FILM + TV*: And now it's time for a very special Blossom...The Silent Movie Theatre hosts TV Tuesday, an homage to made-for-TV movies, special episodes and weird commercials. “We promise a magical night where every short attention span-style flip of the channel lands you on a different amazing piece of lost television you won't be able to take your eyes off of. We've got at least two great '70s TV movies, and a whole......

The vermin are back this weekend as Jim Ruland's must-attend night of readings, Vermin on the Mount, features four indie writers tomorrow at 8pm @ Chinatown's Mountain Bar:Jim Krusoe, who teaches fiction at Santa Monica College, will read from his just-out Girl Factory which we highlighted not so long ago for its wacky incoroporation of LA yogurt culture.Sean Carswell, novelist, short story writer and publisher, will read from Train Wreck Girl.Tosh Berman, publisher of Tam......

New York author Jami Attenberg is in town this week to read from and sign her excellent debut novel, The Kept Man which examines the life of a young woman, Jarvis, whose artist husband is in a coma. It also curiously examines the life of the"kept men" friends Jarvis meets who are able to spend their days as they please because of their wealthy wives. Attenberg's tale is intense, as any novel about a......

The week in Los Angeles bookish events from Monday, January 7th - Sunday, January 13th. Readings, signings and bookish events this week include Andy Summers, Jami Attenberg, Judith Freeman, Alice Fulton, J.A. Jance and Robert Gottlieb....

Monday William Shatner presents Star Trek: The Academy - Collision Course 7pm @ Book Soup Janet Fitch presents Paint it Black 7pm @ Vroman's Robin Maxwell presents Mademoiselle Boleyn 7pm @ Dutton's Memorial Reading for Mutanabbi Street with Chris Abani, Beau Beausoleil, Laila Lalami, Suzanne Lummis, Majid Naficy, Marisela Norte, Sholeh Wolpe & Terry Wolverton 7pm @ Centraly Library Tuesday Judith Freeman presents The Long Embrace 7pm @ Dutton's Anthony Hernandez signs Waiting, Sitting,......

Looking for something fun to do this crisp Monday night before Halloween? Look no further, one of our favorite independent design companies, Enchanted Royals, who we highlighted almost a year ago for their adorable hand painted sneakers, T-Shirts and baby onesies, is having their website launch party tonight in Chinatown. Started by designers Haley Thompson and Dara Weinberg, Enchanted Royals shoes and clothing are whimsical, personal, and unique- perfect gifts for the upcoming holidays.......

Monday Paul Krugman discusses The Conscience of a Liberal 7pm @ Central Library Randy Cepuch signs A Weekend With Warren Buffett 4pm @ Dutton's Jenna Bush presents Ana's Story 7pm @ Pasadena Public Library Jason Goodwin discusses and signs The Snake Stone 7pm @ Vroman's Tuesday Wole Soyninka discusses his work with Mona Simpson 7pm @ Hammer Museum Eduardo Machado & Michael Domitrovich present Tastes Like Cuba 7pm @ Book Soup Maira Kalman discusses &......

Monday Brian Herbert & Kevin J. Anderson present Sandworms of Dune 7pm @ Book Soup Tuesday A.W. Hill presents The Last Days of Madame Rey 7pm @ Book Soup Brenda Scott Royce presents Monkey Star 7pm @ Vroman's Wednesday David Rosen presents I Just Want My Pants Back 7pm @ Pi on Sunset Thursday Gabe Rotter presents Duck Duck Wally 7pm @ Book Soup Simon Van Booy presents The Secret Lives of People in Love......

When we asked Guy Zimmerman, Artistic Director of Padua Playwrights, to make a Best of 2006 list, we found that it was a great way for Angelenos to see Los Angeles in 2007. From the shows to the venues he mentions, these are things to add to your "need to check out" list for 2007. He even gives kudos to a play that can be still seen -- The 99c Only Show -- three......

Randy Newman @ Walt Disney GWAR @ Ventura Theatre The Skatalites @ El Rey Theatre Steve Aoki, DJ AM @ LAX Girlyman @ McCabe's The Lucky Stars @ The Derby Peter Walker @ The Mountain Bar Groundation, Come Down Selecta, Local Vibes @ Key Club Ponce DeLeon, Anna Jones, Brennan Hill @ Il Corral The Warriors, Remembering Never, Full Blown Chaos @ Whisky Fireball Ministry, Artimus Pyledriver, Vains of Jenna @ Knitting Factory Bankrupt......

(alternate title: Things to Do in LA When You're Not Dead) We'll assume that this weekend you're either a music nerd and heading to the desert or a book nerd and heading to UCLA (and if you're both, like us, you're probably weeping into your coffee right now just thinking about the hard choices) so we'll get your Friday started off right with some events for both the brain and the body. Do watch......

TUESDAY • Join a lonely hearts club for A Violet Valentine tonight at The Echo, featuring Dntel, The Long Lost, Becky Stark and Winter Flowers, with DJ sets by Jimmy Tamborello, frosty, Sobbing Sara and Tommy DeNys, a picture show by Chad Misner and treats from Hip Hop Chocolates. Things kick off at 9 PM; admission is $5. [18+] • Tangier features Benji Hughes, Gus Seyferrt, Tom Brosseau, Vincent and Mrs Green and Kirstin......

It's the official Chinese New Year, Year of the Dog, 4704. The internets tell us that new year is the most festive of Chinese festivals, and the photos on this international msn site bear that out: poodles with the fur on their ears dyed yellow and green, parades and more fun. Plus, the translations are excellent: Dogs dress the traditional New Year suit, pose during the performance from the dog circus of Japan. Gung......

To be honest, this week we've spent a little too much time in bars. But we know that you're probably considering having a drink this weekend, so a few of us put our heads together and came up with a list of those bars that we found best in '05. Carolyn Musso & Frank's, Hollywood - after 86 years, their martinis with sidecars still can't be beat Footsie's, Cypress Park (ish) - the perfect......

TUESDAY • Great Northern, Fielding, Peter Walker (acoustic) and Goldenboy are at Spaceland tonight. Doors open at 9 PM. • The Pretty Babies, featuring Zooey Deschanel and Sam Shelton, perform at the Hotel Cafe tonight from 8–11 PM. • At The Wiltern, a modest $45 will get you in the door to see Green Day tonight at 7:30 PM. No tickets will be sold at the door. You must buy your ticket in advance.......

Jim Ruland is a writer who has had a strong impact on the LA literary scene. He hosts a series of literary readings called "Vermin on the Mount" in Chinatown and supports many writers and lit magazines. Jim also nurtures the talents of students who take his composition classes at Santa Monica Community College. A devout punk rocker, his work has appeared in the late, great punk magazine, "Flipside," and Razorcake magazine. Jim served......

Jim Ruland is one prescient lit organizer. How could he have known that the Governator would be in the news (and in hot water over his deal with American Media) when he modeled this month's Vermin on the Mount poster, the Verminator, after our our governor's signature role? Anyway, Vermin on the Mount hosts a reading of works by Jacob Forman, Lizz Huerta, Wendy Molyneux, and Daniel Olivas. Saturday, July 16th 8 PM Mountain......

After an exhausting — and possibly soggy — day at the LA Times Festival of Books tomorrow, literati of the most fun persuasion will be heading to Chinatown for the Vermin on the Mount reading series. Held at the Mountain Bar, this Vermin is co-produced by Swink Magazine, and promises to be both liquor- and literature-friendly. Readers coming in from afar include poet Alex Lemon, Steve Almond (My Life in Heavy Metal), and litblogger......

Jim Ruland hosts "Vermin on the Mount: A Night of Irreverent Readings" at the Mountain Bar, 475 Gin Ling Way, on Sunday. Show starts around 7 PM. Call (213) 625-7500 for details. For a larger view of the event flyer, visit The Elegant Variation.......