21st Annual Silent Film Celebration
May 23. 6:30pm. Royce Hall, UCLA Campus. 340 Royce Drive, Los Angeles.  Join The Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra for their 21st Annual Silent Film Celebration.  The evening features Buster Keaton’s 1928 film, The Cameraman, accompanied by the LA Chamber Orchestra performing the world premiere of Timothy Brock’s original musical score (commissioned by the Rigler-Deutsch Foundation).  The evening also includes Walt Disney’s rarely seen silent short Alice’s Wild West Show from 1924, shown in honor of the late Roy Disney.  Academy Award-winning actor Dustin Hoffman serves as Honorary Chairman.  And following the films, the Chamber Orchestra hosts a supper party under the stars for VIP patrons.  213-622-7001, ext. 215.

Ben Folds
May 12 – 13. 8pm. The Music Box, Henry Fonda Theater. 6126 Hollywood Blvd., Los Angeles.  We’d drive 10,000 hours to see Ben Folds pound his piano keys.  Seriously.  But he’s playing two nights right here in the heart of Hollywood (which means you can take the Metro; exit Red Line Hollywood/Vine Station).  Maybe best known for heading power pop trio Ben Folds Five, this singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist is just as impressive (if not more so) all by his lonesome.  323-464-0808. henryfondatheater.com.
Wheelchair Accessible.

Downtown Art Walk
May 13 (2nd Thursday of every month). 12 – 9pm. Gallery Row. 5th Street and Main Street, Downtown Los Angeles.  If you’re ready to feel the cultural explosion of Downtown Los Angeles (that’s DTLA to those in-the-know), then the monthly Art Walk is not to be missed.  This is LA at its best.  The participating galleries offer up viewings of some of the latest and craziest art in the area, live music, drinks, and admission is totally free.  Each art gallery has its own operating hours, but most Art Walkers arrive after 6pm, and the streets are crowded till 10ish.  Then the party moves into neighborhood restaurants, bars, and private spaces.  Grab all the info you need online (including a map of the galleries).  downtownartwalk.org.
Wheelchair Accessible.

Ecosystems
Open daily. 10am – 5pm. California Science Center, Exposition Park. 39th Street and Figueroa St., Los Angeles.  Bring the whole family and come explore the newest permanent exhibition wing at the California Science Center: Ecosystems.  This unprecedented blend of live plants and animals features hands-on science exhibits in 11 immersive environments.  From walking through a living kelp forest to experimenting on a polar ice wall, explorers (you!) are invited to investigate some of the Earth’s most fascinating ecosystems.  Highlights include a 188,000-gallon kelp tank populated with more than 1,500 live fish, kelp and other marine life; a desert flash flood; and a special gallery dedicated to the urban ecology of Los Angeles.  If you’ve ever wondered how the living world and physical world are interconnected, this is your chance.  213-744-2019. 323-SCIENCE. californiasciencecenter.org.
Wheelchair Accessible.

First Fridays
May 7 (1st Friday of the month, through June 4). 5:30 – 10pm. Natural History Museum. 900 Exposition Blvd., Los Angeles.  Wanna have a drink with dinosaurs?  No, seriously.  Each evening during First Fridays, the museum stays open late, features live music, exciting scientific discussion, and custom curatorial tours.  Gaps are bridged between contemporary science, culture, and the individual experience; young and adult audiences commingle; and you can literally have a cocktail with a T. Rex.  This month’s tour is Marine Biology Collections as Touchstones for Ecosystems, the discussion is Toxic Algal Blooms along the Southern California Coast: Causes Challenges and Solutions, and featured performers include Gamble House, Them Jeans, DJ Moonbaby, and our personal favorite, Swedish folk singer The Tallest Man on Earth.  213-763-DINO. nhm.org.
Wheelchair Accessible.

Luisa Lambri: Being There
Through June 13 (Closed Mondays). Hammer Museum. 10899 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles.  Luisa Lambri travels the world photographing architectural interiors, often spending extended periods of time investigating notable Modernist buildings.  Over the course of a year, Lambri made several visits to Southern California to photograph the iconic homes designed by renowned architect John Lautner.  Inspired by Lautner’s desire to connect his buildings to their natural surroundings, Lambri trained her lens on Lautner’s windows.  The resulting images move effortlessly between landscape and architectural photography, exploring the boundaries between the built environment and the natural world.  310-443-7000. hammer.ucla.edu.
Wheelchair Accessible.

All information subject to change.  Please contact each individual event for up-to-date schedules, prices and more information.