Why hello there, 2017. You’re looking mighty fine now that our hangovers are but a distant memory. Let’s get to it then, shall we? The first week of January brings us all you can eat chocolate and pastries, pantless metro riding (woohoo!), heavy metal headbanging, a beer drinking lesson, free improv classes, a comic convention, soulful art and music and Hollywood’s second most glamorous evening of the year, The Golden Globes. Did we mention pantless metro riding? It’s all happening, Los Angeles!
Thursday, January 5
An evening with Damien Chazelle at LACMA
La La Land is not only one of the most talked about films on this year’s awards circuit, but it also showcases our grand city to maximum effect. Spend the evening with director Damien Chazelle (Oscar nominated for his other musically-driven film, WhipLash) who will discuss his life and work and introduce an influential film from his life, Jacques Demy’s The Umbrellas of Cherbourg from 1964.
Deets: 7:30 p.m.; Los Angeles County Museum of Art; $25; More info and tickets HERE
Image courtesy of Dale Robinette
NuTropic with Jeremy Sole (Afro Funke/KCRW) and King Most
Yes, it was a big night last Saturday but that’s no reason to cop out of this week. KCRW DJ Jeremy Sole’s brings his glorious melting pot of sounds to join King Most’s hip-hop and soulful grooves at NuTropic, a regular Thursday set at Short Stop in Echo Park.
Deets: 9 p.m. - 2 a.m.;
The Short Stop; FREE; More info
HERE
Image courtesy of Jeremy Sole
Friday, January 6
Fartbarf/The Manx/ Girlpusher record release
Fartbarf is not as bad as it sounds. Quite the opposite, especially if you like analog synths with live drums. Don't let their masks frighten you—they are the unheralded kings of analog synth music in SoCal—and they're celebrating the release of their first full legnth album, Voyage in Bad Taste with the help of The Manx and Girl Pusher on Friday night.
Deets: 8 p.m.;
Non Plus Ultra; $8; More info
HERE
Image courtesy of FartBarf
Saturday, January 7
FREE Open House & Workshops at Second City Hollywood
Every wondered if you’re hilarious? Or maybe you were born that way and you know it? Time to take the test. Second City has a whole day dedicated to free workshops and shows with musical improv (who doesn’t love making up songs?) and stand-up of all sorts.
Deets: Beginning at noon;
The Second City Hollywood; FREE; More info and schedule of events
HERE
Antonia Wright: Under the Water sas Sand, then Rocks, Miles of Rocks, then Fire Debuting Saturday, Cuban-American artist Antonia Wright’s second solo exhibition takes hold at Luis de Jesus with a large scale installation “designed to engage the senses and provoke a heightened emotional state in the viewer”. The installation encompasses sensual experiences between day and night that revolve around life, death and nature including a video of the artist herself re-enacting a near death experience. Let’s get funky.
Deets: Opening Reception: 6 – 8 p.m.; Gallery hours Tuesday - Saturday, 11am to 6pm;
Luis De Jesus Los Angeles; FREE(??); More info
HERE
Show Your Scars Metal Festival
For our hardcore friends: Here’s an afternoon of underground metal featuring Mexican deathgrind band Brujeria, Michigan’s death metal band Repulsion, the "punk rock-y-roll” Piñata Protest and more. The brainchild of Repulsion’s Matt Olivio, the Show Your Scars festival (SYSFest) is set to become an annual fixture on the Angeleno music calendar and guaranteed to have you reaching for a neck brace the next day.
Deets: 3 p.m.;
The Regent; $25.50 - $60.00; More info
HERE
Beer class at The Cannibal with Julian Kurland
The Cannibal’s very own cicerone (that’s a beer expert, folks), Julian Kurland, is holding his beer class again this Saturday. Covering the brewing process, how beer is made and how to taste it, you’ll also get to taste five different styles of beer to learn what to look out for. Feel free to linger after class and “practice” what you’ve learned.
Saturday, January 7 - Sunday, January 8
Los Angeles Comic Book & Science Fiction Convention
It’s the LA Comic Book and Science Fiction Convention’s 40th anniversary and this year they’re bringing the likes of The Walking Dead’s Josh McDermitt and Khary Payton and Marvel and DC Comics’ artist George Perez to meet you (among many more). The convention is known as one of the best spots to get deals on your favorite collectibles and a place where you can actually get your hands on the merch and inspect it for yourself.
Deets: Saturday; 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.; Sunday, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.;
The Reef; $20; No pre-sales; More info
HERE
Sunday, January 8
Indulge LA’s Chocolate Festival & Pastry Show
Spend your Sunday gorging yourself on chocolate and feel elegant while doing so because you’re at The Omni, dahling. Indulge LA’s annual gathering features our cities best chocolate and pastry chefs and the best part is you can consume as many sugary delicacies—and wine, beer and spirits—as you can get down your gullet. Game on!
Deets: 3 p.m and 4 p.m. tickets remaining;
Omni Los Angeles Hotel at California Plaza; $100 - $150; Tickets and more info
HERE
No Pants Metro Ride 2017
Are you one of those get-home-from-work-and-immediately-take-off-your-pants people? Well, Sunday is your holy day. It’s the annual No Pants Metro Ride, which is exactly what it sounds like—you get your pants off and ride the Metro with other like-minded pantless people. For reals. In fact it’s a world wide craze with trouserless riders everywhere from Moscow to Japan. Begin by wearing easily removable bottoms and rendezvous at Union Station before de-pantsing and beginning your mission .
Deets: 1 - 3:30 p.m.; Rendezvous at Union Station; $7 Metro Day Pass; Full info
HERE
The Golden Globes at Tuck Room Tavern
Get your glam on for the Golden Globes this weekend and pretend you’re far more important than you are in reality. Tuck Room Tavern is hosting a viewing party, and will be providing all the action on a big screen, handcrafted themed cocktails by master mixologist Adam Seger and a four-course prix fixe dinner by James Beard Award-winning Chef Sherry Yard that promises to pay homage to the nominated films. We'll take two La La Lambs and one Meuniere by the Sea, thank you very much.
Deets: 5 p.m.;
The Tuck Room Tavern; $50 a head; Full menu and tickets
HERE
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