Losanjealous Benevolent Society Events: August 17 – 23

losanjealous benevolent societyTesting… 1… 2… 3… Is this thing on? Begin transmission…

The Losanjealous Benevolent Society assembles a weekly list of happenings and events in LA. Please pardon our dust as the LBS gets back up to speed. Consider this week’s a beta edition. If you know of an event you want us to consider, leave the info below or e-mail it to tips@losanjealous.com.

Join the Losanjealous Benevolent Society and we’ll send our Weekly Events list to your inbox.
email:

FRIDAY

The Jim Henson Company’s Puppet Up! – Uncensored @ Avalon Hollywood

A demonstration of what happens when the perilous and provocative forms of traditional comedic improvisation are mixed with a bunch of puppets. With a motley group of characters brought to life by the world renowned puppeteers of The Jim Henson Company, this is not your average night at the improv and it is definitely not for children. But all others are welcome to enjoy the uninhibited anarchy of live puppet performance as never seen before. 8 pm.

11th Annual Docuweek @ ArcLight & The Landmark

The International Documentary Association (IDA) features 17 documentaries in its 11th Annual Theatrical Documentary Showcase, DocuWeek. A dozen feature-length documentaries and five short nonfiction films will be shown at the ArcLight Hollywood and The Landmark West Los Angeles. 8/17-8/23. Program info here.

SATURDAY

El Vez @ California Plaza

Come see the Latino Elvis–and Ron’s personal favorite–honor the memory of The King on the 30th Anniversary of his passing. Grand Performances is Southern California’s largest presenter of free performing arts programs and a landmark nonprofit arts institution established with a primary focus on bringing together the diverse peoples of Los Angeles, in unique settings, for concerts celebrating the cultural contributions of our community’s peoples. 8 pm. 350 S. Grand Ave.

12th Annual 2007 LA Tofu Festival

An annual Losanjealous tradition, this year’s theme is “Where Tofu Meets its Perfect Match,” reflecting tofu’s versatility to match with other foods to create an adventurous assortment of dishes. These delicious and imaginative soy, as well as non-soy, organic and specialty foods will be served by LA’s top restaurants and food participants. Nearly 25,000 people, ranging from children, to seniors, are expected to partake in this annual outdoor community event. Along with great food, the festival also includes the Marketplace, Health and Fitness Lane, Beer Garden, and the ever-popular Tofu Eating contest. At San Pedro and 2nd Street. Saturday, 12pm – 8 pm; Sunday, 12 pm – 6 pm.

Muse ’til Midnight @ LACMA

Get an after hours sneak peek of the current exhibitions, enjoy music and art-making activities, and celebrate with a free drink in hand. Music by Los Abandoned and DJ Santi. Special preview of SoCal: Southern California Art of the 1960s and 70s from LACMA’s Collection. After-hours viewing of The Arts in Latin America: 1492–1820. 8:30 pm–midnight. $25, includes cocktails and appetizers.

SUNDAY

SoCal: Southern California Art of the 1960s and 70s from LACMA’s Collection

Images of both the utopian and the dystopic took shape in the vision of artists working in the 1960s and 70s in southern California, emerging on the one hand in the sleek, elegant, at times even transcendental works of the so-called “light and space” and “finish fetish” artists; and on the other hand in the gritty, even tawdry imagery and materials of assemblage and California pop. This exhibition will look at both these strands in the art of southern California in the 1960s and 70s, with echoes into the 1980s and 1990s. Opening day. Runs through 3/30/08.

TUESDAY

David Lynch appearance & DVD Signing @ Barnes & Noble, The Grove

As if we need still another a reason to visit the paradise on earth that is The Grove, Lynch will be signing copies of his newly released DVD, Inland Empire. It is not clear whether there will be some kind of prepared presentation or a Q&A session. Hopefully, not the later, as by rule bookstore Q&A’s are insufferable. “Mr. Lynch, I’m a big fan. In Twin Peaks, in Episode 17, when The Log Lady said…” ZZZZZ… Just get your DVD signed and get the hell out of there. 7 pm.

THURSDAY

Rudy Valentino’s Son of the Sheik Screening @ Hollywood Forever Cemetary

This particular screening takes on an extra bit of meaning as star Rudy Valentino is entombed in the East Masoleum at Hollwood Forever. Stop by to pay your respects to the man.

Hammer Bash @ Hammer Museum

Celebrate the closing week of Eden’s Edge: Fifteen LA Artists Closing Party. Featuring participating artist Jim Shaw’s Into the Vacuum, performance and film at 7pm. Free admission. Cash bar and DJ Tendaji Lathan in the courtyard, 7-11pm.

Cirque du Soleil’s Corteo @ The Great Western Forum

As the website explains, “Corteo, which means ’cortege’ in Italian, is a joyous procession, a festive parade imagined by a clown. The show brings together the passion of the actor with the grace and power of the acrobat to plunge the audience into a theatrical world of fun, comedy and spontaneity situated in a mysterious space between heaven and earth.” Got all that? Opening night. Through October 28.