FRIDAY
The "Other" Hollywood
What: The 2nd LA Film & Music Weekend presents a plethora of film and music that you won't get anywhere else. A couple highlights this year: A Snoop-Dogg-narrated documentary "Uprising: Hip-Hop & the LA Riots" and a comedy starring a real-life husband and wife on a NY-to-LA taxi trip gone wrong. The weekend will offer shorts, features, panel discussions and a hodgepodge of groovy live music.
When: Friday-Sunday, Mar. 23-25, $7-59
Where: Downtown Independent, 251 S. Main St., LA, CA
The Strange Boys
What: If you don't know who The Strange Boys are, go to this show. They're from Texas (Austin, of course), they're touring, and they're playing in LA -- for free. Have a listen to their addictive garage rock sound in the video below. Other bands also playing: The Coathangers, White Mystery & Wounded Lion.
When: Friday, Mar. 23, 9pm, 21+, Free with RSVP
Where: Los Globos, 3040 W. Sunset Blvd., LA, CA
SATURDAY
Houses Of The Future
What: Take a walk through some of Echo Park's funkiest, most eco-friendly homes. One is just 15 feet wide; another has grey and rainwater harvesting systems, a wood pellet stove and bamboo flooring. All of them look rad. If you're annoyed by cheery tour guides, you're in luck. The houses are open; the tour is self-directed. "Tourists" will meet afterwards at the newly-opened Red Hill restaurant for food and drink specials.
When: Saturday, Mar. 24, 12-4pm, $35
Where: Tickets will be issued via email with addresses of the homes
Time for Donuts
What: Escape from your life a little longer with Christian Marclay's 24-hour film, "The Clock," showing at LACMA from noon to midnight Saturday. It's a "montage constructed from thousands of moments of cinema and television history depicting the passage of time, excerpted and edited together to create a functioning timepiece synchronized to local time wherever it is shown." What could make such an event even better? A free 24-hour donut shop, say you? Done and done.
When: Saturday, Mar. 24, Noon to midnight
Where: LACMA, Art of the Americas building, 5905 Wilshire Blvd., LA, CA
Improv 'Til You Implode!
What: 12 hours of improv?! That's right. This all-day festival will feature a show every hour on the hour, food trucks, cheap beer and more. The legendary Second City will help the legendary Groundlings Theater raise money to keep LA laughing!
When: Saturday, Mar. 24, noon to midnight, all ages, $5 per show, $25 all day
Where: Groundlings Theater, 7307 Melrose Ave., LA, CA
SUNDAY
To Henninger Flats!
What: Eaton Canyon is one of LA's many underappreciated hiking spots. Come explore Henninger Flats, a nature center and an experimental nursery with the people who know hiking best -- Sierra Clubers!
When: Sunday, Mar. 25, 9am-1pm, Free
Where: Eaton Canyon, 1750 N. Altadena Dr., Pasadena, CA
Southern Sunday
What: There's really nothing that cures a hangover like gravy-covered Southern food. At this Southern Rock brunch, Hard Rock café will dish up chicken and sweet potato hash over white cheddar grits with cornbread and honey butter; eggs, biscuits, sausage gravy and sweet potato pancakes with molasses and pecan butter; and more. Wash down the grease with a Bloody Mary and Mimosa, to the live tunes of "outlaw country rocker" Glitter Rose.
When: Sunday, Mar. 25, 9am Brunch, 10:30am Live Music
Where: Hard Rock Café Hollywood, 6801 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood, CA