FRIDAY
The Affordable Art Fair
What: Do you still have '90s band posters stuck to your wall? Or already-framed thrift store art? Maybe it's time to head to the Affordable Art Fair, which is finally making its LA debut after years of being an East Coast and international event. Founded by Will Ramsay in 1999, this fair, with works starting at $100, is for the 99%: we who appreciate art but aren't billionaire art collectors. The fair will also feature printmaking and shadow puppet workshops, a LittleCollector.com lounge for kids and a Recent Graduates Exhibit.
When: Friday, Jan. 20, noon-8pm; Sat., 11am-8pm; Sun., 11am-6pm, $20
Where: Event Deck at LA Live, 1005 Chick Hearn Ct., Los Angeles, CA
Cirque du Soleil's "Ovo"
What: Thought you had to go to Las Vegas to see Cirque du Soleil? Think again. The Canadian troop is circusing in Santa Monica. "Ovo" takes you head-first into the huge world of small insects, "filled with noisy action and moments of quiet emotion." The colorful ecosystem and charming plot are set to the backdrop of Brazilian samba music, electronic beats and sampled insect sounds. Be swept away!
When: Tue.-Thu. 8pm.; Fri.-Sat. 4 and 8pm; Sun. 1 and 5pm; Through March 20, $45-$145
Where: Santa Monica Pier, 1550 Pacific Coast Highway, Santa Monica, CA
"Film Socialisme" & "Breathless"
What: Cinefamily is rolling out the carpets for this one. Iconic French-Swiss filmmaker Jean Luc Godard, now 81 years old, released his 27th film, "Film Socialisme," in French theaters in May 2010. It will be shown for the first time ever in the US with full English subtitles at Cinefamily this week. Impress your friends by saying you've seen "Film Socialisme," which, in true Godard fashion, is "about nothing less than the history, present and future of Western civilization, up to and including Internet videos of cats," according to the Los Angeles Times. From Friday until next Thursday, Cinefamily will show the film, coupled with a different classic Godard film each night. Tonight, Godard's latest is shown with Godard's unforgettable, first feature film, "Breathless."
When: Friday, "Film Socialisme" 9:30pm, "Breathless" 7:45pm, "Film Socialisme" 9:30pm, $10; "Film Socialisme" through Jan. 26
Where: Cinefamily, 611 N Fairfax Avenue, Los Angeles, CA
SATURDAY
Ice, Road Flare And Metal Reflector Art Through Pacific Standard Time
What: We can hardly keep up with all of Pacific Standard Time (PST)'s events, but thank goodness we caught up with this one. January 19-29 is PST's Performance and Public Art Festival. The festival consists largely of recreations of pubic art installations of the 1960s and '70s, including one involving 25 tons of dry and illuminated ice in Santa Monica; one using road flares and metal reflectors to nearly set a Pomona College auditorium on fire; and one featuring hundreds of red-robed performers winding as a human spiral down a staircase. To kick off the festival, For Your Art (FYA) is hosting a brunch at Cecconi's in West Hollywood. Show up, mention FYA, receive a tote bag from Band of Outsiders, an official map to the festival this weekend and 20% off of brunch.
When: Saturday, Jan. 21, 8am to 2pm, to reserve your table, call (310) 432-2000
Where: Cecconi's West Hollywood, 8764 Melrose Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90069
Heal the Bay Beach Cleanup
What: It's still too cold to hang at the beach so why don't you put a little time in now to make sure it's clean enough come summer time? Join Heal the Bay (the Santa Monica Bay, that is) for one of their regular "Nothin' But Sand" clean-up Saturdays. Sounds to us like a great way to be in a beautiful place, for a beautiful reason, probably meeting beautiful people. They ask that you bring a bucket or bag from home, but if you show up with nothing, they won't turn you away.
When: Saturday, Jan. 21, 10am-noon, minimum age 6 yrs old; Fill out registration and waiver form here; Questions: call 800-HEALBAY x148
Where: 11999 Vista Del Mar At the end of Imperial HWY, Playa Del Rey, CA
Roots Jubilee & Square Dance
What: No, not another indie band at the Echo. A jug band! OK, hear us out. Square dancing has had a long-time small presence in LA and recently has made a squarevolution on the hipster east side. And Old Time string band trio Triple Chicken Foot has been leading the revival. Believe it or not, confusedly dancing in circles with strangers to this band is pretty much the most hilarious, fun time you can ask for. It's an intimate, silly interaction with strangers that you just can't get anywhere else. Susan Michaels calls out the steps, and yes, you will mess them up. As for the music, you may not want to admit it, but you'll love it. After all, didn't the "O Brother, Where Art Thou?" soundtrack put to rest the notion that folk and bluegrass is just for old fogies?
When: Saturday, Jan. 21, 5-9pm, $7
Where: The Echo, 1822 W Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA
SUNDAY
CicLAvia South LA Ride to Watts Towers
What: Been meaning to check out the Watts Towers? How about meaning to get some exercise? If any of these apply to you, you should definitely partake in CicLAvia in South LA's second-ever ride, this time destination Watts Towers. This is an extention of CicLAvia's fun-in-the-sun family event where pedestrians, bicyclists and skateboarders take over the streets. Before the ride, there will be a bike fitting and maintenance workshop and short presentation on taking photos while riding (be careful!) by USC Annenberg School's PARTOUR project.
When: Sunday, Jan. 22, 10am-2pm, Free, email Tafarai@trustsouthla.org with any questions
Where: Augustus Hawkins Natural Park, 5790 Compton Avenue, Los Angeles, CA
Georges Melies Shorts
What: Maybe you thought you could never sit through a silent film until you saw "The Artist." Or maybe you saw "Hugo" and were entranced by the film's ability to depict the vibrant imagination that exists within a child's mind. Either way, if you love whimsy and charm, this Sunday afternoon escape is for you. American Cinematheque presents a compilation of 1 to 18-minute silent films by magician turned "early cinema special effects wizard," Georges Melies. The Tim Burtonesque clip below is just a taste of the hundreds of fantastical short films Melies made. Best part: the screening will be accompanied by live music.
When: Sunday, Jan. 22, 5pm, $11
Where: Aero Theatre, 1328 Montana Ave., Santa Monica, CA