Weekend Planner: 20 of the Coolest Events in L.A., May 11-13
Photo Credit: NetflixHere are 20 of the coolest events happening in L.A. this weekend. Want the 411 on additional events and happenings in LA? Follow editor @christineziemba on Twitter or Instagram. If you like what you’re reading, consider donating to PopRadarLA.com to help defray the costs of the site. Thank you!
Artist Greg Ito collaborates with Chef Richard Blais for the food experience ARTXFOOD. | Image: Artcubed LA.
ARTXFOOD is a month-long, immersive food experience that pops up in Hollywood from May 11 to June 3. Presented by Artcubed LA, a customized cube is being built inside Goya Studios to house a 56-seat supper club in a fully immersive art installation created by artist Greg Ito. Chef Richard Blais creates unique four-course culinary meals, inspired by Ito’s work, for two seatings per night. Tickets: $189 (GA) to $235 (VIP); specialty pricing available on Tuesday nights ($170- $212).
RUPAUL'S DRAGCON LA 2018 (Drag convention)
RuPaul’s DragCon returns to the Los Angeles Convention Center this weekend (Friday through Sunday), providing a platform for fans of all ages and backgrounds to network with each other and to meet celebs and icons in a friendly, accessible environment. DragCon features more than 300 vendors and exhibitors, panels, screenings and shopping opportunities. Weekend passes are $70, and single-day tickets for Saturday and Sunday are $40. Additional tickets needed for runway show, pageant and other activities.
REAR WINDOW (Classic film)
The Secret Movie Club screens a 35mm print of Alfred Hitchcock’s classic Rear Window, starring James Stewart and the luminous Grace Kelly, on Friday at 11:59 p.m. at the Vista Theatre. Tickets: $11.
Beyond the Streets opened last week in DTLA. | Image: Art Beyond the Street via Facebook
In case you missed this last week: Beyond the Streets (BTS)—a comprehensive exhibition of graffiti and street art—opened last week in DTLA. Curated by writer and historian Roger Gastman, BTS is a showcase of paintings, sculpture, photography, multimedia and installations through 40,000+ square feet of industrial indoor and outdoor space. More than 100 artists are featured, including Shepard Fairey, Jason REVOK, FUTURA 2000, LADY PINK, Lee Quiñones, INVADER, HAZE, SWOON, Guerrilla Girls, Barry McGee, Stephen Powers, CHAZ, FAILE, Kenny Scharf, Dash Snow, Jenny Holzer, C.R. Stecyk III, Felipe Pantone, Maripol, RETNA, Gordon Matta-Clark, Martha Cooper, TAKI 183 plus Dennis Hopper, Takashi Murakami, Mark Mothersbaugh and many others. BTS is on view Tuesdays through Sundays from noon to 7 p.m. through July 6. Tickets: $25.
AN EVENING WITH DAVID SEDARIS (Mindful triathlon)
Author David Sedaris overshares in front of a live audience on Saturday at 8 p.m. at CSUN’s The Saroya (Valley’s Center for the Performing Arts) in Northridge. He’s appearing in advance of the release his upcoming collection of misanthropic stories Calypso (May 28). Tickets: $39 to $98.
HEIDI DUCKLER DANCE THEATRE: FISHEYES (Dance)
Heidi Duckler Dance Theatre (HDDT) reprises its work FishEyes at the Cabrillo Marine Aquarium in San Pedro on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. The dance company collaborated with architect Alex Ward to design and build a 15-foot steel fish as interactive public art. The Fish has toured Southern California, with HDDT dancers performing “an adventurous, multidisciplinary production exploring water and drought through site-specific choreography in, on, and around the giant stainless steel fish.” The event at the Aquarium features not only performance but also stories and a panel discussion art making and environmental awareness. There’s a post-performance reception with the artists, too. Tickets: $50, $25 students/seniors.
MY DIARY (Comedy + storytelling)
On Saturday at 8 p.m. at Dynasty Typewriter at the Hayworth Theatre presents My Diary—a show in which comics read from pages ripped from their journals and diaries. Scheduled performers are: Jackie Johnson, April Richardson, Daniel Franzese, Mamrie Hart, Stephanie Simbari and The Lucas Bros. Tickets: $10. Ages 18+.
UNIQUE LA SPRING MARKET (Shopping)
Unique LA’s Spring Market returns to the California Market Center from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Snack and shop until you drop because there are more than 300 local makers and vendors selling their wares. Admission includes snacks, cocktails from Chareau, DIY floral crowns, Tillamook ice cream, a tote, GT’s Kombucha and other activities. Admission: $15-$35.
Matt Smith stars as Prince Phillip in ‘The Crown.’ | Photo Credit: Netflix
THE CROWN: IMAGINING A ROYAL WORLD (TV exhibition)
The Paley Center for Media in Beverly Hills opens the free multimedia exhibit, The Crown: Imaging A Royal World on Saturday. The Netflix series follows the personal and political lives of Queen Elizabeth II’s reign, and the accompanying exhibition features costumes, photography, art pieces and more items from the show’s second season. The Crown: Imaging A Royal World is on view Wednesdays to Sundays from noon to 5 p.m. and will remain on view through July 29.
CAMILLE ROSE GARCIA, EWA PROŃCZUK-KUZIAK, JON FOX + SUSH MACHIDA (Art opening)
On Saturday night from 7 to 11 p.m., Corey Helford Gallery holds opening receptions for several art shows including the massive showcase The Wonderful World of Dr. Deekay by Camille Rose Garcia, as well as exhibitions by Ewa Prończuk-Kuziak and Jon Fox and Sush Machida. The works remain on view through June 16.
THE FROGTOWN SHOW (Comedy)
The Frogtown Show returns to the Spoke Bicycle Cafe on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. for a night of free comedy. The May show has a fantastic lineup that includes Kurt Braunohler, Caitlin Gill, Bryan Cook, Eddie Della Siepe and Sabrina Jalees. Food, wine and beer are available for purchase from the cafe.
Hot-Star fried chicken at Santa Anita this weekend. | Image: Smorgasburg LA
SMORGASBURG FRIED CHICKEN DAY (Food)
Smorgasburg holds its second popup—focusing on finger lickin’ fried chicken—at Santa Anita Park on Saturday from noon to 4:30 p.m. Chicken Day packages are available starting at $30 with options from four different vendors (including Banh Oui's fried chicken Sandwiches, Eddie Huang's Baohaus Restaurant Fried Chicken Bao buns, Bolo's fried chicken on a pineapple bun, Hot Star's Taiwanese street food style Large Fried Chicken). The day includes beers and horse racing, so it sounds like a pretty perfect afternoon to us.
ECHO PARK CRAFT FAIR SPRING 2018 (Fair)
The Echo Park Craft Fair returns to Mack Sennett Studios this weekend (Friday to Sunday) featuring the works of artists, designers, artisans, food purveyors and craftspeople. New this year: a HiFi Exchange CBD Lounge and men's fashion brands. There’s a special VIP preview party on Friday night from 6-9 p.m. to benefit Inner City Arts. Tickets are $25 for Friday night’s party; $16 for two-day passes; $10 single-day admission.
DTLA BEER AND MUSIC FESTIVAL (Drink fest)
The Downtown LA Beer and Music Festival that takes over Pershing Square on Saturday night. Pick and sample tastes from more than 100 craft beers while listening to music from DJs and live bands including Alien Ant Farm, Mickey Avalon and Dirt Nasty. Food from vendors and pop-up ramen stands will be available for purchase to help soak up that alcohol. Tickets: $35 for general admission (7 to 10 p.m.) and $50 for VIP (6 to 10 p.m.).
…A TUTTA PIZZA! (Pizza fest)
…A Tutta Pizza! Is a celebration of pizza at the Hollywood Palladium on Sunday that’s part of the L.A. Times food Bowl. The event includes 20 food vendors between pizzerias, restaurants and pizza trucks, a photo booth and sponsor vendor booths in the venues parking lot, lobby, and ballroom. …A Tutta Pizza! Also features cooking workshops, cooking demos, panel discussions and a DJ spinning tunes. Tickets start at $40. Doors at noon for VIP ticketholders, 1 p.m. for general admission.
‘The Love Potion’: Bernard Holcomb (Tristan) and ensemble | Photo: Liz Lauren
The Long Beach Opera (LBO) holds the West Coast Premiere of The Love Potion (Le Vin Herbé) on Sunday at 2:30 p.m. at the Warner Grand Theater in San Pedro. The production, based on The Romance of Tristan & Iseult (1900), is a retelling of the Tristan legend by historian and medievalist Joseph Bédier, who also serves as librettist. Music by Frank Martin. There’s a second performance next Saturday (May 19) at 7:30 p.m. One hour before each performance, there’s a pre-opera discussion with Artistic Director Andreas Mitisek. Tickets: $49 to $150. Student Rush tickets for $15 will be available space permitting.
THOSE MAGNIFICENT MOMS LIVE! (Comedy)
UCB Franklin presents Those Magnificent Moms LIVE! on Sunday at 7:30 p.m., featuring real comics teaming up with their moms for a variety show with loads of surprises. There’ll be singing, dancing and moving tributes set to the music of Josh Groban. Hosted by Mark & Marilou Rennie, expected performers include Fiona Landers and Murphy Cross, Mike Lane and Sophie Liang, Phoebe Neidhardt and Denise Gour, Olivia Snow Norman and Andrea Norman, Tony Rodriguez and Joyce Kerkhoff, Marissa Strickland and Jan Fish, Gregg Wallace and Gizelle Vazquez, Ele Woods and Cynthia Cannady, and Marlene Maginot and Penny Pedersen. Tickets: $7.
THE RUMBLE (Storytelling)
Meanwhile, at the other UCB, The Rumble: A Storytelling Show takes center stage at UCB Sunset on Sunday at 9 p.m. In honor of Mother’s Day, The Rumble presents stories from some of the writers from the TV show How I Met Your Mother! (HIMYM) with the theme of "How I Met My..." Featured guests are Dan Gregor (Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, Most Likely to Murder); Kourtney Kang (Fresh Off The Boat, HIMYM) and Craig Gerard (Trial and Error, HIMYM). Tickets: $7.
PRINTMAKING WORKSHOP (Artmaking)
Here’s another non-brunch Mother’s Day idea: On Sunday at 1 p.m., the Ace Hotel’s rooftop bar Upstairs holds an Intaglio-style printmaking workshop led by artist and master printer Kyle Simon. (In Intaglio printmaking, the image is incised into a surface and the line or sunken area holds the ink, as opposed to a relief print.) Make art while sipping on cocktails on the roof. The workshop is free to the public and supplies are provided.
On Sunday at 8 p.m. Greta Morgan and Claire Mulaney host B-Sides, an evening of comedy, music and variety. The show’s stellar lineup includes Lola Kirke, Garfunkel And Oates, Jaboukie Young-White, Jeremy Beiler and more. Tickets: $10-$12. Ages 18+. Proceeds from the show will benefit Downtown Women's Shelter.
