Weekend Picks


thursday, january 14

L.A. Connection: Reefer Madness
10 p.m. > Laemmle’s Royale Theatre > $10

L.A. Connection kick starts a series of eclectic monthly events, presenting the now-classic 1936 anti-pot film Reefer Madness. The much-lampooned PSA will be enhanced with live and in-person redubbing by L.A. Connection’s resident voice-over comedians.

Kimya Dawson
8 p.m. > The Smell > $5

Kimya Dawson, formerly of the Moldy Peaches, is perhaps best known for her dizzyingly cute contributions to 2008’s Juno soundtrack. Dawson is the headlining Thursday’s show at The Smell, however, playing with Seattle’s Your Heart Breaks and Angelo Spencer from Olympia, Wash.

Downtown Art Walk
noon – 9 p.m. > Various
Locations > FREE

This monthly event is a free, self-guided tour of the many art exhibition venues in Downtown Los Angeles. Explore the more than 40 galleries and museums centered around Gallery Row on Main and Spring Streets in the Historic Core.

friday, january 15

19th Annual International Los Angeles Photographic Art
Exposition
11 a.m. – 7 p.m. > Santa Monica Civic Auditorium > $20

Some of the world’s finest photo galleries are exporting the best of their collections to Santa Monica for what’s known as “Photo L.A. 2010,” a three-day exhibition showcasing photographs from all around the planet.

White Denim w/ Brazos
8 p.m. > The Troubadour > $14

Doors open at 8 p.m. for White Denim’s only Los Angeles stop on their current West Coast tour with Austin-based Brazos. The band that defies all genre attachments is touring to promote Fits, their most recent schizophrenic release.

Hedwig & the Angry Inch sing-along
midnight > Nuart Theatre > $10.50

The Nuart Theatre’s screening of the 2001 post-Rocky Horror Picture Show cult-classic will be presented as a sing-along. The sometimes heavy, sometimes hilarious transgender-themed favorite should lend itself well to the new audience-participation format.

saturday, january 16

Downtown on Ice: Ice Skating
10 a.m. – 10 p.m. > Pershing Square > $6 one-hour session, $2 skate rental

The ice skating rink at Downtown’s Pershing Square is quickly becoming a seasonal favorite among chill-starved Angelenos. Make sure to enjoy the wintery artifice before it leaves town for the year on Monday.

Golden Globe Foreign-Language Nominees Seminar
1 p.m. > Egyptian and Aero Theatres > Free

The seminar will consist of a round-table discussion with the directors of the five films nominated for foreign language Oscars, with a question-and-answer session with the directors of Broken Embraces from Spain, The Maid from Chile, Baaría from Italy, The White Ribbon from Germany and A Prophet from France.

Jeff Bridges double feature
8 p.m. > Aero Theatre > $8

With screenings of currently-in theatres Crazy Heart and cult-classic The Big Lebowski, Santa Monica’s Aero Theatre will keep Jeff Bridges fans satisfied with a double helping of the Starman star.

sunday, january 17

1st Annual Pinot Days Southern California Grand Festival Trade Tasting
11 a.m, > Santa Monica Airport’s Barker Hangar > Free

Visitors 21 and over will have the opportunity to sample wines from exclusively domestic producers of pinot noir at the 1st Annual Pinot Days wine-tasting festival. With nearly 400 different wines available from more than 75 Southern California vineyards, everyone can leave with a slightly more refined palate.

Rival Sons
9:30 p.m. > Cinespace > Free

L.A.-based Rival Sons play the second night of their five-show residency at Hollywood nightclub Cinespace this Sunday. The 18-and-over venue boasts free entrance and free vodka between the magic hour of 9:30 and 10:30 p.m.

The Meatballs of Comedy
6 p.m. > The Jon Lovitz Comedy Club > $10

Jon Lovitz, owner of the self-titled comedy club in Universal Studios Citywalk, has wisely decided to mine the wealth of Italian-American stand-up talent existing in Los Angeles. Hosted by Tommy Tallarino.