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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 27
FLORENCE + THE MACHINE: THE ODYSSEY (Film)
Flux, Park Pictures and The Theatre at Ace Hotel present The Odyssey, a film by Florence Welch and Vincent Haycock on Friday at 8 pm. The film was created for Florence + the Machine’s new album How Big How Blue How Beautiful and stars Welch, recounting the "highs and the lows of love and performance" and "the purgatory of heartbreak." Choreographed by Ryan Heffington and Holly Blakey, The Odyssey was filmed in locations in L.A., Mexico, London and the Scottish Highlands. After the screening, there’s a Q&A with Welch, director Haycock and Heffington, plus an exclusive dance performance by Ryan Heffington.
THREE WEAVERS UNITY (Beer release)
Three Weavers Brewing Co. releases its 2016 edition of Unitywith an official launch party at the Inglewood brewery on Friday from 5 pm to midnight. The annual collaboration brew (created in honor of L.A. Beer Week) was brewed with the help of members of the Los Angeles County Brewers Guild and is available on draught and in 22-ounce bottles. It’s described as an “experimental IPA.”
BRETT DENNEN (Music)
Singer-songwriter Brett Dennen performs at the El Rey on Friday night in support of his new album Por Favor. Firekid opens. Doors at 8 pm, show at 9 pm. Tickets: $25.
THE LAST BOOK REVIEW (Storytelling)
Logan Guntzelman and Ever Mainard host another installment of The Last Book Review, a free storytelling night at The Last Bookstore in DTLA on Friday at 8 pm. The event features storytellers, comics and writers sharing humorous tales, personal essays “and one very witty book review.” The jazz funk band Jackrabbit Jade performs, and the scheduled storytellers/performers are Molly Hawkey, Deborah Etta Robinson and special guests. Free, but RSVPs requeste.
FEATHERS OF FIRE (Persian epic)
The largest shadow puppet play Feathers of Fire: A Persian Epic has its L.A. premiere this weekend (Friday through Sunday) at The Ralph Freud Playhouse at UCLA. Created by Hamid Rahmanian, a filmmaker/visual artist, the play is based on the 10th-century classic Persian epic, Shahnameh (The Book of Kings). The production, which takes place on Friday at 8 pm, Saturday at 3 pm and 8 pm and on Sunday at 3 pm, is suitable for all ages. Tickets: $30, $50 and $70.
KATE MICUCCI'S PASTA AND LOVE (Art)
Gallery 1988 (East) presents Kate Micucci’s Pasta and Love, a show of paintings and drawings by actor comedian Micucci (Garfunkel & Oates, Big Bang Theory). There’s an opening reception from 7-9 pm on Friday night. Buy some of her works as she’s donating her portion of sales to 826LA.
SCARLETT JOHANSSON PRESENTS: ASIAN-AMERICAN & PACIFIC ISLANDER HERITAGE MONTH (Comedy)
With the buzz surrounding the roles of Asian Americans in Hollywood—think Scarlett Johansson in Ghost in the Shell, Tilda Swinton in Dr. Strange, #StarringJohnCho and Asian leading men, actors Will Choi and Keiko Agena team up to host a night of comedy on Friday at 9:30 pm in honor of Asian-American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month. The night features three all Asian-American improv teams at UCB Theatre (Sunset). The show is free.
RFK MURAL FESTIVAL (Art)
The RFK Mural Festival promotes the importance of the arts in schools and murals from more than 30 artists have been painted throughout the campus of the RFK Community Schools, built on the site of the former Ambassador Hotel (where Robert F. Kennedy was assassinated). At the grand reception on Friday from 5-11 pm, the public will be able to view murals by Shepard Fairey, Kenny Scharf, Jeff Soto, Baker’s Son, Jose Maradiaga-Andrade, Paige Smith and many others. The Paul Schrade Library has also been transformed into a gallery exhibition space featuring work from over 30 artists, from D*Face, Tim Biskup to Christine Wu and others, as well as artwork from the students.
LACTAID + MILK BAR (Ice cream)
If you have lactose intolerance, then Milk Bar and Lactaid have something special planned for you this Memorial Day weekend at the Santa Monica Pier. Milk Bar provides bringing free custom ice cream creations all weekend through the limited-edition Lactaid and Milk Bar Ice Cream Truck, offering free Compost Cookie Fudge Sundae with Lactaid Chocolate Ice Cream and/or a Milk Bar Strawberry Popcorn Shake with Lactaid Vanilla Ice Cream. The giveaways take place from Friday through Monday from 11 am to 5 pm.
SATURDAY, MAY 28
CRYPTOTWEENS ARE LIKE (Art)
Corey Helford Gallery presents an opening reception on Saturday from 7-11 pm for Lori Nelson: Cryptotweens Are Like. Nelson paints a “delightfully bizarre world of yetis, werewolves, and scaly tweens but her subjects are not the freaks and monsters we’ve come to know on the silver screen…[they] are surprisingly like us.” The show marks the artist’s West Coast debut and the works will remain on on view through July 2.
CALIFORNIA GOLD RUSH BEER & SOUR FESTIVAL (Beer)
Saturday is California Gold Rush Day for horseracing, and Santa Anita Park invites the public to spend it trackside at the Santa Anita Gold Rush Beer & Sour Festival. Taste craft beers and sours from the best breweries in California and buy bites from delicious food while watching and wagering on Live Thoroughbred racing. Buy online in advance for a special souvenir pint glass. The $35 package includes Club House Admission, Ten (10) 3oz. Beer Tastings, Four 3 oz. Sour Tastings, a Racing Program + Tip Sheet.
BIKE IN MOVIE FUNTIMES: SPACE PATROL (Biking + movies)
Agents of Happenings and Tren Way Cafe comes a night of adventure with a Bike In Movie night that features bicycling, parlor games, two-wheeled contests, DJs, craft coffee and beers. The night ends with a sci-fi themed movie screening at a secret location in Frogtown. The biking starts at 5 pm, with a meetup at the Mulholland Memorial Fountain (corner of Riverside Dr. and Los Feliz Blvd). Please bring a working bicycle with lights and a lock and blankets and yoga mats if you can ride with them. If you don’t feel like riding then meet up with the group at 6 pm at the secret location (the address will be released on Saturday). Cost $10 Bike-In (you’ll get a spoke card that gets you a discount) or $15 Walk-ins.
IN TRUMP WE TRUST (Comedy + satire)
On Saturday at 9 pm, Second City Hollywood presents the “crazy political whirlwind musical,” In Trump We Trust. Directed by Second City alum Dave Colan, and creator of the viral Kim Davis twitter account @nexttokimdavis, In Trump We Trust recounts the story of the greatest American and his rise from humble reality star/heir. Music and lyrics by Dan Wessels. Tickets: $12.
GIMME FLAIR (Pins + patches)
On Saturday from 4-9 pm, Summer Allen, owner of the online shop Gimme Flair, hosts her first ever pop-up shop. She has asked 14 artists and designers to join her in selling their pins, patches and art goods in the Fashion District to benefit SIECUS (Sexual Information and Education Council of the United States.) She will also be selling pieces of flair from artists all over the world who sell through her shop.The Gimme Flair Pop-Up Shop will be located in the Wayside Press building at 857 S. San Pedro Street in DTLA. Pabst Blue Ribbon is helping sponsor the event, so PBR and wine and snacks will be available. The event is free and open to the public.
CHUNG KING ROAD (Art openings)
Chinatown is hopping on Saturday night with six gallery openings on Chung King Road. Coagula Curatorial opens Jill Emery’s New Works; Project Gallery presents the Illustrative Minds - Group Show; Esther Pearl Watson’s Galactic Plains is at Gregorio Escalante Gallery; the group show Sons of Pompeii, featuring works by Chaz Bojorquez, Shepard Fairey, C.R. Stecyk, is at the Escalante Gallery Annex; Helen Rae is at The Good Luck Gallery; Secrets: Shelbie Dimond, Ed Freeman, John Hundt is at Aeterna Gallery. Receptions on Saturday from 7-11 pm.REPOSE: MIKE LEE (Art)
Giant Robot 2 (GR2) presents Repose, a solo show by Mike Lee that’s themed around emotion and exploration. It opens on Saturday with an opening reception with the artist from 6:30-10 pm. The works will remain on view through June 15.
NEWFILMMAKERS LOS ANGELES (Film)
On Saturday at 1139 S. Hill St. in DTLA, NewFilmmakers Los Angeles (NFMLA) celebrates Asian talent and the community's stories. The first program of short films begins at 5 pm, followed by the Documentary Feature (Dark Progressivism) screening at 7:15 pm. The feature-length film screening of Before The Sun Explodes begins at 9:15 pm. There are pre- and post-receptions for each program as well as audience Q&A sessions. Admission to the individual programs are $5-$7 or $16 for all three.
SUNDAY, MAY 29
MAINOPOLY (Food)
MAINopoly: Taste of Main Streetreturns to Santa Monica for the second year on Sunday from 3-8 pm. Buy tickets and then use the corresponding MAINopoly dollars for tastings or drink specials at participating eateries, juice stores and coffee shops along Main Street, including Knuckle & Claw, Bareburger, Areal, Ashland Hill and others. Proceeds benefit Summer SOULstice and Heal the Bay. Activities include the VIP Lounge sponsored by Shock Top with hosted beer, food from local restaurants, snacks, DJ and games, a Kids Zone, beer gardens and more. You’re encouraged to dress up in a Monopoly or patriotic-inspired costume, and if you hit all the locations on the agenda, you can win a Taste of Main Street prize package. Tickets: $25 in advance and $30 the day of; $40 in advance and $50 day of for VIP. Kids tickets are $15 for children 5-12 years old.
CINEMA BAR CRAWFISH BOIL (Food + drinks)
Matt Ellis and Cinema Bar present a day of music and crawfish at the Cinema Bar on Sepulveda on Sunday beginning at 3 pm. Jody Jones kicks off the music with an acoustic set; Lacey Kay Cowden plays at 4pm, followed by Paul Chesne and his band at 5pm. Ellis closes out the day with his full band at 6:30pm. Special guest Chef Brian Dunsmoor and his Hatchet Hall crew are boiling up crawfish all afternoon. Admission: $12 and includes food and music.
NEIL HAMBURGER LIVE (Comedy)
Neil Hamburger: LIVE is at the Satellite on Sunday night. In addition to comedy by Hamburger, the lineup includes Andy Kindler, Kate Berlant, Nate Fernald, Emma Arnold and Nick Flanagan. Doors at 8 pm and the show is 8:30 pm. Tickets: $8. 21+.
Want the 411 on additional events and happenings in LA? Follow @LAist or me (@christineziemba) on Twitter.
