Friday, April 29, 2022

A Desert Of Wonders: High Desert Test Sites, Mojaveland & The Outhouse Art Gallery

 



No, it's not for getting high, but I'm not gonna stop you. Some of us trekked off the regular trail of Coachella and high-tailed ourselves into the high desert to check out some strange art strewn amongst the sand. We left the comforts of  LA for the High Desert Sites. And, we might have played a round of mini-golf and taken dumps in glass outhouses.

High Desert Test Sites is an exhibition of art outside and a fair driving distance ways from each piece. They can be momentous statues or videos playing near Pioneertown. Last weekend, we headed out to see some of them and ponder their meanings.

Now- May 22nd 
Free
 
*Warning, bring plenty of extra water. It gets hot out there. Sunscreen and a hat aren't bad ideas as well.

Of the 9 art pieces we only saw 3 in our weekend adventure. First off, the strange behemoth of a woman with what we thought of as a a bone sticking through her abdomen. Foreign Body, by Paloma Varga Weisz is highly unsettling. While the figure seems to be at ease, you'd think something that large going through you might be a bit painful.  And, yes, there's plenty of room for boner jokes too if you want.

Really, though, seeing this figure on a desert road with maybe no cars coming by made it even more unsettling.


Not far was The End of The World by Jack Pierson. Giant letters spell it out just like the Hollywood Sign. Once again, you'll notice the calm nature of the desert surrounding it with hardly anything near you, but the highway. Big enough that the letters could easily dispatch you if they were alive.


After that, we had a little Respite by Kate Lee Short. This cabin in the woods is just a place to chill and listen to the wind. Not a place to spend the night as it has no doors, but a place to just experience nothing around you. It's so weird to hear such silence, sadly, no winds while we're were there.

As we said, there's more locations, but plan your time to going to each one and be sure to look at the driving instructions.

Before the heat got too bad we headed to the artist-designed and made Mojaveland, miniature golf course. It's only open one weekend a month and will probably take a break at the high heat of the summer. If you wanna go, next month might be your only shot.
 
Mojaveland
5157 Adobe Rd., 29 Palms, CA 92277
Next pop-up weekend is May 28/29 noon-4pm
Free
 
This pop-up is free, but, well worth giving a few bucks. The 12 holes, more will be added eventually, hopefully, all come from a different artist. Some work better than others, but figuring them out or just trying them with friends will make you happy you came to try it out. 

Seriously, some of these holes are crazy and we would love to see implemented in mini-golf courses closer to home. Castle Park, try a little bit harder.

When you arrive you're given a free club and golf ball and can go off and try out the course or explore the art. 
 
When we visited it happened to be the 1st anniversary of Mojaveland. Which we have to congratulate on being a fun place to visit all the way out in the desert. And we do want to visit again.

Here's some of our favorite holes from our visit.





Gotta love that Long Shot hole.

Now, we're sorry we hadn't visited this one earlier. The Glass Outhouse Art Gallery is every sort of tourist trap, hidden gem, weekend wonder. It's a real art gallery with multiple halls, but so much more. A 24-Hour chapel, a recycled figure garden, an oasis in the desert. And, it also has two glass outhouses.
 
77575 29 Palms hwy
Twentynine Palms, CA 92277
Closed Mon open 1-5pm every other day
Free to visit



Laurel Siedl, the owner had them put in for, well, a place people could do their business. Now, there's a layer on this glass outhouses so you can look out while you're doing your emptying, but others will only see a reflection of themselves. It does feel embarrassing at first, but just remember they can't see you...we hope.

We walked the non-profit art gallery inside and outside in awe of all of it. We could easily see spending time here again, seeing what new pieces are in the gallery or what's been added outside. Plenty of perfect shots to put on you phone. Or just a place to escape for a few.



You might want to head out before it gets too hot this Summer or plan another trip when near Palm Springs or near Joshua Tree.



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Wednesday, April 27, 2022

Good-Bye Game Haus (Said In A German Accent) & Nicole Kidman AMC Shirt

 

In some-as they put it,"bittersweet news" - Rob and Terry are stepping down as owners of Game Haus Cafe. Remember to have a funny German accent when you say the name's place out loud. A wonderful spot to play a plethora of board games with friends and grab a bite. We've covered this place since it started. It'll now be under the ownership of Snake & Lattes brand. Game Haus is staying around, but missing the people who created it and it will be called Snake & Lattes, which just isn't as fun to say with a German Accent.
 
You have until April 30th to enjoy the old name and May 1st is when it officially changes ownership.

Coverage from years back
 
 
And making fun of this cringy commercial for people to watch movies in theaters again is a funny shirt making fun of it that sort of looks like a country band album.



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Weekly What To Do: Welcome Back From Coachella, There's A Lot To Do

Well, folks, many are back from Coachella, but some good ol' boys and gals might be out for Stagecoach this weekend. Let's hope it clears up the roads a little.

Ongoing til October
Third Street Promenade 
Santa Monica Art Museum 
1219 Third Street Promenade, Santa Monica, CA 90401
Adults (18+): $29.90
 
 BODIES 2.0 offers an unprecedented and entirely unique view into the amazing human body, showcasing over 200 actual human specimens, whole bodies and organs respectfully displayed. 
 
WED APRIL 27, 2022 10:00 PM
Los Feliz 3 
$8.00 
 
After laying waste to an alien civilization on Venus, the three-headed, lightning-emitting space monster Ghidorah brings its insatiable thirst for destruction to Earth, where fierce foes Godzilla, Rodan, and Mothra must join forces in order to deal with the unprecedented threat. An electrifying screen debut for Godzilla’s archenemy Ghidorah, this film also marks a turning point for the series, as the first time the King of the Monsters acts to protect the planet.
 
Apr 28- May 3
Multiple Venues Around LA
$$

Jeez, not a great time to have a comedy festival with that name for Netflix. Essentially every comedian you've ever heard of is doing a gig in LA at a venue you've been to or wanted to go to. They've got big names, small names and every single one of you're podcasters. A great few days to get a laugh and go outside again.



Apr 28-May 1
Regal L.A. Live
$

The 20th Anniversary edition of the festival will be held in-person at Regal L.A. Live from Apr 28-May 1. Explore our lineup of 10 features, 16 shorts, and special live events! 
 
*We're not seeing a crazy fun Indian film in this year's guide, but a touching one called the Last Film show you might wanna check out.
 
Hatching Screening
Thurs, April 28, 2022, 7:00 P.M.
The Ray Stark Family Theatre, SCA 108, George Lucas Building, USC School of Cinematic Arts Complex, 900 W. 34th Street, Los Angeles, CA 90007
Free, Must RSVP 
 
In Hatching, 12-year-old gymnast, Tinja (Siiri Solalinna), is desperate to please her image-obsessed mother, whose popular blog ‘Lovely Everyday Life’ presents their family’s idyllic existence as manicured suburban perfection. One day, after finding a wounded bird in the woods, Tinja brings its strange egg home, nestles it in her bed, and nurtures it until it hatches. The creature that emerges becomes her closest friend and a living nightmare, plunging Tinja beneath the impeccable veneer into a twisted reality that her mother refuses to see.



Hatching In Theaters April 29th

Wed, April 27th, Sub Thursday April 28, Dub
Look out for additional screening this weekend.
Select Theaters
$
 
*An anime look at how hard it is to make a movie.

Pompo is a talented and gutsy producer in “Nyallywood,” the movie-making capital of the world. Although she’s known for B-movies, one day Pompo tells her movie-loving but apprehensive assistant Gene that he will direct her next script: a delicate drama about an aging and tormented creative genius, starring the legendary and Brando-esque actor Martin Braddock, and a young actress seeking her first break. But when the production heads towards chaos, can Gene rise to Pompo’s challenge, and succeed as a first-time director?

 
Honor, an Artist Lecture by Suzanne Bocanegra Starring Lili Taylor
April 29 and 30, 2022
7pm
The Ahmanson Auditorium, MOCA Grand Avenue
Tickets: $10 general admission/$8 MOCA members

This subversive performance by conceptual artist Suzanne Bocanegra masquerades as an artist talk but reveals her current obsession—and aesthetic engagement with—one of The Metropolitan Museum of Art’s greatest tapestries, the colossal Honor (from the series The Honors), measuring almost 19 by 25 feet. Weaving Bocanegra’s personal narrative with an artist’s interpretation of the 16th-century tapestry which reveals a multitude of different characters and narratives, Honor features celebrated film and theater actor Lili Taylor in the title role of The Artist.
 

 
Opening Saturday, April 30, 7-9 PM
Gallery 1988
 
Our first is a group show that has totally blown us away. Some of our favorite artists have all created paintings, prints, sculptures and pins - influenced by the 1990s! From Wayne's World to Nine Inch Nails to Full House, there are so many good pieces in this exhibit, and your first chance to purchase will be Saturday night (with remaining pieces online Sunday).And in addition to the '90s, thanks to artist Colin Murdoch, we will be taking a look back at a much earlier time - the Golden Era of Hollywood! He's created some incredible portrait prints paying tribute to iconic stars and movies of yesteryear.
 
 
 
ArtNight Pasadena
Friday, April 29th 6pm-10pm
Pasadena
Free 
 
Music, dance, visual art, theater, art-making, storytelling, history, new Partners, and food trucks! Pasadena's most popular arts and culture organizations are swinging open their doors for the evening.

 
 
Cassandra, an Agony
Performances will take place at the Getty Villa on Saturday, April 30 at 1 and 4 p.m. and Sunday, May 1 at 2 p.m. Tickets are $7.
 
A kinetic adaptation of the Greek myth of Cassandra, a woman gifted with knowledge of the future yet cursed never to be believed. 
 
 


KIRBY'S 30TH BIRTHDAY BASH
(with Kirby's Dream Band, Super MadNES, and Extra Lives)
SATURDAY, April 30th AT 7:30 PM – 12:45 AM
Player One Arcade Bar
5126 Lankershim Blvd
North Hollywood, CA 91601
$11.49
21+
 
Everyone's favorite pink puffball is turning 30 this spring, and we're throwing a big party at Player One to celebrate! Come join us, Kirby's Dream Band, for a full night of live video game music, drinks, arcades, and pinball, with special guests Super MadNES and Extra Lives.
 
 In addition to the birthday of our namesake, KDB is also celebrating 12 years as a band! We'll be performing a definitive selection of tracks from across our entire music history, including brand new songs, and the return of some classics that haven't been played live for years! This is gonna be a big one.

7:30pm - (Doors)
8:00pm - EXTRA LIVES
9:00pm - SUPER MADNES
10:00pm - KIRBY'S DREAM BAND (Kirby Set)
11:15pm - KIRBY'S DREAM BAND (Non-Kirby Set) 
 
 
NOHO Day
April 30th 5-10pm
North Hollywood
Free
 
NoHo Day is a free celebration of theatre, music, dance, art, dining and unique shopping experiences in the NoHo Arts District on Saturday, April 30. We will open our doors and offer free theatre shows and dance/acting classes along with more than 50 NoHo restaurants, bars and businesses offering great discounts, giveaways and more.  Download the NoHo Card to receive discounts at local establishments!  NoHo will also be filled with live entertainment from local musicians, singers and dancers in key locations throughout the district like NoHo Plaza, The Federal Bar parking lot, etc
 

 
 
Sunday May 1st 12-6pm
BLAST FROM THE PAST IN BURBANK CA
3117 W Magnolia Blvd, Burbank, CA 91505

Terror Market is a Los Angeles based, Horror & Pop Culture themed market that showcases some of our favorite local small businesses and makers. We started this pop-up as a way to provide a space that showcases the hard work of our favorite local artists. Our events are FREE ENTRY!
At Terror Market, you'll find diverse artists with unique art, handmade goods, food, drinks, music, photo ops and more!
 
 
L.A. Underwater: The Prehistoric Sea Beneath Us
Opening May 2
The Natural History Museum
$ Admission
 
The Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County (NHM) will present L.A. Underwater: The Prehistoric Sea Beneath Us. Opening May 2, 2022, this multimedia-rich immersive exhibition explores the underwater realm of prehistoric Los Angeles when much of the L.A. area was submerged beneath the waves of the Pacific Ocean. Visitors will view rare fossils from across the L.A. region and encounter huge cinematic elements showcasing sharks the size of school buses, glowing deep sea fish, giant tuskless walruses, a 10-million-year-old whale skull discovered in Lincoln Heights, and other awe-inspiring species that roamed ancient L.A. The two-year long exhibition will feature engaging media elements that bring fossils to life and serve as reminders of the ancient ocean that is still shaping L.A. today.

We Like LA has a cheat sheet on Free Museum Days Throughout May 
Cheatsheet of Free Museum Days in L.A. For May


Smorgasburg Los Angeles
Every Sunday 
10am-4pm at @rowdtla
Free Entry, Family Friendly Beer Garden, No Pets.
 
Smorgasburg is the largest weekly open-air food market in America, with markets in Los Angeles attracting 50,000 people each weekend to eat from a hundred local vendors.
 
 
 
 
Largo, known for comedy shows. Grab some tickets before everything sells out. Many new shows from some of LA's top comedians. We see Bill Burr, Patton Oswalt, Pete Holmes and Sarah Silverman performing here to name a few.
 

Street Food Cinema

 

 
 
Electric Dusk Drive-In
 
 
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Tuesday, April 26, 2022

Bleak Week Sadly Coming This June

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
Hours: Available 24 hours. Languages: English, Spanish.
Learn more
800-273-8255
 
There's a reason this wasn't happening during Covid. Just reading any synopsis is a downer. These are all utterly depressing films. I'm unsure why American Cinematheque is doing this other than it doesn't want some of us to live. 
 
I've heard of Threads and Chinese Roulette, they're such non-starters.
 
We have:

Bleak Week: Cinema of Despair
Wed. June 1 - Wed. June 8
Aero and Los Feliz Theatre

"The inaugural “BLEAK WEEK” is a weeklong festival that spotlights some of the greatest films from around that world that explore the darkest sides of humanity, featuring the world’s leading filmmakers who wholly embrace a cinema of despair in pursuit of unpleasant truths and raw empathy.

This year’s program includes 33 films from 18 countries. Archival prints, restorations, live guests and more."

Check out the link above, but be careful if you're having a bad day. It will not put you in the right mindset. 

I hope there's some sort of food deal. There was a sandwich shop not too far from where I used to live and I only went there once because the owner was so depressing. Didn't say one word to me, but I heard him talk to the previous customer. Pointed to signs to get my order correct. After leaving I always referred to it as Sad Sandwiches. That's not its name, but the bastard running the place was one sad-son- of-a-bitch. Always thought the sandwiches were extra salty because he used his tears as a condiment.

I'm just saying, I'd love some sad sandwiches or a least a packet of tissues when viewing any of these suicide squad membership drives.

I'm not sure if we should dust off the old Things Not To Do In LA section for this one...

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Game Hype: It's Also Kirby's Birthday

And this stuff came out

 

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Alien Day Is Today 4/26

 

Hero Complex Gallery has a special show called We're In The Pipe 5x5 featuring 25 new pieces based on Aliens. Grab some Xenomorph goodies from them if anything grabs you.

"Building Better Worlds" by JP Sanchez


"Well I Can Drive That Loader" Uncut Diptych by Tegan Bellitta 

Adios by Brett Parson

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