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 (no matter what the weather happens to be like) this week:
Fri., March 23
Hey ho, let’s go! Fans and bands are coming together for The Ramones Art Exhibit, tribute to the NYC punk pioneers in visuals and music, organized by Punks For Punks. Lots of great local artists on board for this one: Maribel Beltran, Greg Millan, Vanessa Munoz, Anabelle Del Valle, Zoe Stanton, Vee Morales, Aaron Hernandez, Manuel Garcia, Maegan Brown, Skunk Chellovek, Maggie St.Thomas, Rocksteady Letty, Alex Holiday, Julie Cat Potts, Alex Chavez, Martin Vargas, Judy Olivia, Chelsea Violet Javier (her Joey portrait is pictured above) and more. Bands too: Teenage Goo Goo Muck (Cramps tribute), The Shag Rats (garage rock), Turbulent Hearts (LA rock), Pretty Vacant (SD punk) and Too Tough 2 Die (Ramones tribute). At 5 Star Bar, 267 S. Main St. DTLA. 8pm. More info here.
Popular social media siren and sexy/punky fashion designer Nikki Lipstick and along with button babe/enamel pin company Creepy Gals are hosting a shindig to show off her new collection- a prom themed bash at Hollywood glam grotto Glitter Death, themed Spring Fling Prom Party. Your dates for the eve? Her vampiest models in pastel goth get-ups. Installations, photobooth, dancing giveaways and maybe a spiked punch bowl. 1443 N. Highland Ave. Hollywood. 8pm. Free. More info here.
It’s still Women’s History Month ya know! We Choose Art | A Feminist Perspective curated by Baha H. Danesh is the kind of show that should ensure we don’t forget the female point of view and experience, no matter what month it is. Modern feminist artists (male, female and gender non-conforming) will showcase their work, exploring the struggles, triumphs, relationships and contributions of women. Their “Feminist Portrait Gallery” sponsored by Artist & Craftsmen (with portraiture by 27 world-renowned artists representing strong women and activists) should prove particularly inspiring. Live feminist performances will provide an engaging interpretation of the ideas presented. Performers include Juan Martin Matamoros, Raya Yarbrough, and April Hava Shenkman. Featured artists include Anya Kavanaugh, Ashira Siegel Fox, Brandan Bmike Odums, Britney Penouilh, Daggi Wallace, Kelly Thompson, Monica Reyes, Phoebe Clemens Rigg Anderson, Scott Froschauer, Sonni Leigh and Tinsley Hammond. At The Montalban Mezz Gallery, 1615 Vine St. Complimentary cocktails before 9pm.$10 advance, $15 at the door. More info and tickets here.
Sat., March 24
Waterweek 2018, put on by artists from Hamburg, Berlin, Kampala and Los Angeles, is about connecting cultures and bringing the importance of water (and free access to clean drinking water) to public attention with creative activities. Over 100 artists have gathered in LA to spread awareness for the event thus far, along with the Übermut Project (Hamburg Marketing and visitBerlin), Hamburg Music and Viva con Agua California. Tonight’s VIVA CON AGUA bash at the Virgil spreads the message with music, and you’re gonna want to hydrate because this one is sure to be pumping. The line-up features Aloe Blacc (L.A.) OCTOPIZZO (Viva con Agua Kampala), Max Herre and Joy Denalane (Berlin), DJ Jedi (L.A.), Samon Kawamura (Berlin). 4519 Santa Monica Blvd. Free. 21+. 8 pm. RSVP here.
Dance club revelry meets fiendish role play as Club Undead melds its vampiric dance party with the gothic-minded group Pillars of Salt for Undead: The Masquerade. Dark music, Vampire® Vineyards' wine, decadent dress up, and music from Necrolicious, Okult Helix, Skullfkr plus DJs spinning dark hits from the 90's to present til dawn. Dress code enforced and “luxury clothing from any century” encouraged. 6pm-2am. 21+. Free with one drink minimum. At the Vampire Lounge & Tasting Room, 9865 S. Santa Monica Blvd. Beverly Hills. More info here.
Sun., March 25
For four years now, BUSTED! - True Stories About Getting Around LA, Told By People Who Don't Drive! has been uncovering a Los Angeles many of us never see being stuck on its roads in cars. Adventures on the bus, nightmares on the subway, interactions riding bikes; sites, sounds and smells walking the streets… all are recalled, shared and explored, often revealing new layers of LA forgotten or ignored. It’s about the city, but moreso it’s about people. The four year anniversary show sees BUSTED! return to its original home, Stories, with storytellers including Susan Hall, Alex Pages, Phil Peng (Skid Row Running Club), Nick Phillips, Aston Wallace and musical guest Avid Dancer and hosted by creator Scott Schultz. 5-8 pm. Free. 1716 W Sunset Blvd. Echo Park. More info. here.
Silver Lake’s popular leather street fair returns for a day full of bare bottomed boys and harness-wearing hunks. Off Sunset Festival, which closes out a week of events for Los Angeles Leather Pride, invites the city’s leather-loving LGBTQ contingents and their friends to party in the streets with bands, DJs, food trucks, beer, and vendors. This year’s lineup includes Queen Nation, Debby Holiday, Bossy Bottom, The Cocks, Blade of Grass, and Bitch Please playing live on stage and DJs Jackie House (Honey Soundsystem), Leonardo Glowvibes (Megawoof America) and Sindri (The Cafeteria) in the street. The Eagle Bar is always a hub for this one, but check out the scene at 4100 next door for a fun mixed vibe. Important note: there’s a coatcheck so butches, bikers and bears can rock out with their sunblock out in full leather regalia. 21+. 12pm-7pm. 4219 Santa Monica Blvd. Silver Lake. Tickets and info. here.
¡Viva la Causa! At Family Days: César Chávez Day, the legendary labor leader and his fight for farm labor rights is celebrated a week before his official “day” (March 31) via interactive hands-on workshops exploring and highlighting the value of immigrant labor and civil rights. Manuel Bernal, chief operating officer of the César Chávez Foundation speaks and scheduled performances include Xipe Totec Aztec Dance Group, the Tierra Blanca Dance Company, and Grupo Fenix. All ages. Free. At LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes, 501 N Main St. More info. At LAPCA.org.
La Carretera is an automotive and music gathering in the spirit of the 1950’s La Carrera Panamericana races in Mexico. It all goes down on Sunday in the Arts District and will feature beautiful vintage vehicles from the 50s 60s and 70s. DJs will be playing an eclectic mix of 50s and 60s Mexican and American music, and there will be BBQ all day along with coffee, beer, and spirits. The event is family friendly, kids 12 and under are free, dogs are welcome.
More information is available here: www.lacarreterashow.com
Mon., March 26
Trip out with a queer cinema masterpiece from the early 70s-- Steven Arnold’s LUMINOUS PROCURESS, which meshes hippies, magic potions, sex, and art for a sensual experience you won’t soon forget. Restored from a 16mm Print, the screening will also feature discussion with curators Steve Seid and Bradford Nordeen. 8:30 pm. At REDCAT, 631 W. 2nd St. DTLA. More info at REDCAT.org or here.
Celebrating their new Pacific Food & Beverage Museum location in San Pedro, PacFAB has been holding a series of events in LA proper to bring some attention to the new endeavor, and explore food and drink traditions of California, the American West, and Pacific Rim. The events, which started last week and wind down this week (full schedule here) include a cool female-driven gathering tonight. Kindred Spirits Society: The History of Women & the Cocktail provides a discussion with NatFAB’s Prez Liz Williams, exploring the role women have played in cocktail culture with historians and writers on the topic followed by tastings with LA's hottest female mixologists re-imagining turn-of-the-20th-century cocktails for today. Presented by Pomp & Whimsy Gin Liqueur (pictured). 6:30 pm. 21+. At Palihouse West Hollywood, 8465 Holloway Dr., West Hollywood. For more information and tickets click here.
Tues., March 27
Azalia Snail’s Neon Resistance sees the mesmerizing avant garde local singer celebrate her new record with a live performance, plus sets by guests Sissy Clemens (Wax Poetic), d’Animal and LITRONIX. Other amusements: performance art by Luka Fisher, dancing by Boy in Fleurs, neon face painting by Miho Hiromatsu and DJ Neil Martinson (SMILE!)
Also planned, a screening of “The Healing Plants” documentary by Mareesa Sterz. At Zebulon Café Concert, 2478 Fletcher Dr. Frogtown. More info. here.
Wed., March 28
Hip-hop’s dope, rock is cool, soul is sexy, but Jazz is magic, and it doesn’t get the respect it deserves sometimes. JAZZ is DEAD, presented by Art Don’t Sleep, proves it’s very much alive too. Adrian Younge will be showcasing his new spiritual jazz album, Voices of Gemma, backed by a 20 piece orchestra, with an opening performance by Black Nile. Ali Shaheed Muhammad will spin a headliner jazz set along with openers
DJ Rashida and Wyldeflower. Hosted by Novena Carmel. At Lodge Room, 104 N. Avenue 56. Highland Park. 8 pm. Info and tickets here.
Thurs., March 29
Don’t know about Chico’s Angels? Well, where you been meng? This iconic comedic theatre troupe’s shows, parodying the famed television detective series Charlie's Angels, are one of best things to do in LA and have been since 2003! Starring drag diva señoras Kay Sedia, Chita Parol and Frieda Laye, the long-running series re-interprets the 70s series’ famed episodes incorporating Latin culture in sometimes overt and often subtle ways that skewer stereotypes with laughter and wry wit that all can enjoy (but Latinos and native Angelenos will find particularly spot-on).
Love Boat Chicas #2, the new show season beginning tonight, references another beloved 70s series and conjures a true Latin queen too: Charo! Someone is out to kill the Coo-Chi/Coo-Chi queen and the detectives must set sail “for mystery, intrigue and lust on the Love Boat” to solve the case. Enjoy dinner and drinks at Casita Del Campo before the show, which takes place in their Cavern Club Theatre downstairs. Margaritas are allowed inside! Show runs March 29 - April 8. At The Cavern Club Theater at Casita Del Campo, 1920 Hyperion Ave. Silver Lake. More info and tickets here. (Buy now because they sell out quick).
