Find concerts, screenings, performances and more of our critics’ picks with the best events and things to do in Los Angeles this week
Edited by Michael Juliano
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If we could write the rules of living in Los Angeles this would be our No. 1, always at the top of our list: When you live in this city, there’s no excuse for boredom just because it’s a weeknight. There are hundreds of things to doin Los Angeles each week,whether you hit the beachat sunset or go for a morningbike ride, or catch aconcert or a comedy show—and that’s really only scratching the surface. Well, we don’t make the rules, but we will provide you with plenty of ideas for your next free weeknight right here. Nowgo out and tackle these things to do in L.A. this week.
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The best events in L.A. this week
- Music
Westside
Hilltop sunset views and rising bands combine to make this Getty tradition a worthy destination for Angelenos on both sides of the 405. This year’s lineup of free Saturday night showscontinues with Slauson Malone 1. Tip: Avoid the traffic and the crowds and arrive early, preferably after 3pm when the parking price drops to $15 (though it’s $10 if you wait until the show starts). You’ll get to visit the exhibits, which stay open until 8pm on Saturdays, and beat the dinner rush.
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- Theater
- Experimental
Little Tokyo
The latest adventurousperformance from the Industry, this two-in-one show simultaneously stages a 17th-century opera and a 20th-century sci-fi story on a rotating stage. Director Yuval Sharon’s six-years-in-the-making production connects the stories ofClaudio Monteverdi’s 1643 Italian opera L’incoronazione di Poppea (The Coronation of Poppea) with a world premiere production of W.E.B. Du Bois’s 1924 sci-fi short storyThe Comet; both unfold at the same time on a turntable that’s been split into two.
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- Music
- Classical and opera
Angeles National Forest
Listen to classicaland jazz in a domemore than a mile above L.A. during this mountaintop concert series. The Mount Wilson Observatory is hostingmonthly concerts this summer inside the dome ofits 100-inch Hooker telescope, which was the largest telescope in the world for much of the first half of the 20th century.
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- Music
Chinatown
Everyone’s favorite NPR member station has a hand in aslew of summer concert slates atpublic plazas and beloved museums, and this summer’s schedule is particularly packed. Familiar KCRW DJs and local buzz bands will be providing free, open-air tunes on select nights fromJune through September at Union Station,CAAM,Descanso Gardens, Bowers Museum, Century Park, the Autry, KCRW’s Santa Monica headquartersand—our favorite—the party-till-midnight bashes at Chinatown Central Plaza.
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- Things to do
Beverly Hills
Rodeo Drive fills with supercars and motorcycles, both new and old, during this Father’s Day tradition.
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- Things to do
- Festivals
Long Beach
Celebrate Black culture during this free Long Beach festival filled with family-friendly activities, local vendors, food and drink and music—including a set byAnderson .Paak under his DJ Pee .Wee moniker.
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- Music
- Rock and indie
Hollywood
At times a little bit South African rhythm by way of Paul Simon, a little bitNew York indie rock and a little bit yacht rock, Vampire Weekend returns to L.A. for a show at the Hollywood Bowl.
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- Comedy
Santa Monica
Bergamot Station’s inclusive comedy club, the Crow, hosts this family-friendly Pride event filled with music, stand-up and storytelling. The programming on June 14 and 15 includes an evening of storytelling (Fri at 7, 9pm), stand-up (Sat at 8pm), a self-described “super silly” improv show (Sat at 2pm), a comedy show where babies are welcome (Sat at 5pm), a kids and teens stand-up showcase (Sat at 3:30pm) and live music and pours from LGBTQ+-owned breweries (Sat at 6pm). Make sure to head off-site, too,for face painting and a drag queen story hour on the Santa Monica Pier (Sat 10am–1pm).
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- Music
Fairfax District
Who says no to free outdoor concerts? We don’t, and neither should you. This celebration of live music and art will hit Pan Pacific Park (not the La Brea Tar Pits this time around) on June 15.Listen to live music and browse creations made by local artists. In the mood for food and something to drink? Grab a bite at one of the many gourmet food trucks and enjoy a soda or some mocktails. The annualfest also offers attractions ranging from kids activities to live painting.
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- Things to do
- Festivals
Downtown Financial District
Before the dog days of summer start to scorch the Southland, celebratethis dog day: a pup-friendly party at Pershing Square with dog-friendly vendors, treats and activities, plus free caricatures, photo ops and DJ sets. The event takes place on June 14 and 15,the latter of which also includes two community dog walk (10am, 1pm) and puppy yoga (10:30am–noon; $30).
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- Movies
- Drama
Downtown Historic Core
The L.A. Conservancy offers a delightful summer time machine in the form of classic films, screened inside Downtown’s grand old movie palaces throughout the month of June.
This year’s lineupincludesThe Cabinet of Dr. Caligariand The Seven Year Itch at the Orpheum on June 1, Bullitt andGaslight at the Los Angeles Theatre on June 8, andFrom Russia with Love andMi Vida Loca at the Palace Theatre on June 15.
- Comedy
La Cienega
Kate Berlant, who grew up in Los Angeles, started doing stand-up at 17 at Archer School for Girls—or at least, she told one-liners while wearing a kimono and sitting in a wheelchair. She no longer brings props on stage, but her definition of comedy is still expansive. Berlant doesn’t tell jokes so much as she riffs on the metaphysical, turning a set into a strange stream of consciousness that leads nowhere, and is simultaneously disarming and satisfying.
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- Things to do
- Sport events
Echo Park
Dodger blue joins the colors of the rainbow at the stadium’s annualPride Night. Expect queer-focused Dodgers gear, a celebrity opening pitch and, following the game against the Royals, fireworks. Cue the kiss cam.
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- Restaurants
Downtown
Well, we just found your taco heaven. L.A. Taco’s Taco Madness is happening, and some of L.A.’s best tacos will be in attendance: Villa’s Tacos, Ditroit and Macheen, just to name a few. You definitely don’t want to miss the official crowning of L.A.’s best taco master.Get ready to indulge in live art, DJ sets,beer, micheladas and tacos galore at this annual taco extravaganza.
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- Things to do
Westside
Looking to spend a night at the theater? Tucked inside the hills of Coldwater Canyon Park, the rustic S. Mark Taper Foundation Amphitheatre hosts a series of diverse, open-air performances spanning music, movies and more. All under the umbrella of the “TreePeople Presents” series, the events all support TreePeople’s Coldwater Park. This summer’s slate includes alto saxophonist Nicole McCabe, singer-songwriterPearl Charles and jazz vocalistNiia, as well as a moonlight hike and a screening series.Bonus? Packed picnics are not only welcomed, but also encouraged.
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- Theater
- Musicals
Hollywood
This winning new musical is a surprisingly clever stage update of the ’90s Robin Williams hit. Read our four-star review of its London run.
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- Things to do
West Hollywood
Melrose Rooftop Theatre is taking off until the fall, but in the meantime the event deck on theE.P. & L.P. rooftop is hosting this open-air roller rink. The rooftop rink is all-ages through 2pm, after that it switches to a 21+ affair. Tickets are available in one-hour time slots and include skate rentals and a churro—though that’ll all cost you a relatively steep $30 to $35.
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- Things to do
- Classes and workshops
South Park
Home studio Two Faced Ceramics is setting up poolside at DTLA’s Hotel Figueroa for this series of classes. Each $75 class includes all of the equipment and materials you need, plus mimosas and a hotel tote bag. The made-for-beginners classes cover a different theme each time, includinga beer stein, sun plate and berry bowl.
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- LGBTQ+
West Hollywood
No, notthat Q, thankfully: This West Hollywood convention celebrates LGBTQ+ comics with a free day of creator meet-and-greets, diversity-affirming comics and graphic novels, and plenty of cosplay opportunities.
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- Music
- Folk, country and blues
La Cienega
Quiet but prolific singer-songwriter M. Ward raised his profile as part ofShe & Him and Monsters of Folk. But Ward’s real strength has always been his solo records,naturally timeless collections of experimental folk songs that dip a toe into rose-colored pop and quaint nostalgia. Live, Ward’s voice retains that warm, rainy day quality while his lightning-fast fingerstyle guitar playing is made to fill theaters.
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