What's On In Los Angeles In May

The end of May is when Los Angeles welcomes back its pool parties, a harbinger of SoCal’s long, hot summers. This year, May is also set to bring with it food fests (one of them vegan), an immersive show set in a mausoleum, a convention for Joss Whedon fans, and the first play to ever be performed in a historic Frank Lloyd Wright house. Here’s May 2017’s hot list for Los Angeles.

MONDAY, MAY 1st – MONDAY, MAY 8th

FILM | Watch La La Land with comedian commentary
📅 Tuesday, May 2nd
La La Land tells the story of an aspiring actress (Emma Stone) and an aspiring jazz musician (Ryan Gosling) who meet and fall in love in Los Angeles. The musical rom-com is the May pick for comedian Doug Benson’s Movie Interrupted, in which he and various special guests arm themselves with microphones and comment on the film, typically with hilarious results. Tickets are $14.
📍 Cinefamily, 611 N Fairfax, Los Angeles, CA, USA

THEATER | A site-specific play exploring feminist themes
📅 Saturday, May 6th – Sunday, May 28th
Fefu and Her Friends by María Irene Fornés is the first play ever to be performed at the historic Hollyhock House in Barnsdall Art Park. The play is set in 1935 and moves throughout the house and courtyard, delving into topics such as wage gaps, women in leadership, and “sexist political rhetoric.” Only 20 audience members are admitted at a time, making this presentation of Fornés’ 1977 work an intimate experience. Fefu and Her Friends is directed by Kate Jopson, with music by Daniel Szabo and choreography by Zsófia Nemes. Tickets are $60.
📍 Hollyhock House, 4800 Hollywood Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA, USA

ART | An immersive journey through a historic house
📅 Saturday, May 6th
One House Twice, presented by homeLA and ENTER>text, is a site-specific, immersive event held in the Neutra Studio and Residences (VDL Research House). This architecturally important building, designed by architect Richard Neutra, is a two-story modern-style home Neutra built for his family. The home was destroyed in 1963 and then reconstructed by Neutra’s son Dion. It is currently maintained by Cal Poly Pomona’s College of Environmental Design and became a National Historic Landmark in early 2017. One House Twice features a variety of dancers, writers, performers, sound artists and other creators, each activating various spaces throughout the home. Tickets are $20.
📍 VDL Research House, 2300 Silver Lake Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA, USA

TUESDAY, MAY 9th – TUESDAY, MAY 16th

THEATER | An intimate play about the horrors of war
📅 Thursday, May 11th – Saturday, May 27th
The third and final installment of The Speakeasy Society’s The Johnny Cycle debuts on May 11th. This immersive play takes inspiration from Dalton Trumbo’s anti-war novel, Johnny Got His Gun. Previously set in a historic church in Glendale, Part III – The Living is staged in a mausoleum in Altadena. Guests will not need to have seen the first two installments to follow the story but should be comfortable walking, standing and kneeling throughout the space. Ticket are $65.
📍 Mountain View Mausoleum, 2300 Marengo Avenue, Altadena, CA, USA

FAN FEST | Celebrate Sailor Moon’s 25th year in a Japanese garden
📅 Saturday, May 13th and Sunday, May 14th

Sailor Moon fans can experience an intimate fan fest on May 13th or May 14th at the Doubletree Hotel’s half-acre Kyoto Garden, located in Little Tokyo. Admission includes a champagne reception, a Sailor Moon-inspired brunch or lunch, a swag bag, costume contest, trivia and more. VIP experiences include access to the event’s Thousand Cranes room, plus photos with voice actors, including Sandy Fox (Black Lady, Chibiusa) and Robbie Daymond (Mamoru Chiba/Tuxedo Mask). Tickets to LA MoonFest are $99.99, with an optional $39.99 VIP add-on.
📍 DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel, 120 S Los Angeles Street, Los Angeles, CA, USA, +1 213 629 1200

FOOD | A four-hour, all-you-can-eat food fest
📅 Saturday, May 13th
Eat Show 2017 offers attendees a chance to sample the best of L.A.’s culinary adventures. A single $60 ticket offers endless samples from over 50 vendors over the course of four hours. Plus, there’s an open bar. Vendors include Otium, Little Fatty, Poppy & Rose and more.
📍 The Reef, 1933 S Broadway, Los Angeles, CA, USA

FILM | Watch a cult classic in a historic theater
📅 Sunday, May 14th
It wouldn’t be Mother’s Day without a screening of cult film Mommie Dearest (1981). The film stars Faye Dunaway as movie star Joan Crawford and depicts the alleged abuse suffered by Crawford’s adopted children at their famous mother’s hands. The film is an adaptation of daughter Christina Crawford’s memoir of the same name. Catch the film at 4 p.m. at the gorgeous theater at Ace Hotel DTLA with cocktails and flowers. Tickets are $18.
📍 Theater at the Ace Hotel DTLA, 933 S Broadway, Los Angeles, CA, USA, +1 213 235 9614

WEDNESDAY, MAY 17th – WEDNESDAY, MAY 24th

CON | Fans of Buffy, Firefly and all things Whedon unite
📅 Friday, May 19th – Sunday, May 21st
WhedonCon returns for its sophomore year to the Warner Center Marriott in Woodland Hills. The three-day con pays tribute to the numerous sci-fi and horror offerings of writer and filmmaker Joss Whedon, including Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, Dollhouse, Firefly, Cabin in the Woods, and more. There will be panels, merch, workshops, gaming, celebrity appearances, and a party at “The Bronze,” which Buffy fans know as the Scooby Gang’s local haunt. Weekend passes start at $60 for adults, $40 for kids.
📍 Warner Center Marriott, 21850 Oxnard Street, Woodland Hills, CA, USA

VIRTUAL REALITY | Björk goes 360
📅 Friday, May 19th – Sunday, June 4th
Björk Digital is a virtual reality experience that takes the viewer through trippy dreamscapes and even into the singer’s mouth, all set to music from Björk’s Vulnicura album. There are six total VR experiences, followed by the “Biophilia Room,” described as a “hands-on educational space which showcases Björk’s innovative apps and custom-made musical instruments.” The experience concludes with a cinema room, which features a selection of her music videos. The experience takes about 90 minutes, and tickets are $35.
📍 The Reef, 1933 S Broadway, Los Angeles, CA, USA

FOOD | A food fest inside an airplane hangar, inspired by a hashtag
📅 Saturday, May 20th
EeeeeatsCon is the first food fest celebrating The Infatuation’s popular foodie hashtag (some six million tagged photos and counting). The event runs from noon to 9 p.m. and includes such vendors as Eataly, Jon & Vinny’s, Salazar, Badmaash, and Mr. Holmes Bakehouse. Musicals acts The Knocks and Lizzo are set to perform, and panels will feature the likes of Shep Gordon and Chef Nancy Silverton. Tickets begin at $40 and do not include food.
📍 The Barker Hangar, 3021 Airport Avenue #203, Santa Monica, CA, USA, +1 310 390 9071

THURSDAY, MAY 25th – WEDNESDAY, MAY 31st

SWIM | A pool party with stellar views
📅 Saturday, May 27th
Los Angeles’s pool party season returns come Memorial Day Weekend. Wicked Paradise’s season opener takes place at Skybar, the rooftop pool lounge at the Mondrian Hotel in West Hollywood. Music comes courtesy of Dirtybird Records’ J. Phlip. The event is 21+, and tickets start at $25. Doors open at 1 p.m.
📍 SkyBar, Mondrian Los Angeles, 8440 Sunset Boulevard, West Hollywood, CA, USA, +1 323 846 6025

FILM | Classic films with great eats
📅 Saturday, May 27th
Street Food Cinema combines beloved movies with live music, games and great food courtesy of favorite food trucks. On May 27th, they’ll screen Back to the Future (1985) at Verdugo Park in Glendale. Tunes come from ‘80s cover band Past Action Heroes. Eats include Bánh Mì, Currywurst, Patty Wagon, Street Kitchen LA and more. Tickets are $13 and up, $6 and up for children.
📍 Vertigo Park, 1621 Canada Boulevard, Glendale, CA, USA

FOOD | A vegan beer and food fest in Pasadena
📅 Saturday, May 27th
Over 100 restaurants and food trucks will bring vegan food to Pasadena’s Rose Bowl, along with a vegan marketplace and plenty of adult beverages. A $55 ticket (or $105 for VIP) to Eat Drink Vegan includes unlimited samples of beer, wine, kombucha, cold brew coffee, soda, and tea via a four-ounce cup that each attendee receives when they arrive. Food is sold separately. Vendors include Amazebowls, Broken Spanish, Café Gratitude, Donut Friend, The Pudding Truck, and more.
📍 Rose Bowl, 1001 Rose Bowl Drive, Pasadena, CA, USA

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