We have lots of fun happenings on our calendar this week, starting with art openings on the west side, mid-city and downtown (including two that are conveniently located in the Bendix Building). Also, June is Pride Month and we highlight a music festival and a drag brunch to celebrate! Plus, an international film festival in Venice, food trucks around LA where you can grab a bite on the go, and more...

Gallery & Museum Exhibitions

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Hammer Summer Exhibitions Opening Celebration | Westwood
Saturday, June 8 | 8–10:30pm
Be among the first to check out summer exhibitions including, Refashioning: CFGNY & Wataru Tominaga and David Medalla: In Conversation with the Cosmos, Houseguest: Mute Flesh, and Hammer Projects: Jordan Strafer. Dance to music from DJ Demonslayer (aka Dan Nguyen). Free with RSVP.
First-come, first-served.

Nazarian / Curcio | West Hollywood
Bridget Mullen: Trojan Horses
June 8—July 13, 2024
Opening Reception: Saturday, June 8 | 6–8pm
New paintings by Mullen expand on her proclivity for pitting figuration against abstraction. Opening concurrently, Charles Snowden: Stray Animals, a series of intricate sculptures.

Lowell Ryan Projects | West Adams
Nicole Mueller: Innerscapes
June 8—July 13, 2024
Opening Reception: Saturday, June 8 | 5–8pm
Dynamic large-scale paintings by the San Francisco-based artist delve into introspective self-portraiture, in which tangible embodiments of her subconscious unravel into dynamic forms, colors and gestures. 

515 Bendix Building | DTLA
Share-A-Wall Initiative: PUSH AND PULL
June 8—June 29, 2024
Opening Reception: Saturday, June 8 | 7–9 pm
The inaugural exhibition in a new initiative conceived by artist / curator Fatemeh Burnes, showcases visual artists Elana Kundell, Janet Neuwalder and Carol Shaw-SuGon, who have engaged in an ongoing conversation through their practices for several years.

Track 16 | DTLA
Frank Ryan: Lived Perspective
June 8—July 13, 2024
Opening Reception: Saturday, June 8 | 6–9pm
In his showcase of work ranging from large-scale oil paintings to small works on paper, Ryan reflects on 20+ years of living in Los Angeles. Also opening, Lenny Silverberg: Streets and Borders, a series of ink washes on paper by the Bronx-based artist depicting displaced persons. Note...if you're attending the opening at 515 Bendix, Track 16 is located in the Bendix Building too!

Film, Music, Theatre, Festivals & Dance

FILM: Fine Arts Film Festival (FAFF)
Beyond Baroque | Venice
Saturday, June 8, 2024
Produced by the Venice Institute of Contemporary Art (VICA), the 11th annual FAFF presents screenings of more than 40 international contemporary fine arts films. Tickets: $10

FILM: Ali: Fear Eats Soul / The Bitter Tears of Petra Von Kant
New Beverly Cinema | Fairfax District
Wednesday, June 12, 2024 | 7:30pm
This double feature highlights films by the wildly prolific German filmmaker Rainer Werner Fassbinder. Tickets: $13

FILM: Evil Does Not Exist
Now Instant Image Hall | Chinatown
Friday, June 7, 2024 | 7pm
Ryusuke Hamaguchi’s follow-up to his Academy Award-winning Drive My Car is a foreboding fable on humanity's mysterious, mystical relationship with nature. Tickets: $15

MUSIC: LA Pride in the Park
LA State Historic Park | DTLA
Saturday, June 8, 2024 | 1pm
LA Pride returns to the park for another music festival event. In addition to vendors, games and photo opps, there will be performances by Ricky Martin, Muna, Tokischa and more. Tickets: $79-349

MUSIC: SOULNIC Live
California Plaza | DTLA
Saturday, June 8 | 6–10pm
Presented by Grand Performances, SOULNIC Live celebrates the 40th anniversary of House music with a family-friendly special event featuring DJs WeirdoWithSoul and Roxcizzle, and a live performance by Tortured Soul. Free with RSVP.

THEATRE: Gil Scott-Heron Bluesology
The Hudson Theater | Hollywood
Saturday, June 8, 2024 | 4pm
A special celebration of the work of the genre-defining poet, musician and singer Gil Scott-Heron (1949 - 2011)  presented by Inner City Culture Center II and Poets Jazz House. Tickets: $20

Fine Foods, Quick Bites + Bars

Food trucks are a year-around LA craze, but they really hit the spot in the soon-to-be-summer months. Here's part 1 of our round-up of LA area food trucks, some of which roam around to different areas of the city and a few that park at regular locations to serve it up. Yum!

Leo’s Taco Truck | Various Locations
A popular traveling taqueria specializing in tacos al pastor (shepherd style) – grilled slices of pork topped with pineapple, originating from the Central Mexican region of Puebla and Mexico City.

Yeastie Boys Bagels | Various Locations
Four trucks rolling around the city serving hand-rolled bagels and the trimmings (lox, schmear and what-have-you) as well as bagel sandwiches and beverages.

Kogi BBQ | Various Locations
Spicy pork, chicken and tofu tacos and burritos as well as quesadillas, sweet treats and drinks… on wheels!

Los Dorados | Various Locations
Flautas – fried tacos made of corn tortillas filled with your choice of chorizo, chicken, potato or lamb barbacoa – here and there around LA. Check their Instagram to find out where!

Simón | Silver Lake
Mariscos for the seafood lover! A seasonally-driven menu of seafood-stuffed tacos, tostadas, ceviches and aguachiles with salsas and toppings.

Mariscos Jalisco | Boyle Heights, DTLA, La Cienega & Pomona
More mariscos! This one with a 2023 Michelin star – featuring a line-up of tempting seafood tacos, tostados and the like, in four spots around LA.

Literary, Readings & Book Launches

Prayer for Saving
2220 Arts + Archives | Historic Filipinotown
Saturday, June 8, 2024 | 4pm
Mythscience presents Prayer for Saving, a reading of new work by Khari Lucas, Ézili Jean and Harmony Holiday. 

Things To Do & Workshops

The Episode Pop Up: Pride Edition
The Goldfish | Highland Park
Saturday, June 8, 2024 | 1–3pm
Spend your afternoon at a drag brunch with Alize and friends. Vendors will be offering tattoos, tarot, nails, clothes and more. Tickets: $3.40

June Jubilee: A Celebration of Black Excellence
Central Library | DTLA
Saturday, June 8, 2024 | 10am–4pm
A day of joy and inspiration with speakers, workshops, entertainment and family activities. Free

Downtown Burbank Arts Festival
San Fernando Boulevard and surrounding streets in Downtown Burbank (from Magnolia to Angeleno)
June 8—9, 2024 | 11am–6pm
Featuring 170+ local, hand-selected artisans selling indie goods, including visual art, fashion, jewelry, paper goods, home decor, food and more.

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