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Pencil This In: Queer Mondays, 'Star Dreck' & A Shaq Signing
Paul Insect's exhibition 'Triptease Review' closes this week at Post No Bills in Venice. (Image: Paul Insect/Post No Bills)
Welcome back to a post-holiday working week. Lit events are back in full force tonight, including a book launch at Family; Shaq at Vroman's and Gerald Nicosia on the untold life of Mrs. Neal Cassaday. There's also Star Trek comedy at NerdMelt; Queer Mondays performances and It's a School Night at Bardot. Read on for all the details.
BOOK LAUNCH + EXHIBITION*
Tonight at 7:30 pm, Family bookstore on Fairfax hosts a book launch and reading of Collage Culture: Examining the 21st Century’s Identity Crisis with readings by Aaron Rose and Mandy Kahn, and an art installation by the book's designer, Brian Roettinger. “Collage Culture points to the 21st century as an era of collage, in which creative works are made by combining elements from the former century. Why have musicians, writers and designers fallen in love with the past, busying themselves with the borrowed, instead of creating their art from scratch?” The book is also being released as a record that combines readings of its texts with an original score by No Age.
COMEDY
Tonight at 8 pm, NerdMelt at Meltdown Comics presents Star Dreck, which spoofs some of the worst episodes in Star Trek history. Joining Matt Mira and Kumail Nanjiani on stage are Kevin Pereira (G4's Attack of the Show) and Scott Mosier (Kevin Smith's Smodcast). $8 in advance, $10 at the door.
BOOKS
Author and biographer Gerald Nicosia discusses and signs his book One and Only: The Untold Story of On the Road at Pi on Sunset (8828 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood). It focuses on Lu Anne Henderson, one of the lesser-known true characters of the Beat Generation, who married Neal Cassaday at age 15. The book follows Henderson’s life and struggles, which ranged from a wrecked family life, abusive relationships, illness, and the grief of losing the two most important men in her life: Cassaday and Kerouac. Presented by Book Soup. 7 pm.
READING
Vroman’s in Pasadena presents former Laker Shaquille O’Neal who’ll sign his new bio Shaq Uncut: My Story tonight at 7 pm. “In this rollicking new autobiography, Shaq discusses his remarkable journey, from growing up in difficult circumstances and getting cut from his high school basketball team to his larger-than-life interests, personal life, and more.” This is a ticketed event; tickets available with purchase of the book from Vroman’s Bookstore only. No personalization; photos from the line only.
MUSIC
It’s a School Night at Bardot in Hollywood features live sets by Milo Green and Incan Abraham with a DJ set tonight by Killer Cam. Doors at 9 pm. Free with RSVP.
QUEER MONDAY
Queer Monday is a monthly LGBT experimental performance series, hosted by Ian Mackinnon at Highways Performance Space in Santa Monica. It’s the last QM of the year tonight at 7:30 pm with new and developing works by Martin von Sexy (with Jason Thatcher and Aram Kirakosian), Graham Kolbeins, Malek Mouzon, Raspin Stuwart, Jason Jenn, Sky Palkowitz and Jorge Amaro. Tickets: $5
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*Pencil pick of the day
Want more events? Follow me on Twitter (@christineziemba). Or follow Lauren Lloyd—who takes care of Pencil on Wednesdays (@LadyyyLloyd).
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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.
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