Get Out: Celebrate Chinatown, Poketo Pop Up Shop, Create:Fixate's 'Build,' Art Opening, Fundraiser Sale

Photo by the_mule via the LAist Featured Photos pool on Flickr

Photo by the_mule via the LAist Featured Photos pool on Flickr
Chinatown's Anniversary Party
Tonight from 7-11 p.m. head down to Chinatown to enjoy a free festival commemorating the anniversary of the establishment of “New Chinatown,” built when the original Chinatown enclave was taken over for the construction of Union Station. Actress April Hong and Comedian Ewan Chung will emcee the event featuring 40’s and 50’s era music and dancing to the music of the Pat Longo Big Band with vocalists Nancy Osborne and John-Eric Booth. There will also be casino games benefiting the Chinatown Service Center Youth Center, Chinese acrobats and martial artists, and a video presentation of historic photos. The event will also feature a salute to WWII Chinese American war veterans. It's free to check out, and a fun way to get out and see an important LA community and honor its history.

Poketo Pop Up
The installation of Poketo's first-ever pop-up shop at Royal/T will house many Poketo favorites along with new products to be launched through it's residency. Today's opening festivities will jump-start the shop with a storewide sale of up to 50% off on select Poketo items. From 12 - 2 PM, attendees will be invited to lend a creative hand by contributing to the decor of the pop-up shop with a special art-making workshop directed by artists James Gulliver Hancock. Poketo will be releasing a new collection of wallets, tee shirts, and mugs designed by Poketo x APAK the day of the event. Both APAK and James Gulliver Hancock will be available for signings throughout the celebration.

Create:Fixate Explores Art, Architecture & Design
“Build” is a theme exploring the visual architecture of life and how it moves you. Today, emerging and established visual artists and musicians will create a collective definition for build (v.) to develop or give form according to a plan or process; create: to make something by combining materials or parts. See them working together and be a part of the experience from 7 p.m. to 3 a.m. (Galley preveiw 4-7p.m.). Join the visual and aural journey;As the audience, you are welcome you to “build” on the artists' shapes and definitions with your own perceptions. (And they'll have gourmet BBQ!) It's at the Premiere Events Center (613 Imperial Street); $15 Admission before 10pm/$20 after;
Gallery Preview $5 suggested donation

Art Exhibition: Drama of the Gifted Child - The Five Year Plan
"Drama of the Gifted Child - The Five Year Plan," an exhibition curated by David Burns, is being presented at the Armory Center for the Arts in Pasadena June 28 through August 30, 2009. The public opening happens tonight, from 7-9 p.m. The exhibition consists of new work by ten of Los Angeles’ emerging artists, all Southern California art school MFA graduates of the last five years: Dan Bayles, Spencer Douglass, John Knuth, Julie Lequin, Julie Orser, Marco Rios, Amy Robinson, Christopher Russell, Kelly Sears, and Bari Ziperstein. The exhibition is organized by David Burns, a member of the artist collective Fallen Fruit and the former Assistant Curator at the Armory.

FAL Fundraiser Sale
The Filipino American Library is having a Yard Sale Fundraiser today until 2 p.m. to benefit FAL’s collection and programs. FAL is the earliest and largest Filipino library in the country with a collection of more than 6,000 titles. Along with books, the collection consists of magazines, student papers, posters, DVDs, and CDs. The various sections include children’s literature, the history of Filipinos in Los Angeles, and Jose Rizal. The Yard Sale is at 1500 S. Stoneman Ave. in Alhambra.