Best things to do this week in Los Angeles and Southern California: May 11-14

You may surmise that the majority of my knowledge about hockey comes from watching The Mighty Ducks, but apparently that’s all you need to know now that the real-life Anaheim Ducks are progressing through the Stanley Cup playoffs — catch a playoff watch party this week to get up to speed on all the action on the ice.

Licorice Pizza’s music picks include experimental ambient artist Ana Roxanne at Sid The Cat Auditorium and YouTube star-turned-rapper DDG at the Roxy, both on Monday. On Tuesday, Paramore’s Hayley Williams kicks off her solo run at the Wiltern, RAYE plays the first of two nights at the Greek Theatre and indie-pop heroes the New Pornographers play the Teragram. Wednesday, Mika relaxes and takes it easy at the Orpheum; Canadian singer-songwriter Katie Tupper is at the Echoplex; and electronica legends the Prodigy restart their fire with the first of two nights at the Novo.

Thursday, you can see Nottingham post-punks Sleaford Mods at the Fonda; Rozzi at LAX (the club, not the airport); UB40 at the Pacific Amphitheatre; or the triumphant Indigo Girls, who are soldiering on despite singer Emily Saliers’ health issues, at the Bellwether. Lorde will also play the first of her two-night stint at the Forum.

Elsewhere on LAist, you can read about LA’s history of counterculture nuns, get a taste of the birria soup dumpling (“the most LA thing we’ve ever eaten”) and get ready for primary day — June 2 — with our comprehensive Voter Game Plan.

Events

Rakim and Soul Rebels

Monday and Tuesday, May 11 and 12
Blue Note 
6372 Sunset Blvd., Hollywood
COST: FROM $71; MORE INFO

Rakim ahead of the 65th Grammy Awards.

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Tommaso Boddi

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Getty Images

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Jazz Fest in New Orleans is over, but really, who can get enough? Rap and hip-hop pioneer Rakim headlines, supported by the legendary New Orleans brass band the Soul Rebels, for two more unforgettable nights at the Blue Note.

Millennials Are Killing Musicals

Through Sunday, May 17 
Colony Theatre
555 N. Third Street, Burbank
COST: FROM $60; MORE INFO

Last year, I was lucky enough to go to a small read — er, sing — through of a new musical, Millennials Are Killing Musicals. It was clever, witty, tight and very au courant. And so how pleased was I to learn that just over a year later, this little-show-that-could is getting a full staging at the Colony Theatre in Burbank. Nico Juber’s musical follows the daily life of a millennial mom who’s trying to keep up in this emoji-laden world. It’s good fun for anyone who can’t get off their phone, which, let’s admit, is all of us.

AAPI Night Market

Wednesday, May 13, 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Sender One LAX
11220 Hindry Ave., Inglewood
COST: FREE; MORE INFO

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FilipinUp

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Startr Co.

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Climbers and wannabe climbers, head to indoor rock climbing gym Sender One for a special AAPI month event with the Asian Climbing Collective and FilipinUp. Celebrate Asian culture and community through climbing, plus local vendors, music, mock competitions and a raffle.

Zahra Tangorra book release

Monday, May 11, 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. 
Garibaldina Society 
4533 N. Figueroa Street, Mt. Washington
COST: $10; MORE INFO

Chef and restaurant consultant Zahra Tangorra’s new culinary memoir, Extra Sauce: The Good, The Bad, and The Onions, received a recent rave from The New York Times. She’ll be on hand for a discussion and book signing with the Italian American cultural group, the Garibaldina Society, at their club, moderated by L.A. Times food writer Jenn Harris. Of course, there will be snacks, drinks and sauce.

New exhibits at CAAM

Ongoing 
California African American Museum 
600 State Drive, Exposition Park 
COST: FREE; MORE INFO

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Jose Lima/Willie Birch

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The California African American Museum is always a great place to spend an afternoon, but with eight current exhibits now open, you can go again and again this summer and never fail to learn something new (plus, it’s free!). The latest show to open there is Willie Birch: Stories to Tell, which looks at the New Orleans-born artist’s chronicling of Black life in America from the late 1960s through the present, with a focus on “retentions” — African traditions that show up across American culture. The Birch exhibit joins ongoing shows, including Free and Queer: Black Californian Roots of Gay Liberation, and A New Song: Langston Hughes in the West.

Meet the Artist: An Evening with ZiBeZi

Thursday, May 14, 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Yi Cha
5715 N. Figueroa Street, Highland Park
Cost: FREE, MORE INFO

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Courtesy N|A Consulting

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Art and food collide at Highland Park modern Korean restaurant Yi Cha for an intimate open house celebrating ZiBeZi, the Korean American artist behind the restaurant's beloved mural (you might also recognize his work from 2020 Oscar winner Parasite). The free-to-enter event includes bites inspired by his work, cocktails and a chance to purchase a tote bag that the artist will sign and illustrate on the spot for a one-of-a-kind keepsake.

Hannah Dasher

Thursday, May 14, 9 p.m.
Desert 5 Spot 
6516 Selma Ave., Hollywood
COST: FREE; MORE INFO 

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Courtesy Shorefire

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I’ll admit I knew little about Hannah Dasher before I ended up in an endless scroll of her addictive TikTok feed that blends Southern cooking and country music. She brings her signature honky-tonk sound to a free live performance at Desert 5 Spot, timed with the release of her first cookbook titled — I am not making this up — Stand By Your Pan. Perfect, no notes. Practice your line dancing and find a Waffle House to head to afterward.