Get Out: Nisei Week, Xmas Dinner, Handmade Nation, Rosie O'Donnell's Handmade Toys
Nisei Week in Little Tokyo
Nisei Week is a celebration of all things Japanese, and boasts a bunch of events for the entire week in LA's Little Tokyo. This weekend there's the Tanabata Festival and Street Faire with carnival rides and the Grand Parade. This year's Nisei Week Japanese Festival theme is "A Year of Celebrations" celebrating many centennial milestone anniversaries of community-based organizations and the golden anniversary of the first ever sister-city of the City of Los Angeles, Nagoya, Japan. The Nisei Week website has a full calendar listing all the various events you can check out.
Christmas in August: Dinner at Rush Street
To make things a little merrier this summer, Culver City's Rush Street is offering themed meals each weekend in August. Tonight you can have a Christmas in August dinner. Be jolly while dining on standing rib roast with au jus or maple roasted turkey with cider gravy. All entrees are served with traditional mashed potatoes, gravy, stuffing, roasted baby root vegetables and glazed Brussels sprouts. Baby, it's hot outside--but good food is good food, and if you're craving a Christmas dinner, tonight's the night (well, except for Christmas, obviously).
Documentary: Handmade Nation
Faythe Levine's documentary Handmade Nation has traveled from city to city and now it's finally in Los Angeles. The film will be showing six times over the weekend at Cinefamily, including a premiere showing today at noon that has a whole lot of extras: Swag-stuffed Handmade Nation totebags for ticket holders, hands-on silk-screening demonstrations, book signing and Q+A with Faythe Levine, vegan cupcakes and homemade box lunches from Jared of Jaredfood, and a super-mini craft fair. Tanya Aguiniga, My Imaginary Boyfriend & more. Screenings today & tomorrow: Saturday, August 15: 12 noon premiere ($25), 7pm ($12); Sunday, August 16: 3pm, 5pm, 7pm, 9pm (all regular screenings @ $12).
Mutation: A Custom Toy Show at Black Maria Gallery
"Mutation" is a custom toy show curated by Ally Takeuchi hosted by Black Maria Gallery (3137 Glendale Blvd., LA). This show features a long list of talented artists who are very familiar with toy customizing. including: 64 Colors, Brent Nolasco, Bryan Collins, Button Eyes, Camden Noir, Draifet, Jeremiah Ketner (custom shown above), Kalypzo, Kat Brunnegraff, Kendra Binney, Kill Taupe, Motorbot, Mark Basa, Nathan Hamill, Okedoki, Podgy Panda, Reactor 88, Shaun Wightman, TyleR, Zombie Monkie, and Rosie O’Donnell (yes, THAT Rosie O'Donnell--she's selling her munnys for charity). The opening reception takes place tonight from 7-10:30 p.m.