This weekend features banned erotica, French music, artful interpretations of Lebowski, an up close and personal evening with Sue Sylvester, and the start of a brand new month. Go, get out, laugh, speak French, French kiss, dance in the streets! It’s all yours for the taking, LA.
FRIDAYWhat: Ooh La L.A. FestivalWhy: The second evening of this three day French music celebration features the excellent Touareg-influenced blues rock group Tinariwen (from Mali) and special guests TV on the Radio (from Brooklyn). Not sure how either of these groups fit with the Francais theme, but we have beaucoup amour for these bands, so it’s tres cool that they’re playing. Saturday’s lineup features the more Francophone based stylings of Lyon’s Etienne De Crecy and Paris’ Chateau Marmont. When: 7:30pm, $30Where: El Rey Theatre 5515 Wilshire Boulevard, at South Dunsmuir Avenue, (323-936-6400 or theelrey.com)
What: Love Bites: A Banned Erotica ShowcaseWhy: Presented by literary group PEN Center USA and the slightly less literary group Playboy, Love Bites will feature performances and discussions of history’s sauciest lit, including "Lolita", "Tropic of Cancer", "Madame Bovary" and other works that were once deemed too risqué for popular consumption. A trio of burlesque dancers will act out many of the fantasies aroused by these classic pieces of provocative wordplay. When: 7pm, $10Where: The Comedy Store, 8433 West Sunset Boulevard, at North Olive Drive, (323-650-6268 or thecomedystore.com)
SATURDAYWhat: Beyond Eden Art FairWhy: Celebrate the incredible amount of creative genius in Los Angeles at two day gallery event Beyond Eden. The show will feature work from a half dozen of LA’s most cutting edge galleries including C.A.V.E Gallery, Thinkspace and Gallery Nucleus. Saturday’s schedule includes music, live paintings and selections from Spoke Art’s Quentin vs. Coens exhibit, which features artistic interpretations of classics including "Kill Bill", "Reservoir Dogs" and "The Big Lebowski". When: October 1, 6pm – 11pm, October 2, 12pm – 5pmWhere: Barsndall Municipal Arts Gallery, 4800 Hollywood Boulevard, at North Berendo Street, (beyondedenartfair.com)
What: Found LA Neighborhood ToursWhy: Yeah, you know the best coffee shops, bakeries and bars in your neighborhood, but what about the ones in Little Tehran? West Hollywood? Koreatown? Get to know one of Los Angeles’ more than 80 diverse districts on a local level with this day long neighborhood guided tour event. Excursions will be led by local residents, business owners, artists and other community aficionados. After, you’ll never again have to wonder where to get a good chai in Atwater Village. When: October 1, 9am – 5pm, freeWhere: Locations vary, visit lacommons.org/foundla for details
SUNDAYWhat: Jane Lynch in Conversation with Adam ScottWhy: Whether you know Jane Lynch as Sue Sylvester, Christopher Guest muse or Emmy Awards host, chances are good that the woman has made you laugh. Hard. She’ll do the same when she discusses her career, her issues with alcohol and her rise to fame at age 50 with funnyman Adam Scott, who you likely know from the also hilarious “Parks and Recreation”. Lynch will be signing copies of her recently released memoir, Happy Accidents. When: October 2, 6pm, $29, $49 for admittance a copy of Happy AccidentsWhere: Club Nokia, 800 West Olympic Boulevard, at South Figueroa Street, (213-765-7000 or clubnokia.com)
What: Trespass ParadeWhy: As part of the city-wide art initiative Pacific Standard Time, hundreds, (and maybe thousands), of artists, musicians, residents and the simply curious will take to the streets of downtown Los Angeles for a parade of dancing, floats and community activism that will span 25 blocks. Slogan t-shirts by artists including Arto Lindsay and Rirkrit Tiravanija will be worn by many participants, (phrases include “How Will I Die?” and “Do Less Be More”), and garage jazz act KILLSONIC will perform on Grand Avenue. Ending receptions will be held at MOCA and REDCAT. When: October 2, 11amWhere: Downtown Los Angeles, (626-793-1504 or trespassparade.org)