Ever since its inception six months or so ago, Cinefamily has been wanting to put the Silent Movie Theater to its nominal use and screen silent movies, but with accompaniment from contemporary musicians rather than on a rinky-dink upright piano in the corner. And on Sunday night that admirable dream came true. The theater was packed, the atmosphere more that of a happening than screening, the DJ spinning some hot 60s garage, and a Robbie Robertson lookalike, accompanied by two versions of Dave Gilmore circa Ummagumma, were fooling around with guitars, organs and electrics; there were plenty of hats and hipsters and a few asymmetrical haircuts. It reminded me fondly of East London.

The spell of anticipation was broken somewhat by a tossed-off accompaniment to the supporting short, Méliès’ evergreen A Trip To The Moon (1902), but the musicians - Plastic Crimewave aka Steve Krakow (who creates the Galactic Zoo Dossier magazine/comic for Drag City), and locals Jimi Hey (former drummer for Beachwood Sparks) and Ariel Pink, the lo-fi pop wunderkind behind Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti - knuckled down for the main attraction, Paul Leni’s The Man Who Laughs (1928). Leni was the German expressionist master of Waxworks (1924) and, as was the vogue at the time, he’d been summoned from Germany to Hollywood and found himself under Carl Laemmele at Universal. He started well with The Cat and the Canary (1927) and followed up with this 18th-Century romp, adapted from a novel by Victor Hugo set in London under James II and Queen Anne.

[ Read The Full Story -> ]

Just a reminder that this Sunday, the 18th, is the 16th annual Seal Day celebration. The Marine Mammal Care Center located on Fort MacArthur does this fundraiser to enable them to continue their ongoing work of rescuing seals and returning them to the wild when possible.

This will be a great way to spend the day as there will be lots of food, music and animal demonstrations along with lectures. There’s also going to be major prizes to be won with the purchase of some raffle tickets.

Here is a list of amazing prizes you you could win if you come out to enjoy the day… [ Read The Full Story -> ]

We’ve all seen those courtesy reminders with the baby crying, laughter, conversation and the incessant phone ringing at the movies. Better yet those elaborate movie trailers you think are real until they get interrupted by the nokia ringtone. The latest ones are where famous directors such as Martin Scorcese interrupts a phone conversation and attempts to direct the action and content of the call. Frankly I appreciate them because they remind me to turn off my cell so as not to have the embarrassing situation of scrambling through my purse as it annoys my fellow theater goers.

However the annoyance of cell phones has spread from just noise to light. With the increasing amount of Blackberry’s, iPhone’s, and what not, more and more people are reading their e-mail, texting, checking the time, or even worse PLAYING GAMES in the middle of a movie! Just as you are enjoying your movie someone invariably opens up their phone and that beacon of light from their cell distracts you from the film on the screen. Since it’s not making noise the cell phone owner will often keep it open for several minutes. I don’t know about you but this drives me crazy!

[ Read The Full Story -> ]

• Three dead in wrong way crash on 5 - Three people were killed this morning and two others were critically injured in a wrong way crash that shut down the southbound Santa Ana (5) Freeway, just south of Slauson Avenue, reported around 3:10 a.m. A Toyota that was northbound in the southbound lanes collided with a southbound Nissan. Killed were the Toyota’s driver, a man in his 20s who was alone in the car, a woman of about 19 who was driving the Nissan, and a woman in her 20s who was riding in the rear seat of the car,. Their names were withheld, pending notification of relatives. Two men also riding in the Nissan — one in front and one in back — survived and were taken to the hospital.
• Suicide attempt disrupts morning train - An 18-year-old unidentified man, who was upset over a failed math exam and a breakup, lay down in front of a locomotive about 3:30 a.m.. The freight train was able to stop before hitting the man, who then crawled on top of the locomotive. Authorities then attempted to negotiate with the man for the next two hours or so. “He was quite agitated most of the time and pretty uncommunicative in terms of any meaningful dialogue,” He eventually leaped to the ground, appearing to intentionally avoid the bags and breaking a foot or ankle. The incident delayed commuter train traffic for about half an hour.
• Fresno woman found guilty for acid killing - A central California biochemist convicted of killing her estranged husband by knocking him out and stuffing him into a vat of acid has been sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. Larissa Schuster of Clovis was convicted in December of murdering Timothy Schuster for financial gain. His half-dissolved body was found a few days after in a barrel that was inside a storage unit his wife had rented.

Photo by VeryBadLady

Very often, half the fun of viewing an art exhibition is rifling through the goodies at the adjacent gift shop. More likely than not, we purchase a $1 dollar postcard image of a $15,000 dollar work of art. A post card is certainly nothing to get excited about, but at Black Maria Gallery’s offshoot, Under the Table in Atwater Village, it’s not only art lovers who get to appreciate this unique artist store, it’s anyone who loves to buy unique gifts.

Black Maria Gallery opened in 2005 and was soon touted by established gallery owners and artists alike, as a legitimate artist space for new and established artists of a non-mainstream lilt, often called, “low-brow, avante garde, underground or subversive.” Next door to the gallery is Under the Table store. It was here that I spoke to the owner, Zara Zeitountsian. She greeted me with the warmest of smiles and talked about her gift shop and her passion for the “street” art of the east side of LA.

[ Read The Full Story -> ]

Finally, a big visual technology show for everyone! For those of you who understand technology, there is tons to see and understand! And for those of you (like me) there is still a ton of stuff to learn about, play with, and stare in awe of.

“The Biggest Visual Power Show is an intellectual spectacle blending a conference and a pop concert. BVPS mixes movies and live performance, morphs physical experiences into virtual imagination.

The theme of BVPS 2008 is Next Nature; the nature caused by human culture. Nowadays, children know more corporate logo’s and brands than bird or tree species. Our established image of nature needs to be updated. Our technological world has become so complex and uncontrollable it has become a nature of its own. Wild systems, genetic surprises, autonomous machinery and beautiful black flowers. Nature changes along with us.”

This is all happening tomorrow, from 8-10pm for only $15 at the Million Dollar Theater in Downtown LA at 307 S. Broadway (Map).

[ Read The Full Story -> ]

What’s going on with all the traffic in Santa Monica today? Well, they’re cutting down trees. A LOT OF TREES. Although many Treesavers protested the big chop, today they lost. 23 Fiscus trees were chopped down and 254 ginkgoes will replace them. The entire project will cost a total of $8 million. The trees were a popular choice in the 1960’s because they provide shade and required little maintenance, but it is now being said that trees interfered with bus traffic roots, cracked sidewalks, and could cause lawsuits.

 There are fewer ficus trees along the streets of downtown Santa Monica after the city felled 23 of them Friday for a multimillion-dollar street scape project.

The removal capped a months-long battle between the city and members of Santa Monica Treesavers, which filed suit last year over the plan, and whose members had threatened to chain themselves to the trees.

[ Read The Full Story -> ]

Dave Farrell - Drums, keys
Robert Kissinger - Bass
Ted Parker - Guitar, keys
Ann Yu - Vocals, guitar, keys

LoveLikeFire is a group of four San Franciscans who are currently touring in Los Angeles while preparing to create their upcoming full-length debut CD. In 2007, the band self-booked and self-financed a nationwide tour, one that led from out-of-the-way towns to big-city music festivals and back again. They have already released two CD’s, the first was in 2006, entitled Bee of Gold, and the second was released in 2007 titled, An Ocean in the Air.

The band’s motto is that “it’s better to be good than lucky. You can check them out at Spaceland May 19th orat the Detroit Bar (in Costa Mesa) on the 20th.

Check out LA.CityZine’s interview with lead vocalist, guitar and keys players Ann Yu and their music video after the jump.

[ Read The Full Story -> ]

This Saturday and Sunday Venice will turn into a haven for artists, sculptures, architects and more. You will have the chance to explore artists’ studios, bid on original art, tour spectacular homes, sample great food, drink, dance, watch, and enjoy. All of proceeds for the weekend will benefit Venice Family Clinic which provides free, quality health care to people in need.

Saturday: We begin with “The Newly Hatched Homes of Venice”

Meet the architects and developers involved in Venice’s freshest new residences. Please note that some of the homes are nearing completion - guests are advised to wear flat shoes.

[ Read The Full Story -> ]

A step-by-step guide to buying concert tickets this weekend:

1. Read this article.
2. Laugh at this article’s in-jokes and pop culture references.
3. Look up pop culture references.
4. Note ticket onsale times and go about your daily life.
5. Feed your dog.
6. Log onto Ticketmaster.com at onsale time and purchase concert tickets.
7. Complain about service charges being as much as actual ticket prices.
8. Be happy you got tickets, yet deep inside worry about if you can truly afford them.
9. Make peace with your inner self.
10. Enjoy concert.
11. Repeat.

Here is a list of highlighted concert onsale’s for this weekend:

[ Read The Full Story -> ]

• Cocktails, Fashion & Shopping | Saturday, May 17, 2008 | 12 p.m. | $5, general admission, $15 VIP | Pacific Design Center - Map | Fashion Elements presents “Spring Glam,” a event where you can have a drink, while you shop and check out runway shows featuring designs from a plethora of designers. Those die-hard fashion fans who pay $10 extra to the regular admission price will have full access to designer goods, cocktails and gift bags two hours before regulars.

• Science Matters : The Science and Policy of Obesity | Saturday, May 17, 2008 | 1 p.m. | Free | California Science Center - Map | Obesity has been a growing problem in the United States for quite a time now. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there is an obesity ‘epidemic’ in the U.S that is threatening the health of millions of Americans. Join panelists James A. Levine (Physiology and Bioengineering, Richard Emslander Chair of Nutrition and Metabolism, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota), Antronette K. Yancey (Professor, Department of Health Services, School of Public Health, University of California, Los Angeles) and more for a discussion on this topic that affects many today.

• Robyn | Saturday, May 17, 2008 | 8 p.m. | $20 | Wiltern Theatre - Map | Swedish pop star Robyn has a new single out entitled “Who’s That Girl” off her self-titled album. She will be concluding her US tour at the Wiltern. Get your tickets here.

[ Read The Full Story -> ]

The Bush Administration celebrated the 60th anniversary of the Israeli nation this week.

W visited the one or two places in the Middle East where the entire population would not massively attempt to undo him. Israelis are the only people to give W a standing ovation, moving our grossly failed president to tears. It’s the only country where he feels welcome.

In 1947, the United Nations approved the partition of the Mandate of Palestine into two states, one Jewish and one Arab. The Arab League rejected the plan, but on May 14, 1948, the Jewish provisional government declared Israel’s independence. Israel thus became the first Jewish state in the world, now with a population of just under 8 million. It’s about the size of greater Los Angeles and 85% Jewish.

Since the UN recognized this new nation, especially after the 1948 Israeli-Arab War, Israelis have pushed their borders east into Muslim territories. Israeli expansion has inflamed decades long fighting between Jews and Muslims with no resolution in sight. Emphasis on the differences in their religions has continually ignited hate on both sides of the battles.

[ Read The Full Story -> ]