One year ago, Congress defunded public media. Now that we're 100% community funded, please become a sustaining member or increase your existing membership today.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
Pencil This In: Moth GrandSLAM, Pinewood Derby Racing and a Taco Tournament
The Abba-inspired musical 'Mamma Mia!' opens tonight at the Pantages Theatre through April 8. (Photo: Joan Marcus)
It's a jam-packed, event-filled Tuesday night in LA. There's Knotty Pinewood Derby racing at Bigfoot Lodge; The Moth crowns a new GrandSLAM storytelling champion; L.A. Taco commences its Taco Madness tournament; and songwriter Carole Bayer Sager talks about her music career—and her new artistic endeavor of painting. Read on for all the details.
DERBY RACING
Bigfoot Lodge in holds a Knotty Pinewood Derby tonight at 9 pm. The last Tuesday of every month is dedicated to the tiny, yet mighty wooden race car, in which "drivers" race their cars for trophies, prizes and drinks. The bar—which is offering $5 pours of Jameson all night—doubles as the racetrack. Buy the race car kit at Bigfoot Lodge for $10.
EATS
L.A. Taco launches its Taco Madness tournament today pitting Echo Park favorites Tacos Ariza and Taco Zone head-to-head in the first round. Also back to compete are last year’s champion Mexicali Tacos, Mariscos Jalisco, Ricky’s Fish Taco and Tacos Leo among others. LA Taco teams with K-Town’s Oaxacan legend, Guelaguetza restaurant, and Echo Park Records for a party with all-you-can-eat tacos from Guelaguetza and guest taqueros Mexicali Tacos and Co. Live art by The $tatus Faction, dancing, DJs from E.P. Records, homemade horchata, and mescal cocktails with full cash bar. At Guelaguetza from 9:30 pm-1:30 am. Tickets: $15 for all-you-can-eat tacos.
STORY
It’s time to crown another Moth GrandSLAM champion tonight at the Echoplex. Under the theme of Fight or Flight, the past 10 StorySLAM Moth winners battle it out with words of heartbreak, hilarity and everything in between. No notes, no standup—just tales of cowardice and/or courage by: Justine Barron, Jim Bennett, Sam Feirstein, Pete Goldfinger, Sharon Houston, Tim Lopez, Kevin McGeehan, Pietz Peterson, David Ullendorff and Jessica Lee Williamson. Advance tickets are sold out, but a few tickets will be sold at the door so get there early. Tickets: $18.
MUSIC TALK
The Grammy Museum presents An Evening With Carole Bayer Sager: Art and Musictonight at 8 pm. Sager’s one of the most prolific songwriters in pop music history, penning such tunes as "That's What Friends Are For" and "Arthur's Theme." Her songs have been recorded by artists such as Barbra Streisand, Michael Jackson and Whitney Houston among others. She'll chat with Grammy Museum Executive Director Bob Santelli to discuss her accomplished career including her latest passion: painting. Doors at 7:30 pm. Tickets: $25.
MUSIC
Karaoke Fever and LA Record present FEVER party #2 for an evening of dancing, drinks and tacos. There’s an experimental disco dancing to live music by Pharaohs and special guest DJs Young Adults. 9:30 pm to 1 am at Los Globos. Cover: $3.
*Pencil pick of the day
Sponsored message
Want more events? Follow me on Twitter (@christineziemba). Or follow Lauren Lloyd—who takes care of Pencil on Wednesdays (@LadyyyLloyd).
One year ago, Congress voted to defund public media, eliminating a critical $1.7 million from our budget every year going forward. But they couldn’t silence us, and we’re not going anywhere. LAist is now 100% community funded and that means we’re taking our future into our own hands and turning to you to keep local reporting strong.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
