10 Things To Do Around LA This Weekend: February 21-23, 2014

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Saturday is National Margarita Day, so make sure to set aside some time to partake of the cocktail on that day. If drinking isn’t your thing, there are plenty of other activities to keep you busy over the next three days. Either way, here’s to a fiesta-filled weekend!

Friday, February 21

ART

Innocents @ Project Gallery (Hollywood)

When Richard Melville Hall (aka Moby) released his Destroyed album in 2011, he put out a book of photos to coincide with it, so it’s no surprise that along with a new record, October’s Innocents, comes another collection of photographs shot by him. The lush, large-scale images are on display in this new exhibit at Project Gallery through March 30. Shot over the last two years, the photos show individuals and groups in ominous landscapes throughout Hollywood. If you would like to attend the opening reception, just RSVP to [email protected].

COMEDY

Night Cap @ Goorin Bros. Hat Shop (Fairfax)

It’s a bit hard not to salivate over all the beautiful hats in the window every time I pass the Goorin Bros. shop on Melrose. There are plenty of hilarious distractions happening at tonight’s event to keep me preoccupied, though. Several of the city’s funniest comedians – including Maria Bamford, Sean Patton, Margot Leitman, Andy Peters and Baron Vaughn – are doing sets in the store. The Comedy Bureau’s Jake Kroeger hosts the evening, which is set to include hat giveaways, too.

DANCE

L.A. Dance Project @ The Theatre at Ace Hotel (Downtown)

The talented artist collective founded by choreographer and dancer Benjamin Millepied begins its partnership with the new and gorgeous Ace Hotel in this three-night (Thursday-Saturday) residency. The performances include the U.S. premiere of Millepied’s Reflections with music by David Lang, Justin Peck’s Murder Ballads with music by the National’s Bryce Dessner and visuals from Barbara Kruger and Sterling Ruby, as well as a sneak peek of a new piece by Hiroaki Umeda. Be ready for an exhilarating evening of dance.

MUSIC

Marissa Nadler @ The Church on York (Highland Park)

There’s something to be said about the awesome acoustics of old churches. A neighborhood resident converted this 1913 church into a venue, and it provides the ideal atmosphere for Marissa Nadler’s bare-bones, acoustic guitar compositions and soaring, ethereal vocals. If you have yet to listen to her sixth album, the recently released July, then this is the perfect opportunity. Tracks like “1923,” “Dead City Emily” and “Was It a Dream” are meant to be heard in a venue as special and intimate as this.

Saturday, February 22

CULTURE

Firecracker 2014 in Chinatown

Did you know that fireworks date back to 7th century China? This annual community celebration kicks off with a bike ride from Chinatown through Elysian and Griffith parks and the Silverlake Reservoir. What a great way to burn some calories before imbibing some of those aforementioned margaritas later today. Sunday’s festivities begin with a 5/10K run/walk around Dodger Stadium through Elysian Park. Both events raise money for Need2Read’s literacy funding for local elementary schools and are followed by the Nite n’ Day Festival, featuring musical and dance performances, food and fireworks, of course.

FILM

Breathless/Le Petit Soldat @ Aero Theatre (Santa Monica)

Oh la la, the existential angst of the French New Wave. American Cinematheque pays tribute to one of the genre’s most well-known artistes in its French Revolutionary: The Films of Jean-Luc Godard series, running through March 6. Tonight’s installment is a double feature of Breathless and Le Petit Soldat. Godard’s fist feature-length, the ultra-hip Breathless, introduced French New Wave to the world in 1960 with the tragic love story of petty criminal Michel (Jean-Paul Belmondo) and his American girlfriend Patricia (Jean Seberg). Next is a screening of Godard’s follow-up to Breathless, 1963’s Le Petit Soldat, starring Michel Subor and Anna Karina in her feature debut.

MUSIC

Miley Cyrus @ Staples Center (Downtown)

A significantly lower brow experience is in store for you at Miley Cyrus’ Bangerz tour stop in Los Angeles. The pop star dons a bejeweled marijuana-leaf emblazoned outfit, rides a giant inflatable hot dog and sticks out her tongue as she twerks her way across the stage. For those of you who are actually interested in her music rather than her antics, her setlist thus far has included a mix of plenty of the new (“SMS (Bangerz),” “Drive,” “Love Money Party”), a tiny bit of the old (“Can’t Be Tamed”) hits (“We Can’t Stop,” “Wrecking Ball,” “Party in the USA”) and a couple covers (Outkast’s “Hey Ya!,” her godmother Dolly Parton’s “Jolene”).

Sunday, February 23

CULTURE

’80s Prom Party @ The Fonda (Hollywood)

For those of us who are too young to have experienced the glorious fashion styles of high school prom during the 1980s, or for those of you who wish to relive the total radness, this Drink:Eat:Play event is IT. Raid your local thrift store for a shimmering taffeta gown or blue ruffled dress shirt, stock up on hair spray, frosted pink lipstick and black eyeliner, and you’ll be all set to dance the night away to songs by Bon Jovi, Prince and Madonna, as interpreted by two ’80s cover bands. All of the proceeds from tonight festivities go to local animal rescues.

Dapper Day @ Disneyland/Disney California Adventure (Anaheim)

Perhaps you would like to journey even further back in time while enjoying the Happiest Place on Earth. Put on your vintage best and join thousands of other well-dressed guests for this twice-a-year event. Aside from all of the park rides, there is the Mark Twain Mixer aboard the Frontierland riverboat, the Dapper Derby on the Fantasyland carousel and FOLLY, the official after party at Downtown Disney’s Upstairs at the Jazz Kitchen for those over 21. I love dressing up almost as much as I love Disneyland, and attending at least one Dapper Day is a must for any Disneyphile.

FOOD

Cochon 555 @ Fairmont Miramar Hotel & Bungalows (Santa Monica)

For a foodie, there is nothing like the sound and smells of pork sizzling away in a frying pan. This is the sixth year of the cross-country culinary competition that features five all-star chefs, five heritage, family-farm raised pigs and five wineries. The chefs of this year’s lineup are Ray Garcia (Fig), Christian Page (Short Order), Jason Neve (B&B Ristorante), Ray England (Craft) and Brian Howard (Comme Ça), and each of them must create a maximum of six dishes using all the different parts of their pig. The winner goes on to compete in the Grand Cochon at the Food & Wine Classic in Aspen this June for bragging rights as the “King or Queen of Porc.”

 

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