Esports Los Angeles

Socal Gaming Expo

**Join SanDiegoLAN.net at SoCal Gaming Expo!** **SanDiegoLAN.net** is bringing the ultimate PC gaming experience to the **SoCal Gaming Expo**! We specialize in the high-octane, tactical, and retro multiplayer titles that defined the turn of the century. Whether you are looking to relive the golden age of RTS or dominate in classic shooters, our LAN space is the place to be. **Relive the Classics** We focus on the legendary titles that built the LAN community, including: * **Command & Conquer: Red Alert 2** * **Quake** * **Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare** * **Modern Warfare 2** * **Supreme Commander** * **Unreal Tournament 2004** * **Star Wars: Battlefront 2** **Secure Your Seat: How BYOC Works** Want the full experience? Our **Bring Your Own Computer (BYOC)** section allows you to set up your own rig and play all day. * **At-Desk Registration**: Simply check in at the LAN space starting at **11:00 AM** on Saturday and Sunday. * **Dedicated Space**: For just **$10 per day**, you get a dedicated seat and a power drop. * **Connectivity**: We provide the jack; just remember to **bring your own network cable** to plug directly into our high-speed local network. **More Than Just BYOC** Not bringing a PC? No problem! We are also offering: * **6 Free Play PCs**: Jump into a game on one of our high-performance stations. * **Virtual Reality**: Experience the latest in VR gaming. * **Pop-up Tournaments**: Compete for bragging rights in spontaneous gaming challenges throughout the weekend. Come find us, grab a seat, and let's get some games going!

Free Faith Based Support Group

**Faith-Based Recovery Group** This free faith-based recovery group offers a safe, supportive space for adults seeking healing, hope, and community. Each Friday, we come together for encouragement, connection, and honest conversation rooted in faith. Whether you are in recovery, supporting a loved one, or simply looking for a place to grow spiritually and emotionally, you are welcome here. 🕕 Every Friday, 6–9 PM 📍 18333 Dolan Way, Suite #203, Canyon Country 👥 Ages 18 and up 💙 Free to attend No judgment, no pressure, just support, faith, and community.

Game Dev Mixer LA @ Summer Games Fest

Get ready for the **Game Dev Mixer: LA Edition**! We’re taking over DTLA on **Thursday, June 4th**, just one day before Summer Game Fest officially begins. In partnership with **[Omni House](https://omnihouse.app/)** and **[MIXR Studios](https://www.mixr.link/)**, we’re hosting an evening dedicated to the craft and culture of gaming. Whether you’re a developer, programmer, 2D/3D artist, musician, writer, or simply a passionate gamer, this is your space to connect. ### Why You Should Be There: * **Networking:** Rub elbows with local talent and industry pros in the heart of Los Angeles. * **Playtests:** Get exclusive hands-on time with unreleased titles on-site. * **Community:** Meet the faces behind your favorite pixels and polygons. **When:** Thursday, June 4th **Where:** 101 E 17th St, Los Angeles, CA 90015 **Who:** Creators, players, and everyone in between. Don't miss out on the ultimate pre-SGF social—see you there! **RSVP HERE:** [https://luma.com/t7zhhh5o](https://luma.com/t7zhhh5o)

Caregiver&First Responder Pizza Party

Calling all caregivers and first responders. Special event! We are having a Saturday pizza party at Purgatory Pizza on May 30 at 3PM. Purgatory Pizza is a popular Los Angeles pizzeria known for its creative and diverse menu, including vegan and gluten-free options, located in the Boyle Heights area. They offer a variety of pizzas, from classic to unique house pies like the "White Iverson" and "Terrestrial," as well as sandwiches, pasta, and deep-dish Sicilian pizza, with options for customization like vegan cheese and house-made seitan steak. The restaurant is praised for its flavorful food, art-filled environment, and strong community focus, serving areas like the Arts District, Lincoln Heights, and Echo Park. Purgatory Pizza, 1326 1st St, Los Angeles, CA 90033 We will be at the table with the flower. #nursing #caregivers

Dodgers Game→DJs, Drinks & Late Night! 🌃✨

⚾ **Dodgers game starts at 7:15PM** We’ll have our **own special LA2JP section** all night 🌙 The game will be playing in the background while **everyone hangs out together, meets new people, talks, drinks, dances, laughs, and enjoys** **the LA × Japan energy throughout the night!** 🎧 Featuring **Sophia Lin** & **Dodgers DJ Yuko 🔥** 🎤 Live performance by Japanese artist **Yayoi Daimon 🔥** From first pitch to late night — **good music, good energy, and a crowd worth staying out for.** 🍸 **$35 open bar till 10PM** ✨ **No cover — just RSVP!** **📍** **Moonlight KTown Lounge** 3250 Wilshire Blvd Los Angeles, CA 🎟 RSVP on Partiful—the night keeps going after the game 🌙 [https://partiful.com/e/a0juijTuXL8eLbi6zch8](https://partiful.com/e/a0juijTuXL8eLbi6zch8) @TheLA2JP

Support each other.

AAPI Tennis Celebration! - LoveSetMatch

🌙LA × Japan Night in Koreatown

Friday night in Koreatown. 🌃 Dodgers game on in the background, drinks flowing, live DJs, live performance, and a late-night LA crowd all in one spot. We’ll start with the game at 7:15PM, then keep the night going with music, cocktails, dancing, and good energy until 2AM. Not your usual watch party, more like an LA night out with the game as the backdrop. ✨ Culture 🍜 Food 🍸 Cocktails 🎧 Live DJs 🎤 Live Performance Come solo or bring friends — easy place to meet people and experience Koreatown after dark. No cover — just RSVP! 📍 Moonlight Ktown Lounge 3250 Wilshire Blvd · Los Angeles, CA 🕖 Friday, May 29 • 7:15PM–2AM 🎟 RSVP on Partiful: [https://partiful.com/e/a0juijTuXL8eLbi6zch8](https://partiful.com/e/a0juijTuXL8eLbi6zch8)

Escape Room 6/7 - Sky Odyssey -Greek Mythology- (Max 10 Players)

▶ Please pay **$44** per person via **[Venmo @simplyPURE](http://venmo.com/simplyPURE).** Hey Team, We'll meet at **Maze Rooms** in Koreatown at **3:30pm on Sunday, 6/7** for this event. Please budget your time for traveling and parking (lot/street). **Our game starts at 4:00pm.** *A hot air balloon ride takes an unexpected turn and you find yourself in Ancient Greece as a war between Greek Gods and Titans breaks out. Do you have what it takes to wield the power of Gods and save Olympus?* **Room Details:** * Theme: Greek Mythology * Time Limit: 70 Minutes * Difficulty: Hard * Number of Players: Max 10 * Attire: Please wear comfortable clothing and shoes * Note: Phone usage will not be allowed while participating **Please RSVP and make the payment to reserve your spot. Note that you will be removed from the RSVP list if payment is not made within 24 hours, this is to prevent no-shows and give opportunities to those who are committed in attending.** If you're unable to attend after payment, please find another player to transfer your ticket to. I can assist if needed. You will be required to **sign a waiver**; I will have the waiver link sent prior to our event. **We plan to go to KBBQ nearby afterwards!** **Disclaimer:** All attendees at any Escape The Chaos event assume full responsibility for their own safety and waive any liability from the Escape The Chaos host, group, organization, guests, and affiliations. Looking forward to meeting our team! **Let's Escape The Chaos!** Please join our **Discord: [discord.gg/PUREverything](http://discord.gg/PUREverything)!**

May 2026 - Playtest games at Geeky Teas!

**Players and game designers wanted for this open house style event!** Please read the event schedule, and all members, new and old, should check out the Code of Conduct at the bottom of this text. **FEE:** $8 to play at Geeky Teas - payable at the event to Geeky Teas at front desk. Once paid, you're covered to play games ALL DAY. **DESIGNER SIGN UP**: If you have a game to test during session one or two we have a new sign up protocol: **Fill out the form here- [First Play Designer Signup](https://gorgeous-mule-37d.notion.site/1c9a3d4ed35b8034b34ced27ef3d1c40)** Please read the descriptions of each time to determine if your game is appropriate for a scheduled session. *Note: new members must come to First Play as a playtester at least once before having the opportunity to run a game. If this is your first time showing your game at FPLA, please introduce yourself to either Damon or Cassandra (one or both will be near the front of the room) before your session for a quick explainer on how to get your game to the table and what to expect from playtesting.* **SCHEDULE:** Game days have 3 segments. **You do not need to come for the whole day!** However, it is good etiquette if you are testing your own game to stay and test at least one other designer's game as well. 11:00am - 1:00 pm **OPEN PLAY TESTING** This is unstructured play time, ideal for short games (45min or less), 2 player games, and games that require a quieter environment. If you're a designer, grab an available table and let people know you are looking for players. If you're a player, just sit down at a game and play! **SESSION ONE** 1:15pm - 3:15pm **SESSION TWO** 3:30pm - 5:30pm Scheduled sessions are the core of First Play! This event we have three scheduled sessions, with about 4-6 games running during each time slot. Following moderator announcements, each designer running a game will have the opportunity to do an 'elevator pitch' to players. After which, players decide which game they want to play. Two hour sessions are ideal for games that are 60-90 minutes, and have been playtested multiple times before. After play, be sure to leave time to give and receive feedback. Oh, and sometimes we give away prizes! 5:30-6:30pm **DINNER BREAK** 6:30-10pm **THE SKUNKWORKS** This is unstructured time to test your wildest ideas. Bring the game that may break in 5 minutes, the one that requires 10 people, or the one that may involve crawling on the ground. Bring objects that *could* be games, half baked ideas, and untested print and plays. Take risks, be silly, and most importantly, have fun! **SPECIAL NOTES**: No outside food is permitted but there are snacks/drinks sold at Geeky Teas. Also, FYI - There are cats at the store, roaming but keep to themselves. Please read these guides, especially if you are new to design or playtesting- **[How to do better playtesting!](https://gorgeous-mule-37d.notion.site/How-to-do-better-playtesting-1c9a3d4ed35b807b9f6ff643b5635885)** **[How to explain rules for your confusing game prototype!](https://gorgeous-mule-37d.notion.site/How-to-explain-rules-for-your-confusing-game-prototype-1d3a3d4ed35b80c683e7e4f6953e8545)** **Code of Conduct Rules** 1. Be kind. 2. Seriously, be even more kind than you think you need to be. 3. Read the guidelines for giving and receiving feedback. 4. Respect the rules of our venues (Geeky Teas, Paper Heroes, Odyssey, etc). We will continue to be welcome as long as we continue to be good guests. 5. New members must come to First Play as a playtester at least once before having the opportunity to run a game. 6. If you have RSVP'd to run a game, show up for your time slot. If you do not show up for your time slot, you will get a strike against you. Two strikes and moderators will discuss next steps with you about if you will be allowed to continue running games. 7. Be respectful of other community members- give as much as you receive. Playtest other peoples' games, not just your own. 8. In the case of an unresolvable or continuing conflict, please let a moderator know so we can determine next steps. 9. You will receive a warning if a legitimate complaint is lodged against you. In the case of a continuous issue, a group of at least 3 moderators will discuss and determine next steps. Consistent bad behavior will lead to a group ban. **See you soon!** **Have questions?** For FAQ's, please see here - [First Play FAQ’s](https://gorgeous-mule-37d.notion.site/First-Play-FAQ-s-1d5a3d4ed35b809eadb7c5c72359521b) For a specific question please email *cassandra@ixiongameworks.com* For community conversations join the Cardboard Alchemy Discord: [https://discord.gg/2pYk3TT](https://discord.gg/2pYk3TT) \- find the \#first\-play\-la\-chat channel\!

Golden Eagle Tennis Club - CSULA

From Months to Days: How AI Is Rewriting Commercial Production

Join us for a behind-the-scenes look at how AI is transforming commercial production—and what it takes to build creative systems that actually perform. Jethro Rothe-Kushel is the Founder & CEO of Ritual Ads, a studio using AI to take brands from concept to finished commercial in days—not months—while improving performance through rapid iteration and real-time analytics. After more than 20 years producing major campaigns for brands like Google, Apple, and Amazon, Jethro saw firsthand how slow, expensive, and inefficient traditional production could be. Instead of accepting that model, he built something different. At Ritual Ads, the commercial production process is reimagined end-to-end—using AI to move from storyboard to finished spot in days, not months, while enabling faster iteration, real-time testing, and stronger performance. In this session, Jethro will break down how this approach works in practice, including: * How AI is compressing the timeline of commercial production * Why more iteration leads to better creative outcomes * What a modern “creative + performance” stack actually looks like * Lessons learned building and scaling a system designed for speed, consistency, and results This is a practical, real-world look at how advertising is evolving—and what builders, marketers, creatives, operators, and investors need to understand to stay ahead. *** ### **About the Speaker** Jethro Rothe-Kushel is the Founder & CEO of Ritual Ads, a studio using AI to take brands from concept to finished commercial with speed, precision, and measurable performance. He brings over 20 years of experience across film, television, and advertising, having produced major campaigns for leading brands including Apple, Netflix, American Express, Google, and Amazon. He is a former VP of the Producers Guild of America, representing thousands of top producers nationwide. Earlier in his career, Jethro documented the lives of people experiencing homelessness in Los Angeles—work that contributed to major public funding efforts and long-term housing initiatives. That experience continues to inform his belief in storytelling as a force for real-world change. Today, he leads Ritual Ads at the intersection of AI and storytelling, helping brands move faster while staying authentic and effective. *** **Networking** Come early to connect with fellow founders, technologists, creatives, and community members. Friday Coffee Meetup is as much about the people in the room as it is about the conversation on stage.