The City Prolific: Weekend Events August 2 - 4

Sand, sun, and stars: I saw a lot of each last weekend.  Went to the Nick Waterhouse show at the Getty, and spent a good portion of the time looking up.  The sky is so big over those Santa Monica hills.  I also got a lot of sun. Went to Huntington Beach with my SoCal cousins, and played in the sand with the littlest one, as seen below.

It's August now, my favorite month. Its days cast a wash of deep yellow, my favorite color, 3:00pm yellow, hottest time of the day yellow. Again this weekend, everyone in LA is outside, absorbing the late summer sun at screenings and festivals.

FRIDAY, AUGUST 3

First Friday At The Refine House (Art Show)

Refine Mixers is hosting a specialty “First Friday” where they will serve complimentary Refine specialty low-calorie cocktails for guests to enjoy while mingling amongst the artwork of Renowned artists Louie Ferrigno Jr. and Kelcey Fisher.

Free
8-10:30pm

Refine Mixers House
619 San Juan Ave
Los Angeles 90291

Oscars Outdoors Presents "North by Northwest"

Oscars Outdoors is a summer screening series at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Science’s new open-air theater, located on the Academy Hollywood campus. The series features a permanent 40’ x 20’ screen, a 10,000 square-foot plaza, and lawn seating (blanket or low chair). Food trucks are curated by Roaming Hunger and tailored to the movie showing whenever possible.

For sold out films, a standby line will form on the day of the event, and standby numbers will be distributed at 6pm; available tickets will be sold at approximately 7:45pm (grab happy hour at Wolfslair Biergarten while you wait). Ticketholders should plan to arrive at least 15 minutes before the start of the event to ensure a seat at the venue.

$3-5
Gates open at 6:30pm, screenings begin at sunset.

Oscars Outdoors
1313 Vine St
Los Angeles 90028
www.oscars.org

SATURDAY, AUGUST 3


LA Taco Festival 2012

Boyle Heights is one of my favorite neighborhoods in LA, and this is a great reason to spend some time there.

Held in the heart of Boyle Heights, the LA Taco Festival will bring together community youth musicians, professional artists, community based organizations, food vendors, businesses and Angelinos of all kinds. They are planning the LA Taco Festival to be even bigger and more successful than last year’s event by showcasing more artistic talents and by bringing in the tastiest taco vendors that Boyle Heights and East LA have to offer!

Free (but bring cash for  tacos!)

Mariachi Plaza
1 Street and Boyle Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90033
*tip: take the Gold Line to Mariachi Plaza!

Swimming with Sharks

I haven't been able to make it to a Swimming with Sharks event this year, and I'm quite sad about it.  Champagne specials, squirt gun battles, dj sets, free vodka jello shots and pool-side posing.  It really is a good time.

Free to first 100 with RSVP.
1pm - 10pm


The Standard Downtown
550 South Flower Street
Los Angeles, CA 90071

Street Food Cinema Presents "Bridesmaids"

Guffaw at the funny ladies, while chowing down on food truck noshes, and drinking your well-concealed booze. Contest for best (worst?) bridesmaid dress, so break out the atrocious, and win a prize.

$5 - $15
5:30-11pm

Exposition Park
700 Exposition Park Drive at South Figueroa St
Los Angeles

Cinespia Presents "Sunset Boulevard"

I can think of no better locale for viewing this film.  Directed by Billy Wilder, this deliriously dark and gothic film noir, Sunset Blvd is a magnum opus of hollywood legends. Silent star legend Gloria Swanson emerged from retirement, and under the direction of master filmmaker Billy Wilder, gives the performance of her life. A down and out screenwriter takes refuge in a decaying mansion, and becomes entangled in the possessive web of the faded silent movie star who lives there. This special screening under the stars occurs at the final resting place of Norma Desmond’s milieu. DJ Dante Carfagna spins before and after the screening.

$10
Gates 7:30pm/movie 9pm

Hollywood Forever Cemetery
6000 Santa Monica Boulevard
Los Angeles

bring blankets, drinks and picnic dinner for this screening below the stars. as a courtesy to other moviegoers: NO TALL CHAIRS!!

KCRW Live @ Who Shot Rock & Roll Presents Raphael Saadiq and Band of Skulls

KCRW, in partnership with Amnesty International, presents a night of music in celebration of the album “Chimes of Freedom: The Songs of Bob Dylan Honoring 50 Years Of Amnesty International.”

Released in honor of Amnesty International’s 50th Anniversary, Chimes of Freedom celebrates the songs of one of rock’s most revered musicians, Bob Dylan, who also appears in the Who Shot Rock & Roll exhibit.  More than 80 artists covered Dylan tracks for this benefit album, including KCRW favorites Raphael Saadiq & Band of Skulls.

Grammy Award-winning singer, songwriter and record producer Raphael Saadiq puts on an electrifying live show, bringing to life a catalogue of songs full of sexy swagger, timeless grooves, epic melodies, thoughtful reflections and a good dose of soul.  For over two decades, since his early days with Tony! Toni! Tone!, and Lucy Pearl, Saadiq has carried the torch for old school R&B and created an exhilarating sound that is critically acclaimed and beloved by music fans across the world.

UK trio Band of Skulls saw a feverish rise to stardom with two full length albums and killer live shows that have earned them bookings at major festivals including Bonnaroo and Coachella. Fresh from the stage at Lollapalooza, Band of Skulls will join KCRW to rock the plaza of The Annenberg Space for Photography. RSVP Required.

Free with RSVP
7 - 10pm
Check in begins at 5pm

Annenberg Space for Photography

2000 Avenue of the Stars
Los Angeles, CA 90067

SUNDAY, AUGUST 5

A day of rest, apparently. Am I wrong? Have I missed something? Submit your event here.

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