Sunday, October 30, 2016

For the next two weeks in Los Angeles...

Tuesday, November 1
Collage and Cry! ("This is a community collage night; all are welcome! Plenty of materials will be provided (magazines, scissors, paper, glue), but contributions are always welcome. You can cry if you want to but you don't have to. BYOB, if that is your thing.")
Book Show, 5503 N. Figueroa St., Highland Park; 6:30 p.m.; $5 donation. (213) 438-9551.
Keramet Reiter presents 23-7 Pelican Bay Prison and the Rise of Long-Term Solitary Confinement ($33, Yale University Press) ("Reiter tells the history of one “supermax,” California’s Pelican Bay State Prison, whose extreme conditions recently sparked a statewide hunger strike by 30,000 prisoners. This book describes how Pelican Bay was created without legislative oversight in fearful response to 1970s radicals; how easily prisoners slip into solitary; and the costs of years and decades in isolation.")
Eso Won Books, 4327 Degnan Blvd., Leimert Park; 7 p.m.; free. (323) 290-1048.
Zócalo Asks How Do You Fix a "Bad" Neighborhood? (Is it really true that small gestures - like planting trees, cleaning alleyways, or painting bike lanes on streets - can add up to big transformations? Or does neighborhood improvement require dramatic action - like reform in how police fight crime, or changes in how we regulate industrial pollution? UC Irvine professor of criminology, law and society Charis Kubrin, GRYD Foundation president Adrienne Newsom, St. John’s Well Child Center pediatrician Chris Mink, and Los Angeles City Councilman Marqueece Harris-Dawson visit Zócalo to explore the best ways to make a neighborhood healthier.")
MOCA Grand Avenue, 250 S. Grand Ave., downtown Los Angeles; 7:30 p.m.; free. (213) 626-6222.
What Do You Mean, "In Concert"?
Island of Misfit Toys Vol. 23: Dia de la La Los Sonidos (feat. Joe Baiza, Smokey Emery, Small Drone Orchestra, Jean-Paul Jenkins, DJ Nanny Cantaloupe, DJ Maneesh Madahar, VJ WES
La Cita Bar, 336 S. Hill St., downtown Los Angeles; 8 p.m., 21+; $10 & $12. (213) 687-7111.
Jens Lekman
Masonic Lodge At Hollywood Forever Cemetery, 6000 Santa Monica Blvd., Hollywood; 8 p.m., a/a; $10 & $12. (323) 469-1181.
Hypoluxo (New York City), Caterwall, Cusp
The Smell, 247 S. Main St., downtown Los Angeles; 9 p.m., a/a; $5. (213) 625-4325.

Wednesday, November 2
Sanchari Bhava: Elaborations of Emotion in Odissi Dance ("Dr. Ileana Citaristi will showcase elements of rasa-bhava, or the codified repertoires of emotion as embodied by the performer and experienced by the spectator in Indian classical dance. This is known as the art of sanchari bhava, or the auxiliary sentiments and situations which help in better understanding the main subject of abhinaya - representations of narrative and poetic elaborations through dance.")
Glorya Kaufman Hall, 120 Westwood Plaza, Westwood; 2 p.m.; free. (310) 825-3951.
Naomi Duguid in conversation with Jonathan Gold about Taste of Persia: A Cook's Travels Through Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Iran, and Kurdistan ($35, Artisan) ("Duguid, who for over 20 years has been bringing us exceptional recipes and mesmerizing tales from regions seemingly beyond our reach, presents nearly 125 recipes, framed with stories and photographs of places where a wealth of history and culinary traditions makes a compelling piece to read for cooks and travelers")
Book Soup, 8818 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood; 7 p.m.; free. (310) 659-3110.
Screening of Fellini's Amarcord preceded by cocktails and a puppet show ("Fellini’s last major commercial success, this early-’70s, sublime fantasy/drama might also be the Italian master’s most triumphantly auto-biographical and unapologetically nostalgic effort. Amarcord, a Northern Italian term that translates to “I remember,” employs teenaged Titta as guide through the uncannily familiar, absurd comedy of everyday life in a small, seaside village.")
Bob Baker Marionette Theater, 1345 W. 1st St., Echo Park; 7 p.m.; $15 / free for members. (213) 250-9995.
What Do You Mean, "In Concert"?
The Psychedelic Furs
The Rose, 245 E. Green St., Pasadena; 6 p.m., 21+; $38 / $44 / $54 / $58. (888) 645-5006.
Clit Kat, Nobunny (Tucson), Whaja Dew
The Smell, 247 S. Main St., downtown Los Angeles; 9 p.m., a/a; $15. (213) 625-4325.
Kei Akagi & Kojiro Umezaki : Contemporary Asian Perspectives in American Music (Akagi - piano, Umezaki - shakuhachi, Darek Oles - bass, Tamaya Honda - drums)
bluewhale, 123 Astronaut E. S. Onizuka St., Suite 301, Little Tokyo; 9 p.m., a/a; $15. (213) 620-0908.

Thursday, November 3
Art, Neuroscience and Psychiatry Conference ("Event will bring together experts from the fields of psychiatry, law, neurology, education, psychology, and art to examine the broad implications of neuroscience advances - not only for medicine, but also for society as a whole.")
Luskin Conference Center, 425 Westwood Plaza, Westwood; 12 noon; $100-300. (855) 522-8252.
Shakes The Clown 25th anniversary screening and Q&A with Bobcat Goldthwait and more
The Regent, 448 S. Main St., downtown Los Angeles; 7 p.m.; $10-15. (323) 284-5727.
Nia King unveils Queer & Trans Artists of Color Volume 2 ($23, Biyuti) with special guests ("King is back with a second archive of interviews from her podcast We Want the Airwaves. In this collection of interviews, Nia discusses biphobia in gay men's communities with Juba Kalamka, helping border-crossers find water in the desert with Micha Cardenas, trying to preserve Indigenous languages through painting with Grace Rosario Perkins, among others.")
Skylight Books, 1818 N. Vermont Ave., Los Feliz; 7:30 p.m.; free. (323) 660-1175.
What Do You Mean, "In Concert"?
Bleeker, The Hunna, The Struts
The Fonda Theater, 6126 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood; 7 p.m., a/a; $23. (323) 464-0808.
Fake Tears (Vancouver BC), Ghost Noise, LA Drones (DJ), Mini Bear
The Smell, 247 S. Main St., downtown Los Angeles; 9 p.m., a/a; $5. (213) 625-4325.
Mr. Airplane Man
The Redwood Bar & Grill, 316 W. 2nd St., downtown Los Angeles; 9 p.m., 21+; $5-10. (213) 680-2600.

Friday, November 4
Funny Therapy ("Comedian Kat Radley (Sirius XM, Fox) hosts some of the country's best stand-up comics as they perform their killer material, then come back on stage to give the crowd a "therapy session." Audience members can write in or ask the comics for advice, dream interpretations, or anything else to work out life's problems, and the comics will give you their guidance from live on stage! Whether they actually help or make matters worse, it's always hilarious.")
NerdMelt Showroom, 7522 Sunset Blvd., Hollywood; 6:45 p.m.; $8. (323) 851-7223.
Screening of Dude Bro Party Massacre III followed by a Q&A with director Michael Rousselet and others ("Presented as the only surviving VHS copy of the reviled horror franchise’s third, and final, installment. In the wake of two back-to-back mass murders on Chico’s frat row, loner Brent Chirino must infiltrate the ranks of a popular fraternity to investigate his twin brother's murder at the hands of the serial killer known as Motherface.")
Ray Stark Family Theatre, George Lucas Bldg., SCA 108, USC, 900 W. 34th St., University Park; 7 p.m.; free. (213) 740-2804.
Taste Talks L.A. ("Brings together food, beverage, and music experts for a weekend your tastebuds won't soon forget. Attendees will gather to celebrate the future of taste with epic meals and parties featuring top L.A. chefs and personalities. The weekend will finish off with our signature All-Star BBQ, where the biggest names in food and pop-culture team up for a cookout backed up by live music." Through Sunday.)
The Line Hotel, 3515 Wilshire Blvd., Koreatown; 8:30 p.m.; $49-495. (213) 381-7411.
What Do You Mean, "In Concert"?
Abnormality, The Black Dhalia Murder, Misery Index, Napalm Death
The Regent, 448 S. Main St., downtown Los Angeles; 6:30 p.m., 18+; $23. (323) 284-5727.
Poncho Sanchez and His Latin Jazz Band
Catalina Bar & Grill, 6725 Sunset Blvd., Hollywood; 8:30 p.m. (also Saturday); $27, a/a. (323) 466-2210.
Copán, Haricot Vert (record release action), Ohm Mantra, Paul Nicholas Slater
The Smell, 247 S. Main St., downtown Los Angeles; 9 p.m., a/a; $5. (213) 625-4325.

Saturday, November 5
Afternoon of Music and Stories With Alicia Bay Laurel ("Internationally-lauded author/illustrator/designer of the best-selling encyclopedia of primitive living skills Living on the Earth (1970) and nine other illustrated bohemian books, Laurel orbits between the West Coast, Japan and other places, touring, illustrating clothing and paper items, making folk art from recycled objects, and promoting sustainability, creativity and compassion wherever she goes.")
Beyond Baroque, 681 Venice Blvd., Venice; 4 p.m.; $20 / $10 members, students and seniors.. (310) 822-3006.
Dave Eggers reads from his new novel Heroes of the Frontier ($29, Knopf) ("A powerful examination of our contemporary life and a rousing story of adventure. Josie and her children's father have split up, she's been sued by a former patient and lost her dental practice, and she's grieving the death of a young man senselessly killed. When her ex asks to take the children to meet his new fiancee's family, Josie makes a run for it, figuring Alaska is about as far as she can get without a passport.")
Skylight Books, 1818 N. Vermont Ave., Los Feliz; 7:30 p.m.; free. (323) 660-1175.
10th Annual Myeloma Foundation Comedy Celebration ("Since 2007, the event has brought over 50 celebrity comedians and musical performers to raise funds and awareness in support of the Peter Boyle Research Fund, named for the late actor who succumbed to multiple myeloma in 2006. Featuring performances from Bill Burr, Kevin Nealon, Jeff Garlin, Fred Willard, Dom Irrera, JB Smoove; music from Michael McKean and Annette O'Toole. Hosted by Ray Romano.")
Wilshire Ebell Theater, 4401 W. 8th St., Mid-Wilshire; 8 p.m.; $100-1000. (323) 939-1128.
What Do You Mean, "In Concert"?
Death Valley Girls, Primal Scream
The Regent, 448 S. Main St., downtown Los Angeles; 8 p.m., 18+; $37. (323) 284-5727.
Pansy Division, Spare Parts for Broken Hearts, Toy Guitar, Tragic Radicals
Alex's Bar, 2913 E. Anaheim St., Long Beach; 8 p.m., 21+; $10-12. (562) 434-8292.
Magic Chaos And Creation: A Surreal Celebration Benefit Party for the Future of The Smell (feat. Cigarette Bums, Golden Animals, Nightgown, Barrie Rose, Wyatt)
The Smell, 247 S. Main St., downtown Los Angeles; 9 p.m., a/a; $5. (213) 625-4325.
Rococo Jet Mysterium Tremens Vinyl (Folktale) record release action and live-scoring of Murnau's Sunrise; Carisa Bianca Mellado
hm157, 3110 N. Broadway, downtown Los Angeles; 9 p.m., a/a, $10. (562) 895-9399. 
Weather today?

Sunday, November 6
Dribble for the Cure 2016 ("Fundraising walk supporting pediatric cancer research. Proceeds benefit the cancer research program at UCLA's Mattels Childrens Hospital and the Pediatric Cancer Research Foundation.")
Wilson Plaza, 120 Westwood Plaza, Westwood; 6 a.m.; $10-25. (310) 206-7121.
John Domini & Carole Firstman discuss and sign Movieola! ($16, Dzanc) and Origins of the Universe and What it All Means: A Memoir ($27, Dzanc) "Movieola" is a collection of linked short stories that delights and exploits the language and paraphernalia of industrial Hollywood. In her debut memoir, Firstman traces her strained relationship with her eccentric and distant father, a gifted biology professor whose research on scorpions may have contributed to the evolutionary theories of Stephen Jay Gould.")
Book Soup, 8818 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood; 2 p.m.; free. (310) 659-3110.
The Writers Panel 300th Episode Celebration (feat. Michael Schur, Carlton Cuse, Marta Kauffman, Damon Lindelof, Jane Espenson, Douglas Petrie and more; "Join Writers Panel creator/host Ben Blacker (Thrilling Adventure Hour) to celebrate 300 episodes of the podcast about the business and process of writing TV.")
Largo at The Coronet, 366 N. La Cienega Blvd., Beverly Grove; 7 p.m.; $40. (310) 855-0350.
What Do You Mean, "In Concert"?
Kamasi Washington: The Langston Hughes Project "Ask Your Mama: 12 Moods for Jazz" (feat. the Ron McCurdy Quartet) ("Celebrated for such projects as his ambitious 172-minute masterpiece The Epic, young L.A. jazz giant Kamasi Washington combines influences like Coltrane along with soul, classical, hip-hop and gospel for a decidedly contemporary jazz perspective. Ask Your Mama takes you from gospel, blues and New Orleans to bebop and beyond with a multimedia performance of Langston Hughes’ kaleidoscopic 12-part jazz poem about the struggle for freedom in the early '60s.")
Walt Disney Concert Hall, 111 S. Grand Ave., downtown Los Angeles; 7:30 p.m., a/a; $46-123. (323) 850-2000.
The Cave Singers, Current Swell
Bootleg Theater, 2220 Beverly Blvd., Westlake; 8:30 p.m., 21+; $14. (213) 389-3856.
Avi Buffalo, Brendan Eder Ensemble, Deep Fields, Remembran
The Smell, 247 S. Main St., downtown Los Angeles; 9 p.m., a/a; $5. (213) 625-4325.

Monday, November 7
The Art of Truthfulness, Compassion, Forbearance (Zhen, Shan, Ren) ("Realistic oil paintings and Chinese watercolors from mostly Chinese artists give a unique insight into the spiritual discipline Falun Gong, also called Falun Dafa, a form of meditative exercise originating in China based on the principles of Truth, Compassion and Tolerance. On July 20th 1999 Falun Gong was banned in China, and since that date many thousands of practitioners have been tortured in an effort to “transform” them. Part of the exhibition deals with the terrifying ordeals people – including the artists themselves – have gone through.")
Kerckhoff Hall, 308 Westwood Plaza, Westwood; 8 a.m.; free. (213) 700-9620.
Mark Oldman discusses How to Drink Like a Billionaire: Mastering Wine with Joie de Vivre ($29, Regan Arts) ("Oldman, one of America’s most popular wine experts, demystifies the secrets of the wine world, so you can drink, enjoy, and savor wine better and cheaper. From detailing little-known ways to hone in on the best value bottles to the secret maneuvers you can do to master wine in restaurants, shops, and at home.")
Book Soup, 8818 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood; 7 p.m.; free. (310) 659-3110.
Molly Yeh presents Molly on the Range: Recipes and Stories from An Unlikely Life on a Farm ($33, Rodale) ("Yeh was living the dream as a percussionist who just graduated from Juilliard, eating and blogging her way through the city, when she met and fell in love with a quiet young trombonist who also happened to be a 5th-generation farmer. They moved to his family farm in East Grand Forks, MN where she now spends her days baking and cooking, sharing her adventures on her wildly popular blog and relishing her new rural way of life.")
Pages, a Bookstore, 904 Manhattan Ave., Manhattan Beach; 7 p.m.; free. (310) 318-0900.
What Do You Mean, "In Concert"?
The Veils
The Roxy, 9009 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood; 7 p.m., a/a; $16. (310) 276-2222.
Pussy Riot (in conversation)
The Regent, 448 S. Main St., downtown Los Angeles; 7:30 p.m., 18+; $18-$36. (323) 284-5727.

Tuesday, November 8
"Civic Engagement: Democracy in Action" Public Presentation ("How does art empower people to share their voices and participate in democracy? artworxLA will partner with the Central Library of Los Angeles and TaskForce to explore the democratic process and citizens’ responsibility to engage with matters of public concern, whether at the city, county, or national level.")
Skirball Cultural Center, 2701 N. Sepulveda Blvd., Brentwood; 11 a.m., free. (310) 440-4500.
Free Election Day matinee of Being There ("In this Hal Ashby-directed political satire, Chance (Peter Sellers), a simple-minded gardener educated only through television, is mistaken for an upper-class savant. Ushered into high society, Chance and his unaffected gardening wisdom become the talk of the town. Also starring Melvyn Douglas and Shirley MacLaine." 1979, 130 min. Rated PG.)
Skirball Cultural Center, 2701 N. Sepulveda Blvd., Brentwood; 1:30 p.m.; free. (310) 440-4500.
Doug Benson Interrupts Decision 2016 (with potluck; "Benson Interruption takes on Election Day")
Cinefamily, 611 N. Fairfax Ave., Beverly Grove; 6 p.m.; free. (323) 655-2510.
What Do You Mean, "In Concert"?
Mind Meld, Purling Hiss, OGOD
Resident, 428 S. Hewitt St., downtown Los Angeles; 8 p.m., 21+; $10. (213) 628-7503.
The Body, Daughters, Loma Prieta
The Echoplex, 1154 Glendale Blvd., Echo Park; 8:30 p.m., 18+; $12. (213) 413-8200.
Nina Las Vegas, Swet Shop Boys
Bootleg Theater, 2220 Beverly Blvd., Westlake; 8:30 p.m., 21+; $17-20. (213) 389-3856.

Wednesday, November 9
Kyodo Taiko ("Student performance group Kyodo Taiko aims to bring Taiko, a form of traditional Japanese drumming, to today’s performance spaces and audiences. Much like the Japanese contemporary artists featured in "Uncommon Threads", who incorporate unconventional materials using traditional Japanese art-making techniques, Kyodo Taiko presents the transformation of a traditional Japanese musical art form over time.")
Fowler Museum Art Council Amphitheater, UCLA, 308 Charles E. Young Dr. N., Westwood; 6 p.m., free. (310) 267-4007
SpectreFest 2016: Sneak Preview of Arrival ("Certain to thrill mainstream moviegoers, cinephiles, sci-fi fans, and linguistics nerds alike, Arrival challenges the notion that technology improves our ability to communicate by focusing on the fundamentals. Director Denis Villeneuve (Enemy, Prisoners) finds excitement in the details, crafting an atmosphere where dissecting the various components and interpretations of a sentence is as gripping as the first sight of aliens. Aided by Bradford Young’s arresting cinematography, Jóhann Jóhannsson’s captivating score, and long-time collaborator Patrice Vermette’s minimalist production design, Villeneuve shows masterful control over tone as he creates palpable tension that quietly builds to the film’s powerful conclusion.")
Cinefamily, 611 N. Fairfax Ave., Beverly Grove; 7:30 p.m.; free (but please register). (323) 655-2510.
Ileana Douglas reads from her memoir I Blame Dennis Hopper: And Other Stories From A Life Lived In and Out of the Movies ($17, Flatiron) with guests Jennifer Tilly, Matt Oswalt, Annette O'Toole, Ben Mankiewicz, Steven Weber and Kate Micucci
Skylight Books, 1818 N. Vermont Ave., Los Feliz; 7:30 p.m.; free. (323) 660-1175.
What Do You Mean, "In Concert"?
Teatro d’Amore: Monteverdi & His Contemporaries (L’Arpeggiata performs baroque music by Cazzati, Kapsberger, Merula, Monteverdi, Sances, Strozzi)
Walt Disney Concert Hall, 111 S. Grand Ave., downtown Los Angeles; 8 p.m. a/a; $20-106. (323) 850-2000.
Musica Elettronica Viva (MEV) ("Fifty years after co-founding MEV in Rome, three masters of improvisation, Alvin Curran, Frederic Rzewski and Richard Teitelbaum, reunite for an evening of freewheeling, groundbreaking music. In its early years MEV shocked audiences, sparked diatribes, and pushed the very concept of music into new territories. Through periods of activity and dormancy, the band’s remaining three members led busy solo careers: Curran, the composer, the man of great designs; Rzewski, the piano virtuoso and composer of the famous variations The People United Will Never Be Defeated!; and Teitelbaum, the live electronic music pioneer. Each of their performances is an exceptional moment; everything is allowed, except, perhaps, taking themselves too seriously.")
REDCAT, 631 W. 2nd St., downtown Los Angeles; 8:30 p.m., a/a; $12 CalArts faculty, students and staff / $20 members and students / $25 general. (213) 237-2800.
Ye Olde Hushe Clubbe (feat. Don Bolles, DJ)
Hyperion Tavern, 1941 Hyperion Ave., Los Feliz; 10 p.m., 21+; free. (323) 665-1941.

Thursday, November 10

Carole Bayer Sager offers up her memoir They're Playing Our Song ($28, Simon & Schuster) "Nominated for over fifteen awards, Sager has won an Oscar, two Golden Globes, and a Grammy. She shares the remarkably frank and darkly funny story of her life in and out of the recording studio, from her fascinating (and sometimes calamitous) relationships to her collaborations with some of the greatest composers and musical artists of our time.")
Barnes & Noble, 189 Grove Dr., Ste. K-30, Fairfax; 7 p.m.; free. (323) 525-0270.
Leo Braudy gabs about Haunted: On Ghosts, Witches, Vampires, Zombies, and Other Monsters of the Natural and Supernatural Worlds ($30, Yale University Press) "From the Protestant Reformation to contemporary horror films and fiction, he explores four major types: the monster from nature (King Kong), the created monster Frankenstein), the monster from within (Mr. Hyde), and the monster from the past (Dracula).")
Skylight Books, 1818 N. Vermont Ave., Los Feliz; 7:30 p.m.; free. (323) 660-1175.
Sam Green & Yo La Tengo Live Score: A Love Song for R. Buckminster Fuller ("Experience “live documentary” with Academy Award-nominated filmmaker Sam Green and legendary indie rock band Yo La Tengo at this very special one-night only event that traces the career of twentieth-century futurist, architect, inventor, and author R. Buckminster Fuller (1895-1983).")
Skirball Cultural Center, 2701 N. Sepulveda Blvd., Brentwood; 8 p.m.; $40 general / $50 members / $75 premium. (310) 440-4500.
What Do You Mean, "In Concert"?
Philip Glass: Akhnaten ("In ancient Egypt, Akhnaten ascends to the throne along with his bride Nefertiti. He has a vision for his people, a vision that abandons the worship of many gods for just one: the Sun God who reigns supreme. Akhnaten’s bold attempt to alter the course of history with a single revolutionary idea ultimately leads to his violent overthrow.The powerful, mesmerizing score by Philip Glass is filled with driving rhythms and exquisite choral harmonies. Akhnaten comes to Los Angeles in an all-new production by renowned director Phelim McDermott, led by the brilliant young conductor Matthew Aucoin, L.A. Opera’s new Artist in Residence.")
Los Angeles Opera, Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, 135 N. Grand Ave., downtown Los Angeles; 7:30 p.m., a/a; $19-259. (213) 972-7219.
Suzanne Vega
The Regent, 448 S. Main St., downtown Los Angeles; 8 p.m., 18+; $23. (323) 284-5727.
Rhys Chatham and Priests: "Callings Out of Context" ("Legendary noise-drone pioneer Rhys Chatham is featured in a shared concert with inventive Washington D.C. alt/punk band Priests, in the fourth edition of The Broad’s groundbreaking music series. Featuring some of today’s most exciting and transgressive musicians, Callings Out of Context is an aural complement to the Broad collection’s holdings of Pop Art. The series features hybrid-minded contemporary musical artists that engage, point to and tell stories about the modern market they are simultaneously a part of, while opening our ears to new perspectives on genre, repetition and mass production. Each program pairs artists from divergent corners of the marketplace, from the heart of indie-rock to the fringes of hip-hop and electronic music to the experimentalism of the avant-garde. The series title was inspired by the Arthur Russell song "Calling Out of Context".")
REDCAT, 631 W. 2nd St., downtown Los Angeles; 8:30 p.m., a/a; $25. (213) 237-2800.

Friday, November 11
Pasadena Heritage Craftsman Weekend ("Pasadena showcases its unparalleled collection of American Craftsman homes with a weekend of walking, bus, self-guided and drive-yourself tours. Indulge in the houses' earthy luxury, thanks to Pasadena Heritage, with a Saturday night reception at the Greene and Greene designed Robinson House or an all-day grand tour of the city's architectural gems. Head to the Pasadena Convention Center on Saturday and Sunday for a Craftsman expo, where your eyes will fall in love with a metal chandelier, but your wallet will likely have to settle for a book." Through Sunday. Throughout Pasadena.)
The Pasadena Convention Center, 300 E. Green St., Pasadena; 9 a.m., $22-90. (626) 449-7360.
M.J. Dougherty discusses Life Lessons of a Total Failure ($16, Hodge Podge House) "None of us have all the right answers. Certainly not on the first try. But what we do have are experiences, mentors, friends, family, and even enemies from which we learn. And in my case, I sure did a lot of learning. I can't offer you the right answers. And even if I could, what's right for me might not be ideal for you. What I can promise you is unfettered candor.")
Book Soup, 8818 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood; 7 p.m.; free. (310) 659-3110.
Screening of The Hollywood Shorties with director Ryan Steven Green and actors Jimmy Briscoe & Joe Gieb in person ("In 1939, calls were out for little people in Hollywood: The Wizard of Oz was casting the film’s iconic munchkins. They came to Los Angeles from all over the world, and many stayed, meaning that Hollywood was suddenly home to a dense and vibrant community of little people. There’s power in numbers, and by 1948 Billy Barty (who eventually formed the Little People of America) started a little people-only softball team. By the '70s, the team was playing basketball. They were athletes, advocates, fundraisers, and entertainers - showmen in the true spirit of their Tinseltown namesake, going on to play halftime shows at Lakers and Clippers games and more. The Hollywood Shorties are no more - but Ryan Steven Green (nephew of late Shorty Larry Green) takes us on a tour of the players' victories and show-stopping performances - on- and off-screen.")
Cinefamily, 611 N. Fairfax Ave., Beverly Grove; 7:30 p.m.; $14 / free for members. (323) 655-2510.
What Do You Mean, "In Concert"?
Ted Byrnes, Hex Horizontal, Oort Smog
The Smell, 247 S. Main St., downtown Los Angeles; 6 p.m., a/a; $5. (213) 625-4325.
Los Angeles Philharmonic (Santtu-Matias Rouvali, conductor; Johannes Moser, cello) performs Mosolov's "The Iron Foundry", Dvorák's "Cello Concerto" and Sibelius' "Symphony No. 1" ("One of the greatest of all cello concertos almost never came to be. For many years, Dvorák refused all requests to compose one; he didn’t think the sound was right for a solo instrument. Then, a twist of fate: composer Victor Herbert, who taught at New York’s National Conservatory (where Dvorák was director) and had played principal cello for the premiere of Dvorák’s “New World” Symphony, premiered his own Cello Concerto, which seems to have inspired his boss to change his mind. In fact, it came to have great emotional meaning for Dvorák. He revised the final movement to memorialize his first love (his then sister-in-law Josefina Kaunitzova, who had just died) by inserting melodies from her favorite piece, his song collection The Cypresses." Through Sunday, which happens at 2 p.m..)
Walt Disney Concert Hall, 111 S. Grand Ave., downtown Los Angeles; 8 p.m., a/a; $20-183. (323) 850-2000.
Ringo Starr and His All Starr Band
Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza, 2100 Thousand Oaks Blvd., Thousand Oaks; 8 p.m., a/a; $131-460. (805) 449-2100.

Saturday, November 12
The Art of Coffee: Enlightenment in a Cup ("Culinary historian Maite Gomez-Rejón and museum educator Mary Lenihan will take you into the galleries to outline the history of coffee through a look at the museum's permanent collection of coffee pots and other paraphernalia used to brew it and serve it. Enjoy a multi-course coffee service in Ray's, complete with an abundance of pastries and other treats; included will be samples of different kinds of coffee so you can select your favorite.")
Los Angeles County Museum of Art, 5905 Wilshire Blvd., Mid-Wilshire; 9 a.m.; $50 members / $55 general. (323) 857-6000.
Lara Schnitger: Suffragette City ("Following a tradition of artists’ street performance and protest marches, on Saturday artist Schnitger presents a procession through Westwood of sculptures that comprise images, forms, and texts explicitly addressing women’s rights. With public participation at its core, the procession is both playful and political, inspired by the history of feminist agitprop as well as increasingly imperative demands for equality and safety in light of recent events. On Sunday, Schnitger will present a selection of art and documentary films that focus on feminist speech and civil rights." Through Sunday.)
Hammer Museum, 10899 Wilshire Blvd., Westwood; 12 noon; free. (310) 443-7000.
Mr. Warmth: Don Rickles' 90th Birthday Laughfest ("Rickles celebrates his 90th with stories, film clips and fun, hosted by Regis Philbin.")
Saban Theater, 8440 Wilshire Blvd., Beverly Hills; 9 p.m.; $78-158. (323) 655-0111.
What Do You Mean, "In Concert"?
A Happening: Fall Festival of Aesthetic Exploration and Experimentation. New site-specific works and featured projects by Izella Berman (with Jean Paul Jenkins and Mitchell Brown), BrenNoid, Diana Briscoe, Cx Spirits Apothecracy, Robert Davis, Frank Fu, Yves Gore, DivineBrick (josie j), George Jensen, Wes Johansen, Celeste Knickerbocker, Bebe McPhereson, Maneesh Raj Madahar, Martancho, Nausea (Andrew Dalziell+Adam Weiss), Karim Shuquem, Cameron Stallones, Whereas, Zvital.
Grounds map and schedule will be emailed to RSVPs the day of the event. Arrive hungry! Food and drink on site will directly benefit the performing and exhibiting artists.
RSVP so you can go somewhere in El Sereno, California
Theatre Flamenco of San Francisco
Wilshire Ebell Theater, 4401 W. 8th St., Mid-Wilshire; 8 p.m.; $25-65. (323) 939-1128.
Sociometry Fair 2016 (feat. Fair Exhibition trifold displays and dioramas) - Nocturnal Habits (ex-members of Unwound from Olympia), Qui, TraPsPs
The Smell, 247 S. Main St., downtown Los Angeles; 9 p.m., a/a; $5 (free before 9 p.m.). (213) 625-4325.

Sunday, November 13
Lauri Kranz of Edible Gardens L.A. in conversation with Louesa Roebuck and Sarah Lonsdale at a floral arranging demonstration inspired by their book Foraged Flora: A Year of Gathering and Arranging Wild Plants and Flowers ($30, Ten Speed) ("Roadside fennel, flowering fruit trees, garden roses, tiny violets; Foraged Flora is a new vision for flowers and arranging. It encourages you to train your eye to beauty that surrounds you, attune your senses to the seasonality and locality of flowers and plants, and to embrace the beauty in each stage of life.")
Diesel Books, 225 26th St., Ste. #33, Brentwood; 3 p.m.; free. (310) 576-9960.
Susan Burnstine discusses Absence of Being ($50, Damiani) ("L.A.-based photographer Burnstine's haunting, intensely personal and yet extremely universal exploration of the subconscious world, which began with her highly praised first monograph, "Within Shadows." Finding no existing camera that could create what her mind envisioned, she began to experiment with building her own, molding her own lenses until she arrived at the prototype for the handmade cameras she continues to use.")
Book Soup, 8818 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood; 3 p.m.; free. (310) 659-3110.
Wanda Coleman's 70th Birthday Party ("A stellar group of poets and writers celebrate the life and work of Watts poet Wanda Coleman.")
Beyond Baroque, 681 Venice Blvd., Venice; 7:30 p.m.; $10 general / $6 students and seniors / .embers free. (310) 822-3006.
What Do You Mean, "In Concert"?
In This Together Festival (feat. Daniel Johnston and Kimya Dawson of The Moldy Peaches; "A one-of-a-kind nonprofit mental health awareness event that features comedians, podcasters, and musicians who are known for their mental health advocacy, authenticity, and vulnerability. We respectfully celebrate those who have struggled with mental illness and adversity.")
Avalon Hollywood, 1735 Vine St., Hollywood; 4 p.m., a/a; $30-95. (323) 462-8900.
M. Geddes Gengras, OM
The Regent, 448 S. Main St., downtown Los Angeles; 8 p.m., 18+; $16. (323) 284-5727.
Harry & The Hendersons, The Mr. T. Experience, Toys That Kill
The Redwood Bar & Grill, 316 W. 2nd St., downtown Los Angeles; 9 p.m., 21+; $15. (213) 680-2600.

Monday, November 14
Jilly Gagnon reads Choose Your Own Misery: The Holidays ($16, Diversion) interactively ("A hilarious choose-your-own-adventure story to ruin your holiday spirit. This year you’re going to do it: you’re going to avoid Christmas completely…or you were, until your island getaway got washed out by a hurricane. Now you choose: help chop down a tree even though it might throw out your back, or endure the icy judgment of a woman who thinks only children and pussies help bake cookies?")
The Last Bookstore, 453 S. Spring St., downtown Los Angeles; 7 p.m.; free. (213) 488-0599.
Tim Wu speaks with KCRW's Madeleine Brand about The Attention Merchants: The Epic Scramble to Get Inside Our Heads ($29, Knopf) ("In nearly every moment of our lives, we face a barrage of advertising enticements, branding efforts, sponsored social media, commercials, and other efforts to harvest our attention. Wu, author who coined the phrase “net neutrality,” explores the rise of firms whose business models are the mass capture of attention for resale to advertisers.")
Mark Taper Auditorium, Central Library, 630 W. 5th St., downtown Los Angeles; 7:15 p.m.; free (but RSVP). (213) 228-7500.
Speechless: L.A. Edition ("A live show/corporate training phenomenon that puts presenters on stage to deliver a PowerPoint presentation without any knowledge of the slides or decks. Each presenter will be assigned a topic at random: TED Talk, Startup Pitch, Movie Pitch, even a self-help seminar. The audience chooses the name of the talk, and then presenters do their best to get through their talk. Featuring Scott Thompson of "Kids in the Hall," Joe Starr, others.")
NerdMelt Showroom, 7522 Sunset Blvd., Hollywood; 8:45 p.m.; $8. (323) 851-7223.
What Do You Mean, "In Concert"?
Erykah Badu
The Observatory, 3503 S. Harbor Blvd., Santa Ana; 7 p.m., a/a; $58. (714) 957-0600.

Tuesday, November 15
Non-Violence and Social Movements Teach-In Day ("Addresses nonviolence and its impact on social movements both historically and in contemporary society. There will be a screening of the film “Love and Solidarity”, and a panel presentation and discussion on nonviolence.")
Ackerman Union, 308 Westwood Plaza, Westwood; 4 p.m.; free. (310) 206-0812.
It's a MAD MAD MAD MAD Show ("The cast and writers of MADtv come together to show off the comedy gems that didn’t quite make it to air. Featuring characters, sketch, stand-up, and more, with favorites from all generations of the MADtv legacy. Don’t get mad - get tickets! Feat. Will Sasso, Mo Collins, Adam Ray, Chelsea Davison, Amir K, Jon Barinholtz, Carl Tart, Guy Stevenson, Michelle Ortiz, Jeremy D. Howard, others.")
NerdMelt Showroom, 7522 Sunset Blvd., Hollywood; 6:45 p.m.; $8. (323) 851-7223.
Stealing The Moon by David Horvitz + Xiu Xiu ("Special performance inspired by the exhibition Japanese Painting: From the Zen Mind. The collaboration will create a site-specific soundscape in dialogue with the exhibition works and themes. The original piece utilizes field recordings of three Chinese elm trees from the Amache internment camp playing on speakers hidden throughout the Pavilion, as well as gongs, wind chimes, vibrators, bells, and grunt tubes.")
Japanese Pavilion, Los Angeles County Museum of Art, 5905 Wilshire Blvd., Mid-Wilshire; 7:30 p.m.; free (but tickets required). (323) 857-6000.
What Do You Mean, "In Concert"?
Chamber Music: Bartók String Quartet No. 3, Shostakovich String Quartet No. 8, Op. 110, Shostakovich Piano Quintet, Op. 57 ("This upcoming concert of powerful and deeply personal chamber music by Bartók and Shostakovich features members of the Los Angeles Philharmonic. Plus, you’re invited to the complimentary wine reception before the concert!")
Walt Disney Concert Hall, 111 S. Grand Ave., downtown Los Angeles; 8 p.m., a/a; $20-58. (323) 850-2000.
GusGus (sans Hafdis)
El Rey Theater, 5515 Wilshire Blvd., Mid-Wilshire; 8:30 p.m., a/a; $20. (323) 936-6400.
Marty & Elayne
The Dresden Restaurant, 1760 N. Vermont Ave., Los Feliz; 9 p.m., 21+; free. (323) 665-4294.

Monday, October 17, 2016

For the next two weeks in Los Angeles...

Monday, October 17
An Evening with Grace Bonney ("In her new book, In the Company of Women: Inspiration and Advice from 100 Makers, Artists, and Entrepreneurs ($21, Artisan), Bonney introduces an exceptional group of female business owners across a diverse range of races, ages, backgrounds, and industries - all with unique experiences to reflect our country’s rich (and growing) diversity. Panelists include Joy Cho (founder of Oh Joy design studio), Tanya Aguiniga (Los Angeles-based), Bethany Yellowtail (Native fashion designer icon), Shadi Petosky (Showrunner Amazon Original), Roxane Gay (American feminist writer), Angelica Ross (founder of TransTech)."
Freud Playhouse, 405 Hilgard Ave., Westwood; 7:30 p.m.; $10 / $44 (includes a copy of the book). (310) 825-2101.
Dan Piraro talks about Creative Haven Bizarro Land Coloring Book ($6, Dover) ("His incredibly detailed art, as seen in more than 350 daily and Sunday newspapers, will captivate colorists with a taste for the offbeat and outrageous. Illustrations are printed on perforated pages for easy removal and display. Specially designed for experienced colorists, Bizarro Land and other Creative Haven(r) adult coloring books offer an escape to a world of inspiration and artistic fulfillment.")
Vroman’s, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena; 7 p.m.; free. (626) 449-5320.
Screening of Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives with premier Thai director Apichatpong Weerasethakul in person ("As the titular and ailing Uncle Boonmee anticipates his own death, he is launched into a meandering exploration of spiritualism and reincarnation, manifest in nighttime visits from spirits on his veranda. At once an intimate familial tale and a ghost story, Uncle Boonmee stages encounters with a magnificent Bigfoot-like creature (Boonmee’s long-lost son), talking animals, a princess, and more, in a deluge of bizarre quiet moments. But despite its loose relationship to reality, the film is a tender and genuine one; as much as it eludes, it delights, with an expected - and welcome - matter of factness and humor." Dir. Apichatpong Weerasethakul, 2010, 35mm, 114 min.)
Cinefamily, 611 N. Fairfax Ave., Beverly Grove; 8 p.m.; $14 / members free. (323) 655-2510.
Weather today?

Tuesday October 18
Paul Freedman converses with Chef Jessica Koslow about "Ten Restaurants that Changed America" ($35, Liveright) ("From Delmonico’s to Sylvia’s to Chez Panisse, a daring and original history of dining out in America as told through ten legendary restaurants, combining a historian’s rigor with a foodie’s palate.")
Vroman’s, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena; 7 p.m.; free. (626) 449-5320.
David Kulczyk unveils "California’s Deadliest Women: Dangerous Dames and Murderous Moms" ($15, Craven Street) ("Including the murder of comedian Phil Hartman, the strange story of LAPD detective/murderer Stephanie Lazarus, chemist Larissa Schuster (who drowned her husband in an acid bath), dominatrix Omaima Aree Nelson (who killed, cooked, and ate her husband) plus many more bizarre and horrifying stories of women who kill.")
The Last Bookstore, 453 S. Spring St., downtown Los Angeles; 7 p.m.; free. (213) 488-0599.
A Night of Warren Zevon with Judd Apatow, Jackson Browne & Very Special Guests in This Concert to Benefit the Plastic Pollution Coalition ("A non-partisan coalition of individuals and institutions committed to eliminating plastic pollution worldwide.")
Largo at The Coronet, 366 N. La Cienega Blvd., Beverly Grove; 6 p.m.; $100. (310) 855-0350.

Wednesday October 19
An Evening with Horror Screenwriters ("Special Halloween event where the writers behind some of the scariest movies and novels of recent years discuss how to create stories that give people nightmares, the current state of the horror genre, and more. The panel will be moderated by Peter Katz and includes screenwriters Jeffrey Reddick ("Final Destination"), Stephen Susco ("The Grudge"), and Brad Keene ("From Within"). You must come. We know where you live.")
The Last Bookstore, 453 S. Spring St., downtown Los Angeles; 7 p.m.; free. (213) 488-0599.
Screening of "Huicholes: The Last Peyote Guardians" ("Documents the story of the Wixárika people, one of the last surviving indigenous cultures in Latin America. The film chronicles the struggle of the Wixárika to preserve Wirikuta (the Center of the Universe), their most sacred territory, from incursions by the Mexican government and transnational mining companies.")
Harry and Yvonne Lenart Auditorium, 308 Charles E. Young Drive N., Westwood; 7 p.m.; free. (310) 267-4007.
Opening of the "Politics, Race, and Propaganda: The Nazi Olympics, Berlin 1936" exhibition ("Features historic photographs and documents, riveting films, Olympics regalia and promotional materials, along with first-person accounts that tell the stories of athletes who were barred because of their ethnic heritage, those who boycotted the Games in protest, and the African-Americans who competed and won a total of fourteen medals, refuting the Nazi myth of "Aryan" supremacy. Features a number of key additions, including one of Jesse Owens’ gold medals and Mack Robinson's silver medal, both earned during the 1936 Games." Through February 26, 2017.)
California African American Museum, 600 State Dr., Exposition Park; 11 a.m.; free (but parking is $12 and $15 after 5 p.m.). (213) 744-7432.

Thursday, October 20
Mel Brooks offers up "Young Frankenstein: The Story of the Making of The Film" (talk with pre-signed copies) ($30, Hachette)
Barnes & Noble, 189 Grove Dr., Ste. K-30, Fairfax; 7 p.m.; free. (323) 525-0270.
Simon Reynolds presents "Shock and Awe: Glam Rock and Its Legacy, from the Seventies to the Twenty-First Century" ($19, Dey Street) ("Rock music in the 1970s was in the doldrums: airwaves were dominated by mellow country-rock, earnest singer-songwriters, earth-toned hippie jam bands, and samey-sounding boogie outfits. Then flaring up against the drab denim-clad backdrop, there came glam: the first true teenage rampage of the new decade, a movement spearheaded by artists like David Bowie, Alice Cooper, T. Rex and Roxy Music, that reveled in artifice and spectacle.")
Skylight Books, 1818 N. Vermont Ave., Los Feliz; 7:30 p.m.; free. (323) 660-1175.
Black Feminist Vision 2016 ("Featuring some of the most important established and rising stars working in the field of Black feminism, this symposium is centrally organized around questions of feminism and race." Also October 21.)
Kerckhoff Hall, 308 Westwood Plaza, Westwood; 4 p.m.; free. (310) 206-8129.

Friday, October 21
My Brother's House for Venice Recovery Center ("Featuring stand-up from Megan Gailey, Joe Wengert, Ali Macofsky, Jak Knight, Carmen Lynch and more! Hosted by Cody Metzer and Ali Macofsky. Benefit for Venice Family Clinic.")
NerdMelt Showroom, 7522 Sunset Blvd., Hollywood; 6:45 p.m.; $10. (323) 851-7223.
Screening of Guillermo del Toro's 1993 film "Cronos" ("In the 16th century, an alchemist created a mechanical scarab that could grant eternal life, along with a few bloody side effects. Four-and-a-half centuries later, the device falls into the hands of an elderly antique dealer, Jesús Gris (Federico Luppi), who winds up the machine and unknowingly sets the scarab - and those who know its power and want it for themselves - into action. The dying Dieter de la Guardia (Claudio Brook) and his nephew Angel (Ron Perlman) are ready to kill for Gris’s eternal life. Special guests will be announced closer to screening date.")
Bing Theatre, LACMA, 5905 Wilshire Blvd., Mid-Wilshire; 7:30 p.m.; $10 LACMA Film Club members / $12 LACMA members, Film Independent members, students with valid ID, and seniors (65+) / $15 general. (323) 857-6010.
Food Marketing to Children symposium at the 3rd Annual UCLA-HLS Food Law & Policy Conference ("This one-day long conference will convene an interdisciplinary group of experts from science, law, and policy to consider the scale, impact of, and legal considerations with regard to food and beverage marketing to children in the United States.")
UCLA Faculty Center (California Room), 480 Charles E. Young Dr E., Westwood; 8 a.m.; free, (310) 825-4841.

Saturday, October 22
A.G. Geiger Book Fair ("Brings together artists, booksellers, and fine art enthusiasts in historic Chinatown, it's a unique event that is free and open to the public. Modeled on the Art Book Fairs presented by Printed Matter in New York and Los Angeles, the A.G. Geiger Book Fair is regionally focused on West Coast based artists, presses, and independent publishers in a lively festival atmosphere.")
502 Chung King Plaza, Chinatown, 11 a.m.; free. (213) 505-6957.
David J. Skal chats about "Halloween: The History of America's Darkest Holiday" ($23, Dover)
Dark Delicacies, 3512 W. Magnolia Blvd., Burbank; 2 p.m.; free. (888) DARKDEL.
Eden Sher presents "The Emotionary: A Dictionary of Words That Don't Exist For Feelings That Do" ($20, Razorbill) ("Sher, has suffered from dyscommunicatia (n. the inability to articulate a feeling though words). She decided that whenever she had an emotion for which she had no word, she would make one up. Illustrated by acclaimed graphic novelist Julia Wertz, this book is full of words you always wanted/never knew you needed often accompanied by illustrations of all-too-familiar situations.")
Skylight Books, 1818 N. Vermont Ave., Los Feliz; 5 p.m.; free. (323) 660-1175.

Sunday, October 23
La Poesia Festival ("Open mic and anthology edited by Antonieta Villamil celebrates Colombian Poetry for Peace with Latin-American poets from L.A.: Marina Moncada, Joaquín López, Raul Arredondo, Emilia Chuquin, Carolina Rivera, Ricardo Ventura, Marcela Urrutia, and a potluck party.")
Beyond Baroque, 681 Venice Blvd., Venice; 6 p.m.; $5. (310) 822-3006.
Molly Schiot presents "Game Changers - The Unsung Heroines of Sports History" ($25, Simon & Schuster) ("Two years ago, filmmaker Schiot began the Instagram account @TheUnsungHeroines, posting a photo each day of a female athlete who had changed the face of sports around the globe in the pre-Title IX age. These women paved the way for Serena Williams, Carli Lloyd, and Lindsey Vonn, yet few today know who they are.")
Arcana Books on the Arts, 8675 Washington Blvd., Culver City; 7 p.m.; free. (310) 458-1499.
Vidiots presents The Harry Dean Stanton Award ("Harry Dean Stanton himself gets the inaugural award at an evening of conversation, film clips, and music, featuring performances and tributes from Kris Kristofferson, Father John Misty, Inara George, John C. Reilly, Jack Huston, Harper Simon, and many more soon-to-be announced guests. The evening will also serve as Vidiots Foundation's first major fundraising event.")
The Theater at Ace Hotel, 929 Broadway, downtown Los Angeles; 8 p.m.; $30 and up. (213) 623-3233.
What Do You Mean, "In Concert"?
Beach Goth Fest (Justice (DJ Set), Grimes, The Growlers, Gucci Mane, Nicolas Jaar, RL Grime, Future Islands, Kali Uchis, Unknown Mortal Orchestra, Devendra Banhart, The Drums, XXYYXX, She Wants Revenge, Trippy Turtle, The Adicts, Reel Big Fish, Sebastian, Moving Units, DJ Quik, The Frights, 2 Live Crew, La Femme, Hunny, Ugly God, TOPS, Mystic Braves, Slow Hollows, Broncho, Egyptian Lover, The Buttertones, Humans, Still Corners, Dwight Twilley)
The Observatory (12 noon, a/a, $125-175)
Gustavo Dudamel Conducts Mahler's Symphony No. 9 with the Los Angeles Philharmonic
Disney Concert Hall (2 p.m., a/a, $65-201)
Patti Smith & Her Band, Bon Iver, Hiss Golden Messenger
Hollywood Bowl (6 p.m., a/a, $86-286)

Monday, October 24
"Twin Peaks" co-creator and executive producer Mark Frost unveils his novel "The Secret History of Twin Peaks" ($30, Flatiron) ("A vastly layered, wide-ranging history that deepens mysteries of the iconic town in ways that thrill disciples of the original series, and preps fans for the upcoming Showtime series")
The Last Bookstore, 453 S. Spring St., downtown Los Angeles; 7 p.m.; free. (213) 488-0599.
Ian Scheffler offers up "Cracking the Cube: Going Slow to Go Fast and Other Unexpected Turns in the World of Competitive Rubik’s Cube Solving" ("When Hungarian professor Ern Rubik invented the Rubik’s Cube (or, rather, his Cube) in the 1970s out of wooden blocks, rubber bands, and paper clips, he didn’t even know if it could be solved, let alone that it would become the world’s most popular puzzle. Along with participating in speedcubing competitions and interviewing key figures from the Cube’s history, he journeys to Budapest to seek a meeting with the notoriously reclusive Rubik, who is still tinkering away with puzzles in his seventies.")
Vroman’s, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena; 7 p.m.; free. (626) 449-5320.
Novelist Jonathan Lethem in conversation with David Ulin ("Author of the critically acclaimed bestselling novel "Motherless Brooklyn," Lethem's new novel, "A Gambler's Anatomy" ($28, Doubleday) concerns a backgammon hustler who believes he possesses a psychic gift. The strange tumor on his face doesn't help his luck with his gambling, or with the ladies.")
Ann and Jerry Moss Theater, 3131 Olympic Blvd., Santa Monica; 7:30 p.m.; $20. (310) 855-0005.
What Do You Mean, "In Concert"?
Supersuckers, Reverend Peyton's Big Damn Band, Jesse Dayton
Echoplex (8 p.m., 18+, $13.50-15.50)
Of Montreal
Regent Theater (8:30 p.m., a/a, $14-20)
Majid Jordan
Fonda Theater (8:30 p.m., a/a, $28.25-33.25)

Tuesday, October 25
Peter McCoy discusses "Radical Mycology" ($50, Chthaeus) ("In this part presentation, part mushroom roadshow, author Peter McCoy will present many means for dispelling this paradox. From the ecological importance of mushrooms and other fungi, to their rich history with human cultures around the world, to the increasingly profound potential for mushroom cultivation to address a range of pressing global issues, this special event will take you deep into the fungal realm.")
The Last Bookstore, 453 S. Spring St., downtown Los Angeles; 7 p.m.; free. (213) 488-0599
Jason Porath unveils "Rejected Princesses: Tales of History's Boldest Heroines, Hellions, and Heretics" ($27, Dey Street) ("Each profile features an eye-catching image of both heroic and villainous women in command from across history and around the world, from a princess-cum-pirate in fifth century Denmark, to a rebel preacher in 1630s Boston, to a bloodthirsty Hungarian countess, and a former prostitute who commanded a fleet of over 70,000 men on China’s seas.")
Book Soup, 8818 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood; 8 p.m.; free. (310) 659-3110
Carnival of Horrors presents a screening of "Vampire Circus"
("Preceded by a Cinefamily original Circus of Horrors mixtape, puppet show and circus performers! A slice-of-sleaze from the untapped late-period of Hammer, Vampire Circus - although light on character development and logical plotting - is an erotic, atmospheric dive into early '70s vampiric obscurity. In a 19th century European village, the Circus of Nights has rolled into town to assist - unbeknownst to the townspeople - local Count Mitterhaus execute his years-gestating plan of revenge. Toss in a plague for good measure, a couple missing children, a circus freak or two, and some of the greatest over-long fang close-ups around and settle in for an overlooked gem from across the pond." Dir. Robert Young, 1972, 87 min.)
Bob Baker Marionette Theater, 1345 W. 1st St., Echo Park; 8 p.m.; $15 / members free. (213) 250-9995.
What Do You Mean, "In Concert"?
Billy Bragg, Joe Henry
Palace Theater (6:30 p.m., a/a, $39.50-55.50)
Murder Ballads: A Tribute to True Crimes of Passion (Rococo Jet, Bloody Death Skull, Avi Buffalo, Edith Crash, Haunted Summer, Christian Lee Hutson, Herbert Bail, Le Cos, The Great Sadness, Sister Calypso, Tommy Santee Klaws, The Histrionics)
Echoplex (8:30 p.m., 18+, $9.50-11.50)
Rocco DeLuca
The Troubadour (9 p.m., a/a, $15)

Wednesday, October 26
Leo Braudy in conversation with the Los Angeles Review of Books' Editor-in-Chief Tom Lutz about "Haunted: On Ghosts, Witches, Vampires, Zombies, and Other Monsters of the Natural and Supernatural Worlds" ($30, Yale University)
Chevalier's Books, 126 N. Larchmont Blvd., Larchmont; 7 p.m.; free. (323) 465-1334.
Artist Jess Rotter presents "I'm Bored" ($25, Hat & Beard) ("A Gary-Larson-meets-The Muppets variety show, a terrific trip composed of drawings filled with recurring characters--ranging from walruses to wizards to life warriors, who are all, like the rest of us, seeking their daily salvation. Part art book, part comic book compilation, and partly a skeptical but loving take on those Successories motivational posters for the office.")
Skylight Books, 1818 N. Vermont Ave., Los Feliz; 7:30 p.m.; free. (323) 660-1175.
Carole Bayer Sager conversing with Kenny “Babyface” Edmonds about her memoir "They’re Playing Our Song" ($28, Simon & Schuster) ("Nominated for over fifteen awards, Sager has won an Oscar, two Golden Globes, and a Grammy. She shares the remarkably frank and darkly funny story of her life in and out of the recording studio, from her fascinating / calamitous relationships to her collaborations with some of the greatest composers and musical artists of our time.")
Ann and Jerry Moss Theater, 3131 Olympic Blvd., Santa Monica; 8 p.m.; $45 general + Sager’s book / $50 reserved + Sager’s book. (310) 855-0005.
What Do You Mean, "In Concert"?

Hilary Hahn, violin & Robert Levin, piano - Bach, Mozart, Abril, Türk, Schubert
Disney Concert Hall (8 p.m., a/a, $45-108)
Aldous Harding (Lyttelton, New Zealand), Invisible Familiars (NYC), GAL PALS
The Smell (9 p.m., a/a, $8)

Thursday, October 27
Dr. Paul Koudounaris' "Ghosts, Skeletons, and Other Friends: Memento Mori Panel ("Koudounaris, author of "Empire of Death," "Heavenly Bodies," and "Memento Mori," on death as a liminal space, recounting various and excessively weird stories. Richard Carradine, the eminent leader of Ghost Hunters of Urban Los Angeles (GhouLA) and author of "The Park After Dark," about ghosts haunting Disneyland, and "Spirits with Spirits," a book about haunted L.A. bars.")
Flintridge Bookstore & Coffeehouse, 1010 Foothill Blvd., La Cañada Flintridge; 7 p.m.; free. (818) 790-0717.
Chef Nancy Silverton and co-author, the James Beard Award–winning writer Carolynn Carreño, gab about their new cookbook "Mozza at Home: More Than 150 Crowd-Pleasing Recipes for Relaxed, Family-Style Entertaining" ($35, Knopf)
Chevalier's Books, 126 N. Larchmont Blvd., Larchmont; 7 p.m.; free. (323) 465-1334.
Is Art Our Last Safe Space? ("Art, at its best, shows us truths about ourselves and the world, challenging us to turn toward what we might otherwise seek to avoid. What truth can art show us now? And are we prepared to see it? Moderated by Tulsa Kinney, Editor, Artillery Magazine, we gather together Rhodes College art historian David McCarthy, ceramacist and Gulf War veteran Ehern Tool, and professor of Visual Studies at the California College of the Arts Karen Fiss to discuss whether, in violent times, art provides a vestige of protected provocation.")
MOCA Grand Avenue, 250 S. Grand Ave., downtown Los Angeles; 7 p.m.; free. (213) 626-6222.
What Do You Mean, "In Concert"?
Rocket From The Crypt, Plague Vendor
Dr. Martens Store (Studio City) (6 p.m., a/a, free - but RSVP)
The Damned (40th Anniversary Retrospective)
Belasco Theater (6:30 p.m., a/a, $50)
SPRAY TAN, Maladjusted, Duderella
The Smell (9 p.m., a/a, $5)

Friday, October 28 
Lucy Birmingham gabs about "My Beer Year" ($17, Roost) ("As a journalist spurred by curiosity and thirst, Lucy Burningham made it her career to write about craft beer, traveling to hop farms, attending rare beer tasting parties, and visiting as many taprooms, breweries, and festivals as possible. With this as her introduction, Lucy decided to take her relationship with beer to the next level: to become a certified beer expert.")
Pages, a Bookstore, 904 Manhattan Ave., Manhattan Beach; 7 p.m.; free. (310) 318-0900.
Academy of Fine Arts Karlsruhe professor Laurence A. Rickels reads from "The Psycho Records" ($25, Wallflower) ("American soldiers returning from World War II were called "psychos" if they exhibited mental illness. Robert Bloch and Alfred Hitchcock turned the term into a catch-all phrase for a range of psychotic and psychopathic symptoms or dispositions. They transferred a war disorder to the American heartland.")
Skylight Books, 1818 N. Vermont Ave., Los Feliz; 7:30 p.m.; free. (323) 660-1175.
An (Adult) Frozen Themed Birthday Party ("Jen & Teresa are turning 27 and they decided to put on a Frozen themed show. The show is Frozen-themed, come in Frozen costumes or regular costumes, it's Halloween weekend! There will be dancing, singing, comedy, and magic! Cover goes to The Trevor Project, a suicide help line for LGBT youth")
The Virgil, 4519 Santa Monica Blvd., East Hollywood; 7:30 p.m.; $5. (323) 660-4540.
What Do You Mean, "In Concert"?
Charles Aznavour
Pantages Theater (8 p.m., a/a, $76.50-496.50)
Moving Units, L.A. Drones, Second Still
Complex (9 p.m., 21+, $10)
Gustavo Dudamel Conducts Tchaikovsky's Symphony No. 4 in F minor, Op. 36 with the Los Angeles Philharmonic
Disney Concert Hall (9 p.m., a/a, $65-201)

Saturday, October 29
Skylight Books 20th Anniversary Cocktail Party ("Join us for a blowout party celebrating 20 years of independent bookselling. This is the highlight of our month-long celebratory calendar, and we really hope you'll join us. Come by to see old photos, run into old friends from the neighborhood, and raise a glass to 20 more years of your neighborhood bookstore!")
Skylight Books, 1818 N. Vermont Ave., Los Feliz; 6 p.m.; free. (323) 660-1175.
Revenge of the Ninja ("This unique experience at a martial arts dojo keeps with their ninja theme, full utilizes the martial arts skills of the actors, and throws in some very creative boobytrap-themed gags. EVERY house in the neighborhood goes all out, often with folks having front lawn parties. Plus there is a street fair in front of the dojo." Through October 31.)
18731 Crenshaw Blvd., Torrance, 90504; 7 p.m., $5.
The Haunted Shack ("Surprisingly high-tech haunt, located in a quiet little suburb. Last year's theme of early American colonialism was not just unique, but also just enough twisted and poignant without having to wave an explicit political flag. Their construction is solid, truly creating the feeling of being in some sort of hazy otherworld. Plus, some mechanical gags are actually controlled by audience members in line, using controls out front to scare those inside!" Also October 31.)
5112 Maricopa St., Torrance, 90503; 7 p.m.; free.
What Do You Mean, "In Concert"?
John Wiese: Battery Instruments (2, 4, and 8-channel video/5-channel sound installations)
Human Resources (12 noon, a/a, free)
Pet Shop Boys (The SUPER Tour)
Microsoft Theater (8 p.m., a/a, $39.50-125)
Sapphic Musk, GayC/DC, Sugar Fly
El Cid (9 p.m., 21+, $5)

Sunday, October 30
Veterans in the Arts and Humanities Day ("View compelling short films created in the Veterans Make Movies program, a series of workshops that teach veterans how to capture their unique perspectives in film. After the screening, Norman Lear, World War II veteran and revolutionary television writer, producer, and director, will discuss his latest projects, including how he involved veterans in a reimagining of the sitcom One Day at a Time for Netflix.")
Bing Theatre, LACMA, 5905 Wilshire Blvd., Mid-Wilshire; 1 p.m.; free. (323) 857-6010.
SPARC-UCLA's Annual Día de los Muertos ("Ceremony to honor the dearly departed with the annual ritual of The Calling of the Spirits, an ancient practice recorded in the códices, in which the elder climbed on the rooftop of the family house, and facing North, invoked the spirit of the ancestor to come to the feast; this “Invocation to the Four Winds and Calling of the Spirits” will be enacted by UCLA students. Live music will be presented and traditional Pan-Dulce (Mexican sweet bread) as well as Mexican hot chocolate will be served. Community members are encouraged to bring personal memento for community altar!")
SPARC (Social and Public Art Resource Center), 685 Venice Blvd., Venice; 4 p.m.; free. (310) 822-9560.
Los Angeles premiere screening of "Excess Flesh" ("Called by The Daily Beast "The most messed-up movie at SXSW, and of the year, so far," along with a Hell House of politically-incorrect real horrors, featuring live music, libations and more! No one under 17 will be admitted due to language, graphic nudity, aberrant violence, grisly/disturbing images, and strong implications of premarital sex. Costumes encouraged - the more offensive, the better!")
Highways Performance Space, 1651 18th St., Santa Monica; 7:30 p.m.; $5. (310) 315-1459.
What Do You Mean, "In Concert"?
Nanguan workshop with the Lâm-hun-koh Nanguan Music and Theater Troupe from Taiwan
Schoenberg Music Building (Jan Popper Theater) (3 p.m., a/a, free)
Thee Oh Sees
El Rey (8:30 p.m., a/a, $20)
Annual Goth Ball (feat. Kevin Haskins (of Bauhaus - DJ set), Blake Miller (of Moving Units - DJ set)
Echoplex (10 p.m., 18+, $10)

Monday, October 31 
The Backwoods Maze ("Enter a post-apocalyptic wasteland and bid farewell to flesh as you find yourself launched into a futuristic society in which humans are rendered obsolete and nuclear mutations reign supreme.")
1912 N. Pepper St., Burbank, 91505
; 7 p.m.; free / donations.
Jerry Beck's Cartoon Spooktacular ("A selection of strange, creepy Halloween-related cartoons using vintage prints in 16mm and 35mm that range from ghoulishly red Eastmancolor to gorgeously garish Technicolor. Prepare to be dazzled by animated witches, warlocks, goblins, pumpkin-heads, black cats and everyone from Koko The Clown to Casper the Friendly Ghost, as classic cartoon characters Oswald Rabbit and Popeye meet all the famous monsters of filmland.")
Cinefamily, 611 N. Fairfax Ave., Beverly Grove; 7:30 p.m.; $12 / members free. (323) 655-2510.
L.A. Opera Off Grand Presents Nosferatu: A Symphony of Horror ("Since the original orchestral score by Hans Erdmann is largely lost, Nosferatu has afforded a host of musicians the opportunity to re-score the classic. LA Opera's incoming Artist-in-Residence will create and conduct a new score for chamber orchestra, incorporating composers of Murnau's time such as Schreker, Zemlinsky, Korngold, Webern and Berg, as well as new music composed by Aucoin himself.")
The Theatre at Ace Hotel, 929 Broadway, downtown Los Angeles; 8 p.m.; $19-89. (213) 623-3233.
What Do You Mean, "In Concert"?
Bloody Death Skull (Los Angeles), Lord Buffalo (Austin), Westerner (Los Angeles), Bad Vibes (San Diego)
Ham & Eggs Tavern (8 p.m., 21+, free)
Higher Source Halloween (feat. TOPS, Dent May, Jimmy Whispers, Drugdealer)
Non Plus Ultra (8 p.m., a/a, $5)
Horror in the Hall: Halloween Organ (played by Clark Wilson) with a screening of The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (1920, dir. Robert Wiene)
Disney Concert Hall (8 p.m., a/a, $31-61)

Monday, May 25, 2015

For the next two weeks...

Sunday, May 24
William Wellman Jr. discusses Wild Bill Wellman: Hollywood Rebel ("The extraordinary life of the legendary, undercelebrated Hollywood director, whose 82 movies (six of them uncredited) were iconic; many of them sharp, cold, brutal; others poetic, moving. Among his pictures: the pioneering World War I epic Wings (winner of the first Academy Award for Best Picture), Public Enemy (the toughest gangster picture of them all), and the original A Star is Born.)
Vroman’s Bookstore, 695 E. Colorado Blvd.; Pasadena; 4 p.m., free, (626) 449-5320.
Dudley Cinema presents Folk Rock Music Films ("When asked "Are you a poet?" Bob Dylan said, "No, I'm an escape artist".")
Beyond Baroque, 681 Venice Blvd.; Venice; 7 p.m., free, (310) 822-3006.
Don't Knock the Rock presents a screening of My Secret World: The Story of Sarah Records with label co-founder Clare Wadd in person ("In March 2015, the NME declared Sarah Records to be the second greatest indie label of all time, directly behind 4AD - and for good reason. Between 1987-1995, Sarah was possibly the most "indie" of all UK indie labels: one where the participants’ principles prevailed, and attitude and actions were just as important as the music. The label that released gems by twee-pop pioneers Heavenly, The Field Mice, Another Sunny Day, 14 Iced Bears, The Orchids, Boyracer and many more was buoyed over the years by heroics and belligerence, ephemeral-eternal-pop, fanzines and its incorruptible founders Clare Wadd and Matt Haynes. Dir. Lucy Dawkins, 2014, HD presentation, 102 min.")
Cinefamily, 611 N. Fairfax Ave.; Mid-Wilshire; 7 p.m., $12, (323) 655-2510.
Weather today?

Monday, May 25
Walk for Warriors Memorial Day 5K
New Directions for Veterans, WLA Veterans Affairs Medical Campus, 11303 Wilshire Blvd., Bldg. 116; Westwood; 10 a.m., $20 & $45, (323) 938-4038.
The Five Minutes Game: 2015 Edition ("It’s one of our oldest Cinefamily traditions, having lasted since our very beginnings. And it’s been damned fun, too, every time. We’re firm believers in “Every movie is interesting for at least its first five minutes” - those fascinating moments when you’re still entering the new world a film presents you, and trying to figure out what the hell’s going on. What we’re gonna do is choose fifteen movies you’ve likely never seen before (with most of them still unavailable on DVD), line ‘em up and only show you the first five minutes of each, not counting their opening credits. After all that, you, the audience, votes on which film out of the fifteen we all then peep in its entirety. So bring something to cook on our grill and let’s get started!")
Cinefamily, 611 N. Fairfax Ave.; Mid-Wilshire; 5 p.m., $12, (323) 655-2510.
Seven Minutes in Purgatory with Ian Abramson ("Challenges comedians to perform directly to a camera alone in a soundproof room, while audience watch a live feed in another room. This social experiment/comedy show offers a chance to watch performers attempt to do their act without the benefit of audience feedback. The Laugh Button called the show "one of the coolest and most creative additions to the comedy world," and it's been hailed by The AV Club as "hilarious".")
UCB Sunset, 5419 Sunset Blvd.; Hollywood; 7 p.m., $5, (323) 908-8702.
Weather today?

Tuesday, May 26
Sonia Sanchez, John Bracey Jr. & James Smethurst discuss and sign SOS - Calling All Black People: A Black Arts Movement Reader ("covers topics ranging from the legacy of Malcolm X and the impact of John Coltrane's jazz to the tenets of the Black Panther Party and the music of Motown") Eso Won Books, 4327 Degnan Blvd.; Leimert Park; 7 p.m., free, (323) 290-1048.
Exortionately rare 35mm double-bill of sword-and-sandal epics Hercules and the Captive Women and The Avenger
New Beverly Cinema, 7165 Beverly Blvd.; Mid-Wilshire; 7:30 p.m., $8, (323) 938-4038.
Screening of The 11th Hour with discussion following with director Anders Morgenthaler and actress Kim Basinger ("Basinger plays Maria, a successful business executive who has been trying for years to have a child; told her biological clock has run out, she takes increasingly desperate measures to get the baby she wants. Basinger is a revelation here, applying single-minded drive to a quest that draws Maria into a world of con-men and criminals.")
Aero Theatre, 1328 Montana Ave.; Santa Monica; 7:30 p.m., $7/9/11, (310) 260-1528.
Weather today?

Wednesday, May 27
Audrey Shulman discusses Sitting in Bars with Cake: Lessons and Recipes from One Year of Trying to Bake My Way to a Boyfriend ("After living in L.A. for several years as a single lady, Shulman turned to baking. She brought her confections to bars, luring guys with a heady dose of butter and sugar.")
Book Soup, 8818 Sunset Blvd.; West Hollywood; 7 p.m., free, (310) 659-3110.
Jacqueline Suskin discusses and signs Go Ahead & Like It ("In this scrapbook-style art book you are invited to write lists of things you like. Things that excite you and meaningful things that make every day special. It’s a self-help book for people who might not be drawn to the standard self-help style of writing. Above everything else, it presents a simple, dependable method to notice the good that’s all around us.")
Vroman’s Bookstore, 695 E. Colorado Blvd.; Pasadena; 7 p.m., free. (626) 449-5320.
The Music of Osvaldo Golijov & Kaija Saariaho: A Visual Concert ("Soprano Terri Richter and the UCLA’s Contempo Flux ensemble, conducted by Geoffrey Pope, present a multimedia concert of live music by two contemporary composers, Osvaldo Golijov and Kaija Saariaho. The evening will showcase Saariaho’s Lonh and Golijov’s Ayre, a song cycle for soprano, electronics, and chamber ensemble, along with the video graphic design of Keith Skretch.")
Hammer Museum, 10899 Wilshire Blvd.; Westwood; 7:30 p.m., free, (310) 443-7000.
Weather today?

Thursday, May 28
Gwendolyn Womack reads from her debut novel The Memory Painter ("Two lovers who have traveled across time. A team of scientists at the cutting edge of memory research. A miracle drug that unlocks an ancient mystery.")
Pages, a Bookstore, 904 Manhattan Ave.; Manhattan Beach; 7 p.m., free, (310) 318-0900.
Rainer Werner Fassbinder retrospective (including Fassbinder: To Love Without Demands, a new documentary on the director), The Marriage of Maria Braun, Fox and Friends, Ali: Fear Eats the Soul, Veronika Voss and The Bitter Tears of Petra von Kant.  Through Saturday, May 30.)
Egyptian Theatre, 6712 Hollywood Blvd.; Hollywood; 7:30 p.m., $7/$9/$11, (323) 466-3456.
Zócalo Presents: How Do You Film the (Mexican) American Story? (Moderated by film critic Claudia Puig.  "Mexican-Americans make up the third largest ethnic/racial group in the United States. Yet few mainstream movies have explored the range of the Mexican-American experience. Two of those films - La Bamba and Selena - have become iconic. These movies deal with the broad themes of integration, mobility, the American dream, and the question of what it means to be Mexican-American. La Bamba writer and director Luis Valdez and Selena producer Moctesuma Esparza discuss the challenges and complexities of making these films.")
ArcLight Cinemas, 6360 Sunset Blvd.; Hollywood; 7:30 p.m., free, (323) 464-1478.
Weather today?

Friday, May 29
Bats Day ("Started in August 1999 as a joint effort between the promoters of the goth/industrial and deathrock clubs Absynthe and Release the Bats, it has since turned into a 3-day event." Through Sunday, May 31.)
Sheraton Hotel at the Anaheim Resort, 1855 S. Harbor Blvd.; Anaheim / Disneyland, 1313 Disneyland Dr.; Anaheim; 7 a.m., $50-$135, (813) 922 8799.
Dwell on Design ("America's largest modern design event; exhibition and conference featuring world-class speakers, product demonstrations, continuing education classes for design professionals, and seminars for design-seeking consumers." Through Sunday, May 31.)
Los Angeles Convention Center, 1201 S. Figueroa St.; downtown Los Angeles; 10 a.m., $30/40/60, (800) 448-7775, lacclink.com
Friday Night Frights screening of 1982's Madman ("Brand-new restoration, producer Gary Sales and hulking star Paul "Madman Marz" Ehlers in person. We now have the legend of Madman Marz - now a total maniac who murdered his family and who will supposedly appear if you call out his name near his old cabin. Of course, a foolish and curious camp counselor does just that, unleashing a gory massacre. Wonky and oddly wonderful, Madman is a must-see to round out your slasher subgenre education. Front-and-center in this film is actress Gaylen Ross, whose only three onscreen roles were in this, Dawn of the Dead and Creepshow.")
Cinefamily, 611 N. Fairfax Ave.; Mid-Wilshire; midnight, $12, (323) 655-2510.
Weather today?

Saturday, May 30
Opening of Deborah Martin's The Slabs: The Last Free Place In America photography exhibition ("Originally constructed in 1942, Camp Dunlap was expected to prepare U.S. Marine Corps for combat duty. In 1956, all buildings were ordered to be dismantled. The slabs remained. In 1965 Riverside County ordered people to leave a camping area in Painted Canyon near Mecca, California. Some migrated to Bombay Beach on the Salton Sea; others to the abandoned Camp Dunlap. The subculture that has formed in Slab City enables an individual to be in part free from the burdens of "traditional society".")
George Billis Gallery, 2716 S. La Cienega Blvd.; Palms; 5 p.m., free, (310) 838-3685.  
Opening of the Catascopes solo exhibition of new work by Pop Surrealist and Low Brow artist Anthony Ausgang (along with a performance by the artist on guitar as Cat Museum)
Copro Gallery, Bergamot Station, 2525 Michigan Ave., Ste. T5; Santa Monica; 8 p.m., free, (310) 829-2156.
How Was Your Day? with Arts and Athletics ("A longform improvised show in which the Arts and Athletics comedy troupe will interview an audience member about the appointments on their mobile phone calendar and do a show based on what they find.")
UCB Sunset, 5419 Sunset Blvd.; Hollywood; 10:30 p.m., $5, (323) 908-8702.
Weather today?

Sunday, May 31
826LA@Hammer: Build Your Own Treasure Map ("Ages 8-13. Learn how to give clear, step-by-step instructions while building a real-life treasure map. Instructor Neil Gordon is a publishing professional who has ghostwritten how-to books seen on shows like Ellen and Dr. Oz.")
Hammer Museum, 10899 Wilshire Blvd.; Westwood; 11 a.m., free, (310) 443-7000.
Los Angeles Review of Books Quarterly Brunch / Launch ("Copies of the Journal will be available at the store for purchase, and bagels and beverages will be provided. If you are not yet a QJ member, you can subscribe here. We will also be toasting to our 75 years of independent bookselling! Special readings by Samantha Dunn, David L. Ulin, and Sonia Greenfield.")
Chevalier's Books, 126 N. Larchmont Blvd.; Koreatown; 11:30 a.m., free, (323) 465-1334.
Screening of the director's cut of the 1984 spy spoof Top Secret! (this verison has only been shown once and is not available on DVD). movie followed with a Q&A with filmmakers David Zucker, Jim Abrams, and Jerry Zucker.
Vidiots, 302 Pico Blvd.; Santa Monica; 6:30 p.m., $15 & $20. (310) 392-8508
Weather today?

Monday, June 1
Former longtime Cinefamily programmer Bret Berg's launch party for his new pop-up used bookstore Mindwebs
Meltdown Comics, 7522 Sunset Blvd.; Hollywood Hills West; 7 p.m., free, (323) 851-7223.
Zócalo Presents: Is L.A.’s Past Worth Saving? ("When iconic sites like the Ambassador Hotel or Ray Bradbury’s home are demolished, we wring our hands collectively, wondering whether we don’t respect our past enough. To help us get a grip on our local heritage, the Getty and the City of Los Angeles have created HistoricPlacesLA, the first online system to inventory, map, describe, and help protect Los Angeles’ significant cultural resources. To celebrate the launch of HistoricPlacesLA, crime novelist Denise Hamilton, Libros Schmibros founder David Kipen, L.A. Office of Historic Resources manager Ken Bernstein, L.A. Weekly staff writer Dennis Romero, and KCET arts and culture columnist Lynell George discuss the places from the past that make L.A. feel like home today.")
The Plaza on Olvera Street, El Pueblo De Los Angeles, 845 N. Alameda St.; downtown Los Angeles; 7:30 p.m., free, (213) 485-6855.
Kid in the Hall Bruce McCulloch signs Let's Start a Riot: How a Young Drunk Punk Became a Hollywood Dad ("Chronicles his journey from wild early days as a "young punk" in 1980s Alberta, to his flannel plaid days and futon nights in 1990s Toronto, to becoming a "pajama-clad dad" living in the Hollywood Hills.")
Skylight Books, 1818 N. Vermont Ave.; Griffith Park; 7:30 p.m., free, (323) 660-1175.
Weather today?

Tuesday, June 2
Screening of the documentary Take Away One followed by a Q&A with director William Lorton ("The true story of Mary Baratta-Lorton, whose work revolutionized how American children were taught math - until her mysterious death in 1978.")
Ray Stark Family Theatre, SCA 108, George Lucas Bldg., University of Southern California, 900 W. 34th St.; University Park; 7 p.m., free, (213) 740-2804.
The Kids in the Hall (venerable Canadian quintet of intensely gifted comedians)
The Theater at Ace Hotel, 929 Broadway; downtown Los Angeles; 8 p.m., $50. (213) 623-3233.
FYC @ UCB: Brooklyn Nine-Nine ("Conversation with the cast and executive producers of Brooklyn Nine-Nine including Andy Samberg, Chelsea Peretti, Terry Crews, Melissa Fumero, Stephanie Beatriz, Joel McKinnon Miller, Dirk Blocker, and Dan Goor. Jason Mantzoukas (The League) will moderate.")
UCB Sunset, 5419 Sunset Blvd.; Hollywood; 8:30 p.m., $5, (323) 908-8702.
Weather today?

Wednesday, June 3
Mark Haskell Smith in conversation with Los Angeles Times Books editor David Ulin to discuss Naked At Lunch: A Reluctant Nudist's Adventures in the Clothing-Optional World
Vroman’s Bookstore, 695 E. Colorado Blvd.; Pasadena; 7 p.m., free, (626) 449-5320.
Lauri Taylor presents The Accidental Truth ("When Taylor’s mother went missing one day in 2006, no one expected her body to turn up ten days later in a remote Mexican desert, and no one could solve the crime. The O.C. housewife set out to investigate the murder. In the process, she was forced to investigate her mother’s life and her own childhood, filled with uncertainty and pain. Combines the suspense of a true crime page-turner with the emotion of a mother-daughter saga.")
Pages, a Bookstore, 904 Manhattan Ave.; Manhattan Beach; 7 p.m., free, (310) 318-0900.
Bronson soundtrack LP release party with filmmaker Nicolas Winding Refn in person ("To celebrate Milan Records’s new release of the full soundtrack to Refn’s classic film Bronson - on gatefold double-vinyl no less - we present a very special screening and record-signing. Bronson is based on the true story of Britain’s most violent and expensive prisoner, the ultra-violent career criminal Charles Bronson. An unnervingly bizarre and disturbing performance by Tom Hardy fills every minute of the film, narrating his tale to an anonymous audience from an Edwardian music hall stage whilst dressed as a circus strongman.")
Cinefamily, 611 N. Fairfax Ave.; Mid-Wilshire; 7:30 p.m., $12, (323) 655-2510. 
Weather today?

Thursday, June 4
Lou Ureneck discusses and signs The Great Fire: One American's Mission to Rescue Victims of the 20th Century's First Genocide
Vroman’s Bookstore, 695 E. Colorado Blvd.; Pasadena; 7 p.m., free, (626) 449-5320.
Lye Soapmaking with Angharad Caceres ("Learn to make bar soap from olive, coconut, and other oils, aromatics and lye. Use safe kitchen chemistry to make versatile holiday and hostess gifts, and explore different wrapping and decorative techniques to make your gift soaps stand out! Caceres is a lifelong crafter and founder of the Urban Craft Center.")
1450 Ocean Ave. Auditorium, 1450 Ocean Ave.; Santa Monica; 7 p.m., $20, (310) 458-8300. 
Poetry: James Merrill: Life and Art ("Langdon Hammer is chair of the Yale English Department. The New Yorker calls James Merrill: Life and Art, his new biography of Merrill, "as vivid and artful an account as we are likely to encounter." Stephen Yenser, Merrill’s co-literary executor, joins to discuss the work of this great 20th-century poet.")
Hammer Museum, 10899 Wilshire Blvd.; Westwood; 7:30 p.m., free, (310) 443-7000.
Weather today?

Friday, June 5
Daniel Clowes discusses and signs The Complete Eightball ("Clowes will make his first L.A. appearance in several years to celebrate the release of the two-volume collection of the influential and iconic comic book series on a night complete with prizes, a book signing, costume contest, and an interview between Clowes and Mark Frauenfelder from BoingBoing.")
Meltdown Comics, 7522 Sunset Blvd.; Hollywood Hills West; 7 p.m., free, (323) 851-7223.
Max Ophüls double-feature with special prints and Andréas-Benjamin Seyfert, great-grandson of Max Ophüls introducing the screenings of Sarajevo (1940; John Lodge as Archduke Franz Ferdinand) and Letter from an Unknown Woman (1948, "Shy young Lisa (Joan Fontaine) nurtures a lifelong love-from-afar for debonair composer and worldly lothario Stefan Brand (Louis Jourdan, who died this past Valentine's Day at age 93), who lives upstairs in her building. Ophüls’ device of Brand finally learning of Lisa’s deep feelings from a letter to him as he readies for a duel at dawn bookends the narrative with a tragic anguish that is extremely moving.")
Aero Theatre, 1328 Montana Ave.; Santa Monica; 7:30 p.m., $7/9/11, (310) 260-1528.
UnCabaret: I'm With The Band ("In conjunction with the exhibition Bill Graham and the Rock & Roll Revolution listen as host Beth Lapides joins comedian Greg Behrendt (co-author of He’s Just Not That Into You), TV writer John Riggi (30 Rock), Grammy-, Emmy-, Tony-, and Webby-winning songwriter Allee Willis, and Moon Zappa (Curb Your Enthusiasm) for a night of rock & roll comedy, featuring stories about some of rock’s biggest legends.")
Skirball Cultural Center, 2701 N. Sepulveda Blvd.; Brentwood; 8 p.m., $8/10/15, (310) 440-4500.
Weather today?

Saturday, June 6 
Patrick O’Neil with Jim Brown discusses and signs Gun, Needle, Spoon ("Memoir follows a punk rock pioneer on his slide into drug abuse and life as an armed robber, all the way through life in recovery. During punk's heyday, Patrick O'Neil worked at the San Francisco's legendary Mabuhay Gardens. He went on to become the road manager for Dead Kennedys and Flipper, as well as T.S.O.L. and the Subhumans.")
Book Soup, 8818 Sunset Blvd.; West Hollywood; 5 p.m., free, (310) 659-3110.
Inaugural Los Angeles Bread Festival ("A free celebration of the local artisan bread renaissance. Hands-on family friendly activities will include a participatory butter-making/aerobic class, tortilla-making, sourdough starter 101 and more. The Festival will also include a 12-minute sneak peek of the documentary The Grain Divide" a film by JD McLelland that aims to change society's perceptions of wheat and mend the broken relationship between humans and grains. The panel discussion "Field to Table" will explore the L.A. bread movement from the perspective of local farmers, millers, bakers and chefs." Through Sunday, June 7.)
Grand Central Market, 317 S. Broadway; downtown Los Angeles; 8 p.m., free, (213) 624-2378.
L.A. Weekly presents the 3rd Annual Tacolandia ("More than 80 top taco vendors curated by the World's First Tacorazzo, Bill Esparza; live mariachi music, cash bars with beer, wine and cocktails as well as awards for best tacos in various categories presented by The Vendys.")
El Pueblo de Los Angeles, 125 Paseo De La Plaza; downtown Los Angeles; 8 p.m., $45 & $50, 21+, (213) 622-3694.
Weather today?

Saturday, May 9, 2015

For the next two weeks...

Sunday, May 10
Opening of the Ed Moses: Drawings from the 1960s and 1970s exhibition ("The first museum presentation of the artist’s drawings since 1976; comprised of approximately 100 works from LACMA’s collection, the artist’s own holdings, and those of other museums.")
Los Angeles County Museum of Art, 5905 Wilshire Blvd., BCAM, Level 2; Mid-Wilshire; 10 a.m., $10 / $12, (323) 857-6151.
Katia Kvinge: 140 Karakters ("Scottish BAFTA-Nominated character comedian Katia Kvinge (as seen on BBC, MTV & Channel 4) Hits Los Angeles with previews of her fast-paced, one-woman, multi-character, debut hour-long comedy show.")
iO West Theater (in the Del Close Theater), 6366 Hollywood Blvd.; Hollywood; 9:30 p.m., free, (323) 962-7560.
Dennis McGrath discusses Heaven ("Professional skateboarder Lennie Kirk started his career in the early ‘90s at the age of 16. He was a wild child, fearless and invincible. He was only 18 when he was run over by a truck. Board broken but otherwise unharmed, he walks away and "found God." After being ‘saved’ his wild antics were no different, if anything crazier. His passion was manic and dangerous, and often got him into trouble. Lennie is currently serving 13 years in jail.")
Arcana Books on the Arts, 8675 Washington Blvd.; Culver City; 4 p.m., free, (310) 458-1499.
Weather today?

Monday, May 11
Jerry Stahl discusses his new collection of stories Old Guy Dad: Weird Shit Happens When You Don't Die Young and Jonathan Shaw reads from his novel Narcissa: Our Lady of Ashes
Skylight Books, 1818 N. Vermont Ave.; Griffith Park; 7:30 p.m., free, (323) 660-1175.
Mexrrissey (Spanish versions of Morrissey and Smiths songs; "The renditions will add horns and accordions, borrow from cumbias and rancheras to interpret a new Mexican spirit into the songs.")
The Regent, 448 S. Main St.; downtown Los Angeles; 7:30 p.m., $20 / $23, (323) 284-5727.
On the Lot in Los Feliz ("Dinner at one of the Los Angeles eastside's longest-running food truck lots at On the Lot's community food truck night.")
OMGC Parish, 2060 N. Vermont Ave.; Los Feliz; 5:30 p.m., free. 
Weather today?

Tuesday, May 12
Janice Nimura discusses Daughters of the Samurai: A Journey from East to West and Back ("In 1871, five young girls were sent by the Japanese governmentto the U.S. with the mission to learn Western ways and return to help nurture a new generation of men to lead Japan. These three ambassadors were raised in traditional samurai households. Upon their arrival in San Francisco they became celebrities. Ten years later they returned to Japan to revolutionize women’s education.")
Vroman’s Bookstore, 695 E. Colorado Blvd.; Pasadena; 7 p.m., free, (626) 449-5320.
The Low Stakes Workshop with Maria Bamford ("Comedian Bamford workshops 45 minutes with two openers")
The POP-HOP, 5002 York Blvd.; Highland Park; 7:30 p.m., $5, (323) 259-2490.
Zachary Leader discusses and signs The Life of Saul Bellow: To Fame and Fortune, 1915-1964
Book Soup, 8818 Sunset Blvd.; West Hollywood; 7 p.m., free, (310) 659-3110.
Weather today?

Wednesday, May 13
Do Our Rivers Have A Chance? ("River ecosystems have become some of the most endan­gered places on Earth. Growing human populations, as well asagriculture and industry, are all placing increasing demands on limited water supplies while climate change is exacerbating drought and reducing snow fall conditions. SteveFleischli, Director and of the Water Program at the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), and hydrologist Dennis Lettenmaier, UCLA Professor of Geography, willspeak on the threats to the world’s rivers and what we can do to protect them.")
Hammer Museum, 10899 Wilshire Blvd.; Westwood; 7:30 p.m., free, (310) 443-7000.
Dorie Clark discusses Stand Out ("A guidebook for breaking out with your idea in today’s ever-changing world. She helps you to develop your expert niche,generate brand new research, and branch out to find the network, audience and community")
Pages, a Bookstore, 904 Manhattan Ave.; Manhattan Beach; 7 p.m., free, (310) 318-0900.
Special screening of Glen Campbell: I'll Be Me (Santa Monica College Public Policy Institute’s 4th annual Spring Symposium “Stop, Look, Listen: CommunityAdvocacy for Public Health” takes place from May 11 to 14 in venues across Santa Monica.  Discussion following with producer Trevor Albert, moderated by SMC FilmProduction program director Salvador Carrasco.")
Aero Theatre, 1328 Montana Ave.; Santa Monica; 5 p.m., $5. (310) 260-1528.
Weather today?

Thursday, May 14
35mm screening of John Waters' Desperate Living with star Mink Stole
Cinefamily, 611 N. Fairfax Ave.; Mid-Wilshire; 7 p.m., $14, (323) 655-2510.
Avant-garde cinema screenings as Los Angeles Filmforum at MOCA presents: Different Every Time ("Featuring Ken Jacobs’ Soft Rain (1968), Hollis Frampton’s Works and Days (1969), Cauleen Smith’s Chronicles of a Lying Spirit (by Kelly Gabron) (1992), Jill Godmilow’s tribute to the late Harun Farocki, What Farocki Taught (1997), and Mariah Garnett’s Encounters I May Or May Not Have Had With Peter Berlin (2012).")
MOCA Ahmanson Auditorium, 250 S. Grand Ave.; downtown Los Angeles; 7 p.m., $12, (213) 626-6222.
Eagle-Con 2015 ("Students, faculty, and staff are invited to experience the best in comic books, science-fiction and fantasy through a cultural and academic perspective as we explore this year’s theme, "Engineering Science Fiction." Through Friday.)
CalState Los Angeles, University-Student Union, 5154 State University Dr.; El Sereno; 1 p.m., free. (323) 343-2450.
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Friday, May 15
Double-bill of Stop Making Sense (1984, 88 min., USA, Dir: Jonathan Demme; "Demme revolutionized the art of shooting rock concerts with this innovative masterpiece about Talking Heads, considered by many to be the best concert film of all time.") and Big Time (1988, 87 min., USA, Dir: Chris Blum; "Singer-songwriter Tom Waits takes the stage for this superb concert film, shot in San Francisco and L.A. while he was touring behind his Frank's Wild Years album. Working with one of his best bands (including guitarist Marc Ribot), Waits’ take on blues and jazz is off-kilter, flecked with humor and altogether gripping.")
Egyptian Theatre, 6712 Hollywood Blvd.; Hollywood; 7:30 p.m., $11, (323) 466-3456.
The Best Friends Show ("Our Theory: Comedians are never as funny on stage as when they are with their friends. Our logic: The Best Friends Show invites comedians to tell a shared story with their best friend. Having more than one perspective on a single story creates a storytelling experience in which miscommunications are resolved, exaggerations are subdued, and hidden details are exposed. With stories from Jake Weisman & Dave Ross, Beth Stelling & Mary Hollis Inboden, Drennon Davis & Karen Kilgariff, Moses Storm &+ Zack Pearlman, Ian Abramson & Scott Blacks.")
NerdMelt Showroom, 7522 Sunset Blvd.; Hollywood Hills West; 7 p.m., $8, (323) 851-7223.
James McGrath Morris signs Eye on the Struggle: Ethel Payne, The First Lady of the Black Press ("A self-proclaimed “instrument of change” for her people, Payne broke new ground as the Washington correspondent for the Chicago Defender. She publicly prodded President Dwight D. Eisenhower to support desegregation, and her reporting on legislative and judicial civil rights battles enlightened and activated black readers across the nation. In 1964, President Lyndon B. Johnson recognized Payne’s seminal role by presenting her with a pen used in signing the Civil Rights Act.") Eso Won Books, 4327 Degnan Blvd.; Leimert Park; 7 p.m., free, (323) 290-1048.
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Saturday, May 16
RuPaul's DragCon (Jody Watley!  Julie Brown (the other one, not the Downtown one)!  Chi Chi LaRue!  Through May 17.)
Los Angeles Convention Center, 1201 S. Figueroa St.; downtown Los Angeles; 10 a.m., $30 / $50. (800) 448-7775.
Director John Waters signs the paperback edition of Carsick: John Waters Hitchhikes Across America (a "wild and wonderful memoir about what happened (and what might've happened) to him while hitchhiking across this great nation of ours")
Skylight Books, 1818 N. Vermont Ave.; Griffith Park; 5 p.m., free, (323) 660-1175.
Historical Roast: Walt Disney ("Gives comedians the chance to roast history's greatest achievers. This month we set our sights on the magical creator of the mouse: Walt Disney. Join Melissa Villasenor, John Roy, Beth Stelling & Brad Gage, along with hosts Eddie Furth and Ryan Pigg as we defrost Walt's head.")
NerdMelt Showroom, 7522 Sunset Blvd.; Hollywood Hills West; 7 p.m., $8. (323) 851-7223.
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Sunday, May 17
Olivier Cri de Coeur & Margeaux Bancoft sign A Tiny Tale (with a reading by Michael Rayner + Gillian Bellinger; A Tiny Tale is a book for everyone who appreciates that what you believe and what you know are the same thing. It is also for those who have yet to be convinced.")
Arcana Books on the Arts, 8675 Washington Blvd.; Culver City; 4 p.m., free, (310) 458-1499.
Librarians' Choice screening of The Red Balloon ("Local librarians helped select the films in this series, including Le Ballon Rouge (The Red Balloon) (1956, France, 34 min. Dir. Albert Lamorisse). A red balloon that seems to have a mind of its own follows young Pascal through the streets of Paris in this classic short, which won an Oscar for Best Original Screenplay and inspired a beloved children’s book. Additional films to be announced!")
Aero Theatre, 1328 Montana Ave.; Santa Monica; 3 p.m., $11, (310) 260-1528.
Filigree Supper: Sunfolk Seventies Supper ("We are heading West for a special supper that draws upon the vintage vibe and sunset hues of '70s Los Angeles. Diners will get a chance to peek inside the studio of famed florist Kristen Caissie of Moon Canyon, and be surrounded by her inspired blooms while enjoying a delicious meal from Paper Palate. Handmade plates by Humble Ceramics will serve as the canvas for what is sure to be an unforgettable meal. a monthly pop-up dinner series that pairs imaginative food with American-made design.")
The Studio of Moon Canyon, 3520 Council St.; Echo Park; 5:30 p.m., $125.
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Monday, May 18
Grateful Dead drummer Bill Kreutzmann signs Deal: My Three Decades of Drumming, Dreams, and Drugs with the Grateful Dead
Barnes & Noble, 189 Grove Dr., Ste. K-30; Mid-Wilshire; 7 p.m., free, (323) 525-0270.
Funny On Purpose: The Book: The Release Party ("Join Joe Randazzo for an evening of standup and real talk on making it. Joe, former editor of The Onion and former creative director of adultswim.com, will be joined by Tim Heidecker, Megan Amram, Doug Lussenhop, Justin Willman and more.")
NerdMelt Showroom, 7522 Sunset Blvd.; Hollywood Hills West; 9 p.m., free, (323) 851-7223.
Peep Show: 35mm double-bill of Fantasm and Vanessa ("The premise behind 1976’s Fantasm is nothing short of porn genius: a series of (mid-'70s softcore) sexual fantasies, with the viewer guided through each segment by a grimly Freudian German psychiatrist, one Professor Jurgen Notafreud. This psychoanalytic sex session serves as the perfect pairing for 1977’s Vanessa, the tale of a young orphan girl raised in a Bavarian convent who discovers she’s heir to both a citrus plantation and…a chain of Hong Kong bordellos!")
Cinefamily, 611 N. Fairfax Ave.; Mid-Wilshire; 7:30 p.m., $12. (323) 655-2510.
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Tuesday, May 19
Hammer Forum: The Militarization of America's Police Forces ("With the cop on the beat armed with military-grade hardware and the streets of America often resembling war zones, we look into what is driving the militarization of our police. Elizabeth Beavers, legislative associate for militarism and civil liberties at the Friends Committee on National Legislation in discussion with former Seattle Police Chief Norm Stamper, who now openly regrets the use of military-style policing during the infamous WTO riots of 1999, is the author of Breaking Rank: A Top Cop's Exposé of the Dark Side of American Policing.")
Hammer Museum, 10899 Wilshire Blvd.; Westwood; 7:30 p.m., free, (310) 443-7000.
Magician Steve Spill discusses and signs I Lie for Money: Candid, Outrageous Stories from a Magician's Misadventures
Book Soup, 8818 Sunset Blvd.; West Hollywood; 7 p.m., free, (310) 659-3110. 
Leonard Mlodinow (in conversation with Mindy Farabee of the L.A. Weekly) discussing and signing The Upright Thinkers: The Human Journey from Living in Trees to Understanding the Cosmos ("Mlodinow guides us through the critical eras and events in the development of science, all of which, he demonstrates, were propelled forward by humankind's collective struggle to know.")
Vroman’s Bookstore, 695 E. Colorado Blvd.; Pasadena; 7 p.m., free, (626) 449-5320.
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Wednesday, May 20
TV host and actress Melissa Rivers signing The Book of Joan (about her comedian mother Joan) Barnes & Noble, 189 Grove Dr., Ste. K-30; Mid-Wilshire; 7 p.m., free, (323) 525-0270.
Little Esther Goes Through Your Stuff ("Esther (Key & Peele) and her stand-up guests perform and get to know their audience members by going through their personal belongings.")
UCB Franklin, 5919 Franklin Ave.; Hollywood Hills; 8 p.m., $5, (323) 908-8702.
A History of Refusal: Black Artists and Conceptualism ("This panel explores the politics and legacy of African American artists, both of Charles Gaines’s generation and after, who use strategies of conceptual art to investigate identity, representation, and American culture. The panel also considers the impact of past exhibitions that examined black conceptual practices and questioned what constitutes a “black aesthetic.” With Thelma Golden, director and chief curator, the Studio Museum in Harlem; Hamza Walker, associate curator and director of education, The Renaissance Society, Chicago; and artist Rodney McMillian.")
Hammer Museum, 10899 Wilshire Blvd.; Westwood; 7:30 p.m., free, (310) 443-7000.
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Thursday, May 21
Up From the Depths: screening of The Sexorcists ("This tripped-out, early-'70s new age encounter group sexy sendup, set at an Esalen-like health spa on the California coast, has long been one of the great white whales of sexploitation cinema - so elusive and rare, even we haven’t seen it yet. From the Temple of Schlock website: “Dr. Voxuber (Steven Vincent) is operating a mysterious ‘Health Spa’ training center at a rustic retreat on the California coast known as Godiva Springs. After interviewing fifty weirdly assorted people he selects eight for his next session. With this unlikely group in tow, Dr. Voxuber puts them through a strange series of exercises and rituals designed to make them aware of their bodies in a way they haven’t ever dreamed about.” Interestingly, this was the only film directed by TV and film scribe Louis Garfinkel, who went on to create the story for The Deer Hunter. Don’t miss this one-time-only 35mm screening!")
Cinefamily, 611 N. Fairfax Ave.; Mid-Wilshire; 10:30 p.m., $12. (323) 655-2510.
Andrea Mays discusses The Millionaire & the Bard: Henry Folger’s Obsessive Hunt for Shakespeare’s First Folio ("When Shakespeare died in 1616 half of his plays died with him. No one believed that his writings would last, that he was a genius, or that future generations would celebrate him as the greatest author in the history of the English language. Seven years later, in 1623, Shakespeare’s business partners, John Heminges and Henry Condell, gathered copies of the plays and manuscripts, edited and published thirty-six of them. Today, the First Folio is the most valuable book in the world, with one copy recently selling for five million dollars.")
Vroman’s Bookstore, 695 E. Colorado Blvd.; Pasadena; 7 p.m., free, (626) 449-5320.
PXL THIS 24 Toy Camera Film Festival ("Are you ready for the 24th annual toy camera film festival featuring Pixelvision films made with the Fisher-Price PXL-2000 camcorder? PXL THIS celebrates visionary moving image artists from seminal experimental filmmakers to 10-year-olds to homeless to professionals. Founder and filmmaker Gerry Fialka in person for screenings and discussion.")
Echo Park Film Center, 1200 N. Alvarado St.; Echo Park, Los Angeles; 8 p.m., free, (213) 484-8846.
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Friday, May 22
Television: A Reunion (20 Years Later) ("Imagine all the stars of your favorite TV show reuniting to share stories and reminisce. Now imagine that none of them could show up. A fake reunion of a real TV show acted out by your favorite comedians. This month...FRIENDS!")
NerdMelt Showroom, 7522 Sunset Blvd.; Hollywood Hills West; 8:30 p.m., 8, (323) 851-7223 .
D. McKinney discusses Morrissey FAQ: All That's Left to Know about This Charming Man
Book Soup, 8818 Sunset Blvd.; West Hollywood; 7 p.m., free, (310) 659-3110. 
MIA presents The Motherhood Archives (2013), a film by Irene Lusztig ("An essay film on the complicated history of maternal education and childbirth. Assembled from a fascinating range of educational, industrial, and medical training films in homage to '70s feminist filmmaking, Lusztig traces the implications of postmodern birthing suites and natural birth movements back to the first emergence of anesthetic ether in the 19th century.")
Armory Center for the Arts, 145 N. Raymond Ave.; Pasadena; 8 p.m., free, (626) 792-5101.
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Saturday, May 23
Marathon screening of all 8 Harry Potter films (four each day; through May 24)
Aero Theatre, 1328 Montana Ave.; Santa Monica; 12 p.m., $18 / $20 / $25 / $30. (310) 260-1528.
Fiesta Hermosa ("Since 1972, the Hermosa Beach Chamber of Commerce has produced Fiesta Hermosa, the "largest arts-&-crafts fair in Southern California." Over 300 artists and crafters are featured, including painters, photographers, ceramicists, jewelers, sculptors, and handcrafters. With the ocean as a backdrop, Hermosa Beach is an ideal place for a summer festival with temperatures of 80 degrees and balmy sea breezes." Through May 25.)
Throughout downtown Hermosa Beach, 10 a.m., free, (310) 376-0951.
42nd Annual Valley Greek Festival ("The festival evokes the sights, sounds and tastes that define the traditional Greek way of life. Enjoy the hospitality of the Valley's Greek community, and experience the simple pleasures of life in a Greek village. Dance the afternoon away, eat delicious Greek food, shop in the Greek marketplace, relax and enjoy yourself under the trees in the warm embrace of the best Greek culture has to offer." Through May 25.)
St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church, 9501 Balboa Blvd.; Northridge; 1 p.m., free, (818) 886-4040.
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