If you go to Betalevel's website for their next event you'll find a bunch of psycho-babble and obscure expressions in German. If you go to Betalevel's next event, Late Night Snack, you'll find an eclectic group of intellectuals and artists showing off in a basement in Chinatown. The good news is, you are encouraged to show off too. There will be new forms of performance art and discussion as well as snacks.

Tuesday Mar. 6 9:30pm
Late Night Snack
Betalevel
Chinatown

Directions:
1. Find yourself in front of FULL HOUSE RESTAURANT located at 963 N. Hill Street in Chinatown.
2. Locate the alley on the left hand side of Full House.
3. Walk about 20 feet down the alley (away from the street).
4. Stop.
5. Notice dumpster on your right hand side.
6. Take a right and continue down the alley.
7. Exercise caution so as not trip on the wobbly cement blocks underfoot
8. The entrance to Betalevel is located 10 yards down on left side, behind a red door, down a black staircase.


Image from betalevel.com.

Labels: art, events, performances

The Academy Awards are a second Christmas around these parts. I'm one of those hopeless movie lovers who will sit through the entire grueling pace of a show and ooh and aw through the pre-show even. ABC's pre-show lacked that certain panache - mainly showing any piece of the red carpet. Did everyone show up late this year? Were the cameras blocked by cameras from other networks? It didn't make any sense to keep cutting back to Randolph Duke talking about the gowns and never actually see the gowns. Even Seacrest over at E! had a hard time getting some face time with the nominees. Personally, I liked J-Hud's get-up when no one else seemed to. J-Lo's Marchesa goddess/60s throwback frock was my favorite. Helen Mirren proves actresses over a certain age are still hot. Ellen was a hilarious host but a safe host. The gospel number at the beginning could have been a page from her talk show but the myspace shots with Spielberg and Eastwood were incredibly charming. It would truly be incredible if the producers of the Super Bowls ever got their hands on the Oscar telecast. I don't think the country will sit through another yawnfest of poorly picked clip montages. The antics of modern dance troupe Pilobolus were ingenious. Please give an Emmy to the writers behind the song sung by Will Ferrel, Jack Black and John C. Reilly. Rhyming "Ralph Nader" with "gay coal mining movie with James Spader"? Genius.

The gallery.




Some more trivial trivia to impress the water cooler crowd:

- The Departed is a remake of the film Infernal Affairs, a Chinese film, not Japanese as mis-announced over the crowd when the best screenplay winner accepted his trophy.

- Peter O'Toole is now the most nominated actor to not win a trophy with 8 attempts. He did however receive a lifetime achievement statuette in 2002.

- Kate Winslet is the youngest most nominated actress at 31 with 5 to her name.

- You are more likely to win a best actor/actress award if you play someone famous. (Idi Amin, Ghandi, The Queen, June Carter Cash, Aileen Wuornos, etc..)

Trivial trivia gathered from the Academy Awards database.

Labels: film, reviews, television, videos

Sunday March 18, lil' indie artspace GhettoGloss is hosting Krafworks - a gathering of local artisans along with bands, DJs and hipster fashion ogglers. They are still looking to fill their parking lot. The more new vendors the better, I say. Get your wares in order and $50 buys you a spot.

Email ghettogloss@ghettogloss.com for Applications.

Applications and entry fee must be in before March 13, 2007.

Labels: DIY, events, local

This morning at Egret Park Mayor Villarogioa and Councilman Reyes unveiled the LA River Revitalization Plan.

Workshops have been held over the last 16 months to determine a plan to green 32 miles of the LA river that flows through downtown. Now included in the Revitalization Plan are processes to modify the river's channel itself in order to sustain a healthy environment. Along with the city identifying flood concerns, there's also a sensitivity to urban development along the river. A plan to make a walking path along the river has been in the works since the mid 90s with controversy but ultimately good intentions.
Contrary to what the Mulhollands made Angelenos think, the LA river has always been a natural waterway, dry in the summer and protecting from floods during the rain. Many neighborhoods can benefit from a revitalization in the forms of parks and prettier scenery but everyone especially benefits from an environment protected from over-development and species degradation.

You can voice your opinions and hear more info at these upcoming hearings sponsored by The City Project.

Saturday, February 24, 2007:
10:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Hollenbeck Middle School
2510 E. 6th St., Boyle Heights

Tuesday, February 27:
6:30-9:00 p.m.
Canoga Park High School Auditorium
6850 Topanga Canyon Blvd., Canoga Park

Wednesday, February 28:
6:30-9:00 p.m.
Metropolitan Water District Board Room
700 N. Alameda St., Los Angeles

Labels: environmental, local, politics

Furniture and design store DWR, has never really lived up to its name. They put out fabulous displays of mid-century modern designs but never really fall into the Design Within Reach category they call themselves. I am a big fan of the modern icons like the Eames because they seamlessly blended form and function as well as created beautiful furniture out of materials that could be inexpensively reproduced. Those famous chairs show up at DWR today as reproductions for exuberant prices. Collectors troll every flea market for the originals and design students furnish their apartments with IKEA. The gap for design within everyone's reach is wide wide wide. Which is why a little design contest with a bourgeoisie item is fun fun fun.





The winning chairs, as well as the runners up pictured above, will tour DWR stores next month in a champagne fueled reception sponsored by Veuve Clicquot (the good stuff).

March 20 6:00-8:00pm
451 Manhattan Beach Blvd.
Manhattan Beach

March 22 6:00-8:00pm
60 West Green St.
Pasadena

April 3 6:00-8:00pm
393 7th Ave.
San Diego

Labels: design, events

With a long weekend to look forward to, what better way to wrap up the Monday night than booze and bingo?
After a rockin' time at Bigfoot Lodge's Sunday night Bingo last week I realized that Bingo hangovers are much better than the usual Monday morning hangover. So to be faithful to my favorite Bingo callers, Bingo Boy and the incomparable Smokey Lounge, I am re-posting their invite to Bingo this Monday night at Akbar. I've also re-printed their presidential facts, in case you haven't gotten enough President's Day trivia.

Dear Bingo Freaks,

HAPPY PRESIDENT'S DAY! For your enjoyment, a bit of trivia about George Washington and Abraham Lincoln:

GEORGE WASHINGTON
Washington was the only Founding Father to free his slaves.

He was the only president who did not live in Washington D.C.

As a farmer, Washington grew marijuana on his farm and promoted it's growth.

As a farmer, he is credited with introducing the mule to America.

ABRAHAM LINCOLN
Lincoln had a cat named "Bob," a turkey named "Jack," and a dog named "Jib."

He was the first president to be photographed at his inauguration. John Wilkes Booth (his assassin) can be seen standing close to Lincoln in the picture.

Lincoln was the only president to receive a patent, for a device for lifting boats over shoals.

Abraham Lincoln was shot while watching a performance of Our American Cousin at Ford's Theatre in Washington, D.C. The same play was also running at the McVerick Theatre in Chicago on May 18, 1860, the day Lincoln was nominated for president in that city.

Lincoln's favorite sport was wrestling. (Hence all of those "Lincoln was gay" rumors).

In honor of these two great presidents, AKBAR, the coolest bar in Silverlake is presenting CLUB LUCKY BALLS- an evening of Martini-scented Bingo (don't bring the kids).

Hosted by BINGO-BOY and SMOKEY LOUNGE, the night will rock with ten games, ten prize packages (including top shelf booze) and will benefit THE LIFE GROUP L.A. The Life Group LA is a coalition of people dedicated to the education, empowerment and emotional support of persons both infected and affected by HIV/AIDS so that they may make informed choices and decisions regarding their healthcare and personal well being.

A great cause and a great way to round out your three day weekend. Give a little, get a lot!

Love,
Bingo Boy

Monday Feb. 19
Club Lucky Balls Bingo @ Akbar
4356 Sunset Blvd. & Fountain
Parking in back
Bingo starts at 9:00pm
Suggested donation $20 for 10 games - that's double down cards for each game!

Labels: bars, events, games

From the man that brought you the Cremaster cycle and the woman who brought swan dresses to the public eye - Art superstar couple Matthew Barney and Bjork teamed up in 2005 to make Drawing Restraint 9. Like Barney's Cremaster films, this exists as a part of a whole art installation (#9 of 12). The Drawing Restraint series focus on the concept of athlete as artist. Barney was influenced by Houdini and continues his quest into human body manipulation, also reminiscent of Cremaster. The only cinematic part in the series, Drawing Restraint the film explores Japanese traditions at an extreme-mundane pace.

Barney's passion for petroleum jelly and fetish exploration are here along with elaborate costumes as he uniquely depicts whale hunting, pearl diving and tea ceremonies. Bjork provides the soundtrack. Fans of the Icelandic princess will not be disappointed. Her haunting melodies go hand in hand with Barney's disturbing behavior. Bjork and Barney take center stage also as the film's protagonists. Simply known as the Occidental couple, they are the audience's portal to the strange Eastern ceremonies and fall in love through precise choreography aboard a whaling ship. The ship ultimately swallows the couple when it becomes a giant teacup. Should one need explanation, the making-of documentary, No Restraint, plays along with the feature all weekend.

American Cinemateque Egyptian Theater
6712 Hollywood Blvd.

Thurs. & Fri. Feb. 15/16 Spielberg Theatre
No Restraint (documentary) 7:30 & 9:30pm
2006, 72 min.

Sat.& Sun. Feb. 17/18 Spielberg Theater
No Restraint 5:00 & 9:30pm

Drawing Restraint (feature) 7:00pm
2005, 135 min.

Labels: art, events, film

Just in time for Valentine's Day, aka The Lonely Hearts Club Extravaganza Orgy, watch the agony of love in Ten West's chilling tale set to Johnny Cash's "Hurt". A tragic enactment with Barbie dolls, of course, starring 1/2 of Ten West's amazing post-modern vaudevillian duo, Jon Monastero. I saw him perform this live recently and while the impact of the ending is best experienced on stage, this video comes very close.



Catch Ten West's next live show and you won't be sorry.
Playing practically nightly at 24th Street Theater.

Labels: performances, videos

A: Because Mayor Villaraigosa plans to make LA a WiFi city.

Via Laist.com, Villaraigosa and team kicked off the first stage today which is to hire a tech expert to design the infrastructure needed to make every corner of our city a free wireless internet access point. The plan is to have a city wide high-speed wireless network by 2009. A plan in the works exists downtown already. You can access a "hot spot" at Pershing Square, for example, for a small amount of time once you log in to LA WiFi. They call it the "unwired Pershing Square" now. Like a college library, these internet spots are not encouraging 24/7 use, just quick ways to access free info. Villaraigosa hopes to address a handful of issues with this large scale plan such as public building needs, internet in the classroom, internet for the poor, and emergency use. Imagine - in a couple years if you were stuck downtown in an earthquake you could just find the nearest Red Cross station or Google for up to the minute facts.

Labels: local, politics

Ah... Skylight Books. How I love to linger and peruse you aisle by aisle. And now you're even hosting one of my favorite poets of all time. Formally known as LeRoi Jones, then inspired by Malcolm X gave up his slave name, Amiri Baraka was an important voice in the San Francisco Beat scene. Black History books and plays also fall under his impressive body of work. He reads from his new collection of short stories Tales of the Out and Gone Thursday at 7:30pm.

Amiri Baraka in person
Thursday Feb. 15 7:30pm
Skylight Books
1818 N. Vermont
Los Feliz


A Poem for Speculative Hipsters
Amiri Baraka

He had got, finally,
to the forest
of motives. There were no
owls, or hunters. No Connie Chatterleys
resting beautifully
on their backs, having casually
brought socialism
to England.
Only ideas,
and their opposites
Like,
he was really
nowhere.

Labels: books, events, politics

Thursday is the new Friday and Monday is the new Saturday. Get with the program and expand your weekend already. All dates 2/9-2/12.

* I dig the short and sweet interview LA Weekly held with Great Northern. The Silver Lake darlings play Spaceland Monday night 10:00pm.

* Ultraluxx is at it again at Mountain Bar. Saturday night is an early Valentine's Day FREE heart-themed bash with DJ's and dancing all night.

* The 15th Annual Art of Motion Picture Design showcases over 100 costumes from this year's Oscar Nominees all week starting this Saturday. FIDM Museum Galleries, Downtown. Viewings daily 10:00am-4:00pm.

* Hip-hop influenced indie dudes The Height perform with their homey Raw Bear at The Smell Saturday night just in time for curfew. 8:00pm in the eclectic line-up of Shelley Short, Alexis Gideon and Tanks.

* Courtesy of my new favorite art site SourHarvest.com : their nicely layed-out schedule may be a little behind the week, but scroll down to find Saturday's listings which include a benefit art auction in Culver City. Everyone's favorite street artists turned industry debutantes will be selling their interpretations of vintage paint by numbers to benefit LA's own The Alliance for Children's Rights including: Paul Frank, Shepard Fairey, Gary Baseman, Camille Rose Garcia, Isabel Samaras, Shag, Gary Panter, Tim Biskup and more more more. @ Corey Helford Gallery, Culver City. Public viewing begins 10:00pm.

Labels: art, design, events, music

Hey kids. Get your drinking and drawing on this Saturday. Designated drawers need not apply.

Labels: art, comics, events

Courtesy of apartmenttherapy.com LA, I sampled this new project in which photographer Patrick Ecclesine attempts to capture the many lives on the entire 25 mile strip of Sunset Boulevard. Faces of Sunset Blvd. is an online photo essay broken up by neighborhood. You can slickly travel the website from Downtown to the Palisades and meet a couple residents. The people Ecclesine captured are stereotypical on a grandiose scale. You kind of have to expect it from a project that set out to recreate a cinematic feel in a city built by the entertainment industry. Ecclesine calls Los Angeles "the city best known for the manufacturing and packaging of fiction" but what his highly photoshopped images document is everyday people in what he assumes is the everyman's dream - starring in the opening credit sequence of some action flick on Sunset Blvd.

The movies and effects on Ecclesine's site drive home this simple metaphor even more. Titles pop at you as if you're in the back room of a seedy trailer and effects house. Every neighborhood is given a soundtrack you can listen to as you glance the photos and read the individual's testimonials. Echo Park gets an urban groove (we know it's urban because there are cop car sirens in the background) while Palisades goes for a groovy surfer vibe. The only unique moments in this whole online experience come in a couple of quotes from the participants. Henry Winkler and his son Max are adorable. The doctors of Kaiser Permanente are a little disturbing. The only new information I took away from the experience is seeing the vast indiscrepancies of per capita income. Silverlake: $17 thousand versus Bel Air: $107,412.

Lately I've been walking into the LA vs. NY debate where every self-righteous Manhattanite is at a loss when they encounter someone who actually prefers Los Angeles over their precious island. While this photo essay could easily be another 9/11 memorial piece (there's that epic slice-of-life quality) it also enforces all the stereotypes an outsider sees - Hollywood is full of actors; people get shot downtown; old Asian men are amusing. But the photographer is Angeleno born and raised. Maybe he really is a product of his environment.

Labels: art, reviews

Those of you still recovering from your Sundance sniffles and hangovers will be happy to know the fascinating documentary screenings do not stop in Utah. This Thursday night join the filmmakers of Frank & Cindy, for a free screening of this new documentary. Frank & Cindy is a film of the cinema verite flavor. Filmmaker G.J. Echternkamp turned the cameras on his stepdad Frank, a one-hit wonder pop song writer who now lives in the basement of the filmmaker's mom's house "drinking zinfandel all day and peeing into coffee cans". The Grey Gardens references are already flying as the doc's premise becomes a much more intimate portrait of human nature and inescapable family ties. Ira Glass' new "This American Life" TV show will be devoting an entire episode to Frank's story. Showtime starts airing the show March 22.

Thursday, Feb. 8
Frank & Cindy - Free Screening
7:30pm Sharp
Fine Arts Theater
8556 Wilshire Blvd.
Beverly Hills

Free Parking at the Flynt Building
8484 Wilshire Blvd.

Labels: events, film, local

Yesterday was ridiculously warm. I spent the afternoon pre-super bowl festivities strolling LosFeliz. I made sure to leave the house with obligatory Sunday Times for the crossword puzzle, and with obligatory latte and obligatory dog to walk had no hands left for a camera. Wish I had captured every beautiful person in their resurrected summer wardrobe. Breezy dresses and over-sized sunglasses were everywhere and a couple celeb sightings on Vermont Ave: Nathan Corddry, the adorable "Studio 60" comic, who walks pigeon-toed, grabbing a bite at Greco's; Eclectic songstress Sia walking out of Skylight Books with a dog almost as adorable as mine.*

*not really my dog.

Labels: celeb sighting, local

That's Spanish for Fish Circus, who is not a Spanish band, but will be playing at the Spanish themed club El Cid tomorrow night. El Cid's dank atmosphere makes me feel like I'm in a dungeon. I'm tempted to make a tasteless Inquisition joke here but will refrain. Fish Circus plan to brighten things up with a raucous acoustic set that includes accordions and gypsy dances. Show starts at 11:00pm. Fellow Glendale band Tallulah Sound Experiment go on after. Join the closet polka fanatics and music school drop outs at the bar.

Friday, Feb. 2
El Cid
4212 Sunset
Silver Lake

Labels: events, music