The Five Minutes Game Monday, August 30, 2010

Based on the premise "Every movie is interesting for at least its first five minutes," the Cinefamily is hosting yet another fun-filled round of "The Five Minutes Game." Here's how to play: Watch the first five minutes of 15 different movies, vote on the one to view in its entirety, and live with that decision for the rest of your life. Serendipity may provide you with an unexpected treat, as many of the movies on deck for this Labor Day Edition are not on DVD. Or you may end up regretting it all. Just like anyone's who's endured Eat, Pray, Love knows all too well. Cinefamily, 611 N. Fairfax Ave., L.A.; Mon., Sept. 6, 6 p.m.; $10. (323) 655-2510. (Originally published in L.A. Weekly, September 3, 2010.)

posted by Derek Thomas @ 12:29 PM, ,

Fiesta La Ballona Wednesday, August 25, 2010

"Fiesta" means "party," and "La Ballona" means "the balloon." Actually, no knows the origin of the name "Ballona," other than it refers to the 19th-century rancho that is now Culver City, Mar Vista and Palms. So I say we go with balloons. And it wouldn't be a party without balloon animals, so expect that and more at Culver City's Fiesta La Ballona, an annual community event, first held in 1951, for the rancho's modern-day residents to gather for some good old-fashioned fun. This year's entertainment: live music by Danny Bergen, Aquarius, the Disco Fever Band, Bob's Yer Uncle, Jumpin' Joz Band, Dime Box Band, Susie Hansen Latin Band, and Lisa Haley & the Zydekats; dance moves by Grupo Folclorico Texometzintli, Ho'aloha Polynesian Dancers, and the Senior Steppers; plus food vendors, carnival rides, a petting zoo, and a beer and wine garden. Up, up and away! Veteran's Park, Culver Blvd. & Overland Ave., Culver City; Fri.-Sun., Aug. 27-29; free, ride tickets $1. fiestalaballona.org. (Originally published in L.A. Weekly, August 27, 2010.)

posted by Derek Thomas @ 7:41 PM, ,

Girls and Corpses Thursday, August 19, 2010

You got your girls, you got your corpses, put them together and — voila! — you've got Girls & Corpses. The magazine, that is. And it's exactly what it sounds like: bikini babes posing next to skeletal remains. A high concept has never sunk so low as in this celebration of necrophilia, not that there's anything wrong with that — oh wait, there is. Regardless, for those who fantasize about cadaver erotica, you'll find no peer to this publication, whose creators will be in Hollywood at the "Girls and Corpses Magazine Signing and Party" to explain themselves once and for all. Are the corpses real? Are the boobs? Only these sick minds know for sure, but if you buy a copy maybe you can get them to spill their guts. In person to autograph the latest issue, "Summer Alien Autopsy": publisher Robert Rhine (a.k.a. "Corpsy") and assorted scream queens and degenerates. Meltdown Comics, 7522 Sunset Blvd., Hlywd.; Fri., Aug. 20, 7-11 p.m.; $5. (323) 851-7223. (Originally published in L.A. Weekly, August 20, 2010.)

posted by Derek Thomas @ 12:25 AM, ,

Nebuta Festival Grand Parade Thursday, August 12, 2010

"Nisei" (pronounced KNEE-say) means second generation, as in the children of immigrants, and Little Tokyo's Nisei Week honors that first wave of Japanese-Americans who were raised in the City of Angels. While the Nisei are now well past retirement age, their legacy lives on in this annual festival, with this year's centerpiece, the Nebuta Festival Grand Parade, bringing the Aomori Prefecture tradition stateside with an illuminated float depicting Japanese warriors, encircled by costumed dancers and drummers. Also on the week's agenda: martial arts, sumo and calligraphy demonstrations, a karaoke contest (finals at Oiwake Restaurant), film screenings (at the National Center for the Preservation of Democracy) and a "Gyoza Eating Championship." Full schedule at niseiweek.org. Japanese American Cultural and Community Center, Outdoor Plaza, 244 S. San Pedro St., Little Tokyo; Grand Parade, Sun., Aug. 15, 5:30 p.m.; free. (213) 687-7193. (Originally published in L.A. Weekly, August 13, 2010.)

posted by Derek Thomas @ 3:31 PM, ,

A Taste in San Pedro Friday, August 6, 2010

Formerly monikered the "Pig-a-Thon," A Taste in San Pedro serves up a lot more than pork. The cuisine of this South Bay city is apparently of Slavic, Italian and Mexican origin, but this weekend's food festival is all over the map: McQ's Smoke House (BBQ!), Mishi's Strudel Bakery & Cafe (strudel!), Thai Tiffany (fried rice!), Puesta del Sol (mini-burritos!), Penguin Snow Cones (AND churros! AND funnel cake!), the Los Angeles Harbor College Culinary Arts Program (the Supercuts of food!), and Albertsons Service Deli & Fresh Bakery (!). Tastes are redeemable by ticket, as in, three tickets for a pizza slice, five tickets for a wine flight, and so on and so forth. The entertainment is free, so don't mock the rock. Cover bands include Spirit of Zeppelin, Soul Sacrifice, and Hollywood Stones (formerly Sticky Fingers). Point Fermin Park, 807 Paseo del Mar, San Pedro; Fri., Aug. 6, 6-10 p.m.; Sat., Aug. 7, 11 a.m.-9 p.m.; Sun., Aug. 8, 11 a.m.-7 p.m.; $10, $5 seniors & kids 6-17, under 5 free. tasteinsanpedro.com. (Originally published in L.A. Weekly, August 6, 2010.)

posted by Derek Thomas @ 12:09 AM, ,

Timeless Wednesday, August 4, 2010

In early 2009, Los Angeles production house Mochilla recorded and filmed the Timeless concert series, a trio of orchestral performances in tribute to influencers of hip-hop Arthur Verocai, acclaimed for his oft-sampled 1972 solo album; J. Dilla, the late Detroit record producer; and Mulatu Astatke, creator of Ethio-jazz. Now those three concerts are getting remixed live by the Beat Junkies' J. Rocc at an outdoor film screening in Little Tokyo Plaza, the first in the JACCC's "Summer on the Plaza" series of free movies and concerts. Of course, no outdoor event in L.A. these days would be complete without food trucks, and plenty will be on hand to fill you up, while the beats onscreen trip you out. Japanese American Cultural and Community Center, 244 S. San Pedro St., Little Tokyo; Fri., Aug. 6, 7 p.m.; free. (213) 628-2725, jaccc.org. (Originally published in L.A. Weekly, August 6, 2010.)

posted by Derek Thomas @ 1:12 PM, ,