Best Things To Do This Week In Los Angeles And Southern California: May 13 - 16

Scottish indie pop band Belle and Sebastian have been throwing down upbeat, charming tunes since their very first album, Tigermilk, in 1996. Their latest (and 12th!) studio album, Late Developers, came out last year. They also collaborated with Suki Waterhouse on her 2023 summer b-side, "Every Day’s a Lesson in Humility." Frontman Stuart Murdoch and the band are playing two equally intimate venues downtown across three nights. We love the United Theatre at the Ace for the acoustics and art deco vibe; the Bellwether is one of L.A.’s newer spots to catch live music and is mostly standing room.

This one is too out there and for too good a cause not to get a mention! Dubbing itself a “Frasier-inspired art show,” the folks that brought you the Robocop remake and the Footloose remake are now taking on the Cheers spinoff with dozens of artists coming together to honor Seattle’s finest radio therapist in a variety of media. The show is raising funds for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention and following the opening will run through Sunday.

Be part of L.A. history and join (potentially) the city’s largest-ever drum circle right in downtown’s Grand Park. Drums are provided, so just show up and throw down with 200-300 other percussion enthusiasts at lunchtime (don’t worry, there will be food trucks). Local officials, including Councilman Kevin de León and Supervisor Kathryn Barger will speak and legendary percussionist Sheila E. will perform. No musical experience is necessary.

Local holistic post-partum doula Valerie Flynn is partnering with the Laguna Art Museum to host new parents and their littles for a museum morning before the galleries open to the public. Meet new friends, explore the art, and get tips on postnatal recovery and newborn care. On view now at the museum (which itself is a dramatic locale to visit along the Laguna cliffs), are an exhibit of Adam Neeley jewelry called Modern Alchemy, On the Edge: Los Angeles Art from the Joan and Jack Quinn Family Collection, and a show of work from the 2024 MFA graduates at Laguna College of Art and Design.

Indie folk-rocker Aaron Lee Tasjan’s new album, Stellar Evolution, was written in direct response to the bathroom and drag bans in Tennessee. The album is full of anthemic takes on current events and reflects the queer community he says “has become home.” The album has received high praise from Rolling Stone, Billboard, NPR, and more. Take a listen to "I Love America (Better Than You)" and then head to the Moroccan Lounge.

Vanity Fair contributor Karen Valby’s new book The Swans of Harlem has been getting praise from dancers and dance lovers from Misty Copeland — “This is the kind of history I wish I learned as a child dreaming of the stage!” — to Sarah Jessica Parker. The book traces 50 years of Black ballerinas at the Dance Theatre of Harlem and their legacy of breaking through racial barriers to become stars in their field at the height of the Civil Rights movement. Don’t miss this electric conversation as Bonnie Baswell speaks with Valby, Lydia Abarca Mitchell, Sheila Rohan, Marcia Lynn Sells, and Karlya Shelton-Benjamin.

Test your cowboy trivia, shake and shimmy to the beats of country rockers Emily Rose and the Rounders, and try a cowboy cocktail during happy hour at the Autry. Yee-haw!

Did you happen to catch ATEEZ at Coachella? They were the first K-pop boy group to ever perform at the desert fest. If you missed it and want to know what the hype is about, head to the Grammy Museum for the first of several Korean pop exhibits coming to the space over the next two years. The show covers record label KQ Entertainment bands, including both ATEEZ and xikers. Check out outfits and props from both bands and immerse yourself, Seoul-style.

Yoga instructor Emily Phillips hosts donation-based yoga classes in the heart of Griffith Park every Wednesday afternoon (and Saturday mornings). Slap on some SPF 50 and head to the hills for some good stretching.

James Beard Award-winning chef and food historian Michael Twitty brings his unique blend of Jewish and soul cooking (matzo ball gumbo, anyone?) to Post & Beam this week.

One of the most consistently excellent Italian spots downtown, Rossoblu’s Chef Steve Samson created a special Sicilian-inspired menu and optional wine pairing. Taste seafood antipasti, hand-rolled pasta, stuffed beef roll, and of course, cannoli.

Grand Central Market’s Villa’s Tacos celebrates National BBQ Month with a Maple Block Meat Co. collab, featuring blue corn tortillas topped with sliced smoked brisket, house-made guacamole, and salsa. Pit Master Rudy Suazo will be on hand at Villa’s Tacos on Thursday. Maple Block will also feature in specials from market favorites Wexler's Deli, Sticky Rice, and Knead Noods.