The Venice Beach Carnevale will not be televised. Nor will it actually be held in Venice; apparently, tonight’s hedonistic costume contest/dance-party/annual gathering of LA’s freaky people has somehow gotten too insane for the uptight streets of Venice Beach and has been moved to a secret location around Jefferson/Sepulveda. (If this were a grindhouse movie, the announcer would now solemnly intone: “It‘s a party so wild they had to move it to Culver City… where life is cheap!”)

Ok, let’s take a step back and think about this for a moment — how, exactly, does one get kicked out of Venice? Have you been there lately? You could walk around with a severed head and tourists would still ask to take pictures with you. Last time I was hanging out on the boardwalk, a guy in a leopard-print vest and bootie-shorts tried to sell me some meth, as well as (I am not making this up), a live, 5-foot python. Anyway so now I’ve got all this meth and a live python and my friends no longer like to come over. Point that I’m making here, people, it takes a lot to get your ass 86′d from Venice Beach. This event deserves your consideration.

Will there be a full-size intergalactic pirate ship known as the Space Wench to gallivant around? There will be. Will there be floor-shaking beats from the likes of Fatfinger, Todd Spero, and divaDanielle (who I’ve pimped so many times on this site, people are are going to sooner or later think I’m involved in some kind of payola scheme?) Bet your ass. Will there be a masquerade costume contest that lands somewhere between Salvador Dali and Eyes Wide Shut? Most definitely. Will there be a certain amount of public nudity? Yes ma’am. Will there be acrobats and fire performers and go-go dancers? What do you think this is, the Republican National Convention? (Ok, bad example.) Just remember to come in costume — “exotic and erotic attire encouraged.”

And if you want to get in, RSVP here today to get the address and final details for tonight.

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WHAT: Carnevale masquerade party
WHEN: Saturday June 5th, 8:30 PM – 3:30 AM
WHERE: Culver City (RSVP to get address)
$$$: $15 (or $35 for VIP/open bar)

For anyone who made it to the The Grilled Cheese Invitational last year, you know what you’re in for. For those of you who didn’t, SHAME ON YOU.

The GCI is more fun than playing Donkey Kong Country at Don King’s cousin’s house (for anyone who didn’t get that reference, watch this. No, really, watch it, the quotability factor is staggering.)  Every year, fans of butter-crisped bread and melted cheese — in other words, all sentient humans with working taste-buds — gather for a jolly cook-off where a panel of judges, and the general public, decide who will reign as Supreme Sammich-Maker.

For those of you who want to throw on the theme from “The Karate Kid” and put your skills to the test, 300 chef-spots are given away on a first-come/first-serve basis — all you need to bring is your personalized ingredients and your A-game. I’m partial to thin-sliced sourdough with cranberry-chipotle cheddar and a sprinkling of spicy chorizo, but if I find any of you fools jacking my recipe, shit’s gonna get real. Don’t start none, won’t be none.

Seriously, though, don’t miss it (and get your tickets early) or we’ll be forced to put you in the stocks outside the courthouse and eat yummy things in front of you without offering you a bite. We cannot have anarchy.

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WHAT: Grilled Cheese Competition
WHEN: April 24th, Noon-6 PM
WHERE: Los Angeles Center Studios
$$$: $10

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

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

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

If you’ve been listening to KCRW at all lately you’ll know that they’re in the middle of their Winter Subscription Drive. To lure you into becoming a member, they often have pretty sweet deals in exchange for your donation. Evan Kleiman’s Good Food show is no exception; if you subscribe during her show this weekend you could win a Ford Hybrid and get a free dinner from Evan (host of Good Food and owner of Angeli Caffe). Plus, you’ll be supporting a pretty cool radio station. Or you could just listen to her interesting and educational program. Her Saturday show features frequent guest Jonathan Gold introducing a new Little Tokyo restaurant and Lesley Balla of Tasting Table LA discussing where to get genuine French macaroons in the city. Mmm, macaroons.

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WHAT: Good Food Pledge Drive
WHEN: 2/6/10 11am-noon
WHERE: www.kcrw.com/goodfood or 89.9
$$$: donation and chance to win prizes!

The Neo Acro Theatre Co. is hosting it’s very own city-wide scavenger hunt. I highly suggest taking advantage of this opportunity! It’s not every day someone else will organize a massive hunt for you! Plus, with teams of five, the entry fee is $25 which means only $5 a person! It’s such a great deal because most of the scavenger events around town cost upwards of $30/person. To sign up, send your name, number, and email address to this e-mail. I’m sure they will accept walk-ins as long as you bring the cash! Entry fees are due on the day of the event at the home base on a sweet little street called Lankershim. You cannot participate unless your entry fee is paid when you arrive! Your team will have 5 hours from noon to 5pm to complete as many of the tasks as possible. And of course the winners will receive some sort of secret prize, maybe a pony. Who knows. But remember, you’re never too old to go on a scavenger hunt!!!
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WHAT: City-Wide Scavenger Hunt
WHEN: Saturday, November 14th @ 12pm-5pm
WHERE: RSVP to find out!
$$$: $25/team of 5

Get into the holiday spirit this weekend by visiting KCRW’s Good Food Pie Bake-off! The best part? It’s free and open to the public, meaning lots of free pie-tasting! The event was sparked by Evan Kleiman’s summer pie-a-day initiative on her radio show Good Food. There will be more than 140 pies to be had, and of course a panel of judges to determine which pie is the best in the land- the land of Los Angeles. Also, a good reason to visit Topanga.

WHAT: Good Food Pie Bake-off
WHEN: Saturday, November 14th @ 2-4pm
WHERE: Westfield Topanga Shopping Center Canyon Atrium, 6600 Topanga Canyon Blvd, Canoga Park
$$$: free!

Having a car in Los Angeles is pretty much a necessity. You can’t walk anywhere and public transportation is so horrible, you’re left with almost no choice but to drive.


Having a soapbox racer in Los Angeles, on the other hand, not so much a necessity. Until Saturday. On the 26th of September, on Grand Ave. And 5th St., right here in Downtown, almost 50 soapbox racing teams will compete in the Red Bull Soapbox Race. The racers will be faced with a crazy course of drops, turns, and everything in between.  And if you’re thinking “okay that’s exciting, but they’re just cars going down a street”, you are totally wrong. The 47 teams were carefully chosen out of 200 applicants. The winners will be picked based on three criteria: speed, creativity, and showmanship. So be prepared to see anything from a giant nose to Pac-Man flying down the streets of LA.


The event is free (woo!) and begins at 11:00AM with soapbox viewing. The opening ceremony is at 12:30PM and the race begins at 1:00PM. The first place winners of the race will get the ultimate Red Bull NASCAR experience..or something like that.






Now let’s move  on to more important matters. While there may be 47 teams participating in the race, one team in particular is all you should really care about, cause well, they’re from the future and trying to save the world. Team Apocolypse, with driver Zantor Wipple have crafted a pretty crazy soapbox    racer out of things like a shopping cart, golf club, and what looks like the barrel of a machine gun. If we are to believe what the team is telling us, “On September 26, 2009, a young scientist will unleash a deadly virus in downtown Los Angeles.” Wipple and his cast of time traveling heroes will do their best to thwart this villain and save the world…I guess by winning the race? Find out more here at their blog or join their facebook group and cheer ‘em on on Saturday as they try to do the impossible and save us all from destruction.

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WHAT: Red Bull Soapbox Race
WHEN: Saturday, September 26th @ 11:00AM
WHERE: Grand Ave. & 5th St.
$$$: Free

Howzit, brah?  Wanna check out some rickt waves and watch some sane surf tricks? Yeah, you might be a hodad, but you can watch the best of the best today and tomorrow at the MSA Classic at Surfrider Beach.  Besides the bonzer surf show, there will probably be lots of beach bunnies and hot dudes to ogle.  And who can say no to a day at the beach, henna?  This contest’s gonna be bitchin’, but it starts crazy early.  Get there around sunrise…or come late and only watch the second half.  The surfer’s are chill; they’ll understand.

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WHAT: MSA Classic
WHERE: Surfrider Beach
WHEN: Today and Tomorrow 6:30 AM-7 PM
$$$: Free to watch

P.S. Didn’t understand a word I said?  It’s (badly-mangled) surf lingo, bud!  Translate it here.

P.P.S. Even if you aren’t going, take a look at the program. It’s pretty amazing.

I hate when really cool things happen without notice so I miss them (like the freakin’ secret M.I.A. show tomorrow night!) so I’m warning y’all about Jack White’s record store, Third Man Records & Novelties, downtown that’s open for 3 DAYS ONLY. It opens wednesday (as in tomorrow wednesday) from 10am-8pm, and continues Thurs. and Fri. from 12pm-8pm Now, I could pass on a pop-uprecord store, buuuut Jack’s band the Dead Weather play tonight and tomorrow in town, soooo guess who might make an appearance at his own record store? That’s what I’m hoping anyway. You’re also guaranteed a Jack White sighting at the store’s opening: the Dead Weather will perform for Wednesday’s opening to a first-come, first-served crowd at noon. One lucky fan (or fan willing to wait in line) will get a “golden ticket” of sorts by purchasing a copy of the album that will enter them in a contest to win a grand prize tour of the Nashville record store. Now this seems like a lot of fanboy bullshit to go through for some band, but I waited in line all day in a parking lot in the scorching sun a few summers ago when the White Stripes had a free show at the temporary “Icky Thump Records” in the old Tower Records on Sunset. And I drove up from Orange County no less. But I got tickets, and it was freakin’ awesome, one of the best shows I’ve ever been to. But that was for the White Stripes, who are waaaay better (just sayin’). It’s your call.
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WHAT: Jack White’s pop-up record store
WHEN: Wed, Thurs. Fri.
WHERE: Regent Theater, 448 S. Main St. Downtown
$$$: only your time and patience

When it comes to movie premieres, you really can’t go wrong.  Even Alvin and the Chipmunks: the Squeakquel might be worth it if you got to walk the red carpet.  But the Inglorious Basterds premiere would be so, so, awesome.

If you want a shot at hobnobbing with Brad Pitt and Quentin Tarantino, head over to Golden Apple Comics on Saturday, where the Basterd Girls will be holding a pre-release party.  Take your turn at hitting the Inglorious pinata for a chance to win tickets to the Hollywood premiere.  If any of you win, let us know and take pictures for LA Blink!

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WHAT: Inglorious Basterds Party
WHEN: Saturday, August 1st from 1-2 PM
WHERE: Golden Apple Comics
$$$: Free

Remember the days when we were obsessed with competing against supercomputers? Neither do I, but it looks like the trend is slowly coming back. This Sunday, Machine Project will provide 8 hours of arty and mathy goodness with an artist’s race against a machine:

“In the performance of “John Henry Von Neumann,” Chandler B. McWilliams will compete against a computer to complete a drawing in an eight-hour workday. The drawings are algorithmic, such that each line can be calculated from the previous lines. Random numbers will be used to generate the same seed line for McWilliams and the computer to execute the algorithm. He will use pen and paper while the computer uses a plotter. The result will be two drawings, one from the human hand, and one from the hand of the machine.”

Yes yes YES. For a fascinating yet chill Sunday, this is the best recommendation I can give.

NOSH: North Alvarado is a great hang-out area, so in between check-ins with McWilliam’s harrowing competish, head down Alvarado and have lunch at the popular Downbeat Cafe, a classic cafe joint with a hip atmosphere to complement your jaunt through Echo Park!
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WHAT: Machine Project’s “John Henry Von Neumann”
WHEN: Sunday, June 28 10am – 6pm
WHERE: 1200 D North Alvarado Los Angeles, CA 90026
$$$: Free

You don’t have to be in Italy to celebrate Carnevale. For the 7th year, Venice Beach will host a fabulous party that includes crazy costumes, dancing, craft booths, live music, and both a costume contest and poster contest to design next year’s ad and win $500. The organizers emphasize that this is a free event that will definitely put a smile on your face during these rough economic times. Who doesn’t love bright colors and feathers? So listen, head to a costume shop, or throw something together on your own, and head over there this weekend. If you don’t dress up, you will feel left out and very, very sad. The only real rule is no nudity. So cover up boys, no one wants to see that!
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WHAT: Carnevale
WHEN: Saturday, June 6th @ noon-9pm
WHERE: Venice Beach
$$$: Free

The amazing 1998 Coen brothers detective story, The Big Lebowski, offers more than nihilists, toe amputation, and Jesus.  This week in LA, it also offers its own festival.  The bath-robed festivities begin on Thursday with a Movie Party at the Wiltern.  Yuto Miyazawa, an impressive 8-year-old guitarist (which explains why the event is all ages) will play some tunes while special guests, including Philip Moon (Woo, the guy who pees on the rug), make appearances.  Of course, there will be a screening of the movie.  You can buy tickets here.
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WHAT: Lebowski Fest LA Movie Party
WHERE: The Wiltern
WHEN: Thursday, May 7th.  Doors at 7pm, show at 8pm
$: Mezzanine (seated) $15; Main Floor (partially seated) $19.99

Friday’s event is a bit of a mission (out to Lakewood), takes the admission age up to 21, and turns the fest into a Bowling Party at Cal Bowl.  There will be bowling, costumes (of course!), trivia, and other contests where you can demonstrate your subcultural capital and maybe earn a chance to stand a bit closer to the slightly different line-up of special guests, including Mark Pelligrino (the blond thug who works for Jackie Treehorn).  Tickets include general admission bowling and shoe rental.  Bowling isn’t guaranteed, so you might need to go Walter on their asses (I feel as though I must note that boredLA does not condone going Walter on anyone’s asses). You can buy tickets here.

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WHAT: Lebowski Fest LA Bowling Party
WHEN: Friday, May 8th at 9pm (arrive early if you want to bowl)
WHERE: Cal Bowl (in Lakewood)
$: $27.50

How can you go wrong with grilled cheese? It’s pretty hard.  On Saturday, the grilled cheese lovers in LA will converge upon Spring Street for the Grilled Cheese Invitational.  Thats right, a cook-off for grilled cheese sandwiches.  Yum!

It’s only five bucks to get in (ten bucks if you want to compete with your own gooey masterpiece) and that gets you free grilled cheese from Kraft Singles, cheese themed poetry, cooking exhibitions, etc.  Entering the competition gets you a free frying pan. Whatever you decide to do, it promises to be a delicious afternoon.

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WHAT: Grilled Cheese Invitational
WHERE: 1245 N. Spring St.
WHEN: April 25, 12-6
$$$: 5 to get in, 10 to compete

Yeah, random title for a blog post huh? Spork Kills is actually a rap artist from Brooklyn, who’s music video is currently one of MTVu’s finalists for their weekly competition, The Freshmen. If you were just turned off by the “rap” description, you’re in for a surprise. It’s definitely not your typical rapping. It’s pretty awesome. Here’s what you do, you vote for the video you want to be number one, and the winner at the end of the week gets featured on MTV and MTV2. It’s kinddda a big deal. So here’s the thing… one of our friends over at iSHOWMYSELF, you know, that DJ crew that was at our last art show, who also has a bi-monthly residency at Temporary Spaces — actually produced this particular video. Since they helped us out at our art show, we decided to help them out as well. So all you readers out there, who are up late checking this blog because you have nothing better to do, why don’t you click on this link and vote for Spork Kills… once, twice, ten times, whatever (you can vote as many times as you want!). Help these guys out! If you like school girls and zombies, you will definitely enjoy this video.

The contest ends Friday at 9am, so vote ASAP!

Check out the video right here….!

Now this sounds interesting– you know when people slide down escalator railings? Or those railings next to stairs? That’s an actual sport. Or at least someone made it a sport. And it gets crazier than that: people even slide on the hoods of moving cars. Well Levi’s is hosting the 3rd–nope, not the 1st or 2nd, the 3RD– powersliding competition at the Santa Monica Pier on Wednesday. The best powersliders in the country will be competing for the top prize. If this didn’t make Levi’s sound cool enough, they got indie band Matt & Kim to play a live show, a portable karaoke booth to entertain the masses, and of course, none other than Kogi BBQ truck with be there making tons of delicious tacos. So if you’re in the area, it wouldn’t hurt to take a peek at this weird sport, and get some yummy tacos while you’re at it!
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WHAT: 3rd Annual Powersliding Competition
WHEN: Wednesday, April 15th @ 3pm-5pm
WHERE: Santa Monica Pier
$$$: Free

I don’t get how they do it, but damn it looks cool:

Papershapers is a group show featuring ten artists who work with paper, not “on paper.” The exhibition will feature works that are cut, torn, folded, and sewn into unique creations.

Everyone who contributed to this show was selected as the winners of the Paper Art Series Contest held by Giant Robot. Shin Tanaka (you know him as the guy who came up with the idea to make printable paper figures you could build at home) will be in attendance, folding paper with YOU! Cool. First and foremost, this is an exhibition of these artists’ works… but secondly, it’s a party. Grab a friend and head down to Scion Space for some out of this world paper creations.
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WHAT: Papershapers group show
WHEN: Saturday, April 11th @ 7-10pm
WHERE: Scion Space
$$$: Free

For everyone who doesn’t want to spend Easter Sunday in church, searching for dyed eggs and/or eating ham with the family, make sure to hightail it to the Bellvue Rec Center in Silverlake for The Burt Reynolds No Bunny Does it Better Dodgeball Tourney and Moustache Expo (whoa, that was a mouthful!) hosted by our beloved L.A. Dodgeball Society.  You can register as a team or as an individual, a novice or an expert…the only hard and fast rule is that you MUST MUST MUST have a rockin ’stache.  They’ll be selling moustaches there if you forget yours.  What could be better than hurling Stay Puft balls at your friends on a Sunday afternoon?

There will be prizes for winners and an after party at the Silverlake Lounge.

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WHAT: The Burt Reynolds No Bunny Does it Better Dodgeball Tourney and Moustache Expo
WHEN: Sunday, April 12th, Cannon Bunny Run at noon, Smokey and the Bunny at 2 PM
WHERE: The Bellvue Recreation Center,  826 Lucile Ave.
$$$:  $75/12 person team if you sign up before April 10th, $10/individual