Comedy

• Eddie Izzard: Stripped | Wednesday August 6th | 8pm | $35-$65 - Buy Now | 6801 Hollywood Blvd. Hollywood (Map) | In my mind, one of the best stand up comedian’s of our time. Izzard is sharp, witty, and is great for a good history lesson. This is the last week to see him in LA, so don’t miss out catch him while you can! Izzard will have you rolling in your seat with wave of finely manicured hand.

Music

• Peanut Butter Wolf vs. LA: 888 Tour | Wednesday August 6th | 7pm | 21+ | The Echoplex - Map | Price Varies | “888″ is the third in a yearly series by Peanut Butter Wolf: he did a heavy metal set  on6-6-06, and a 7-day gospel-themed set for the number of the savior,  7-7-07. We’re not sure what the theme is for 8-8-8, except it’s the year of AWESOME. Tonight he will be doing Reggae videos at the Dub Club at The Echoplex. Check out the rest of the week here.

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It’s a bird. It’s a plane! No! It’s free shows!

Tuesday, August 5

• The Carl Saunders Bebop Big Band | 7:00 pm at the Hollywood and Highland Center | Info Here
• Slowhand | 12:00 at Pershing Square | Info Here
• Riders of the Purple Sage | 6:00 pm at Memorial Park | Info Here

Wednesday, August 6

• Pedestrian | 8:00 pm at Pershing Square | Info Here

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Burlesque

• Lucky Devil Burlesque at Forty Deuce | Tuesday August 5th | Cost $10 | 9pm-1am | Forty Deuce - 5574 Melrose Ave Los Angeles (Map) | All male burlesque show… oh la la! “Lucky Devil” at Ivan Kane’s Forty Deuce will consist of three different shows featuring cutting edge songs ranging from George Michael’s ‘Father Figure’ to Kylie Minogue’s ‘Slow’ and M.I.A.’s “Bamboo Banga.” In only the first few weeks, already celebrities such as Dita von Teese, Macy Gray, choreographer Jamie King, Amazing Race’s Reichen Lehmkuhl as well as members of the Pussycat Dolls have joined the packed crowd at Lucky Devil! Sexy.

Comedy

• Comedy Death Ray | Tuesday, August 5th | 8:30pm | Tickets $5 | Upright Citizen’s Brigade Theater (Map) | Pretty good line-up for tonight. Bruce McCulloch, Dana Gould, Nick Kroll, Jessi Klein, TJ Miller and hosted by The Birthday Boys. Enjoy some good laughs, good beer, at a VERY reasonable price.

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Los Angeles was surprised this Sunday by some determined Earthquakes. I’m not talking about a repeat of the natural disaster that struck the L.A. area a week ago. I’m talking about the game between the Los Angeles Galaxy and the San Jose Earthquakes where the final score was 3-2 in favor of the Bay Area club. The game belonged to Major League Soccer’s Week 19 and was played in McAfee Coliseum in Oakland, Calif.

The Galaxy needed points in order to ensure a more comfortable spot in the Western Conference. On the other hand, the Earthquakes have collapsed in the season and were looking to accumulate any points to help them get out of last place. Regardless, the SoCal/NoCal rivalry did not disappoint as the game was filled with excitement, offensive plays and beautiful goals.

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Move A Head

It’s that time again: a free weekend and you’re just browsing for something to do. This weekend’s art choices will not disappoint. Whether you’re looking for more variety in one go or a little devil-may-care attitude, there are some pretty hot exhibitions going on in LA. They’re free too. Feeling excited yet? Check out Cream of the Crop, It’s Hell Not Having A Hero, and Move A Head.

Cream of the Crop:

Six hand-picked up-and-coming artists will star in this exhibition: Jessica Cooper, Jennifer Jelenski, Caro Lozada, Mike Sosnowski, Star 27, Magda Trzaski. The comical and fantastical are on display as the six artists bring their own touches to the annual group show. Take a look at their individual work on-line and then head over to the gallery. It’s a show you shouldn’t miss.

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If you’ve heard The Republic Tigers you’ve probably heard the song “Buildings and Mountains.” And you probably heard them on Grey’s Anatomy, which acted as their claim to mainstream fame. But their claim to fame SHOULD be the fact that they’re rad. And you SHOULD have heard of them because of their rockin live show. One I was lucky enough to witness at the ever fabulous Spaceland this last Friday. The glittering drapes and sparkling lights of Spaceland were the perfect backdrop to this band, who stepped onto the stage with an immediate and obvious force of energy. The crowd was adequately pumped (I give partial credit to the opening bands who put on quite a fantastic show themselves) and left no floor space untouched by the wonder of their excited and dance happy feet.

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Yeap. I don’t think FREE could get any better than this. Here are your free shows for you August weekend.

Friday, August 1

• Huey Lewis on Jimmy Kimmel | 5:45 at the El Capitan | Info and Tickets Here
• Fresh Roots Jazz Festival | 12:00 pm at California Plaza | Info Here
• Fresh Roots Jazz Festival | 7:00 pm at California Plaza | Info Here
• Mother Jones | 5:00 pm at El Cariso Park, District 3 | Info Here
• Bill Fulton Band | 7:00 pm at Fair Oaks Park, District 5 | Info Here

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Theatre 40’s production of Lost in Yonkers is a heartwarming and thought provoking portrayal of Neil Simon’s Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award winning play.

The theme of a family struggling and pulling together to survive during times of war, and the poverty and uncertainty that war brings with it, is just as relatable and timely as that of the family members’ personalities differences, motivations and histories creating a dysfunction that affects the family’s growth. The play is set in Yonkers, New York in 1942 during WWII, although Simon published it as America was entering into the Gulf War in Middle East in 1991. The story uncovers many tragic moments of this family’s past and the oppressive effects it has on each members’ present and future, expertly written under the guise of a comedy.
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Books

• Used Book Sale | Wednesday, July 30, 2008 | 12:00 pm | Fairfax Branch Library - Map | I can easily recall the one of the best feelings in the world: when I found out that a “book sale” at the library really meant that the books were free. Whether or not that’s the case here, it’s still probably worth a look for your budding personal library. For more info, call (323) 936-6191.

Amoeba

• Amoeba Charity Auction hosted by Brently Heilbron | Wednesday, July 30, 2008 | 4pm | Amoeba Record - 6400 Sunset Blvd. Hollywood - Map | Amoeba will be hosting their weekly Charity Auction to benefit gulf relief efforts! Brently (voted Austin’s Best Comic and Creator of Richard Simmons Mysteries & Star of Trapped in the Closet Live!) will be auctioning off a bevy of cool items - from Hollywood Bowl tickets to Slayer underwear.

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Vintage LA by Jennifer Brandt Taylor (Harpers Collins) is one of those rare books you just know everyone would love. I mean everyone. I mean I’m getting a copy for all my peeps, from my retired Firefighter Father-in-law to my funky sculptor friend Roberto. It’s the perfect gift for hardened LA natives and for those who have just discovered our fair city. But, let me stop gushing and tell you why this is your next purchase.

I figured it would take me a week to read this thing, but instead devoured it in an evening. You can’t judge a book by its cover and blah blah blah but the cover of Vintage LA even made me excited. Excited. About LA? Yeah. The familiar depictions of The Beverly Hills Hotel and The Cineramadome share cover space with the Sunset Junction sign and Bob’s Frolic Room! This is not your average tourist book. Because I thought I already knew every cool spot in the city, it was refreshing to crack open this gorgeous book and actually learn things. (I mean, did you know Belushi was rumored to have his last meal at Dan Tana’s? Neither did I!!!) To get inspired about a city I thought I was growing bored of. To discover hidden treasures in your own hood. Yes!

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Comedy

• Comedy Death Ray- Sarah Silverman, Janeane Garofalo and more | Tuesday, July 29th | 8:30pm | Tickets $5 | Upright Citizen’s Brigade Theater (Map) | They’re really going all out tonight. Sarah Silverman, Bob Odenkirk, Janeane Garofalo, Arj Barker, Rob O’Reilly and hosted by Brett Gelman. Wow. Tonight is really a night worth getting your sorry ass out of bed and over to the Comedy Death-Ray.

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The Dodgers have made the first step to making the postseason. Third base was in need of a major upgrade over the likes of Andy “You mean pitching’s different in the Majors” LaRoche and Blake “What’s a bat” DeWitt.

On Saturday, the Dodgers made, hopefully, the first of many moves as the trading deadline approaches on July 31st. Casey Blake was traded from Cleveland to LA for a couple of minor leaguers. Now, he may not be the piece of the puzzle that propels the team to the World Series, but he is a nice upgrade. Blake will hit for power and is the gritty type of player that is needed to keep the offense moving.

Are more trades looming in the future or is General Manager Ned Colletti content keeping this young, underachieving team as is? If the past is indicative of anything, then he will make a few minor moves to maybe bolster the bullpen but make sure to keep the farm system intact.

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