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LAist gets a lot of event announcements, and we comb through them all to bring you a curated list of what’s happening in LA this weekend, including these 21 events. Don’t forget to check the March Guide, as it has other options, too. We'll be back on Monday to help you plan the week ahead.
FRIDAY, MARCH 27
SOUL SHAKEDOWN: The Federal Bar in North Hollywood starts up a new funk series The Soul Shakedown on Friday night. The night features three old school funk and R&B bands—think The Meters and Wilson Pickett—with Soul Scratch headlining. Also on the bill are The Sure Fire Soul Ensemble, Beat Mosaic and DJ Mean Mr. Mustard. Starts at 9 pm. Free before 10 pm, cover is $10 after.
ART: The Norton Simon Museum presents an installation of three paintings from Paris' Musée d’Orsay’s renowned art collection: Édouard Manet’s Émile Zola (1868), James Abbott McNeill Whistler’s Arrangement in Grey and Black No. 1, from 1871 (also known as Portrait of the Artist’s Mother), and Paul Cézanne’s The Card Players, 1892-96. These paintings are on view for the first time in Southern California. Timed tickets are needed for Tête-à-tête: Three Masterpieces from the Musée d’Orsay, and the price is included with general museum admission.
STORYTELLING: Hosts Caitlin Bergh and Ever Mainard presents a free storytelling night at The Last Bookstore in DTLA on Friday at 8:30 pm. The Last Book Reviewfeatures storytellers, comics and writers sharing humorous tales, personal essays “and one very witty book review.” Scheduled guests on Friday are Aisling Bea, Nikki Pierce, Lindsay Adams, Corey Rittmaster and Emily Maya Mills. Doors and live music at 8 pm.
ART: On Friday night at Gallery 1988 (East) presents a special show with LRG clothing and artist Chris B. Murray. In Re-Illustrated Classics, Murray pays homage to the Golden Era of Hip-Hop by taking his favorite albums from the 1990's and "reimagined their covers in his own style as drawings and limited edition prints." The opening reception is from 7-10 pm.
FILM: Based on a true story, Backcountry, which opens in theaters today, follows a city couple who camp in the Canadian wilderness “where unimaginable beauty sits alongside our most primal fears.” The cast and crew will be doing a moderated panel at the Laemmle NoHo 7 after the 7:10 pm screening on Friday night. Tickets: $9-$12.
MUSIC: Sonny & the Sunsets play their West Coast beach pop The Echo on Friday night in support of their most recent release Talent Night At The Ashram. Also on the bill are Hinds and Colleen Green. The show is 18+. Doors at 8:30 pm. Tickets: $10-$12.
FILM: The double feature Heavy Traffic (1973) and American Pop (1981) screens at the Aero in Santa Monica on Friday night at 7:30 pm as part of American Cinematheque's series Rogue Animator" An In-person Tribute to Ralph Bakshi. The writer-director-producer is best known for creating the first X-rated cartoon, Fritz the Cat. There's a discussion between films with Bakshi, including a clip from his new film Last Days of Coney Island. Bakshi's art will also be available to purchase in the lobby. Tickets: $11.
BOOKS+BEER: The Standard, Hollywood hosts a new event Books and Beer on Friday night at 7 pm, featuring The Hippie Kama Sutra, with authors Sam Benjamin and Candice Lori and illustrator Sam Wohl. From the publisher: "The Hippie Kama Sutra is a helpful guide for those who are grappling with those age old questions: Where does one find great natural supplements that might also work as an aphrodisiac? How does one find a mate with similar Birkenstock preferences? Will Patchouli hide the natural post-coital musk? Chug down a good beer and finally get all of these questions, and many more, answered!" RSVP:HollywoodRSVP@StandardHotels.com.
SATURDAY, MARCH 28
STORY: The Tiger Lily Storytelling Show is a free comedy-storytelling-music event on Saturday night from 7-9 pm at UCB Sunset's Inner Sanctum. The dynamic lineup this week includes: music by Magnolia Memoir, Mary Lynn Rajskub, Chelsea Peretti, Rory Scovel, host Melinda Hill and special "surprise guests from your television."
TOMATOES: Prime tomato season is just around the corner, and Ojai grower Scott Daigre, author of the book Tomatomania!, is at Grow Native, a large native plants nursery in Westwood to talk about tomatoes, tips for growing the best harvest possible and showing how tomatoes can be pretty drought tolerant. They'll be selling seedlings, too. 9 am to 5 pm.
BOOKFEST: The Music Center presents Grand Park’s Downtown Bookfest from noon to 5 pm. It’s the city’s only book festival that focused exclusively on the local creative community. All activities, performances and readings are organized under the theme of “Cite Your Source,” exploring “where we come from and how it can be communicated.” This year, Bookfest partners with The Music Center's Artizen Lab, an online platform that gives people the opportunity to share their creative ideas to challenges. The day also features special readings, performances, sing-alongs and book-making activities.
COMEDY: Nerdist Industries holds a marathon grand opening on Saturday for The Nerdist School, featuring nonstop entertainment on the Nerdist Stage (7518 W. Sunset Blvd.) located next to Meltdown Comics. The school's opening "assembly" features a 12-hour showcase of improv comedy—free to the public—beginning at noon and running straight through midnight. After the comedy ends at midnight, a DJ/dance party begins.
BIKING: Metro presents C.I.C.L.E.'s The Hot SPOTS Tour, which takes place on Saturday at 10 am. The free, 6.5-mile community ride highlights "formerly blighted, empty lots that have been developed into beautiful green spaces for the entire community to enjoy." The ride leaves promptly at 10:30 am from the Metro Green Line Crenshaw Station in Hawthorne and making learning/education stops at the Dominguez Enhancement and Engagement Project (DEEP), 118th and Doty Pocket Park, the Lennox Community Garden, and the Eureka Tasting Kitchen.
MUSIC + DANCE: Brownies and Lemonade present Double Cross, an affordable dance party in Hollywood on Saturday night. Listen to indie DJs and musicians bringing EDM to futuristic hip-hop to the Lash's Pop-Up Stage (1714 N. Las Palmas Ave.). On the bill for the evening are: Louis the Child, Dave Luxe, Jailo, Vices and more. The event is free with RSVP before 10 pm, $5 after 10pm and $11 after.
RAMEN: A Ramen Championship takes place at Santa Anita Park on Saturday and Sunday from 11 am to 6 pm, featuring 11 ramen shops: seven from U.S. (including LA's Ramen Champ and Shin-sen-gumi) and four guest ramen shops from Japan. For the first time, a U.S. ramen champion will be crowned. Visitors get a ballot with the purchase of a ramen festival ticket. Admission to Santa Anita is $5, the festival is free, but prices for the ramen are $8.50 each (cash only). Last year's wait for ramen was insane, so this year, people can also buy "express tickets" for $20 to skip the lines or $25 (which includes one bowl of ramen).
MUSIC + FILM: The Helix Collective presents its Movie Night, featuring 10 short films with original soundtracks, which will be performed live. Nine emerging composers were asked to write soundtracks for the films, which run about five minutes each and "run the gamut from action, romance, and slapstick to psychological thrillers and true-to-life drama." The event takes place on Saturday at 8 pm at Art Share L.A. in the Arts District. $10 suggested donation.
TOP TUNE: On Saturday at 8 pm, TopTune takes over fanaticSalon on Sawtelle, with six L.A. songwriters who play a songwriting game. First, they'll perform one of their best songs. They’re then paired into teams, given a title and then sent off for 17 minutes to write another song. Participating songwriters on Saturday are: Shane Alexander, Annie Boxell, Katie Ferrera, Charlie Hickey, Yogi Lonich and Clare Means. Rachel Bloom of Robot Chicken and Showtime's Crazy Ex-Girlfriend joins the commentators panel. Admission: $20.
LIBRARY TOAST: On Saturday night, the L.A. Public Library holds its seventh Annual Toast, hosted by the Young Literati of the Library Foundation of Los Angeles. The fundraiser this year is being held at The LINE Hotel, and features an evening of music, comedy and readings. Joining the Young Literati Chair Amanda Fairey and Honorary Chairs Samantha Hanks and Busy Philipps for the event are special guests Colin Hanks, Gillian Jacobs, Ali Shaheed Muhammad, Jenny Slate, La Santa Cecilia and others. Tickets start at $250 $175, which include Young Literati membership.
SUNDAY, MARCH 29
Bouquet - Stacks on Stacks from Bouquet Music on Vimeo.
MUSIC: The LA-based minimal pop duo Bouquet plays at the Eagle Rock Center for the Arts in advance of its debut EP In A Dream on March 31 via Ulrike/Folktale Records. Also on the bill are Only You, The Bushes and DJ Jesspeleta. Doors at 7 pm. Tickets: $8 in advance, $10 day of show.
FASHION FEST: Connected Fest is at the Figueroa Hotel DTLA on Sunday offering exclusive sale pricing contemporary, luxury and street-inspired brands: Again, Be Honey Bee, Daniel Patrick, Jac Vanek, Love + Made, See You Monday, Stussy, The Squad, The Well, This Is A Love Song, Wildfox and more. The pool-side event also features music, food and drinks. The event takes place from 11 am to 6 pm on Sunday and admission is free.
BOOK TALK: The Mystery Writers Association of Southern California presents Hardboiled at the Last Bookstore from 7-8:30 pm on Sunday. Noir writers discuss the outer limits of sex in crime fiction, with readings by Noiristas Christa Faust, Stephen Jay Schwartz and Craig Faustus Buck. Gary Phillips moderates a panel discussion following with the authors. The discussion might get a little graphic, so the event's probably not for the faint of heart.
Related: LAist’s March Guide
Want the 411 on additional events and happenings in LA? Follow @LAist or me (@christineziemba) on Twitter.
