In this pre-Thanksgiving weekend, we have a nice mix of holiday and non-holiday-themed events, but not too many to stress you out as you prepare for your Turkey (or Tofurkey) Day on Thursday.
The biggest event of this weekend (and maybe for the next 10 days) is the LA Auto Show, which starts today (Friday) and runs for 10 days at the LA Convention Center.  According to the organizers, “Founded in 1907, the Los Angeles Auto Show…is one of the most influential and best-attended auto shows globally and spans more than 1,000,000 square feet.” You’ll be able to see, touch and sit in new models from almost every manufacturer, including not-yet-ready-for-market concept cars…and many will also available for free test drives. In addition, you’ll find lots of car care products and accessories, classic cars, customized cars and much, much more. Tickets and full schedule information are available at the link above.
For something a bit more quiet and creative on Saturday afternoon, head over to the Craft Contemporary for “Crafting Histories in Fiber: Exhibition and Culminating Event,” an outdoor reception and exhibition of fiber sculpture work created by the participants of the museum’s older adult fiber workshop series taught by artist Mimi Haddon. It runs from 2-5 p.m., and is free with museum admission.
Starting at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, and running through Sunday, is the “Argentina: New Cinema 2019” film series, at the Egyptian Theater, 6712 Hollywood Blvd. The series, sponsored by the American Cinematheque and the Consulate General and Promotion Center of the Argentine Republic in Los Angeles, with support from the Hollywood Foreign Press Association and participation of the Latin America Cinemateca of Los Angeles, features the L.A. premieres of five recent and notable Argentinian films:  “HEROIC LOSERS, a crowd-pleasing heist comedy that follows a group of townspeople who, after losing all of their money during the country’s banking crisis, devise a plan to steal back what’s rightfully theirs…Mariano Cohn’s 4X4, an Argentine box office hit about a petty thief who finds himself trapped in a 4×4 truck with a high-tech security system…Federico Marcello’s timely mockumentary FROM HERE TO CHINA [which] handles Chinese-Argentine relations with humor and empathy…Barbara Sarasola-Day’s sophomore feature, WHITE BLOOD [in which] a father-daughter drama turned drug-trade thriller set at the Bolivia-Argentina border…[and] Juan José Campanella’s triumphant return to live-action feature filmmaking, THE WEASEL’S TALE, a wonderfully preposterous comedy about an aging actress’s encounter with two fans who have dark ulterior motives.” All films are in Spanish with English subtitles unless otherwise noted. See the series link, above, for more information and specific showtimes for each film.
Back in the art world, the LaunchLA Gallery, 170 S. La Brea, will hold and opening reception at 6 p.m. on Saturday for its new “LA Flora” group show, inspired by the flora of Los Angeles. Featured artists include nine painters and three sculptors: Sharon Barnes, Jo Ann Belson, Andrea Bersaglieri, Todd Carpenter, Alexandra Chiou, Jeanne Dunn, Holly Elander, Megan Frances, Steve Fujimoto, Lynne McDaniel, Hung Viet Nguyen, Colin Roberts, and Lindsey Warren. According to the gallery, “Nature has always been part of the story of Los Angeles, from a landscape that was once wild with indiginous life to one that has become a freeway strewn metropolis, Southern California has captured the imagination for it’s uncanny ability to nourish any plant in the world. In LA Flora, the exploration of the subject of Los Angeles plant life is shown through perspectives as varied as the visitors to Los Angeles’ local parks, each artist capturing a unique aspect to the way humanity and nature intertwine.” If you can’t make it to the reception, the show will be on view at the gallery through December 14; gallery hours are Fridays and Saturdays from 1-5 p.m., and by appointment.
Over on the Miracle Mile, the TAG gallery, 5458 Wilshire Blvd., will also be hosting a reception, from 6-9 p.m. on Saturday, for two new shows: “installations,” an “interactive and multi-layered collage experience” by K. Ryan Henisey, and “My Youth,” an exhibition of queer artists Henisey is co-curating with artist Eugene Huffman, which focuses on growing up queer. Both exhibitions are on display at TAG through December 14.
Meanwhile, back at the Egyptian Theater, the American Cinematheque will present a screening of the 1963 Cold War drama, “Ladybug, Ladybug,” by husband and wife filmmakeing duo Frank and Eleanor Perry. The film is based on a real incident at a rural elementary school, and follows a group of schoolchildren and staff who react to a nuclear attack alarm bell. Unsure whether or not the threat is legitimate, the characters “make their way to a bomb shelter as they contemplate their possible destruction.” It’s “shot in a naturalistic documentary style that adds to the frightening reality of the scenario,” and stars Jane Connell, William Daniels, James Frawley and Estelle Parsons. The program will begin with the cartoon short, “School Days,” directed by Ub Iwerks in 1932, in which “Flip the Frog heads to school, followed by a mischief-making dog.” See the link above for tickets and more information.
Finally, on Saturday, starting at 8 p.m., Thymele Arts, 5481 Santa Monica Blvd., presents a performance of “St. Joan,” to benefit the Downtown Women’s Center and the fight against women’s homelessness. The play presents the traditional Joan of Arc story, set in 1430 France, in which “a young girl defies her class, her station, and her gender to lead the armies of France in their war against the invading English. Believed to be inspired by God, Joan spurs the French to victory and crowns a king of France – but…Joan finds herself in a different battlefield at court, where the weapons of politics and rhetoric can wound far more deeply than arrows.” This performance also “contemporizes the tale…with a gender neutral cast” and tickets are “Pay-What-You-Want” donations. See https://secure.qgiv.com/event/account/896703 for details and guaranteed seats, or you can also purchase tickets at the door on a first- come, first-served basis.
Moving into Sunday, this is the weekend for the Petersen Museum’s monthly Breakfast Club Cruise-In, starting at 8 a.m. on the third floor of the museum’s parking garage.  Come and view the classic, custom, and exotic cars, trucks, motorcycles, and more brought by exhibitors, with free parking, coffee and bagels for everyone. Museum members will also have early access to the museum from 9-10 a.m.
And finally this weekend, Temple Israel of Hollywood, 7300 Hollywood Blvd., will hold its big annual TIOH Hanukkah Marketplace from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. You can start your holiday shopping well before Black Friday with guilt-free gifts and gelt, and a percentage of the proceeds will benefit TIOH’s schools. There will, as always, also be a full lineup of entertainment and the delicious food to help fuel you through a busy day.
Have a great weekend…and a great Thanskgiving!
