Check out this unique idea to reinvent city streets through out LA on Sunday mornings: CicLAvia, a group that has previously done this same project in Colombia, successfully if I may add, wants to close down at least three major streets from East LA to West LA on various Sundays this summer and turn them into urban parks. To even attempt to accomplish this plan, they need your vote here. The idea is that they will block off the streets from car traffic from 10am-1pm, only allowing pedestrians, cyclists, families, skateboarders, and anyone else who you would find at a park to enjoy beautiful Sundays mornings outside and in a safe enclosure. They aim to provide this service in areas where parks are extremely lacking, the population is extremely dense, and is near public transportation to allow all to attend. Whether it works or not, it’s a nice idea and feel free to decide for yourself if it deserves your vote! They are currently ranked 53rd and need to be in the top 10 ideas to win the grant.
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WHAT: CicLAvia’s 7-mile Streets to Parks Project
WHEN: Voting ends March 31st
WHERE: Click here to vote!
$$$: Free

Anyone catch The Clientele last weekend? No? Why not? You had something better to do? I doubt it. Well fine. What about Chickens In Love at the echoplex? No again? Oh come on. You people need to start going to these things. Or if you answered yes to those questions and actually go to the shows, why not comment and let us know how they are? Hmmmm? Good!

PICK OF THE WEEK
Ok so I’m pretty sure I made a Big Pink show the pick of the week in the past, so I’m going to take a paragraph or two from that post, but the real band I’m excited about isn’t them. Yes they are headlining, but the show Tuesday night at the El Rey is all about New York’s A Place to Bury Strangers. First things first though.

I love shoegaze. I wish I was around when it was a big deal out of the UK, but I’m happy that it’s starting to creep into new, ‘popular’ music again. The Big Pink are very loosely connected with the genre. I mean they’re signed to 4AD for one thing, which automatically gives you some cred in that style. On occasion they do have that dreamy, kind of wall of sound aspect to their music, but for the most part theyre an electro, noise pop band. Nothing wrong with that, they’re a great band and a worthy headlining act. It’s just that the opener is too exciting.

A Place to Bury Strangers has that shoegaze revival sound and feel to their music. They’re known to blend noise rock, shoegaze, and space rock, all great genres that seemed to have begun to fade out in the early 90s. Fortunately for us we have bands like APTBS (as they’re commonly know, what with such a long full name and all) to start over with a fresh take on older styles. They’ve played with everyone from the legendary Jesus and Mary Chain to NIN to MGMT, so you can kind of get a sense that they appeal to a large, yet specific type of person. They’ll also be playing Coachella this year, so make sure to catch em here in a smaller venue environment before you head off to see em again in Indio. They’re known for being extremely loud live though, so I’d highly suggest taking some ear plugs with you. I know I didn’t bother when I saw a noise rock/shoegaze band last year and I really regretted it…for about four days (and that show was outside.)

As if those two bands weren’t enough, also playing is local act Active Child, an up-and-coming artist who, from what I’ve heard, has an amazing, synthy, kind of dreamy quality to his music. So be sure to go early and check him out.

OTHER SHOWS TO LOOK OUT FOR:
3/8: Moonrats w/Aska//Adanowsky//Soko at Spaceland. 8:30PM. Free. 21+. (First night of the Moonrats residency. Not sure why they didn’t play last week.)
3/8: The Delta Mirror w/Alexandra Hope//Sister Crayon//Corridor at the echo. 8:30PM. Free. 21+. (Night two of The Delta Mirror residency.)
3/8: Seaspin w/Wild Yaks//Repeater//The Romany Rye at Silverlake Lounge. 9:00PM. Free. 21+. (Seaspin residency. Check em out, they’re pretty cool.)
3/9: Red Tide w/Superhumanoids//Random Patterns//His Orchestra at Silverlake Lounge. 9:00PM. $8. 21+. (Check out our friends bands! They also happen to be pretty good.)
3/9: Laura Veirs w/Old Believers//Cataldo at Spaceland. 8:30PM. $12. 21+. (Real good folk rock.)
3/10: Abe Vigoda w/Lovvers//The Black Apples at the echo. 8:3oPM. $8. 18+. (Fun lineup.)
3/10: Delta Spirit w/We Barbarians//Johnny Corndawg at bootleg. 8:00PM. $12. 21+. (Delta Spirt is a great band.)
3/10: Little Boots w/Dragonette//Class Actress at the El Rey. 8:00PM. $20. All. (Dance away to this cute Brit.)
3/11: Slow Club at Spaceland. 8:30PM. $10. 21+. (Definitely a buzz band. I like what I’ve heard.)
3/11: Dawes w/Cory Chisel and the Wandering Sons//Jason Boesel at Troubadour. 8:00PM. $12. All. (Dawes are a great local band with a classic sound.)
3/11: The Cave Singers w/The Dutchess and the Duke//The Moondoggies at the echo. 8:30PM. $12. 18+. (Should be a relaxing evening.)
3/12: The Happy Hollows w/The Veils//Twilight Sleep at Troubadour. 8:30PM. $15. All. (Some good acts here.)
3/13: The Fresh & Onlys w/Wounded Lion//Surf City//Pivot at Spaceland. 8:30PM. $10. 21+. (Nice poppy lineup.)
3/13: Choir of Young Believers w/Great Northern at Bootleg. 10:00PM. $8. 21+. (I’ve been a fan of these guys forever. Great stuff and they’re finally starting to get out here.)
3/13: A Sunny Day in Glasgow w/Pollyn at The Mint. 8:00PM. $13. 21+. (Another great shoegazey act this week.)
3/14: Blessure Grave w/Twin Crystals//Random Cuts at the echo. 10:00PM. $5. 18+. (Part Time Punks!)

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WHAT: The Big Pink w/A Place to Bury Strangers//Active Child
WHEN: Tuesday, March 9th @ 8:00PM
WHERE: The El Rey
$$$: $20 (worth it)
Ages: All

Not spending your weekend crash dieting and getting all tan for the Oscars? Who cares!

• Find out what happens when Chickens Fall In Love… Apparently an all day music fest is born.
• Support our friends at Origami Vinyl and check out their rock photography exhibit.
• The Chinese Lantern Festival is ending LA’s Lunar New Year celebration tomorrow.
• In honor of the Alice & Wonderland release, Royal/T will naturally be throwing an all day tea party and fashion show!
• Head to Long Beach tonight and have a chance to get up close and personal with our razor tooth friends.
• Be prepared for next week’s events by rsvping to Obscura Day 2010 and buying a ticket to see Oldboy!
• Can’t get into a VIP Oscar party on Sunday? Who cares, Lomography Gallery is throwing their own and you’re invited!
• Skipping First Fridays this week? Well there are a lot more shows to check out from the Soundboard instead.
• We may not be in Ensenada, but these are definitely the best fish tacos in LA.
• While you’re grabbing lunch at Best Fish Tacos, jump over to Vermont Ave.!
• What’s a weekend with out getting wasted at a great bar in town? Try Footsies!

OK.

So I know the pick of the week music wise was to see The Clientele (which you should all go do tonight!), but this event goes far beyond just music.

On Saturday, March 6th (tomorrow..or today I guess, depending on when you’re reading this..) you should all head over to the echoplex for “Chickens In Love: An 826LA Benefit Show“. It’s hosted by Dianna Agron from GLEE and there will be live performances by The Submarines, The Pity Party, Summer Darling, and special guest Thao Nguyen. Tickets are $15 and the event is an all day thing, going from Noon till 7PM.

Along with the music the mini-fest is gonna feature a DJ set by the Origami Vinyl dudes, punk rock hair dos from The Hive Hair Shop (interesting..), accessories for sale by local designers, the Grill ‘Em All food truck, and more. You can also place an order to purchase the Chickens In Love LP at the show.

Chickens In Love is an album/event benefiting 826LA, which is a non-profit organization which aims to help young kids write creatively and essentially want to write. (You can find out more about them here.) Basically the album is twelve songs written by students at 826 and performed by LA based bands, including She & Him and Tim and Eric. Sponsors include Origami Vinyl and FILTER magazine, so you’re sure to have a good time.

The album portion of the event also happens to be a fundraiser. From now till April 30th, head over to the online pledge site thing, and make a monetary pledge for your favorite student song. You can pledge as much as you want, as many times as you want, for as many songs as you want. The most popular song will get the 826LA Gold Record! (Wow!).

The event is pretty important, as it’s the biggest fundraiser of the year for 826LA, so come out, have a good time, listen to some music, and show your support!

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WHAT: Chickens In Love
WHEN: Saturday, March 6th from noon till 7:00PM
WHERE: the echoplex
$$$: $15
Ages: All

As if you need another reason to trek over to Highland Park’s bat-obsessed Little Cave – a place that looks like something Jack Skellington might own if he grew up in East LA and became a nightlife entrepreneur — Thursday nights are now all about Rehab and Free Tacos. (The “Rehab” part means absolutely zip, aside from a jab at the clientele’s predilection for liquid excess.)

For all the talk about the “diversity” of LA after hours, Rehab is the real deal — the crowd is a merry mixture of Salvadorian goths, glam-punk Asians, Dominican hipsters with “Boondocks” afros, and at least three nerdy white dudes who seem to frequent the same hoody shop. (Four if you count me.) DJ JesC keeps the sounds as far-ranging as the sights, with Love and Rockets and MGMT rubbing elbows with George Clinton and Ice Cube.

And the tacos?  You get what you pay for, but they’re still a damn sight better than the lukewarm sadness they serve up over at The Gold Room. To the batcave!

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WHAT: Eclectic weekly shindig (with gratis carne asada)
WHEN: Thursdays, 9 PM – 2 AM
WHERE: Little Cave
$$$: $5 for a pint of Shock Top

Thanks to a tip from our Twitter (why yes, we do have a Twitter page, you should totally follow us!), we now know about this incredible worldwide event entitled, Obscura Day. If you, like me, have never heard of this day, let me enlighten you: all around the world, people rediscover their city’s weird, wacky, and historical places. For instance in Berkeley on this day, you can get up close and personal with the creepy taxidermy and skeletons of the famous Bone Room and talk to the owner about all the stories he’s collected over the years. And then in St. Petersburg, Russia, you can roam the “tower of griffens” that used to lead to a famous druggist laboratory. But let’s talk about Los Angeles’s event shall we? A group of 50 will meet at the Echo Park Time Travel Mart at 11:30am and take off on the Atlas Obscura Bus to discover the lost land of cane sugar soda pop at Galco’s Soda Pop Stop (with free tastes of course), then a picnic lunch at the Old Zoo in Griffith Park where you can crawl through abandoned lion cages. After lunch, you’ll go to the Velaslavasay Panorama (which I just now realized I lived right across the street from and never even thought twice about and now regret it), where you will experience a “360-degree display of the arctic north” and be able to “explore a carnivorous plant garden” in the back. Finally you’ll end up at a puppetry performance and behind the scenes tour of Bob Baker’s Marionette Theater, apparently the oldest theater of it’s kind in America. Wow. This is definitely a whole new look at LA. I think we win for the most obscure event lineup! RSVP soon, they’re almost full!
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WHAT: Obscura Day 2010 in Los Angeles
WHEN: Saturday, March 20th @ 11:30am
WHERE: Echo Park Time Travel Mart
$$$: $30 when you arrive

Anyone looking for a giant dose of Korean fucked-upedness, check out the Downtown Independent Theater on March 10th for their screening of OLDBOY.

Chan-wook Park’s 2003 thriller tells the story of a man locked away in a secret prison for reasons unexplained, only to be mysteriously set free after 15 years, at which point he sets out to politely request some answers.  Or, y’know, yank out some bad dude’s teeth.  Or, in the film’s most famous set-piece, take on an entire hallway full of ruffians armed only with his fists, a hammer, and the kind of volcanic fury I usually feel when Glenn Beck speaks.  This is a revenge saga that goes so far over the top it practically doubles back onto itself like some kind of demented Mobius strip.  (In the first thirty minutes, the main character eats an actual live octopus on camera — and that’s only an, er, appetizer for what comes later.)

The film is being screened as part of the Downtown Independent’s “Enter The Tuesday” series, offering up weekly martial arts masterpieces from all over the planet and free unlimited PBR, which will assuredly make some of OLDBOY’s more ludicrous plot twists go down easier.

To recap: horrifying violence, main guy eats live octopus, free Pabst.  Bring your momma.

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WHAT: OLDBOY screening
WHEN: Tuesday, March 10th, 10 pm
WHERE: Downtown Independent
$$$: $10

“Don’t do it. You’ll get eaten by coyotes.”  This is usually the response I get when I tell people I want to go night-hiking in Griffith Park.  “Nonsense,” I tell them, “I am a large, imposing adult male, not Jessica Simpson’s dog.  Besides, the coyote presence up there is seriously over-reported.”

The first thing I saw when I got there was a coyote.  Cold chillin’ in the parking lot by the merry-go-round. Humans — we only pretend we run this town.

Three times a week for the past few years, the Sierra Club has been leading after-dark hikes up into the mountains between Hollywood and Glendale.  A crowd of 60 or so adventurers gathers in the upper carousel parking lot, where individual groups form based on speed/trail difficulty (I chose a “3+” i.e. “medium” hike.) Then, lead by a central-casting Greek grandfather named Yanni, we were off, twenty silhouettes loping into the darkened hills.

Your eyes adjust to the gloom as you ascend a thin, winding trail, up through what Bob Dylan described as “haunted, frightened trees”, branches stripped by last year’s fires and looking like something from a Tim Burton movie in the moonlight.  You climb under giant fallen logs and bushwhack through overgrowth.  The sound of the freeway gives way to a chorus of chirping crickets and croaking frogs, and then silence — the soundtrack best suited to the spooky majesty of the landscape.  You crest a hill and the entire Los Angeles valley, from downtown to the ocean, opens up below like a massive, glowing cauldron.  “I feel like Batman right now,” you think to myself.  (Seriously, you think that.) Two hours and six miles later, you’re back in the city — sweaty, dusty-streaked and happy.

Don’t be fooled, dear humans; the coyotes know where it’s at.

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WHAT: Night Hike
WHEN: Tues, Wed, Thurs, starting at 6:45 PM
WHERE: Griffith Park — meet at the upper carousel parking lot
$$$: Free

So, as a foodie and locavore and all (I try my best), I’m psyched about the potential of the upcoming Yamashiro Garden Market. Essentially, it’s an evening farmer’s market and “outdoor dining experience” at a historic landmark atop Sycamore Avenue in Hollywood with amazing views of the city. You’ll be able to buy the best local produce from the likes of Apple Sherrill Orchards, Tutti Frutti Farms, hydroponically grown Japanese vegetables, in addition to other goodies like Bulgarini Gelato, Cobbler Mania, BreadMan, J & P Westcoast Seafood, crepes, organic cheeses and more. Then a grill station will be set up for chef’s to provide al fresco market cooking, with items between $4 and $8, and the Pagoda Bar will serve wine, cocktails, and a corkage fee for you to bring your own booze. Sounds cool, right? There will also be live jazz. It takes place every Thursday from 5pm-9pm, starting tomorrow! So this is like one of my dreams for the city (SF has an underground nighttime farmer’s market), but something tells me it will be disappointing. Maybe because they have $2 valet? The farmer’s market should not be a bourgeois affair. Anyway, check it out and let me know how it goes! Worst case scenario: an evening farmer’s market, which is pretty fine by me.

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WHAT: Yamashiro Garden Market
WHEN: Thursdays 5pm-9pm
WHERE: Yamashiro Restaurant 1999 Sycamore Ave., Hollywood 90068
$$$: $2 valet with market validation; assume cash only

UPDATE: Check out pictures from the first week!

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

How was last week for everyone? Fun? Dirty Projectors last Sat? Watch the amazing USA/Canada gold medal game yesterday? What a game. Poor USA.. Oh well..on to music.

PICK OF THE WEEK
In all honesty, the pick of the week this week is Magnetic Fields tomorrow, but it’s sold out. Boo. If you have tickets or want to head over to Wilshire Ebell Theatre and risk trying to scalp a ticket, go for it. Highly recommended.

Also, Midlake on Wednesday would be a great choice for the pick this week. They’re a great band and their new album is as solid as anyone could have asked for. But you guys probably know about that already..why should I have to tell you to go to that.

The band you may not (probably do, but go with it) know about that’s playing two shows this week is The Clientele. These guys are wonderful. They come from London, but seem to be gaining more popularity here in the States than over in their homeland. Their album God Save The Clientele seemed to get the attention of fans and critics alike (at least that’s what got to me..) and their wonderful followup, Bonfires on the Heath, which came out last October, shows that it was no fluke. The sound of the band is softer, more melodic pop music. It’s kind of melancholy music, but don’t get the idea that you’re gonna sit in the corner and cry for an hour. Lead singer Alasdair MacLean has a very soothing singing style that, combined with the music and surrealist inspired lyrics brings a relaxing atmosphere to wherever you may be. Their music is commonly described as “Autumnal”, which, as oddly as it sounds, kind of makes sense. The music makes you feel like you’re in nature, or in a park somewhere in the middle of London on a beautiful day. Don’t believe me? Go see them at Spaceland on either Friday or Saturday (or both. Up to you.) and see for yourself.

OTHER SHOWS TO LOOK OUT FOR:
3/1: White Arrows w/Superhumanoids//Spirit Animal//The Fling//The Damn Sons at Spaceland. 8:30PM. Free. 21+. (Not a residency show, but one you should go to. For the Superhumanoids. Wow what a surprise, right?)
3/1: Delta Mirror w/Nalepa//Healamonster & Tarsier//Full Frontal at the echo. 8:30PM. Free. 21+. (First of the Delta Mirror residency at the echo.)
3/2: Nice Nice w/We Break Cameras//Bullied By Strings at the echo. 8:30PM. $10. 18+. (A nice alternative to those of us that aren’t going to the Magnetic Fields show.)
3/3: Midlake w/Matthew and the Arrogant Sea at the El Rey. 8:00PM. $16. All. (They’re just a great band. Definitely worth seeing.)
3/3: El Perro Del Mar w/Taken By Trees at Troubadour. 8:00PM. $15. All. (It’s a toss up between this show and Midlake. Go to one though!)
3/3: The Pity Party at Mountain Bar. 10PM. $5(?). 21+. (We like The Pity Party.)
3/4: Phantogram w/Love Grenades at Bordello Bar. 8:00PM. $12. 21+. (Phantogram is definitely on the rise.)
3/4: The Pharmacy w/Pteroacdudes at L’Keg Gallery. 9:00PM. $5. All. (Good band for the first show since the fire there.)
3/5: Deer Tick w/Everest at the Natural History Museum. 5:30PM. $15. All. (First Fridays! Probably won’t be as crazy as last month..)
3/5: The Appleseed Cast w/Dreamend at echoplex. 8:30PM. $15. 18+. (They’re performing all of Low Level Owl 1 & 2.)
3/5: The Bird and the Bee w/Juliette Commagere at the El Rey. 8:00PM. $20. All. (Great indie rock.)
3/5: Black Apples w/Socorro/S. Pineda at pehrspace. 8:00PM. $5. All. (Black Apples are fun.)
3/5: Shadow Shadow Shade at the echo. 8:30PM. $8. 18+. (Formerly known as Afternoons.)
3/6: The Submarines w/Thao Nguyen//Pity Party//Summer Darling//more TBA at echoplex and the echo. 12 noon, $15. All. (It’s the 826LA/Origami Vinyl Chickens In Love benfit. Lasts all day.)
3/7: Audacity w/Film at Spaceland. 8:3oPM. $5. 21+. (Punk band from Fullerton.)
3/7: Part Time Punks at the echo. 10:00PM. $5. 18+. (The Cure nite.)

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WHAT: The Clientele
WHEN: Friday, March 5th (with The Wooden Pigeons and Spain) and Saturday, March 6th (with The Wooden Pigeons and Devon Williams) @ 8:30PM
WHERE: Spaceland
$$$: $14
Ages: 21+

Devil’s Night Drive-In, a bi-monthly drive-in movie theater that pops up in downtown L.A., is back at it this month with a special Family Night event, screening John Waters’ Hairspray on March 13^th. The Angel City Derby Girls complete the occasion, carhopping throughout the show and selling classic drive-in goodies like hot dogs, hamburgers, nachos and – of course – popcorn.

As usual, adult tickets are $10, but kids under $12 get in for half-price. They’re taking reservations, but ticket presales stop at 2 p.m. the day of the event, so get yours before there’s no more getting to be got.

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WHAT: John Waters’ Hairspray, Devil’s Night Drive-In
WHEN: Saturday, March 13
WHERE: 240 W. 4th St (at Broadway) Second Floor Roof Parking Lot
$$$: $1o for adults, $5 for kids under 12

Remember when Alice in Wonderland was just a really cool book? (A line stolen from the Twitterverse). No longer, my friends. Ah, well, embrace the blockbuster-Tim-Burton-Madness when it involves a Japanese cosplay cafe and an adult costume party. Next Saturday Royal/T will host an Alice-themed fashion show and a daytime party with lots of sweet treats. They’ve already had a few Alice-themed bashes that I, for one, wish I had attended. To keep your mind in Wonderland, the cafe will offer a $25 tea set starting March 5th, including playing card sandwiches, mini cupcakes with edible “eat me” notes, deep purple macaroons, and a green tea milk blend. Makes me want to throw my own tea party.

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WHAT: Alice in Wonderland Fashion Show/Tea Party
WHEN: Saturday March 6th
WHERE: Royal/T 8910 Washington Blvd, Culver City
$$$: open to the public

Your weekend has officially begun.

Celebrate the end of a shark-infested workweek and pet a few live ones at the resurrected Shark Lagoon Nights.  Find an excuse to sneak out of work or revel in your freelance-society bliss because this one gets started early (6-9pm) and is located at the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach.

A little bit of a journey for you Angelenos, but definitely worth the trek!  For FREE you can get up close and personal with bamboo sharks and sand tiger sharks, among other sea giants.  Liquid courage is available in the form of various wines and beer (for those feeling a little faint of heart) as well as coffee treats and sugar snacks for a different type of happy hour.  Rotating bands and dj’s perform, according to the night, but be sure to check their calendar before heading to this outdoor escape, just in case the rain STILL hasn’t migrated its way back to Seattle.

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WHAT: Shark Lagoon Nights
WHEN: Most Fridays, 6pm-9pm, starting March 5th
WHERE: Aquarium of the Pacific, Long Beach
$$$: FREE!

The weekend don’t end Saturday night y’all; keep it going with a day party at Best Fish Tacos of Ensenada tomorrow. From 2pm-dark, come grub on indeed the best fish tacos around (with plenty o’ radish relish of course), listen to some beats courtesy of Moredillon, Osaka, St. Andrew, and possibly a special guest or two. This happens every last Sunday of the month, so if you don’t make it out tomorrow, there’s always March.

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WHAT: Most Awesome Sunday Day Party
WHEN: Sunday 2pm-dark
WHERE: Best Fish Tacos, 1650 Hillhurst Ave, Los Feliz, 90027
$$$: bring yo’ taco money ($1.50-$2) and BYOB

It’s time to air your dirty laundry.  Mortified, happening every month at the King King Club, offers an exhilarating night of live performance that turns oversharing into an art.

Each month, brave souls submit artifacts from their awkward adolescence — journal entries, home video footage, 8th-grade poetry that will make you want to cut off your ears and fill the holes with dirt — to the event’s organizers.  The six best are then selected be read aloud. Before a club full of complete strangers.

And the most memorable thing about the whole experience?  Its sweetness.

A hip 30-something screens horror films he made at age six (featuring him getting “attacked” by his too-affectionate-for-the-role golden retriever.)  An acid-tongued Echo Parker shares the lurid details of her sophomore-year trip to South America and her trio of “fiery” Chilean host-brothers.  Another guy reads a “Saved by the Bell” script he wrote at 14 — before being joined onstage for conciliatory hug by “Bell’s” executive producer. All the while, we silently remember own cringing teenage embarrassments, most of which pale in comparison to what’s being brought on the mic.  We laugh and cheer for their survival, and our own.

Each night closes out with a Dixieland orchestra swinging out a cover of The Faces’ “Ooh La La” – and as young Rod Stewart said, “I wish that I knew what I know now.” But if we did, we’d never get to experience the cathartic awesomeness that is Mortified.

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WHAT: Mortified
WHEN: Wednesday, March 17th @ 8 PM
WHERE: King King
$$$: $15 in advance, $20 at the door

Is it Spring yet?

• Dress like a lizard and get into a party at E3rd Lounge for free.
• The New Beverly hosts a Judy Holliday double-feature.
• Last chance to check out Zombie Joe’s Urban Death: Once Upon a Nightmare.
• The Silverlake Art Craft and Vintage Market makes their own Food Truck Fest with no entry fee!
• Head to Origami Vinyl to check out their Rock Photography Show this Sunday.
• Ed Templeton brings his roadside photography to Culver City.
• If you’re into food, the Gold Standard event this Sunday is where you want to be!
• And if you do love food, maybe you want to try making your own marshmallows this weekend?
• The Echo and Spaceland both have some cools shows happening tonight, you may want to swing by.
• If you can get a reservation, you must try Lazy Ox Canteen and then take all of us here at BoredLA out.
• Spend your Saturday eating, drinking, shopping, and catching a live show on La Cienega Blvd.

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