Have you always wanted to be famous, but know you don’t have what it takes to become a star (i.e. a sex tape where Ray-J pees on you?) Fear not — because on April 24th, we’re all getting famous. No, this does not involve guns, put those down. STOP THAT.

Full disclosure: I’m one of the guys throwing this event. Now here’s how it works: we meet at noon in front of the WME building, where we run a winding, three-mile obstacle course through Beverly Hills. Hidden throughout the course will be packs of photographers. Your goal is to make it to the finish line without them getting a picture of your full face.

Scattered along the way will be hidden caches of “identity concealers”, i.e. low-brimmed hats and those sunglasses that put a black bar over your eyes. (We were going to offer ski masks, and then remembered ski masks + sprinting through Beverly Hills in broad daylight = “Officer, these cuffs are too tight.”)

Got a camera and the ability to be sneaky? We want you. Got a pair of running shoes and a well-developed flight sensibility? We want you. (Costumes are also encouraged.) The race starts at noon, but paparazzi are required to show up at 11 AM so we can get you vultures in your respective hiding places.

Afterward, in a stirring tribute to something that would totally happen in real life, the celebrities and the paparazzi will meet up for a beer at the Writer’s Bar in the L’Ermitage Hotel.

Be sure to RSVP for the event on Facebook.

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WHAT: Celebrities Vs. Paparazzi footrace
WHEN: April 24th, noon-1 PM (Paparazzi to meet at 11 AM)
WHERE: Starting at the WME building
$$$: Free

Drag your body to this bloody good night of tricks and treats and shorts. Ok, I was prepared to write this whole post with cliche Halloween puns but instead I’ll just give you the facts: Flux’s Cinema Tuesdays is back with a surprise screening for Fright Night. It really is a surprise, all they say is it will be appropriately “frightening”. And if it’s anything like their other events, featuring Michel Gondry, Spike Jonze, and more I doubt you’ll be disappointed! Here’s what they’re telling us… giving us clues if you will? “Since opening in 1927, the Hollywood Beaux Arts Theatre has been plagued with a series of terrifying incidents, and with Halloween approaching who knows what could happen next.” What good is a Halloween-themed event with out some sort of dress code? They want you dressed in turn-of-the-century clothes! Stick around for a panel discussion with the director and free cocktails from Belvedere Vodka. It will be one spooooky evening!
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WHAT: Fright Night at Cinema Tuesdays
WHEN: Tuesday, October 27th @ 7PM
WHERE: The Montalban
$$$: RSVP!

I’m supposed to be on vacation until Wednesday, but for this I’ll make an exception.  Valerie Confections, a mouthwateringly delicious chocolate store in Silverlake, wants everyone to get excited for Halloween with a week of sophisticated trick or treating.  From 10 to 6 starting tomorrow they’re holding their Fall Open House and anyone who comes into the store can sample one of their oh-so-good confections.  Yum!  Take a look at their schedule below:

Tuesday 10/27 – Blum’s Toffee Crunch Cake and Blum’s Lemon Crunch Cake
Wednesday 10/28 – Everyday Indulgences (I’m excited for the Chocolate Citrus Bark)
Thursday 10/29 – Petit Fours
Friday 10/30 – Valerie at the Market, a collection of yummy seasonal treats
Saturday 10/31  (ends at 5 PM) – Chocolates, Toffees, and Truffles (count me in!)

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WHAT: Fall Open House at Valerie Confections
WHEN: Tuesday 10/27 – Saturday 10/31
WHERE: Valerie Confections
$$$: Free!

We are officially less than a week away from Halloween! How cool is that?! Now go to some shows to pass the time quickly and the next thing you know it’ll be the 31^st!

PICK OF THE WEEK

And what do you want to do for one of the most wonderful days of the year? I’m sure everyone knows a person or two throwing parties. There are parades all around the city. There’s the craziness that is West Hollywood. But how about a show? Perhaps even a show with a good band? What about the Dirty Projectors?

We all remember the buzz surrounding these guys over much of the summer which culminated in the release of Bitte Orca. The album was praised by music blogs and musicians alike, all with just cause. The band’s music is breathtaking and genre-bending. What kind of music is it? Experimental? Indie? Avant-garde? Who knows. It’s just good. The Dirty Projectors are able to take sounds and styles that you don’t think should sound good and..well make them sound good. Bitte Orca is full of catchy hooks that weren’t written to get stuck in your head but do anyway, and you kind of want them to be.

Now take October 31^st, add those feelings you had/have about the band, throw in some costumes and cool people, shake ‘em all together, and you’ll get the pick of the week, not to mention a good time. And! If you read this far (thanks) and you’re saying to yourself “Hey. It’s Halloween. I want to go out to a party and have some fun. I don’t want to spend my whole night at a concert..”, do not fret! Yes the band is playing a traditional evening show at 9:30PM but they’re also playing an early show at 7:00PM. So you have some great options. You can either get your Halloween night started with a concert and see where that takes you the rest of your night, or you can commit to this being an awesome enough event for your evening and check out the late show. Yes!

OTHER SHOWS TO LOOK OUT FOR:
10/26: Correatown w/Joanie Mendenhall at the echo. 8:30PM. Free. 21+. (Correatown residency.)
10/26: Light FM w/Nightmare Air/Modern Time Machines/Parade of Lights at Spaceland. 8:30PM. Free. 21+. (Light FM residency.)
10/27: Sunset Rubdown w/tune-yards at the Troubadour. 8:00PM. $16. All. (I don’t know if he’s more well known now or if Wolf Parade still is.)
10/28: Regina Spektor w/Jupiter One at The Greek Theater. 7:30PM. $35-$45. All. (She’s fun.)
10/28: Le Loup w/Nurses/Random Patterns at the echo. 8:30PM. $10. 18+. (They sound kinda Animal Collectiveish. That should be enough to get your attention.)
10/29: Built to Spill w/Disco Doom at the echo. 8:00PM. $24. 18+. (It’s Built to Spill.)
10/29: Land of Talk w/Eulogies/The Monthlies at Spaceland. 8:30PM. $12. 21+. (Their first full length was pretty good.)
10/30: Dead Man’s Bones at the echo. 7:00PM. $20. All. (Sold Out but they may have more tickets at the door. It’s worth checking out as this is RYAN GOSLING’s HALLOWEEN THEMED band. Need I say more?)
10/30: Amy Milan w/Bahamas/Annie Stela at Spaceland. 8:30PM. $15. 21+. (We all like Stars.)
10/31: Dead Man’s Bones at the echo. 6:00PM. $20. All. (Again there might be tickets available at the door the night of.)
11/1: So Many Wizards w/Pizza!/Old Blood/Fort Wife at Spaceland. 8:30PM. Free. 21+. (Nice people. Good music. Free. Why not?)
11/1: Part Time Punks w/Times New Viking/Sic Alps/Axemen at the echo. 9:00PM. $15. 18+. (Part Time Punks with some good bands.)
7/29: Das-Funk w/Ras G, Incyde! at Airliner. 10:00PM. $10. 18+. (Low End Theory.)
7/29: Crystal Antlers w/Mika Miko, Audacity at Alex’s Bar. 8:00PM. $8. 21+. (Orange County show.)
7/30: Castanets w/Warmer Milks at Spaceland. 8:30PM. $10. 21+. (Interesting stuff.)
7/30: Barrio Tiger w/Angus Khan, Jessie Deluxe, Thunderdikk at the echo. 8:30PM. $5. 18+. (Rock.)
7/30: Gram Rabbit w/Oliver Future at Troubadour. 8:00PM. $12. All. (Good stuff.)
7/30: Down and Derby Roller Disco at the echoplex. 9:00PM. $10. 21+. (Show off your skate dancing skills.)
7/31: Future of the Left w/Japandroids, Dead Ponies at Spaceland. 8:30PM. $12. 21+. (Some up and coming acts.)
7/31: Deerhoof w/Busdriver, Avocet at the echoplex. 8:00PM. $12. All. (Nice lineup!)
7/31: Stellastarr* w/Wild Light, Mason Proper at Troubadour. 8:00PM. $20. All. (It’s been a while since I’ve heard from Stellastarr*.)
7/31: Anavan w/Dazzler at the echo. 9:00PM. $8. 18+. (Noise rock.)
8/01: Company of Thieves at Spaceland. 8:30PM. $10. 21+. (It’s a slow Saturday. If this show doesn’t interest you, do some other fun thing!)
8/02: Grant Langston w/Lisa & Her Kin, The Chris Miller Band at the echoo. 5:00PM. Free. (Grand Ole Echo. If you’re bored on a Sunday. Again though. Slow weekend for good music.)

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WHAT: The Dirty Projectors
WHEN: Halloween! Saturday, October 31st @ 7:00PM and 9:30PM
WHERE: Rec Center Studio in Echo Park
$$$: $20
Ages: All

I was at the Santa Monica Pier last night and noticed a GIANT blue and yellow tent had taken over most of the parking lot.  What could it be?  Cirque Du Soleil, of course!  Starting Friday and continuing through the end of November, Santa Monica will host Kooza, a circus spectacular that tells the story of “the Innocent, a melancholy loner in search of his place in the world.”

Tickets are a little pricey, but Cirque du Soleil is definitely worth the cost of admission.  If you’ve never been, take a second to look at the trailer…it’s the circus for grownups and without the smelly elephants.  You’ll see contortionists, charivari, highwire acts and more.

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WHAT: Kooza
WHERE: Santa Monica Pier
WHEN: Friday, September 16 – November 29th
$$$: Tickets start from $65.00