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We sort through a lot of events and happenings around LA so you don’t have to. There’s a great lineup tonight, including a book launch party for The Facebook Diet; a tequila and appetizer pairing at Lotería Grill in Studio City; a screening and Q&A with filmmakers and cast of Now You See Me; a Pixelvision film festival; an evening of new writing from and about the Golden State; improvisational musical comedy with Robot Teammate and the Accidental Party; and a screening of Beauty is Embarrassing. Read on for all the details.
FILM *
ArcLight Hollywood presents a screening of the film Now You See Me, followed by a live Q&A with the film’s stars Jesse Eisenberg and Isla Fisher as well as director Louis Leterrier, and moderated by KROQ’s Ralph Garman. The film pits an FBI squad against a super-team of the world's greatest illusionists, who pull off heists against corrupt business leaders during their performances. If you can’t make it to Hollywood tonight, the Q&A will be live-streamed to the Sherman Oaks, Pasadena, La Jolla and Beach Cities ArcLight locations. All screenings for the film begin at 7:15 pm. Tickets: $11.50-$13.50.
TASTE
Chef Jimmy Shaw of Lotería Grill presents a pairing of Tequila Ocho with signature appetizers tonight from 8-9:30 pm at the Studio City location. Tequila Ocho Founder Tomas Estes walks guests through samples of the tequila while they’re able to order specials like Galleta de Chicharrón de Queso con Camarones al Morita; Flautitas de Cochinita Pibil y Papa servidos con Guacamole; Sopecitos de Pollo en Mole Poblano; Mini Quesadillas de Plaza de Queso con Rajas de Chile Poblano; and Mini Tacos de Carne Arrachera. Cost: $35 (excluding tax and gratuity).
COMEDY
Robot Teammate and the Accidental Party begin a monthly musical improvisational performance series on the mainstage at iO West tonight. The show starts with a suggested title from the audience, and the players improvise an original sketch musical, complete with keyboard and melodica music, lyrics, choreography and a multi-act story structure. Tickets are $10 and $5 valet parking is available.
FILM FESTIVAL
The Echo Park Film Center hosts PXL THIS 22—the 22nd annual toy camera film fest that features Pixelvision films made with the Fisher-Price PXL-2000 camcorder. (Organizers say this is the second oldest film festival in LA.) The films promise to span all genres. Festival director Gerry Fialka leads discussions on the films. 8 pm. $5 suggested donation.
MINDSHARE
Mindshare LA presents a special screening of Neil Berkeley’s filmBeauty is Embarrassingtonight at 7 pm at the Downtown Independent Theater. The experience is part biography and part live performance by the film’s subject: Wayne White. The designer, painter, puppeteer, sculptor and musician is probably best known for creating the large animated puppets on Pee-wee’s Playhouse or music videos like The Smashing Pumpkins (“Tonight, Tonight”) and Peter Gabriel (“Big Time”). After the screening, there’s a Q&A with both White and Berkeley. Tickets: $12 online / $15 at door.
LITERATURE
Stories Books in Echo Park hosts a reading tonight at 7 pm for the new anthology, California Prose Directory: New Writing from the Golden State.The book contains 20 short stories and 16 essays that focus on California’s “myriad joys and juxtapositions.” Seven authors are scheduled to read from their fiction or nonfiction pieces at Stories.
LAUNCH PARTY
There’s an evening of art, comedy and music tonight from 7:30-10 pm tonight for The Facebook Diet Book Launch Party at Writers Bootcamp in Bergamot Station. In her new illustrated book The Facebook Diet, Gemini Adams pokes fun at Facebook addicts and Internet overload and also offers suggestions on how to digitally detox. Tonight’s party features art from the book, storytelling about social media sins, remarks by Adams, music from Racella and the Breath of Life Tribe. The party is free; $10 if you want a signed copy of the book.
*Pencil pick of the day
Follow me on Twitter (@christineziemba). Or follow Lauren Lloyd—who takes care of Pencil on Wednesdays (@LadyyyLloyd).
