Best things to do this week in Los Angeles and SoCal: June 5-8

C.elebrate the opening of the 2023 Hollywood Fringe Festival. Party with Pride at the Getty. Attend The Story Collider — live. Screening the 2008 documentary by Ava DuVernay This is the life.

events

Tuesday June 6; 7 and 9:30 p.m.

Wax Poetics / I’m a Basshole
The Bourbon Room
6356 Hollywood Blvd., Second Floor, Hollywood
Watch two comedy shows that support two non-profit organizations, Stand Up for Pits and Sharing Love with Others. wax poetics, Hosted by comedian and producer Keida Mascaro, it is headlined by Iliza Shlesinger. The 9:30 p.m. show i’m a bass is a hybrid storytelling/stand-up show hosted by Doug Bass and features Tom Arnold as the headliner.
COST: $35 – $90 and $25 – $45; MORE INFORMATION

Wednesday June 7; 7:00 p.m.

the music behind ted lasso
The Grammy Museum
800 W. Olympic Blvd., Downtown Los Angeles
The event kicks off with a screening of an episode from this season, followed by a panel discussion with Sam Ryder (artist/composer), Tom Howe (composer/composer) and Tony Von Pervieux (music supervisor). After the conversation, Ryder performs his new original song “Fought & Lost”, which is featured in the penultimate episode of this season, along with Howe.
COST: Waitlist only; MORE INFORMATION

Wednesday June 7; 20:00

Hollywood Fringe 2023 Opening Night Party
The Bourbon Room
6356 Hollywood Blvd., Second Floor, Hollywood
The 2023 Hollywood Fringe Festival officially takes place June 8-25 with more than 1,000 performances and events at dozens of venues across Hollywood. The festival’s opening night party takes place on June 7 with food and drinks for purchase, speeches, a DJ/dance, and other entertainment. VIP entry begins at 6 pm and general admission at 8 pm The party is for ages 21 and over.
COST: $3 – $25; MORE INFORMATION

Wednesday June 7; 6-8 p.m.

the flower show
LA Louvre
45 N. Venice Blvd., Venice
This group art show includes more than 50 diverse artists with works that feature flowers in formal, symbolic, and narrative contexts. From still lifes to sculptures to interactive videos, the themes of “life, death, identity, memory and the environment permeate the presentation, from David Hockney’s iPad flowers to Pancrace Bessa’s natural history illustrations.” If you can’t make it to this week’s opening reception, the show will remain open until September 1.
FREE; MORE INFORMATION

Wednesday June 7; 7:30 pm

Girls On Guys Comedy Show
Moxy Downtown Los Angeles
1260 S. Figueroa St., Downtown Los Angeles
The hotel’s new property hosts a comedy show on the mezzanine above Bar Moxy. Hosted by Nina Tarr and Liam Cullagh, the lineup features Reggie Watts, Jade Cata-Preta and Willie Simon.
COST: $10, free for hotel guests; MORE INFORMATION

Wednesday June 7; 7-9 p.m.

Getty and Los Angeles Pride Celebration
the getty
1200 Getty Center Dr., Brentwood
Just before LA Pride weekend, attend a free event with DJ Daisy O’Dell setting the night’s soundtrack, plus complimentary snacks and drinks at the Museum Courtyard, local LGBT+ organizations with booths and access Night to The Getty Contemporary Photography Exhibition Tim Walker: wonderful things.
COST: FREE with RSVP; MORE INFORMATION

Thursday June 8 – Thursday June 29

A New Wave of K-Cinema: Korean Female Directors
The Film Academy Museum
6067 Wilshire Blvd., Mid-Wilshire
The film series highlights contemporary Korean female filmmakers and opens Thursday at 7:30 with Waikiki Brothers (2001) starring director Yim Soon-rye. The film traces the stagnation and decline of the waikiki brothers, a band originally formed by friends from high school. When Seong-woo, the lead singer and guitarist, returns home with the band, he is forced to confront his dreams and his reality in modern Korean society.
COST: $5 – $10 per screening; MORE INFORMATION

Thursday June 8; 4:00 p.m.

pride is universal
Universal Studios Hollywood-Super Nintendo World
100 universal city square, universal city
This LA Pride fan-favorite event returns with an after-hours theme park experience for guests of all ages. Enter the park as early as 4 p.m., then enjoy the park’s exclusive extended hours of 9 p.m. The VIP – Universal Express ticket option includes even earlier access to the park at 2 pm and other benefits.
COST: $124 – $249; MORE INFORMATION

Thursday June 8; 7:00 p.m.

The Story Collider LIVE: An evening of true and personal stories about science
The Crawford Family Forum (+ Live Stream)
474 S. Raymond Ave., Pasadena
Better known as a weekly podcast, The story collider brings together scientists, artists, and everyone in between to share real, personal stories about how science has impacted their lives. Hosted by Bryan Kett and Natalia Reagan, this live edition features stories from actress Brittany Ross, JPL systems engineer Dr. Farah Alibay, author Carlos Kotkin, writer and storyteller Mike Lambert, and public health psychologist Dr. Nina Christie.
COST: FREE – $15; MORE INFORMATION

Thursday June 8; 7:00 p.m.

Los Angeles Times Book Club with Elliot Page
Montalban Theater in Hollywood
1615 Vine Street, Hollywood
The Times’ Book Club presents a live event with actor Elliot Page discussing his memoirs Page with fellow actress Kate Mara. Best known for his breakout role in 2007’s Juno, the producer, writer, director, and star of the Netflix series. the umbrella academy, shares her story in a new memoir. In it, Page delves into coming out as transgender, secret love affairs, her battle with body image, and struggles with family conflicts.
COST: $25 – $65; MORE INFORMATION

Thursday June 8; 7:30 pm

This is the life
Hammer Museum
10899 Wilshire Blvd., Westwood
Attend a screening of Ava DuVernay’s 2008 documentary This is the life, chronicling the groundbreaking Los Angeles alternative hip hop movement born out of Leimert Park’s Good Life Café. Through archival footage and interviews, the film follows underground rap legends of the 1990s, including Freestyle Fellowship, Jurassic 5 and Cut Chemist. From The Hammer: “Existing in a parallel universe to gangsta rap, their gang rhymes explored the complexities, humor, and everyday surrealism of life in Los Angeles and beyond.” This is the life screens as part of the Summer Night Cinema: 50 Years of Hip Hop series, curated by critic Ernest Hardy.
FREE; MORE INFORMATION

display selection

Burden of proof
HBO’s original four-part true crime docuseries revisits the Jennifer Pandos case. When the then 15-year-old disappeared in 1987, her parents told everyone that she ran away from her. Now, decades later, her brother Stephen is on a search for the truth, which may destroy her family when he becomes convinced her parents were involved. Directed by Cynthia Hill (HBO’s private violence), the first two episodes premiere on Tuesday, June 6 at 9 p.m., and the last two episodes premiere on Wednesday, June 7. The entire series will be available to stream on Max starting Tuesday, June 6.

Food and drink offers

Here are some dining and drinking options to enjoy this week.

• Bruxie Sandwich Shop (known for its chicken and waffle sandwiches) celebrates the first anniversary of its NoHo location with a party on Thursday, June 8 from 4-8 pm The family event includes special meals, a DJ, a photo booth, a golden syrup raffle and a chance to win Bruxie gift cards.
• On Wednesday June 7th, asterid by Ray Garcia in downtown Los Angeles launches a happy hour. He 10 item menu includes $10 classic drinks from beverage director Chris Chernock, an NA option, and the restaurant’s beloved Caviar Bites, made with a great selection of schrenckii, pumpkin tamale and cream. Happy hour runs from 5 to 7 pm, Wednesday through Saturday in the bar and lounge area.
• dove venice launches its “Sunset Hours” on Tuesday, June 6, with snack and drink specials available from 4-6 pm, Tuesday through Friday on the deck of the oasis lounge or at the bar. Bites (including falafel bites, calamari, artichoke dip) and glasses of wine are $10 and cocktails are $12.
• the agave roomsituated in Social Punch BowlThe Rancho Cucamonga location has several free tastings nearby in the 90-seat mezcal and tequila lounge. Learn how specialty liqueurs are made (and tasted). On Thursday, June 8, from 5 to 10 pm, tasting of flavors from El Tesoro. Free with RSVP (21+).
• After the success of New York modern indian gastro bar Baar Baar, chef Sujan Sarkar recently opened a Los Angeles addition in the space formerly occupied by Faith & Flower in downtown Los Angeles. Open Tuesday through Sunday from 5 to 11 p.m. taco, inspired by birria. At Baar Baar’s charcoal grill, guests can try roast lamb shanks, monkfish ossobucco, or order familiar dishes like butter chicken and chicken malai tikka.