Wednesday, December 28, 2022

Weekly What To Do: Happy New Year's, Until Then It's The Void

Happy New Year Angelenos,
It's been a years hasn't it? Thanks for always checking out the site and finding stuff to do here.
 
The UCB has a bunch of fun shows to end the new year on, honestly thought they were dead for a while.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
all at 
Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre 5919 Franklin Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 
Please allow ample time for parking. UCB does not provide parking services. Street parking is available in the neighborhoods surrounding the theater.
Usually $15

70mm New Year's Weekend
Series | LAWRENCE OF ARABIA, 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY, PHANTOM THREAD, & MALCOLM X
Aero Theatre
1328 Montana Ave Santa Monica, CA 90403
$

Join us for 70mm screenings throughout New Year’s weekend! Ring in 2023 with some of our favorites at the Aero Theatre.
 
18th Annual Marx Bros. New Year’s Day Event!
DUCK SOUP / THE COCOANUTS
SUN JAN 1, 2023 2:00 PM
Aero Theatre
$8.00 (member) ; $13.00 (general admission)


 
 
 
 
January 2 - January 30, 2023
Los Feliz Theatre
1822 N Vermont Ave Los Angeles, CA 90027
$

Series | A LIZARD IN A WOMAN’S SKIN, FORMULA FOR A MURDER, AUTOPSY, DEATH LAID AN EGG, & I KNOW WHO KILLED ME

Every January, we like to pour ourselves a glass of J&B whiskey, sharpen our straight razor and slip on those black gloves to celebrate our favorite horror sub-genre, the giallo.

For those of you who don’t know, a giallo is Italy’s answer to murder mysteries and thrillers that was kicked off by Mario Bava with THE GIRL WHO KNEW TOO MUCH (aka EVIL EYE) in the early 1960s. While filmmakers like Umberto Lenzi made some excellent giallos in the late ’60s/early ’70s such as ORGAMSO and KNIFE OF ICE, the sub-genre became popularized by Dario Argento with THE BIRD WITH THE CRYSTAL PLUMAGE. Throughout the 1970s, Argento, along with Sergio Martino, Lucio Fulci, Luciano Ercoli, Aldo Lado and many more, made several visually stunning and viscerally violent cinematic excursions.

Japanese New Year Celebration
Japanese New Year Celebration - Oshogatsu In Little Tokyo 2023!
Sunday, January 1, 2023, 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. 
Japanese Village Plaza
10-am -4pmWeller Court Shopping Center
Little Tokyo
Free

Experience all the magic of a traditional Japanese New Year with a full day of cultural events presented by the Japanese Chamber of Commerce of Southern California. Bring the whole family to enjoy an energetic day in Little Tokyo filled with live entertainment and cultural activities including Mochitsuki, a Shamisen Show and a Kimono Fashion Show!
 
New Year's Eve Parties

 
$60 – $640
 
Festivities include a special live performance from international 1940’s pin-up darlings, jazz vocalists, and tap dancers, The Satin Dollz from 9 p.m. to Midnight in the Main Lobby and the sounds of DJ L.I.T. Cullen spinning Top 40, 80's & 90's music outside on the ocean view poolside patio deck until 1 a.m.  

Knott’s New Year’s Eve Celebration is included with regular daytime admission. Park hours on New
Year’s Eve are 9am to 1am.

The New Year’s celebration features entertaining activities for the whole family including a family-friendly comedian, live bands, swing dancing and more. Guests are invited to count down the final moments of 2022 with festive music, party hats and noisemakers making this night extra special. The spectacular firework celebration sets the skies above Knott’s ablaze at the stroke of midnight as colorful fireworks light the start of the New Year. The nighttime extravaganza offers a stress-free night perfect for family and friends to come together and create new memories by starting a new tradition by celebrating the New Year ’s Eve at Knott’s.


 Universal Studios Hollywood rings in 2023 with EVE, Hollywood’s biggest New Year’s Eve celebration featuring music entertainment, a brilliant fireworks display and access to select rides and attractions, on Saturday, December 31 with extended hours until 2:00 a.m.

Included in the price of theme park admission, EVE is the ultimate way to bid farewell to 2022 and usher in 2023 that begins with a full day of fun, enjoying popular and award-winning rides and attractions, before transitioning to the new year in a park-wide celebration and special midnight countdown.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
at

Tuesday, December 27, 2022

Inkulinati Out Early Next Year

 
We've been waiting on this one and it's finally out early next year. Can't wait to see if we can master the quill and have tiny animal drawings kill each other for our pleasure.
 
Inkulinati will launch to early access on January 31, 2023. For those who cannot wait to wield the mighty quill, demos are available for Steam and Xbox until January 1, 2023. Inkulinati will be available on PC and Mac via Steam Early Access, GOG Early Access, and the Microsoft Store (PC Only); Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S via Xbox Game Preview and Game Pass, and coming to Nintendo Switch with the full release of the game.
 

 
at

Friday, December 23, 2022

Happy Holidays

 

Palm Springs Arial Tramway Tree overlooking Coachella Valley

 From where everyone in LA goes to chill, Palm Springs.

at

Wednesday, December 21, 2022

Weekly What To Do: It's Void Time

 

As per usual, events will be dropping to record lows the next two weeks, there's not much to do except celebrate the holidays. We still found things for you to do, especially if your Jewish. Get some Chinese food and maybe see a movie you missed this year.

 Happy Honda Days, everyone!

Sat, Dec 24, 7pm
Multiple Laemmle Theaters
$15
 
JOIN US on the 7th night of Hanukkah DEC. 24th for a candle lighting and an alternative Christmas Eve! That's right - It's time for the return of our Fiddler on the Roof Sing-a-Long!
 
Belt out your holiday spirit … or your holiday frustrations. Either way, you'll feel better as you croon along to all-time favorites like “TRADITION,” “IF I WERE A RICH MAN,” “TO LIFE,” “SUNRISE SUNSET,” “DO YOU LOVE ME?” and “ANATEVKA,” among many others.

We encourage you to come in costume! Guaranteed fun for all. 
 
 
 

And for those still looking for a love and are of the Jewish faith, there's the annual Matzo Ball on Christmas Eve, because while the goyem are with family, Jews are trying to get laid.

Date & Time: Sat  Dec 24, 2022 
    Age: 21 | Doors Open 9:00PM-2:00AM
    2020 Wilshire Blvd
    Santa Monica, CA 90403
    Live DJ Playing Chart-Toppers, Hip Hop, House, Electronic and R&B

$tarts at $40

at Japanese Village Plaza
Saturday, December 24
11 am–3 pm
at the Little Tokyo Galleria
Saturday, December 24
4–6 pm
Little Tokyo
Free for selfies, for printed photos $
 
Meet Shogun Santa at the Little Tokyo Galleria (3rd St. & Alameda St.) for a festive photo opportunity!
 
Saturday, Dec. 24 from 3 p.m.–6 p.m.
The Music Center’s Dorothy Chandler Pavilion
135 N. Grand Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90012
ADMISSION:
• FREE; no reservations or tickets to the show.
• First-come, first-seated.
• The line usually begins to form around noon.
PARKING:
FREE in The Music Center parking garage.

A live broadcast of the show airs on PBS SoCal on Saturday, Dec. 24 from 3 p.m.–6 p.m. 
 
The two-time Emmy® award-winning L.A. County Holiday Celebration, a one-of-a-kind, free holiday spectacular that has been a Los Angeles holiday tradition since 1959, will once again spread joy to thousands of Angelenos on Christmas Eve. Delighting both the in-person audience at The Music Center’s Dorothy Chandler Pavilion for the first time since 2019 as well as audiences watching the live broadcast on TV inside their homes, the 63rd annual event will feature 21 music ensembles, choirs and dance companies from the many neighborhoods and cultures of L.A. County.

 
Home Alone in Concert – three performances
Wednesday, December 21, at 8 p.m.
Thursday December 22, at 8 p.m.
David Newman, conductor
Angeles Chorale
    John Sutton, Artistic Director
https://www.laphil.com/events/performances/1823/2022-12-20/home-alone-in-concert
 
Arturo Sandoval Swinging Holiday – one night only
Friday, December 23, at 8 p.m.
Arturo Sandoval
https://www.laphil.com/events/performances/1825/2022-12-23/arturo-sandoval-swinging-holiday
 

 
at

Friday, December 16, 2022

Before Weekend Hanukkah

 

WHO KILLED SANTA? A Murderville Murder Mystery is out now on Netflix.

 

Chilly Scenes of Winter won't be out in time for Christmas, but this late March from Criterion.

The trailblazing Joan Micklin Silver—one of only five women to direct a film for a Hollywood studio in the 1970s—digs fearlessly into the psychology of a thorny relationship in this anti–romantic comedy, based on Ann Beattie’s best-selling novel, about lovelorn civil servant Charles (John Heard) and his married-but-separated coworker Laura (Mary Beth Hurt). Months after their affair has ended, Charles is haunted by memories as he desperately attempts to rekindle a love that perhaps never was. Switching deftly between past and present, Micklin Silver guides this piercing deconstruction of male wish-fulfillment fantasy beyond standard movie-romance tropes into something more complicated and cuttingly truthful.


"Adult Swim fans received an early holiday gift last night with the reveal of a new feature horror film from Casper Kelly, the acclaimed writer/director behind the viral Adult Swim short “Too Many Cooks.” A traditional holiday fireplace video transform into Adult Swim’s first-ever live-action feature. After last night’s surprise airing on Adult Swim, a must-see uncensored version of “Adult Swim Yule Log” is now available to stream on HBO Max and to purchase digitally." 

This is an over-the-top horror movie.


at

Thursday, December 15, 2022

The Christmas Tapes Review: Fast Forward To Paranormal Perry

 

Hoo boy, didn't go in with high hopes for this one and that was a good thing. This was a lazily made cheap Christmas horror anthology that's trying to rip-off the V/H/S horror series look. It's saving grace it the last tape of the night with Dave Sheridan, which I say skip to.
 
What brings you to see the film is of course the wonderful box art, Greg Sestero (The Room) showing up in the trailer and the premise of getting to watch some holiday horror. 

One of the biggest sins is the "tapes" all looking like they were shot in HD quality. Either go back and change them to look like VHS or at least explain some of the tapes are just HD footage.

Skipping to the only tape that made me laugh, The Christmas Spirit, Dave Sheridan wins me over with his eccentric performance as a Paranormal Perry. What could go wrong when the only medium/Ghostbuster type person for Christmas you can get to exorcise your house doesn't show up and sends Perry instead? A lot of laughs. It starts off slow, but once Perry shows up, it never slows down on how sad and silly the situation is. I could see this being the entire film on it's own. And, I'm sad the other films in this and even the wraparound with Greg Sestero couldn't be as funny. See Perry and then get out.

The Christmas Tapes are available for rent or purchase digitally online Dec 16th.


Paranormal Perry jingles



Screener provided by publisher for review purposes
at

Wednesday, December 14, 2022

Super Nintendo World Opens February 2023

 

That's a right, Yippee! As Mario might say. Super Nintendo World opens up here at Universal Studios Hollywood on February 17th, 2023.

We're glad to see the mustachioed bros center stage at the park at Super Nintendo World, but we did hold out hope that this park would be different than the one in Universal Japan. Maybe, incorporate some other Nintendo characters into rides? Hey, maybe will get cameos of Kirby and Starfox randomly, who knows? 
 
Will probably just be in awe of the Mushroom Kingdom made real. Just looking at the place it looks so different from the rest of the park we've seen before. But, it's always nice to dream big and think Hyrule, one day.

We're getting what looks like almost the exact park from Japan. We're getting Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge and the same Power-Up Bands that allow for interactive gameplay in the park. Gotta bust some blocks!

We assume it'll be quite busy as soon as it opens up, just to get the exclusive merch. Toadstool Cafe, take me away. Not sure how long I'll endure to get all the specialty food items, but maybe you can pre-order stuff to pick-up. Or maybe it'll be as easy as The Simpsons section, but way better than Krusty Burger.
 
And, it's easy to predict they'll be doing something to coincide with the The Super Mario Bros. Movie coming out a few months later in April.
 
Read after the jump for more details for whats in store for you if you go.
at

Weekly What To Do: Hanukkah In The House, Krampus Outback

 
All Things Krampus
 
Thu, December 15, 2022, 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Philosophical Research Society 3910 Los Feliz Boulevard Los Angeles, CA 90027
$25 – $35
 
Join us for an evening celebrating the winter holidays in ancient Teutonic style with author and Krampus expert Al Ridenour and friends.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Fri, December 16, 2022, 10:00 PM – 11:30 PM
Dynasty Typewriter at The Hayworth 2511 Wilshire Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90057
$20 – $25 18+ General Admission
 
It’s that time of year again. Hear that jingle jangle of chains? That’s not a tow truck taking your Prius…it’s Krampus, the half-goat Christmas monster. Uh oh. Sounds like you’ve been naughty…

LEAVE YOUR KIDS AT HOME
Featuring:
Dani Colucci, Matt Olsen, Nnamdi Ngwe, Ryan Asher, Chad Damiani, Maddy Wager, Camirin Farmer, Sam Walt Jones, Maureen SanDiego, Nate Pringle, Jesse Perez, Ricky Staffieri, Grayson Morrison, Aerica Siegal, Andrew Goetten and JJ Phillips
 
 
SATURDAY DECEMBER 17th from 3pm-9pm
Revenge Of
3420 Eagle Rock Blvd Unit #1, Los Angeles, CA 90065
Free
 
 We are so excited to launch another immersive event with our friends and neighbors! Bring the kids and let’s celebrate!!
-Featuring an excellent holiday shopping village with The Secret Headquarters @theshq , Time Travel Mart @timetravelmart , Velvet Apparition @velvetapparition , The Worn Trail @the_worn_trail and delicious pizza from Alphabet City Pizza @alphabetcitypizza
-FREE HOT COCOA FOR ALL!! See you soon!!
 
Saturday, December 17, 5PM
Santa Monica
$15 – $450
 
Join dozens of the city's best bars and restaurants and thousands of Santas, elves, and naughty reindeer at the 14th annual SANTA Monica Pub Crawl  to raise money for the Westside Food Bank and help those in need for the holidays. 
 
at Japanese Village Plaza
Saturday, December 17
Sunday, December 18
11 am–3 pm
at the Little Tokyo Galleria
Saturday, December 17
Sunday, December 18
4–6 pm
Little Tokyo
Free for selfies, for printed photos $
 
Meet Shogun Santa at the Little Tokyo Galleria (3rd St. & Alameda St.) for a festive photo opportunity!

Restoration World Premiere   
Saturday, December 17, 2022, 6pm
Academy Museum
Introduction by filmmaker Joe Dante and producer Jon Davison.
FREE ADMISSION, Entry for this free program is first come, first served.

Forever fascinated by B-movies, future director of beloved genre classics such as Matinee (1993), Gremlins (1984), and The Howling (1981), Joe Dante, then in his early 20s and studying at the Philadelphia College of Art, poured his filmic obsession into a magnum opus of found footage beginning in 1968. The result, once an ever-morphing supercut of Z-grade science fiction, fantasy, and monster movies from the 1930s to the 1960s, was in some permutations over seven hours long. An early celluloid precedent to YouTube mashups, The Movie Orgy has finally been remastered to its current version by the American Genre Film Archive under the supervision of Dante and the film’s producer, Jon Davison (Airplane!, Top Secret!). A B-Movie B-hemoth to B-hold! 
 
The Last Unicorn 40th Anniversary
Group exhibition featuring original production art and pop-up shop
OPENING RECEPTION
December 17, 2022 | 7:00 pm – 11:00 pm
ON VIEW
December 17 – January 21, 2023
COREY HELFORD GALLERY
571 S. Anderson St. Los Angeles, CA 90033
Free
 
Opening on Saturday, December 17th and presented in partnership with Sweet Streets, The Last Unicorn 40th Anniversary group show will reunite fans, old and new, and provide a window into the making of the animated classic, as the exhibition marks the first time in history the film’s original artwork will be on display.

All under the same roof, attendees will get a chance to experience a "behind-the-scenes" look at the film, shop the exclusive 40th anniversary capsule collection, and enjoy new works from a generation of artists inspired by the film’s unique artistry.
 
Hanukkah starts the evening of Sunday Dec 18th and last eight crazy nights. 
 


Winterlit, Downtown Santa Monica will celebrate the Festival of Lights with nightly menorah lightings beginning this Sunday, December 18 through December 26.








Doug Loves Movies: 8 Guests of Hanukkah
A Benefit for The Anti-Defamation League
Sunday, Dec 18, 8pm
Largo at the Coronet
366 N La Cienega Blvd, Los Angeles, CA, 90048
$51 

Doug Benson has changed his format this year and instead of 12 Guests for Christmas, we have 8 and celebrate Hanukkah. Listen as random guests, maybe some cool celebs answer movie trivia or get booted from the show.

Hanukkah Festival
Sunday, December 18, 2:00–5:30 pm (doors at 1:30 pm; Museum open until 6:00 pm)
Skirball Cultural Center 2701 N. Sepulveda Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90049
$18 General
$13 Children 2–12
 
Make Hanukkah memories at the Skirball! Beloved klezmer rockers Mostly Kosher headline this year’s festival with support from Dublab DJ Callie Ryan and dance leaders Bruce Bierman and Gilberto Melendez. Plus, the Skirball Storytellers bring the Hanukkah story to life with a theatrical performance featuring puppetry. 

December 18 - December 20, 2022
$

The American Cinematheque is proud to present a selection of timely films made in Ukraine in collaboration with local Ukrainian filmmakers. Showcasing a dynamic breadth of films that represent the small but mighty Ukrainian film industry before the Russian attacks on Ukraine, we invite audience members to reflect on the beauty and history of Ukrainian culture and cinema.
 
Dec 18, 2022–Jun 19, 2023
Resnick Pavilion
LACMA
$ Admission

In 1938 in New Mexico, a loose configuration of artists came together to form the Transcendental Painting Group. Led by New Mexico painters Raymond Jonson and Emil Bisttram, and joined by painters such as Agnes Pelton and Lawren Harris, the members of the group sought to explore spiritually heightened abstraction by employing free-wheeling symbols and imagery drawn from the collective unconscious. According to their manifesto they strove "to carry painting beyond the appearance of the physical world, through new concepts of space, color, light and design to imaginative realms that are idealistic and spiritual.”

Extra: 
 
Parts of the ship open Dec 15
 
Cinespia
Die Hard
Friday, December 16th
 
Welcome to the party, pal! No need for air travel to make a great escape. Join us for a truck load of fun at the Palace Theatre with full bars on every floor. DJ sets before and after the film get the silent night rockin’. Show up dressed for holiday follies in our free Photobooth, just don’t take off your shoes. Guests must be 21+ to attend.

Black Swan
Saturday, December 17th

With five floors of splendor, we’ll deck the halls and the ballroom to make a frosty wonderland full of icy decadence and exquisite artistry. Dance yourself silly with DJ sets before and after the film. Raise the barre with drinks and cocktails from our, you guessed it, bar. Take center stage in our Free Photobooth and relevé to the occasion in your holiday party finest. Guests must be 21+ to attend.

Symphonies for Youth: The Nutcracker with Dudamel – two performances
Symphonies for Youth – Shortened Performance
 Saturday, December 17, at 11 a.m.
Los Angeles Philharmonic
Gustavo Dudamel, conductor
https://www.laphil.com/events/performances/1813/2022-12-10/dudamel-conducts-the-nutcracker
 
The Nutcracker with Dudamel: Tchaikovsky & Ellington - four performances
Wednesday, December 14, at 8 p.m. and Sunday, December 18, at 2 p.m.
Los Angeles Philharmonic
Gustavo Dudamel, conductor
Los Angeles Children’s Choir
    Fernando Malvar-Ruiz, Artistic Director
https://www.laphil.com/events/performances/1810/2022-12-03/the-nutcracker-with-dudamel-tchaikovsky-ellington
 
Home Alone in Concert – three performances
Tuesday, December 20, at 8 p.m.
David Newman, conductor
Angeles Chorale
    John Sutton, Artistic Director
https://www.laphil.com/events/performances/1823/2022-12-20/home-alone-in-concert
 
 


 
 
 
at