It’s a three-day holiday weekend, so major events seem fewer and farther between this week. But there’s still lots to do…especially if you like vintage films (which seems appropriate given the fact that Memorial Day Weekend has long been considered the beginning of summer movie season).
This morning, though, you can start the day off with something sweet as Cake Monkey, 7807 Beverly Blvd., 90036, holds a Bake and Gather Bake Sale from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. to benefit Meet Each Need with Dignity (MEND). The company is joining with fellow bakers to help gather people, do good and give back. Come and indulge in ice cream sandwiches, confetti cakewiches, baked hot chocolate whoopie pies, matcha shortbread cookies, toffee coffee cookies, babka, chocolate malt cake, gluten free banana chocolate bread, special treats by chef/photographer Staci Valentine, and even face painting for the tots (with something other than frosting, we hope).
Later, head over to the outgoing favorite Whimsic Alley, 5464 Wilshire Blvd., which is hosting what will likely be its final Annual 3-Day Geeky Fandom Craft Faire, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., now through Monday. There will be raffles and prizes every hour, and lots of great shopping from vendors such as S&S Ink, Jordan Silhouettees, 1138 Clothing, Leelo Jewelry, Tyllr’s Bracelts and More, Armoured Rose. Absinthe Arts, Flights of Fancy, PoP Shoppe, Vivid Delights, Kit’s Designs, Lernie’s Pottery and Henna, Midnight Fawn, Children of the Rice, Elvin Princess, Bewitvhed Bazzar, Go Carved, Tarot Readings, Phantom Knight Creations, and C&J Goods L.A.
Then, as we mentioned earlier, if you’re in the mood for a fun film, there are many to choose from this weekend. First, at both 2 p.m. and 7 p.m., the New Beverly Cinema, 7165 Beverly Blvd., will screen Tim Burton’s feature length directorial debut, “Pee Wee’s Big Adventure,” in which Pee-wee Herman sets off to find a stolen bicycle, hitchhiking cross-country and encountering a quirky cast of new friends along the way. The evening show will also be followed by a 9 p.m. screening of Burton’s camp classic, “Ed Wood,” for those old enough to stay out a bit later.
Meanwhile, at 6 p.m. on Saturday, the Craft and Folk Art Museum will hold an opening reception for two new exhibitions that open on Sunday: Betye Saar: Keepin it Clean and Material as Metaphor. The solo exhibition of seminal contemporary artist Betye Saar features the artist’s series of washboard assemblage sculptures—an ongoing body of work Saar started in the late 1990s. The washboard is a potent object for Saar, a reference she uses to examine the intersection of race, class, and labor. Material as Metaphor presents eleven contemporary fiber sculpture artists from the western United States who generate large-scale fiber forms through experimentation with gravity, process, and mass. Using materials such as vinyl, industrial felt, wire, canvas, and nylon, the artists create abstract works that underscore the contemporary transformation of fiber arts. Featured artists include Joel Allen, Miyoshi Barosh, Phyllis Green, Lloyd Hamrol, Mary Little, Christy Matson, Victoria May, Senga Nengudi, Lisa C Soto, Kay Whitney, and May Wilson.
Later on Saturday evening, there are two more great vintage film screenings. First, at 7:30 p.m., the American Cinematheque will show Jonathan Demme’s classic Talking Heads concert film, “Stop Making Sense” at the Egyptian Theater in Hollywood. It’s considered by many critics and fans to be the best concert film of all time.
If thrillers are more your style, head over to the Hollywood Forever cemetery, where Cinespia will show North by Northwest at 8:30 p.m. (gates open at 6:45). The 1959 Alfred Hitchcock masterpiece was made at the peak of the director’s career and is widely considered to be an almost perfect thriller. Cary Grant, a charismatic ad man, is mistaken for an agent and kidnapped by a ring of spies. He goes on the run from both the spies and the police, and with the help of an alluring and mysterious woman (played by Eva Marie Saint) tries to stop their evil plan. And then there’s the crop duster scene, Mount Rushmore, and some great romance – something for almost every film fan. See the link above for ticket and other information.
Tomorrow, early risers on Sunday can enjoy strolling through rows of classic, custom, and exotic cars, trucks, motorcycles and more at the monthly Petersen Breakfast Club Cruise-In, starting at 8 a.m. on the third floor of the Petersen Museum parking structure. There will also be complimentary parking, coffee and bagels for all attendees…and museum members can enjoy early access to the museum from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. with their membership cards.
Later, take advantage of one of your last chances to pitch in during the Month of Big Sundays volunteer events, as the folks at Wilshire Crest Elementary School, 5241 W. Olympic Blvd., welcome volunteers for a garden work day (planting, weeding, mulching, building and making decorative packets for seeds that will be collected this year)…accompanied by a great D.J. and followed by a “Long Table” lunch at which participants will share stories of favorite foods and food-related traditions from their places of origin. Hours are 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., and the event is free and open to everyone of all ages.
Meanwhile, downtown, fans of alternative publicatsions can check out the LA Zine Fest at the California Market Center, 110 E 9th St., 90079. From 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. explore exhibits, items for sale from a wide variety of vendors and publishers, and panel discussions featuring publishers, artists, writers and more.
Also downtown, at 2 p.m., the Los Angeles Visionaries Association will hold a free illustrated talk on Charles Bukowski in the basement of Grand Central Market and featuring actor-writer S.A. Griffin. After the talk, the group will take a pilgrimage walk to Bukowski’s old job site, Terminal Annex Post Office, where Griffin will read from Bukowski’s first novel, Post Office. The event will end with a self-hosted snack and beverage stop at Philippe The Original. Please note that although the event is free, reservations are REQUIRED. Also, there are no “plus ones,” so friends must sign up individually. Details and tickets available at the link above.
Later, at 5:00 p.m. on Larchmont Blvd., the Rhodes School of Music, 215 N. Larchmont Blvd., will hold an open house to celebrate the expansion of its school space (it now has has nine rooms and more than 30 teachers on almost every instrument). There will be live music performed by Rhodes teachers, as well as free food and drinks (including Lisa and Roger Morrison’s Jardesca).
Lastly on Sunday, for those who don’t have to get up early for school or work on the holiday Monday, the American Cinematheque adds to the summer popcorn movie kickoff with a triple feature of the first three Jurassic Park movies, starting at 7:30 p.m. at the Egyptian Theater. Clearly, the proposition is that the only thing better than out-of-control dinosaurs are more (and more) out-of-control dinosaurs.
Finally, we should mention that Metro is taking a holiday weekend this week, too…and there will be no weekend closure of Wilshire Blvd. near Fairfax Ave. Weekend closures for the installation of street-level concrete decking will resume next Friday, June 2, at 8 p.m.
Have a great holiday weekend!
