Kristin's List: A Guide to Cultivated Los Angeles

It’s a hot summer Saturday and your kid is asking, “where can I get my hands on an industrial design project?” Join the ARkidECTURE one-day workshop at the Stuart Karten Design studio where children ages 8-12 will learn about the industry through a hands-on project. As part of a series of collaborations with L.A. architecture firms, the summer long ARkidECTURE program teaches the little people about the creative processes and techniques of the design world.

WHEN: 10:00am-1:00pm
ADMISSION: Free
REGISTRATION: call (323) 932-9393 or email info@aplusd.org
WHERE: Stuart Karten Design
ADDRESS: 4204 Glencoe Avenue, Marina Del Ray, CA 90292
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON A+D: www.aplusd.org

Even though movie critic muppet Waldorf claims he has “seen detergents leave a better film than this,” the folks at Cinespia are taking cinematic risks and screening “The Muppet Movie.” Join Kermit, Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear and other old friends for the “somewhat fictionalized” tale of finding stardom and the rainbow connection in our hometown. Bring a blanket and get ready to sing along at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery’s outdoor screening of Jim Henson’s inspiring live-action musical on its 30th anniversary.

WHEN: 7:00pm gates open, 8:30pm film
ADMISSION: $10
WHERE: Hollywood Forever Cemetery
ADDRESS: 6000 Santa Monica Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90038
WEBSITE: www.cinespia.org

Twigs, small electronics, broken guitars, rocks and wind-up Victrolas are a sampling of the instruments to be used in a sound assemblage performed by Climax Golden Twins and Steve Roden at their first joint concert. Presented by SASSAS (Society for the Activation of Social Space through Art and Sound), the artists’ improvised and highly controlled electro-acoustic manipulations will fill the corridors of the Schindler House. With scores “generated by Schindler’s own drawings of the building,” artist Steve Roden will create a gentle soundscape that marries the space with “the quiet activity of listening.”

WHEN: 7pm doors, 7:30pm show
ADMISSION: $18 General/$14 Students & Members
WHERE: MAK Center for Art and Architecture @ The Schindler House
ADDRESS: 835 N Kings Rd, West Hollywood, CA 90069
WEBSITE: www.soundnet.org/sound/2009/july.shtml

The time has come to out the summer’s best kept secret: the Echo Park Film Center’s free outdoor screenings on the Filmmobile. As part of its program to show films in the locales they were shot, the Filmmobile will be parked by Echo Park Lake for “A Salute to Edendale.” The celebration of the 100th anniversary of Echo Park’s first film studio will include such gems as Charlie Chaplin’s “Mabel’s Married Life,” Harold Lloyd’s “Lonesome Luke” and the Keystone Cops in “A Muddy Romance.” These locally filmed classics will be brought to life with live musical scores by Professor Cantaloupe, The Grizzly Owls and Magic Gas. The evening will be topped off with free snacks, bingo, a giant bunny and general Echo Park Film Center tomfoolery.

WHEN: 7pm
ADMISSION: Free
WHERE: The Echo Park Film Center’s FILMMOBILE
ADDRESS: Filmmobile will be parked at the north end of Echo Park beside the lake
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE ECHO PARK FILM CENTER: www.echoparkfilmcenter.org
NOTE: bring a chair or a blanket to sit on

Support your local curriculum-free, propose-your-own-class school at the Telic Arts Exchange/Public School fundraiser. Leaving it’s usual Chinatown dwelling, TAE is migrating to the Mandrake Bar in Culver City for an evening filled with the sounds of Dublab and raffle ticket giveaways that include fine dining, fine lodgings and fancy technology. Learn about the new TAE Berlin space, hear about how to make absinthe, and chow on pretzels made by The Public School deans, all in the name of supporting a place where public participation and social exchanges can roam free.

WHEN: 5:00pm-8:00pm
ADMISSION: $5
WHERE: Mandrake Bar
ADDRESS: 2692 South La Cienega Boulevard, Culver City, CA
WEBSITE: www.telic.info

Honey chiffon with fresh strawberries, Blenheim apricot with an all butter crust, and three berries with raw cream are some of the pies waiting for you to savor and swap at SlowFoodLA’s Summer Pie Swap. Bring a pie and the story behind it to share. The folks at SlowFoodLA want to hear the origins of your creation. Is it a treasured family recipe? Or made from ingredients bought at your local farmer’s market? Do you bake with sustainable or fair trade products? Dedicated to celebrating the food traditions of our country, SlowFoodLA has it right by preserving our heritage with a warm slice of double cherry hand pie.

WHEN: 2:00pm-4:00pm
ADMISSION: $5
WHERE: West Hollywood, location told upon ticket purchase
TICKETS: www.brownpapertickets.com/event/73196
WEBSITE: www.slowfoodla.com

With a hand-held Leica and an outsider’s take on American society, photographer Robert Frank took over 20,000 photos, chose 83 of them to be published in “The Americans” and forever changed our national self-image. The L.A. Film Forum, in conjunction with MOCA’s current Robert Frank exhibit, presents four short films by and about this great photographer. Beginning with the documentary “Fire in the East: A Portrait of Robert Frank,” which includes interviews with collaborators Allen Ginsberg and Jonas Mekas, the series ends with three of Frank’s own works about intimacy, art and anonymity.

WHEN: 7:30pm
ADMISSION: $10 General/$8 Seniors & Students/$7 Members
WHERE: Egyptian Theatre
ADDRESS: 6712 Hollywood Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90028
THEATRE WEBSITE: www.americancinematheque.com
EVENT WEBSITE: www.lafilmforum.wordpress.com/2009/06/29/july-19-films-by-and-about-robert-frank

Set in Santiago, Chile, during the Pinochet regime, the film “Tony Manero” follows the desperate and violent life of a “Saturday Night Fever” obsessed middle aged low-life. As he sits in matinees watching the 1977 disco epic, Manero attempts to learn John Travolta’s every move in hopes of winning a TV talent show. While he is not absorbing U.S. pop culture, Manero is unabashed about killing anyone who gets in his way. “Tony Manero” is a study in the co-existence of Hollywood glamour exported to a country riddled with state sponsored violence backed by the CIA.

WHEN: Friday, July 17 - Thursday, July 23
ADMISSION: $10
WHERE: Laemmle’s Music Hall 3
ADDRESS: 9036 Wilshire Boulevard, Beverly Hills, CA 90211
WEBSITE: www.laemmle.com

No experience is necessary to get your groove on with Ryan Heffington at his wet and wild dance class, Sweaty Sundays. Known as a “dance class for everyone,” Heffington will get you fit with his signature blend of jazz, pop, sex and camp moves. The low-pretense pumped-up sweat fest is also a great time to break out the sparkly leotard you have been longing to wear. Sassy-free workout gear is also welcome.

WHEN: 12noon & 1:30pm
ADMISSION: $10 cash, $5 if you take the 2nd class also
WHERE: Foresight Studios
ADDRESS: 3501 Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90026
PHONE: (323) 664-7900
WEBSITE: www.myspace.com/sweatysundays

Dorothy Parker, who once proclaimed “Los Angeles is 72 suburbs in search of a city,” would be relieved to know we have located the city and the Big Parade is here to prove it. A two-day walk through Los Angeles, the Big Parade will begin downtown at the Angel’s Flight Stairway, traverse 100+ stairways and weave its way through scores of architectural landmarks. With a mid-point break at the Music Box Stairs in Silver Lake, site of the Laurel & Hardy film of the same name, the walking route will be filled with off road adventures — “backcountry” bushwhacking on a secret dirt road, paddle boating on Echo Park Lake, hearing a marching band and getting sweet treats from designated locals. Whether you are walking 1 mile or all 40, everyone is invited to join this celebration of seeing L.A. from the ground up.

WHEN: starts Saturday, July 18 @ 7:00am - ends Sunday, July 19 @ 8:00pm
ADMISSION: Free
WHERE: The Big Parade starts in downtown Los Angeles, moves throughout the city thereafter, see website for maps & timetables
WEBSITE: www.bigparadela.com

Graffiti artists, DJs and B-boys unite for the “Hard in Da Paint!” workshop and celebration of hip hop culture at Self Help Graphics & Art. Featuring silk screening demos, live aerosol art, dance battles, MC battles and poetry readings, this insane synthesis of emerging local talent is not to be missed. Dedicated to serving the artistic voices of the Chicano/ Mexicano community, Self Help Graphics & Art is once again keeping it real by kicking off the “Hard in Da Paint” series with so many exciting young voices.

WHEN: 2:00pm-9:00pm
ADMISSION: $5 door
WHERE: Self Help Graphics & Art
ADDRESS: 3802 Cesar E. Chavez Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90063
WEBSITE: www.selfhelpgraphics.com

Open Call L.A. 09 invites all SoCal artists, young and old, the part-time creative and the pro, to submit one piece of artwork to be shown at the L.A. Municipal Art Gallery. For one day only you can drop off your creation until the Gallery’s cut-off of 1,000 works. Note: Pieces incorporating “live animals are considered unsafe” and will be turned away.

CHECK OUT RULES OF ENTRY AT www.culturela.org BEFORE SUBMITTING ARTWORK.

WHEN: 9:00am-6:00pm or until 1,000 works are received
ADMISSION: $20 per artist, cash only
WHERE: LA Municipal Art Gallery Barnsdall Park
ADDRESS: 4800 Hollywood Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90027
WEBSITE: www.culturela.org, go to “LAMAG Open Call L.A. 2009″

With her 1979 Chevy Van in tow, artist Carolina Caycedo has arrived in L.A. to barter “knowledge, commodities and services as a daily exercise of anarchy.” Stemming from a 2002 stint in London where she bartered her way through the city in a 1963 Ford Van, Caycedo is in L.A. until August 5th to create a network of personal exchanges. Check out her list of what she provides, i.e. video editing, babysitting, discussing Columbian politics & haircuts; and what she needs, i.e. a tattoo, theater tickets, fresh fruit & surfing lessons. Email her to schedule a time to start your own economy.

WHEN: July 1-August 5
ADMISSION: free, exchange stuff
CONTACT: c_caycedo@hotmail.com
WHERE: various L.A. locations, email to pick a time and place to meet
WEBSITE: www.g727.org

Beyond the birds, taquerias and Ray Bans, Echo Park is home to the progressively minded Echo Park Time Bank. Learn how to exchange resources by earning Time Dollars at its monthly workshop and potluck. Dog walk for music lessons, rake leaves for an oil change, connect your unmet needs with others’ untapped resources. With a mission to broaden how we participate in our community, the Time Bank is also a wonderful way to connect with like-minded city dwellers.

WHEN: 5:00pm-5:30pm
ADMISSION: Free
WHERE: Jennie Cooks Catering
ADDRESS: 3048 Fletcher Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90065
WEBSITE: www.echoparktimebank.com

Afros, comedy sketches, jumpsuits and dance routines were the stuff of which “The Jacksons” TV variety show was made. Rare footage from the short-lived CBS series is being screened at the Paley Center for Media to pay tribute to the early days of Michael’s genius. Created as competition for ABC’s “The Osmonds,” CBS pushed the surreal button with such bits as Ed McMahon playing W.C. Fields across from Janet Jackson’s Mae West, and Sonny Bono expounding on tabloid culture.

TIME: 3:00pm daily (July 2-12)
ADMISSION: Free, $10 suggested contribution
WHERE: The Paley Center for Media
ADDRESS: 465 North Beverly Drive, Beverly Hills, CA 90210
WEBSITE: www.paleycenter.org/michael-jackson-the-legend-in-the-making