Welcome to GTFOLA!, your guide to the best stuff to do in Los Angeles every week, lovingly compiled and curated by longtime L.A. journalist & native Angeleno Lina Lecaro. Every week, Lina provides a week’s worth of culturally diverse happenings designed to get you out of the f*cking house — from live music and clubs to classes and screenings to art shows and weird stuff you had no idea was going down in your own backyard. Here's what'll get you out this week:
Fri. March 9
Everybody has a favorite John Waters film, and his early stuff (with drag legend Divine) tends to top the list. CryBaby was one of his more mainstream movies but it retained his weirdo charm and then some, plus it might be his sexiest piece of celluloid thanks to Johnny Depp in greaser gear and Traci Lords doing “pin-up” way before the current revival. Dress as your favorite character at the CryBaby Prom themed party and meet plus-size model Tess Holiday to boot, tonight. Costume contest, and DJs Cutty Flam and Clifton aka Soft Touch spin 50s and 60s grooves. At The Resident, 428 S Hewitt St. DTLA. Tickets here.
Hip-hop jams from the 2000s and beyond are always on the decks at The Echo’s Echoflex and this month, it goes beyond DJ beats. Ghostface Killah performs live and opener Smoke DZA warms up the stage for him. Resident DJs Jeremy Burke (Loud Village), Cam Tang (Adult Swim), Stevie Be (Man of Everything) sing the jams of Kanye, Three 6 Mafia, Gucci Mane, Lil Wayne, N.E.R.D., Missy, Ying Yang Twins, Lil Jon, Ja Rule, Chingy, Nelly, Luda, et al. Throwback and slow jam smoking patio with visuals by Josh Schillace outside. No Dress Code! 1154 Glendale Blvd. Echo Park. More info here.
Sat. March 10
The best way to celebrate International Women’s Day (and Women History Month) isn’t with internet greetings or memes, it’s by supporting us! Chicanx Unknown presents a great way to do that with the Divine Energy Block Party (Divina Energia ~ Self-Amor Entre Mujeres). The celebration takes place next to the Mi Vida store in Highland Park and features 20+ all-female vendors selling handmade crafts and merch, plus a “Self Love” photography exhibit featuring works from female artists in the area (it will be part of North East Los Angeles Art Walk). Self Love Poetry will be featured from the likes of Yesika Salgado, MIJITA, Anabel Ramirez, and a music line up with DJs Tona, Magia Marie, Spinorita and DJ Sizzle from Cumbiaton_LA will heighten the energy til after dark. Lowriders (car clubs include Las Donas and Las Chingonas), workshops and raffles are promised too. At Mi Vida, 5159 York Blvd, Highland Park. 2 - 10 p.m. Free. More info here.
More women-powered wonder on hand at the 4th Annual Viva La Muxer, a benefit for Las Fotos Project (a nonprofit organization providing space, instruction, and inspiration for teenage girls to create art). The annual event marking International Women’s Day is obviously more important than ever and its aim to empower women artists and changemakers across Los Angeles needs attention and support. Music performances, more curated art exhibits and vendors, family-friendly workshops, food (Casa, Donas, Collective Avenue Coffee, Gourmetletas), a “Boss Lady” group vision board, portraiture, live painting, photo booth, and a raffle will all be part of the festivities. 100 percent of the proceeds will go to the Las Fotos Project. At Plaza de la Raza, 225 N. Avenue 25. 6 p.m. - 11 p.m. Tickets here. More info here.
Sun. March 11
If you’ve never checked out Beyond Baroque (housed in the old Venice City Hall building), this week may be one of the best times to do so. The non-profit art space presents some of the most unique in-depth events in Los Angeles, and the five-day Beyond Beat Festival is a great example. Celebrating “Beat” culture and history with those that lived it, the event examines the post-WWII phenomenon that shaped literary, artistic and philosophical culture. It goes beyond the stereotypical bongos and berets, man! See their website for the full schedule up to this point. Sunday, it focuses on the intersection of LGBTQ and Beat culture, but there will be plenty more including New York Times best-selling author Steve Sliberman on the legacy of Allen Ginsberg's Howl, Michael C Ford on “Hollywood and Beat,” Marc Olmsted on “Buddhism and Beat” (with a panel including Julie Adler, Bob Branaman, and Richard Modiano), and films by Diane di Prima, Don Gothenburg, Stan Brakhage, and Bruce Conner. Gay Beat readings by Marc Olmsted, Steve Silberman, Tate Swindell and a Gay Beat panel round out the boho bounty. 681 Venice Blvd. Venice. More info here.
Bloodsucker lovers, fang-bangers, and horror culture fans alike should flap their batwings over to The Vampire Craft Fair. An array of artists will showcase wares celebrating all your favorite vamps including characters from The Lost Boys, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Interview with a vampire, True Blood, Vampire Hunter D, Bordello of Blood, Vampire Diaries, Kindred the Embraced, Dusk Til Dawn, and more. At Geeky Teas & Games, 2120 Magnolia Blvd. Burbank. 11 a.m. - 5 p.m. Invite here.
Mon. March 12
Veganism isn’t about being skinny for a lot of its enthusiasts, it’s about being cruelty free. For Sean O’callaghan, aka the Fat Gay Vegan, it’s also about a lifestyle. The F.G.V. reads from his book, Fat Gay Vegan- Eat Like You Give A Sh*t at Stories tonight. The featured photo (vegan tacos) is from his recent trip to Mexico City. Check out his blog here. The event is at Stories, 1716 Sunset Blvd. Echo Park, 7 p.m. More info here.
Tues. March 13
If you love Guillermo Del Toro’s Academy Award-winning Best Picture winner about a fishman in love, you don’t want to miss The Shape of Water signing at Dark Delicacies. Actor Doug Jones will be on hand to sign the DVD/Blueray and the new novelization of the film, as will writer Daniel Kraus and lead designer/sculptor Mike Hill talking about the creature suit he created…. not that lawsuit. 3512 W. Magnolia Blvd. Burbank. 7-9 pm. Info here.
Wed., March 14
Since it’s women’s month, I’ll be highlighting more females in the LA music scene and a good place to start is with my girl Beck Black, who brings her punky electro-pop to the famed Troubadour stage. The LA-based singer and keyboardist is a favorite of Rodney Bingeheimer (formerly K-ROQ, now on Sirius XM) and her band features members of Street Drum Corps and legendary LA rockers like Motorcycle Boy and Pearl Harbor. Also with Oldsport, Heather Robb, and the Christopher Hawley Rollers. 9081 Santa Monica Blvd. 9 p.m. FB Invite here.
When Spikes Bar in Rosemead closed, it was a loss for local music, and one of the best 80s clubs in town too. The Breakfast Klub has been taking over Cities Restaurant in East Los lately and the 80s culture lives on there, celebrating dark music icons and new wave favorites. Marking the 30th anniversary of Morrissey’s Viva Hate (released March 14, 1988) this week’s dance party should rage. And we’ll just say it: The Latinos loving Moz thing has been over-analyzed and even kind of fetishized, OK? We like this man’s music because it’s good. Viva Moz! Cities Restaurant. 4512 E. Ceasar Chavez Blvd. (310) 351-8925. More info here. Facebook invite here.
Thurs. March 15
Music and theatre collide at Taylor Mac- A 24 Hour Decade History of Popular Music beginning tonight with a musical exploration of the birth of America, The American Revolution, the advent of women's lib and what Mac calls “a colonial heteronormative narrative debunked.” The performer’s musical marathon spans from 1776 to the present and is presented across four nights at the Ace. Expect glitz, grooves, and gay-driven history lessons from this critically acclaimed stage spectacular. Judging by the promo video, this just might put Hedwig and the Angry Inch to shame. At the Ace Hotel, 929 S. Broadway, DTLA. Tickets and info here.
