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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.

Arts & Entertainment

Pencil this In: Thursday

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And who said culture doesn’t exist in Los Angeles? Check out these events for a little learning, a little entertainment – or both.

THEATRE
Joe Keyes, author of Bob's Holiday Office Party and Pete's Garage, brings us a new treat: Big Baby. The dramedy focuses on "a crazy Catholic mother living with her disturbed middle aged son who falls for the dominatrix next door and all hell breaks loose." It opens tonight.

8 pm // The Lounge Theatre // 6201 Santa Monica Blvd., Hollywood // $20 ($5 discount for students and seniors).

FILM
Jazz on a Summer’s Day is a music documentary that captures a surreal lineup – including greats like Louis Armstrong, Anita O' Day, Dinah Washington, Chuck Berry, Gerry Mulligan and Thelonious Monk – from the 1958 Newport Jazz Festival.

8 pm // The Silent Movie Theatre // 611 N. Fairfax Ave., Los Angeles // $10.

WORDS
Political commentators and professors George Lakoff and Michael Dukakis will talk about the language of politics and health reform – and which presidential candidates are using the right words at the right time – in “Winning with Words: What the Candidates are Really Saying About Health Reform.

7 pm // The Center for Healthy Communities at The California Endowment // 1000 N. Alameda St., Los Angeles // Free.

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MORE WORDS
Architects Thom Mayne and Qingyun Ma discuss the built environment and sustainability of cities in “Do Cities Have Expiration Dates.” They’ll explore whether “cities should be preserved as built or have ‘expiration dates’ like everything organic.”

7:30 pm // Museum of Contemporary Art // 250 S. Grand Ave., Los Angeles // free.

MORE FILM
The Museum of Latin American Art will screen the Brazilian film A Casa de Alice (Alice’s House), which focuses on the life, family and struggles of a 40-something manicurist. It’s the first film to be screened as part of MoLAA’s “Charter Latino Film Series” that continues throughout 2008.

6:30 pm // Museum of Latin American Art // 628 Alamitos Ave., Long Beach // $10-$15.

NIGHT HIKE
Ah yes, exercise. If you're so inclined, then why not do so under the stars? We know it's cold, so layer up and wear sturdy shoes. The Sierra Club leads two-hour hikes through Griffith Park. Meet at the Upper Merry-Go-Round parking lot.

7 pm (get there early if this is your first hike) // Griffith Park // 4730 Crystal Springs Drive, Los Angeles // Free.

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