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!

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.

______________________________________________

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

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.

• Jason Reitman reminds you how much you miss Ferris Bueller at the New Bev.
• Get your tickets to this year’s Lebowski Fest (The Dude may actually attend this year!) before they sell out!
• A delicious jewlicious festival is happening all weekend!
• Wear pink and get a free ticket to the USC basketball game tomorrow night.
• This weekend’s Graffiti Beach features two of our artsy friends and a bikini fashion show.
• Get down with Italian DJ KAOS.
• Learn all about the art of lomography when the Lomography Gallery opens tonight!
• Grab the mic and try and win the audience over at CC Beans open mic night!
• Head to UCB for some Dead Author Readings for charity. Sounds lovely.
• For more death check out Urban Death, a multi-act play that is sure to be spooky and probably bloody.
• The Lunar New Year festivities continue with a parade and a scavenger hunt!
• Make your own cute scented heating pads!
• Eat way too much food for way too little at the Dumpling House Restaurant.
• Hang out in the San Gabriel Valley on Las Tunas Ave.
• Don’t like themes? No problem, the Snug bar is just what you need.

We don’t usually write up sporting events on BoredLA, but this one’s free, so why not?  USC women’s basketball is playing Washington on Saturday and you can watch the game for free.  Instead of wearing your cardinal and gold, put on a pink shirt and you’ll get in for free.  Sounds like a fun date night for sports fans.  Maybe stop at Bacaro LA or The Lab for dinner first?

_____________________________________________

WHAT: Free basketball game
WHEN: Saturday, February 20th @ 8 PM
WHERE: The Galen Center
$$$: Free if you wear a pink shirt

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!

_____________________________

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

Lots to celebrate this weekend: love, presidents, and a new lunar year!

• Hang out in 20’s style at the Edison on Vday.
• Have a hot one-night-stand with the Frysmith at Verdugo Bar.
• Let Bacaro LA impress your date for you with their delicious 3-course menu.
• Grab last minute goodies for your valentine at Space15Twenty’s themed pop-up shop.
• More to do at the Downtown Independent, City Sip LA, and the Echoplex for vday.
• Onto the much more exciting holiday: check out the Lunar New Year festivities through out LA!
• Tons of stuff is going on at Machine Project this weekend, so if you’re single and bitter, there are still awesome things to do!
• You could also just _______ (in bed).
• Or get trashed at Piano Bar?
• Or work out at Bikram Yoga Silverlake?
• Or chill out at the Album Leaf concert.
• Maybe stuff your face with Kaya Sushi rolls?
• You’ll be a fool if you skip the LA Food Truck Festival.

The good loony people at Zombie Joe’s Underground are at it again with the sixth installment of their smash hit play, Urban Death. Every year, a director and a handful of actors get together and come up with 30-40 wordless horror vignettes in this small non profit North Hollywood black box theatre. This year their theme of Once Upon A Nightmare spotlights some of those crazy things that happen in ones head during slumber time. Expect lots of blood, screaming, laughing, skin, and the occasional blue monster.

This being a limited run and a very small theater, it’s suggested that you call ahead of time to make your reservation at 818-202-4120. Get there early for a good seat, and please, for your own sake, don’t sit in the weird side seats. Just take my word for it.

_______________________

WHAT: Urban Death: Once Upon A Nightmare
WHEN: Fridays and Saturdays throughout February, 8:30 pm
WHERE: Zombie Joe’s Underground, 4850 Lankershim Blvd., 91601
$$$: $15

• Hit up Tujunga Ave for lunch, cupcakes and massages
• Grab drinks with your posse at El Cid
• Crash a hipster house party in Venice Saturday afternoon!
• Hear some great live music at the Echo
• Find something swoon worthy at the Valentine’s Pop-Up Shop
• Eat out on the Cheap with DineLA
• Support Haiti in the best way by buying homemade desserts (another bake sale going down atScoops on Heliotrope at the same time- two time it!)
• Sip on Italian wine and munch on Mozza2Go this Sunday
  And finally…be sure to not be too hungover to hit up the Gastrobus at the Los Feliz farmer’s market

Happy Weekending

So if you’ve managed to survive the lightning, hail, flooding, mudslides, and tornadoes, maybe you can squeeze in some time for fun?

• Sunday begins the winter session of DineLA restaurant week, so make your reservations quick!
• Hella Hipster Hoedown #9 is happening this weekend, & $5 gets you into the Pehrspace event.
• Check out Carmichael Gallery’s very last show at their La Brea gallery space!
• If you are at all interested in any medium of art, the LA Art Show is where the shitz goin’ down. (via Connor)
• Learn how you can help people around the city at the Community Service Fair.
• Free beer and food at the Territory Records party! No excuse not to go!
• There’s still time to learn about all things MUSHROOM at Machine Project.
• Why spend money on new clothes when you can make something super stylish out of your old t-shirts?
• If you missed Aijia’s show at Hotel Cafe, there’s still plenty of shows to check out this weekend from the Soundboard.
• If you’re in the mood for a good old fashion burger, hit up The Apple Pan.
• Sunday’s Melrose Flea Market is just around the corner, on this week’s sweet street, Fairfax Ave.

Well, go to the the City Labs Community Service Fair on Saturday and find out.  50 local non-profit groups will be there to let you know more about their organizations and to give info on how you can help.  It looks like there will be a really diverse mix – everything from guerilla gardening to helping kids and pets – so take a look.

If improving your karma isn’t quite enough for you, the $5 admission also gets you a drink, a raffle ticket for items from UNIQUELA local designers, and free workshops from YourDailyThread, 826LA, and Causecast (all of whom should learn how to use spaces in their names…).
_________________________________________________
WHAT: Community Service Fair
WHEN: Saturday, January 23rd from 11-4
WHERE: California Market Center’s Penthouse
$$$: $5 suggested donation

Thank goodness the rain subsided! I know wembley isn’t too pleased… but the rest of us enjoy nice days in LA!

• Order a bourbon and listen to FDR’s fireside chats at The Edison.
• Get up to speed with all of the Golden Globe nominated foreign films!
• Fall in love with all things mushroom at Machine Project!
• Get rid of unwanted gifts and exchange them for something you love at Space15Twenty.
• Enjoy $5 drinks, Mexican food, and great music with the boys of iSHOWMYSELF at BIG Saturdays.
• Head to Unknown Theater for a live show from our friends, Superhumanoids.
• Eat tasty red velvet cupcakes and giant pancakes at Doughboys.
• Buy some kitschy Mexican items and end the day with churros rellenos on Olvera Street.
• Formerly known as “The Gay Room”, hit up HMS Bounty for some delicious drinks!
• If you haven’t seen our facebook event for World Pillow Fight Day LA in April, check it out and invite all your friends!
• Finally, if you are interested in becoming a part of the boredLA family, send us an e-mail!

Sleep in on Saturday morning and then make your way to the Egyptian Theater for a panel discussion with the directors of the Golden Globe nominees for foreign language (minus Pedro Almodovar) presented by the American Cinematheque and the Hollywood Foreign Press Association.

Who’s up for the award?  Besides Mr. Almodovar, it’s Giuseppe Tornatore, Sebastian Silva, Jacques Audiard, and Michael Haneke.  Even if you’ve never heard of them, rest assured that their films are top-notch and they probably have some very interesting insights into the global film industry.

And, if you’re feeling very enthusiastic about foreign film, go to the Spielberg Theater at the Egyptian tonight, tomorrow or Saturday to see a showing of the amazing German film, The Baader Meinhof Complex.  So, so worth your time!

_________________________________________

WHAT: Golden Globe Foreign-Language Nominees Seminar (and screening of The Baader Meinhof Complex)
WHEN: Seminar at 1 PM on Saturday, 1/16, Screenings at 7:30 tonight, Friday, and Saturday
WHERE: The Egyptian
$$$: Free seminar!!!

Woops. A little late. It’s been a long week, so end it right!

• Help save the endangered species at Thinkspace Gallery!
• Surround yourself with photography on polaroid film at the PolaroidParty.
• ‘Tis a faire in Hollywood with knights and dancing and turkey legs.
• Catch a creepy artsy double feature tonight!
• 100 artists use their skills to create art based on the He-Man series. Yup.
• If you’re a huge dork, go to the Reptile Show at the Pomona Fairplex!
• First Fridays are up and running! Check The Soundboard for the details.
• Bottega Louie has a killer farmer’s market breakfast you don’t want to sleep in and miss!
• Highland Park’s York Blvd. should be on your list this weekend!
• And where to drink? The Roger Room! Read more on this week’s Bored & Thirsty!

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.

_________________________________________________

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!

Bon voyage, dear 2009! You were quite a kick in the pants. Should you feel like kicking your short term memory in the pants for the night, head on down to ye old Alvarado House in Echo Park tonight for an all night dance under sheets, stars, and low basement ceilings rager. Brought to you by the Hang The DJs crew, these parties do not disappoint. Outside is a tented backyard with video projections and Star Wars sheets, inside is a somewhat ramshackle house where you’d sooner assume to see haunted portraits of former owners rather than 100 club kids smarmily dancing and pounding on the ceiling.

This installment features DJs Ana Calderon, Knyfeprty, Aaron Castle amongst others, along with (more) free Colt 45 10 – midnight, cash bar the rest of the night. Be sure to bundle up with lots of layers since it’s primarily outdoors, however the indoor dance room does get pretty sweaty. And don’t plan on going to that early morning church service tomorrow. They look down on hangovers, so I hear.

__________________________
WHAT: HTDJs End Of Year Party
WHEN: Saturday, December 26th, 10pm – 4am
WHERE: The Alvarado House, 1027 N. Alvarado St., Echo Park 90026
$$$: $5

Riot Grrl, the female punk movement that denied the mainstream (for a while) and empowered fans to spread their tunes through DIY and zines in a wild time before the internet, is taking the stage to help The Downtown’s Women Center this Sunday.  The Outskirts, Las Sangronas Y El Carbron, Toy Attica, Angustia, and The Potential Lunatics, sorry, no Bikini Kill, will perform their femme-tastic music in a femme-tastic way at The Smell for the Riot Grrl Xmas Carnival.  The venue is all ages, tickets at the door.

__________________________
WHAT: Riot Grrl Xmas Carnival
WHEN: Sunday, December 27th, 9pm
WHERE: The Smell
$$$: $5

If you haven’t checked out an A&D wholesale vintage party, yet, you can still give it a try before the end of the year.  This Saturday, December 26th, roll down to East LA and roll up your sleeves to riffle through gigantic cardboard boxes overflowing with polyester, fringe, and pleather.  The kind folks of A&D provide all the hip kids who flock to the event with empty (and clean) garbage bags to stuff full of plaid t-shirts, multicolored high heels, belts, jewelery, and jeans.  The warehouse, or Boogy Den, has plenty of clothing for both guys and gals.

I’m sure there will be a DJ or a band to help you maintain the rhythms of consumerism.   All clothes and accessories are $1!  Drinks are free! They have hard A and beer.  Don’t forget to tip the bartender!  He’s the host’s (Deborah’s) husband, and he makes a mean tequila sunrise.  21 to drink, any age to get in.
_______________________________
WHAT: A&D Vintage December Public Party
WHEN: Saturday, December 26th from 8pm – 2am
WHERE: Between Olympic and Washington
$$: $1 clothing, $10 cover (the invite doesn’t mention this $10, but i’m assuming it’s the same as in the past.  $10 = a very reasonable cover for such an event)

‘Tis the weekend lineup.

• Tonight’s your last night to get “violated” at the play, Violators Will Be Violated @ 11pm.
• Blow Up LA is hosting a holiday dance party with live music and ugly Christmas sweaters.
• Hella Hipster Ho-ho-Hoedown is taking place at Pehrspace to raise funds to keep the venue up and running!
• What’s winter with out going to the ballet to catch The Nutcracker?
• Cruise around Newport Beach in the Christmas Boat Parade.
• Don’t miss LA Record’s annual x-mas party featuring great bands, live screen printing, and the Frysmith food truck!
• As always, score last minute holiday gifts at the Silverlake craft and vintage fair!
• You could always make your own glitter frames instead!
• Check out a few concerts this weekend before hitting up a holiday party.
• Grab a big hot, steaming, delicious bowl of Vietnamese soup at Pho Cafe.
• Take advantage of the warm weather and spend the day along the beach on Manhattan Blvd.
• Hang around the oldest restaurant in Hollywood and sip on martinis at Musso & Frank Grill.

On the way in to work today, I listened to the Nutcracker Act II – Character Dances Op 71 on KUSC and it reminded me of how very damn good that music is.

They also happened to say a link on the air (seriously? no links section on your site, KUSC?) to a calendar of every major Southern California performance of the Nutcracker.  Head over to BeachCalifornia and find out when/where is going to be best for you.  Parents love it.  Kids love it.  Dates will be impressed that you consider them classy enough to take to The Ballet.  So there you go, easy gift right there.  Happy holidays.

_________________________

WHAT: Nutcracker SoCal Calendar
WHEN: December 17th-29th
WHERE: All over SoCal
$$$: Approx. $15~100, depends where you go