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Here are 20 of our favorite events happening right here in L.A. this weekend. Think we missed something or you just want other options? Check out LAist’s June Guide, too.
FRIDAY, JUNE 17
NONPLUSSED FEST (Film)
The Virgil Village performance space Non Plus Ultra presents the first Nonplussed Fest,which focuses on visual and interactive art, short films and music. The film program features 31 official selection short films, and two additional guest shorts programs from the Alamo Drafthouse LA and the Video Collective of Los Angeles (VCLA). There’s also a showcase of eight interactive media projects, and performances by Drinking Flowers, Terminal A, Golden Daze, Popheart, the Dream Ride, Noh Stars, Sugarcube, Vanilla, Velour Afternoon and Yeses. The Nonplussed Fest takes place Friday through Sunday at Non Plus Ultra in East Hollywood. Tickets: $8-$20.
KTOWN NIGHT MARKET (Food)
The KTOWN Night Market returns on Friday and Saturday to the Robert F. Kennedy Community Schools in Koreatown. Admission is $2 online + fees and $5 at the door. More than 100 vendors are participating and tastes include Korean ddukbokki at Yup Dduk to Tacos at Taqueria El Severo to Sushi at Hanaro Sushi. Also expected are Seoul Sausage Co., The Middle Feast, The Chairman and Street Churros and desserts from Stick House, Mix*E, Milk & Honey. Also, The Silk Show comes to the Night Market this weekend, a sample sale of streetwear brands at 50-80 percent off retail. Night Market hours: 4-11 pm on Friday and 2-11 pm on Saturday.
TRANS PRIDE LA (Celebration)
Trans Pride LA is one of the country’s oldest and largest trans celebrations, and it happens this weekend (Friday and Saturday) at the Los Angeles LGBT Center’s Ed Gould Plaza. The weekend begins with theBig Queer Convo with activist CeCe McDonald, who was the subject of documentary Free CeCe. Afterwards, there’s an art opening and reception for We Can Be Heroes, which includes a mural project that celebrates pioneers of trans history. On Saturday, there are workshops, talks, happy hour, a variety of performances. Admission to all events is free.
PRIVATE ISLAND (Music + party)
W Hollywood is celebrating summer’s arrival with music and fashion events. On Friday at The Loft at W hollywood, sip on cocktails while checking out the music of Private Island, with guests Kid Shelter and King Boom. Doors at 8 pm. No cover. This is a 21+ event.
MATTHEW SKIFF’S BEST FRIENDS (Art)
Gallery 1988 (East) presents the show Best Friends, a series of Skiff’s prints that explore the theme of rivalry in children’s programming. The opening reception is on Friday night from 7-9 pm, with the artist in attendance.
THE WILDER SOCIETY (Music)
The LA-based folk-rock band, The Wilder Society (whose sound kind of reminds us of The Family Crest) has a set on Friday at the Hotel Cafe. They’ll songs from its upcoming debut EP, Lion’s Den, which is due out next month. Doors at 8 pm, show at 9 pm. Tickets: $10.
SLEEPLESS: THE MUSIC CENTER AFTER HOURS (Music + dance)
The Music Center’s popular event series Sleepless takes over Walt Disney Concert Hall from 11:30 pm on Friday to 3 am on Saturday with its latest installment: The Music Center after Hours/Hop Hop edition. There’ll be DJs, dancing, skating, live art, light projections and more. Tickets: $30.
SATURDAY, JUNE 18
Giant Robot 2 opens a solo show by artist Edwin Ushiro this weekend. (Image: Vanilla Ice To The Extreme, courtesy of the artist and gallery).
EDWIN USHIRO (Art)
Giant Robot 2 presents Capturing What Still Glimmers, a solo exhibition by artist Edwin Ushiro. The works in this show are part of Ushiro’s series that capture “moments in time that are like flashes of your memory.” There’s an opening reception with the artist on Saturday from 6:30-10 pm. The exhibition will remain on view through July 6.
LA BEER WEEK KICKOFF (Drink)
Tickets are going fast for the LA Beer Week Kickoff Festival on June 18. Presented by the Los Angeles County Brewers Guild, the opening event takes place in Los Angeles Center Studios from 1 to 4:30 pm (VIP admission at noon), featuring more than 201 beers, live music, food and more! General admission: $45; $65 VIP and designated drivers are $20. LA Beer Week runs June 18-26.
SEX: A HORROR STORY (Storytelling and variety)
SEX: A Horror Story invites comedians to tell their worst dating and hook-up horror stories during a one-hour comedy and variety show. Hosted by Shelby Fero (@midnight), the next installment is being held at Nerdmelt on Saturday at 7 pm, featuring Rick Glassman (NBC's Undateable), Sam Jay (VICE Flophouse), Allen Strickland Williams (Conan), Chase Bernstein (NBC's Last Comic Standing). Tickets are $8 in advance / $10 at the door.
VEGAN BEER & FOOD FEST (Music)
The L.A. Vegan Beer & Food Fest takes over the Rose Bowl and Brookside Golf Course in Pasadena. Held on Saturday from 11 am-7 pm, the entry ticket includes unlimited pours from more than 40 breweries. Though not included in the ticket price, the fest also features more than 70 restaurant and food vendors with vegan dishes. Tickets: $50-$100 with early entry at noon. For designated drivers, tickets are $40 (but those tickets must be bought with a general admission or VIP ticket).
FOR THE LOVE OF SHOES (Art + fashion)
In conjunction with its exhibition, Reigning Men: Fashion in Menswear, 1715-2015, which features 300 year of men’s fashion (and shoes), LACMA presents For the Love of Shoes: Celebrating Reigning Men: Fashion in Menswear on Saturday at 1 pm. Buy admission to Reigning Men and receive free sneaker cleaning from Jason Markk. Quantities are limited (first come, first served). In addition, attendees get a coupon for 15% off at yoox.com and admission to the rest of LACMA. General adult admission: $25.
Materials & Applications presents 'Turf' a mini-golf project. (Image: M&A)
TURF: A MINI-GOLF PROJECT (Sports)
Materials & Applications (M&A) presents TURF: A Mini-Golf Project that takes over a corner lot in Echo Park into a nine-hole, mini-golf course that’s open to the public from Thursday to Sunday through July 31. The project opens on Saturday and explores LA through “the playful tropes of artificial terrains and fantastical architecture” through the course. Several architects, designers and artists created the course taking into consideration L.A.’s topography, territory, drought and lawns, parking and traffic, nature, neighborhoods to create absurd obstacles. The public opening is on Saturday from 7-10 pm with free rounds of golf (cash bar on site).
THE CONTAINER YARD (Art + music)
The art space in DTLA The Container Yard celebrates two years with a party on Saturday night from 6-11 pm. The Beat Junkies perform to celebrate the art and murals of the evolving creative space in the Arts District. Food and drink options available from Sticky Rice, The Pie Hole, Raw Juicery and more. Pre-sale tickets: $15. Ages 21+.
ADAMS GATEWAY (Summer celebration + shopping)
Adams Gateway Shipping Container Village—a collection of businesses housed in repurposed steel shipping containers—holds a free summer solstice party on Saturday from 2-9 pm. There’s live music by The Centuries (rockabilly), custom cars and hot rods on view, shopping and more.
THE MIKE + RUTHY BAND (Music)
The Mike + Ruthy Band bring its blend of folk, roots and Americana to The Hotel Cafe on Saturday night. Doors at 7 pm and show at 8 pm. Also performing are The Lemon Trees. Tickets are $15 plus a $3 service charge).
EAT SEE HEAR (Outdoor films)
The Eat See Hear film and music series kicks off on Saturday night with a screening of Trainwreck starring Amy Schumer and Bill Hader at Santa Monica High School. The dog-friendly evening is a mashup of films, food trucks and live music—and this week’s band is Sleeping Wolf. Doors at 5:30 pm and the music performance starts at 7 pm. The movie screens at 8:30 pm. Tickets: $6.27-$23.15.
SUNDAY, JUNE 19
HUNT FOR THE WILDERPEOPLE (Film)
Cinefamily presents a free preview of the film Hunt for the Wilderpeople before it opens on June 24 at the Landmark and Arclight Hollywood. Directed by Taika Waititi (What We Do in the Shadows), the film focuses on a foster kid who may have finally found a home in the New Zealand countryside. But things never go easy so he and his foster uncle and a dog are forced deep into the country to go on the run from the Child Welfare lady. Attendees must pre-register for “first-come, first-serve” admission; the registration doesn’t guarantee a seat, so get there early.
BROUWERIJ WEST (Beer)
The San Pedro-based Brouwerij West brewery presents Popfuji, a summer music festival to celebrate summer and the first batch release of the brewery’s first non-Belgian beer. Popfuji is an unfiltered German-style pilsner whose name is adapted from an ancient Roman holiday “poplifugia” (meaning the day of the people’s flight) that was traditionally celebrated on July 5. Food trucks will be parked onsite and live music will be performed by Bombón, furcast, LA Witch, Mike Watt + The Missingmen, Toys That Kill and TV Head. Popfuji runs from noon to 9 pm. There’s no admission free, and all ages are welcome.
TMI (Sketch comedy)
TMI presents a sketch comedy preview show of its new season with celebrity guest host Joe Reitman on Sunday at Acme Theater in Hollywood. Doors at 7:30 pm and the show starts at 8 pm. Tickets: $15-$20.
Want the 411 on additional events and happenings in LA? Follow @LAist or me (@christineziemba) on Twitter.
