If you’re looking for something to do tonight, you might want to check out Glow at the Santa Monica Pier. Glow is a massive event that brings together a collection of very unique artists to create an interactive exhibition of light and sound. It’s based on a similar event in Paris called Nuit Blanche and, according to the website, takes its spirit from the fabled grunion that come ashore several times a year to spawn in the sand, creating a fleeting luminescence.

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VISUAL ARTS

• Glow: Dusk to Dawn Festival | Saturday, July 19, 2008 | 7 p.m. | Free | Santa Monica Pier - Map | For 12 hours, experience media art, performances, music and sculpture installations at the Santa Monica Pier. GLOW is the only event that has ever gotten ever gotten permission to open the pier and beach to the public all night from 7 pm to 7 am.

FASHION

• Collective Souls Yard Sale | Sunday, July 20, 2008 | 10Collective Souls Yard Sale | El Nene Restaurant Parking Lot - Map | You won’t want to miss this (even though it’s cash only). Collective Soul will have vintage clothing, jewelry, art and L.A. Brands for your buying pleasure at this event. And if you get hungry, you can pop on over to El Nene for some tasty Mexican food.

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Welcome to Dark Knight weekend where we are soon to be approaching the number one box office weekend ever. It’s incredible how fast tickets are going for this thing. In fact, if you want tickets, you should have got them 3 weeks ago. I’m sure the 3:32am showing might have some front row spots left, but that’s about it. I personally suggest IMAX as it was shot for the IMAX theaters. For those of you who didn’t plan ahead (shame on you) or for those of you under 10, you’ve got Mamma Mia! and Space Chimps. Both look cute, fun, and are about to have their adorableness PUMMELED by the Dark Knight.

So here they are! The latest movie releases with cast and crew info, reviews, trailers, and showtimes and tickets. Enjoy!

• Dark Knight | Reviews | Showtimes and Tickets
• Mamma Mia! | Reviews| Showtimes and Tickets
• Space Chimps | Reviews | Showtimes and Tickets

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Film Sing-Along

• South Park Sing-Along | July 17th | 8:30pm | Cost $18 | The Ford Ampitheather - 2580 Cahuenga Blvd. East Los Angeles (Map) | “WELLLLLLLLLL…Kyle’s moms a bitch, she’s a big fat bitch, she’s the biggest bitch in the whole wide world. She’s a stupid bitch, if there ever was a bitch, she’s a bitch to all the boys and girls!” I love Cartman. Come sing along with your 4 favorite cursing children, Satan, Saddam, and the entire cast of Matt Stone and Trey Parker’s Bigger, Longer, Uncut tonight at The Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Film Festival.

Sideshow

• La Femme Defoncer | July 17th | Must be 21+ | Cost $10 or Free before 9pm with RSVP | DownTown Los Angeles - 740 S. Broadway (enter in alley) Los Angeles (Map) | Snake woman, fish girl, cotton candy lady oh my! Come Madame Defoncer’s unusual live art and music performance with a collection of sideshow acts.

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Film

• Dark Knight 24 hours back to back | July 16th | Cost: $12 | Arclight Hollywood - 6360 Sunset Blvd Hollywood (Map) | Beginning at Midnight tonight the Arclight will be playing The Dark Knight back to back for 24 hours straight in their best theater of all, the Dome. Somebody just got a little too excited!

Theater

• Monty PyThong | July 16th | Cost: $15 | The Colony Theatar Company - 555 North 3rd St. Burbank (Map) | An all female cast will be performing the Monty Python in their thongs to benefit the City of Hope’s Underwear Affair. What a better way to fight cancer than to to shake what your momma gave ya? Just try not to think of John Cleese while you’re watching. All proceeds will go to the Underwear Affair.

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Art

• Carlos Ramos: Natural History Museum Part 1 | Tuesday, July 15, 2008 | 7 p.m. | Free | Corey Helford Gallery - Map | This is one art show you won’t want to miss. Corey Helford Gallery presents “Natural History Museum Part 1,” a solo exhibition by Los Angeles artist Carlos Ramos. In his first solo show in L.A., Ramos exhibits 24 large-scale paintings based on classic grand dioramas. The concept is based on Ramos’ childhood fascination with natural history museum and the “authoritative” impression they made on him growing up. Ramos was born and raised in Burbank, where he was obsessed with doodling and MAD magazine as a child. He graduated from the California Institute of Arts with a BFA in Character Animation and currently lives in Silverlake Hills and enjoys driving his 1969 Mini Cooper and doing stand-up comedy in Hollywood.

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When I was asked to check out a new monthly speakeasy at Crane’s Hollywood Tavern on North El Centre Avenue, I envisioned dark rooms where male punters in hats and sharp suits, snatched bourbon by candlelight with their female companions, kitted out in knee-length figure hugging dresses.When I arrived the bar was dark but it was also empty. I followed the sound of mesmerizing accordion, singing the unmistakable charm of eastern European folk music at the back of the bar and outside. Here’s where the party was. Two young guys on accordion and horn played like their lives depended on it while a few dozen people watched and admired.

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FILM

• The Muppet Movie | Monday, July 14, 2008 | 7:30 pm | $11.50 | The Arclight Sherman Oaks - Map | I am shocked and amazed at the number of people who haven’t seen this movie. There is such a charming quality behind the Muppets in this film that takes care to highlight the importance of realizing your worth and the value of friends, while making light with good writing and a bunch of celebrity cameos. A veritable buffet of talent lies in the presence of Orson Welles, Dom Deluise, Steve Martin, Richard Pryor, Edgar Bergen and many more - with the focus of course being on Kermit, Fozzie, Piggy, Gonzo and the gang, and of all their misadventures en route to fame and fortune via a life in Hollywood.

OPEN MIC

• The 10 Tops | Monday, July 14, 2008 | 7:30 pm | $5.00 for audience, free for performers | Sacred Fools Theater - Map | Described as “a very eclectic open mic”, this event consists of ten performers at seven minutes each, performing anything and everything under the sun - from readings and comedic sketches to dance of any form. For reservations, call (310) 281-8337.

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When did being polite become so impolite?

Somewhere around the turn of the century manners died alongside Cassette Players and Ricky Martin’s career. It is no longer considered proper to say please and thank you. In fact, it seems to have become downright rude.

Think about it. Nowadays when somebody punctuates a sentence with the word “please” isn’t it usually in a moment of disgust. “Can I have my coffee now, please,” “Can you stop talking, please,” “Britney, will you back your car off my child, please?”

It’s even worse for other polite phrases. The expression “excuse me” is often reserved for situations requiring derision, in place of the more belligerent “shut up” and “get out of my way,” and “ma’am” usually used as a substitute for calling a lady a female dog.

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When did being polite become so impolite?

Somewhere around the turn of the century manners died alongside Cassette Players and Ricky Martin’s career. It is no longer considered proper to say please and thank you. In fact, it seems to have become downright rude.

Think about it. Nowadays when somebody punctuates a sentence with the word “please” isn’t it usually in a moment of disgust. “Can I have my coffee now, please,” “Can you stop talking, please,” “Britney, will you back your car off my child, please?”

It’s even worse for other polite phrases. The expression “excuse me” is often reserved for situations requiring derision, in place of the more belligerent “shut up” and “get out of my way,” and “ma’am” usually used as a substitute for calling a lady a female dog.

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• Los Angeles Wine Fest 2008 | Saturday, July 12, 2008 | 10 a.m. | $45-80 | Raleigh Studios, Hollywood - Map | The third annual LA Wine Fest 2008 will take place at Hollywood’s historic Raleigh Studios for an entire weekend. Winos, this is the event for you. Cheese tasting and wine presentations will be available on site.

• It’s a Small World Burlesque Show | Sunday, July 13, 2008 | 9 p.m. | $10 | Bordello- Map | Shimmy & Shake presents red hot burlesque from the likes of Lili VonSchtupp, Scarlett Letter, Bunny Bravo, Kimberlee Rose, Vixen Magdalene, Pepper LaRue, Vixen Violette, Dizzy VonDamn, RubaeFox, Vanity Flair, Lulu Lunaris & Delilah DeMilo! Hosted by Chris Beyond from No-Fi “Magazine,” It’s a Small World Burlesque Show will also feature live music from Erich Munzner & the Good Fortune Band.

• Angel City Drive In: Dazed & Confused | Saturday, July, 12, 2008 | 7 p.m. | $10 | Angel City Drive In - Map | It was the last day of school in 1976, a time they’d never forget… if only they could remember. You can’t miss this one. Angel City Drive In presents Dazed & Confused for your viewing pleasure. Food is providing by Angel City Derby Girls and walk in/ bike ins are welcome and you can BYOB. The Drive In is located on 4th street at Broadway.

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• Los Angeles Wine Fest 2008 | Saturday, July 12, 2008 | 10 a.m. | $45-80 | Raleigh Studios, Hollywood - Map | The third annual LA Wine Fest 2008 will take place at Hollywood’s historic Raleigh Studios for an entire weekend. Winos, this is the event for you. Cheese tasting and wine presentations will be available on site.

• It’s a Small World Burlesque Show | Sunday, July 13, 2008 | 9 p.m. | $10 | Bordello- Map | Shimmy & Shake presents red hot burlesque from the likes of Lili VonSchtupp, Scarlett Letter, Bunny Bravo, Kimberlee Rose, Vixen Magdalene, Pepper LaRue, Vixen Violette, Dizzy VonDamn, RubaeFox, Vanity Flair, Lulu Lunaris & Delilah DeMilo! Hosted by Chris Beyond from No-Fi “Magazine,” It’s a Small World Burlesque Show will also feature live music from Erich Munzner & the Good Fortune Band.

• Angel City Drive In: Dazed & Confused | Saturday, July, 12, 2008 | 7 p.m. | $10 | Angel City Drive In - Map | It was the last day of school in 1976, a time they’d never forget… if only they could remember. You can’t miss this one. Angel City Drive In presents Dazed & Confused for your viewing pleasure. Food is providing by Angel City Derby Girls and walk in/ bike ins are welcome and you can BYOB. The Drive In is located on 4th street at Broadway.

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