Top 10 Things to Do Around LA This Weekend: December 13-15

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Friday, December 13

ART

S.I.D.: Superman Is Dead @ Subliminal Projects (Echo Park)

The influence of the Sex Pistols’ Sid Vicious is incredibly far reaching, although he only lived to the age of 21. Even if you’re not a huge punk fan, his image is instantly recognizable. And now, Los Angeles’ Shepard Fairey has teamed with British photographer Dennis Morris for a new collaborative exhibition of paintings, prints and photographs of the music icon (born John Simon Ritchie), which also features a life-size replica of a hotel room destroyed by Vicious in 1977. The pieces that fuse their unique styles with one another are stunning. Tonight’s opening reception for the exhibit that runs through Jan. 11, 2014 features a once-in-a-lifetime performance by Ritchie Love, composed of Sex Pistols guitarist Steve Jones, Billy Idol, Leigh Gorman and Clem Burke. This is a must for any Sid Vicious devotee, and tonight’s show shall prove unforgettable for any punk lover.

FILM

Lightning Strikes: A Jerry Bruckheimer Retrospective @ Egyptian Theatre (Hollywood)

American Cinematheque pays tribute to the prolific film and television producer with a four-day film series with double features of several of his biggest hits. The retrospective begins this evening with two films directed by Tony Scott and starring Tom Cruise, 1986’s hallmark of my childhood Top Gun and 1990’s Days of Thunder. Bruckheimer joins the fun for Saturday’s program which kicks off with him signing copies of Michael Singer’s new book, Jerry Bruckheimer: When Lightning Strikes – Four Decades of Filmmaking, followed by the Michael Bay-directed The Rock and Bad Boys. In between Sunday’s screenings of Thief and American Gigolo, there’s a discussion with Thief director Michael Mann, and Monday’s double feature of Enemy of the State and Black Hawk Down caps things off.

MUSIC

Street Drum Corps Misfit Xmas @ The Roxy (West Hollywood)

OK, I know Street Drum Corps may not immediately inspire the thought of holiday merriment in the traditional sense, but it’s hard to deny the enthusiasm produced from their high-energy performances. Comprised of Frank Zummo (TheStart), Bobby Alt (S.T.U.N, Faculty X) and Adam Alt (Circus Minor), the L.A. trio has revved up crowds all over the country, and they will undoubtedly have the Roxy stage vibrating with their pervasive beats. They’ve included honorary members such as Tommy Lee, Adrian Young, Chad Smith, Matt Sorum and even Jeremy Piven over the years, so you really never know who might join them on stage for their dark holiday celebration.

Saturday, December 14

BOOKS

Ylvis @ Barnes & Noble (The Grove)

Norway’s Ylvisåker brothers unveiled their video for “The Fox (What Does the Fox Say?” a mere three months ago, and it has become a global sensation amassing over 200 million views on YouTube with a slew of copycat clips and covers, a fox Halloween costume craze and a new children’s book that released earlier this week. The song’s lyrics, written by Bård, Vegard and Christian Løchstøer, are set to playful illustrations by Svien Nyhus in the book. They sign copies of What Does the Fox Say? at 11 a.m., so make sure to grab a copy for all the little ones in your life. They’re going to love hearing you read all of the animal sounds out loud.

FILM

Love Actually @ Electric Dusk Drive-In (Downtown)

Since it was raining last weekend, the screening of Love Actually has moved to this evening, and there are still a limited amount of tickets left. Act now to experience my favorite holiday rom-com ever at the drive in. The 2003 Richard Curtis film weaves several storylines together that simultaneously make you laugh and cry, leaving you a mushy, sentimental mess. There’s the dashing Prime Minister (Hugh Grant) who falls for a staff member, Bill Nighty as a washed-up rocker, Colin Firth as a writer who finds love with a Portuguese housekeeper, Mark (“The Walking Dead”‘s Andrew Lincoln) who is hopelessly in love with his best friend’s wife (Keira Knightley), a dedicated sister (Laurey Linney), a grieving widow (Liam Neeson) and his stepson, a couple (Alan Rickman and Emma Thompson) dealing with adultery, adorable porn stand-ins (Martin Freeman and Joanna Page) and Colin (Kris Marshall) who heads to America to put his British accent to use in picking up some ladies.

MUSIC

Deap Vally @ Bootleg Theater (Westlake)

It seems fitting that Deap Vally are headlining this Christmas Sweater Festival since the duo first met at a class where drummer/vocalist Julie Edwards taught guitarist/vocalist Lindsey Troy how to crochet. Make sure to wear your most hideous Christmas sweater to rock out to songs from the ladies’ debut, Sistrionix, released earlier this year. The night also features performances from Western Lows, Boardwalk, Heaven and Crash, and all proceeds benefit the Pablove Foundation.

SHOPPING

Renegade Craft Fair Winter Market @ L.A. State Historic Park (Elysian Park)

The curated indie-craft marketplace showcases the brightest talents in contemporary craft and design, and this weekend marks their fourth annual winter fair. Los Angeles’ best and brightest, from La Cadelaria Candles and Waffles & Honey Jewelry to Z Confections and Coldwater Canyon Provisions, show off their wares from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. today and Sunday. There are also free screen printing demos, art installations, free photos from Magnolia Photo Booth Co. and yummy goodness from trucks like No Jodas, Greasy Wiener and India Jones Chow Truck.

Sunday, December 15

COMEDY

The Second City’s “A Christmas Carol: Twist Your Dickens!” @ Kirk Douglas Theatre (Culver City)

If you’ve never heard of Chicago’s improv comedy troupe, the Second City, let me inform you of just a few of their notable alumni: Alan Arkin, Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Gilda Radner, Tina Fey and Tim Meadows, among many others, including Peter Gwinn and Bobby Mort, the writers of this holiday comedy that returns for another L.A. run this year. Both have worked on “The Colbert Report,” and this hilariously irreverent satire of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol stars some of the group’s brightest stars – as well as guests like Casey Affleck, Mindy Cohn, Jane Kaczmarek, Rhea Perlman and Matthew Modine – so you know you’re in for a great time. Through Dec. 29.

FOOD

Taste of Tamales @ La Placita Olvera (Downtown)

I would always look forward to Christmas Eve, when my childhood best friend would make piles of tamales with her family and bring us a few bags of the masa-encased goodness. No other food says family and the holidays to Mexican-Americans quite like tamales, so it’s no wonder that there is an annual festival here in Los Angeles to celebrate the food. You can enjoy every tamale flavor imaginable from a variety of L.A. vendors and restaurants, musical performances, arts and crafts, carnival games and free toys for children on a first-come, first-served basis from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

MUSIC

The Living Sisters @ The Federal Bar (North Hollywood)

What’s better than brunch on Sunday morning? Brunch set to music! My favorite female L.A. supergroup, the Living Sisters – made up of the Bird and the Bee’s Inara George, Lavender Diamond’s Becky Stark, Eleni Mandell and Alex Lilly – get your Sunday going at the Mimosa Music Series’ gala holiday show. Enjoy a mimosa, a bagel and performances from the Living Sisters, Echosmith and other surprise guests at the event. I’m sure that the Living Sisters will add some holiday songs to their repertoire that includes originals from their Love to Live album and amazing covers from their Run for Cover EP, so don’t miss out on the fun.

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