There's plenty of stuff to do tonight in LA. Here's what we found: Pop art openings for Bob Dob and Nathan Ota; the Breeders' Cup and a Taste of LA at Santa Anita Park; book signings with Oliver Stone and Walter Stahr; an evening with Paul Thomas Anderson and celebrating Dia de Los Muertos. Read on for all the details:
FILM
La Luz de Jesus galleryopens two art exhibitions tonight: Pop! Goes the Weasel by Nathan Ota and Bob Dob’s Bob Dob Mouseketeer Army. Ota’s work revists characters that have populated his work-the birds, the tree man, the eggs. Mouseketeer Army is Bob Dob’s solo show in three years, featuring 86 new pieces of art on display. A limited edition silk screened Mouseketeer Army poster will be available after the show. The opening reception is being held from 8-11 pm tonight and the shows remain up through Dec. 2.
TASTING + RACING *
The Breeders Cup starts at Santa Anita Park, but as an added bonus, NBC4 presents a Taste of LA at the track today and tomorrow. Ten LA chefs and food vendors—including Goodie Girls Cupcakes, BACON MANia truck, Mo-Chica, The Gorbals, Kogi, MeSoHungry—will be cooking up a number of culinary options a range of culinary offerings for attending guests to enjoy during the races. Food vouchers are sale at the ticket kiosks around the Kingsbury Fountain in $5, $10 and $15 increments. Tickets ($10-$15) to the Breeders’ Cup.
LIT
Tonight at 7 pm at Vroman’s, biographer Walter Stahr discusses and signs his book Seward: Lincoln’s Indispensible Man. William Henry Seward, was a progressive governor of New York and outspoken U.S. senator, but he also served as secretary of state in Abraham Lincoln’s administration. He was the president’s closest advisor, managed foreign affairs but also had a substantial role in military, political and personnel matters.
BOOKS
Director Oliver Stone discusses and signs his book The Untold History of the United States tonight at 7 pm at Book Soup. It serves as a companion to Oliver Stone's 10-part Showtime documentary series. In typical fashion, Stone challenges the status quo of American history with American University professor Peter Kuznick, presenting "secret history," through documents unearthed through recently discovered archives and newly declassified material.
FILM
Film Independent at LACMA presents An Evening with Paul Thomas Anderson at LACMA at 7:30 pm. Probably no director has achieved as much while disregarding the pull of narrative conventions as Paul Thomas Anderson. The filmmaker presents a pair of films that influenced his body work. Anderson will be in attendance and also discuss his filmography and “the evolution in scale and approach in his presentations.” Screening tonight: the 1945 film San Pietro and 1946’s Let There Be Light—both directed by John Huston. Advanced tickets are sold out; standby only. The line forms at 6:30 pm at the Hammer Building Ticket Office. Standby access is not guaranteed. General admission tickets: $20.
DIA DE LOS MUERTOS
There are a number of Dia de Los Muertos events happening in and around LA today, including atGrand Park, Self Help Graphics & Art (with a special performance by Louie Cruz Beltran and His Latin Jazz Ensemble) and a Day of the Dead community art show opening Nov. 1 at the Hold Up Art Galleryfrom 6-11 pm.
*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).
