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How’s your week looking? Well, it’s about to get a bit better (or at least busy!).
This June 15-19 in Los Angeles, catch an Astronomy on Tap anniversary celebration, Cinema Under Pressure at the Wende, City of Dance, Beers & Braids, Bloomsday 2026, a LACMA World Cup Watch Party, Juneteenth at the Hollywood Bowl, and more.
Things To Do This Week
M = Less than .5 miles from an L.A. Metro Station, FA = Free Admission, TP = Top Pick
Astronomy on Tap Los Angeles 10th Anniversary Week: Star Formation & Dark Skies -> Astronomy on Tap is back at Dog Haus this Monday to mark the series’ 150th event and 10th anniversary. The gathering kicks off Pasadena’s City of Astronomy week and features visiting scientists from the American Astronomical Society’s semi-annual meeting. Professor Cara Battersby discusses galactic star formation and gas flows, while dark sky specialist Stephen Hummel shares insights on preserving darkness in an age of light. Attendees can participate in themed pub trivia with prizes, grab NASA swag, ask professional astronomers questions, and look through on-site telescopes for guided stargazing. Free to attend. No reservations required, but seating will fill up quickly. Runs 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. More info here.
Cinema Under Pressure – FA > The Wende Museum’s ongoing Cinema Under Pressure film/conversation series continues on Monday with a screening of The Battle of Algiers, Gillo Pontecorvo’s 1966 masterpiece detailing the urban guerrilla campaign against French colonial forces during the Algerian War of Independence. Banned in France for five years upon its release, the unflinching portrait of resistance and state repression is followed by a discussion with UC Irvine Professor Sohail Daulatzai, author of Fifty Years of the Battle of Algiers: Past as Prologue. The evening begins with a complimentary reception on the patio before the film and lecture. Admission is free, with seating available on a first-come, first-served basis at the A-Frame Theater. Doors open at 6 p.m. More info here.
Bloomsday 2026 – FA > This Tuesday, The Hammer hosts their annual celebration of author James Joyce and his novel Ulysses with Bloomsday, a theatrical blend of staged readings and performances all centered around the author’s most iconic work. Program begins at 7:30 p.m. Free to attend. More info here.
Hollywood Fringe Festival -> The Hollywood Fringe Festival continues through June 28 with over 2,000+ performances on the schedule, including comedy shows, ensemble plays, dance performances, and immersive experiences taking over venues like Zephyr Theatre, The Broadwater, and Three Clubs. See the complete schedule of performances, grab tickets, and get more info here.
L.A. Dance Project: City of Dance – FA > All throughout June, the L.A. Dance Project and the Paris Dance Project are co-presenting the U.S. premiere of Benjamin Millepied’s public dance initiative, La Ville Dansée / City of Dance. Public performances are popping up at multiple locations throughout SoCal, including this Wednesday at Hollywood Forever Cemetery, Thursday the Music Center, Saturday at Barnsdall Art Park, and Sunday at LACMA. Times vary, but admission is free at all locations (though the Hollywood Forever performance requires an advanced online RSVP). Get more info here.
Beers & Braids FA TP -> Babyletto, Freestyle, and the dads of LA Stroll Club are turning the Babyletto West Hollywood store into a hangout built entirely for dads this Thursday. Grab a cold one from the beer cart, dig into hot pizza, and catch the World Cup while playing a round of cornhole. Then level up your skills with Braids & Ponytails 101, taught by a real preschool teacher, and check out The Freestyle Absorbency Test, where diapers get put through their paces. Every dad goes home with a gift bag, new tricks, and bragging rights. RSVP here.
LACMA World Cup Watch Party TP ->The Los Angeles County Museum of Art hosts a World Cup watch party for the Mexico vs. South Korea match this Thursday at Smidt Welcome Plaza, showcasing the live broadcast while encouraging guests to check out the exhibition Fútbol Is Life: Animated Sportraits by Lyndon J. Barrois, Sr. The free screening is part of LACMA’s Third Weekends and Grand Opening Weekend for the new David Geffen Galleries, which features the LACMA Block Party, The Art Parade, and the Summer Solstice Dance. Remember that L.A. County residents get free admission weekdays after 3 p.m. with a valid ID. Viewing runs 6 to 8 p.m. More info here.
Poolside Movie Nights at Desert 5 Spot -> Every Thursday in June, Hollywood honky-tonk Desert 5 Spot teams up with CINEHAUS for a summer series of cult classic films screened poolside. This week, catch a screening of Grease. Sip cocktails and snack on tacos, popcorn, and candy from the bar, then stick around for live music in the lounge after the credits roll. Tickets are $20.75. Event kicks off at 7 p.m. More info here.
World Cup Viewing Parties at The Getty – FA > Throughout the 2026 World Cup, the Getty Center is hosting soccer watch parties with matches streamed on big screens at the Trellis Bar & Lounge and the Garden Terrace Café. Soccer fans can support their teams while enjoying special themed food and drink menu items alongside panoramic city views. Watch parties continue this Tuesday to Sunday, including for the USA’s next match against Australia this Friday at noon. Remember that admission is free with a reservation, but parking is paid. More info here.
Juneteenth at the Hollywood Bowl -> This Friday, the Hollywood Bowl hosts a powerful Juneteenth Celebration honoring Black music, freedom, and artistic brilliance. Grammy-winning independent artist Chance the Rapper headlines the evening, performing hits from his landmark mixtape Coloring Book alongside introspective tracks from his recent album Star Line. Fellow Chicago artist Vic Mensa joins the lineup, which kicks off with an energetic opening set by Club Quarantine creator DJ D-Nice and a performance by the DC6 Singers Collective gospel choir. The family-friendly event offers 50% off tickets for children aged 12 and under, and general admission tickets start at $35. Gates open at 5:30 p.m. More info here.
Juneteenth Freedom Ride – FA > Head to Leimert Park this Friday morning for the 3rd Annual Juneteenth Freedom Ride, inviting cyclists from across Southern California to celebrate liberation and safe city cycling. The group ride departs from Leimert Park Plaza and offers participants a choice of 9, 14, or 19-mile routes looping through central Los Angeles, highlighting historical African American cultural sites along the way. Cyclists on road bikes, cruisers, hybrids, and e-bikes are all welcome to join the rolling procession. The journey concludes back at the active Leimert Park Juneteenth festival, where riders can enjoy live music, local vendors, and food trucks. Participation in the community ride is free, though riders must register online to roll. Ride starts at 8 p.m. More info here.
Santa Monica Juneteenth – FA > Beginning this Friday, Santa Monica launches its annual Juneteenth festivities with an inaugural Juneteenth Gathering at Christine Emerson Reed Park and the Miles Memorial Playhouse, focusing on community wellness through music, film, and healing arts. The debut evening features a sound immersion experience, a hands-on art workshop, and live music alongside DJ sets by Linafornia and Black Girls Love Vinyl. Inside the playhouse, guests can watch a special screening of Kahlil Joseph’s cinematic project BLKNWS: Terms & Conditions, which presents a hypnotic tapestry of the Black experience across the diaspora. Then on Saturday, the festivities continue with the city’s traditional 34th Annual Juneteenth Celebration and concert taking place at Virginia Avenue Park. Admission is free for both events. Get more info on the complete lineup here.
Dining & Drinking
(picks by Christina Champlin)
A New Season at Terra -> Terra, the rooftop restaurant perched above Eataly Los Angeles, just got a refresh, and it’s arriving right on time for sunset season. The new seasonal experience brings rotating menus and event programming to the spot known for its grilled plates, Italian wines, craft cocktails, and unbeatable views. New dishes include grilled white and green asparagus with lardo, charred baby artichokes with Parmigiano Reggiano DOP foam, Fornello Pugliese skewers off the grill, and Paccheri alla Brace, a pasta built on three varieties of tomatoes. The drinks menu is just as ambitious. The Gin Study serves up three botanical-forward riffs on the classic gin and tonic, while the Terra e Fuoco series brings seasonal cocktails featuring smoked grapefruit and fresh mint. And don’t skip dessert: the gelato cart lets you build your own creation with 100% organic milk gelato, premium Italian toppings, housemade sauces, and an optional boozy upgrade.
Viva La Mamma’s Aperitivo Beats (June 18) -> West 3rd Street’s Viva La Mamma debuts a summer-only series bringing Italian aperitivo culture to LA on the third Thursday of every month. Aperitivo Beats channels the free spirit of a Euro summer with spritzes flowing, unlimited Neapolitan pizzas until close, and a DJ spinning 80s tracks. For $45, guests get a complimentary drink and Italian bites all night long, including fan favorites Sweet but Psycho and Truffle Shuffle pizzas. The dress code is maximalist chic. Doors open at 6 p.m. More info here.
World Cup Watch Party & Happy Hour at NOUN -> NOUN, the coffee and wine bar in Marina del Rey, is running a daily happy hour through June 16 to coincide with the World Cup. Catch the noon kickoffs while sipping through wine, sake, and beer specials. More info here
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