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12 Awesome Events Happening Around the Web This Weekend: May 1 - 3
Watch a sneak preview of the PBS series 'Asian Americans' at the 2020 Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival showcase. (Courtesy PBS/CAAM/WETA.)
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The COVID-19 virus is wreaking havoc on schools, stores, businesses -- and events. As in-person concerts, talks and big gatherings are cancelled and people spend more time at home, LAist is temporarily switching our events column to a "nonevents" column to help us through this time of social distancing.
Until it's safe to go out again, please consider contributing to your local arts organizations, or to individual artists during this difficult time.
May marks Asian American Heritage Month. DragCon hits YouTube. Impro Theatre takes on Shakespeare and Hemingway. Louie Pérez of Los Lobos drops in for a chat.
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May 1 - ongoing
LAAPFF Spring Virtual Showcase
The Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival debuts an online showcase to kick off Asian Pacific Heritage Month. It features international film screenings, filmmaker discussions and talk-backs. The festival opens Friday with the premiere of two episodes of the upcoming PBS series Asian Americans, which is produced by filmmakers S. Leo Chiang, Geeta Gandbhir and Grace Lee.
COST: FREE; MORE INFO
Cinco de Mayo celebrations will look a little different this year, but Guelaguetza is helping you plan for the stay-home party now. (FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP via Getty Images)
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Ongoing
Cinco de Mayo: Guelaguetza
It's never too early to plan for your safe-at-home Cinco de Mayo party. The Lopez family of Guelaguetza has created special options that pay homage to the roots of the celebration. Check out the Oaxacan restaurant's current takeout menu (which is available Thursday-Sunday), as well as its cemitas and tacos arabes from Puebla, available for curb-side pick up and via mobile app delivery this weekend.
COST: Varies; MORE INFO
Opens Friday, May 1
AllTogetherNow
William Turner Gallery presents an exhibition that features work from a broad range of artists. The gallery will offer special incentives to acquire artwork with a percentage of sales going to The People Concern, an organization that provides food and shelter to L.A.'s homeless population. Guests can take a virtual tour of the exhibition and the gallery will highlight the work of a different artist in AllTogetherNow online.
COST: FREE; MORE INFO
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Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m., Sundays at 1 p.m.
Impro Theatre's Free Online Performances
The award-winning theater group presents free, online performances. All of Impro Theatre's performances start with audience suggestions and every show is different. The lineup features brand new productions as well as older favorites. All shows are broadcast on Impro TV and Impro Theatre's online Twitch channel. This weekend, the schedule includes Tennessee Williams UnScripted, Shakespeare UnScripted and the 1966 Holiday Variety Extravaganza, a rebroadcast of a 2016 show.
COST: FREE; MORE INFO
Music artist Lauv and a few friends are participating in a virtual panel discussion at the start of Mental Health Awareness Month. (Courtesy of the artist)
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Friday, May 1; 10 a.m. PDT
Breaking Modern Loneliness: A Conversation on Mental Health
Singer-songwriter-producer Lauv's Blue Boy Foundation hosts a virtual panel discussion to kick off Mental Health Awareness Month. Lauv chats with fellow performers Alessia Cara, Anne-Marie and Sofía Reyes about how they're dealing with social distancing. Michelle Carlson, executive director of the nonprofit Teen Line, moderates the conversation, which takes place on Microsoft's Mixer platform.
COST: FREE; MORE INFO
Friday, May 1; 7 p.m.
Keeping the Música Alive ... and Well with Louie Pérez of Los Lobos
LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes launches En Casa con LA Plaza Latinx Zoom Sessions. The virtual happenings present the best of Los Angeles Latinx history, art and culture. Each of the 30 to 45-minute sessions, which combine live and recorded content, feature Latinx thinkers, authors, performers and educators. On Friday, En Casa welcomes Pérez, one of the founding members of East L.A. band Los Lobos.
COST: FREE, but reservations required; MORE INFO
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Friday, May 1
EMA
The streaming service MUBI hosts a free, exclusive 24-hour preview of EMA in the U.S. on May 1 in advance of its theatrical release later this year. To coincide with the preview, MUBI also presents a taped Q&A with one of the film's actors, Mariana Di Girolamo. Directed by Pablo Larraín, the film is "an intoxicating comment on sex, power and chaos in modern-day Chile." The film is headlined by Gael García Berna and scored by Nicolás Jaar.
COST: FREE; MORE INFO
Friday, May 1; 6 p.m. - 10 p.m.
Friday Night Showcase
Our friends from Los Angeleno have been holding a weekly showcase of L.A.-based artists performing from home. Curated by Daiana Feuer, the showcase can be found on Facebook or Instagram @wearelosangeleno.
COST: FREE; MORE INFO
Girl, the show must go on: RuPaul's DragCon moves from the L.A. Convention Center to YouTube this year. (Mario Tama/Getty Images)
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Saturday, May 2 - Sunday, May 3; 12 p.m. PDT
DragCon
RuPaul's huge drag party and convention goes digital this year on World of Wonder's YouTube channel. Watch fierce performances, panels, Q&A sessions and appearances from stars such as Aquaria, Alaska, Mariah Balenciaga, Mayhem Miller, Miz Cracker and The Vivienne.
COST: Subscription; MORE INFO
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Saturday, May 2; 7:30 p.m.
Never Not Funny
Jimmy Pardo's podcast celebrated its 1,000th episode earlier this spring. This weekend Pardo and producer Matt Belknap welcome a guest to talk about the world of entertainment without publicists and TV cameras. The show takes place at Flappers Comedy Club Zoom Room. Link will be delivered after purchase.
COST: $10; MORE INFO
Dynasty Typewriter presents 'GO! Day' -- a freewheeling afternoon of comedy delights.
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Sunday, May 3; 2 p.m.
Go! Day
Dynasty Typewriter presents the weekly livestream edition of absurdity, comedy and connection with Fred Armisen, Benito Skinner and Cameron Esposito. Any donation for a ticket helps the Dynasty stay afloat but if you can't afford one, use the access code GOFREE to enable free RSVPs. An email with the streaming link will be sent after an RSVP.
COST: FREE, but donations suggested; MORE INFO
Sunday, May 3; 10 a.m. - ongoing
SalviSoul
The Salvadoran cooking platform moves its classes to Zoom, inviting cooks and armchair travelers to learn popular recipes like curtido and nuegados de Yuca. This week's class focuses on baking Salvadoran quesadilla.
COST: $25 per class; MORE INFO
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