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Best things to do this week in Los Angeles and Southern California: June 23 - 26
Roll through a retro skate party on the grounds of the South Coast Botanic Garden.
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Quinton Coetzee/Unsplash, Elina Shatkin/LAist
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Our Picks
If you’re cruising through Culver City this week, check out Ritual Era, a public art installation by L.A. artist Sya Warfield, on view nightly at the Helms Design Center through June 30. Warfield’s glowing portraits explore burnout, rest and emotional renewal through bold light, shadow and symbolism. And you can see them from the street for free! While the big furniture store at Helms is closing soon, there’s actually a real bakery in Helms Bakery now, so check out the art and have a treat.
We, as usual, have no shortage of music this week either, as LPTV’s Lyndsey Parker shares that Japanese pop star LISA has two shows this week, first at the Roxy and then at the YouTube Theater; The Weeknd kicks off two nights at SoFi on Wednesday; country star Dierks Bentley is at the Intuit Dome also on Thursday; and Licorice Pizza is hosting Robert Randolph in-store on Wednesday.
For more to explore, visit LAist.com where you can learn about two Filipino bakeries putting a modern (and purple ube) spin on their treats, we check in on how LAUSD’s cell phone ban went this school year now that the kids are off for the summer (and presumably back on their phones), and get your tickets for Thursday’s Cookbook Live with Nicole Rucker at the Crawford.
Events
Wednesday, June 25, 8 to 11 p.m.
Pride Skate Night
Moonlight Rollerway
5110 San Fernando Road, Glendale
COST: FROM $23; MORE INFO
Sponsored message
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Courtesy Gay For Good
)
Strap on your skates, wear your most colorful leg warmers and get down to the Moonlight Rollerway for a special Pride skate night. All are welcome at the iconic hot spot for a skate and social night for LGBTQ+ of “Pride, Empowerment and Fun!”
Wednesday, June 25, 11 a.m.
Coffee Talk with Artist Sara Velas
The Ebell of Los Angeles
743 S. Lucerne Blvd., Koreatown
COST: FREE; MORE INFO
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Courtesy The Ebell of Los Angeles
)
You’ve heard me talk about the Velaslavasay Panorama before. It's a truly unique L.A. experience if there ever was one, but you don’t need me to tell you that when this week you have the space’s creative director herself, Sara Velas, to take you into her world of 360-degree marvels during a coffee talk at the Ebell!
Before there was VR, there were magical panoramas that transported the viewer to faraway places. Velas “shares the stories behind her most striking installations, offers behind-the-scenes glimpses into their creation and traces the rich history of this awe-inspiring art form.”
Through Saturday, August 16
Mary Corse
Pace Gallery
1201 S. La Brea Blvd., Mid-City
COST: FREE; MORE INFO
Sponsored message
Mary Corse,
The Halo Room, 2023-2024, glass microspheres in acrylic on powder coated aluminum, glass microspheres in acrylic on canvas, light, 9' × 10' × 11' (274.3 cm × 304.8 cm × 335.3 cm), SCULPTURE, #92448, Format of original photography: high res TIFS.
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Melissa Goodwin/© Mary Corse, courtesy Pace Gal
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Pace Gallery
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At first glance, Mary Corse’s work is strikingly simple: gray, white, and black line work and stark backgrounds. Corse occupies an unusual place as one of the few women creating at the intersection of minimalism and abstract expressionism — two male-dominated genres in the art world. Her solo show at Pace shows new work – some in bright, primary colors – from this year and takes a broad look at the Topanga-based artist’s 60-year career.
Through Saturday, June 28
Alliance of Black Orchestral Percussionists in L.A.
Beckmen YOLA Center
101 S. La Brea Ave., Inglewood
COST: FREE; MORE INFO
From drumming workshops to masterclasses and free performances, the Alliance of Black Orchestral Percussionists (ABOP) is hosting aspiring percussionists at their space in Inglewood. All are welcome to learn alongside the young, emerging Black percussionists seeking careers in symphonic percussion. These proteges are performing all week long, led by conductor Charles Dickerson.
Thursday, June 26
Opening Night: Studio Dream Factory
Melt Warehouse at Agora Records
1022 S. Santa Fe Ave., Arts District
COST: $48–$150 (ART), $0–$40 (DISCO); MORE INFO
Sponsored message
For two nights, Melt Warehouse at Agora Records turns into an immersive trip through Dante’s Divine Comedy. deiSogni takes the visitor through the classic tale using queer art, performance and Greek and Roman mythology as the Arts District space becomes a decaying Florentine palazzo, “representing both sin and virtue, brought to life by seven artists, live DJs and theatrical installations.”
Wednesday, June 25, 7 p.m.
Help Is on the Way Benefit, feat. Lake Street Dive
Troubadour
9081 N. Santa Monica Blvd., West Hollywood
COST: VARIES, VIP $300; MORE INFO
It’s hard to pin Lake Street Dive down to a genre. They’ve explored country, indie rock and folk, and they even won a jazz category in songwriting back in 2005. Support wildfire relief and Union Station Homeless Services while listening to tunes from the band, with support from Monica Martin at the Troubadour. GA tickets are sold out, but may be available on third-party sites; VIP access gets you into a private pre-show soundcheck performance by Lake Street Dive and a Q&A session with the band.
Viewing Pick
Tuesday, June 24, 8 p.m.
Moonlight Movies on the Beach: Dirty Dancing
Granada Beach
5100 E. Ocean Blvd., Long Beach
COST: FREE; MORE INFO
Sponsored message
You’ll have the time of your life at this outdoor screening of Dirty Dancing in Long Beach. Grab a beach chair and head for the sand where the big screen is set up to enjoy the '80s summer classic. Plus, screenings of other favorites like Ferris Bueller’s Day Off are happening all summer long, so check the calendar.
Dine & Drink Deals
Starting Wednesday, June 25, 6 p.m.
'Bella Venezia!' A Tour of Italy Dinner Series
Fairmont Breakers Long Beach
210 East Ocean Blvd., Long Beach
COST: $175; MORE INFO
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Yoav Aziz/Unsplash
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Take a trip to Italy without leaving Long Beach. Nettuno is launching a four-course wine dinner influenced by Venice, featuring seasonal ingredients and signature flavors of Northern Italy. Premium selections from the historic Bertani winery are included alongside a menu featuring Carpaccio di Tonno (tuna carpaccio, lemon, capers), Linguine alla Veneziana (tiger prawns, spring onion, pear tomato, taggiasca olives, dried tomato), Cosciotto di Agnello (roast leg of lamb, carrot salsa) and Tiramisù al Cioccolato.
Ongoing
Pasjoli Reopens
2732 Main St., Santa Monica
COST: VARIES; MORE INFO
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Frank Wonho Lee
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Michelin-starred Chef Dave Beran’s Pasjoli is back on Main Street in Santa Monica with a more relaxed vibe and menu. Beran reopened the upscale French bistro earlier in June, and the new menu now includes approachable dishes like a Paris baguette ham and cheese sandwich, poutine topped with duck meat, cherry duck gravy and gruyère, ratatouille risotto, and a Basque cheesecake for dessert.
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Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
