CLASSICAL This event reminds us of those old-time dance marathons, but this time it’s USC’s Thornton School students testing their endurance by playing seven hours of nonstop chamber music a night. Tonight’s the last night of the Chamber Music Marathon. 5 pm to midnight // Alfred Newman Recital Hall // USC University Park Campus // Free. MUSIC DOCUMENTARY* There’s a double feature at the Academy’s Linwood Dunn Theater of documentaries. The U.S. vs. John......

FILM GOOD Magazine and Paramount Vantage Films are hosting an advanced screening of Son of Rambow. It’s a British comedy about a boy living in seclusion among a religious sect that doesn’t allow movies or TV. But when the kid sees his first movie – a pirated copy of Rambo: First Blood, his imagination is blown wide open. Seating is first come, first-served and you must RSVP by 5:30 pm today. 7:30 pm //......

Believe it or not, there's more going on in LA than basketball these days. / Photo by consiglieri80 via LAist's flickr pool. PERFORMANCE Largo, one of our favorite little clubs in the city, is closing on Fairfax. But don’t cry just yet because it will reopen in a bigger space on La Cienega in a few months. But the last shows on Fairfax, like tonight’s Greg Proops Chat show, are sure to be memorable......

ART This exhibit sounds like it belongs in the Museum of Jurassic Technology, but it's at the Gold Bug in Pasadena instead: Artist Lisa Wood constructs fictionalized case studies based on Chevalier Jackson’s (1865-1958) medical work, where he recovered objects from his patients' gullets and windpipes. Jackson’s found objects are on display at The Mutter Museum in Philadelphia, but Wood assembled “an array of Nineteenth century "potential" obstructions along with original era tintype photographs......

The American Institute of Architects-LA hosts a panel discussion tonight called "Rethinking the City." / Photo by Peggy Archer via LAist's flickr pool. TALK The American Institute of Architects-Los Angeles chapter is hosting a panel discussion “Rethinking the City.” It’s a conversation about how enlightened policy and design can revitalize economies and create a truly sustainable community. Panelists include: Cecilia Estolano, CEO of the Community Redevelopment Agency/Los Angeles; Helmi Hisserich, LA deputy mayor for......

Cowboys invade suburbia this weekend at the City of Santa Clarita's annual Cowboy Festival. / Photo by puck90 via LAist's flickr pool. PERFORMANCE The Pacific Resident Theatre remembers the life and works of author William Saroyan (Human Comedy, The Time of Your Life) through music, readings, and guest speakers in honor of Saroyan’s Centennial (1908-2008). This is a one-night only show. 8 pm // Pacific Resident Theatre // 703 Venice Blvd., Venice // $12.......

Happy Earth Day, everyone! If you're looking for something tree huggy to do around town today, then read this post. Otherwise, keep reading below for other things to do tonight that aren't quite as green. FILM Black Orpheus (1959) was the 1960 Academy Award winner for Best Foreign Language Film. It's an ancient love story set to a bossa-nova soundtrack by Antonio Carlos Jobim and Luis Bonfá. "The film re-imagines the Greek myth of......

Childhood obesity is rampant, and junk food contributes to a lot of it. Though these fries look oh...so...good. / Photo by Steve Beger Photography (Beger.com Productions) via flickr. CLASSICAL The LA Phil’s free “Neighborhood Concert” series brings music to local schools, churches and other local venues. Tonight, classical music fills St. Thomas the Apostle Church. Ticket requests are filled on a first-come, first-served basis. The one-hour concert performance is presented without an intermission. Parking......

Afternoon tea is a perfect way to spend a Friday afternoon. / Photo by motograf via flickr. Is your bff in town this weekend? Looking for fun, girlie things to do? Then this edition of “Pencil This In” is for you. (Don't worry guys, you can do these things, too. Except probably item #3.) TEA Sometimes you just find yourself in the mood for the smoky flavor of lapsang souchong tea, scones with cream......

The Bent Festival kicks off tonight with a concert. / Photo by PPDigital via flickr. FOOD TALK Los Angeles Times food critic and historian Charles Perry discusses all things food with other chefs and critics during the museum’s “Los Angeles and California: A Fusion of Tastes” series. Tonight’s subject is “Los Angeles Landmarks.” Sample dishes will be prepared by the Autry’s chef Carolyn Baer. 7 pm // Autry National Museum // 4700 Western Heritage......

CABARET Lucent Dossier brings its vaudeville/cabaret show to the Edison tonight. Who do they have in their talent roster? Little elves, fire dancers, belly dancers, trapeze artists, contortionists, jugglers, burlesque dancers, performance art and the bearded lady. So, really, you never know what to expect tonight. 9 pm // Edison // 108 West 2nd St. 101, Los Angeles // $15. TALK * Iranian authors Azar Nafisi (Reading Lolita in Tehran) and Marjane Satrapi Persepolis......

Where's your meat come from? An event tonight looks at the food we eat. / Photo by ~db~ via LAist's flickr pool. TRIVIAL MATTERS “Booze Clues” is a bimonthly pub quiz that tests trivial knowledge of current events and pop culture. Bring your own team of six players or come as a free agent and form join another team at the bar. Prizes are awarded for the highest score, most entertaining wrong answers and......

The Moth presents its StorySLAM finals tonight at King King. / Emperor moth photo by guano via flickr. CLASSICAL MUSIC Composer Helmut Lachenmann makes a rare visit to Los Angeles for this portrait concert that explores three of his works, including the West Coast premiere of the truly spectacular Mouvement for fifteen players. 8 pm // Zipper Concert Hall @ Colburn School // 200 S. Grand Ave., Los Angeles // $25 general admission, $10......

There's lots of stuff to do in LA on the cheap tonight. / Photo by Sundogg via LAist's flickr pool. This column is dedicated to all the broke folks out there because April is the cruelist month. If you own a house, property taxes are due about the same time as taxes (if you're one of the lucky ones who owe Uncle Sam a little somethin' somethin'). So this Friday edition of "Pencil This......

All kinds of art happens today and through the weekend / Photo by LaurenP! via LAist's flickr pool. TALK Zócalo’s lecture series continues tonight with Sen. Chuck Hagel and “America: Our Next Chapter.” The Republican from Nebraska will talk about the nation’s most pressing issues and his theories on how to get the country back on track. 7:30 pm // ArcLight Sherman Oaks // 15301 Ventura Blvd., Sherman Oaks // Free, but reservations recommended.......

TEEVEE If you’re a fan the David Boreanaz-Emily Deschanel sexual tension on FOX’s Bones, then you’re in luck. The two co-stars as well as other cast members and crew are appearing at the Paley Center tonight to talk about the show. 7 pm // Paley Center for Media in Beverly Hills // 465 N. Beverly Drive, Beverly Hills // $25. TALK* Listen to Stephen Hawking (in real life!) as he talks about the black......

Joe Satriani talks and plays at the Guitar Center on Sunset today. / Photo by Photo by db via LAist's flickr pool. TALK Zócalo’s lecture series continues tonight with “Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Party of One” with Sacramento Bee columnist Daniel Weintraub. He’ll make the case that “Schwarzenegger's first four years as governor also represent an opportunity lost. The governor has squandered much of the advantage he once enjoyed with missteps, bad decisions, and poor execution.”......

A couple events tonight focus on the city of LA. / Photo by Tyler S. Andrews via LAist's featured photo pool. TEEVEE It’s as if the Paley Fest never ended. The Paley Center for Media in Beverly Hills hosts the cast and crew of the Disney Family’s Kyle XY tonight. Scheduled to appear are: Eric Tuchman, executive producer; David Himeltarb, executive producer; Julie Plec, supervising producer; Matt Dallas, "Kyle"; April Matson, "Lori Trager"; Chris......

Dinosaurs and the Watson Twins at the Natural History Museum tonight. / Photo by Stephanie Asher via LAist's flickr pool. ART+MUSIC So you don’t feel like dealing with rush hour tonight on the Westside? Then pull over and head to Fridays Off the 405 at the Getty Center. See some art, listen to music (King Britt, Power Douglas) have a drink and look over the edge to make fun of all the poor saps......

Janet Klein and her Parlour Boys and ukuleles are playing in Hollywood tonight. / Photo by [cipher] via flickr. ART Glen Wexler’s art exhibit “Fantastic Voyage” opens at the ArcLight Hollywood tonight. He specializes in surrealistic photographic narratives and visitors can expect to see 33 large-scale prints on all three levels of the complex. The exhibit runs until May 2. 7pm (opening reception) // ArcLight Cinemas Hollywood // 6360 W. Sunset Blvd., Hollywood //......

Andras Schiff performs at Walt Disney Concert Hall tonight. / Photo by Lush.i.ous via flickr. TALK Sci-Arc’s Spring Lecture Series presents “I’ll See It When I Know It” with Greg Lynn. Lynn has been named one of the 10 most influential living architects by Forbes Magazine. 7 pm // W.M. Keck Lecture Hall @ Sci-Arc // 960 East 3rd St., Los Angeles // Free. FILM* Tonight’s the last night of the Aero Theatre’s “2007’s......

ART* We luuuurrve us the kitch and pop culture around here. So when we got word that artists were creating artwork based on classic toys in honor of Hot Wheels® 40th anniversary, we got really excited. Running tonight through April 25 at Gallery 1988, see more than 40 artists works, including customized 1:18 scale Hot Wheels VW buses. 7pm // Gallery 1988 // 7020 Melrose Ave., Los Angeles // Free. THEATRE The Sacred Fools......

This is not the magic bullet for syphilis. / Photo by William Hook via flickr. Today we celebrate the life of César Chávez. So in honor of the great activist, get up off the couch and go out and enjoy these events. LEARNING As part of its Chavez week festivities, the Library's San Fernando branch offers the program, "Adelante! Let's Go!" by Makinto. It's a bilingual musical tour of the history of Hispanic Americans.......

Catch Jukebox Stories at Genghis Cohen tonight. / Photo by iboy_daniel via flickr. FILM TRIBUTE Actor Brad Renfro’s friends have put together the “Brad Renfro Memorial Tribute” tonight at the Egyptian to remember the other young actor who died of a heroin overdose in January. They’ll screen Renfro’s 2001 film Bully. Director Larry Clark and actor Daniel Franzese will speak at the event. 7:30 pm // Egyptian Theatre // 6712 Hollywood Blvd., Los Angeles......

Bridal shops abound on Broadway in Downtown -- for now. / Photo by M.V. Jantzen via LAist's flickr pool. TALK Downtown’s Broadway district has gone from high-end retail, professional offices and entertainment to a bargain strip of clothiers, jewelers, fast food and mom and pop joints. Now the yuppies are taking over, and what does that mean to the area’s current residents and retailers? City Councilmember Jose Huizar, Orpheum Theatre/Anjac Fashion Buildings owner Steve......

POP IDOL Remember Paul Potts? (See above video if you don't.) The portly car phone salesman from England who surprised everyone with an operatic voice on Britain’s Got Talent? and YouTube? Well, he’s singing at the Wiltern tonight to promote his debut album One Chance. 8 pm // Wiltern Theatre // 3790 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles // $35-$50. TEEVEE LIVE Calling all X-Files aficionados, series creator Chris Carter and executive producer Frank Spotnitz will......

If you're IN, then you'll head out to these events tonight. / Photo by kpe II via LAist's flickr pool. THEATRE* Cartoon Dump is a twisted look at America's favorite Saturday morning pasttime. It's a live children’s show parody starring Compost Brite and Moodsy the clinically depressed owl. Together they teach the audience about "love, friendship and self mutilation." Classic cartoons curated by Jerry Beck are screened between sketches. 8 pm // Steve Allen......

Somewhere over the rainbow at The Wizard of Oz is playing. / Photo by Яick Harris via flickr. TEEVEE LIVE Last we checked there were tickets still available for an evening with the cast and crew of FX’s Damages. Scheduled to appear are Noah Bean, Rose Byrne, Glenn Close, Ted Danson, Tate Donovan, Anastasia Griffith, Željko Ivanek, Glenn Kessler (CoCreator/Executive Producer/Writer), Todd A. Kessler (CoCreator/Executive Producer/Writer), and Daniel Zelman (CoCreator/Executive Producer/Writer. 7 pm //......

There's an absinthe bar at the Monte Cristo tonight. / Photo by spacepleb via flickr. TEEVEE LIVE Cast and crew from Dancing with the Stars take the stage at Paley Fest tonight. Confirmed guests are dancers Derek Hough, Julianne Hough and Edyta Sliwinska along with judges Carrie Ann Inaba and Bruno Tonioli. And you never know who else from this season may show up as well. Last time we checked, there were still tickets......

Tokyo Table is hosting sake tastings tonight. We don't know if that includes sake boxes like those above. / Photo by cesarastudillo via flickr. SAKE Tokyo Table is holding two seatings for a sake night tonight, with more than 20 varieties of Japan’s national drink. All food and beverages included in the price. Reservations needed. 6-8 pm or 9-11 pm // Tokyo Table // 50 N. La Cienega Blvd., Beverly Hills // $35. FILM......