Sunday, January 15
The Empress of Art ("Susan Jaques, author of The Empress of Art: Catherine the Great and the Transformation of Russia
($35, Pegasus) joins Edward Goldman, host of KCRW's "ArtTalk," to
discuss the empress's art collecting and its impact on Russia, as well
as on museums and culture far beyond Russia's borders.")
Getty Center, 1200 Getty Center Dr., Brentwood; 3 p.m.; free (but parking is $15 / $10 after 3 p.m.). (310) 440-7300.
Franz Nicolay discusses Humorless Ladies of Border Control: Touring the Punk Underground from Belgrade to Ulaanbaatar
($27, The New Press) ("In 2009, musician Nicolay left his job in the
Hold Steady, a.k.a. the world’s greatest bar band. Over the next five
years, he crossed the world with a guitar in one hand, a banjo in the
other, and an accordion on his back, playing the anarcho-leftist squats
and DIY spaces of the punk rock diaspora. He meets Polish artists
nostalgic for their revolutionary days, Mongolian neo-Nazis in full SS
regalia, and a gay expat in Ulaanbaatar who needs an armed escort
between his home and his job.")
Book Soup, 8818 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood; 4 p.m.; free. (310) 659-3110.
Shut Up! I Hate You!: A Politics & Pop Culture Smackdown
("Four incredibly opinionated comedians join hosts Anthony King &
Kate Spencer for a brutal and hilarious round table discussion about all
the things they hate in politics and pop culture. It's like watching
The McLaughlin Group, The View and a knife fight all at the same time.")
UCB Franklin, 5919 Franklin Ave., Hollywood Hills; 7:30 p.m.; $8. (323) 908-8702.
Weather today?
Monday, January 16
Scarce 35mm double-bill of musclemen epics Hercules in the Haunted World and Hercules and the Captive Women (both 1961, both starring British bodybuilder Reg Park as Hercules)
New Beverly Cinema, 7165 Beverly Blvd., Fairfax; 6:30 p.m.; $8. (323) 938-4038.
37th Annual Vietnamese Culture Night ("The Vietnamese Student
Union at UCLA hosts Vietnamese Culture Night (VCN) in order to give
students an opportunity to showcase taboo topics in the Vietnamese and
Vietnamese-American community through drama, dance, and song.")
Royce Hall, 10745 Dickson Plaza, UCLA, Westwood; 7 p.m.; free. (310) 825-2101.
The Rumble: A Storytelling Show ("Screwing up is quintessential
to the human experience. And luckily it tends to lead to the funniest
stories. Join our super-vulnerable and shame-familiar hosts Nicole
Shabtai (American Dad) and Laura Willcox (Inside Amy Schumer) as they invite some of the best stand-ups and storytellers in L.A. to come and Rumble on this month's theme: Endings.")
UCB Sunset, 5419 Sunset Blvd., East Hollywood; 10:30 p.m.; $8. (323) 908-8702.
Weather today?
Tuesday, January 17
Opening of the Liz Craft retrospective exhibition ("Craft creates
surreal sculptures that simmer with a sense of the absurd. Cartoony and
dreamlike, her works are rendered with a mash-up of realistic detail
and weighty materials such as bronze and steel. Working in Los Angeles
for many years, Craft chooses subjects that often evoke the
idiosyncrasies characteristic of Southern California’s cultural
landscape, like skeletal bikers." Through April 30.)
Hammer Museum, 10899 Wilshire Blvd., Westwood; 11 a.m. (closed Mondays); free. (310) 443-7000.
Matt Kennedy talks about The Rise of Sequential Art ("La Luz de
Jesus Gallery director and Pod Sequentialism host Kennedy discusswes
comic books, graphic novels, and how sequential art came to be taken
seriously. We’ll also have copies for sale of his book Pop-Sequentialism: Great Comic Book Art of the Modern Age
($10, La Luz de Jesus Press). More than just dynamic illustrations on a
page, the comic book is a medium that tells stories, and by presenting
an exhibition that celebrates the collaborations of the greatest
storytellers, the intention of this exhibition is to open a serious
dialogue on the importance of this artform.")
The Last Bookstore, 453 S. Spring St., downtown Los Angeles; 7 p.m.; free. (213) 488-0599.
Hiding in Plain Sight: The Pursuit of War Criminals from Nuremberg to the War on Terror
("Authors Alexa Koenig, Victor Peskin and Eric Stover examine the
global effort to capture the world’s most wanted fugitives in their
seminal book, Hiding in Plain Sight ($33, University of
California Press). The authors trace the evolution of international
justice and how to hold accountable mass murderers like Eichmann,
Hussein, Mladic, Kony, and Osama bin Laden. The authors will also
discuss the U.S.’ increasing reliance on military force to capture - or
more often simply to kill - suspected terrorists, with little or no
judicial scrutiny.")
Mark Taper Auditorium, Central Library, 630 W. 5th St., downtown Los Angeles; 7:15 p.m.; free. (213) 228-7500.
Weather today?
Wednesday, January 18
L.A. Legends: A Conversation with California Art Icons Larry Bell, Billy Al Bengston, Robert Irwin, Ed Moses, and Ed Ruscha (moderated by author and art critic Hunter Drohojowska-Philp)
The Broad Stage, Santa Monica College Performing Arts Center, 1310 11th St., Santa Monica; 6:30 p.m.; $80/100/125. (310) 434-3200.
What Does the Japanese American Experience Tell Us About the Proposed Muslim Registry?
("Do such registries actually make the nation more secure? What is
their history in the U.S. and under what circumstances do they lead to
detention of large groups of people? Today's forum gathers UCLA
anthropologist and chair in Japanese American Incarceration, Redress and
Community Lane Ryo Hirabayashi; Executive Director of the National
Immigration Forum Ali Noorani; and Hiroshi Motomura, UCLA legal scholar
and author of Immigration Outside the Law and Americans in Waiting.")
National Center for the Preservation of Democracy, Japanese American National Museum, 369 E. 1st St., downtown L.A.; 7:30 p.m.; free.. (213) 625-0414.
Bassem Youssef: The Joke Is Mightier than the Sword ("Youssef,
dubbed the Jon Stewart of the Arab World, was a practicing
cardiothoracic surgeon when he became the creator and host of popular TV
show Al-Bernameg - the first political satire show in the Middle East.
Originally a 5-minute show shot from Youssef’s laundry room and posted
on YouTube days after protests in Tahrir Square unseated Egypt’s ruling
elite, Al-Bernameg became the most watched show across the region with
30 million viewers every week. Accused of being “anti-Islam” and
insulting the President, Youssef was arrested and interrogated before
being released on bail. The show achieved unprecedented ratings before
Youssef announced its termination due to overwhelming political
pressures.")
Royce Hall, 10745 Dickson Plaza, UCLA, Westwood; 8 p.m.; $25 UCLA faculty and staff / $19-$39 general / $15 UCLA students. (310) 825-2101.
What Do You Mean, "In Concert"?
Soundwaves New Music presents Emily Hay (flute, voice, and effects) & Steuart Liebig (contrabass guitars and electronics)
Santa Monica Public Library, 601 Santa Monica Blvd., Santa Monica, 7:30 p.m.; a/a; free. (310) 458-8600.
Weather today?
Thursday, January 19
The Art of Alchemy Colloquium ("Alchemists were notorious for
attempting to make synthetic gold, but their goals were far more
ambitious: to transform and bend nature to the will of an industrious
human imagination. For scientists, philosophers, and artists alike,
alchemy seemed to hold the key to unlocking the secrets of creation.
Alchemists' efforts to discover the way the world is made have had an
enduring impact on artistic practice and expression around the globe.
This colloquium will explore how the art of alchemy transformed visual
culture from antiquity to the industrial age and ways in which its
legacy permeates the world today. This lecture complements the
exhibition The Art of Alchemy on view at the Getty Research Institute through February 12.")
Getty Center, 1200 Getty Center Dr., Brentwood; 10 a.m.; free (but parking is $15 / $10 after 3 p.m.). (310) 440-7300.
Jane Sobel Klonsky offers up Unconditional: Older Dogs, Deeper Love
($20, National Geographic) ("A collection of photos and stories
celebrating the bonds between people and their senior dogs. The dogs
photographed for the book include senior rescues with their adopters,
service dogs with those they assist and guide, working dogs with their
handlers, and lifelong cherished family pets with the people who dote on
them.")
The Last Bookstore, 453 S. Spring St., downtown Los Angeles; 7 p.m.; free. (213) 488-0599.
Fresh Out! LA: InUGHuration Eve Benefit ("A fundraiser for The
Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund, with Marcella
Arguello, Rachel Bloom, Pete Holmes, Al Madrigal, Johan Miranda.")
UCB Sunset, 5419 Sunset Blvd., East Hollywood; 8:30 p.m.; $26. (323) 908-8702.
Weather today?
Friday, January 20
What a Joke Presents Comedy Sucks ("A nation-wide comedy festival
that takes place over inauguration weekend and is raising funds for the
American Civil Liberties Union, presents a special edition of Comedy
Sucks! The popular underground variety show "Comedy Sucks," hosted by
Scott Blacks and featuring VHS found footage videos by @midnight's Grimy Ghost!.
The name “Comedy Sucks” challenges each of the performers on the
line-up to prove the show wrong. Combining the best in alternative
stand-up comedy with outrageous obscure VHS found footage from the
darkest crevices of thrift stores.")
NerdMelt, 7522 Sunset Blvd., Hollywood; 6:45 p.m.; $8. (323) 851-7223.
King Con: Inauguration Day Open Reading ("Give voice to your fears, hopes and dreams about America’s future under the new regime. Hosted by S.A. Griffin.")
Beyond Baroque, 681 Venice Blvd., Venice; 7 p.m.; free. (310) 822-3006.
The George Lucas Talk Show: L.A. Edition ("Join filmmaker George Lucas - producer of Radioland Murders - as he embarks upon an exciting new career as a comedian and talk show host! Starring Connor Ratliff." Also Saturday.)
UCB Sunset, 5419 Sunset Blvd., East Hollywood; 10:30 p.m.; $8. (323) 908-8702.
What Do You Mean, "In Concert"?
Boor Bar Percussion Ensemble, Devin Hoff (solo upright bass), SK Kakraba (master xylophonist from Ghana), Dina Maccabee
Anti-Nauguration'17, 1142 E. 11th St, downtown Los Angeles, 9 p.m.; a/a; free.
Weather today?
Saturday, January 21
The Official Women's March L.A. ("Open to everyone who stands for
human rights, civil liberties, tolerance of diversity, and compassion
for our shared humanity. We stand together in solidarity for the
protection of our rights, our safety, our health, and our families --
recognizing that our vibrant and diverse communities are the strength of
our country." Estimates of 3.6-4.5 million are broken down by city
here:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1xa0iLqYKz8x9Yc_rfhtmSOJQ2EGgeUVjvV4A8LsIaxY/htmlview?sle=true#gid=0
)
Pershing Square, 532 S. Olive St., downtown Los Angeles, 90013; 9 a.m.; free (just like you). (213) 847-4970.
In Dialogue: The Art of Surfing ("Surfing has long been
synonymous with California coastal cool. Focusing on pioneering and
contemporary surf culture artists - including John Severson, Rick
Griffin, Jim Evans, and Kevin Short - In the Land of Sunshine: Imaging the California Coast Culture
curator and California surfer Gordon T. McClelland not only illustrates
how these artists depict the cultural phenomenon, but also discusses
how key organizations such as the Surfrider Foundation have kept
California’s beaches clean and free to the public, and open for surfing
and art inspiration.")
Pasadena Museum of California Art, 490 E. Union St., Pasadena; 3 p.m.; $7 adults / $5 seniors 62+, students and educators. (626) 568-3665.
Opening of the Hans Bellmer retrospective exhibition ("In
conjunction with Kathleen Ryan’s solo exhibition, François Ghebaly is
pleased to present an intimate presentation of original drawings and
photos from surrealist Bellmer (1902-1975) in collaboration with Galerie
1900/2000 in Paris." Through February 25.)
Ghebaly Gallery, 2245 E. Washington Blvd., Boyle Heights; 12 p.m. (closed Sunday and Monday); free. (323) 282-5187.
What Do You Mean, "In Concert"?
Itzhak Perlman ("Performing the Vivaldi Violin Sonata in A
major, Op. 2, No. 2, RV 31; Beethoven's Violin Sonata No. 5 in F major,
Op. 24 ("Spring")Schumann Fantasiestücke, Op. 73; Stravinsky's (Arr.
Dushkin) Suite Italienne for Violin and Piano.")
Walt Disney Concert Hall, 111 S. Grand Ave., downtown Los Angeles; 8 p.m.; $54 & $85. (323) 850-2000.
Death Hymn Number 9, The Sloths, The Sonics
The Echoplex, 1154 Glendale Blvd., Echo Park; 8:30 p.m., 21+; $20.50-24.50. (213) 413-8200.
Weather today?
Sunday, January 22
The Cryogenian, Coldest Time in Earth History (lecture by Bruce
Runnegar, Emeritus Professor of Paleobiology, UCLA) ("We are now in (and
probably leaving) one of the coldest periods in Earth history. Previous
icehouse intervals occurred about 300, 700 and 2000 million years ago.
During one of these periods, the Cryogenian, glacial ice extended to sea
level in the tropics. We shall discuss this so-called Snowball Earth
event in terms of its origin, and its effects on our planet and its
life.")
UCLA Meteorite Gallery, Geology Building, Room 3697, 595 Charles E. Young Dr. E., Westwood; 2:30 p.m.; free. (310) 825-2015.
David Sedaris: A Work In Progress ("Humorist Sedaris workshops his newest book Theft by Finding: Diaries (1977-2002)
($28, Little, Brown and Company) which will be out in June. With
sardonic wit and incisive social critiques, the great skill with which
he slices through cultural euphemisms and political correctness proves
that Sedaris is a master of satire and one of the most observant writers
addressing the human condition today." Through Saturday.)
Macgowan Hall Little Theater,
245 Charles E. Young Dr. E., Westwood; 7 p.m. (8 p.m. other days); $59
general / $25 UCLA workers / $15 UCLA students. (310) 825-5761.
14th Annual Venice Film Festival ("Colorful history of films made
in Venice California, and celebration of the otherworldly happenings at
the legendary Venice West Gallery (birthplace of the Beats, a.k.a
Sponto Gallery) with live performances. Experience the essence of
Spontofication Rituals in art, music, poetry and the freedom of
creativity. Featuring rare video footage including the Sunny Zorro art
show at Sponto and more.")
Beyond Baroque, 681 Venice Blvd., Venice; 7 p.m.; free / donations. (310) 822-3006.
Weather today?
Monday, January 23
The Moth GrandSLAM ("Breaking Ground: listen as ten StorySLAM
champs tell tales of new horizons. Checkpoints and firsts. Growing pains
and ice breakers. Pioneers, explorers, and builders. Pulling up anchors
and digging in.The Moth is dedicated to finding intriguing people to
tell inspired stories. At The Moth StorySLAM, those people find us. On
this night, using words as weapons, they compete to determine The Moth's
Los Angeles GrandSLAM Story Champion.")
The Regent, 448 S. Main St., downtown Los Angeles; 7 p.m.; $25. (323) 284-5727.
Gary Taubes gabs about The Case Against Sugar ($27, Knopf)
("From the best-selling author of "Why We Get Fat" comes a
groundbreaking, eye-opening expose that makes the convincing case that
sugar is the tobacco of the new millennium: backed by powerful lobbies,
entrenched in our lives, and making us very sick. With his signature
command of both science and straight talk, Taubes delves into Americans'
history with sugar: its uses as a preservative, as an additive in
cigarettes; the contemporary overuse of high-fructose corn syrup. He
explains what research has shown about our addiction to sweets.")
Vroman’s, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena; 7 p.m.; free. (626) 449-5320.
Double-bill of A Public Affair (1962. "Idealistic Senator
Fred Baines is alarmed when he reads about a finance company’s bill
collectors beating up a man unable to pay his debt. When he publicly
announces plans to introduce legislation that would prohibit the abuses
perpetrated by collection agencies, he finds himself smeared in news
reports by agency lobbyists and owners who subsequently attempt to pass
an amendment that would cripple Baines’ crusade for justice.") and Dead Heat on a Merry-Go-Round
(1966. "Con man James Coburn gets an early parole from the pen after
romancing his prison psychiatrist (Marian Moses). He then proceeds to
cut a swath through a field of ladies, seducing and fleecing them of
their wealth, all with the intention of buying up the blueprints of a
bank at Los Angeles International Airport.")
New Beverly Cinema, 7165 Beverly Blvd., Fairfax; 7:30 p.m.; $8. (323) 938-4038.
Weather today?
Tuesday, January 24
Ian Bogost: Play Anything ("Life is boring, filled with meetings
and traffic, errands and emails. Nothing we’d ever call fun. But what if
we’ve gotten fun wrong? In Play Anything, the visionary game designer
and philosopher Bogost shows how we can overcome daily anxieties and
transform the boring, ordinary world into a place of endless playful
possibilities.")
Hammer Museum, 10899 Wilshire Blvd., Westwood; 7:30 p.m.; free. (310) 443-7000.
Helen Lefkowitz Horowitz blabs about A Taste of Provence
($30, University of Chicago Press) ("Historian Horowitz spins a
wonderfully appealing tale of how Provence became Provence. The region
had previously been regarded as a backwater and known only for its Roman
ruins, but in the postwar era authors, chefs, food writers, visual
artists, purveyors of goods, and travel magazines crafted a new,
alluring image for Provence.")
Vroman’s, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena; 7 p.m.; free. (626) 449-5320.
Brad Schreiber unveils Revolution's End: The Patty Hearst Kidnapping, Mind Control, and the Secret History of Donald DeFreeze and the SLA
($25, Skyhorse) (Keep on rockin' in DeFreeze World; "Journalist
Schreiber’s solidly-researched non-fiction exposé on the police and
CIA’s role in the kidnapping of Patty Hearst.")
Chevalier's Books, 126 N. Larchmont Blvd., Larchmont; 7 p.m.; free. (323) 465-1334.
Weather today?
Wednesday, January 25
Steph Jagger discusses Unbound: A Story of Snow and Self-Discovery
($27, Harper Wave) ("In 2011, Jagger went on a journey she called The
Vertical Feat: she quit her job and circumnavigated the globe in search
of snow, and whenever she stopped she skied as many vertical feet as she
could and ended up breaking a world record for the most vertical feet
skied in one year. From the mountains of North and South America to
Asia, Europe, and New Zealand, Jagger stretched herself to her physical,
and emotional limits.")
Pages, a Bookstore, 904 Manhattan Ave., Manhattan Beach; 7 p.m.; free. (310) 318-0900.
Didier Fiuza Faustino speaks ("Faustino is an architect and
artist working on the relationship between body and space. He is also
the editor in chief of the French architecture and design magazine CREE.
In some of his iconic works, such as Body in Transit (Venice Biennale,
2000), a minimal space critiquing the transport of illegal immigrants,
or One Square Meter House (Paris, 2007), a building prototype
questioning the notions of land value and ownership, Faustino’s
subversive stance invites us to question the political role of creation
as well as our own position as a subject and a citizen.")
W.M. Keck Lecture Hall, SCI-ARC, 960 E. 3rd St., downtown Los Angeles; 7 p.m.; free. (213) 613-2200.
Manuello Paganelli presents Cuba: A Personal Journey 1989-2015
($60, Daylight) ("Paganelli has documented the daily activities of the
people and the culture of Cuba for more than twenty-five years. He
brings together 115 black and white images that celebrate the
indomitable essence of Cubaits cuisine, music, dance, and everyday life
persisting in the midst of varying political pressures and economical
complexities.")
Book Soup, 8818 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood; 7 p.m.; free. (310) 659-3110.
What Do You Mean, "In Concert"?
Low & Slow present A Benefit for the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN) with CFM, Feels, Fernando & The Teenage Narcs, Flat Worms
The Smell, 247 S. Main St., downtown Los Angeles; 8 p.m., a/a; $10. (213) 625-4325.
Eleni Mandell Tribute Record Release show to benefit Plastic Pollution Coalition with Priscilla Ahn, Jackson Browne, Inara George, Steve Gregoropoulos, Alex Lilly, Eleni Mandell, Gus Seyffert, Wendy Wang
Bootleg Theater, 2220 Beverly Blvd., Westlake; 8:30 p.m., 21+; $10 advance / $15 door. (213) 389-3856.
Weather today?
Thursday, January 26
Seth Rudetsky: '70s Variety Shows Deconstructed ("Sirius/XM Radio
host Rudetsky will be focusing on the fantastic/horrific variety shows
from the 70's. Liza Minelli singing "I Don't Know How To Love Him" and
brazenly not blinking throughout the entire song, Donny and Marie being
forced to dance while introducing all of their guest stars and most
importantly, the short-lived but mind-boggling series: The Brady Bunch
Variety Hour. The show debuted in 1977 and was (not surprisingly)
cancelled the same year, but there are nine delicious episodes that
merit severe analysis. You will explore: The bedazzled outfits, every
single Brady doing "funky" dance steps, the swimming pool (an homage to
Donny and Marie's Ice Skating Rink), the disco all-sung-all-danced
medleys including "Shake Your Booty" and the hot romance between Alice
the maid and the local real estate agent played by Rip Taylor. Plus, a
special section focusing on the moving sub-plot of Greg moving out of
the house (in his mid-twenties) and Carol Brady's ensuing depression,
all enacted in song. Finally, most shockingly, you will see the singing
and dancing fake Jan!")
Largo at The Coronet, 366 N. La Cienega Blvd., Beverly Grove; 7 p.m.; $30. (310) 855-0350.
Alison Gopnik in conversation with Alex Cohen (co-host of KPCC's "Take Two") about Gopnik's trip: "Evolution and the Young Mind: Creativity and Learning"
("Young children often seem especially creative and imaginative. What
is it about children’s minds and brains that makes them so imaginative?
Gopnik, pioneering developmental psychologist and author of the new
book, "The Gardener and the Carpenter: What the New Science of Child
Development Tells Us About the Relationship Between Parents and
Children," discusses her cutting-edge research into how children learn
and how thinking like a child can make adults more creative too.")
Mark Taper Auditorium, Central Library, 630 W. 5th St., downtown Los Angeles; 7:15 p.m.; free. (213) 228-7500.
Manjula Martin talks about her book Scratch: Writers, Money, and the Art of Making a Living ($16, Simon & Schuster) with Julia Fierro, Susan Orlean and Kim Jones
("Based on the online magazine of the same name. In the literary world,
we romanticize the image of the struggling artist, but pursuing a
career as a creative also stirs a complicated discourse: either writers
should be paid for everything they do or they should just pay their dues
and count themselves lucky to be published.")
Skylight Books, 1818 N. Vermont Ave., Los Feliz; 7:30 p.m.; free. (323) 660-1175.
What Do You Mean, "In Concert"?
Rest in Power: An Oakland Fire Relief Gathering with Leech, Magic Touch, Maria Minerva, Pharoahs, Roche
The Regent, 448 S. Main St., downtown Los Angeles; 7 p.m., 18+; $9.50-12.50. (323) 284-5727.
Nani, Poppy Jean Crawford, Sloppy Jane, Nico Turner (member of Cat Power)
The Smell, 247 S. Main St., downtown Los Angeles; 9 p.m., a/a; $5. (213) 625-4325.
Weather today?
Friday, January 27
1st Annual Classic Auto Show ("Los Angeles, the birthplace of
cruisin' in America, is now home to the nation's newest classic auto
show. Walk our Grand Boulevard, listen to industry celebrities in the
Celebrity Theater and enjoy Dream Driving opportunities. This tribute to
the cars of bygone years will feature wall-to-wall exhibitors
showcasing the best and rarest classic, historic and vintage cars in the
world." Through Sunday.)
Los Angeles Convention Center,
1201 S. Figueroa St., downtown Los Angeles; 9 a.m.; $30 door / $25
pre-show / $10 kids 12 and under; $100-150 VIP. (800) 448-7775.
Opening of the David Bowie: Among the Mexican Masters exhibition
("Exhibition of exclusive images by celebrated local rock and jazz
photographer Fernando Aceves of the late, legendary singer-songwriter
taken during his historic 1997 Earthling album tour to Mexico City.
Features 27 color images showcasing intimate moments between Bowie and
the cultural heritage of Mexico made during his only visit to Mexico
City 20 years ago." Through June 15.)
Forest Lawn Museum, 1712 S. Glendale Ave., Glendale; 10 a.m.; free. (800) 204-3131.
Director Werner Herzog in person for a double-bill of Into the Inferno
(2016, Netflix, 104 min.; "In this spectacular documentary, acclaimed
director Herzog travels with Clive Oppenheimer, one of the world’s
leading volcanologists, to hot spots in the South Pacific, Ethiopia,
Iceland and North Korea. Though nature at its most fiery and violent
gets plenty of screen time, Herzog is equally interested in human
nature, as scientists and indigenous people deal with the
unpredictability of life in the midst of active volcanoes.") and Encounters at the End of the World
(2007, Discovery Films, 99 min.; "Herzog and cinematographer Peter
Zeitlinger traveled to Antarctica’s McMurdo Research Station to profile
not just the region’s icy vistas and endangered species but also the
scientists and support personnel whose work has brought them to the end
of the world.")
Aero Theatre, 1328 Montana Ave., Santa Monica; 7:30 p.m.; $11 general / $7 members / $9 seniors 65+ and students. (310) 260-1528.
What Do You Mean, "In Concert"?
Ghoulhouse Presents: Autosex, Band Aparte, Condo on The Death Strip, Loto Ball, Stalins of Sound
Harold's Place, 1908 S. Pacific Ave., San Pedro; 8 p.m., 21+; $5. (310) 832-5503.
Bavaria (ex-member of Amps for Christ, Blue Silk Sutures, Soddamn Inssein), DJ Shadazz!, Kim Free, r.r. barbadas, Sister Mantos)
The Smell, 247 S. Main St., downtown Los Angeles; 9 p.m., a/a; $5. (213) 625-4325.
Weather today?
Saturday, January 28
Wayfarer Foundation's 3rd Annual Skid Row Carnival of Love ("Last
year we were able to serve over 1500 homeless and together nearly 1000
of us transformed one of the worst places in America for four hours into
a colorless, classless, beacon of light. Our homeless friends will able
to get medical attention, mental health services, haircuts, massages, a
hot steak meal, dance, play tons of games, and even have their feet
washed by volunteers.")
Skid Row, Union Rescue Mission, 545 S. San Pedro St., downtown Los Angeles; 10 a.m.; free. (213) 347-6300.
Steve Jones signs Lonely Boy: Tales from a Sex Pistol
($27, Da Capo) ("The prototypical street-urchin turned Sex-Pistols
guitarist was the inspiration for and creator of the punk movement,
which started shaking the culture in late 1970s London and is just as
strong today. Chronicles the petty crime and anger of his youth, which
fueled the musical onslaught to come, the role of impresario Malcolm
McLaren, and how a band with one album defined a generation and changed
history.")
Book Soup, 8818 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood; 2 p.m.; free. (310) 659-3110.
Night on Broadway ("6 historic theatres. 10 stages. 7 city blocks
full of acts, artists & experiences. Emerging talent to national
stars. Artists to acrobats. Fashion designers to food trucks. Free, all
ages, rain or shine.")
On Broadway between 3rd Street and Olympic, downtown Los Angeles; 4 p.m.; free (but it helps to RSVP). (213) 200-9974.
What Do You Mean, "In Concert"?
soundShoppe at FAR Bazaar ("A twelve-hour soundShoppe, our unstructured, free jam session for experimental musicians and sound artists, led by L.A. Free Music Society founder Joe Potts.")
Cerritos College (in the Old Fine Arts Building), 11110 Alondra Blvd., Norwalk; 10 a.m., a/a, free.
Pianist Emanuel Ax and the L.A. Philharmonic play all the bangers by Mozart and Schoenberg
Walt Disney Concert Hall, 111 S. Grand Ave., downtown Los Angeles; 2 p.m.; $75-211. (323) 850-2000.
Miles Mosley + The West Coast Get Down (feat. Tony Austin, Kamasi Washington, Ryan Porter, Cameron)
El Rey Theater, 5515 Wilshire Blvd., Mid-Wilshire; 8:30 p.m., a/a; $20. (323) 936-6400.
Weather today?
Sunday, January 29
Opening of the Dubuffet Drawings, 1935-1962 exhibition
("Brings together about 100 works on paper from the most innovative
years of Jean Dubuffet (1901–1985), who rejected traditional notions of
beauty in art in favor of what he perceived as more authentic forms of
expression, inspired by graffiti, children’s drawings, and the creations
of psychiatric patients. This is the first in-depth museum exhibition
of Dubuffet’s drawings." Through April 30.)
Hammer Museum, 10899 Wilshire Blvd., Westwood; 11 a.m. (closed Mondays); free. (310) 443-7000.
An Afternoon with Earl Carroll ("The Art Deco Society Illustrated
Lectures present an illustrated presentation on Sunset Boulevard's art
deco era Earl Carroll Theatre, Hollywood's newest Historic Cultural
Monument, will be given by Richard Adkins of Hollywood Heritage and Marc
Wanamaker of the Bison Archives. This nightclub, famous for its
"Vanities" showgirl stage revues, opened on December 26, 1938 with a
jaw-dropping Art Deco interior designed by Alexis de Sakhnoffsky who
invented the Streamline Moderne style. Wanamaker will detail his
personal history with the building in the 1960s when it was known as The
Aquarius Theatre and the Kaleidoscope psychedelic night club where The
Doors famously performed. The 1940 musical, A Night at Earl Carroll's, will play following the lecture.")
Egyptian Theatre, 6712 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood; 1 p.m.; $11 general / $7 members / $9 seniors 65+ and students. (323) 466-3456.
Modern Hiker’s Casey Schreiner presents and signs Day Hiking Los Angeles: City Parks, Santa Monica Mountains, San Gabriel Mountains ($19, Mountaineers Books) and chats with Curbed's Urbanism editor Alissa Walker
("Explore the world’s largest urban national park, stand beside
thousand-year-old trees clinging to windswept ridgelines, and feel the
mist of gently cascading waterfalls. With the aid of detailed trail
maps, climb 125 of the best trails throughout the Los Angeles metro
area.")
The Last Bookstore, 453 S. Spring St., downtown Los Angeles; 6 p.m.; free. (213) 488-0599.
What Do You Mean, "In Concert"?
Alan Cumming Sings Sappy Songs
Walt Disney Concert Hall, 111 S. Grand Ave., downtown Los Angeles; 7:30 p.m.; $52-122. (323) 850-2000.
Gene Loves Jezebel, Fatal Jamz
The Echo, 1822 Sunset Blvd., Echo Park; 8 p.m., 18+; $15-18. (213) 413-8200.
Rudy de Anda, No Age, Travesura
The Federal Underground, 102 Pine Ave., Long Beach; 9 p.m., 21+; $17. (562) 435-2000.
Weather today?
Monday, January 30
Dan Flores offers up his new book Coyote America: A Natural and Supernatural History
($28, Basic Books) ("With a brilliant blend of environmental and
natural history, Flores traces the five-million-year-long biological
story of an animal that has become the "wolf" in our backyards.
Illuminating this legendary creature, he will be joined for a
conversation with playwright and urban wildlife chronicler Melissa
Cooper, performing an excerpt from her play "New York City Coyote
Existential".")
Mark Taper Auditorium, Central Library, 630 W. 5th St., downtown Los Angeles; 7:15 p.m.; free. (213) 228-7500.
Screening of I Am Not Your Negro ("Working from James Baldwin’s unfinished final novel, I Am Not Your Negro
delves into the complex legacies of Medgar Evers, Malcolm X and Martin
Luther King Jr. Director Raoul Peck matches Baldwin’s lyrical rhetoric
with footage of the Civil Rights and Black Power movements, revealing
connections between past and present injustices. Narrated by Samuel L.
Jackson. Q&A with Peck follows the screening.")
Billy Wilder Theatre, Hammer Museum, 10899 Wilshire Blvd., Westwood; 7:30 p.m.; free. (310) 443-7000.
T Bone Burnett with Jonathan Taplin discussing "The Value of the Artist, and the Value of Art"
("Burnett is an Academy Award winner, a Golden Globe winner and 13-time
Grammy Award winner. With 50 years’ experience in music and
entertainment, he has earned an unparalleled reputation as a first-rate
innovative artist, songwriter, producer, performer, film and concert
producer, record company owner and artists’ advocate.")
Ann and Jerry Moss Theater, 3131 Olympic Blvd., Santa Monica; 8 p.m.; $20 general / $30 reserved / $95 reception + reserved Section Seat. (310) 855-0005.
Weather today?
Tuesday, January 31
Tony Fletcher discusses In the Midnight Hour: The Life & Soul of Wilson Pickett
($28, Oxford University Press) ("First-ever accounting of Pickett's
life; Pickett's downfall, precipitated by the move towards softer soul
and then disco in the 1970s, proved equally dramatic, leading to a heavy
alcohol and drug addiction, a no-show for his induction into the Rock
'n' Roll Hall of Fame in 1991, and two jail terms later in the decade.")
Book Soup, 8818 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood; 7 p.m.; free. (310) 659-3110.
The 2017 Emerging Voices Welcome Party ("Join us in welcoming the
2017 Emerging Voices Fellows - Soleil David, Peter H.Z. Hsu, Kirin
Khan, Chinyere Nwodim, Jessica Shoemaker - with short readings, drinks,
and light fare!")
LACE (L.A. Contemporary Exhibitions), 6522 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood; 7 p.m.; free. (323) 957-1777.
Authors read from the new anthology Best Women's Erotica of the Year, Volume 2
($17, A Cleis Anthology) ("America's favorite erotica writer takes the
helm of the top-selling erotica series! Volume 2 gives us fierce female
passion, timeless love, and lustful encounters. Edited by the award
winning Rachel Kramer Bussel, these sexy stories about women on the
prowl span the globe, traveling from Peru to the Bahamas and beyond in
pursuit of pleasure.")
Skylight Books, 1818 N. Vermont Ave., Los Feliz; 7:30 p.m.; free. (323) 660-1175.
What Do You Mean, "In Concert"?
The Bee, Plaid (Warp Records)
The Teragram Ballroom, 1234 W. 7th St., Westlake; 8 p.m., 16+; $20. (213) 689-9100.
Piano Spheres Presents Vicki Ray: Dream Teams (performing pieces
for 2 microtonal keyboards; 2 pianos and 2 percussion instruments;
Concerto for Prepared Piano and Percussion Quartet; world premiere of a
suite of compositions by the founders of Bang on a Can: Michael Gordon,
David Lang and Julia Wolfe)
REDCAT,
631 W. 2nd St., downtown Los Angeles; 8:30 p.m., a/a; $35 general / $20
students / $12 students, faculty and staff. (213) 237-2800.
Weather today?
Wednesday, February 1
Viet Thanh Nguyen SKYPE Event ("Nguyen’s novel The Sympathizer
is a New York Times best seller and won the Pulitzer for Fiction. He is
the Aerol Arnold Chair of English and Professor of American Studies and
Ethnicity at the University of Southern California. His next book is a
short story collection, The Refugees ($25, Grove), forthcoming in February.")
Manhattan Beach Library, 1320 Highland Ave., Manhattan Beach; 12 p.m.; free. (310) 545-8595.
'A Good Trip' with Shane Mauss ("Sponsored by the
Multidisciplinary Association of Psychedelic Studies (MAPS). Comedian
Mauss has had specials on Comedy Central and Netflix, and interviews
scientists for the podcast Here We Are. Now he tours the country with a
comedy show about psychedelics. Part stand-up, part-storytelling, and
part TED-talk combine for one of the most unique and informative comedy
shows you will ever see. No psychedelic experience required.")
Largo at The Coronet, 366 N. La Cienega Blvd., Beverly Grove; 7 p.m.; $30. (310) 855-0350.
Screening of Cameraperson ("A boxing match in Brooklyn, the daily routine of a Nigerian midwife, an intimate family moment at home: Cameraperson
weaves these scenes and others into a tapestry of footage captured over
the 25-year career of documentary cinematographer Kirsten Johnson."
This program is part of the Hammer's Bureau of Feminism initiative."
2016, dir. Kirsten Johnson, English, Bosnian, Arabic, Dari, Hausa, and
Fur; English subtitles, 102 min.)
Billy Wilder Theatre, Hammer Museum, 10899 Wilshire Blvd., Westwood; 7:30 p.m.; free. (310) 443-7000.
What Do You Mean, "In Concert"?
Lang Lang plays all the smash piano hits by Albéniz, Debussy, Falla, Granados, and Liszt
Walt Disney Concert Hall, 111 S. Grand Ave., downtown Los Angeles; 8 p.m.; $59-130. (323) 850-2000.
Weather today?
Thursday, February 2
Buffering the Vampire Slayer: Live! ("Hosts Jenny Owen Youngs
(musician and recreational Whedonverse aficionado) and Kristin Russo
(writer and former goth teen) are discussing Buffy the Vampire Slayer - one episode at a time. On this magical evening they'll be discussing an episode LIVE in front of people.")
NerdMelt, 7522 Sunset Blvd., Hollywood; 6:45 p.m.; $10. (323) 851-7223.
Mhoze Chikowero unveils African Music, Power, and Being in Colonial Zimbabwe
($35, Indiana University Press ("In this new history of music in
Zimbabwe, Chikowero's book begins in the 1890s with missionary crusades
against African performative cultures and African students being
inducted into mission bands, which contextualize the music of segregated
urban and mining company dance halls in the 1930s, and he builds
genealogies of the Chimurenga music later popularized by guerrilla
artists like Dorothy Masuku, Zexie Manatsa, Thomas Mapfumo, and others
in the 1970s.")
Eso Won Books, 4327 Degnan Blvd., Leimert Park; 7 p.m.; free. (323) 290-1048.
Opening of the Chris Cuffaro Greatest Hits photography exhibition
("Opening reception will feature a night of live music and a silent
auction for the Sweet Relief Musicians' Fund, which provides financial
assistance to musicians who are struggling to make ends meet while
facing illness, disability or age-related problems--will receive 100% of
the proceeds of artwork sales from the evening along with a portion of
ticket sales via donation.")
Gibson Brands on Sunset, 8801 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood; 8:30 p.m.; free.
What Do You Mean, "In Concert"?
Egrets On Ergot, French Vanilla, L.A. Drones, The Paranoyds
The Echo, 1822 Sunset Blvd., Echo Park; 8:30 p.m., 18+; $8-9.50. (213) 413-8200.
Weather today?
Friday, February 3
Robert Lee Johnson unveils Notable Southern Californians in Black History
($22, American Heritage) ("In Los Angeles, over half of the original
settlers were of African descent. These settlers left New Spain for the
northern frontier to escape the oppression of the Spanish caste system,
just as the racially oppressive Jim Crow laws propelled a similar
migration from the American South 150 years later. Pioneers and
politicians, entrepreneurs and educators - all left an indelible mark on
the region's history.")
Eso Won Books, 4327 Degnan Blvd., Leimert Park; 7 p.m.; free. (323) 290-1048.
An Evening with Peter Hook (of Joy Division and New Order) in conversation with Moby ("As he presents Substance: Inside New Order
($35, Dey Street), his final installment of his internationally
bestselling three-part memoir, Hook tells the complete, unvarnished
story of New Order’s founding and evolution; the band’s experiences in
the New York City club scene and rapid rise to international fame, its
impact on house music, techno, and rave; and its eventual rancorous
dissolution.")
The Regent, 448 S. Main St., downtown Los Angeles; 7:30 p.m.; $37-48. (323) 284-5727.
Cool Shit/Weird Shit ("The New York UCB cult favorite has made
its way to L.A.. THE showcase for innovative comedic performances that
defy conventional classification; a show where performers are asked to
try something outside the box and push beyond their traditional comfort
zone. It's weird! It's comedy!")
UCB Franklin, 5919 Franklin Ave., Hollywood Hills; 11:59 p.m.; $6. (323) 908-8702.
What Do You Mean, "In Concert"?
Bennie Maupin Ensemble
bluewhale, 123 Astronaut E. S. Onizuka St., Suite #301, Little Tokyo; 9 p.m., a/a; $25 advance / $30 doors. (213) 620-0908.
El Ten Eleven, Lotus
The Fonda Theater, 6126 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood; 8 p.m., a/a; $22.50. (323) 464-0808.
Weather today?
Saturday, February 4
Dr. Ruth Westheimer's Sex Lecture ("Her keynote talk will be
titled "Dr. Ruth On Sexual Literacy: The Knowledge Base You Need to Have
Terrific and Safer Sex." Since Dr. Ruth doesn't believe there is such a
thing as "safe sex," she uses the term "safer sex" instead.")
3rd Annual Sexual Health Expo (SHE), California Market Center, 110 E. 9th St., downtown Los Angeles; 2 p.m.; free.
Opening of the FUtopia group show ("How do we know when a
new world paradigm is in the works? What marks the transition, and how
do we know when it is time to fight or to take flight? With the recent
election of Donald Trump, Brexit, immigration of Syrian refugees, and
impending climate change the world seems to be on the brink of sudden
and transformative change. What is possible within this context? FUtopia
is a crude hybridization of possible futures, both utopic and
dystopian?" Through February 26.)
BLAM Projects, 1950 S. Santa Fe Ave., Ste. #207, downtown Los Angeles; 2 p.m.; free.
Lizbet Simmons talks about The Prison School: Educational Inequality and School Discipline in the Age of Mass Incarceration
($30, University of California Press) ("Public schools have turned to
the criminal justice system as a gold standard of discipline. As public
schools and offices of justice have become collaborators in punishment,
rates of African-American suspension and expulsion soared, dropout rates
accelerated, and prison populations exploded. In New Orleans in 2002,
the sheriff opened his own public school at the Orleans Parish Prison.
By examining this school in the local and national context, Simmons
shows young black males in the liminal state of losing educational
affiliation while being caught in the net of correctional control.")
Skylight Books, 1818 N. Vermont Ave., Los Feliz; 5 p.m.; free. (323) 660-1175.
What Do You Mean, "In Concert"?
soundSpark: Kirsten Carey ("Carey is a guitarist/composer from
Chicago. Her work pushes genre-boundaries – she widely known for the Ulysses Project,
a song cycle based on James Joyce’s novel that combines free jazz,
rock, and theater. Her present projects include art-punk duo Throwaway
and solo doom experiment Shima.")
Children's Theater, West Hollywood Library. 625 N. San Vicente Blvd., West Hollywood; 12 p.m., a/a; free. (310) 652-5340.
Steve Lehman & Georgia Anne Muldrow ("Alto saxophonist Lehman
opens with his stunning composition "Manifold," for solo saxophone,
interactive electronics and a trio of "virtual instrumentalists." Lehman
is followed by visionary Afrofuturist singer-songwriter Muldrow, who
fronts a five-piece band and has collaborated with artists such as
Madlib, Mos Def, Erykah Badu, Dudley Perkins and Rickie Byars
Beckwith.")
REDCAT, 631 W. 2nd St., downtown Los Angeles; 8:30 p.m., a/a; $20 general / $16 students / $10 students, faculty and staff. (213) 237-2800.
Alexandra Atnif, Samuel Kerridge, SØLVE, Wire Spine
Complex, 806 E. Colorado St., Glendale; 9 p.m., 21+; $12. (323) 642-7519.
Weather today?
Sunday, February 5
Pop-Up Studio: Reuse, Reclaim, Recycle: Arts from Parts ("If art
could talk, what would it say? Join poet Douglas Kearney in writing
poems and short stories about the work of artist Jimmie Durham,
assembling your words from fragments of children’s stories, joke books,
weather reports, interviews, and more.")
Hammer Museum, 10899 Wilshire Blvd., Westwood; 11 a.m.; free. (310) 443-7000.
Doug Benson Watches the Super Bowl ("Includes a pre-game potluck;
things like bags of chips and drinks are not encouraged - please bring a
dish, and impress Doug with your culinary chops.")
Cinefamily, 611 N. Fairfax Ave., Beverly Grove; 2 p.m.; free (but RSVP). (323) 655-2510.
Michael J. Locke and Vincent Brook unveil Silver Lake Bohemia: A History
($22, American Chronicles) ("Since the early 1900s, Silver Lake has
been a magnet for iconoclastic writers, architects and activists. Famed
architect Frank Lloyd Wright drew a wave of visionary modernists to the
area. Local civil rights advocate Loren Miller spearheaded the fight
against housing discrimination. Silver Lake’s Black Cat bar and Harry
Hay’s Mattachine Society were central to the early gay rights movement.
Literary artists Anais Nin and James Leo Herlihy made the neighborhood
their home, as did other notables, like first lady of baseball Effa
Manley and Hobo Millionaire James Eads How.")
Skylight Books, 1818 N. Vermont Ave., Los Feliz; 5 p.m.; free. (323) 660-1175.
What Do You Mean, "In Concert"?
Carl Stone
Amoeba Music, 6400 Sunset Blvd., Hollywood; 2 p.m., a/a; free. (323) 245-6400.
Contact Wave and dublab present Cool Maritime, Stephie's Castle, Virons
Non Plus Ultra, 4310 Burns Ave., East Hollywood; 8 p.m., a/a; $5. (213) 627-2453.
Part Time Punks presents Dead Heavens, Lilys (full band, performing tracks from their first two LPs), Tennis System
The Echo, 1822 Sunset Blvd., Echo Park; 9 p.m., 18+; $15-18. (213) 413-8200.
Weather today?
