You know, I didn't have very high expectations going in to see Kung Fu Panda. I expected a lot of slapstick, pop-culture jokes, and a lot of smart-ass remarks from Jack Black's panda character. I had no expectations for any real, exciting, actual Kung Fu action. This time, I'm so glad I was wrong.......

Photo by joddo via the LAist Featured Photos pool on Flickr PARTY Celebrate Beauty Bar’s 8th birthday with free drinks from 9:30-10:30, and live sets from DJ’s Apollo Staar, Achilles & Matter, and Dia & Clifton. Started in New York in 1996 in an ex-beauty parlor, Beauty Bar has spread across the country with it’s 50’s inspired décor. 9:30 p.m. // Beauty Bar // 1638 N Cahuenga, Los Angeles // Free ART Today is......

Although some say it doesn’t have nearly as much charm as the original cult sensation, Iron Chef America, is one of the top rated Food Network series since its first airing in 2005. Besides for some of the most inventive dishes one’s ever heard of – fish ice cream anyone? - the mysterious chairman gets to unveil the secret ingredient as well as the winner in that serious/self mocking tone. That chairman's name is Mark......

The Germs, Dr. Know, Black President, The Diffs, The Politicians @ Safari Sam's The Knitters @ The Getty (rsvp: 310 440-7300) Aimee Mann, Paul Bryan @ Largo Mike Watt & the Missing Men, Bizzart @ The Troubadour The Submarines @ The Echo Lovelikefire, Eskimohunter, Mezzanine Owls @ El Cid Groovy Rednecks, Cheatin' Kind @ JD's Sports Bar Mustard Plug, Buck-O-Nine, Satori, Los Kung Fu Monkeys @ The Knitting Factory Murderland, The VooDuo, Funeral Director......

Dinosaur Jr., Awesome Color @ The Troubadour Modest Mouse @ Greek Gibson Fairport Convention @ McCabe's Dios Malos, Free Moral Agents, Todd Congelliere @ Alex's Bar Broken Needle, Circle One, Death Party @ Safari Sam's Ariel Pink, Soft-Boiled Eggies @ The Echo Los Kung Fu Monkeys, Defied, JBL, Final Summation, Squatters in Paradise @ Knitting Factory......

Grindhouse Monday and Tuesday it's The Muthers, a combination blaxploitation and women-in-prison flick that stars Janine Bell and Rosanne Katon as a pirate duo who must rescue Bells sister from the private jail of an evil coffee plantation owner, followed by Fight for Your Life, a revenge thriller about a pacifist black minister whose family is taken hostage and tortured by a trio of convicts, until he finally snaps and wreaks his vengeance. Wednesday and......

Did you know it will be the Year of the Pig beginning February 18th? Zen Zoo Tea Cafe knows it and is moving up their News Years festivities to this Saturday, February 10th from 12-3pm. With activities like Chinese candy making, Tea 101, and the steady crowd pleaser of martial arts demos, Zen Zoo is the place to say good-bye to the Dog and hello to the Pig. This is YOUR year if you......

Unwritten Law @ Ventura Theatre Indian Jewelry, Clipd Beaks @ The Echo The Hangups, Fozzy's Hero @ The Gig The Maze, Kara Dio Guardi @ The Mint Resident Hero @ Viper Room Tim Jones, Carrie Turner, Elke @ The Hotel Cafe June In July, Death Valley Days, Spacelord @ Spaceland Tekat, Teddy's Cheer Club, Greater California @ Alex's Bar Chencha Berrinches, Union 13, Los Kung Fu Monkeys @ The Knitting Factory Fatal Launch, Sacrificer,......

Writer John Rogers has decided to throw open the doors of the freelance TV writing process. He's an outside writer who's pitched an idea to a new TV show for an episode. He knew the show's writer-producers, and was familiar with the story arc, so he walked in pretty confidently. It looks, from his first post, that there will definitely be more to come. But as he says, "Lord knows if we'll actually shoot......

THURSDAY • Tonight is the opening reception for "How It Happens" at Pharmaka Gallery. The party runs from 6–9 PM during the Downtown Art Walk. • Kristin Hersh performs the first of her two nights at Tangier. Lauren Shera opens the show at 8 PM; tickets are $17 advance, $20 day-of. • If you haven't seen it yet, check out the Golden Globe nominated Kung Fu Hustle at the Aero tonight at 7:30 PM.......

Sometimes we hate Hollywood endings. We knew nothing of Domino Harvey before we saw the very cool trailer (the best trailer we've seen this year) for Domino before Kung Fu Hustle in the spring. Kiera Knightley, who impressed us in The Jacket, was intoxicating as this former model now bounty hunter dominating what appeared to be this darkly comic true story flick written by Donnie Darko's Richard Kelly. Now, the real Domino Harvey is......

• Amoeba Music hosts a free in-store performance by Canadian popsters Hot Hot Heat at 6 PM. • The ArcLight has a special midnight showing of Stephen Chow's new film, Kung Fu Hustle, in the dome. For a complete listing of events for the week, click here.......

We thought we were just going to a screening but ended up at the domestic premiere of Stephen Chow's Kung Fu Hustle (originally titled Gong Fu) at the Arclight. Sony Pictures Classics treated us to Chinese dragon dancers and a kung fu display before we waited for 10 minutes while the overbooked cineramadome tried to clear the aisleways so the movie could start. What a film. We really enjoyed last year's Shaolin Soccer but......

Speaking of Sin City, we weren't invited to last night's premiere of the film at Mann National in Westwood but, by the look of things, all the rest of Hollywood was. Every time we find something about the flick, we're surprised by another actor or actress being in the movie that we didn't previously know about. The premiere revealed Carla Gugino is in the film. She plays Lucille. This is very exciting. We're still......