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Herzog's NOSFERATU THE VAMPYRE (trailer) from Cinefamily on Vimeo.
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. Now, no more excuses...get out there and play. Don’t forget to check out other picks in our monthly column, too. Read on for all the details.
FRIDAY, MAY 6
MUSIC: Fusicology Fridays at FIG is a good excuse to wait out traffic in Downtown L.A. on a Friday night. After 4 pm, park your car for only $5 (or better yet, take Metro) at FIGat7th, and listen to tunes spun by KCRW’s DJ Monalisa from 4-6 pm and Jeremy Sole from 6-8 pm. Happy hour food and drink specials are available at City Tavern - DTLA, Loteria Grill and The Melt.
FILM: Isabelle Adjani and Klaus Kinski star in Werner Herzog’s 1979 “re-invention” of F.W. Murnau's 1922 silent classic Nosferatu. The film begins a week-long run—with a new 35mm print—at Cinefamily on Friday with Herzog in person to open the run. The director shot alternate versions of the film in German and in English, and it’s the German version that’s being screened at Cinefamily. Tickets: $12 (opening night party tickets are $15, but it’s sold out). Nosferatu screens at various times through May 22.
SFX TALK: On Friday, the UCLA Film and Television Archive is Celebrating Cinefex—the sci-fi / special effects magazine that first launched in 1980. The magazine has covered just about every angle of the art of cinematic illusion that appeals to both industry and fans alike. To discuss the magazine and the digital revolution in filmmaking are Cinefex founder Don Shay and current editor Jody Duncan in conversation with visual effects supervisor Craig Barron. At the Billy Wilder Theater. Tickets: $10.
THEATER: Friday marks the world premiere of the play Hit, written by Chinese American playwright Alice Tuan, at the Los Angeles Theatre Center. Directed by Laurel Ollstein, the decidedly L.A.-centric play is a “psycho-sexual romp” that includes a freeway collision, sex, excess and even Zankou Chicken. It’s the last night of previews with on Friday tickets only $20. The show runs Thursday to Saturday at 8 pm and Sunday 3 pm through June 8. General admission tickets: $40.
FILM : We’ll give you one guess what the new film Don Peyote is about. Written and directed by Michael Canzoniero and Dan Fogler, this stoner road trip flick features a number of celeb appearances from Anne Hathaway to Josh Duhamel and Jay Baruchel. Fogler also stars in the lead role. He’ll be doing a Q&A at the film’s 10 pm screening at Arena Cinema on Friday. Tickets: $12+ fees.
SATURDAY, MAY 17
Detail of Godmachine's 'Ghostbusters' print at Gallery1988 (West). (Image: Courtesy of Gallery1988 and the artist)
GHOSTBUSTERS: Gallery1988 (West) presents The 30th Anniversary Ghostbusters Art Show. More than 70 artists have paid tribute to the film through paintings, prints, sculptures, plush and apparel. The Ghostbusters 30th anniversary show took NYC by storm last month and most of the items sold out, but there’s a new allotment for each limited-edition item in L.A. The reception runs from 7-10 pm on Saturday, but the gallery is expecting a big crowd, so the earlier the better.
EATS: If you’re bummed that you waited too long and didn’t get your tickets to the Vegan Beer Fest, there’s another food event in L.A. this weekend. Bite at the Beach takes place at the MBS Media Campus in Manhattan Beach with food and beer pairings from all around the South Bay and Los Angeles. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to the Surfrider Foundation. The VIP hour is from 2-3 pm with general admission from 3-7 pm. Tickets: $100 for general tickets, $200 for VIP.
LIT FEST: LitFest Pasadena—a book festival/crawl that takes over Pasadena’s Playhouse District—begins on Saturday at 5 pm at Vroman’s with a reading from restaurant critic Ruth Reichl. She’s reading from her first novel, Delicious! At 6 pm, the crawl heads down El Molino Avenue for readings, talks, music and performances at Zona Rosa Caffe, Monopole Wine, Little Junebugs and in front of the Pasadena Playhouse. Special guests are expected throughout the evening. Free.
SCI-FI / HORROR READINGS: The next installment of Shades & Shadows, a storytelling series dedicated to dark fantasy, horror and science fiction, happens at the California Institute of AbnormalArts in NoHo at 8:30 pm. The evening brings together six authors who read from their own works for seven minutes each. Authors on the program include: Mike Buckley, Mike Robinson, Michael Paul Gonzalez, Adam Cushman, Sherri Smith and Carl Crew. Tickets: $10 at the door.
MUSIC : The free music series Saturdays Off the 405 is back at the Getty Center on Saturday with a live performance by Jonathan Wilson, who keeps the sounds alive of the “Laurel Canyon folk-rock tradition and the epically orchestrated psychedelic prog-rock genre with contemporary relevance.” Also closing the night is DJ Farmer Dave. Enjoy refreshments outdoors and take in the views and laugh at the people on the 405. Free.
ART: The Craft & Folk Art Museum (across the street from LACMA) holds an opening reception for its latest exhibitions: A Sense of Balance: The Sculpture of Stoney Lamar; Darío Escobar: Broken Circle, and Empire of Love Shack. Artist gallery talks begin at 6 pm with the reception from 7-9 pm. Free to members, and $12 admission for the general public.
ART: LACMA Muse presents International Museum Nightbeginning at 8 pm at the museum. Guests can take tours, explore the galleries of art from around the world and share stories with Radio Picture Show. The galleries remain open until 11 pm. All guests will receive drink tickets for two glasses of wine provided by the Naked Grape. A full cash bar and food for purchase will be available until 11 pm. Tickets: $20 for LACMA members $20, $30 for the general public.
ART : Giant Robot presents House of Daydreamers, a solo exhibition featuring the painted and 3D work of the Japanese-born, L.A.-based self-taught artist Yoskay Yamamoto. Music provided by Kalin Charles. The reception with the artist takes place at Giant Robot 2 on Saturday from 6:30-10 pm . The show will remain on view through June 4.
MR. SHOW ART: NerdMelt holds an opening party on Saturday from 7-11 pm for The Mr. Show Show: An Artistic Tribute to Mr. Show With Bob & David. The HBO sketch comedy show with Bob Odenkirk and David Cross is still beloved by many, even years after cancellation in 1998. Dozens of artists are participating in the show, with many of them in attendance, along with cast members and other surprises. The event is free, and if that weren’t enough, the drinks are free, too. The works remain on view through May 24.
COMEDY / VARIETY :Lost Moon Radio is celebrating its fifth anniversary with a one-night-only extravaganza on Saturday at Cafe-Club Fais Do Do. The evening features Lost Moon Radio’s favorite sketches and songs, live-band karaoke, surprise guests and free birthday cake. The party starts at 8:30 pm and tickets are $20.
MUSIC: Good bill at the Viper Room Saturdaywith: Toy Bombs, Black Hi-Lighter and Washing Machines. 8:30 pm. Tickets: $10.
ART : Gallery Brown in Los Angeles opens the exhibition Thanks for the Memories, featuring the “light painting” photographic works of 2wenty (an L.A. photographer and artist). The opening reception takes place from 6-9 pm with the show remaining on view through June 13.
SUNDAY, MAY 18
Mini Cinema Screening Trailer (May 18th) from Mini Cinema on Vimeo.
FILM: Mini Cinema is an entertainment company that bring short film screenings to the public at large five times a year. This no-rush-hour-through-Beverly Hills edition of Mini Cinema is at the Laemmle Music Hall Theater in Beverly Hills at 11 am on Sunday. The program features the shorts: “Cargo,” “Sorry Baby,” “9 Meters,” “ReMoved” and “Always a Fire.” The screening is free, or $5 for the VIP experience (front of line and reserved seating).
REINVENTING LOS ANGELES: KCRW and Helms Bakery present the program Reinventing the Wheel: The Future of Mobility in Los Angeles. Frances Anderton hosts and is conversation with speakers Harald Belker (car designer for Batman and Robin, Minority Report, Anki), Geoff Wardle (Art Center College of Design), Craig Hodgetts (UCLA's Hyperloop Suprastudio), Michael Lejeune (Creative Director Metro Los Angeles) and KCRW's own Kajon Cermak about “how to stay moving in a city that's gridlocked.” Join a like-minded crowd to check out exhibits, talk about city bikes, concept cars, mass transit and more for L.A. Music by KCRW DJ Aaron Byrd, complimentary beer from Father's Office and food truck offerings. Doors at noon, and the event begins at 1 pm. Tickets: $15.
ART WALK: Venice Family Clinic’s Art Walk & Auctions this year takes over Google’s offices in Venice on Sunday. The day features a 350-piece silent art auction as well as about 50 local art studios that are all within a two-mile radius of Google. Featured studios/exhibitions: Zaina Alwan, CAVE Gallery, Corinne Chaix, Laddie John Dill, Jean Edelstein, Elizabeth Orleans, EIS Studio, Alejandro Gehry, Maria Greenshields-Ziman, Natasha Maidoff, Pamela Weir-Quiton and Art Venti. Entrance to the community celebration and silent auction is free, but there the studio tour is a separately ticketed event. Tour prices start at $50. Community party runs from noon-6 pm while the tours run form noon-4 pm.
OPERA : The LA Opera brings A Streetcar Named Desire to the stage for three performances only, beginning on Sunday at 5 pm. Renée Fleming steps into the iconic Blance Dubois role, with Evan Rogister conducting André Previn's adaptation of Tennessee Williams’ classic play. With a jazz-inflected score, the opera features bass-baritone Ryan McKinny is Stanley Kowalski and soprano Stacey Tappan as Stella. The production is also being staged on May 21 and 24. Tickets: $18-$334.
Related:
Your Ultimate Guide To May: 20 Cool Events Happening In Los Angeles
Your Guide to Outdoor Movie Screenings in Los Angeles
Want the 411 on additional events and happenings in LA? Follow @LAist or me (@christineziemba) on Twitter.
