities. More info here.
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Dining & Drinking
(picks by Christina Champlin)
Big Gay Potluck -> Mark your calendars for June 12, when All Day Baby will host the Big Gay Potluck, a fabulous four-course dinner crafted by an impressive lineup of chefs: Catie Randazzo of All Day Baby, Amanda Rios of Playa Baby, and Miles Shorey of Pijja Palace. This culinary event spotlights products from queer-owned businesses like Diaspora Co., Rancho Gordo Beans and 18.21 Bitters. Tickets are priced at $125 per person, and reservations can be made here. What’s more, a portion of the proceeds will support Leola Davis of Pansy Esthetics, a studio dedicated to providing care to queer and trans people of color within the LGBTQ communities. More info here.
Camphor Steak Frites Night -> On the second Wednesday of every month, the Michelin-starred French bistro Camphor transforms into a haven for steak lovers with its exclusive Steak Frites Night. Ditching its regular menu, Camphor will serve the classic Persian favorite: an 8oz steak paired with golden frites and a crisp salad, all for a cool $65. It’s a midweek indulgence you won’t want to miss, and securing your spot is as easy as hopping onto Resy.
Looking ahead
The Festival of Forgotten Grapes -> Sure, Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay are household names, but have you explored Semillon, Cinsault, Teroldego, Nebbiolo, and Marsanne? Enter The Festival of Forgotten Grapes, a vibrant celebration dedicated to the “underdog” varietals that make California wine so uniquely diverse. Happening on June 29 at FRANKIE Los Angeles, expect over 110 lesser-known varietals and the passionate winemakers who champion them. Taste a myriad of these rare and uncommon wines, order bottles on the spot and have your selections delivered straight to your door at an exceptionally low one-time delivery fee. VIP tickets cost $79 and General Admission $59. More info here.
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