We dropped by the ""Hammer Bash" last night. First of all, great name for a party. Also, it's always fun to be in a museum at night, like the characters in The Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler -- Thursday nights at MOCA are good for this too. The weird weather hadn't gotten really weird yet, and it was only a bit chilly, and very pretty, sipping wine or cocktails on the balcony......

Dane Davis won the Oscar for “Best Effects, Sound Effects Editing” for The Matrix. He’s also a photographer. Catch is his piece and other artists at LACDA on Gallery Row at the opening reception this Thursday from 7:00 to 9:00. The show will run until April 1. Also, Thursday on Gallery Row will be the monthly Downtown Art Walk that includes 20 art galleries. Take the self-guided tour, guided tour, or ride your bike......

If you've been putting off seeing the "Masters of American Comics" exhibit that is occurring simultaneously at the MOCA downtown, and at UCLA's Hammer Museum in Westwood, then put it off no further. You only have about two weeks remaining before this show leaves our city. LAist has seen this exhibit, and it is truly stunning. Our highlights were seeing so much of Jack Kirby's original artwork in the flesh, the man had such......

The end of 2005 is nigh. Luckily there's still time to get a dose of high culture before the year comes to a close -- most of the city's major museums will be open for at least part of the day. UCLA's Hammer Museum is open today from 11am - 3pm. Their big show is the low-art-as-high-culture Masters of American Comics, which is split between the Hammer and MOCA. With a big chunk of......