The Bucket List | June 2016

Summer is here and L.A. is about to get a whole lot brighter in June. The annual Los Angeles Film Festival is back, the Fringe Festival is taking over the city, L.A. Pride is painting Weho in every color of the rainbow, Hillary Clinton has a plethora of GRAMMY winners on stage to support her at The Greek and that’s just the tip of the iceberg of what’s going on this month.

Los Angeles Film Festival | June 1-9
Ricardo de Montreuil’s drama “Lowriders” will kick things off with a coming of age tale that intertwines car culture and from there the films just keep rolling through Arclight Cinemas around town. The festival will feature a lot of indie films but some mainstream hits as well like the sequel “The Conjuring 2.” The initial one was a fan favorite a few years ago and now it’s back to tell another horrific and frightening true story. From the little guys to the blockbusters, the L.A. Film Festival represents an array of big screen talents for a week-long celebration cinephiles can get behind.

LA Conservancy’s Last Remaining Seats | June 4-25
Moviegoers look forward to this event every year because it’s a chance to see classic films such as “Top Gun” and “To Kill a Mockingbird” in some of the most immaculate venues in the city like the Million Dollar Theatre that’s almost 100 years old, and The Theatre at Ace Hotel, which houses many events throughout the year.

Hillary Clinton: She’s With Us” Concert at Greek Theatre | June 6
This year’s election will go down in history or perhaps, herstory. Hillary Clinton is currently the front-runner on the Democratic side to get the nomination and she has a lot of famous faces backing her. So much so, that there is a concert going on to support her efforts. She may be the United States’ first woman president but before that happens she’s going to get down during a concert that features many of her supporters including GRAMMY-winners Christina Aguilera, John Legend, Ricky Martin and the one and only Stevie Wonder.

Bob Odenkirk Presents Basia Bulat! at Largo | June 8
He has written for “The Simpsons,” stolen scenes in “Breaking Bad” and proved that prequels can work with “Better Call Saul,” and now Bob Odenkirk is playing host to Canadian singer-songwriter Basia Bulat. A master of the autoharp, Bulat will be performing songs from her past releases and also from this year’s “Good Advice” as Odenkirk does his emcee duties.

Beverly Hills Food & Wine Festival | June 9-12
Over 60 of this city’s top chefs and restaurants will be in the house including “Chopped” champion Elderoy Arendse to put on quite the display of decadent dining for the elegant foodies of Los Angeles. Those attending can wine and dine on selections from the hottest spots like STK Los Angeles to Mr. Chow to Pacific Dining Car and a myriad of others. Tickets range from $100 – $150 with only a limited amount left.

Hollywood Fringe Festival | June 9-26
For almost a month, Hollywood turns into even more of a mecca for the creative souls out there as they celebrate the art of performance. Whether it be cabaret or improv, these shows go on throughout June at a variety of locations and showcase a wide array of talents that range from a puppet roll of toilet paper with a lot to say to hilarious one-woman shows.

Warcraft” | June 10
Based on the popular online video game, “World of Warcraft” has been around for years but only now has technology been able to capture the idea of the game so beautifully. At times, the characters come across as a horror show but at the core of this movie is a great, adventurous tale that may wind up making this one of those movies that sneak up and becomes a fan favorite.

L.A. Pride | June 10-12
One of the most vibrant events to come through town every year, L.A. Pride is the place to be for those celebrating the LGBTQ community. There’s the traditional parade and festival area along with a buffet of musical acts entertaining all weekend including Carly Rae Jepsen, Faith Evans, Charli XCX and Big Freedia taking over West Hollywood.  

Make Music Pasadena | June 11
Some 150 artists are about to embark on a journey to downtown Pasadena for a day of music that ranges from indie to hip-hop. They’ll play everywhere from stages set up in the streets to local eateries and more. The best part about this festival of sorts is that unlike some others, this one will not break the bank. All they ask is for a $5 donation otherwise, it’s free to enjoy a day out in the sun with a lot of great talent.

Playboy Jazz Festival at Hollywood Bowl | June 11-12
Come one, come all for the 38th annual Playboy Jazz Festival. Spanning one weekend in June, fans can check out “Family Guy” creator and star Seth MacFarlane, Janelle Monáe, Cécile McLorin Salvant, The Bad Plus Joshua Redman and more for two days overflowing with splendid takes on jazz.

Bob Dylan at Shrine Auditorium | June 16
Singer-songwriter Bob Dylan is a legend and true storyteller. He’s been at it decades and with each year of his career, his number of fans continues to grow. Dylan played The Theatre at Ace Hotel not too long ago and now he’s heading to a larger L.A. stage. Also, each ticket purchased comes with a special code to get his latest album, “Fallen Angels.”

Finding Dory” | June 17
Thirteen years after “Finding Nemo” became an animated favorite, Disney and Pixar are at it again with its highly anticipated sequel. This time, little Nemo isn’t the one who’s gone missing, it’s Dory. The lovable but forgetful fish who stole the show the first time around is at the center of the action as she heads off in search of where she came from. Audiences will see old friends they loved in the first journey as well as meet new ones along the way on Dory’s adventure to finding herself gets underway.

Red Hot Chili Peppers “The Getaway” | June 17
At it for over three decades, Red Hot Chili Peppers are one of the most infamous bands to have ever come out of Los Angeles and as the hometown heroes they had to get a shout out when it came to their 11th studio album titled “The Getaway.” Their first album in five years, fans have been getting antsy and are even more so after their lead singer fell ill earlier this past May and couldn’t take the stage at KROQ’s annual Weenie Roast.

Vegan Beer & Food Fest | June 18
Head on down to the Rose Bowl for the annual Vegan Beer & Food Festival where patrons can dine on fare from a number of places including Ramen Hood, Garden Grill, 800 Degrees, Clean South and more. Then to wash all those delicious eats down, grab a beer from Bootlegger’s, Drakes, Breakside, Sierra Nevada or one of the number of breweries that’ll be shelling out brews that day. There will also be wine, craft sodas, a marketplace and live music as well.

John Carpenter at Orpheum | June 18
He’s a celebrated director, screenwriter and composer who has taken on a variety of genres but has gained the most notoriety with fans of horror and sci-fi from the ‘70s and ‘80s. Now that he’s pegged to produce the next installment of the “Halloween” series, fans are clamoring for a chance to see the famed director perform music from his latest album “Lost Themes II.”

Beautiful: The Carole King Musical” at Pantages Theatre | June 22-July 17
This broadway musical celebrates Carole King’s life. The Tony-winning show has been a hit since debuting and that’s not only because the talent on stage but the story itself. King is one of the most respected songwriters and artists to date and her story before she became a worldwide hit is one so intriguing that it could only be told in this fashion. So don’t miss out when it comes to L.A. for its run at Pantages.

BET Experience at L.A. Live | June 23-26
BET takes their entertainment from the small screen to the big stage every year with this three-day event that brings out not only a ton of fans but talents from the best of music and comedy. This year they’ve got 2 Chainz and Lil Wayne one night, Usher on another and the laughter will ensue with Mike Epps and Katt Williams hosting the annual awards show. 

Nonobject(ive): Summer Happening at The Broad Series | June 25-Sept. 24
This summer, The Broad is presenting a series for all the creative folks out there. Pairing music with art, they’ll have performances from the likes of Rostam Batmanglij, Charles Atlas, Richard Hell and more. There will also be a film series tossed into the mix. Plus, a ticket to this event guarantees same night access into the museum so it’s a win-win situation.