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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.
FRIDAY, JULY 25
PHOTOGRAPHY: The Photo Gallery in Highland Park (5625 N Figueroa St.)—a former processing and printing shop—went out of business with the rise of digital photography. On Friday, though, it turns into a gallery that pays homage to old school black-and-white analog photography and opens an exhibition featuring the works of Jacqueline Elaine Gomez, Raymond Del Pilar Potes and Jason Roberts Dobrin. Friday’s opening party is from 6-10 pm and the show runs through Aug. 2.
NATURE NIGHT: The Natural History Museum presents Summer Nights in the Garden on Friday from 5-9 pm. The museum’s newest summer series features KCRW DJ Anthony Valadez spinning ambient tunes in the Nature Garden while there are performances, tours and workshops throughout the night. Sip on a garden-inspired cocktail as you walk through the gardens or bring a picnic or enjoy food from the trucks onsite. Admission is free (to the gardens only) with RSVP.
ZOO MUSIC: Roaring Nights, the LA Zoo's summer music party series, continues on Friday with live music by Kiven and Queen Caveat and DJ Caroline D’Amore spinning. There’ll be dancing, cocktails, food trucks (Coolhaus, Komodo, Lobsta Truck, Mandoline Grill, Ragin Cajun, The Grilled Cheese Truck, Umami Truck and Urban Oven), zoo keeper talks and, of course, animals. 18+. Tickets: $18.
DRINK: Whiskey Red's in Marina Del Rey launches a Whiskey & Cigar Night on Fridays. On the last Friday of every month, starting July 25, Bulleit provides whiskey tastings, and Hollywood Smoke brings expert cigar makers and rollers to educate attendees on quality cigars. Also enjoy $5 Bulleit Whiskey Drinks and $5 Cigars from Hollywood Smoke. Email whiskeyreds@srcmail.com or call 310-823-4522 to reserve a spot on the patio. 5-10 pm.
COMEDY: The Shit Show, a stand-up comedy showcase, is at The Good Nite in North Hollywood on Friday at 7:30 pm. Hosted by Ever Mainard (Just for Laughs) with the Hot Dog Men (Joe McAdams and Ryan Walker), the lineup includes headliner Bryan Cook (Competitive Erotic Fan Fiction), Monika Scott, Mollie Merkal, David Cope and Nina Daniels. Tickets: $10 (buy one, get one free).
COMEDY: The Groundlings invite you to play a revealing and (at moments) uncomfortable game of Truth or Groundlings with the main stage cast at The Groundlings Theatre. The new show of improv and comedy sketches will “reveal more about yourself than you ever thought you would.” 8 pm on Fridays and 8 pm and 10 pm on Saturdays through Sept. 27. Opening night tickets: $50 (includes cocktails from Tito’s Vodka and hors d'oeuvres from Smoke Oil Salt).
FILM : Underwhelmed by that 50 Shades of Grey trailer? Then head to Cinefamily on Friday forSexperiments: A collection of turned-on shorts paired with the feature Christmas on Earth (with a live score by White Rainbow). The program presents films by experimental artists who explored alternate views of sex and love. In the feature presentation by Barbara Rubin of Warhol’s Factory, she had participants don tribal body paint as they “proceeded to explore each other every which way but loose.” Tickets: $12/free for members. 8 pm.
SATURDAY, JULY 26
KITTENPALOOZA: Kittenpalooza is spcaLA’s annual cats and kittens adoption event (at the South Bay Pet Adoption Center in Hawthorne). On Saturday, July 26 from 10am to 4pm, all cats and kittens are available for adoption for $18.77. The adoption fee includes the spay/neuter surgery, certificate for free health examination by participating VCA Animal Hospital, current vaccines and microchip, and a temporary carrier. Adopters receive a goodie bag.
OLD FILM: The American Cinematheque (at the Egyptian Theatre) continues its Retrospective of D.W. Griffith's Biograph Films, Part 5, featuring 8mm shorts by Griffith. Highlights include: Guy Hedlund and Jack Pickford in “A Modern Prodigal,” Dorothy West in the Salem witch trials drama, “Rose o' Salem Town,” Charles West in the romantic drama “The Message of the Violin” and a comedy about a husband's infidelity, “Winning Back His Love.” Live musical accompaniment by Cliff Retallick. The program’s being held at the Spielberg Theatre at the Egyptian at 7:30pm. Tickets: $11.
LIT: On Saturday at 5 pm at Skylight Books, John Albert, Jonathan Gold and Lauren Weedman read their works from the anthology We Dropped A Bomb On You: The Best of Slake I-IV (Rare Bird Books). Also featured in the compendium of essays, fiction, and photo essays from the first four issues of the Slake literary journal Slake are previously unpublished work by Aimee Bender, Mark Z. Danielewski, Dana Goodyear, Iris Berry, Jerry Stahl and others.
MUSIC: The Getty Center’s Saturdays Off the 405 seriesreturns on Saturday from 6-9 pm with an evening of live music, great views, refreshments and, of course, art. Live music by Caught a Ghost with DJ Travis Holcombe also performing. Free; no reservations required.
CRAFT FAIR: The Renegade Craft Fair brings its summer market to Grand Park in DTLA on Saturday and Sunday from 11 am to 6 pm. The free event has lined up more than 250 makers, crafters, DJs spinning tunes, and food and drink purveyors. Workshops will be held throughout the weekend, too.
ART PARTY : On Saturday night from 7-10 pm, The Geffen Contemporary at MOCA holds the closing party of the Mike Kelley exhibition. The evening features DJ sets by Psychopop, Friendzone, FUXUS, Dangel xxx, Jason Yates, and mr.imd; food trucks, a cash bar and other happenings. Free with RSVP.
FILM: NewFilmmakers Los Angeles (NFMLA) holds its monthly screening of new short films and a feature at AT&T Center in Downtown LA on Saturday night. The first short program begins at 6:15 pm, followed by a second slate of films at 7:15 pm. The feature screening—Cry Now by Alberto Barboza—begins at 9 pm. There are pre-and post-receptions for each program to meet the actors and crew. Tickets: $5 online or $7 at the door or $15 for an all-night access pass, which includes complimentary drinks.
FOOD CLUSTER TRUCK : Angel City Brewery holds a food cluster truck competition in which several trucks are invited to create a dish with a special ingredient. Guests vote on their favorites. This month’s choice is grilled cheesewith Dogtown Dog, Slanging Corea, Canvas and Midnight Mission’s take on the challenge. 12-6 pm. Winner announced at 6:30 pm.
MUSIC : The free music series Country in the City continues this weekend in Culver City with sets from Shelby Lynne and Jamestown Revival. Sponsored by the Annenberg Foundation and KCRW, the evening kicks off at 5 pm with a DJ set from Chris Douridas. Live music begins at 7 pm. The series is inspired by Country: Portraits of an American Sound at the Annenberg Space for Photography. RSVP needed.
ART PERFORMANCE: Actual Size gallery presents #TeamFollowBack, an interactive performance piece that explores the hashtag and its “socio-cultural implications and bewildering energies.” At noon, C.W. Moss embarks on a 12-hour performance in which he will “uninhibitedly follow individuals for a maximum period of two hours IRL. Moss will go wherever they may go, joining in whatever they may do—in exchange for them Following his online social media accounts.” First come, first served for participatory slots.
SUNDAY, JULY 27
SILENT FRISCO : Silent Frisco takes over the Santa Monica Pier’s West End bringing an invasion of music lovers and dancers. The Silent Frisco Seaside Soireé opens its run on Sunday and continues every Sunday through Sept. 21 from 2-9 pm. The event explores DJ culture—throwing together as many as seven DJs in an “ambitious cross section of sound sent directly to 2-channel wireless headphones worn by the audience.” There are two programs: the “Sunshine Sessions” from 2-5pm featuring dreamy daytime beats; “Sunset Showdowns” take over the headphones from 5-9pm. Tickets: $10-$15.
FILM: In memory of Broadway legend Elaine Stritch, Arena Cinema Hollywood screens the documentary Elaine Stritch: Shoot Me (2013) for a limited run. The portrait captures Stritch in her late 80s, funny as ever, as well as her life’s struggles. The film plays Sunday at 3 pm; July 29 and July 31 at 6:15 pm Tickets: $12.
MUSIC: The Petersen Museum’s afternoon concert series continues on Sunday from 2-6 pm with live music by Conway. Tickets: $17-$20 and includes a free BMW Ride & Drive and museum access. Snacks and cocktails available for purchase. 21+.
FILM: Old Pasadena Outdoor Film Festival—the largest, free open-air film screening series in California—finishes its month-long run of 23 free movies throughout Pasadena with the screening The 7th Voyage of Sinbad (1958), featuring the great visual effects of the late Harryhausen, at Central Park with music and food at 7 pm and the screening at 8:30 pm.
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