It’s a short, but dense list this week, with a variety of events that run the gamut of glamour and galas to Gabrielino and – I just need one more “g” – geography? I guess that could work in reference to the World Wildlife Day Bioblitz happening at Echo Park Lake, so, yea. There’s also the usual offerings of enriching book talks up for grabs, with one happening at the iconic Bullocks Wilshire and the others at LA’s oldest independent book store, Chevalier’s Books. Or you could opt to just stay in the warm and cozy confines of home while you read a book for a cause – check deets below.
Arts, Culture, and a Pre-Oscar Gala
It’s been a while since I’ve included anything from The Broad, and it’s due time! Join the museum’s art and history educators for one of its Family Weekend Workshops, with this week’s iteration titled Speaking in Gabrielino, from 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. this Sunday, March 5. In conjunction with the special exhibition William Kentridge: In Praise of Shadows, on view through April 9, The Broad presents a daylong event for children and their fams, which will be filled with art making activities (exploring personal history and cultural heritage), mapmaking, and two live performances of Gabrielino (the original native tongue of indigenous Angelinos – who knew?) by Tongva activists, artists, and educators, Lazaro Arvizu, Jr. and Virginia Carmelo. The piece speaks to the disappearance of languages as an outcome of colonialism and white supremacy. Tickets include access to museum galleries where guests can use the family audio guide to participate in a scavenger hunt! Tickets are free with reservations. This program is intended for children ages 3 and up. The event will take place in Oculus Hall.
Larchmont Village bookshop and book talk factory, Chevalier’s Books, will be hosting one virtual and one in-person gathering this week, both free of course, and it all starts on hump day with a virtual discussion about Christopher Preston’s Tenacious Beasts: Wildlife Recoveries That Change How We Think about Animals on Wednesday, March 8 from 6-7 p.m. “The news about wildlife is dire—more than 900 species have been wiped off the planet since industrialization. Against this bleak backdrop, however, there are also glimmers of hope and crucial lessons to be learned from animals that have defied global trends toward extinction.
Tenacious Beasts is quintessential nature writing for the Anthropocene, touching on different facets of ecological restoration from Indigenous knowledge to rewilding practices.” Word of the Day: Anthropocene or the current geological age, viewed as the period during which human activity has been the dominant influence on climate and the environment. RSVP here. Then on Thursday, March 9, Tara Schuster will be in store talking about her latest and greatest, Glow in the F*cking Dark. “The author of the runaway hit Buy Yourself the F*cking Lilies shares honest and practical lessons for healing your past and owning your future so you can radiate strength, bravery, and joy when life gets dark.” RSVP here.
Next up, Southwestern Law School presents – drumroll, please – A Bullocks Wilshire Salon: The Architecture and Design Legacy of Jock Peters on Thursday evening, March 9, featuring Christopher Long, author of Jock Peters, Architecture and Design: The Varieties of Modernism. Join Long as he delves into the architectural and design legacy of Jock Peters in one of Peter’s greatest masterpieces, the iconic Bullocks Wilshire! The event includes a self-guided tour of the main floor, an author talk, and Q&A session, followed by a book signing and light reception of dessert. Attendees will also get to view a variety of never-before-exhibited, vintage items from the new Bullocks Wilshire Fashion Archive during the Pre-Reception. The evening will commence with self-guided tours starting at 5:45 p.m. and end with reception and book signing until 9 p.m. Please note that proof of full vaccination, plus one booster is required. Event is for ages 12 and up. Tickets are $75 and capacity is limited, so hurry it up and make a decision! Last day to buy tickets is Monday, March 6.
The Oscars must be close as the Petersen’s DriveH2 Green Pre-Oscar Gala, aka Hollywood’s Eco-Conscious Oscar Party, will be taking place this coming Thursday evening, March 9! Join Energy Independence Now and friends at the perfect venue, Petersen Automotive Museum, as they once again roll out the green carpet for Hollywood Stars, eco-champions, and zero-emission advocates – and you, of course. Enjoy an unforgettable night of entertainment, cool cars, cocktails, surprise guests and “a glimpse into a more sustainable future.” And one said special guest will be NBA All-Star and native Angeleno, Baron Davis, who will be DJing! Green Carpet Arrivals will begin around 6 p.m. with Cocktail Reception, Performances, Sustainable Tastings, and Awards & Headline Performance to follow at 8:30 p.m. The dress code is Formal Attire with “L.A. Flare”. Tickets are $250-$300. See you there?
And in closing of a somewhat eventful section, I leave you with a very worthy heads up for a next weekend event on Saturday, March 11, to be exact, and it’s BILL BURR: Live at the Hollywood Legion Theater!! Presented by Operation Comedy, one of my favorite comedians of all time will be returning to the Legion’s stage for an “amazing night of laughter” in support of the well deserving Veteran’s community. Tickets are still available at only $75 a pop, so don’t lag! You’ll be supporting veterans, while scratching your comedy itch. Doors at 7 p.m.; Showtime’s at 8 p.m.
Community and Local Government
What I don’t know could fill a book, and World Wildlife Day Bioblitz is one of those items now deleted from that book of no-knowledge. I’m guessing you probably didn’t know about it either, but now you do, and we can all participate for the first time together this Saturday, March 4 from 9-10:30 a.m. at Echo Park Lake. The goal of the WWD BioBlitz is to engage the public in making observations of biodiversity around Echo Park Lake that will ultimately contribute to the protection and conservation of local wildlife and their habitats. Participants (that’s you, hopefully) will be tasked with taking pics of plants, animals, and insects, which you/they will then upload to the community science platform app, iNaturalist (Apple Store or Google Play Store) P.S. There will be an iNaturalist demonstration before the “blitz” at 8:30 a.m. Meeting spot will be at the “Lady of the Lake” statue on the north side of the lake.
Become a supporter of the Library Foundation of Los Angeles (LFLA) by participating in the 35th Annual Stay at Home and Read a Book Ball! If you were gonna spend this Sunday, March 5 at home anyway, why not snuggle up to a good book and read the day away at your leisure, along with Author and Chair Mohsin Hamid, and Honorary Chairs Natalia Molina, Christina Rice, Yesika Salgado, and Alex Segura. All proceeds will benefit the LFLA in its effort to support the LAPL’s work “to enrich the lives of every Angeleno.” Sounds like a worthy cause indeed! They’ve also made it super easy to donate with lots of different options for convenience (I like that), you can do it via website LFLA.org/StayHome or by texting Library to 41444, or you can just call or mail your completed invitation form, whatever tickles your fancy. Click on links above for more info.
And the Greater Wilshire Neighborhood Council has just two meetings on the sched this week; one for the Resilience Committee on Monday, March 6 at 6:30 p.m. and the other one’s a General Board Meeting on Wednesday, March 8 at 6:30 p.m. P.S. All NC meetings may go back to IRL starting next month, so stay tuned for more info.
The Mid City West Neighborhood Council also has two meetings on the calendar, and they just happen to be on the same days as the GWNC’s, and at the same time of 6:30 p.m. First up is the Homelessness, Refugees, and Renters’ Rights (aka HRRRTs) Committee on Monday, March 6, followed by the Social and Racial Equity Committee on Wednesday, March 8. Click here to check MCW’s calendar for details.
