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LAist gets a lot of press releases and we go through all most of them to curate a list of our favorite events happening in L.A. Here are 21 events you should know about this week. Read on for all the details.
MONDAY, APRIL 14
WRITE CLUB: Write Club LA presents an evening of head-to-head literary competition: three bouts of two writers, each armed with opposing ideas. The audience gets to choose a winner, who competes for cash—going to a charity of their choosing. The topics and writers are: “Agony vs. Ecstasy” (Mike O'Connell vs. Jeremy Radin), “Walk vs. Talk” (Justin Welborn vs. Paula Killen) and “High vs. Deep” (Rachel Kann vs. Jefferey Dorchen). The battles begin at 7 pm at the Bootleg Theater.
MUSIC: It’s a School Nightwelcomes live music and DJ sets from both up-and-coming and seasoned artists every Monday night at Bardot in Hollywood. Playing live are: Joywave, To Kill a King, Kikio King & creativemaze and Joseph King. DJ sets by badbad and Daniel T (Cosmic Kids). Free with RSVP for those 21+; $10 for 18+ with RSVP. Doors at 8 pm.
FILM: The Greg Proops Film Club screens the noir classic Laura (1944) by Otto Preminger Monday at 7:30 pm at Cinefamily. The evening begins with a taping of comic Proops’ podcast live onstage, in which he deconstructs the film, followed by the screening of the film starring Dana Andrews as the private detective hired to solve Gene Tierney’s murder. Tickets: $12.
TUESDAY, APRIL 15
COMEDY: There’s an evening of standup from Cracked.com at Westside Comedy Theater at 8:30 pm on Tuesday hosted by Adam Tod Brown. The lineup includes: Ben Blanchard, Annie Lederman, Griff Pipin, Ryan Clauson, Emily Maya Mills, Beth Stelling and Julian McCullough. Tickets: $5. 21+.
FILM : The Malcolm McDowell Series of Q&A Screenings continues at the 1,400-seat Alex Theatre in Glendale. Screening at 7:30 pm on Tuesday is Star Trek: Generations,with a Q&A with McDowell and special guest moderator Michael Dorn (Lt. Commander Worf) preceding the screening. Tickets: $15.
MUSIC : There’s a great double-bill on Tuesday at the Bootleg with Australian band Birds of Tokyo (love their song "Lanterns," posted above). Opening is Somekindawonderful, the Cleveland-based five piece band who’s burning up L.A. radio with “Reverse.” 21+. Doors at 7:30 pm. Advance tickets are sold out, but a few may be sold at the door.
VARIETY: The Victory Lap variety showreturns to the Virgil at 9 pm. Hosted by Seth W. Owen (Movie Night @ The Roosevelt) and Stuart Jenkins (Associate Producer, BBC America’s The Nerdist). The show promises an evening of “slightly unhinged entertainment” with a lineup that includes Jon Daly (Kroll Show), Nick Thune (Tonight Show/Conan), Little Esther (Enjoy It! With Brody Stevens) and more with tunes by the house band Warp Drive. There’s no cover, and the Virgil has great $5 premium cocktails. There’s valet so you don’t have to worry about finding a parking space in this neighborhood.
FILM: We have a soft spot for Bing Crosby flicks from the 1940s, and LACMA screens a 1 pm matinee of Going My Way (1944). Crosby plays a young priest who’s in charge of bringing a down-on-its luck parish and elderly priest back to its glory days. Tickets: $4, $2 LACMA members and seniors (62+).
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 16
COMEDY: The Super Serious Show takes over The Virgil starting at 7 pm with happy hour, music and drinks. Doors at 7 pm and the show starts at 8 pm featuring sketch, music and videos. The lineup includes Cameron Esposito (The Late Late Show, Chelsea Lately, Put Your Hands Together), David Cross (Arrested Development, Mr. Show), David Huntsberger (Professor Blastoff, Premium Blend), Reggie Watts (Comedy Bang! Bang!, Conan), Justin Willman (The Tonight Show, Cupcake Wars), Hampton Yount (Adam Devine's House Party, Bridgetown Comedy Fest) and videos by Amy York Rubin (Funny Or Die, Barnacle Studios). Tickets: $7 in advance/ $10 at the door (cash only). 21+.
DRINKS FOR A CAUSE: On Wednesday from 6:30-9:30 pm, the Loews Hollywood Hotel hosts Hollywood Fights Hunger.Proceeds from the happy hour for a cause goes to Share Our Strength’s No Kid Hungry campaign to end childhood hunger. The $40 admission ($45 at the door) includes appetizers and two drinks.
STANDARD COACHELLA PARTY: The Standard DTLA holds rooftop parties in between Coachella Weekends. On April 16,Standard Sounds presents an intimate performance by Nosaj Thing and Dam Funk (solo set). Doors at 7:30 pm. The event is open to the public, but an RSVP is required.
STORY: On Wednesday at the Grammy Museum, the show Celebrity Autobiography brings pages from musicians’ tell-alls and autobiographies to the stage as performers read/act out vignettes on stage. The cast includes Roger Bart, Jennifer Tilly, Kristen Johnston, Steven Weber, Mindy Cohn, Pamela Adlon, Fred Willard, Laraine Newman, Eugene Pack and Dayle Reyfel. 8 pm. Tickets: $45.
MUSIC: Maison Kitsune is taking over the Roosevelt Hotelwith a pop up store in Room 100 through April 21 and three special events in Spare Room, Teddys, and Tropicana Pool this week. On Wednesday, there’s Heartsrevolution’s "Ride or Die" release party in the Spare Room with performances by Heartsrevolution, Chrome Canyon and Navvi. Free with RSVP.
ART: Glitter artistRichard Ian Cohenbrings more than 30 glitter and watercolor works for the special pop up art exhibition,Bringing Bling Back, at Jones Coffee Roasters. The exhibition features iconic figures including Bob Marley, The Beatles, Jim Morrison, Johnny Cash, Marilyn Monroe, Notorious BIG and The Blues Brothers. The opening reception from 7-9 pm will also feature live acoustic music from guitarist and composer Harold “Hal” Henkel. Free. The art remains on view through April 30.
ART: Subliminal Projects presents the exhibition Shepard Fairey: 50 Shades of Black, with an opening reception on April 16 from 8-11 pm. It’s his third installment of new album cover-inspired artwork. Friend DJ Z-Trip joins Fairey for a live performance on opening night, with special guests dropping by. The opening event is free but RSVP is required.
MUSIC: The 1975 plays a sold-out show at Club Nokia with Sir Sly and Bad Suns. Doors at 8 pm and show at 9. Tickets: $25-$28.
THURSDAY, APRIL 17
CLASSICAL: At 8 pm, LA Phil conductor Grant Gershon leads Philip Glass’ operatic/choral music from the "Rome" section, the last of the five acts comprising Robert Wilson’s the CIVIL warS, which was inspired by Matthew Brady’s Civil War photographs. The event is part of the LA Phil’s Minimalist Jukebox series: ”The CIVIL warS is an operatic multi-part cantata of profoundly moving music, ruminating on war and the disruption of the moral order through such characters as the Lincolns, Garibaldi, Robert E. Lee, Hercules, and more.” Tickets: $18-$175+ fees. At Walt Disney Concert Hall.
TALK: Live Talks LA presents An Evening with Bob Saget at 7:30 pm at the Aero Theater in Santa Monica. The comedian, actor, director stops by to discuss his new memoir Dirty Daddy: The Chronicles of a Family Man Turned Filthy Comedian with writer Kelly Oxford. Tickets: $20 (general admission), $30 (reserved seating), $40 (includes Saget’s book and reserved seating), and $95 (pre-event reception, book and reserved seating).
PHOTOGRAPHY: Hemingway and Pickett presents the opening reception for Mark Rubenstein’s photo showA Light at the End of the Worldon Thursday from 7-9 pm. The artist will be in attendance to sign his limited-edition publications Gone By Dawn and A Light At The End of the Road. The works remain on view through April 30. Opening reception drinks provided by Pabst Blue Ribbon and music by Hayden Tobin (of Hanni El Khatib). Free.
LIVE READ : Jason Reitman returns for the last installment of the season for his Live Read Series from Film Independent at 7:30 pm. Reitman is bringing a surprise cast to do a live reading of the film The Graduate. Tickets: $40 for the general public, $15 for Film Independent, LACMA Film Club andThe New York Times Film Club members. $25 for LACMA members, students with valid ID and seniors (62+). Follow Reitman on Twitter if you want to get a heads up on his casting for the night.
READING: Canadian author and visual artist Douglas Coupland is at the Skirbcall Cultural Center at 8 pm for a lecture/reading to discuss his new novel Worst. Person. Ever. He first came to the writing vanguard with the 1991 publication of his first bestselling novel Generation X: Tales for an Accelerated Culture. Admission is free, but reservations are recommended. A Q&A and book signing follow the program.
Related: Your Ultimate Guide To April: 20 Cool Events Happening In Los Angeles
Want the 411 on additional events and happenings in LA? Follow @LAist or me (@christineziemba) on Twitter.
