Thomas Suriya of Taos, New Mexico had never painted a mural before, or even a portrait. and yet in 1983 he busted with an iconic Hollywood mural on his first try. Now 24 years later he has returned to LA to give "You are the Star" a touch up. Thanks to a grant by the Hollywood Arts Council, 59-year-old Suriya is back in town to put some life back into a mural that has been......

It's being touted as "the largest photographic art exhibition in the United States" and it's happening in Santa Monica at the end of this week. It's photo la 2006, where photography from the 19th Century to current contemporary photos and photo-based art will be showcased, and in some instances, be available for purchase. This is the 15th year of this large-scaled event, and 2006 brings representative works from over 70 of the world's premiere......

• Today is the beginning of "Like A Waking Dream: An In-Person Tribute to Director Guy Maddin" at the Aero Theatre. See our post about the event for more information. • Tonight at Spaceland, see San Diego instrumentalists Tristeza with Arabella Harrison and Division Day. Doors open at 9 PM. • Menwhile, the Viper Room hosts Qbert with DJ Swamp. Doors open at 8 PM. • LACMA hosts a 6 PM reception celebrating the......

Tonight, noted author Carolyn See will read her contribution to My California: Journeys by Great Writers, an anthology of travel and adventure stories about Calfornia, at Village Books in Pacific Palisades. Donna Wares, based in Long Beach, edited this valentine to our state. Contributors such as Michael Chabon, Thomas Steinbeck, Dana Gioia, Matt Warshaw, Patt Morrison, T. Jefferson Parker, Edward Humes, Rubén Martínez, Aimee Liu, D.J. Waldie, and Firoozeh Dumas have donated their work......