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The Best Online Events And Shows Happening This Week: May 18-21

The Tasting Kitchen on Abbot Kinney reopens for take out delivery for a limited menu and cocktails. (Courtesy of The Tasting Kitchen )
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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.


The gang from Community reunites for a good cause. The Hola Mexico Film Festival screens new flicks. OCMA holds a 24-hour video art festival. Zócalo talks with author William Sturkey. The Hammer examines the Department of Justice's decision to drop charges against Michael Flynn.

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Monday, May 18; 2 p.m. PDT


Community Reunion
The Community cast gets together for a virtual table read and Q&A to benefit COVID-19 relief efforts. Joel McHale, Donald Glover, Gillian Jacobs, Danny Pudi, Yvette Nicole Brown, Alison Brie, Jim Rash and Ken Jeong join series creator Dan Harmon to read Season 5, Episode 4 ("Cooperative Polygraphy"). It'll stream on Sony Pictures TV's Community YouTube page. Fans are encouraged to donate to charities World Central Kitchen and Frontline Foods via the Community fund.
COST: FREE, donations encouraged; MORE INFO

The magazine Sight Unseen opens its furniture and design show OFFSITE Online. (Image courtesy of Supaform)

Monday, May 18 - Friday, June 12


Offsite Online
The magazine Sight Unseen usually presents OFFSITE, its nomadic design fair, during NYCxDesign and the International Contemporary Furniture Fair in New York. This year, it's an online digital space featuring new furniture and objects from 57 designers and brands. The fair also holds four weeks of related programming on its various digital channels.
COST: FREE admission; MORE INFO

Tuesday, May 19; 5 p.m. PDT


Tampering with Justice: DOJ Drops Case Against Michael Flynn
The Hammer Forum welcomes Loyola Law School professor Jessica Levinson to moderate a discussion about the Department of Justice's recent move to dismiss charges against Michael Flynn, President Donald Trump's former national security advisor. What does this decision mean for the future of law enforcement? Flynn was charged with -- and pleaded guilty to -- lying to members of the FBI about his dealings with a Russian ambassador during Robert Mueller's investigation into collusion between the Trump campaign and the Russian government.
COST: FREE with RSVP; MORE INFO

Tuesday, May 19 - ongoing


SF Sketchfest: Live from the Archive
Every Tuesday, the San Francisco comedy festival opens up its archive of past events, including panels and tribute conversations. Recent releases have includes Best in Show and Airplane! reunions. This week, Molly Shannon talks with Bruce McCulloch to honor the 20th anniversary of Superstar. Proceeds go to festival performers, to the festivalitself and to select charities. Shows are available to watch for 48 hours, starting when you hit "play" for the first time.
COST: $5 rental; MORE INFO

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Aloe Blacc takes the stage during day two of The Relevance Conference on September 17, 2019 in Santa Barbara. (Rich Polk/Getty Images for Xandr)

Tuesday, May 19; 5 p.m. PST


Safe and Sound
Safe Place for Youth (S.P.Y.), an L.A.-based nonprofit that supports homeless and at-risk youth, presents a virtual benefit concert hosted by Dave Burd a.k.a. Lil Dicky. The roster of artists includes Aloe Blacc, Matt Berninger of The National, Grouplove, Young the Giant and six musicians from S.P.Y.'s youth music program. Chef Giada de Laurentiis does a quarantine cooking lesson during intermission.
COST: FREE - $10,000 (donations encouraged); MORE INFO

Wednesday, May 20; 5 p.m. PDT


Zócalo: A Conversation with William Sturkey
Zócalo Public Square welcomes William Sturkey, winner of the 10th annual Zócalo Public Square Book Prize for Hattiesburg: An American City in Black and White. He'll discuss race, family and social justice on Hattiesburg, Mississippi, and the city's place in bolstering the civil rights movement. Listen for opening remarks from Zócalo's new board chair, Krist Novoselić (aka Nirvana's bassist).
COST: FREE with RSVP; MORE INFO

Wednesdays, May 20 and 27; 1 p.m. PDT


MusiCares Sessions
Each Wednesday, the Grammy's MusiCares nonprofit presents two hours of performances and conversations live on Twitch. Over the next few, expect music from artists Bryce Vine, Dawes, HANSON, MAX, Old Dominion, Sofi Tukker, Sam Harris of X Ambassadors and Wrabel. Viewers can contribute to the MusiCares COVID-19 Relief Fund via the "DONATE HERE" button.COST: FREE, but donations encouraged; MORE INFO

The 18th Street Art Center presents new work online by Patty Chang that explores pandemic fears. ( Letdown (Milk), 2017. Photo Installation. Courtesy of the artist.)

Wednesday, May 20 - Friday, May 22


Patty Chang: New Work
18th Street Arts Center and Marathon Screenings present an artist talk and screening that focuses on Chang's Milk Debt, which will now open this fall at the Santa Monica center. The multipart video project features women pumping breast milk while reciting lists of fears drawn from different communities around the world. The title refers to the idea in Chinese Buddhism that a child is forever indebted to its mother for the milk she gave. The livestream screenings run from Wednesday through Friday, with an artist talk on Friday at 1 p.m.
COST: FREE with RSVP; MORE INFO

Thursday, May 21 - Friday, May 22; 6 a.m. - 6 a.m.


"What Day Is It Again?" 24-Hour Video Art Festival
The festival spotlights five works from the Orange County Museum of Art's collection, all of which address our new relationship to home during quarantine. These videos were shot at home or in "home-like spaces," and most of the works were made during the early days of consumer camcorders. The works lampoon the absurdity of life today.
COST: FREE; MORE INFO

Thursday, May 21; 7 p.m. PDT


Lo-Freq Fest
H2the's lo-fi livestream album release party for An Album of Lo-Fi Songs That Will Never Trend, allows attendees jump from virtual room to room to watch indie artists and painters. Performers include h2the, KoOoLkOjAk, Rhyme, Yate, Brad Tennant and host Kosha Dillz. The party also raises funds for No Kid Hungry.
COST: FREE (donations encouraged); MORE INFO

Hola Mexico Film Festival screens some of the best new flicks from Mexico. (Hola Mexican Film Festival)

Thursday, May 21 - Sunday, May 31


12th Annual Hola Mexico Film Festival
The Hola Mexico Film Festival has been postponed until September but you can catch an online series showcasing some of the best films from Mexico in recent years. The screenings take place Thursdays to Sundays, with each film available for viewing for only 24 hours. A recorded Q&A is included with each film. Proceeds from each ticket will be shared with the filmmaker. The online fest opens with Los Parecidos (The Similars), directed by Isaac Ezban.

COST: $4.99; MORE INFO

Thursday, May 21; 7 - 8 p.m.


Artist to Artist Talk
The California African American Museum presents a Zoom conversation between Carla Jay Harris, Sam Vernon and Janna Ireland, who were featured in CAAM's exhibition Sanctuary: Recent Acquisitions to the Permanent Collection. They'll discuss the concept of safe space and refuge as it relates to the African American experience. RSVP for Zoom link.
COST: FREE with RSVP; MORE INFO

Thursday, May 21; various times throughout the day


Get Back Up
Justin Furstenfeld, lead singer of Blue October, hosts the premiere of a documentary that tracks the band for seven tumultuous years. Members deal with substance abuse, mental health struggles and recovery. The premiere is followed by interactive Q&A sessions.
COST: $11.99; MORE INFO

Thursday, May 21; 6 - 8:30 p.m.


Groundlings Online Classes
The comedy troupe counts a number of well-known performers among its alumni ranks. A few of them are returning to host live-streamed online classes that will benefit the theater and school. Ben Falcone, Nat Faxon and Jim Rash will present "Directing for the Screen." The conversation will touch on directing, including breaking in, running a set and being a great collaborator. A Q&A is included in the class session. Limited enrollment.
COST: $50; MORE INFO

The A+D Museum presents its first virtual, crowdsourced digital exhibition, The Future of Space. (Courtesy of the A+D Museum)

Ongoing


The Future of _Space
The A+D Museum presents its first virtual, crowdsourced digital exhibition. The museum prompted artists and designers to explore a new understanding of space in times when our interactions have become the focus of society at large. How do you really connect online? What does this new way of digital interaction mean for our private spaces?
COST: FREE admission; MORE INFO


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.

  • The Tasting Kitchen on Abbot Kinney has reopened for TK-TO-GO, available Wednesday - Sunday, 4 - 10 p.m. Delivery available through Caviar. Chef Travis Passerotti reimagined the menu to feature restaurant dishes made for a home environment. The menu includes confit pork shoulder ($32), Spanish octopus ($32), gnocco fritto pillows ($8) and plenty of cocktails.
  • Connie and Ted's in West Hollywood has reopened for take-out and pick-up via Tock and Grubhub. The menu includes Jo's Wicked Good Chowda' Bowl ($10), lobster rolls ($29) and the signature hook burger ($16).
  • Jones in Hollywood has re-opened for takeout with a menu of thin crust pizzas, salads, appetizers, pasta and cocktails. They are only taking orders by phone (323) 850-1726, starting at 4:30 p.m., with the last order at 8:30 p.m. Don't leave a voicemail; you need to speak to a staff member to place an order.
  • Howlin' Ray's, home of Nashville hot chicken in Chinatown, has partnered exclusively with Postmates for delivery Tuesdays through Saturdays from 11 a.m. - 7 p.m. The menu's been paired down tovchicken wings, fried chicken sandwiches and sides, but we don't think you'll find too many complaints.
  • Sara's Market on the Go, a grocery and liquor store in City Terrace, takes its tiendita "on wheels" to the streets of L.A. to help bolster its business. On Monday, the truck will be parked at Boyle Heights' George's Burger Stand and Carnitas El Momo on Tuesday for order pickup. The truck does not offer a walk-up service and all orders must be placed ahead of time. They're also that customers support the restaurants they're partnering with on this venture.
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