The Nightmare Before Christmas cast enjoying their 3-D premiere!

Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas, is playing in Hollywood this weekend at Disney’s El Capitan Theater. To make this Halloween entertainment even more exciting, they’ll be showing this version in 3-D!

I’ve never been to this venue but its reputation has me intrigued. I’ve heard it’s quite an experience. I’ve also been told it’s worth it to pay the extra price for a VIP ticket, so I bought one. The price was $22 dollars, along with a $2 dollar processing fee.  Included in the cost will be a drink, popcorn and a reserved seat I chose myself on the El Capitan website.

After seeing the Haunted Mansion at Disneyland decked out in Nightmare style, I wanted to see this movie again, especially with the added effects. You can enjoy them too, as the film will be playing there from the 16th to the 22nd. You’ll have another opportunity on the 30th and on Halloween night. Wouldn’t that be an ideal way to get your tricks and treat!

After years of planning, the award-winning BBC TV series Walking With Dinosaurs comes to life in a stunning theatrical event. Internationally renowned designers have worked with scientists and spent over 20 MILLION dollars to create 15 life-sized dinosaurs, including that terror of the ancient terrain, Tyrannosaurus-Rex! These dinosaurs actually walk, roar, and interact with one another. How amazing is that!

And LA.CityZine has two tickets for you, to see the opening night of the performance on September 25th. All you have to do to win is leave a comment below stating a dinosaur that hasn’t already been listed and one fact about it, and you’ll be entered in a drawing to win two tickets for opening night!

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Some of your may already be uncontrollably jumping off the walls others of you may be asking WTF? What’s a “Pinball Tournament and Arcade Game”? Well, it’s awesome. It’s like going to the Natural History Museum and riding the dinosaurs, going to a car show and driving all the cars… you pick an analogy that works for you. To enter you make small donation to the charity TACA - Talk About Curing Autism - and then you get to play as many freakin’ arcade games and pinball machines until your fingers fall off. All the games at the event are free play, so there’s nothing stopping you!

If you are brave enough you may even decide to try your luck at the PINBALL TOURNAMENT (put an echo to that) where you will compete against other players and celebrities to win your very own Pinball Machine or $1000 CASH!

Also, there will be amazing raffles, catering, a full (pay) bar, and an auction.

So come, enjoy the food and games, and help participate in something good for others. Really there is no better combo.

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The Mar Vista Farmers Market
Sundays, 9am - 2pm
12224 Venice Blvd, Mar Vista

One basic principle of farmers markets is that the good ones are crowded. There has to be something about them to make the community want to attend on top of their usual grocery shopping at regular markets and Trader Joes. The organizers of the Mar Vista farmers market clearly know all this too, and they have put their knowledge to good use.

This was one of the most crowded markets in LA, and it is not even located in an area benefiting from pre-existing foot traffic like markets on 3rd Street Promenade or Downtown. This, plus the presence of families and groups of young people just hanging out is a testament to the fact that people just plain like this market. The produce was not even that out of the ordinary; most of the vendors sell at various other markets as well, making this spot quality, but not necessarily unique, yet the crowds prove that something is being done right.

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It’s an interesting experience, attempting to grow up individual in Los Angeles. In making a style or a name of your own, it’s next to impossible to avoid someone mentioning your lack of originality. Music is not exempt from such scrutiny, and usually is of the “cookie-cutter” description - i.e. barely audible distinctions between Fall Out Boy and Panic at the Disco; *NSYNC and Backstreet Boys; Cake and Flobots. Competition for more widespread play seems to churn out more of the same and in bulk, but it’s still cookie-cutter-ed; it all goes down the same. The shrewd consumer will notice that if they ate one sugar cookie and then another, each with a different-colored frosting, they were actually eating the exact same baked good - and that (gasp!) blue frosting is not a different flavor than red.

The benefit to the indie music scene is that it won’t come to you from a standard box. More than likely you won’t ingest processed ingredients; you’ll get something homemade or sold in specialty stores. Perhaps it can be privately delivered. Hard work might warrant fancy limos or an entourage, but plenty of people get along fine without it. An indie band’s life span comes at the result of word of mouth and support by friends, family, and a real fan base, because it is founded on quality and is less likely to spoil quickly due to over-exposure.

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I can remember the first time that I took the bus: I was 13 years old and had my first job in Encino. Because work was too far away in biking-distance and both my parents worked, the only option left was to take the bus. Shortly afterward, I discovered Weird Al’s “Another One Rides the Bus” and thought that no one could have summarized the experience more eloquently.

“Public wisdom” as of the last few years was that ‘only poor people take the bus’, that ‘nobody walks in LA’. I’ve never been an advocate for derogatory terms or assumptions of others myself; which is why I must admit to having slight joy in knowing that those with sharp suits or pearlized eyeshadow are regularly partaking of systems that weren’t available even five years ago. In a way, the brunt of the current economic crunch has eliminated the stigma of frequently utilizing public transit. Money is an issue for everyone.

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Tomorrow on August 31st 2008 and in 25 different cities,  runners all over the world will run a 10K marathon to support a great cause through Nike. Coming together will not only raise money for charities, but each location provides music performances to celebrate the union of athletes around the globe.

As headquarters in Los Angeles, participants not only get free music from the top music acts of today but also have Kanye West as the musical spokesperson. Bringing sports and music together, West has performed at the official registration opening for the event and will perform a post-marathon show as well.

Nike informs everyone on their website that “Runners will take to the streets passing the city’s most famous landmarks before ending at the LA Coliseum to see West take the stage.” West take part of this honor as he stated,

“I’m hitting the stage in Los Angeles for the Nike+ Human Race, Nike’s dopest 10k run ever. This race is bringing together hundreds of thousands of people from all over the world to run and listen to some great music while serving a higher cause, and I’m excited to perform in L.A. as part of the grand finale.”

What a cool way to unite the world with two events that bring strength and passion to those who hear about it. Money will go to charities such as UN Refugee Agency, LiveStrong, and NineMillion.org. Registration has already closed but to learn more about the event, you can go to the official website here.

Source: nikeplus.nike.com

Photo by Studio386

Whether or not you choose to believe it, not everyone in Los Angeles owns a car. I can list a number of reasons why: (1) car notes are too expensive; (2) car insurance is too expensive; (3) gas is too expensive. Did I mention the number of uninsured motorists driving around? You might as well be handing your car keys over to said drivers, because if you get into an accident and you’re not sufficiently covered - just say goodbye to any potential summer-farewell celebration or a splurge towards an autumn wardrobe.

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ART

• Crazy4Cult 2 | Friday, August 22, 2008 | 7:00 - 11:00 pm | Free | Gallery 1988 - Map | If you’ve been to a fair share of “Rocky Horror” midnight screenings, or find joy in referencing obscure quotes to any who will listen (”Just wait until those dead babies start marching [...]!”), your tastes will wholly embrace this event. Works in the realm of cross-hybrid film art will be showcased by over 100 artists (click here for a full list). And if your closeted fanatic is able to name all the icons in this poster, it will be yours - signed by Kevin Smith (co-hosting the event with Scott Mosier) and the artist, Andrew Wilson. For more info, call (323) 937-7088.

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According to the L.A. Times, Donald Trump is currently negotiating to buy Ed McMahon’s foreclosed Beverly Hills home from its lender.  His plan is to let McMahon continue to live in the home, saying that helping the TV legend would be, “An honor.”

Is that really what this is?  An honor?  It’s some sort of benevolent act to help a man who’s made millions of dollars with his current financial predicament.  This is sort of like feeling charitable for dropping George Clooney the phone number of your hot girlfriend.  Rich people shouldn’t need help with money, so why do we feel compelled to listen to their sob stories or even have the urge to help them out?

It has a lot to do with our celebrity culture, of course.  A channel that reported on nothing but the whereabouts of Britney, Paris, and Lindsay would probably get great ratings, oh wait, E! already does.  But this culture is usually one of malice, one that seeks do deride celebrities rather than elevate them.  Why is it different when they’re down on their luck?

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This Saturday, August 16th, BOXeight Studios is proud to announce the opening of the largest art gallery in Downtown LA. For the last couple years, BOXeight has been exhibiting the freshest talent LA has to offer. Now, they have a permanent gallery space in addition to our current studio and event space and so they’re throwing a party to celebrate local artists. They will have band performances by Chester French, Crooked Cowboys & The Fresh Water Indians, Nite Jewel with DJ’s Keith 2.0, DJ (N), and Cam Francisco and a LONG list of amazing artists that can be seen below.

WHEN: Saturday, August 16, 2008
7:00pm to 3:00am

WHERE: BOXeight Gallery
1446 East Washington Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90021 [ Read The Full Story -> ]

Happy Hour

• Happy Hour at East 46 | Thursday, August 14th | Free! | 21+| 46 East Colorado Blvd. Pasadena (Map) | Starting this Thursday and then continuing every Thursday is East 46, fine Asian dining ($3 appetizer’s and $5 drinks) with comfortable sofas and lives DJ’s spinning the latest house, trance and world music for your pleasure. The Grand opening will feature Hosts: Loriann Valencia, Herick Hell, Ken Black, Dino, Chunkeebutt & “B”, Katrine Nygard, and music and “ambiance” by Herick Hell.

Music/Art

• Sunset Series: The Love Hangover Art Showing | Thursday, August 14th | 6-10 p.m. | Free! | Barker Block - 513 Molino St., Los Angeles (Map) | Come and enjoy some good music and ever better art. Must RSVP for entrance: barkerblock@filtermmm.com. Artwork by The Love Hangover, Sounds by Castaneda, The Kiss Off and Pants Off.

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