Pencil This In: Jason Reitman's 'Live Read,' Downtown Art Walk, a Meg Cranston Lecture and Mindshare LA

There's a variety of events going on around town tonight, including the Downtown Art Walk; a Mindshare LA meeting on the Mayan Apocalypse and how to survive it; a Rattling Wall release party and a surprise live read with Jason Reitman directing. Read on for all the details:

ART WALK
The last Downtown Art Walk of the year takes place tonight, and we’re sad to report that Crewest Gallery is closing after tonight. So go down and support some fine graffiti art and maybe buy a holiday present or two. Also happening tonight is a Tour of the Times, where guests get to tour the paper’s editorial operation.

LIVE READ*
Tonight at 7:30 pm, Film Independent at LACMA presents the final 2012 installment of Jason Reitman’s Live Read. It’s a surprise film—read by a stellar surprise cast—on the Bing Theater stage. $40 tickets for the general public. Standby only, starting at 6:30 pm.

READING
Tonight at 7 pm, PEN Center USA celebrates therelease of The Rattling Wall #3 at Book Soup. Featured writers reading from their contributions to the journal are Amy Wallen, Brian Rooney, Panio Gianopoulos, Joseph Lapin, Kate Reeves and Suzanne Lummis.

MINDSHARE
Mindshare LA PresentsAn Apocalyptic Christmas Party at The Hub in downtown Arts District tonight from 7-11 pm. It’s a mix of a cocktail hour(s) and mind-blowing lectures and installations. Tonight’s topic is Mayan Prophecy and Apocalyptic Survival Strategy. Food and drinks included in the price. Tickets: $40-45.

GRAPHIC DESIGN
Tonight at 7:30 pm, the Hammer Museum presents a UCLA Department of Art Lecture with artist Meg Cranston. “With an eye equally enamored of color theory, design, fashion, and supermarket advertising, she makes energetic collages pairing found imagery with monochromatic abstract forms.” Free.

Want more events? Follow me on Twitter (@christineziemba). Or follow Lauren Lloyd—who takes care of Pencil on Wednesdays (@LadyyyLloyd).