Echo Park’s Tavin vintage and consignment store is hosting the second of their Little Birds reading series – appropriately titled Little Birds #2 – tomorrow night at 7 p.m.

Readings will include pieces by artist and actress Grace Zabriskie (of Big Love fame), author and filmmaker Jessica Hundley (who’ll be presenting slides from her book about Dennis Hopper – which sounds totally awesome if you ask me… which you obviously did because we’re basically best friends), and a special appearance by Pamela Des Barres (author of I’m with the Band). Not only will you be treated to some refined culture, but there’ll be wine as well, provided by Bear Flag. It should be an awesome evening and an equally awesome start to the weekend, but the reading starts promptly at 7:30, so don’t be late!

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WHAT: Little Birds #2
WHEN: Friday, March 12th @ 7 p.m. – 9 p.m.
WHERE: Tavin Boutique
$$$: Free

So apparently Blick’s and Michelle’s are taking over the art supply store scene, kinda brushing the mom & pop stores to the side. Thankfully there are still a few around, the Carter Sexton Gallery and Store in North Hollywood. Not only do they offer a ton of art supplies, but they also exhibit local artists work through out the year. Starting this Friday, local artist Anna Ziouzina will display her fine art portfolio of figure drawings and some miscellaneous items. Looking at this example of her work, it seems quite appropriate, considering Alice and Wonderland just came out! Anna says her art “doesn’t take itself too seriously, just portraits of people doing their own thing, caught in the moment”. All of her work will be on sale and of course the opening is free. If you can’t make it to the opening night party (with free wine and artist in attendance as usual), her art will be on display until April 9th.
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WHAT: Opening Reception for Anna Ziouzina
WHEN: Friday, March 12th @ 7-9pm
WHERE: Carter Sexton Gallery
$$$: Free

The new Lomography Gallery isn’t slacking off when it comes to partying, and what better excuse to have a party than the Oscars? Swing by the gallery before Sunday and fill out your own Oscar ballot in hopes to be on of the 10 people who get the most winners correct. You’ll walk away with your own Oktomat camera that takes 8 pictures in a row to create your own little 8 frame movie. Then on the 7th, head to the gallery at 1pm and take part in a mini-movie making workshop using the Oktomat, Supersampler, and Actionsampler and make a purchase at the store and get a free Lomography Camera Keychain. This will all lead into the Oscars telecast where hopefully you’ll win the contest! The gallery will be serving drinks and don’t worry, they’ve got a lounge for you to sit in and watch in comfort. There will naturally be an after party, with more drinks, a lomography movie screening “Lomo Matrix”, and awards for the Oscar ballot winners! This gallery is quickly turning into my new favorite place!
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WHAT: Oscar Night + workshop and party
WHEN: Sunday, March 7th @ 1PM-post Oscars
WHERE: Lomography Gallery
$$$: Free

Sometimes we bring up the same galleries over and over again, mainly on the eastside. You hate us, sorry. It’s only because we adore them! But today we’re going to talk about another little gallery called Roberts & Tilton in Culver City. Tonight’s the opening reception for photographer Ed Templeton’s show The Seconds Pass. Every photograph in the exhibit was taken from his car while driving all over several countries. From cross-country road trips in America, Chile, and Australia, to taxi rides in Paris, Barcelona, Moscow, and St. Petersberg. It’s a really cool collection of the view of our world from the road. I’m sure there’s a bunch of different deeper meanings to it all, but I’m not going to pretend I know what they are. The photos are cool, the party will be fun as all openings are (free drinks by Kirin), so you should try and check it out! This exhibit will be on display until April 3rd.

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WHAT: Ed Templeton’s The Seconds Pass opening reception
WHEN: Friday, Feb. 26th @ 6pm-9pm
WHERE: Roberts & Tilton
$$$: Free

Break out your leopard print, top hats, and faux fur for this one because Friday night is all about the vixens and vamps at the downtown Venus in Furs & Femme Fatale party.  This Muzezon, Inc. journey, taking you back a few decades, will feature a runway show with hair and makeup by Hairroin Salon, body art by No.YTK, and live femme fatale models strutting their stuff to the best indie/electro beats by dj’s: Notorious Jen and Henry Strange.  Featured artwork includes: Pingping paintings, (pop-anime girly art), and Michelle Hinch photography, (recent contributor to Marie Claire: Tokyo), amongst other modern-day-heroine presentations.  Don’t miss the chance to take part in this Velvet Underground-inspired charade!  Donations are accepted at the door (CASH only!) in support of Haiti relief efforts, libations will be flowing, and there is a $5 secure parking lot from which a complimentary shuttle will escort you to all the fatale fun.

Calling all you jazz cats, and zoot-suit-wearing hipsters.  Saturday, we celebrate the yin to the femme fatale’s yang at the: Ode to the Lounge Lizard-A Cocktail Napkin Art Invitational.  Hosted by the E3rd Lounge in the heart of the downtown LA Arts District, this is second in the monthly Jerico Woggon-presented event series.  $10 gets you in the door, $5 with a shared recession tale (awesome = getting a discount to vent), and FREE admission will be granted to anyone brave enough to show up in an actual lizard costume (pictures, please!).  If this isn’t enough to draw you out already, there is plenty more where that came from: a blacklight art installation by Woggon himself, live painting by E3rd resident artist (and Little Tokyo art darling), Emmeric Konrad, and everything necessary to create your own cocktail napkin art for selling, trade, or a take-home flashback souvenir.

Moral of the story?  Whichever is truly the Leader of the Pack, both guarantee to be a swingin’ good time.

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WHAT: Venus in Furs & Femme Fatale & Ode to the Lounge Lizard
WHEN: Friday, Feb. 26th 9pm-4am & Saturday, Feb. 27th, 8pm-2am
WHERE: Catalyst Artist Collective (LOFT) & E3rd Lounge
$$$: Haiti relief donation-$10, CASH ONLY

This weekend check out the opening reception of SNAP- Benjamin Hoste’s exhibition of rock photography at Oragami Vinyl in Echo Park. Ben, photographer and director, has taken some pretty sweet concert photos and has interviewed and photographed some of the coolest musicians around these parts. In fact, he has a new project aptly titled This Ain’t a Scene which features interviews with Silverlake musicians; volume one of the online mag features the likes of Sarah Negahdari of The Happy Hollows (whom he partially credits for his burgeoning photography career), Evan Way of the Parson Redheads, Aaron Kyle of Le Switch, and more. SNAP will run at Oragami through March 28th and features photos of many more local bands, including No Age, Crystal Antlers, Henry Clay People, Dan Deacon, etc. Kicking it off this Sunday there will be a Dj spinning vinyl and free drinks from 6pm-8pm. He will also be raffling off two free prints (!), one of Brian Aubert of Silversun Pickups and one of Jeff Tweedy of Wilco. Awesomeee. Double your chances by joining his email list and entering the raffle early. See y’all there.

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WHAT: SNAP rock photography show
WHEN: opening reception Sun. Feb. 28th 6pm; show Feb. 28-March 28
WHERE: Oragami Vinyl, 1416 W Sunset Blvd, Echo Park
$$$: free

There was a time in my life when I associated food from trucks with some very negative things: I only saw them at construction sites, they always looked dirty, and I was always assured eating from them would lead to some pretty nasty diseases.  Without fail, on the few occasions that I was offered to eat at a food truck during my youth, I politely declined. And this prejudice against vehicular nourishment went on for 18 years.

And then I moved to L.A.

Needless to say, my life began anew.  I won’t go on extolling the many virtues of mobile street food, as I believe that this website has already gotten that point across already.  However what I am here to tell deals with this matter very closely.

The Silver Lake Art*Craft and Vintage Market, which takes place every last weekend of the month, will this weekend feature a food truck block party.  Now in addition to great shopping within a Broken Social Scene-friendly atmosphere, you can enjoy some of the best food on four wheels that our fine city has to offer without the need to feverishly follow their migratory patterns via Twitter.  It’s just a bunch of food trucks, all in one place, ready to sell you food, right next to some awesome shopping.

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WHAT: Food Truck block party at Silver Lake Art*Craft and Vintage Market
WHEN:Saturday and Sunday, February 27-28, 10AM-4PM (Trucks open at 11)
WHERE: In Silver Lake, Off Sunset
$$$: Free (unless you buy something)

With February’s unseasonably warm weather upon us, it might be a good idea to enjoy some good fashion, interesting art and live music in sunny Costa Mesa.  Oh, also there’s bikinis.

Graffiti Beach will be showcasing Jonathan Bussiere’s self-aware commentary on high fashion, Hips and Hair, (he was in our art show last spring!) in the form of a Pop-up Shop at The Camp Site on the 20th and 21st of this month.  Hips and Hair will be presenting their fashion line along with some select pieces of art for your purchasing pleasure.  To add to this, live bands will be playing to the tune of free food, live portrait art, and a raffle of Hips and Hair merch.

And there’s a bikini fashion show.  Saturday at 6:30 PM.  In case you didn’t notice.

PS: Our good friend KDikio Vintage will also be a vendor at this event! Her ad is on our page on the right, so uh, you should click on it! Or click here.

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What: Graffiti Beach presents Hips and Hair Pop-up Shop
When: Saturday and Sunday February 20th and 21st
Where: The Camp Site in Costa Mesa
$$$: Free, unless you buy something

Photo nerds rejoice – Lomography is officially coming to LA.  Yeah, all the hipsters have been shooting lomo for a long time, but as of Thursday our beloved town will now be home to a Lomography store/gallery/embassy.  I’ve been using a fisheye #2 and a Holga for a while now and I can tell you how fun lomo cameras are.  They’re decidedly low-tech and you never know quite what you’ll get when you shoot a picture; light leaks and and warped shots are par for the course and part of the thrill of shooting is discovering what happened once you develop your film.

Lomography Gallery is holding a few days’ worth of events, which sound like they’re going to be a blast.  Check out the schedule below:

February 18th – 7 PM: Opening party with drinks (!), Mexican food, a mariachi band, dancers, etc.  Sounds like a good time.  The guestlist is limited, so rsvp to shopla@lomography.com and make sure you get on the list.

February 19th – 6-8 PM: Intro to Lomography. If you don’t know what I’ve been talking about in this post, check out the seminar to find out more about the history of Lomography and what people are doing with it now.  By the way, this is totally free!

February 20th – 1-3 PM: Meet the Lomo LC-A+. This one is $10 and includes a free loaner camera and a roll of film.  If you have your own LC-A+ and film, it’s totally free. Learn tips and tricks for shooting with this Soviet gem and go for a photo expedition throughout West Hollywood.

February 23rd – 1-4 PM: Analogue Love 101. Same as the LC-A workshop, bring your Lomo and get in free, or pay $10 for a loaner and a roll of film.  This workshop teaches you all the tricks out there to make the most of Lomography.  Again with a shooting expedition, I imagine.

February 25th -1-3 PM: Diana Dialogues.  Another $10 workshop, this time with the Diana camera.  More tips and tricks and then a shooting expedition.

If you check out any of these workshops, let us know.  We’d love to see your pictures!

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WHAT: Lomography in LA
WHEN: Events from February 18th-25th
WHERE: 7998 Santa Monica Blvd.
$$$: Free or $10

Every Friday and Saturday CC Beans, a cute little coffee shop downtown, hosts free music in the “BackRoom Gallery”. This Friday and Saturday is SOUNDING OFF, presented by dramastage-qumran…Friday features Ron Allen and Saturday features Sarah Cruse. There will also be an open mic section so if you’re feeling talented, you can join in! It’s a laid back place, and I’m sure it will feel more like a jam session than a serious show, which makes it even better! The best part is that while you enjoy the free shows, you can sip on some really great coffee and it’s so good you’ll want to start buying your beans from their personal collection. This is the sort of place that needs community support! It may not be in the most ideal place, but the owners are trying to add a little something to the downtown area that, although has cleaned up a lot, is still lacking in certain areas. So come out this weekend and support CC Beans!

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WHAT: CC Beans Live Music
WHEN: Weekend Nights, starting Friday, February 19th
WHERE: CC Beans
$$$: Free

Finally, the perfect opportunity to add “in bed” to everything you say, as well as a chance to receive some mystical wisdom when you check out the opening reception for USC alum Chris Reynold’s art installation, provocatively titled “The Fortune Cookie Project.” Hosted by Phantom Galleries LA in Long Beach, the show runs for a month from February 13^th until March 13^th. The opening reception is on Saturday, from 7:00 until 10:00 p.m. As with any art opening and reception, a good time is promised.

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WHAT: Opening reception for Chris Reynold’s “The Fortune Cookie Project”
WHEN: Saturday, February 13th, 2009
WHERE: Phantom Galleries LA
$$$: Free

Echo Park’s Machine Project gallery and community space is playing host to lots of events all across Los Angeles in the coming weeks.

At their Echo Park location, the space itself is the art from now until the first week of March when artist Nate Page takes over. Page is working to transform Machine Projects physical space into “narrative sculptural vignettes” and he intends on shrink-wrapping all of the office supplies he doesn’t use – so make sure you don’t forget your keys, cell phone or wallet, unless you want them to become part of the exhibit.

Not to ignore the lovers out there, Machine Project is giving you the perfect soundtrack for whispering your sweet-nothings to that special someone (or body pillow) on Valentine’s Day. You can explore Nate Page’s installation while listening to live music at the second weekend of Machine Project’s music residency by Nowcloud featuring Max Markowitz and Corey Fogel. If that’s not tempting enough, Machine promises snacks, too. Who doesn’t love snacks?

If you’re not on the east side this weekend, but still want to get your fill of Machine Project, you can check out musical performances by Julia Holter and Casey Anderson at the Hammer Museum on Saturday the 13^th inside the Hammer’s Little William Theater.

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WHAT: Nate Page Installation// Nowcloud w/Max Markowitz and Corey Fogel// Julia Holter and Casey Anderson
WHEN: Weekends in February @ 12:00 – 4:00 p.m.// February 14th @ 12:00p.m.// February 13th @ 12:00 – 4:00 p.m.
WHERE: Machine Project & Hammer Museum
$$$: Free

Well, the rain is back. Spend a night watching a couple movies indoors in a place that’s not your living room! Tonight the Hammer Museum is screening two movies centering around comic artist Robert Crumb, best known for his satirical and subversive style of drawings based around the American mainstream. Showing first is American Splendor, starring Paul Giamatti as Harvey Pekar, an ordinary man who gains inspiration by Crumb’s underground comic book’s success. Second is The Confessions Of Robert Crumb, a 1987 commissioned documentary from the BBC featuring interviews of Crumb as he discusses some of his life’s various misadventures.

Admission is free with tickets available one hour before showtime, so get there early and carpool since parking at the museum is available for only $3 after 6pm.

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WHAT: Showing of American Splendor and The Confessions Of Robert Crumb
WHEN: Tuesday, January 26th at 7pm
WHERE: The Hammer Museum, 10899 Wilshire Blvd, 90024
$$$: Free!

Come out and support local college radio and a fine attempt at publishing ‘zines and raging against machines (harvey danger reference…so sly). KXLU (88.9- listen in your car instead of your ipod sometimes, it’s fun) and FMLY are hosting a gathering of musical performances and readings of poetry and short fiction to raise funds for their first ever magazine. They have over 85 submissions, just need a little money to put them together in a lovely package. The fundraiser will include performances by Gowns, Corridor, and Furcast, in addition to readings from various folks and $1 Colt 45 for those of age.

WHAT: FMLYzine Fundraiser Show
WHEN: Wednesday Jan. 27th 8pm
WHERE: 5011 W. Adams Blvd
$$$: $5 entry donation

It’s the “end of an era”, as the Carmichael staff puts it. They will be moving to a new location in Culver City, leaving behind their beloved space on La Brea. Tonight is the opening for their final exhibition featuring two artists, Mark Jenkins and Aakash Nihalani, which you’ll be able to view until February 18th. Jenkins’ exhibit, Meaning is Overrated, will feature some new work by the popular street artist. He has placed giant plastic giraffe in parks, fake bodies floating in fountains, and has turned stop signs into flowers. Now exactly sure what his indoor exhibit will entail, but check out his website for past projects. On & Off (Often On), Aakash Nihalani’s new show, brings you new work from another street artist. While Jenkins’ work is more three dimensional, Nihalani uses something as simple as colorful tape to create his pieces, and they come out pretty cool. If you haven’t had to opportunity to check out their gallery on La Brea, it’s really a great intimate set up that is still good for group shows. Stay tuned for info on the opening of their new location in March!
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WHAT: Opening Reception for Mark Jenkins and Aakash Nihalani
WHEN: Thursday, January 21st @ 7-10pm
WHERE: Carmichael Gallery
$$$: Free

If you’re an art-lover, then get yourself to the Convention Center in the next few days because the Los Angeles Art Show opens tonight and goes on through the weekend.  From what I’ve heard, the show’s a pretty big deal; more than 100 galleries will be there displaying their wares.  Photography, painting, sculpture and video installations – it’ll all be there for you to see.  Even if you’re not planning to drop any serious money on art, you can look as much as you like.

In addition to all the galleries on hand, you can also see live art from noon to six each day from street artists Mear One, Kofie, Retna, and El Mac.   And be sure to check out the special exhibits from the LA Art Show’s featured country: Uruguay.

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WHAT: LA Art Show
WHE N: January  20-24th
WHERE: Los Angeles Convention Center
$$$: $15 with $5 off coupon

Remember that fantistic, old-school southern barbecue joint on Hoover and that great local band that also has a knitting shop? Well, if you don’t, you’ll learn when all such craziness converges at Forgather, a small art collection at Territory Records. Isn’t LA great sometimes? Portraits of the Pity Party illustrated by themegoman, whose illustrations are whimsical yet slightly askew, will be unveiled, in addition to portraits of other bands like Vivian Girls, Cold Cave, and Our Lady J. The party of sorts will include a DJ, free food (reason enough to go right there) and free Colt 45 (of course).

WHAT: Forgather Art Show
WHEN: Saturday Jan 23 7-10pm
WHERE: Forgather Territory, 534 N. Hoover St.
$$$: freeee

Come one, come all, donned in your finest whites and perambulate though the streets of downtown tonight in your very own mini (I’m assuming sidewalk) parade! Being the second Thursday of the month, tonight is the downtown artwalk, and it seems that some of the organizers are sending out an open invitation for anyone who would be interested to join them in a living art piece of people. Encouraged props include: musical instruments, stilts, and beauty. Meet them down at Vibiana’s Cathedral, meander down Main to 6th, ending at The Temple of Visions on Spring. Have fun and don’t forget your Tide pens! (Ketchup stains from those hot dog stands are impossible to get out in the morning.)

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WHAT: Downtown Artwalk: Dress In White
WHEN: January 14th, 7pm
WHERE: Vibiana’s Cathedral, 210 South Main St.
$$$: Free!

Heroes and villains and paint, oh my! Friday night is the opening reception of Gallery 1988’s latest art show completely dedicated to He-Man and his super friends (and nemeses). Over 100 artists are participating with their own rendition of the comic series, from character watercolors, epic battle scenes, to the possible monotony of every day life. They’ve even transformed their entryway and interior to mimic Castle Greyskull! All the art will be for sale, with 15% of the proceeds going to the Make A Wish Foundation.

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WHAT: He-Man and the Masters of the Universe Art Opening
WHEN: Friday, January 8th, 7pm – 10pm
WHERE: Gallery 1988, 7020 Melrose Ave, 90038
$$$: Free!

While many of us may still have our Polaroid cameras from Urban Outfitters and order film religiously online, the unique form of photography is technically going extinct, and that digital app to make your pictures look like Polaroids is nowhere near as cool. That’s why ISM: a community project is hosting a Polariod Party at the Copro Gallery at Bergamot Station. This one-night-only party and exhibit will feature over 200 professional and amateur photographs, all celebrating instant film and the Polaroid 600 Series. The best part is that you can submit your own polaroid until January 6th, so get on that! RSVP here.

WHAT: Instant Gratification: PolaroidPartyLA
WHEN: Saturday Jan. 9th 2010, 7-11pm
WHERE: Copro Gallery @ Bergamot Station 2525 Michigan Ave T5, Santa Monica
$$$: free