Last Remaining Seats
June 1, 5, 12, 19, 26, 29. Alfred Hitchcock couldn’t have fathomed watching his 1955 whodunit To Catch a Thief on a tablet. Nor, we reckon, would the 1925 silent film Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ pack much punch screened in a rumpus room. Back for its 27th season, the Los Angeles Conservancy’s series presents these films in full glory, as their makers intended: in magnificent historic theaters in Beverly Hills and downtown, featuring big screens, cartoon and newsreel previews, and live entertainment. Showtimes, locations vary by screening. $16–$20. laconservancy.org
Bjork
June 2, 5, 8, 11. The Icelandic ingénue brings her latest musical (and multimedia) project, Biophilia to Los Angeles for dates at the Hollywood Palladium (June 2, 5, 8) and Hollywood Bowl (Jun. 11). The album, which is also an app for the iPhone and iPad features a 3D galactic interface with the song Cosmogony, music scores with karaoke playback, abstract song animation, and more. With a set up like that, we can only imagine what might be in store for her live show. ticketmaster.com
LA Winefest
June 8–9. Hundreds of wines, spirits and brews are offered in addition to classes on beverage pairings, food trucks and live entertainment. Proceeds benefit Food Forward. June 8, 2–6 pm; June 9, noon–6 pm. $20–$85 per day; tickets at ce.strength.org. Raleigh Studios, 5300 Melrose Ave., L.A. lawinefest.com
LA Pride
June 7-9. What began as a parade to mark the first anniversary of the Stonewall riots has blossomed into an annual event that draws more than 500,000 people. Celebrate the city’s out-and-proud lesbian, bisexual, gay and transgender community at events that include a three-day festival in West Hollywood Park and a parade. Festival $18–$20; other events vary. See website for complete event schedule. Parade, Santa Monica Boulevard between Crescent Heights and Robertson boulevards, West Hollywood. lapride.org
Taste of the Nation
June 9. Top fine restaurants and beverage purveyors including Night + Market, Mo-Chica, Superba Snack Bar and Plan Check dole out their signature dishes. Proceeds benefit Share Our Strength. 1–4 pm. $25–$160, under 13 free. Media Park, 9070 Venice Blvd., Culver City, 800.969.4767. ce.strength.org
Playboy Jazz Festival
June 15-16. Playboy publisher Hugh Hefner might love jazz almost as much as he loves blondes, which is why the Playboy Jazz Festival at the Hollywood Bowl has become an enduring tradition. The big show, which celebrates its 35th anniversary this year, is considered one of the West Coast’s premier jazz festivals, having featured legends such as Miles Davis, Count Basie and Dizzy Gillespie and contemporary stars Wynton Marsalis and Jamie Cullum. This year’s program offers 20 performances from some of the genre’s finest. Headliners are George Duke, with special guest Jeffrey Osborne; Naturally 7 with guest Herbie Hancock; Sheila E.; and Bob James and David Sanborn. Additional performers include Indie.Arie. Comedian George Lopez presides as new master of ceremonies. 2301 N. Highland Ave., Hollywood, 323.850.2000. playboyjazzfestival.com
Los Angeles Film Festival
June 13-23. From the organization behind the Spirit Awards, this festival, now in its 19th year, shows more than 200 domestic and international films culled from thousands of submissions in more than 20 genres. Gala screenings include the North American premiere of Only God Forgives, starring Ryan Gosling. Festival’s hub is at L.A Live (800 W. Olympic Blvd., downtown). Tickets start at $13. lafilmfest.com, 866.345.6337. lafilmfest.com
Dwell On Design
June 14–23. Expo (June 21–23) and home tours (June 14–23) hosted by shelter magazine Dwell. More than 2,000 products from more than 400 exhibitors plus speakers and seminars. Call for hours. General ticket $15–$60; home tour ticket $25–$95. Los Angeles Convention Center, 1201 S. Figueroa St., downtown, 800.448.7775. dwellondesign.com
Beyoncé
June 28. Who runs the world? Possibly Billboard’s Top Female Artist of the 2000s, who, after a several-year touring hiatus, is back on the road with the Mrs. Carter Show World Tour. The Grammy-winning singer/actress/businesswoman/one-woman industry stops at Staples Center en route to world domination. 1111 S. Figueroa St., downtown. staplescenter.com
Taste at the Grove
June 29. Do you love cooking shows? How about eating? Visit the Grove retail and entertainment complex to watch eight hours of live cooking demonstrations from local and celebrity chefs, breaking only for two hours of tasting the best dishes from chefs at the Grove’s restaurants. Cooking demonstrations (10:30 am–6 pm) from local chefs including Neal Fraser and Roxana Jullapat, plus the Tasting Hour (2:30–4:30 pm), in which chefs from the Grove’s restaurants offer tastings of their best dishes. A VIP cocktail party and ride-and-drive program with Cadillac are also offered. $20. The Grove, 189 The Grove Drive, L.A., 888.315.8883. thegrovela.com
For The Record: Zemeckis
Through July 20. Hear the music of Academy Award-winning director Robert Zemeckis come to life in a 360-degree live theatrical concert experience. Zemeckis’ interest in state-of-the-art special effects has lead to the creation of some of the most memorable films of all time. Music and moments in the show include films such as Back To The Future, Forrest Gump, Death Becomes Her, Who Framed Roger Rabbit, Cast Away, Flight and more. Thurs.-Sun. 5:30 p.m. dinner, 8:30 p.m. show. $40 reserved seating/$20 general admission partial view. (Photo by Gary Bauls.) 1714 N. Vermont Ave., L.A., 323.669.1550. rockwell-la.com
Yes, Prime Minister
June 4-July 14. The hit London West End play, based on the British television series, touches American soil at the Geffen Playhouse in Westwood with director Jonathan Lynn at the helm. Michael McKean plays the prime minister and Dakin Matthews plays cabinet secretary in Lynn and Antony Jay’s wicked political satire. Geffen Playhouse, 10886 Le Conte Ave., L.A., 310.208.5454. geffenplayhouse.com
Pacific Standard Time Presents: Modern Architecture in LA
Continuing. Nine cultural institutions offer exhibitions on L.A.’s midcentury architecture for this initiative sponsored by the Getty Research Institute. Venues include the Getty Center, Los Angeles County Museum of Art and Hammer Museum. All participating venues listed online. pacificstandardtime.org
James Turrell: A Retrospective
Continuing. An innovator in the Southern California Light and Space movement, James Turrell is the subject of a retrospective exploring nearly 50 years of his work. The exhibition includes geometric light projections, light installations and recent two-dimensional work with holograms. LACMA, 5905 Wilshire Blvd., 323.857.6000. lacma.org
A. Quincy Jones: Building for Better Living
Through Sept. 8. The first major museum retrospective of the Los Angeles-based architect’s work and pays special attention to the unique collaborative nature of his practice. A quiet modernist and dedicated architecture professor at the University of Southern California, A. Quincy Jones (1913–1979) worked to bring a high standard of design to the growing middle class by reconsidering and refining postwar housing and emphasizing cost-effective, innovative, and sustainable building methods. The exhibition is accompanied by a series of free public programs, including a lunchtime art talk on June 5. 10899 Wilshire Blvd., Westwood, 310.443.7000. hammer.ucla.edu