Photo by kpe II via the LAist Featured Photos pool on Flickr. ART* Attend the closing reception for Two Roads Gallery's group show featuring works by Kelly Thompson, Walt Hall, Teri Berman, and Douglas Alvarez. Artists will be in attendance and will be painting together, live. 6 p.m. // Two Roads Gallery // 4348 Tujunga Ave, Studio City // Free FILM The Silent Movie Theatre offers three showings of The Kid, a Charlie Chaplin... [continue]

Photo of last year's Pasadena Chalk Festival by uselessdoug via the LAist Featured Photos pool on Flickr. ART Billy Shire Fine Arts opens it’s new exhibit, “New Work” by Detroit artist Glenn Barr tonight. Drop by the reception and take a look at his work and chat (& drink) with the artist! 7 p.m. // Billy Shire Fine Arts // 5790 Washington Blvd., Culver City // (323) 297-0600 // Free FOOD If you have... [continue]

Photo by S.C. Asher via the LAist Featured Photos pool on Flickr FAIR If you haven’t heard enough about it already, the 17th Los Feliz Village Street Fair takes place all day today, taking over Vermont Avenue. Enjoy live music, lots of food, a “green” exhibit, and even a few rides! 11 a.m. // Vermont Ave. between Franklin and Hollywood Blvd. // Free FILM The W hotel in Westwood begins their Summer Screening series... [continue]

Photo by Lush.i.ous via the LAist Featured Photos pool on Flickr PARTY Pop shop Japan L.A. celebrates their 2 year anniversary at Rise at the Highlands. Come decked out in your best Lolita and Japanese street fashion and get your picture taken with Hello Kitty. 10 p.m. // Rise at The Highlands // 6801 Hollywood Blvd. Suite 433 Hollywood // (323) 461-9800 // Free ART For one night only, Billy Shire Fine Arts will... [continue]

Photo by power corruption and lies via the LAist Featured Photos pool on Flickr. FESTIVAL Come out to the 11th SoRo (South Robertson) Community Festival. There will be lots to do for the whole family including food, live music, and vendor booths. 11 a.m. // Between Beverlywood and Cattaraugus, S. Robertson Blvd, Los Angeles // Free SPEAK Artists Danny Jauregui and Rubén Ortiz-Torres are featured today at LACMA’s Conversations with the Artists series. Their... [continue]

Photo by Avvocatessa Lo via the LAist Featured Photos pool on Flickr. FESTIVAL If you love going to really random festivals, then you should definitely check out the Los Angeles Accordion Festival this weekend. With three days of music featuring the [timeless?] accordion, who can resist? 6 p.m. // Fraternity of Eagles Aerie 2188 // 1596 W. Yosemite Dr, Eagle Rock // (323) 257-8869 // $10 PARTY Aimee Mann and her CD cover artist... [continue]

Photo by miss patricia via the LAist Featured Photos pool on Flickr. PARTY Popular magazine URB is having a release party for their upcoming issue tonight. DJ ?uestlove shows off his talents after completing the new Roots album. 10 p.m. // The Roxy Theater // 9009 Sunset Blvd. Hollywood // $18 STAGE Tonight, Emergency, a performance piece by Daniel Beaty, ends it’s run at the Geffen Playhouse. Beaty becomes all of the forty characters... [continue]

Photo by jtstrathdee via the LAist Featured Photos pool on Flickr. FILM Remember all those times you said to yourself, “Man, I wish I was watching this movie at a cemetery instead of in my comfortable living room”? Well, now you can. Cinespia’s summer screening series starts tonight with Ace in the Hole (1951) projected on a mausoleum at the Hollywood Forever Cemetary. Bring food, drinks, blankets, and lots of courage. 7:30 p.m. //... [continue]

Photo by S.C. Asher via the LAist Featured Photos pool on Flickr READING Janet Sarbanes and Marisa Silver read excerpts from their new short story books Army of One and Babe in Paradise. Both authors will be available for signings after the readings. 6 p.m. // The Hammer Museum // 10899 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles // (310) 443-7000 // $5 TEA If haven’t finished celebrating Mother’s Day, stop by Vroman’s Bookstore for a special... [continue]

Photo by Lush.i.ous via the LAist Featured Photos pool on Flickr. FESTIVALS Three festivals run today and tomorrow: the Venice Art Walk & Auctions, California Strawberry Festival in Oxnard and Guacamole Festival in Lincoln Heights. SHOP Fashion Elements is bringing back their Spring Glam fashion show this weekend with up to 60% off designer fashions. Grab a cocktail from the bar and get ready for some awesome new designs off the runway and some... [continue]

Photo by coffeextv via the LAist Featured Photos pool on Flickr. MUSIC Check out the Viper Room’s Sunday night music special, Free Form Orchestra, free with RSVP. Original music created by some of L.A.’s finest young emerging talent, these guys and girls will really blow you away with their jazz-funk beats. 8:30 p.m. // Viper Room // 8852 Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles // (310) 358-1881 // Free ART The Pasadena Museum of California Art... [continue]

Photo by WishByNight via the LAist Featured Photos pool on Flickr TRAIN Ditch your car today and take the train. Today is the first National Train Day, stressing the use of public transportation including our local train system. There will be events for the whole family including train driving simulators, arts and crafts, and a live concert with Nickelodeon star, Drake Bell. 10:30 a.m. // Old Ticket Concourse // 800 North Alameda St, Los... [continue]

Photo by toastycakes via the LAist Featured Photos pool on Flickr HELP The biggest city-wide community service event happens today all around L.A. It’s the 10th Anniversary of Big Sunday, an event dedicated to bringing people together of all ages to help others. There will be a massive flea market and an art show to raise money for the underprivileged. 9 a.m. // Several locations around the city // Los Angeles // Free MUSIC... [continue]

Photo by kpe II via the LAist Featured Photos pool on Flickr FILM There aren’t many good movies to see this weekend so why not grab a seat at the Nuart tonight and watch the classic World War II film, The Great Escape (1963)? The film is a part of the United Artists’ 90th Anniversary celebration series, starring Steve McQueen and shown on a new 35mm print. 8:30 p.m. // Nuart Theatre // 11272... [continue]

Photo by Sundogg via the LAist Featured Photos pool on Flickr ART Catch one of the last nights of the 3rd annual benefit art show, Power in Numbers 3. All artists have done their work on 5" x 7" cards and are donating 20% of their profits to the Make-A-Wish Foundation. So many great artists, and such a good cause, it’s worth the trip! 11 a.m. // Gallery Nucleus // 210 East Main St,... [continue]

Photo by Sundogg via the LAist Featured Photos pool on Flickr FESTIVAL Stop by the Santa Monica Pier for a Celebration for the Arts pier party today and tomorrow. There will be a lot of stuff to do and see including live silkscreening by Alternative Apparel, Guitar Hero contests, Improv, celebrity appearances, and of course lots of live free music. All proceeds benefit the arts. 11 a.m. // Santa Monica Pier // 350 Santa... [continue]

Photo by puck90 via the LAist Featured Photos pool on Flickr. FILM COL COA (City of Light, City of Angels) French Film Festival ends its run today with five screenings, including a series of short films. The program aims to promote French films and the industry’s diversity. 12 p.m. // Directors Guild of America Theater Complex // 7920 Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles // $10 FESTIVAL The Green Apple Music Festival takes place today at... [continue]

Photo by kpe II via the LAist Featured Photos pool on Flickr LAUGH USC’s improv troupe 2nd Nature hosts their 5th Annual Fracas Improv Festival at USC today. Groups from around the country perform, members of the Upright Citizens Brigade and other professional comedians host workshops all day, and several famous comedians make appearances like Ed Helms of The Office. 1 p.m. // USC // Figueroa and Expedition, Los Angeles // Free ART David... [continue]

Photo by Tha_Sco via the LAist Featured Photos pool on Flickr Because it’s supposed to be such a beautiful day, I suggest heading out to the beach immediately, and then enjoying some of these free (or close to free) events going on in the evening. But that’s just me… LISTEN Ann Whitford Paul, author of the children’s books If Animals Kissed Goodnight and Snail’s Good Night, will be hosting a signing and reading of... [continue]

Photo by kpe II via the LAist Featured Photos pool on Flickr GRAFFITI German graffiti artists, known as Herakut, takes over the walls of Carmichael Gallery starting tonight. The artists will be there celebrating their first show stateside. Open bar. 8 p.m. // Carmichael Gallery // 1257 N. La Brea Ave, West Hollywood // (323) 969-0600 // Free DRIVE-IN Hedwig and the Angry Inch is shown tonight on a giant wall while you sit... [continue]