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Here are 20 of our favorite events happening right here in L.A. this weekend. Want other options? Check out LAist’s May Guide, too.
FRIDAY, MAY 13
HEARSAY: ARTISTS REVEAL URBAN LEGENDS (Art)
Hearsay: Artists Reveal Urban Legends is an art show that opens this weekend and features the work of nearly three dozen artists who’ve been inspired by urban legends. Artists include: Llyn Foulkes, Naida Osline, Victoria Reynolds, Jim Shaw, Jeffrey Vallance, Marnie Weber, Chris Wilder, Emmeric Konrad and Robert Williams Presented by Arts District Center for the Arts at the new warehouse gallery space LosJoCos Gallery in DTLA, the opening artists reception takes place fittingly on Friday (the 13th) from 7-10 pm, with a performance by F for Freak at 8 pm. The works remain on view through June 12.
I STAND WITH PLANNED (Comedy Fundraiser)
The second 'I Stand with Planned' fundraiser comedy benefit for Planned Parenthood takes place on Friday at 7 pm at NerdMelt. Comedy from Arden Myrin, Debra DiGiovanni, Juanita Carmelita, Laurie Kilmartin, Esther Povitsky and special guests. They’re also joining forces with Project Caged Birds, Inc., which assembles hygiene/self-care bags for homeless women, so admission to the show is $10 + feminine hygiene product donation for Project Caged Birds.
BOB BOILEN (Book Talk)
Bob Boilen, the creator and host of NPR Music’s All Songs Considered and the awesome Tiny Desk Concerts series has released his first book, Your Song Changed My Life, and he talks about it on Friday at Skylight Books at 7:30 pm. He often asks his guests about a song pivotal to their careers, and his book features responses from Philip Glass, St Vincent, Carrie Brownstein, Dave Grohl, Michael Stipe, Jimmy Page, David Byrne, Jeff Tweedy, Cat Stevens, Justin Vernon, Jenny Lewis, Smokey Robinson, Sturgill Simpson, Jackson Browne, Hozier and many others.
THERE IS NO MORE FIRMAMENT (Art)
Regen Projects presents Elliott Hundley: There is No More Firmament, the artist’s fourth solo show at the gallery. On view are Hundley’s billboard collages and a sculpture “that form an ongoing visual narrative.” There’s an opening reception on Friday from 6-8 pm, and the show runs through June 18.
ASHER HARTMAN (Performance Art)
LACMA has commissioned a performance art piece from Asher Hartman, and the happening takes place on Friday and Saturday at 7:30 pm at LACMA.The Silver, the Black, the Wicked Dance is a 90-minute dark and comedic play “about predation and shame in American life, set amongst a fictional landscape informed by the Tar Pits, the Great Plains, and outer space.” The unconventional performance is not meant for kids or for those who don’t like nudity. The performances are free, but tickets are required. Obtain them at the box office an hour before show time. Ticketholders convene at the Los Angeles Times Central Court at LACMA.
PIATIGORSKY INTERNATIONAL CELLO FESTIVAL (Music)
The second Piatigorsky International Cello Festival returns to L.A. for 10 days beginning on Friday with events and concerts dedicated to all things cello. Spearheaded by USC Thornton School of Music, the L.A. Philharmonic and the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, the international showcase features cellists Yo-Yo Ma, Mischa Maisky, Truls Mørk, Jean-Guihen Queyras, David Geringas, Frans Helmerson, Colin Carr, Sol Gabetta, Giovanni Sollima, Raphael Wallfisch and others. The festival opens with cellist and festival director Ralph Kirshbaum, performing Bloch’s Schelomo - Hebraic Rhapsody for Violoncello and Orchestra with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, under Leonard Slatkin. In the latter half of the program, the orchestra performs Berlioz’ Symphonie fantastique. Tickets: $26.50-$203.50.
LA NUIT EN ROSÉ LOS ANGELES (Wine)
If you’ve been avoiding the white zin because it brings you bad memories of wine coolers in high school, then it’s about time to rethink the rosé. La Nuit en Rosé Los Angeles returns to the Mondrian from May 13-15. It’s the first festival dedicated exclusively to rosé, bringing together wine producers, chefs and drinkers to celebrate rosé. Things kick off on Friday night at Ivory on Sunset with a four-course pairing meal ($250) crafted by ABC’s The Taste and Top Chef alum Brian Malarkey. Other events include a poolside Rosé Sunset Soirée on Saturday night, and a Rosé Pool Party at SkyBar on Sunday featuring more than 50 rosé wines and champagnes. ($65-$135). 21+
IDIOT BOX (Art)
G1988 West brings back a favorite exhibit, Idiot Box, with an opening reception from 7-10 pm on Friday night. The show celebrates the best and worst of TV with paintings, prints and sculptures, showcasing fav characters and storylines. The art’s inspired by The Wire, Fargo, Twin Peaks, Cheers, X-Files and many more. The show runs through May 28th.
DON’T TELL MY MOTHER (Storytelling)
The storytelling show Don't Tell My Motherpresents its "Mama’s Day Show" with headliner Judy Reyes (Scrubs, Devious Maids) celebrating those tales that mom should never hear at Busby's East on Friday night. The night also include stories from Superstore’s Nico Santos, lesbian super comic Jen Kober (The Mindy Project), actress Stephanie Allynne (Comedy Bang! Bang!) and creator Nikki Levy (DreamworksTV). Music by Abby and The Myth. Bar, food menu and party begins at 7 pm and the storytelling begins at 8 pm. Tickets: $16-$20.
SATURDAY, MAY 14
L.A. POST FEST (Film Fest)
L.A. Post Fest is the first international film festival dedicated to the “creative and technical process of post production.” Created by the Los Angeles Post Production Group, the inaugural screening and awards ceremony takes place on Saturday at 2 pm at the Aero Theatre in Santa Monica at 2:00 p.m. This event is the culmination of a video editing competition in which participants were tasked with creating their own version of the sci-fi 4K short film, Protocol. A reception follows the screening and awards. Tickets: $10.
Panther Squad Trailer by moidixmois
HORRIBLE MOVIE NIGHT (Film)
It’s time for Horrible Movie Night at the NerdMelt showroom on Saturday night at 9 pm. Organizers screen the worst films ever made, and the audience is invited to roast the movie as it plays. The best one-liners will win prizes. Screening this time around is the 1980s action flick Panther Squad, starring Sybil Danning. From organizers: “[Danning is] head of an elite female fighting force tasked with rescuing a kidnapped astronaut from a radical environmental group (radical because they want to prevent pollution in outer-freakin'-space).” The evening includes free popcorn and cheap snacks. Tickets: $8 in advance, $10 at the door. 21+.
ECHO PARK SHOP HOP (Shopping)
More than 25 local businesses in Echo Park are participating in a Shop Hop on Saturday, hosting special opportunities and events, including special discounts, drinks, music, gifts and more. Organizers are dubbing this the Wonder Women Edition to celebrate the fact that 60 percent of independent Echo Park business are owned and managed by women. Participating stores and establishments include: Memento Mori, Rock Paper Salon, Sunday’s Best Thrift, Eightfold Coffee and more.
HOUSING JUSTICE + LANGUAGE JUSTICE (Social justice + Arts)
On Saturday from 1-4 pm, Hammer Museum artists-in-residence Antena and Antena Los Ángeles invite visitors to address issues around housing in L.A. together in a bilingual community space. The arts collaborative joins with the Los Angeles Tenants Union and the South El Monte Arts Posse for activities (including a Zumba-inspired participatory dance that sheds light on the housing issues in the city). Free.
ANDREW BIRD (Music)
Multi-instrumentalist (and world-class whistler) Andrew Bird plays The Theatre at Ace Hotel for two nights on Saturday and Sunday to support his last album, Are You Serious. John Grant opens the show. 9 pm. Tickets: $37.50-$52.50.
LA BOHÈME (Opera)
The LA Opera’s original production of the Puccini classic opera La Bohème returns this weekend with Nino Machaidze playing Mimi. She’s joined by a stellar cast playing other poor young bohemians, “surviving only on laughter and the promise of love.” Opening night is on Saturday at 7:30 pm at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, and La Bohème is staged for seven additional performances through June 12 . Tickets: $64-$229.
SUNDAY, MAY 15
2016 C.O.L.A. Exhibition (Art)
The 2016 City of Los Angeles (C.O.L.A.) Individual Artists Fellowships Exhibition opens on Sunday at the Los Angeles Municipal Art Gallery with a reception from 2-5 pm. The city’s Department of Cultural Affairs (DCA) awards $10,000 to 12 exemplary mid-career artists, and this year’s honorees are: Paolo Davanzo, Marsian De Lellis, Keiko Fukazawa, Megan Geckler, Won Ju Lim, Blue McRight, Sandeep Mukherjee, Christine Nguyen, and Jim Skuldt. The literature awardees are Sarah Maclay, Claudia Rodriguez and Lynne Thompson. Each artist will create new work created specifically for the C.O.L.A. exhibition, which is on view through July 3.
PICKLE PARTY (Food)
Grand Central Market hosts a Pickle Party on Sunday from 10 to 5 pm, celebrating all things pickled, brined and fermented. The pop-up party features a pop-up pickle marketplace, chef demos, specials and a sauerkraut-making session led by fermentation guru Sandor Ellix Katz. Visitors are invited to join in the day-long Kraut Mob, making kraut in our pop-up KRAUT LAB until we reach our goal of 1,000 pounds.
THE EAGLE ROCK GOSPEL SINGERS (Music)
LA’s own the Eagle Rock Gospel Singers play the Bootleg’s Bar Stage on Sunday, opening for Cross Record. The Eagle Rock Gospel Singers are playing to support their debut album, Heavenly Fire. 8:30 pm. $8. 21+.
HERITAGE FESTIVAL (Beer)
Angel City Brewery celebrates its fourth annual Heritage Festival, celebrating the four years since the brewery took over the historic John A. Roebling building in DTLA’s Arts District. Things kick off at noon with a Giant Toast in the Public House, and then the rest of the day is filled with live bands, food trucks, arts, entertainment and activities. Sip on the spicy Srirachelada, the LAger, made with grapefruit and honey, to a big, bold IPA and a “rotating list of surprise cellared beers throughout the day.” All proceeds from the outdoor beer garden will go to benefit the Arts District’s community creative art center, Art Share LA.
PET SOUNDS ANNIVERSARY (Music)
The Echo & Claire Mc Keown present Beach Boys’ Pet Sounds 50th Anniversary Tribute concert at the Echo on Sunday night at 8 pm. Hosted by Domenic Priore, the evening features performances by Aaron Embry, Devon Williams, Dios, Eleni Mandell, Feels, Froth, The Henry Clay People, Honey Child, Joel Jerome, Kolars w/ Joy Bishop, Nic Hessler, Sam Morrow, Sasami and Avi, The Bots and The Lemon Trees. Tickets: $11.50-$14.50. Ages18+.
Want the 411 on additional events and happenings in LA? Follow @LAist or me (@christineziemba) on Twitter.
