FRIDAY
Secret Restaurant
What: LA is blessed to have big museums and high-end galleries (see below) alongside small, intimate gallery gems. Public Fiction, in Highland Park, which hosts group exhibits and performances, is one of those gems. Tonight, guest chef Peter Harkawik is bringing a pop-up "secret restaurant" and plans to meet each guest one-on-one and design individual meals based on his exchanges with them. The meal will be followed by a performance by Dawn Kasper (of Human Resources) and Karen Adelman.
When: Friday, Jan. 13, dinner 7-9pm, performance 9pm, RSVP to shhh@publicfiction.org
Where: Public Fiction, 749 N. Ave. 50, Los Angeles, CA (publicfiction.org)
Damien Hirst: The Complete Spot Paintings 1986-2011
What: Damien Hirst, certainly one of the most celebrated artists in the world right now, is exhibiting his spot paintings at all of Gagosian Gallery's eleven worldwide locations simultaneously. The exhibition opened Thursday and, lucky for us, one of the locations is in Los Angeles. Hirst's spot paintings are in complete contrast to the taxidermy he's famous for (in particular a 14-foot tiger shark); as he described it, spot paintings are "just a way of pinning down the joy of color."
When: Jan. 12 - Feb. 10, Tue-Sat, 10am-6pm, free
Where: Gagosian Gallery, 456 North Camden Drive, Beverly Hills, CA (gagosian.com)
Doug Benson's Movie Interruption: "Cocktail"
What: So this guy, Doug Benson, shows up at Cinefamily every once in a while to break the "Please refrain from taking during the movie" rule to constantly interrupt whatever's playing. See, Benson (popular podcast: Doug Benson Loves Movies; Comedy Central show: "The Benson Interruption"; weed documentary: "Super High Me") is a comedian, and he generally interrupts horrible films, so it's hilarious, instead of annoying. Up for the punch this week: the ultra cheeseball 1988 "Cocktail," starring Tom Cruise as a bartender who falls victim to Jamaican love. Didn't you know? Bad eighties movies are totally back in!
When: Friday, Jan. 13, 11pm, $12
Where: Cinefamily, 611 N. Fairfax Ave., Los Angeles, CA (cinefamily.org)
SATURDAY
Oh, Take A Hike!
What: The Los Angeles Chapter of the Sierra Club invites hikers in their 20s and 30s to join the club for a hike at the Topanga State Park in the Pacific Palisades. The 8-mile hike is moderately difficult, so wear some decent hiking shoes and bring a lot of snacks and water. You'll be led by two expert hikers.
When: Saturday, Jan. 14 9am-2pm, free
Where: Meet at the Trailer Canyon Trailhead. About half a mile from PCH on Sunset, turn on Pacific Palisades Dr. Go to Ver de la Montura. Turn left, then quickly turn right on Michael Lane. In about .15 mile, you'll end up on the 1800 block. Park on the trailhead side. (sc2030singles.org)
Golden Globes Foreign-Language Nominee Panel Discussion
What: The Golden Globes are on at 5pm on Sunday, and American Cinematheque and Hollywood Foreign Press Association are letting us regular folk in on a little of the fun. The public is invited to a round-table discussion of the Golden Globe foreign-language nominees. But get this--who's discussing? The directors themselves! That would be: Angelina Jolie ("In the Lane of Blood and Honey"), Pedro Almodovar ("The Skin I Live In"), Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne ("Kid with a Bike") and Asghar Farhadi ("A Separation"). So get your foreign-film movie viewing on before the event!
When: Saturday, Jan. 14, free but first come, first serve so come early; free parking in lot at Las Palmas Avenue and Selma Avenue ("Tell the attendant that you are going to the Egyptian Theatre for the Golden Globe event"!)
Where: Egytian Theatre, 6712 Hollywood Boulevard, Hollywood, CA (americancinemathequecalendar.com)
TAG, You're It!
What: The art world can sometimes seem... OK, I'll say it, stuffy. That's why we love this exhibition that turns stuffy into a stuffed animal and focuses of things that kids (which I think equally means you and me) would be interested in. The artwork on display includes a robot, giant puppy dog, cotton candy princess, golden crab, clay car, glitter record player and magical horse! And if that wasn't enough, there will be a DJ Dave Muller, the Grilled Cheese Truck, a photo booth and refreshments (including circus cookies). The exhibit's "tag" line? " We're chasing the future of art--and TAG you're it!"
When: Opening Saturday, Jan. 14, 4-8pm, through Mar. 25, RSVP to meghan@wagstaffworldwide.com
Where: Royal/T, 8910 Washington Blvd., Culver City, CA (royal-t.org)
SUNDAY
Wine Tasting At Campanile
What: What better way to treat a Sunday like a Saturday on this three-day weekend than to go wine-tasting. High-end restaurant Campanile's wine team pours 30 to 40 wines every third Sunday of each month for your tasting pleasure. There will be "experts on hand to discuss the intricacy of the selections" and, most importantly, the wine comes with food so you can make it through the afternoon.
When: Sunday, Jan. 15, 4-6pm, $25
Where: Campanile, 624 S La Brea Ave., Los Angeles, CA (campanilerestaurant.com)
Evening Yoga and Delicious Feast
What: Need a little self-care after wine tasting or a big night out Saturday? Cheri Rae, of Peace Yoga in downtown LA, presents an evening yoga workshop that "will make you laugh with delight, feel the burn and leave you new insights into yourself and the world around you." But what's really neat is the chance to add nutrition to your exercise with a raw food feast and preparation tips from Rae and her crew after the workout. All you need to bring is your yoga mat and water.
When: Sunday, Jan. 15, doors 5:30pm, yoga 6-7:30pm, feast & tips 7:30-8:30pm, $40
Where: Peace Yoga, 903 S. Main St., Los Angeles, CA (peaceyogagallery.com)
MONDAY
Day Of Service For Martin Luther King Jr. Day
What: Instead of making it a "day off," make Monday a "day on" with multiple service opportunities across the Southland. From painting elementary schools to planting trees to collecting food donations, make Los Angeles a better place to live for the neighborhoods who need it most. Check out our 10 favorite projects.
When: Monday, Jan. 16, various times
Where: Various locations. Check out our recommendations or search serve.gov for more opportunities to honor MLK Jr.'s memory.
Both LA Basketball Teams Face Off Against Major Rivals
What: At 12:30pm, Chris Paul and the Clippers take on Deron Williams and the New Jersey Nets. It's the first match-up between these two all-star point guards since Chris Paul arrived in LA, and the game is going to get intense. In the evening, the Lakers play host to the Dallas Mavericks at 7:30pm as Kobe tries to avenge a second-round sweep in last year's playoffs by the eventual NBA champions. If you didn't get your hands on either of these hot tickets, you can watch the Clippers on Fox Sports Prime Ticket and the Lakers on TNT.
When: Monday, Jan. 16. Clippers vs. Nets, 12:30pm; Lakers vs. Mavericks, 7:30pm, ticket prices range
Where: Staples Center, 1111 S. Figueroa St., Los Angeles, CA (ticketmaster.com)
"Portlandia:" The Tour
What: Ever watched "Portlandia," the show that hilariously makes fun of how religiously "alternative" and "eco" Portland 20/30 somethings are? Well, the beloved stars, Fred Armisen ("Saturday Night Live") and Carrie Brownstein (Wild Flag, Sleater-Kinney) are coming to LA's own version of Portland: Echo Park. Traversing six cities, Portlandia: The Tour is a sort of behind-the-scenes, including narratives about the "why and how" of Portlandia, sneak-peek clips of the show's second season and live musical performances by the dynamic duo. If it's anything like the show, it's not to be missed.
When: Monday, Jan. 16, 8:30pm, $20-$26
Where: Echoplex (below the Echo), 1154 Glendale Blvd., Los Angeles, CA (attheecho.com)