Best things to do this week in Los Angeles and Southern California: June 24 - 27

Actor and activist Sean Penn hosts Dr. Anthony Fauci, former Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases at the National Institutes of Health, to discuss Fauci’s new memoir, On Call: A Doctor’s Journey in Public Service. Fauci recounts his childhood and path into medicine in the book as well as his work behind the scenes during the AIDS crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic. Both have had their fair share of critics and controversy, so it is sure to be a lively conversation.

Join a host of comedy favorites, including several Groundlings alums, at the Groundlings Theater for a fun comedy show and after-party, supporting the Hollywood Food Coalition. The Office star Oscar Nuñez joins Stephanie Courtney (better known as Flo from Progressive), Jordan Black (writer, SNL), Will Forte (SNL, attending via video), Andrew Friedman (It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia), and many more at the popular annual event.

Kristen Bell and Alan Cumming are the stars backing the new production of Reefer Madness, a musical comedy take on the much-made-fun-of 1936 film that warned kids about the dangers of – gasp! – marijuana. Bell starred in the off-Broadway production of the campy show back in 2001 and the subsequent 2005 indie film version, and she's excited to bring the fun to L.A. as a producer. She spoke with How To LA recently about launching the show, which she says has an all-encompassing vibe from the moment you walk in the theater, and the under-appreciated theater scene in L.A. “Here in L.A., we like to make it a little bit more interactive and a little bit more immersive,” she told How To LA. There’s the show and then the venue also hosts “reefer den” afterparties that give the whole evening a speakeasy kind of feel.

Group D - Brazil v Costa Rica
Group B - Venezuela v Mexico

Football fever comes to SoFi with Copa América games between Brazil and Colombia and Venezuela and Mexico mid-week. Get your jerseys and scarves ready and practice screaming "GOOOOOOOAAAALLLL" as you wait to get into the parking lot. If you can’t snag a ticket, there are plenty of bars and restaurants that will be showing the locally hosted games (and all the games!) over the next few weeks. Here’s a list of the best spots to check out during the tournament, both for good eats and good ambiance, no matter which team you support. Ole!

Artist projections and large-scale installations will transform the Long Beach coastline for a week, showcasing the natural beauty of the area as well as local industrial marvels. From the waterfront and the Queen Mary to the beach itself, artists like Balloonski (who aptly makes balloon installations, Olivia Steele (who works on large, provocative text projects), and animator and video artist Ryan Griffin will showcase their works for all to enjoy.

A small but exciting photography exhibit opened recently at the ONE Archives at the USC Libraries, coinciding with Pride Month. Contemporary queer and disabled photographer Robert Andy Coombs shares nine erotic photographs called No Content Warning, that “unapologetically present the vision of artist and often subject.” The show asks the viewer to confront the artist’s experience directly. Coombs shared on his social media earlier this year, “I get it, I am not digestible to the general public and neither is my artwork.” All the more reason to be intrigued to check it out (although it may not be appropriate for kids). It’s the first time several of these works have been publicly exhibited.

From documentary shorts to narrative features, Dances With Films is one of the most anticipated local indie film festivals of the year, geared both at film fans and industry pros. This year’s lineup includes a series of midnight features, TV and web series pilots, documentary shorts, and narrative films. Highlights include panels and talkbacks on the casting process and sales and distribution tactics.

So many amazing food spots have made the mall in Century City their home in recent years. Dumpling mecca Din Tai Fung, Italian marketplace Eataly, Venice favorite Zinque, and Del Frisco’s Steakhouse just to name a few. So it’s no surprise that the mall is now hosting its first Foodie Week, with special deals, prix-fixe menus, happy hour specials, and more at many favorite spots.

If you haven’t found a camp activity for the kids yet, have them join Chef David at the Lofts in El Segundo for a three-day cooking class, geared at grades 4-8. They can wow their friends all summer long after learning to make a range of dishes from around the world, including pierogies, dal, and Turkish eggs.

A fun foodie event happens every week by the ocean in Santa Monica. With treats from local vendors like Tacos 1986, The Boiling Crab, House of Empanadas, Good Times ice cream, and more, the Bungalow’s outdoor space is a bustling hub every Thursday throughout the summer. Head west and come hungry.