LINA IN LA — No to Kings & Yes to Queens!
What's Going On (Friday, June 13)
Welcome subscribers and Substack visitors! If you’re reading this, you support me and my mission to celebrate L.A.’s creative community, so thanks for that. It’s been a rough week for all of us in Los Angeles due to the terrifying ICE raids and ensuing escalation brought on by the current administration.
The situation has been misrepresented and overblown by some media, but it still doesn’t feel like the best time ever to promote going out in Los Angeles— unless it’s to have your voice heard as part of peaceful protest.
Promoting and celebrating Los Angeles places, people and events is my goal here however, so see my recs for things to do this week at the end of this newsletter. Moving forward, I’ll be repping a little bit of what I used to do for LA Weekly, and more recently Los Angeles magazine, in fun and informative write-ups under the head “WHAT’S GOING ON.” These picks of the week will cover music, culture and more with a more personal perspective that I hope people who’ve been reading my work for decades will appreciate.
But this first foray is a little different as I think the NO KINGS gatherings across the nation deserve our attention more than anything else. Whatever your politics, the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution allows you to express your views at public assemblies and marches. Attempts to stifle them and to suppress media coverage of them, are part of why so many fear for our country’s democracy right now.
If you can attend one of the many protests planned for tomorrow— do it. Coming out in big numbers during Trump’s military parade in D.C., is important to make an impact and show opposition to the administration’s authoritarian policies. Check out the official No Kings website for resources, to learn how to help spread the word, and for guidelines about protesting the right way— via non-violent action.
On Tuesday, June 10, Mayor Karen Bass announced a curfew for Downtown LA that is likely to run through the weekend due to bad actors taking advantage of the situation by vandalizing and breaking into DTLA businesses.
Our friends at Green Qween cannabis shop shared heart-breaking video from earlier this week, on which a group of thieves broke into their store, stole merchandise and shattered their beautiful sign, a symbol of everything they stand for, which read:
“Pro Black, Pro Brown, Pro Weed, Pro Queer, Pro Choice, Pro Trans & Pro Hoe. “
Luckily the sign has been replaced and the store is open for business once again. Go and support this wonderful space and check out my coverage of its backers, who also happen to be movers and shakers in the LGBTQ+ nightlife community. Read about Andrés Rigal & Tristan Schukraft in LA mag’s Pride Impact List, my last big project before leaving the pub. Last year, I also had so much fun talking fashion with another investor, DJ Daisy O’Dell. You’ll be seeing more of both in this newsletter, no doubt, very soon.
When the curfew was first imposed, I was on my way to see the new documentary The Life of Sean de Lear about the much-missed punk rock scene queen at the Regent. Many were seated and waiting to watch the film when the announcement came on screen that it was canceled, and I hear that the sidewalk became a makeshift punk party with local figures like Tequila Mockingbird, Kid Congo Powers and Alice Bag mingling about before the area was cleared. I’ll have the scoop on the rescheduled event here soon.
Read my obit about Sean, who was a longtime friend, HERE.
The Regent Tuesday night (Photo by Gary Helsinger)
The curfews might be necessary due to a small group of trouble-makers causing damage after dark (they obviously don’t really care about immigrant rights), but they’ve also hurt local businesses. Theaters like The Regent, restaurants, galleries and Downtown’s beloved bars have all had to stay closed due to the order. Larger venues like the Walt Disney Concert Hall and L.A. Center Theater Group theaters including the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, Mark Taper Forum and Ahmanson Theatre have also canceled shows. Call (213) 628-2772 for more info.
Many friends who own businesses downtown are supportive of the protests, but being closed has been rough. Mark your calendars for when the curfews lift and plan to celebrate at my favorite new bar Uncle Ollie’s Penthouse, which I’ll be featuring here soon. If you’d like to support the owners go eat at their restaurant downstairs The Escondite this weekend before the sun goes down.
(Courtesy Uncle Ollie’s Penthouse)
And if you have tickets for anything in L.A. or had planned to bar-hop or go clubbing, check the appropriate social media accounts to confirm they are open. My picks below are not in DTLA, but with protests happening all over the city this weekend you never know what may be affected. Stay safe out there!
WHAT’S GOING ON
💋 Queer Diaspora’s Mustache Mondays Doc screening at the Philosophical Research Society - Fri., June 13
I’ve just been notified that this event has sold out, but you can still attend the afterparty which will have a bigger capacity— just arrive around 9 p.m. to purchase a ticket.
I think I covered Mustache Mondays at La Cita more than any other journalist in Los Angeles and I’m proud to have given it press in its early days. I miss it, and Nacho Nava, its big-hearted founder.
Read my obit about him HERE.
This event will also feature a photo show by Chet Barbour and a panel discussion commemorating what would’ve been the club ’s 18th anniversary. It’ll be a bodacious bash, but you can also watch the PBS Artbound episode at home, HERE. Enjoy!
💋 45 Grave at the Whisky - Fri., June 13
What better way to celebrate Friday the 13th than with a live show from L.A. death rock pioneers 45 Grave? Dinah Cancer (aka Mary Sims-Rosas) is another local legend who’s been a pal since we both worked on Melrose, me at the natural history/dead stuff store called Necromance and she at Ragnarok, a witchy pagan and magic shop she owned. Both were inside the cool 90s alternative culture emporium (think Electric Ballroom in the UK) called Black Market, which I’ll be writing a lot more about here soon.
But in terms of her band’s music, it is absolutely seminal, dark, creepy and punk as hell. Check out just how perfectly 45 Grave’s music set the tone for the classic zombie flick The Return of the Living Dead, below.
💋 Chico’s Angels at the Cavern Club - now through June 29
Charlie’s Angels episodes acted out by Mexican drag queens. I mean, what could be more bueno? These chicas are hilarious and just another example of the kind of queer Latino joy that makes L.A. so especial. Check out their show now through June 29 at Casita del Campo’s Cavern Club, which will officially open with more drag shows soon. I’ll have the line-ups here first!
💋 Defend LA Benefit at the Echoplex - Monday, June 16
The Coalition of Humane Immigrant Rights have been doing great work, providing resources for immigrants and keeping the general public informed about rights, ICE raids and more. This benefit is already sold out, but fingers crossed that it gets streamed as well. Music is the ultimate form of protest and this line-up is perfection.
Til next week….
No to Kings & yes to Queens says it all. 💯