Local gallery and purveyor of all things hipster-y, Ghetto Gloss hosts another Kraftworks flea market on Sunday. If you were a fool like me and dragged yourself over there too late in the day last weekend and realized all the vendors were gone well, now's our round two.

From 11am -5pm local artisans hawk their homemade wares in the Ghetto Gloss parking lot along with hot dogs and cocktails. There will even be a linoleum print blocking workshop for the crafty at 12noon. They're calling it a New York City style flea market. Being a patron of both coasts, I'm not sure how NYC flea markets differ greatly from LA ones. Is it the hot dogs? Is this an obtuse April fool's joke? Better go find out.

Sunday, Apr. 1 11:00am - 5:00pm
Kraftworks Flea Market
Ghetto Gloss
2380 Glendale Blvd.
Silverlake

Labels: art, DIY, events, shopping

My favorite fanzine (a magazine devoted to movements with a fan following) of the moment is Dumb Angel Magazine - an LA publication dedicated to all the fun post-war modernist stuff in California like surf movies and '60s beatnik culture. You can virtually leaf through the blog or order issues online. This week hosted a bunch of obscure Jan & Dean recordings.

Tonight Dumb Angel's editors Dominic Priore & Brian Chidester host a very special screening of a very anomalous film. 1961's Night Tide stars a young, rebellious Dennis Hopper as a wayward sailor strolling Venice beach. He meets a girl (Linda Lawson) who might be an actual mermaid but for the time being plays one in a circus sideshow. Apart from the plotline which flies off the mainstream radar, the film depicts life in Santa Monica as it was in the '60s - a sleepy counterculture community now taken for granted. Filmmaker Curtis Harrington and Dennis Hopper will be at The Egyptian for a Q & A.
Also plays with a short "Venice in the Sixties" plus a slideshow of rare shots from the Beatnik era.

Friday, Mar. 30 7:30pm
Egyptian Theater
6712 Hollywood Blvd.
$10 General Admission

Beatnik Beach Nite continues at the Egyptian Cinemateque...

Saturday, Mar. 31 7:30pm
Double Feature: The Beat Generation & The Connection (A very loose adaptation of Jack Kerouac's "The Subterraneans" - not available on DVD)
In person: Mamie Van Doren
$10 General Admission

Labels: events, film

The concessions and box office staff at the Arclight wear those little nametags with their favorite films. I can't help but comment anytime one of them takes my ticket.
The little exchange goes something like this.

Arclight staff member: "Theater 3 on your left. Enjoy the show."
(riiippp)
Me: "Oh, hey. Willow is one of my favorites too."
Arclight staff member: "...."

Yeah. They rarely respond. Sometimes you can get the box office clerks to bite your witty small talk hook and you might engage in such conversations as which film has a better cheerleading routine, Bring It On or American Beauty, like I have. These people are the closest we have to the video store geeks of my youth. You know, the dudes working the counter who once they found out you liked "independent movies" would scoff at your rental choices and then berate you into a David Lynch debate until you rented something worthy like Dune or Gummo.

The closest experience we will to this is Arclight's very own staff picked movie night. Every Monday night in April will feature a film from yester-year that some Arclight staff member has watched at least a dozen times. They're calling it the "Share The Experience Celebration". While the event's name recalls pyramid scheme seminars listed in the Learning Annex, these films are crowd favorites, so I hope an explanation isn't necessary. They're 21 and up screenings too so you can take that beer in with you. I've seen The Goonies too many times to count but never with Stella Artois and caramel corn. Should be great.

Monday, Apr. 2 8:00pm
Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure

Monday, Apr. 9 8:00pm
The Warriors

Monday, Apr. 16 8:00pm
The Goonies

Monday, Apr. 23 8:00pm
Monty Python and The Holy Grail

Labels: events, film

I didn't pick up the March issue of Los Angeles Magazine because Christina Ricci was on the cover. I had to have it because of the 25 easy tips they detail on how to live more environmentally aware. I agree, living green should be more than a trend. We all need to examine and make changes in our daily routine in order to conserve the precious resources we have. Mainly that just means treating resources preciously. The drought scare and rolling blackouts got Angelenos off their complacent couches but really it's all in the prevention and setting an example can sometimes be the most effective. The office nags getting everyone to recycle was just the start. I'd like to share and elaborate on some of LA magazine's 25 Ways to Go Green Without Going Insane.

#1. Tune Out, Turn Off
Your electrical devices are still on even when they're in standby - in fact, that's the definition of standby. So until you unplug it from the wall, your microwave, computer, TV set, are all sucking off the power grid. Get in the habit of using power surge protectors with the on/off switch. Every time you're going to be away from your house for a while you can just turn off the switch. Your power bill will thank you - especially crucial to you penny pinchers since LA DWP just raised all their rates.

#2. Clean Kindly
Traditional dry cleaning methods are heinous. The chemicals used to treat your delicate suits and treasured blouses are carcinogenic. That means poison in the air, on your clothes/skin and on the hands of the people who treat it for you. California has already pledged to phase out those chemicals by 2023 but there are alternative methods all around town. The South Coast Air Quality Management District lists a bunch of cleaners who have already adopted nontoxic liquids. I've also gotten into the habit of searching advice websites like About.com on alternative cleaning methods. I found out washing silk by hand in a little bit of water and biodegradable soap is actually better for the material. This goes the same for natural fabrics that require delicate care like wools and cottons. Consult the fabric's labels before tossing everything off at your dry cleaners.

Ask.com and websites of the like also feature alternative uses for all kinds of nasty household cleaning products. Baking soda and vinegar top the list of a natural non-toxic clean all solution. A good rule of thumb is that if the odor of the cleaning product is too strong, or the label has a long list of warnings and side effects, you don't want it in your house and your air. Find something gentle.

#3. Plant a Tree.
Simple. If every American family planted a single tree the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere would be reduced by a billion pounds a year. We'd also save $234 billion in environmental and health care costs. Thanks to Tree People and LA's Plant A Million Trees program, you can request a free tree from the city. Just email milliontrees@hbteam.com.
Also be aware when someone wants to remove trees. We can even out the carbon footprint by keeping the ones we already have. Tree People can help you with advocacy plans when new building developments pop up and tress come down.

#4. Bypass the Trash.
More free stuff from the city? No way. But it's true. Most communities offer free classes and resources for composting. The City of LA Bureau of Sanitation gives composting workshops and discounted compost bins to take home with you. The next class is April 28 at Griffith Park.

Anyone with a garden would be foolish not to compost. In less than a year you'll have all the nutrient rich soil you'll need not to mention you can reuse the seeds from your own crops. You'll never be wasting a trip to Home Depot ever again.

#5. Save Water
LA is a semiarid desert. Do not let the coastline fool you. The biggest way to save water in your house (besides turning off the faucet and fixing all leaks) is flushing your toilet. Or not flushing. The editor of treehugger.com employs the if it's yellow let it mellow method. That's the cheapest habit to pick up - or invest in a low-flow toilet. Low-flow means 1.6 gallons or less a flush. A standard top-loader can use up to 9 gallons per cubic foot per flush. That's like the equivalent to letting the hose run wild on the sidewalk for 15 minutes. Low-flow toilets are a standard choice now in most hardware stores and showrooms.

Skipping ahead...

#10 Waste Not.
Filling your recycling bins with plastic bottles is just plain silly. You may think, but I'm recycling, when in actuality your water bottle habit takes up valuable sorting time at the recycling plant and often ends up in landfills anyway. Re-fill as often as possible. Plastic breaks down after a while escpeically when in the sun or in the fridge so you may want to purchase a glass or aluminum bottle. Get a couple from a local camping store. You can keep one in your car, one at your office, and one in your kitchen if you're concerned you'll lose it or not use it.

Another recycle bin clogger is paper, paper, and more paper. Make a resolution right now to make less trash. Buying pre-packages food is a waste. Look for food that doesn't need a bag, a tray or a box to keep it fresh. Trader Joe's cloth bags are great for carrying your groceries if you don't already re-use their paper ones. Their plastic wrapped vegetables are not so great.

If Junk mail seems to take up the bulk of your bin you can request to be removed from mailing lists by contacting the Direct Marketers Association. They have a simple online form but do require a $1 processing fee. Removing yourself can cut back on those pesky telemarketing calls too.

#13. Return to The Natives
One of the best things about living in California is the abundance of native plants. They're as hearty as they are pretty. Planting non-native species just require more water, more time, so more precious resources. I've never met a SoCal landscaper who doesn't offer a low-maintenance native plant garden. Most garden blogs, like Domino Mag's Germanatrix, offer great tips.
FYI: most palm tress are not native to LA but a lot of succulents are. Go to the cactus section first in your garden store before looking at those non-drought resistant expensive flowers.

#17 Clean Your Wheels
Can't clean commute quite yet? I feel your pain. Maintaining your car, hopefully it's a lightweight low emissions/high gas mileage model already, is the next best thing. If your car is not running at its most efficient 'cuz you've got too much junk in the trunk or your tires are low, you're crippling yourself. Your air filter should always be clean too and regular tune ups must happen as often as your oil changes.

#20 Heat Less Water
Contrary to what your grandmother might have told you, hot water does not get you and your clothes cleaner. Detergents kill the germs. So washing your clothes on the cold cycle is not a bad thing. Ridiculously hot showers also do not provide the health benefits past generations preached. Hot water on cold skin actually dries you out faster. Get yourself a good loofah some eco-friendly lotion and learn to love the warm bath. Hot is not necessary and in fact the most wasteful aspect of your already wasteful home water heater. Concerned about your roommates or apartment sharers? Just turn down the water heater a notch at a time. In a while you (and your neighbors) will never know the difference until you get your next power bill.

LA Mag also suggests maximizing the water heater's efficiency with an insulating jacket. Or just toss the thing for a tankless system. The Gas Company will even give you a rebate if your water tank is more than 10 years old. If it is, you better toss it anyway. The old models are just energy suckers.

For all 25 tips pick up the Los Angeles Magazine before it leaves the newsstand (you can spot it 'cuz Christina Ricci is on the cover) or check out any of the environment friendly sites listed above. The green trend has been out there, now we have to be discerning and spot the best use of our resources.

Labels: environmental, newsworthy, shopping

I like reminiscing what making Friday night plans were like before cellphones. You had to actually make plans. If you invariably got stuck in traffic one evening and missed a movie, life would go on. But you would still be inclined to go to the theater to meet your date and apologize in person. Nowadays whenever I make plans to hang out with someone it's never for a specific time. It's always just, "Call me on my cell when you get there."

On a related plane of thought, imagine your day without a computer. What would happen to the world if for just 24 hrs. you shutdown your computer? International Shutdown Day asks you to participate in just such an experiment. And while holding it on a Saturday seems a little weak (most bosses would shoot someone during the week if they missed replying to an email) I applaud their efforts from a purely environmental stance. California's powergrid will breathe a heavy sigh of relief once you actually unplug your appliances from the wall.

The comments on Shutdown Days' site are definitely revealing to the state of international computer users. Most people's first responses are "do video games count?" And if asked what they'll do on the day they say "go outside". As if the outdoors are eliminated from your daily activities when you can stay online all day.

In the words of Le Tigre, encourage all your agoraphobic friends to "Get off the Internet!"
If just for one day.

Labels: environmental, politics

Source: LosAnjealous.com

...This time at the Arclight parking garage. This pic was snapped by a blogger's cell phone. Gentrification strikes again. Why? To make room for a curbside latte and caviar stand, of course.

Labels: local, random

Burned-out perfectly fitting vintage t-shirts are a staple on the Sunset strip. Worn under a perfectly fitting small blazer and both sexes can get past those velvet ropes with those dress codes. Tops and bottoms design team The Secession has dressed Lolita Lohan and wants to dress you too. You probably saw her trip on herself while wearing the popular "I Uzi LA" tee. There's still room at this RSVP only event. For you aspiring LA fashionistas here's a party just for you during LA's Fashion Week. Tonight @ Element in Hollywood.

Labels: events, fashion

If you find yourself searching the related links on YouTube, then you've become aware of phenomenons of similar subjects presented by different video artists from around the globe - As if an impromptu assignment pops up and a mess of people join in. I kept myself entertained today by exploring the phenomenon of Pulp Fiction inspired cartoons. It seems that just as Travis Bickle's "You talking to me?" entered the over-quoted movie lexicon, our generation is hawking the infamous dialogue of Jules & Vincent. Here were my favorites out of the scores of short videos out there.

A Typography project to inspire us all interested in graphic design and animation. By Jarrat Moody, a student at the Savannah College of Art & Design.



This simple cartoon comes from a digital artist in Israel. I especially like how the animation doesn't distract from the sharp rhythm of the dialogue. It also ends up with a kind of anti Burger King commercial at the end.



Short video of homemade figures submitted for a contest by YouTube user Jonnynnoj, 21 years old. I especially like how he captured the exact camera angle and background detail in this unforgettable moment with Harvey Keitel as "The Wolf".

Labels: random, videos

Oh man are we excited. Tonight kicks off the brand spanking new monthly event - Night Hawks at Bootleg Theater.
Prepare to be dazzled. You're my boy, Maurice!

Monday Mar. 19th
Night Hawks: Where The Wild Things Are
Bootleg Theater
2220 Beverly Blvd, (1 blk. West of Beverly & Alvarado)
LA 90057
Plenty of street parking
Doors @ 9:00pm

The lineup:
10:00-10:30 Her Big Hard Jungle Monkey Presents (experimental improvisational rock)
10:30-10:50 Ten West (Vaudevillian comedy duo)
11:00-11:45 The Late Severa Wires (experimental improvisational hardcore rock outta Santa Fe, NM)
11:45-12:00 Artel (American-Russian theater troupe)
12:00-12:15 Illuminati Fire (Fire dancers on the outside deck)
12:15-1:15 Fish Circus (punk/rock/folk cabaret ensemble)
1:15-1:30 Sing Along with Anarchy Jordan & special guests (comedy sketch)

with your DJs: The Regulators of ASK-WEWONK (DJ KC Paradise and Rasputin the Swedish Tsar)
DJ Jason McCabe

Labels: Nighthawks

Justin Chambers from Grey's Anatomy, striking quite the pose outside Undefeated shoe store on Sunset Blvd, Silver Lake. The Sunset Junction is not a catwalk, nor should ever be a catwalk but damn! Junior Mc. Steamy was working it while he waited for a lady friend and possibly the hippest toddler outside of the Bradjelina clan shop inside.

Labels: celeb sighting

Pudgy-girl herself presents a very special slideshow/movie/visual spectacular. Only at Night Hawks.

Monday Mar. 19
Night Hawks @ Bootleg
Doors open 9:00pm
Show 10:00pm
Mayhem and exclusive performances all night long.
Bootleg Theater
2220 Beverly Blvd.
(1 block west of Alvarado - park on Beverly)
Only $5

Fish Circus says: "There is only one Fish Circus but there is more than one way to fish circus."

If you've caught their act at the Silverlake Lounge or El Cid you know Fish Circus provides the most eclectic entertainment in town. Anais Thomassian (The Fishette) leads the boys in gorgeous gypsy-inspired costumes, quite a set of pipes, and often on accordion. Bassist Shahen Hagobian is one tall drink of water. Dan Graziani looks like a cast member of Carnivale and is known to do an impromptu jig while leading the group on fiddle. You're also likely to catch a group of gypsies on trombone, french horn, more accordions, more fiddles, in the group's every mutating repertoire. Night Hawks gives Fish Circus a chance to do what they do best, leave a weird cabaret flavor on the tongue of the crowd. Monday night, they'll hit the stage hard with a percussion-less set and a hardy slap. Don't miss it.


Fish Circus will also be performing the following weekend at The Gazillionaire Show in Las Vegas. Visit the New American Theatre Project for details. I hope the fishies fair well in the desert.

Labels: events, music, Nighthawks

Those lucky college students and daytime degenerates who get to hang out daily at coffee shops, especially those in the Echo Park/ Silver Lake area, have probably been lucky enough to encounter our very own Anarchy Jordan. Known for spreading his political rants through impromptu conversation and scaring yuppies away to get a table for brunch, Anarchy Jordan will be performing an original song for Night Hawks this Monday night. Expect hijinks similar to his now infamous Youtube videos, along with proletariat bashing. In fact, it'll be a sing-a-long. Follow the bouncing ball at Night Hawks and check out his hijacked videos. My favorites are the ones of the Ann Coulter variety:



TV makes me insane. Those ladies don't work. They just look good.


Several of Jordan's videos were removed by YouTube recently under the guise of "containing offensive material" but he just can't be stopped. He keeps creating and re-posting. You can read the arguments and comments from the past pages here.

Anarchy Jordan's website: Live Free or Buy Trying.

Labels: Nighthawks, videos

Naco (rhymes with taco) is the new phase of cool in Mexico and, not to mention, a clothing company. Traditionally "Naco" was Spanish slang for "Tacky" but just like Mr. T gold chains and mullets, what was once hideous is now ridiculously hip. Ok. Maybe not mullets.

Like those lovable redneck lists I give you the tell-tale signs of those possessing a certain Naco (courtesy of today's LA Times article).

I. If you install neon lights around your license plate, you're naco.
II. If you install blacklights under your Acura, you're naco.
III. If you listen to Kiss while wearing a Kiss Army t-shirt, you're naco.
IV. If you wear more than once designer nameplate jewelry at once (Chanel earrings, Versace belt, Dior sunglasses, Voiuton necklace, etc.) you're naco.
V. If you wear sunglasses at night, you're naco.
VI. If you quote Quiet Riot lyrics or can be caught humming at any given moment a Def Leppard song, you're naco.
VII. If you think polyester is formal wear, you're naco.

I could go on all day. The point is, Naco clothing has been around in Mexico City since 1998 but still deserves the accolades for their celver sloganing and constant challenges to the dominant paradigm. Their website hosts some fun facts to get into the world of "Naco" and has choice music picks from the designers themsleves. Thanks to them you can proudly sport a t-shirt that says "Se Habla Espanol" or "Los Ricos Tambien Roban" (The Rich also Rob). As well as "N is for Naco" along with "W is for wetback" and "G is for greencard". Re-inventing a once derogatory word and now celebrating it in good-natured fun is what Naco's all about. Diego Luna, Juanes, and those tough kids in the San Fernando Valley are already fans. Why aren't you?

Naco clothing can be found at:
Aztlan Gallery (various SoCal locations)
Latin Lingo Clothing (Burbank and Northridge)
Bent (S. Pasadena)
Olverta's Village (Downtown)
*Myspace Sale*

Labels: fashion, newsworthy, shopping

The other day Miss Danielle Holland, the visionary of Night Hawks as well as my co-producer, sat down at her laptop. I sat down at my prospective laptop and we had a little iChat. These are the transcripts:

Labels: Nighthawks, random

Once upon a time I moved to Los Angeles without a care in the world and no idea where anything was. Thank goodness for Citysearch to point the direction to a lunchtime bite or a dingy dance club. But which site would I turn to for dentist suggestions, bikini wax confessions, or really how long you had to wait in line to get into The Short Stop and is it worth it? So thank you, thank you Yelp.com - one of many new sites based on reader reviews. Also, reader submitted pictures give you an idea really what somewhere looks like when often a restaurant's webpage can make a mini-mall corner spot look like the Bellagio, and quite possibly just as tacky. You still have to read between the lines to really get the scoop on one Pinkberry versus another, for example. But so many new reviews are added each day - more than I can say for the cobwebs hanging on Citysearch.

The biggest discovery today: Tiki Ti has a calendar. Here I was thinking my favorite summertime bar kept the regular hours of half past whenever we feel like it to time to get the hell outta my bar. Well, the later time I guess is still true. Their website also has a pretty amusing gallery of the regulars - People to think about next time you see the drones of westsiders lining up outside on some weekend waiting to get in.

Labels: bars, reviews, shopping, www.internet.com

Today I had a double helping of gelato in honor of a double celeb sighting.
Sunday started off with brunch at Cliff's Edge. Also brunching on the shady patio, the natural and newly single Mandy Moore.
Then Night Hawks fliers. They're all over Sunset Blvd. now.
Then Gelato. Try almond flavored anything at Pazzo Gelato and you won't be sorry.
Dinner at Cha Cha Cha. Especially spicy everything tonight and no one was complaining.
Gelato for dessert. Also at Pazzo Gelato, Patrick Renna, best know as the funny fat kid from The Sandlot. My whole gelato-eating posse agreed The Sandlot is the best movie made about baseball. Also agreed, lemoncello sorbet = heaven in a dish.

Labels: celeb sighting, food

Once upon a time, playwright Suzan-Lori Parks set out to write a play each day, every day for 1 year. She came up with a collection of very short plays and a very huge theatre movement. Already a hit at various theaters around town, directors take on one or two plays, often direct them in site specific spaces with amazing results. Mr. & Mrs. Kickass Productions with Bootleg bring to the Bootleg Theater seven choice choices. The show is late but short. Enjoy their bar and snacks while you're there and get a sneak peak of the lobby space where Night Hawks will be held.

365 Plays
by Suzan-Lori Parks
Showtimes:
March 9 & 10 @ 10:30pm
FREE
Bootleg Theater (aka host of Night Hawks)
2220 Beverly Blvd.
(213) 389-3856
Ample Street Parking

Directors: Anthony Byrnes, Michael Dunn, Jessica Hanna, Jennifer Li, Robert Prior, Kirk Wilson
Lighting Design: John Eckert
Sound Design: Adam Phalen
Players: Rob Adler, Don Allen, Joshua Allen, Ashley Blumstein, Sissy Boyd, Joshua Wolf Coleman, Patty Cornell, Liz Davies, Jenn DeMartino, Michael Dunn, Elizabeth Guilliams, Jessica Hanna, Danielle Holland, Marc Jackson, Daniele Watts, Jon Morris, Patrick Mapel, Robert Navarret, Tim Ottman, Avo Soltes, Andrea Tvetkov, Sarah Utterback, Kirk Wilson and Jabez Zuniga
Producers: Michael Dunn, Jessica Hanna and Kirk Wilson

Labels: events, Nighthawks, performances

Wanna preview New Mexico's The Late Severa Wires before they play at Night Hawks? Of course you do. If you're a fan of new/experimental rock you'd be a fool not to catch the show at Pehrspace tonight.
Basically the scene has shifted from Il Corral to this all ages art gallery/performance space in Echo Park. Pehrspace not only hosts a full lineup of fantastic bands every weekend but also started an Indie record label, Pehrlabel.

The music tonight starts at 9:00pm and is only $5.

On the list:
Anavan - This post-modern power trio has been getting a lot of press lately as a pack leader in the revived LA all ages scene. Their signature Il Corral shows will all now be at pehrspace in the next couple months and they continue to tour the country bringing artful distortion to the little girls and boys. They'll be playing South By Southwest this year too.
Clipd Beaks - These Oakland-ers have been around for a little while and still refuse to be classified. According to the Beaks' myspace page they sound like "Jam knee deep in a stork's intestinal acid". After tonight's thrash psychedelia we all might have obtuse phrases to describe them too.
The Late Severa Wires - Hailing from New Mexico and spreading the spirit of the High Mayhem music collective, these four lads always promise to blow the roof off wherever they land and couldn't be more humble doing it.
Anchors for Architects - A band of like-minded artists and activists make up this music collective. Bring a children's book to any of their concerts and they'll donate it to The Wonder of Reading which helps spread literacy in California's public schools. The band's a sort of lyrical congregation and initiate a community of experimental/indie rock all over this town. It sounds like they're still looking for a new percussionist should one feel the need to be initiated.


To get to perhspace:
map: 325 Glendale Blvd.

2 blocks south of Temple in Historic Filipinotown. The freeway offramp is Glendale Blvd from the 101, about 3 blocks south of Echo Park Lake. Located behind the Glen Village parking lot, behind a short palm tree. You won't see it from the street, you'll have to come into the parking lot.

Labels: events, music, Nighthawks

Artel gets their name from two sources - 1.) the acronym American Russian Theatre Ensemble Laboratory - 2.) a nod to the Russian tradition of coop communities. Historically an Artel means
a Russian cooperative labor group that often provided protection for groups of fisherman or miners. The LA-based group brings a historical sense of justice to the performance art world while exploring on stage the possibilities of dance, movement, and puppetry with explosive affect.

Artel will be at the one-night only all ages event Nighthawks' Where The Wild Things Are Monday Mar. 19 at Bootleg Theater. Throughout the night you'll find members of Artel among the crowd and taking the stage for a variety of site specific pieces.

Check out their blog for more info on their exciting processes involving Commedia del Arte, Russian traditions, and ritual.

You can also find members of Artel marching against the war in Hollywood next Saturday in a fantastic resistance ritual.
The Butoh Surge Parade
Saturday Mar. 17
more info at corpusbutoh.org

Labels: events, Nighthawks, performances

...and it kicked off Sunday. Until May 1 the New Beverly Cinema will host Quentin Tarantino'sGrindhouse Movie Festival. Practically every day will feature a double (sometimes triple) feature of the grittiest exploitation hits from the '70s. That's over 50 titillating titles, most from QT's private collection. Tarantino has said he would love to be at every screening personally, if he wasn't cutting his feature with Robert Rodriguez, their highly anticipated Grindhouse.

For those of us too young or too old to remember, the Grindhouse cinema was slang for movie houses dedicated to showing the most hardcore exploitation genres. From biker babes to axe murderers; from kung-fu masters to vigilante pimps - the tickets were cheap and the films usually shown on double bills. This was the only place some studios could get away with releasing such despicable titles. Hollywood Boulevard was once littered with these movie houses and the fantastically sleazy one-sheets. Tarantino has taken it upon himself to recreate that magic at an old movie house and even deck it out with the original paraphernalia. There will be rare lobby cards and other memorabilia throughout the festival. Prepare to rub elbows with every film sicko in town including, possibly, Tarantino's.

Find the full line-up & guide at Dennis Cazillo's blog.

My personal picks:

Tonight - Tuesday Mar. 6
7:30pm
The Mack & The Chinese Mack - Blaxploitation at its highest artform with Richard mother-fuckin' Pryor and its kung-fu counterpart.

Sunday Mar 11 - 3:45; 7:30pm
Monday & Tuesday Mar 12, 13 - 7:30pm
Rolling Thunder - Tarantino's namesake for his early production company - A revenge tale Paul Schrader wrote between Taxi Driver and Raging Bull.


Friday & Saturday Mar 23, 24 - 7:30pm
Coonskin - The controversial blaxploitation animated spoof leads a cartoon triple bill.


Sunday Mar 25 - 5:15; 9:20pm
Monday & Tuesday Mar 26, 27 - 9:20pm
Revenge of The Cheerleaders - David Hasselhoff plays a character named Boner. That's all you need to know.


Thursday April 5 - TBA
Grindhouse sneak preview





Sunday Apr 29 - 3:55; 7:30pm
Monday Apr 30 - 7:30pm
Tuesday May 1 - 7:30pm
A Bruce Lee tribute wraps up the festival with a rarely seen documentary The Real Bruce Lee & Lee Lives Within.

Labels: events, film

It's official. Monday is the new Saturday night. To celebrate all things up and coming, worth seeing, mind expanding, and unique, Pudgy Girl is producing a brand new night of performance art and experimental music. For the next week I'll be showcasing the artists you'll see at Night Hawks. This night is not to be missed. It's not your basic warehouse show, it's not your basic theater. Night Hawks is a new forum for emerging artists, not to mention the best party Monday night has to offer.

Night Hawks on myspace.com
Night Hawks Blog
email: nighthawksla@yahoo.com

Live Music by
The Late Severa Wires
Fish Circus
Her Big Hard Jungle Monkey Presents
The Regulators of ASV-WEWONK
Sing Along with Anarchy Jordan
DJ Jason McCabe of Club Stutter

Live performances by
Artel
Ten West
Illuminati Fire
Rawn Erickson II

Paintings by
Pedra Furmall
Alex Zakari

Photography by
Eric Cousineau


Monday, Mar. 19
Bootleg Theater
2220 Beverly Blvd.
10:00pm

Labels: art, events, music, Nighthawks

Yes, we're heading into 2007 full force and thank you for your patience. I am now pleased to announce the Best Songs of 2006 Mix CD is ready. If you participated in the song exchange, a pretty homemade double disc mix CD is waiting for you.

If the CD had a bonus DVD section I would have to include this video by Matt & Kim. There's an alternate version on YouTube that is equally as brilliant - especially if you've ever wanted to see a taco and banana rock out.

Labels: music, videos

Two major artists hit two major venues this weekend. As if the MOCA show wasn't enough, get in line to be among the first Angelenos to sample two of the most talked about shows.

Tuesday Mar. 6 thru Sep. 9
Zoopsia: New Works by Tim Hawkinson
The Getty
1200 Getty Center Drive
W. Los Angeles

Hawkinson is one of those rare humans who we are fortunate enough to have walking this planet. An LA native, you've probably caught his mind-blowing work at any Guggenheim Biennial or his solo show last year at LACMA. Now the Getty has caught up to the buzz and commissioned brand spanking new pieces. Also on display will be Hawkinson's infamous Uberorgan - a giant self-playing reed organ that's really a 250 foot long motion detecting, computerized sound loop. Like most of Hawkinson's works The Uberorgan is an installation that changes and grows in every space it inhabits. I can't wait to see that gorgeous Getty canyon view from behind one of the organ pipes.


Now thru April 5
Damien Hirst: New Works
Gogosian Gallery
456 North Camden Dr.
Beverly Hills

Hirst hasn't shown new work in LA in over a decade. The Gogosian simultaneously opened two shows here and in Hirst's home turf, London. The rave reviews expect to not disappoint as seeing the man's steined glass-esque paintings up close is a chance all modern art lovers should experience. Most remember his Turner award winning formaldehyde pieces, where he suspended animal carcasses in their rotting states. Now new heights of complexity comment on the fragility of life when butterfly wings spectacularly take on the motifs of kaleidoscopes and church windows.

Labels: art

Didn't think LA was the place for the most extravagantly modern art openings? Think again. MOCA has already proved itself a hot spot in town thanks to their DJ'd openings and summer parties. The Getty and the Gogosian prove themselves also to be less stuffy with some fabulous openings next week.

WACK! Art and the Feminist Revolution
MOCA
152 N. Central Ave.
Downtown

The Museum of Contemporary Art claims this is the first show of its kind to comprehensively document and reflecting the Feminist movement from 1965-1980. Paintings, photographs, sculpture, video, film and performance art by an international scattering of artists will be on display. The list is too long to even get started, but rest assured you'll see some stuff from the big names and some lesser known voices of the "revolution". MOCA hosts a sort of kick off party all weekend long. The show itself will run 'til July 16.


Saturday Mar. 3
2:00-4:00pm Judy Chicago book signing

Revolutionary performance artist Judy Chicago will be at the MOCA store to sign copies of her biography and any other books she can get her hands on.


7:00-11:00pm Member's Night party with Le Tigre

of Le It won't be too late to sign up for a membership. A starting amount at $65 gets you access to all the future member events not to mention 2 for 1 admission for all museum shows plus an subscription to Dwell magazine. You can show up that night, sign up, then cut in line to the front. 'Cuz that's what members do. JD Samson and Johanna FatemanTigre will be the guest DJs for the night along with a giant outside cash bar just like the summer shows. Event organizer Vanessa Gonzalez promised to show up in a couple Feminist inspired outfits. I suggest you do the same, but burning bras will be looked down upon as passe.

Sunday Mar. 4
WACK! show officially opens. Guided walks will be going on 11:00am & 4:00pm hosted by the museum's lovely curators.

Don't miss Andrea Zittel's installation Critical Space. Zittel is one of my favorite new artists, hands down creating some of the most environmental and thought-provoking installations. It is a dream of mine to one day visit her desert compound in 29 Palms, CA where she felts her own clothes and creates building material out of sun dried paper. She's saving us the drive and bringing her unique aesthetic to the city where she'll once again explore the concepts of personal domesticity in contemporary space.

Labels: art, events, newsworthy