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Weekend Planner: 16 Things to Do in LA
LAist gets a lot of event announcements—the good, the bad and the downright ugly. We comb through them to bring you this curated list of what’s happening in LA this weekend.
FRIDAY, DEC. 13
MUSIC: The contemporary/classical music ensemble wild Up continues a series of collaborations with their fav artists. At Art Share at 8 pm, the chamber orchestra performs works centered around Mohammed Fairouz’s Pierrot, based on poems of Wayne Koestenbaum. Featured performers are cabaret tenor Timur Bekbosunov and soprano Jessica Aszodi. Tickets: $15-20.
ADULT SWIM SCREENING: There’s a midnight screening (doors at 11:30 pm) at the Vista Theatre for Chris Elliot’s cop-show parody, Eagleheart. Currently seen on Thursdays on Adult Swim, the Vista screening features a “movie-length cut” of the show’s Paradise Rising third-season storyline. The free screening lasts approximately two hours, followed by an after-party. RSVP required, but registration doesn’t guarantee admittance, so get there early.
FILM: The LA 3-D Club presents The 10th Annual LA 3-D Movie Festival at the Downtown Independentthis weekend. Showcasing the “best independent stereoscopic 3-D filmmaking from around the world,” the festival kicks off on Friday with the feature Flight of the Butterflies. Single tickets/weekend passes: $10/$40+fees.
LIT: PEN Center USA and Narrow Books present The Rattling Wall, Issue 4: Reading & Release at 6:30 pm at the Bootleg Theater. Featured readers from the latest issue include: Susan Straight, Anne-Marie Kinney, David Francis, Dana Johnson, Heather Simons, Jeremy Radin and James Ragan. Free.
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FILM: At 8 pm, the Echo Park Film Center presents a free screening of It’s a Wonderful Life at 8 pm. Gather ‘round for the annual screening of the tear-jerking Frank Capra classic with Jimmy Stewart as our hero George Bailey. There will be Christmas cake served. $5 suggested donation.
SATURDAY, DEC. 14
FILM + VARIETY: The Cinefamily conducts its third annual 24-hour fundraiser/telethon from 1 pm on Saturday to 1 pm on Sunday. The free, yet star-studded, event brings together the masses for a good cause—supporting independent cinema and houses. The lineup includes appearances with Anjelica Huston, Miranda July, Eric Wareheim, Mike Judge, Father John Misty, The Gaslamp Killer, Bruce Dern and others. Expect surprises along the way, too. One of the programs features Seattle drone metal band Earth playing a live concert to images from Werner Herzog’s Fata Morgana. RSVP to come down in person or watch online.
PUB CRAWL: The Santa Monica Pub Crawlpromises more “festive fun and holiday cheer than ever before” with 30 of city's best bars and restaurants on the Pier, Promenade, Main St. and Wilshire Blvd featuring food and drink specials for crawlers. Proceeds from the revelry are earmarked for the Westside Food Bank. Last year, the 5,000+ participants raised enough for for 120,000 meals. Crawlers need to sign up online, pay a $10 donation/entrance fee, choose a route and collect their wristband and map at their official starting location.
The Renegade Craft Fair Returns to LA this weekend, making for perfect holiday shopping. (Image courtesy of RCFLA)
CRAFT: The Renegade Craft Fair takes over Los Angeles State Historic Park this weekend, featuring the talents and crafts of more than 200 makers. The free event also features music, food trucks and free craft workshops. It makes a great place to do holiday shopping while supporting local artists. 10 am-5 pm each day.
ART: The Los Angeles Art Association presents the 2013 Open Show—the association’s signature exhibition at Gallery 825—which features dozens of emerging artists. The opening reception is being held from 6-9 pm on Dec. 14. The show was juried by Jenny Gheith, assistant curator at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, runs through Jan. 10, 2014.
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ART: Artist, animator and designer Dave Pressler has his first-ever Xmas pop-up show featuring original works, prints, books, toys and t-shirts at Red Pipe Gallery in Chinatown.A Very Robot Christmas, curated by Coagula Curatorial’s Mat Gleason, features a kid-friendly art show from 2-5 pm, followed by the opening reception from 7-11 pm.
MUSIC TALK: The workshop How to Build a Killer Vinyl Collection takes place from 3-5 pm at Sonos Studio. Host Chris Ziegler, Origami Vinyl Records owner Neil Schield, The Gaslap Killer and Clifton (DJ Soft Touch) share crate digging secrets and tips for building a complete record collection. in search of a compete record collection. Free. 21+.
ART: It’s Heroes Day at the Petersen Museum and an exhibition showcases Kia vehicles inspired by members of DC Entertainment’s The Justice League—Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern, The Flash, Aquaman and Cyborg. To honor local heroes, all active duty police, active duty military and fire personnel will receive free admission (for one). You can also gain free admission by wearing a costume that represents your favorite hero. Bring an unwrapped toy for the LAFD’s “Spark of Love” Holiday Toy Program.
MUSIC: The Gay Men’s Chorus of Los Angeles (GMCLA) presents its annual musical extravaganza, Holiday Spectacular: Festival of Carols! at the Alex Theatre in Glendale on Dec. 14-15. The 240-voice chorus is being conducted by GMCLA’s new Artistic Director Dr. Joseph Nadeau. “From the all-too-familiar holiday songs 'Do You Hear What I Hear?' to 'Carol of the Bells,' each will be performed with a unique GMCLA twist...” Tickets: $20-$75.
BOAT PARADE: Marina del Rey holds its 51st annual holiday boat parade beginning with a round of fireworks at 5:55 pm, followed by the parade at 6 pm. All boats circle the main channel of the Marina del Rey Harbor at least three times. Grand marshals this year are Jeanie Buss and Phil Jackson.
SUNDAY, DEC. 15
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The vaudevillian aerial circus troupe—Mental Head Circus—performs at King King on Sunday. (Image: Courtesy of Mental Head Circus)
EXPERIMENTAL FILM: Los Angeles Filmforum presents the 51st Ann Arbor Film Festival Traveling Tour, Digital Program at the Egyptian Theatre at 7:30 pm. The festival is known for selecting and screening the best new experimental works from around the world. The shorts tonight include experimental, narrative, documentary and animated films from England, Canada, India and the US. Tickets: $10 general, $6 students/seniors; free for Filmforum members.
HIKE: Hike into Movie History at 9 am for a two-hour jaunt into a famous filming location at Upper Las Virgenes Open Space Preserve. “From the plains of Montana to the cotton fields of the deep south, Lasky Mesa has served as the backdrop for sweeping cinematic spectacles.” Meet at the Victory Boulevard entrance trailhead.
CIRCUS: The Mental Head Circus, a twisted vaudevillian aerial circus takes over King King in Hollywood at 7 pm. It's the troupe's season finale and holiday spectacular before the show returns for a monthly Spring 2014 run.
Want the 411 on additional events and happenings in LA? Follow @LAist or me (@christineziemba) on Twitter.
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