Best Things To Do In This Week Los Angeles And Southern California: June 3 - 6

Puccini’s Madame Butterfly takes a new turn at Pacific Opera Project as it is performed not in Italian – but instead in both Japanese and English. This change helps explore the central question: How would an American Naval officer and a young Japanese woman communicate? The show also features intricate costume design by Sueko Oshimoto & Kentaro Terra of SK Kimono and a chorus performed by the South Bay Singers led by Naoko Suga.

Novelists Laura Warrell and Katherine Vaz sit down at Zibby’s on Montana Ave to talk about Vaz’s latest book, Above the Salt, which follows a love story between two Portuguese refugees during the American Civil War. Vaz is the first Portuguese American to have her work recorded for the archives of the Library of Congress (Hispanic Division); Warrell, who wrote last year’s Sweet, Soft, Plenty Rhythm, was a finalist for the PEN/Faulkner award.

Multi-instrumentalist Andrew Bird is an old soul who’s experimented and excelled in so many music formats it’s almost hard to keep track. He’s played with the symphony, explored blues and roots influences, and brought whistling into the mainstream. But his latest – and really most fitting – dive is into mid-century jazz, where he seems right at home. He’s been featuring his new album of standards, Sunday Morning Put On, on a series of smooth YouTube videos that sound perfect with brunch and the Sunday paper. He brings his jazz trio to the Lodge Room on Monday. Ask for a martini straight up and enjoy the ride.

Multi-disciplinary street artist Corie Mattie presents paintings and art installations in her show Unapologetic, celebrating queer pride at Create Studios in Venice. The evening features interactive surprises, giveaways, free beverages and more.

Explore a calming new hobby and learn how to care for bonsai with Daniel Deephouse, who has 40 years of experience raising bonsai in Australia, the U.K. and here in the U.S. Vroman’s books hosts this workshop where you’ll repot, trim and wire your own Japanese garden. All supplies will be provided.

The jam band comes to the Venice West to bring their unique Bay Area vibes and summer sound to a venue that’s been programming some of the best music on the Westside in recent months.

As the war in Ukraine enters its third year, writer and translator John Freedman is bringing the country’s poets and playwrights more attention through the Worldwide Ukrainian Play Readings Project. City Garage hosts the reading of a new play, Ghosts in Branches, by Valeriy Puzik and translated by Freedman and Nataliia Bratus, which tells the story of Ukrainian soldiers and their stories at the frontline of the war. Proceeds will be distributed to charities working on the ground in Ukraine.

Vinyl lovers will flip for this new doc from filmmaker Chris Wilcha about trying to revive the record store in New Jersey where he worked as a teenager. He’s helped along the way with stories and encounters from the likes of This American Life’s Ira Glass and TV writer David Milch. Producer Judd Apatow joins Wilcha for a conversation following Tuesday’s North Hollywood screening.

After-school special alert! Former Olivetta chef Michael Fiorelli’s pop-up pizza hotspot Fiorelli is serving up $10 cheese pies from 3 to 5 p.m. every Thursday. Bring the kids and settle in for a sunny afternoon in the Cook’s Garden to enjoy your pizza alongside the resident chickens.

If you ever wanted to understand the wild, world-travel-inspired flavor combos at Wanderlust Creamery, look no further than the new book, The Wanderlust Creamery Presents: The World of Ice Cream by chef and founder Adrienne Borlongan, available starting June 4. To celebrate, all locations will be offering a free scoop to anyone who buys the cookbook in-store or has pre-ordered the book (with a valid receipt).

Just can’t get enough? On June 6, Chinatown cookbook shop Now Serving hosts a conversation with Borlongan and co-founder of Regarding HER Dina Samson, followed by a book signing, meet-and-greet, and of course, ice cream!

Meet the winemakers from the women-owned Lompoc vineyard Camins 2 Dreams and enjoy pairings during regular service at Rustic Canyon. No tickets are required, but reservations are recommended.

Adding to last weekend’s Pride specials around town, Dream is offering hotel guests two complimentary Pride cocktail specials, a Pride welcome amenity, and a complimentary upgrade to the next room category upon arrival, based on availability through the end of the month.