16 Of Our Favorite Events In Los Angeles This Week

Clear those weekend cobwebs. Here are 16 of our favorite events happening in L.A. this short workweek. We'll be back later this week with our June Guide and Weekend Planner.

TUESDAY, MAY 30

BAND AID (Film screening + music)
On Tuesday at 8 pm at the Theatre at Ace Hotel, there’s a sneak screening of Band Aid, the feature debut from Zoe Lister-Jones. She stars in the film along with Adam Pally as a couple who can’t stop fighting. In a last-ditch effort they try to save the relationship through their shared love of music and turn all their fights into song. With the help of a neighbor (Fred Armisen), they start a band. There’s a Q&A and a band performance by Lister-Jones, Pally and Armisen after the screening. Tickets are free with RSVP.

OH LAND (Music)
Hollywood Forever presents Oh Land at the Masonic Lodge on Tuesday night at 8 pm. The Danish-born Nanna Øland Fabricus, better known as Oh Land, began her indie pop/experimental music career when an injury forced her to give up ballet. Mynabirds opens. Tickets: $20.

DECKER-CON (Comedy)
Spaceland & Six Bag Cinemas present Decker-Con at The Regent Theater on Tuesday at 8 pm, featuring the screening of "Decker: Unsealed." Watch the exploits of Agent Jack Decker (Adult Swim) and code breaker Kington, then hear from their aliases: Tim Heidecker and Gregg Turkington and maybe a few others. The event is free with the purchase of an $8 food/drink voucher. 18+. Vouchers are currently sold out so check out alternative ticket brokers.

BILL PAXTON DOUBLE FEATURE (Film tribute)
The New Beverly presents a grindhouse tribute screening double feature of early Bill Paxton films on Tuesday night. First up at 7:30 pm is Mortuary (1983), a slasher film with the tagline, “Before your funeral… Before you are buried… Before you are covered with the last shovelful of dirt… Be sure you are really dead!” It’s followed by Night Warning (1982), one of Paxton’s earliest films at 9:30 pm. The show is sold out online, but the New Bev will have approximately 100 tickets for sale at the door on Tuesday.

ILLUSTRACTIONS VOL 1 (Release party)
To celebrate the release of the new publication, Illustractions Vol 1, there’s a party from 7-10 pm at Junior High (5656 Hollywood Blvd.) on Tuesday night featuring comedy (Jared Goldstein, Ever Mainard, Ellie McElvain), music (KiSMiT, The Neurosis) and art by 18 L.A.-based artists. Tickets: $5, with proceeds going to Junior High and the Women's Center for Creative Work.

SUSTAINABLE SEAFOOD DINNER (Food)
Ok, if you can afford the ($185 + tax and tips) ticket price, then you should be at Providence on Tuesday night from 6:30-9 pm. Chef Michael Cimarusti co-hosts a sustainability-focused panel alongside Jonathan Gold, UCLA’s Dr. Mark Gold, Sarah Rathbone, Captain Eric Hodge and Stephanie Mutz at Providence—with a multicourse Dock to Dish-centric dinner. The event closes out the city’s month-long L.A Times Food Bowl. Because of limited seating, please call the restaurant directly to reserve: 323.460.4170.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 31

TOO MANY ZOOZ (Music)
Too Many Zooz are a "Brass House" trio who got their start busking in NYC subways. Their sound caught the attention of Beyoncé's team who got the band to perform on the songs "Daddy Lessons" and "Formation" from Lemonade. Now’s your chance to see them live as they mash up jazz, Afro-Cuban rhythms, funk and even EDM/house music and headline the Troubadour on Wednesday night. DJ Val Fleury opens at 8:15 pm. Tickets: $20.

CHATS ON CATS (Comedy)
Joey Clift hosts Chats on Cats at UCB Sunset on Wednesday night at 10:30 pm. The cat-themed late night talk show is for people who love cats and features cat-themed monologues, games and celeb cat owners. Guests include Katie Willert, Sara Iyer and Steven Ray Morris with standup from Jake Weisman. Tickets: $7.

CONTINUE? THE PHILOSOPHY OF JAPANESE ARCADE CULTURE (Conversation)
The Hammer Museum presents the conversation CONTINUE? The Philosophy of Japanese Arcade Culture on Wednesday at 7:30 pm. Japanese Pop art legend Keiichi Tanaami and artist Oliver Payne discuss Japanese arcade culture, especially the “bullet hell games.” From the Hammer: “These niche arcade games—often considered the purest form of video games—follow a chaotic, complicated system of rules and patterns.” Payne considers how these games inform his work. Free.

THE EVERYTHING SHOW (Comedy + music)
The Everything Show takes place on Wednesday at 10 pm at the Hollywood Improv Lab. This month’s lineup includes Todd Glass, Rory Scovel, Pat Regan and Drew Lynch, with musical improv from Adele Dazeem. There might be a drop-in or two. Hosted by Jake Adams and Jonathan Morvay. Tickets: $5 and no drink minimum.

THURSDAY, JUNE 1

BEERLAND (Screening)
There’s a special screening of the finale of Beerland, the docu-series from VICE, on Thursday at Golden Road Brewing. The series has focused on home-brewers across the country and beer’s role in shaping a community, and the finale features Golden Road. There will be free food, beer, music and lawn games followed by a home-brew seminar before the screening. After the screening, there’s a Q&A with the winner and Beerland host and Golden Road founder Meg Gill. The festivities start at 5 pm, with the screening at 7:30 pm. Free with RSVP.

PROM DO-OVER AT THE MUSEUM OF BROKEN RELATIONSHIPS (Party)
Head back to the ‘90s on Thursday as We Like L.A. teams up with the Museum of Broken Relationships for a Prom Do-Over at the museum from 7-9:30 pm. Listen to ‘90s tunes, check out the prom pic photo area and a “10 Things I Hate About My Ex” wall display. Guests can contribute to the wall, and the best lists will earn swag from the MOBR gift shop at the end of the night. Prom tickets are $25 and include access to all museum galleries for the event. Tickets can only be purchased online. Dressing like it’s 1999 is welcome, but not necessary.

DANCES WITH FILMS (Film fest)
Now in its 20th year, the Dances with Films festival remains committed to indie filmmakers and filmmaking. (And btw, it's not a festival focused on dance—the name is a play on other “dance” fests like Slamdance, Sundance, etc.) Dances with Films takes over the TCL Chinese Theaters in Hollywood beginning on Thursday and running through June 11. DWF opens with David Heinz’s modern musical, American Folk, and the world premiere of Tamar Halpern’s thriller, Missing in Europe. Director Will Raée’s Austin Found, closes the festival with its world premiere on June 11. Tickets: $13-$15 and passes $325.

SOCA introduces a new happy hour—including Korean-inspired dumplings and Spanish Gin cocktails. (Image: Christine N. Ziemba)

SOCA (Happy hour)
SOCA, Aaron Robins’ (Boneyard Bistro) upscale steak and seafood place in Sherman Oaks, recently launched its new happy hour, featuring small plates and six signature Spanish Gin & Tonics. Trust us, the menu is awesome: We highly, highly recommend the Oysters (Bacon Herb Crust, Manchego) for $10 and the Korean Crab Dumplings ($15), but really it’s all good. Available daily from 5-7 pm. The restaurant is closed on Sundays and Mondays.

TACOS & TEQUILA (Food)
You like tacos and/or tequila? Then check out the event Tacos & Tequila our friends at Time Out LA are holding on Thursday from 6-10 pm at Candela Taco Bar & Lounge on La Brea. Ticket holders get a taco sample from each of the participating restaurants, two crafted cocktails from Cocktail Academy and Hornitos Tequila, and a paleta for dessert. Tickets: $20-$75.

CALIFORNIA AVOCADO MONTH (Food)
Vendors at Grand Central Market are celebrating California Avocado Month from June 1-30 with specials that celebrate the creamy fruit. For example, Belcampo Meat Co. is offering a California Avocado and Heirloom Tomato Salad; Golden Road Brewing has a California Avocado Italian Chicken Sandwich; Valerie Confections has an California Avocado and Egg Tartine and there are many more. Go, eat and celebrate the avocado all month long.

Want the 411 on additional events and happenings in LA? Follow @LAist or me (@christineziemba) on Twitter.