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Here are 21 of our favorite events happening in Los Angeles this week. We’ll be back on Thursday with our Weekend Planner column to help you plan—what else?— the weekend ahead. And don’t check out the May Guide or the Best Night Out in Los Angeles for other events and suggestions.
MONDAY, MAY 11
BIKE WEEK: It’s Bike Week, so think about ditching your four wheels for two this week. As part of the celebration, C.I.C.L.E. holds several Bike Week Pasadena 2015 events from May 11-16. The cycling group has organized several bicycle-powered events that promotes biking among the community. Events include a Taste of Pasadena Bicycle Tour on Monday, Women's Bike Night on Wednesday, and Bike-In Movie Night (featuring E.T.) and a Pedal Party to wrap up the week.
COMEDY: It’s Past My Bedtime with Topher Harless is a new-ish comedy show in Los Angeles that brings together a late-night talk show format with sketch comedy, a live band, videos and more. Hosted by Topher Harless and starring a rotating cast of performers and special guests, the show takes place the second Monday of the month at Oh My Ribs! Entertainment. Tickets: $5.
MUSIC On Monday night at the Regent, Mexico Goes Morrissey in “Mexrrissey” with bilingual musical performers Camilo Lara, Ceci Bastida, Jay de la Cueva, Ricardo Najera, Sergio Mendoza, Jacob Valenzuela and more taking on the music of Morrissey. “The renditions will add horns and accordions, borrow from cumbias and rancheras to interpret a new spirit into the songs.” All ages. Tickets: $20-23.
COMEDY: Brave New Show is a mixer for both veteran and up-and-coming comedians in one showcase at the Inner Sanctum at UCB Sunset. Hosted by Emily Maya Mills, the lineup includes Echo Kellum, Gilli Nissim, Christian Spicer, Lindsay Ames, Johnny Pemberton and The Chroma Keys. 8 pm. Free.
MUSIC Golden Coast continues its free Monday night residency at the Bootleg. Joining them on the bill this week are The Rebel Light and Pop Noir. 8:30 pm. 21+.
AUDIO/VISUAL: Prism Pipe is a monthly visual music and live film score event that takes place at pehrspace in Echo Park. Monday’s program, Rain Dance, is a plea for rain from the powers that be. Matthew Dotson performs original weather-themed dance music with visuals by Sarah Zucker. Doors are at 8 pm, show at 8:45 pm. Tickets are $5. All ages. Bring a yoga mat for the full, immersive experience.
TUESDAY, MAY 12
MUSIC: The Minneapolis-based Sick of Sarah has not only been compared to Sleater-Kinney and The Breeders but also Uh Uh Her and Tegan and Sarah. Decide for yourself when they play the Roxy in WeHo on Tuesday. Also on the bill: Smoke Season and Sad Robot. Tickets: $12-15. 8 pm.
MUSIC: The UK’s The Wombats play the Fonda on Tuesday night in support of the band’s latest release Glitterbug. They’re joined on the bill by Life in Film and Cheerleader. Tickets: $20. Doors at 8 pm.
WEDNESDAY, MAY 13
MUSIC: British solo artist Nick Mulvey, a founding member of the Mercury Prize-nominated jazz collective, Portico Quartet, plays a gig at the Bootleg on Wednesday night. He’s currently touring in support of his debut solo album, First Mind. Also on the bill: James Davis. 21+. Doors at 7:30 pm. Tickets: $15.
SHORT FILM: Mini Cinema screens short films on the big screen, and the next screening is on Wednesday at 8 pm at Regal Cinemas at L.A. Live. The program features: “An American Piano,” “Shoot the Moon,” “Wild Mustangs” and “Solely.” The screening is free, or $7 for the VIP experience (front of line and reserved seating).
TIKI: The Spare Room at the Hollywood Roosevelt begins its new monthly series, Evening with Tiki, this week. Its new Beverage Director Yael Vengroff invites special guest bartenders to serve up island-inspired cocktails. Up first on Wednesday night is Captain Brian Miller (Tiki Night, NYC). RSVP to Reservations@spareroomhollywood.com
ART + FILM: The Moroccan artist Hassan Hajjaj's first feature-length film, Karima: A Day in the Life of a Henna Girl, screens at LACMA on Wednesday at 6:30 pm. The film follows the life of a businesswoman named Karima and her friends, who work as henna artists in Jemaa el-Fnaa, the historic market in Marrakesh’s old city. Presented in conjunction with LACMA's current exhibition Islamic Art Now: Contemporary Art from the Middle East, the filmmaker takes part in a Q&A after the screening. Free, but tickets required.
THURSDAY, MAY 14
MUSIC: French house music producer and performer Fred Falke headlines Sound Nightclub in Hollywood with JackLNDN, January Black, Channel One & Ford Prefect (b2b) also on the bill. Doors at 9 pm. Get there early because there’s a hosted bar from 9-10 sponsored by Absolut Vodka, Avion Tequila and Jameson Whiskey. Tickets: $20-$25.
MUSIC: Singer Kristen Schaeffer, who counts Sara Vaughn and Sara Bareilles among her influences, performs at Room 5 on Thursday night. 8 pm. Tickets: $10.
TV TALK: On Thursday night at 7 pm, the Paley Center presents an Evening with Dancing With the Stars, which is currently in its 20th season. The panelists include a mix of hosts, judges and celebrity and pro-dancers. The panel discussion will stream live exclusively on Yahoo Screen if you can’t make it to Beverly Hills. Tickets: $15 for Paley members and $25 for the general public.
STORY: On Thursday at 8 pm, Busby’s East welcomes the storytelling show Don’t Tell My Mother. Writers and performers share true stories they'd never want their moms to know, and this week they’re celebrating Mother’s Day. On the program are: actress Clementine Ford, actor Jen Kober, comic Aida Rodriguez, actress Eden Sher and Gay of Thrones creator Erin Gibson, host Nikki Levy and surprise guests. Live music by Oliviero. Doors at 7 pm. 21+ only. Stories and music begin at 8 pm. Tickets: $16-$20.
ART + LIT: Two cool events happening at The Standard, Hollywood on Thursday night. There's an artist’s reception on Thursday at 7 pm for Thomas Slack’s Just A Moment Now, an installation for The Box in the hotel’s lobby. At 7:30 pm, Shanna Mahin reads from her debut novel, Oh! You Pretty Things, which pokes at celebrity from the inside out. (She was a celebrity personal assistant before she became a full-time writer.)
ART: De Soto Gallery presents Joaquin Trujillo’s Mal de Ojo, an exhibition of photographs on view from Thursday to June 28. The “evil eye” works are inspired by the artist’s upbringing in rural Mexico, in which he believed he was the “victim of this spiritual affliction when he contracted scarlet fever and nearly died, suffering permanent eye damage for which he has had repeated corrective surgeries throughout his life.” The artist will be in attendance for the opening reception on Thursday from 5 to 7pm.
MUSIC: Woods plays The Echo on Thursday night with with Alex Bleeker and the Freaks. Doors 8:30 pm. Tickets: $13-$15.
SCI-FI: Eagle-Con returns to Cal State L.A. on May 14 and 15 to “explore and celebrate diversity in comic books, science fiction and fantasy.” This year’s theme, “Engineering Science Fiction” and brings together sci-fi, fantasy, comic books, literature, and film and television to explore issues of identity and representation from cultural and academic perspectives. Tickets for non-students: $15 for one day, $25 for both days.
ART: Art Share L.A. Honors artist Kent Twitchell for 40 years of mural creation during its second annual Above The Streets fundraising event on Thursday night. Tickets start at $50 and includes a reception from 6-9 pm with the artist, food and drinks from Traxx restaurant, beer from Angel City and the opportunity to buy artwork.
Related: May Events Guide: 20 of Our Favorite Events in L.A.
Want the 411 on additional events and happenings in LA? Follow @LAist or me (@christineziemba) on Twitter.
