Christine N. Ziemba

Work by the artist Smear. (Image courtesy of The Site Unscene) RAP BATTLE Red Bull EmSee: Los Angeles hits the Echoplex tonight to choose LA’s Freestyle King. The invite-only competition challenges eight emcees to freestyle battle against each other and the clock in three rounds. They have to test their mind and their rhyming skills. Spontaneous cues throughout the night will help induce the the emcees’ flow. Guest judges and performers are Kurupt, Chali...

David Simon, left, creator/executive producer of the HBO series 'Treme,' is at ALOUD at the Central Library tonight. Pictured above with cast member Wendell Pierce, center, and fellow creator/executive producer Eric Overmyer. (Chris Pizzello, file) SCHOOL NIGHT MUSIC It’s a School Night features an evening of both live music and DJ sets at Bardot in Hollywood. On tonight’s bill are DJs Chris Douridas (9 pm), Gayngs (11 pm) and Them Jeans (12:30 am). Live...

Photo by Lord Jim (Stefan Kloo) via LAist's flickr pool. NHM FIRST FRIDAYS* Tonight’s the last First Friday of the season at the Natural History Museum in Exposition Park. So it’s your chance to get educated while rocking out at the same time. Tours and discussions begin at 5:30 and topics include shells and the dinosaur-bird connection. The music begins at 8 pm with live performances by Gayngs and Dirty Beaches. KCRW DJs Anthony...

It's Caviar 101 Night at Petrossian in WeHo. (Photo by foodforfel via LAist's flickr pool.) THEATER ON THE BIG SCREEN Los Angeles Theatre Works presents an HD screening of The Importance of Being Earnest from Roundabout Theatre’s Tony-nominated Broadway production. Angelenos have a chance to watch the Oscar Wilde comedy, directed by and starring Tony-nominee Brian Bedford, in a still-running Broadway production. It's cheaper than a plane ticket to New York. Held at the...

The Buttermilk Truck is incognito this week. For the past few days, the Geffen Playhouse has commandeered The Buttermilk Truck to spread the word about its current production: Superior Donuts. The truck has been tooling around the city as the Superior Donuts Truck and selling their scrumptious cake donuts—three for $2.50 and five for $4—under a new moniker. (We'll let you have a guess at the sweet treat's name.) Superior Donuts, written by Pulitzer...

On display through June 30: 'What Graffiti is to New York - Street Art is to Los Angeles' at the Sunset Marquis Hotel's Maximillian Gallery. (Giclée print by Smog City: 'Smog City, California.') FILM* The second installment of The Los Angeles Conservancy’s Last Remaining Seats welcomes LA historian/pop culture enthusiast Charles Phoenix and actress Susan Luckey to a screening of The Music Man at the Los Angeles Theater tonight at 8 pm. The Technicolor...

David Mamet, left, and Ricky Jay sign books at Largo last year. The two continue the banter at the Hammer tonight. (Photo: Christine N. Ziemba for LAist). DISCUSSION* Magician Ricky Jay and playwright David Mamet are back together on stage at 7 pm at the Hammer Museum tonight. The long-time friends and collaborators—who met up at Largo last year—will probably discuss their works, their friendship and the road to “success” (but who really knows?)...

A few ideas for some things to do on this Memorial Day holiday in L.A. including a benefit rummage sale, a wine fest in Downtown, a country fair, and a free day at LACMA.

Still from 'Twist & Blood,' a short film by Kuba Czekaj which screens as part of NewFilmmakers LA tonight at Sunset Gower Studios. ART ARTBOOK @ Paper Chase and The Ice Plant host a one-hour lecture and Q&A on Frogs and Mushrooms, based on Jason Fulford’s books The Mushroom Collector and Raising Frogs for $ $ $. The evening includes anecdotes, short videos and music. Book signing and keyboard music afterward during cocktail reception....

'Baggage & Freedom,' an art show from D. Ross (Scribe) opens at Gallery 1988 tonight. (Photo courtesy of gallery). ART
 Gallery1988: Melrose presents the solo exhibit Baggage & Freedom with works by Kansas City artist D. Ross aka Scribe. The opening reception will be held tonight from 7-10 pm, when G1988 unveils his paintings and sculptures. This show will run through July 1.
 LECTURE In conjunction with the two exhibits Houdini: Art and Magic...

Tonight in LA: Karen Russell and Salvatore Scibona at the Hammer Museum; the LA premiere of 'The Writer'; a new exhibition opens at the LAXART annex, and the LA Conservancy's Last Remaining Seats movie series starts tonight.

Gary Polonsky's Geisha Tuna, 2011, at TAG Gallery in Santa Monica. ART New Exhibition at TAG Gallery in Santa Monica’s Bergamot Station opens today featuring the work of artists Anne M Bray, Patricia Doede Klowden and Gary Polonsky focusing on American Obsessions: Food and Fashion. The exhibition will be up through June 18, with the opening reception on Saturday (May 28) and the artists panel discussion on June 1. FILM There’s a world premiere...