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Awesome Events Happening Online And IRL This Week: June 1-4
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Coronavirus is wreaking havoc on schools, stores, businesses and events. With in-person concerts, talks, comedy shows, food festivals and other gatherings cancelled, we have turned our events column into a "nonevents" column. It will remain this way as long as social distancing and stay-at-home orders are in effect.
During this difficult time, please consider contributing to your local arts organizations or to individual artists and performers.
Catch virtual art show openings. Watch Darren Criss' new show, which spoofs the world of songwriting. Contribute to a crowd-sourced art project about reading. Listen to celeb storytellers. Tune into a concert that benefits the historic Apollo Theater.
Monday, June 1; 4 p.m.
Thinkspace Projects Exhibitions
The Culver City gallery presents virtual tours of its new exhibitions, including Scott Listfield's This is America, McKenzie Fisk's Good Luck Don't Die and Sean Banister's A Tourist at Home.
COST: FREE; MORE INFO
Monday, June 1
Royalties
Quibi, the short-form mobile platform, launches the premiere of a new musical comedy series created by actor and songwriter Darren Criss. A satirical take on the songwriters behind the world's biggest hits, the comedy features 12 original songs featuring performances by Jordan Fisher, Julianne Hough, Jackie Tohn, Bonnie McKee, Jennifer Coolidge, Lil Rel Howery, Mark Hamill, Rufus Wainwright and Sabrina Carpenter.
COST: Subscription (but there's a 14-day free trial); MORE INFO
Tuesday, June 2; 6 p.m.
At Home With... John Williams
The limited series, created by the LA Phil, Classical KUSC (L.A.) and Classical KDFC (San Francisco), welcomes Gustavo Dudamel and composer John Williams. The two will broadcast from their homes and chatt with KUSC host Brian Lauritzen, sharing musical selections and personal stories.
COST: FREE; MORE INFO
Tuesday, June 2 and Thursday, June 4
The Groundlings Classes
Alumni of The Groundlings Theatre and School come back to support the nonprofit comedy training ground as it's been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. On Tuesday at 6 p.m. PT, Groundlings alumni Stephanie Courtney (Progressive Insurance's Flo), Mikey Day (Saturday Night Live), Jim Rash (Community), Mitch Silpa (Spy), and Michaela Watkins (The Unicorn) lead an interactive storytelling experience and Q&A to discuss their career paths. " The Thursday class has been postponed.
COST: $25 - $50; MORE INFO
Tuesday, June 2 - Sunday, June 21; 4:05 p.m.
Songs for Our City
Broadway's singer-songwriters perform new original music in a virtual songwriter competition and concert series. More than two dozen artists have been tapped to write and perform original songs about the community, the Theater District or their memories on Broadway in seven livestreamed concerts. Audience members vote at home for their favorite performances. The series doubles as a fundraiser for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS' COVID-19 Emergency Assistance Fund.
COST: FREE; MORE INFO

Wednesday, June 3; 1 p.m.
Virtual High School Choir Festival
For the first time in 30 years, the annual High School Choir Festival will be presented online. The concert will feature highlights from recent festivals, including a 2016 Purple Rain tribute to Prince, Bill Withers's "Lean on Me" from 2019, student interviews and testimonials. The festival culminates in a virtual performance of choir members singing "The Promise of Light," by Georgia Stitt and Len Schiff.
COST: FREE; MORE INFO
Through Thursday, June 4 by 11:59 p.m.
Amir Zaki: Where We Read
The Orange County Museum of art has commissioned Zaki to create a crowd-sourced photography project. Books can transport us out of quarantine into different cities and worlds, so the artist is asking people to send in two photographs. One is a first-person view from where you read, and another captures the view looking back at your reading area. All images will be compiled for a collective work. Please submit images by 11:59 on June 4.
COST: FREE; MORE INFO
This event has now been postponed.
Changing the Story
826LA holds its first virtual gala with a night of storytelling by Judd Apatow, Mindy Kaling, Kumail Nanjiani, Emily V. Gordon, Keegan-Michael Key, Constance Wu and Al Madrigal. The event raises funds for free writing and tutoring programs for kids from under-resourced communities. The virtual red carpet begins at 6:30 p.m., so get dressed up or wear your 826LA gear and make yourself a literary-themed beverage.
COST: FREE; MORE INFO
Wednesday, June 3; 3 - 4:30 p.m.
Corridos, Cumbias y Coronavirus
LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes holds a Zoom and Facebook Live lecture with UCLA Professor Marissa Lopez who shares recent music created in response to coronavirus. She'll talk about the history of corridos (narrative songs) and explore some of the corridos, cumbias and raps that have come out of the pandemic.
COST: FREE; MORE INFO

Thursday, June 4; 4:30 p.m.*
Let's Stay (In) Together: A Benefit To Support The Apollo
*Originally scheduled for Tuesday, June 2, the Apollo Theater moves this event to Thursday in observance of the music industry's #TheShowMustBePaused compaign and Black Out Tuesday. Gibson Guitars kicks off Black Music Month with a live concert to benefit the historic Apollo Theater in Harlem. Watch performances by "Captain" Kirk Douglas Of The Roots, Kool & The Gang, Gary Clark Jr., Robert Randolph, Ray Chew, Michael McDonald, Lil Buck & Jon Boogz, Keb Mo, Celisse Henderson, Infinity's Song and Marc Bamuthi Joseph.
COST: FREE; MORE INFO
Thursday, June 4; 6 p.m.
Feels Like Summer
L.A.-based DJ Illanoise (Raphael Woods) launches a livestreaming audiovisual dance party on Thursday evenings to benefit All Love for L.A., which raises money for local food banks. This week's flagship event features a danceable DJ set, immersive videos and lights. Audience interaction is key so song requests and conversations are welcome. COST: FREE - $10; MORE INFO

Thursday, June 4
Godchild
Park Pictures presents the virtual release of AG Rojas' Godchild, a visual and musical celebration of the works of Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong, Miles Davis and John Coltrane for an exclusive one-month run. The 10-minute film was supposed to tour around the country as part of the Smithsonian Institute's Men of Change exhibition.
COST: FREE; MORE INFO
This event has been postponed.
Pantages Celebrates 90 Years
The theater celebrates 90 years in Hollywood with a virtual video shindig. Add your memories to the mix on the Pantages' social media channels.
COST: FREE; MORE INFO
This event has been postponed.
How Can Humans Coexist With Monster Wildfires? [Register for the updated dates when they become available.]
Zócalo and Huntington-USC Institute on California and the West present an online discussion of living with wildfires, moderated by Nathan Rott of NPR. He's joined by panelists Fernanda Santos, author of The Fire Line; historical ecologist Jared Dahl Aldern; and Theresa Gregor, American Indian Studies professor at CSU Long Beach.
COST: FREE, but registration requested; MORE INFO

Ongoing
Battleship IOWA Museum Reopens
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the long-retired USS Iowa was pressed into service to aid the USNS Mercy's shoreside support team. This Saturday, it's reopening to the public. It will be open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. with outdoor tour experiences available with limited capacity. Guests can choose from a self-guided or a private but physically distanced tour. You can can book up to six guests per reservation and all attendees are expected to adhere to public health guidelines posted on the website.
COST: $11.95 - $225 (for private groups of up to six); MORE INFO
Restaurant / Bar Updates and Deals
Dine & Drink Deals
Who doesn't miss going out to eat or stopping by a bar for a drink? Here are a few options from restaurants and bars as we work our way back toward normal.
- Starting on Monday (June 1), Tito's Tacos permanently offers private delivery service, teaming with StreetSmart Messengers. Delivery will cost $10 within a 5-mile radius, increasing by $2 per mile after that distance. All delivery fees and tips will go directly to StreetSmart.
- The Milky Way, a kosher dairy restaurant founded by Steven Spielberg's mom and reopened in 2019, will start offering takeout.The restaurant's favorite dishes, including set family meals for four people, will also be available for curbside pickup and delivery via Postmates on Tuesday, June 2.
- Dessert shop Churriño in Long Beach celebrates Pride Month with a new flavor of churro ...Oh My Lover! Enjoy three bite-sized churros filled with layers of lemon custard and chocotella, topped with fresh strawberries, coconut flakes, a drizzle of condensed milk and edible gold flakes for $5.95. Guests can order online via Churrino.com for pickup curbside or in-store.
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