For the next two weeks in Los Angeles...

Saturday, December 31
2017: A New Hope ("What a terrible year it’s been! Celebrate the end of 2016 and ring in the new year with a comedy/music show hosted by comedian Joseph Scrimshaw (RiffTrax)! A comedy cocktail of stand-up, music, improvised shenanigans, and more broken resolutions than you can shake a champagne flute at! Featuring Phoebe Bottoms (The Jim Henson Company), Josh A. Cagan (screenwriter of The Duff), Caitlin Durante (Luck of the Draw), Lucia Fasano (Catty B’s), J. Elvis Weinstein (Mystery Science Theater 3000), and performing the entire Nutcracker musical in five minutes, Dancer Sara Stevenson Scrimshaw.")
NerdMelt, 7522 Sunset Blvd., Hollywood; 6:45 p.m.; $8. (323) 851-7223.
Grand Park & The Music Center's N.Y.E.L.A. ("Look forward to 2017 with best friends, sweeties, friendly neighbors, and those cousins from out-of-town at the West Coast’s flagship New Year’s Eve celebration. It's the place to dream together and welcome new beginnings with a countdown on City Hall, live music, food, and photo booths in one big, beautiful, colorful Angeleno experience to remember!")
Grand Park, 200 N. Grand Ave., downtown Los Angeles; 8 p.m.; free. (213) 972-8080.
New Year’s Eve with Pink Martini ("Led by pianist Thomas Lauderdale and featuring vocalists China Forbes and Storm Large, Pink Martini - with its irresistible fusion of Brazilian samba, '30s Cuban dance, and Parisian café music - is the perfect way to ring in the New Year!")
Walt Disney Concert Hall, 111 S. Grand Ave., downtown Los Angeles; 10:30 p.m.; $82-172. (323) 850-2000.
What Do You Mean, "In Concert"?
Amtrac, Audion (Matthew Dear), Chrome Sparks (DJ), Nicola Cruz, The Desert Hearts Crew, Human Resources, Kastle, Francesca Lombardo, Matthew Dear, Recondite, Sacha Robotti, Simian Mobile Disco (DJ)
Minimal Effort
Globe Theater, 740 S. Broadway, downtown Los Angeles; 4 p.m., 21+; $79. (213) 489-1667.
Dengue Fever
Alex's Bar, 2913 E. Anaheim St., Long Beach; 8 p.m., 21+; $22-25. (562) 434-8292.
Daniel Ash of Bauhaus (DJ), Kevin Haskins of Bauhaus (DJ)
Lethal Amounts NYE
Monty Bar, 1222 W. 7th St., Westlake; 9 p.m., 21+; $15. (213) 228-6000.
At The Moment Of Your Birth, The Sun Stood Still
Taylor Mead (Warhol superstar; 1924)
Daphne Oram (Oramics; 1925)
Richard Woodward Seaver (Arcade Publishing, Grove Press; 1926)
Siné (born Maurice Sinet; 1928)
Odetta (born Odetta Holmes; 1930)
Gil Mellé (1931)
Edward "Eddie" Bunker (1933)
Sir Philip Anthony Hopkins, CBE (1937)
Manfred "Mani" Neumeier (Guru Guru; 1940)
Andrew James "Andy" Summers (The Police; 1942)
John Denver (born Henry John Deutschendorf, Jr.; 1943)
Sir Ben Kingsley CBE (born Krishna Bhanji; 1943)
Joseph Angelo "Joe" D'Allesandro III (1948)
Patrice Joseph "Frank" Bagnoud (The Young Gods; 1956)
Jimmy "Dim Menace" Borghino (7 Seconds; 1959)
Val Edward Kilmer (1959)
Clément Topping (empreintes DIGITALes; 1968)
Blake Edwards (Vertonen; 1969)
Gerhardt "Jerry" Fuchs (The Juan MacLean, !!!, Maserati; 1974)
Jonathan Stuart "Jon" Pettis (Bankrupt and the Borrowers; 1980)
Weather today?

Sunday, January 1
Buddhist New Year Day Service ("Or, "Shusho-e," which means a gathering to reflect upon and correct our mistakes and look forward to a better life in the new year. The origin of this service goes back to the Nara Period, and its original purpose was to wish for world peace, a successful harvest, and to extend a blessing to the Emperor. Also, it provided an opportunity to reflect upon the past and resolve to live a good life during the coming year. However, we should not believe that by attending the first service of the new year that we will be blessed with good luck throughout the year.")
West Los Angeles Buddhist Temple, 2003 Corinth Ave., Sawtelle; 10 a.m.; free. (310) 477-7274.
Polar Bears New Year's Day Swim ("Each year, Polar Bears crown the year's King & Queen, and take a swim in the ocean, christening the representatives who will officiate throughout the year. The annual swim began in 1953, say some members, who haven't been swimming quite that long. Cookies & cocoa provided by the club members. The event started out with about 100 swimmers and has grown to 500-1,000 some years. Water temperatures: 55-58 degrees.")
Cabrillo Beach, 3720 Stephen M. White Dr., San Pedro; 11:30 a.m., free. (310) 548-7554.
One Life: Masterbeat 2017 New Year's Los Angeles ("As Masterbeat’s One World weekend comes to a close, we are excited to present the return of one of your favorite events as we once again take over one of L.A.’s greatest night clubs for our annual closing party with music by Brett Henrichsen. The New Year’s Day Recovery Party has become legendary as one of Brett’s favorite parties to spin every year, as he has made this one of his signature events spinning the best anthems of the year and Masterbeat’s history as everyone comes together for one last dance to celebrate the end of the weekend and start of something new.")
Exchange L.A., 618 S. Spring St., downtown Los Angeles; 9 p.m.; $90. (213) 627-8070.
Weather today?

Monday, January 2
Post Parade: A Showcase of Rose Parade Floats (Presented by Miracle-Gro; "Walk within feet of the floral and animated masterpieces parked along Sierra Madre and Washington boulevards. Come rain or shine, take a closer look at the design and workmanship that went into each float entry and learn more about the float process from Tournament volunteers - "white suiters" - on hand. Comfortable walking shoes and early arrival are suggested.")
E. Sierra Madre Blvd. & E. Washington Blvd., Pasadena; 1 p.m.; $13 general / free for children under 5. (626) 449-4100.
Mr. Write ("Prolific author Richard Bunn (Paul "1½-Seasons-of-SNL" Brittain) delves into the process of writing with writers from the writing world.")
UCB Sunset, 5419 Sunset Blvd., East Hollywood; 8:30 p.m.; $8. (323) 908-8702.
Repentance! ("We live in times divided by faith, war, and yoga vs. hot yoga. Repentance is a show founded on the idea that no matter what you believe, you deserve the right to be forgiven.Ahamed Weinberg and Ramy Youssef host their favorite standup comedians for a chance to deliver a set full of regrets, doubts, and beliefs. No judgements, only healing.")
UCB Franklin, 5919 Franklin Ave., Hollywood Hills; 11 p.m.; $6. (323) 908-8702.
Weather today?

Tuesday, January 3
The Workshop Years: Black British Film and Video After 1981 ("Independent black British filmmaking saw an increased urgency and viability in the aftermath of South London’s Brixton Rising in 1981. This program revisits the history of black independent film and video in '80s-era Britain and the means by which filmmakers addressed the exclusions of race from mainstream media production while negotiating a newfound race-relations industry." Through January 25.)
Billy Wilder Theatre, Hammer Museum, 10899 Wilshire Blvd., Westwood; 12 noon; free. (310) 443-7000.
Free screening of Wadjda ("In this first feature film made by a Saudi woman, ten-year-old Wadjda longs for a bicycle, even though they are considered dangerous to a girl’s virtue in Saudi Arabia. But to make the purchase herself, she must first win a Koran-recitation competition." Directed by Haifaa Al-Mansour, 2012, 98 min., rated PG, in Arabic with English subtitles.)
Skirball Cultural Center, 2701 N. Sepulveda Blvd., Brentwood; 1:30 p.m.; free. (310) 440-4500.
Josh Sundquist discusses Love and First Sight ($18, Little, Brown Books for Young Readers) ("In his debut novel, YouTube personality and author of "We Should Hang Out Sometime," Josh Sundquist explores the nature of love, trust, and romantic attraction. On his first day at a new school, blind sixteen-year-old Will Porter accidentally groped a girl on the stairs, sat on another student in the cafeteria, and somehow drove a classmate to tears. High school can only go up from here, right?")
Book Soup, 8818 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood; 7 p.m.; free. (310) 659-3110.
What Do You Mean, "In Concert"?
Airboy Express, Black Love (that's me, if you've read this far), Burnt Dot, Sun Color (Spain), Nanny Cantaloupe (DJ), Sleepwalker (DJ), Patrick Paax (VJ)
La Cita Bar, 336 S. Hill St., downtown Los Angeles; 8 p.m., 21+; free. (213) 687-7111.
Traps PS
The Redwood Bar & Grill, 316 W. 2nd St., downtown Los Angeles; 9 p.m., 21+; $10. (213) 680-2600.
MDC, The Grim, Walk Proud
Alex's Bar, 2913 E. Anaheim St., Long Beach; 9 p.m., 21+; $12-15. (562) 434-8292.
Weather today?

Wednesday, January 4
Char Miller presents Not So Golden State: Sustainability vs. the California Dream ($18, Trinity University) "Leading environmental historian Miller looks below the surface of California's ecological history to expose some of its less glittering conundrums. Why, during a devastating five-year drought, Miller asks, is the Central Valley’s agribusiness still irrigating as if it's business as usual? Why are northern counties rich in groundwater selling to make millions while draining aquifers toward eventual mud?")
Vroman’s, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena; 7 p.m.; free. (626) 449-5320.
Fukushima Honda Tomodachi ("Fresh from their 2017 Rose Parade appearance, Honda Tomodachi Cultural Exchange Program high school students from Fukushima will share stories of resiliency, strength and hope after the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami. This unique performance led by six-time Grammy winner Daniel Ho also features reflections from L.A.'s Grateful Crane Ensemble’s Tohoku Goodwill Tour.")
Aratani Theater, Japanese American Cultural and Community Center, 244 S. San Pedro St., Little Tokyo; 8 p.m.; free (but RSVP). (213) 628-2725.
Scot Nery's Boobie Trap ("Featuring the biggest names in circus arts, comedy, magic, music and neo-vaudeville, it's an anything-goes variety show that gives every act four minutes to do something wildly weird and entertaining. At any given performance, you could see a razor-sharp stand-up, a stunning trapeze act, a powerhouse singer, a side-splitting comedy sketch, or even a woman making a dress using a piece of fabric and a stapler. Like a bizarro Ed Sullivan Show, host Nery -- himself a juggler, contortionist and comedian -- gives his guests the opportunity to scour the craziest corners of their minds.")
Café-Club Fais Do-Do, 5257 W. Adams Blvd., Adams; 8 p.m.; $17. (323) 931-4636.
Weather today?

Thursday, January 5
Dr. David Grinspoon unveils Earth in Human Hands: Shaping Our Planet's Future ($28, Grand Central) ("By comparing Earth's story to other planets, astrobiologist  Grinspoon shows what a strange and novel development it is for a species to evolve to build machines, and ultimately, global societies with world-shaping influence. Grinspoon suggests that our present moment is not only one of peril, but also great potential, especially when viewed from a 10,000-year perspective.")
Vroman’s, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena; 7 p.m.; free. (626) 449-5320.
Paul Zollo signs More Songwriters on Songwriting ($23, Da Capo) ("25 years after publishing his original groundbreaking collection of insight and advice from the greatest songwriters to ever grace the airwaves, Zollo releases the much anticipated follow-up volume. New, revealing interviews with Leiber & Stoller, James Taylor, Aimee Mann, Stephen Stills, Paul Simon, Elvis Costello, Rickie Lee Jones, Randy Newman, Brian Wilson, and dozens of other music legends.")
Book Soup, 8818 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood; 7 p.m.; free. (310) 659-3110.
An Evening With Damien Chazelle ("His film "Whiplash" won three Academy Awards; Chazelle’s newest work, 2016’s "La La Land," is a full-blown musical made in Cinemascope that’s a tribute to the genre, the transformational (and transitory) power of love and a look at Los Angeles. Following the conversation, The Umbrellas of Cherbourg, Jacques Demy’s classic 1964 musical about songs, love and a dream - and a major influence on Chazelle himself - will be shown.")
Bing Theatre, Los Angeles County Museum of Art, 5905 Wilshire Blvd., Mid-Wilshire; 7:30 p.m.; $25 general / $20 members, students, seniors 65+. (323) 857-6010.
What Do You Mean, "In Concert"?
Los Angeles Philharmonic (Bramwell Tovey, conductor; Ray Chen, violin) perform Walton's "Façade Suite No. 2," Sibelius' "Violin Concerto" and Tchaikovsky's "Sleeping Beauty, Act 2"
Walt Disney Concert Hall, 111 S. Grand Ave., downtown Los Angeles; 8 p.m., a/a; $20-183. (323) 850-2000.
Weather today?

Friday, January 6
Screening of Lili ("Dramatic vaudeville, heavy puppetry, magical realism and - lest we forget - Zsa Zsa Gabor. As unwitting coquette Lili (Leslie Caron) struggles with recent orphanhood, she is swept into employment at a womanizing magician’s "magnifique" carnival show, where her quest for identity is sometimes only understood by the puppets next door. Unfolding like Alice in Wonderland-in-Burlesque, this choreographed trip is sure to delight the senses of both kids and kids at heart." Also Saturday. Dir. Charles Walter, 1953, 16mm, 81 min.)
Bob Baker Marionette Theater, 1345 W. 1st St., Echo Park; 7:30 p.m.; $15 / free for members. (213) 250-9995.
Opening of the Steve Rude and the CARtoons - The Art of America's Car Culture retrospective exhibitions ("Rude's career began in 1981 with his and co-creator Mike Baron's groundbreaking Nexus comic series. CARtoons magazine, the most popular and longest-running publication dedicated to automotive cartooning, proclaimed itself "the only humor magazine in the world for the lovers and owners of cars." Produced in L.A. between 1959 and 1991, the magazine featured rollicking stories about hot-rods, drag-racing, muscle cars, and even imaginary and fantastic vehicles.")
La Luz de Jesus, 4633 Hollywood Blvd., East Hollywood; 8 p.m.; free. (323) 666-7667.
Velvet Tinmine ("Junkshop glam and bubblegum music with DJs Jimi Hey, Noah Wallace and Don Bolles with a rare live appearance ov house glamrock cover band Thee Snowsnakes.")
Monty Bar, 1222 W. 7th St., Westlake; 9 p.m.; free. (213) 228-6000.
What Do You Mean, "In Concert"?
Penniback Records presents Clit Kat, Jurassic Shark, Kuromi, Super Lunch
The Smell’s 19th Anniversary Weekend Celebration: Day I (all proceeds will go to The Smell’s relocation fund)
The Smell, 247 S. Main St., downtown Los Angeles; 8 p.m., a/a; $10. (213) 625-4325.
MDC
The Redwood Bar & Grill, 316 W. 2nd St., downtown Los Angeles; 9 p.m., 21+; $10. (213) 680-2600.
Missing Persons
The Canyon, 28912 Roadside Dr., Agoura Hills; 6 p.m., 21+; $24-32. (818) 879-5016.
Weather today?

Saturday, January 7
Art of Rogue One book signing ("Hear the artists share stories from behind the scenes and see their development work on the movie. Bring your questions for the Q&A session and meet them one-on-one as they sign copies of "The Art of Rogue One" book.")
Gallery Nucleus, 210 E. Main St., Alhambra; 2 p.m.; $5-20. (626) 458-7477.
Time After Time time capsule art project with Sebastian Masuda ("A global participatory art project in which contemporary artist Masuda invites people to share their love of kawaii. The project will demonstrate how kawaii can be a means of personal expression beyond age, gender, religion or nationality, and as a tool to bring people together. Project invites participants in different countries to write and decorate messages to their future selves, and to deposit them in a giant capsule inspired by Domo, NHK World’s official mascot. Once full, the capsule will return to Japan to be displayed during the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo.")
Echo Park Lake, 751 Echo Park Ave., Echo Park; 2 p.m.; free. (213) 847-0929.
Opening of the new Kaz Oshiro exhibition ("Oshiro's newest subject is the I-beam, the standard construction material that, along with ironwork, characterized the Industrial Revolution. Steel I-beams are emblematic of the rise of an American industrialist class who amassed unprecedented fortunes during a period in which business was largely unregulated. Without these, skyscrapers and modern cities would be unthinkable. This style is endemic to southern California where practitioners like Eichler, Eames, and others proposed the use of "off the shelf" prefabricated materials requiring limited treatment to keep costs down and build times short.")
Honor Fraser Gallery, 2622 S. La Cienega Blvd., Mid-City; 6 p.m.; free. (310) 837-0191.
What Do You Mean, "In Concert"?
Brujeria
The Regent, 448 S. Main St., downtown Los Angeles; 3 p.m., a/a; $25.50-60. (323) 284-5727.
Best Coast, Bleached, No Age, Ty Segall, Vice Cooler
The Smell’s 19th Anniversary Weekend Celebration: Day II (all proceeds will go to The Smell’s relocation fund)
Belasco Theater, 1050 Hill St., downtown Los Angeles; 9 p.m., a/a; $35. (213) 746-5670.
Weather today?

Sunday, January 8
Let's Go To The Movies with Kenneth Turan ("In addition to his long tenure with the Times, Mr. Turan is Director of the LA Times Book Prizes and reviews films on NPR Radio's "Morning Edition". He is the founding film critic for "Arts Alive" on KUSC; his latest book is Not To Be Missed; Fifty-Four Favorites from a Lifetime in Film ($26, PublicAffairs).")
Warner Grand Theatre, 434 W. 6th St., San Pedro; 2 p.m.; $15. (310) 548-2493.
Comedian Doug Benson watches the Golden Globes
Cinefamily, 611 N. Fairfax Ave., Beverly Grove; 4 p.m.; free (first come, first served). (323) 655-2510.
David Bowie Birthday double-bill of Labyrinth and Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars
Egyptian Theatre, 6712 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood; 7:30 p.m.; $11 general / $7 members / $9 seniors 65+ and students. (323) 466-3456.
What Do You Mean, "In Concert"?
Los Angeles Philharmonic (Bramwell Tovey, conductor; Ray Chen, violin) perform Walton's "Façade Suite No. 2," Sibelius' "Violin Concerto" and Tchaikovsky's "Sleeping Beauty, Act 2"
Walt Disney Concert Hall, 111 S. Grand Ave., downtown Los Angeles; 2 p.m., a/a; $20-188. (323) 850-2000.
Danger Collective Records presents BOYO (solo), Current Joys (member of Surf Curse), Harmony Tividad (member of Girl Pool), Momma, TEEKS
The Smell’s 19th Anniversary Weekend Celebration: Day III (all proceeds will go to The Smell’s relocation fund)
The Smell, 247 S. Main St., downtown Los Angeles; 8 p.m., a/a; $10. (213) 625-4325.
Weather today?

Monday, January 9
Free double-bill of Lion and The King's Speech ("Producers Iain Canning and Emile Sherman join us in person for a discussion between two of their films, the heartwarming new drama Lion and 2010's Oscar-winning The King's Speech.")
Aero Theatre, 1328 Montana Ave., Santa Monica; 7:30 p.m.; free (but RSVP). (310) 260-1528.
Fairy Tales Theatre: 18 & Over ("A collection of original fairy tales with morals and lessons for adults (i.e. “The Tale of the Bipolar Bear & the Codependent Eskimo”). Told with a mix of live actors and puppets, the show has played to consistently sold-out crowds all over L.A. for over four years.")
The Groundlings, 7307 Melrose Ave., Fairfax; 8 p.m.; $18. (323) 934-4747.
Smartest Man in the World live with Greg Proops ("Proops takes center stage at small table and chair setup with a single microphone. Then he's off. An hour of great conversation that flies by at a breakneck clip. He crams the feeling of a great two-way conversation into the lecture-style format of a one-way conversation. Part professorial, part crazed comedian, Proops forms the show around his talent and passions. The show flows like a love letter to tangents.")
NerdMelt, 7522 Sunset Blvd., Hollywood; 8:45 p.m.; $10. (323) 851-7223.
Weather today?

Tuesday, January 10
Opening of the Bouchardon: Royal Artist of the Enlightenment exhibition ("One of the most imaginative and fascinating artists of eighteenth-century France, Edme Bouchardon (1698–1762) was instrumental in the transition from Rococo to Neoclassicism. Much celebrated in his time as both a sculptor and draftsman, he created some of the best-known images of the age of Louis XV. This major international loan exhibition, developed in partnership with the Louvre, is a testament to the remarkable variety of his oeuvre - copies after the antique, subjects of history and mythology, portraiture, anatomical studies, ornament, fountains, and tombs.")
Getty Center, 1200 Getty Center Dr., Brentwood; 10 a.m.; free (but parking is $15 / $10 after 3 p.m.). (310) 440-7300.
Ari Herstand unveils How to Make It in the New Music Business ($30, Liveright) ("We are living in the midst of an industry renaissance, one that has left the record companies desperately struggling to maintain their prominence, as a subculture of dedicated, DIY (do-it-yourself) musicians have taken over. In 2008, Herstand boldly turned in his green Starbucks apron to his manager, determined to make a living off his craft as a singer/songwriter.")
Book Soup, 8818 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood; 7 p.m.; free. (310) 659-3110.
The Greg Proops Film Podcast Live screens 9 to 5 ("Three female employees of a sexist, egotistical, lying, hypocritical bigot find a way to turn the tables on him. Hail to the chief. The unstoppable Dolly Parton is launched into movie stardom as the sweetest, most put-upon secretary with the worst boss in the world, the fantastically reptilian Dabney Coleman. After a particularly awful day of sexist nonsense she and her pals – the magnificent comedian Lily Tomlin and the woman who got this bad girl made, Jane Fonda – plot over a joint how they might exact revenge. The results will delight you. WARNING: Contains flexible hours, child care, and equal pay." Dir. Colin Higgins, 1980, DCP, 109 min.)
Cinefamily, 611 N. Fairfax Ave., Beverly Grove; 7:30 p.m.; $12 / free for members. (323) 655-2510.
What Do You Mean, "In Concert"?
Chamber Music (Camille Avellano, violin; Lucinda Carver, keyboard; Minyoung Chang, violin; Christopher Hanulik, double bass; Elise Shope Henry, flute; Ingrid Hutman, viola; Aron Kallay, harpsichord; Catherine Ransom Karoly, flute; Jonathan Karoly, cello; Dahae Kim, cello; Marion Arthur Kuszyk, oboe; Johnny Lee, violin; Leticia Oaks Strong, viola; Akiko Tarumoto, violin; Stacy Wetzel, violin) performs the Bach "Brandenburg Concerto No. 4, BWV 1049", Carter's "Sonata for Flute, Oboe, Cello and Harpsichord," and Schumann's "String Quartet No. 3, Op. 41"
Walt Disney Concert Hall, 111 S. Grand Ave., downtown Los Angeles; 8 p.m., a/a; $20-58. (323) 850-2000.
Piano Spheres presents Mark Robson: Natural Durations ("Piano Spheres continues its series of "Deconstructions: The Leonard Stein Centenary Season," with Mark Robson in a program including William Kraft’s Translucences; Karlheinz Stockhausen: Natürliche Dauern; Wolfgang Rihm: Tombeau; Ferruccio Busoni: “Sonatina #4” (honoring the Leonard Stein centenary); Philip Glass: Selected Etudes; and a world premiere by Daniel Rothman: Life Between Tidemarks on Rocky Shores, written for Robson.")
REDCAT, 631 W. 2nd St., downtown Los Angeles; 8:30 p.m., a/a; $35 general / $20 REDCAT members & students / $12 for CalArts faculty & students. (213) 237-2800.
Weather today?

Wednesday, January 11
POPUP! Intro to Ukulele ("Learn how to read music charts, play three chords, and gain the confidence to play one full song at a free, community-wide concert!")
Brand Library & Art Center, 1601 W. Mountain St., Glendale; 6:30 p.m.; $5. (818) 548-2051.
Screening of 13th ("Ava DuVernay’s stirring documentary takes its title from the 13th Amendment, which abolished slavery yet included a clause that laid the foundation for the long history of racial inequality in America’s prison industrial complex. Picking up the mantle of Michelle Alexander’s book "The New Jim Crow," the film traces these staggering prison statistics in what Manohla Dargis calls a "powerful cinematic call to conscience".")
Hammer Museum, 10899 Wilshire Blvd., Westwood; 7:30 p.m.; free. (310) 443-7000.
LA Art Show Opening Night ("Premiere benefiting St. Jude; opening reception and private preview of painting, sculpture, works on paper, photography, video, performance works and installations from over 90 prominent galleries and major local and international museums and arts institutions.")
Los Angeles Convention Center, 1201 S. Figueroa St., downtown Los Angeles; 8 p.m.; $25-250. (800) 448-7775.
What Do You Mean, "In Concert"?
Special offsite premiere viewing of The Smell’s virtual reality video tour at 356 Mission, featuring 360° virtual reality pre-recorded performances from Celebrity Crush, Clit Kat, No Age, David Scott Stone, VerBS & Alpha MC
356 Mission / Ooga Booga, 356 S. Mission Rd., Boyle Heights; 7 p.m., a/a; free. (323) 609-3162.
Brujeria
The Observatory, 3503 S. Harbor Blvd., Santa Ana; 7 p.m., a/a; $18. (714) 957-0600.
Weather today?

Thursday, January 12
Brad Meltzer offers up I Am Jim Henson ($15, Dial) ("The latest release from his New York Times bestselling picture book biography series "Ordinary People Change the World".")
Barnes & Noble, 189 Grove Dr., Ste. K-30, Fairfax; 7 p.m.; free. (323) 525-0270.
Alan Sepinwall discusses TV (The Book): Two Experts Pick the Greatest American Shows of All Time ($20, Grand Central) ("Is "The Wire" better than "Breaking Bad"? Is "Cheers" better than "Seinfeld"? What's the best high school show ever made? 20 years since they shared a TV column at Tony Soprano's hometown newspaper, critics Sepinwall and Matt Zoller Seitz have been debating these questions and many more, but it all ultimately boils down to this: what's the greatest TV show ever?")
Skylight Books, 1818 N. Vermont Ave., Los Feliz; 7:30 p.m.; free. (323) 660-1175.
The Lightning Series ("A three-weekend, nine-night performance series at Venice’s most innovative and only solar-powered arts venue. Features a wide-ranging discovery of Los Angeles talent and its offbeat and captivating terrain. The lineup includes puppetry, clown, dance, music, and experimental performances that will take you on a journey from head-trip to heartbreak.")
The Electric Lodge, 1416 Electric Ave., Venice; 8 p.m.; $20. (310) 306-1854.
Weather today?

Friday, January 13
Jerry Maguire Video Store Opening Party ("A perfect re-creation of a video rental store circa 1996, but instead of carrying thousands of porn quadrilogies and action movie knockoffs, this store will carry only Jerry Maguire on VHS. Seeing thousands of Jerrys finally reunited will forever destroy the viewers’ previous perception of culture, waste, and existence as a whole. The Jerrys are a beautiful thing." Through January 29.)
iam8bit Gallery, 2147 Sunset Blvd., Echo Park; 12 noon; $16 for each block of two-hour live performances. (213) 908-6154.
Screening of Where is Rocky II?, including a Q&A with Pierre Bismuth, DV DeVincentis, Anthony Peckham, Mike White, Michael Scott, and Gregoire Gensollen ("Academy Award-winner and contemporary artist Bismuth hires a private investigator and acclaimed Hollywood screenwriters to embark on an exploration in search of a fake rock made in 1979 by artist Ed Ruscha and hidden for 40 years in California’s Mojave Desert. Bismuth, writer of "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind," is an artist interested in rules and protocols as essential manifestations of human activity.")
Bing Theatre, Los Angeles County Museum of Art, 5905 Wilshire Blvd., Mid-Wilshire; 7:30 p.m.; free (but RSVP). (323) 857-6010.
Junot Díaz's Conversations ("Díaz’s dynamic fiction includes his debut collection, Drown; The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao, which won the 2008 Pulitzer for Fiction and the National Book Critics Circle Award; and This Is How You Lose Her, a New York Times bestseller and National Book Award finalist.")
REDCAT, 631 W. 2nd St., downtown Los Angeles; 8:30 p.m.; $20 general / $16 REDCAT members and students / $10 CalArts students and faculty. (213) 237-2800.
What Do You Mean, "In Concert"?
Burt Bacharach - cancelled and rescheduled to June 1 (he broke his arm doing something)
Royce Hall, 10745 Dickson Plaza, UCLA, Westwood; 8 p.m., a/a; $39-$89 / $25 UCLA faculty and staff / $15 UCLA students. (310) 825-2101.
Deafheaven, HEALTH, Skeletal Remains
The Echoplex, 1154 Glendale Blvd., Echo Park; 8 p.m., a/a; $20. (213) 413-8200.
Martín Escalante (alto saxophone solo)
Lukas Ligeti & Matt Mottel (drums / keys duo); Mixed group improvisations featuring Elaine Carey (electronics) Oliver Steinberg (doublebass) and Corey Fogel (drums) in addition to Escalante, Ligeti and Mottel ("This concert is a Record Release PARTY for Escalante's "Destroyed on Every Level." This concert is a Welcome to LA PARTY for Lukas Ligeti. This concert is a PARTY because Matt Mottel is on tour from NYC. This concert is a Book Release PARTY for Theoral No. 11 - "The ABCs of Improvisation" featuring Laura Altman, Monica Brooks and Andrew Choate.")
Dynasty Center, 818 N. Spring St., Second Floor, downtown Los Angeles; 8:30 p.m., a/a; (half-off for previous performers in the Unwrinkled Ear concert series).
Weather today?

Saturday, January 14
Screening of Cooley High (1975) ("Created and curated by Ava DuVernay. Friendship, first loves, and fatality are navigated by four young men in Cooley High. Set in 1960s Chicago, this coming-of-age story provides a look at both the light and grit of black teen spirit. The film provided a shift from blaxploitation cinema and features breakout performances from Glynn Turman, Garrett Morris, and Cynthia Davis. Post-screening discussion with Turman will be moderated by Common.")
The Broad, 221 S. Grand Ave., downtown Los Angeles; 8 p.m.; $20. (213) 232-6200.
HM157's Sound System Benefit Show ("With Egrets on Ergot, Geneva Jacuzzi,L.A. Drones, multimedia, performance art and many other manifestations of outsider culture in this non-profit arts space.")
hm157, 3110 N. Broadway, downtown Los Angeles; 8 p.m., $10. (562) 895-9399.
Opening of Hyperlimbo, the striking, transformative solo exhibition by HUEMAN (acrylic and spray-paint on canvas)
KP Projects Gallery, 170 S. La Brea Ave. (in the ART 170 Bldg.), Hancock Park; 8 p.m.; free. (323) 933-4408.
What Do You Mean, "In Concert"?
Toyota Symphonies for Youth: The Planets
Walt Disney Concert Hall, 111 S. Grand Ave., downtown Los Angeles; 11 a.m., a/a; $22-26. (323) 850-2000.
Los Angeles Philharmonic (Zubin Mehta, conductor; Anoushka Shankar, sitar) perform Shankar's "Sitar Concerto No. 2, "Raga mala" (West Coast premiere) and Strauss' "Ein Heldenleben"
Walt Disney Concert Hall, 111 S. Grand Ave., downtown Los Angeles; 8 p.m., a/a; $20-195. (323) 850-2000.
Amps for Christ, Bastard Noise, Conscious Summary, Pulsating Cyst, Witches of Malibu, X-Eyes
The Birthdays Continue ("A celebration of experimental sound, insect warfare and noise for those that hear more..")
(the) Handbag Factory, 1336 S. Grand Ave., downtown Los Angeles; 9 p.m., a/a; $7.
Weather today?

I wonder if I should keep the birthdays.  Maybe it breaks the line too much.  Aesthetics.