Weekend Planner: 24 Things To Do In Los Angeles

LAist gets a lot of event announcements, and we comb through them all to bring you a curated list of what’s happening in LA this weekend, including these 24 events. Now, no more excuses...so get out there and play. Don’t forget to check out other picks in our monthly column, too. Read on for all the details.

FRIDAY, MARCH 21

COMEDY + FILM : Thugs, the Musical - LIVE! is at NerdMelt at 9 pm with standup comedy and live musical performances of songs featured in the short film of the same name. Performers include Kevin Avery, Matt Braunger, Eliza Skinner, Lauren Ashley Bishop, Zach Sherwin, Marcella Arguello, Brandon Johnson, Vanessa Bryant and Alex Burke & Mela Lee from the band Magnolia Memoir. It’s followed by screening of "Thugs, the Musical!" (23 mins). Tickets: $8-10.

ART+MUSIC At 8 pm, the Hammer Museum presents Sabrosonico, an eclectic event that celebrates the music and imagery of alternative Mexico. There’s a free concert featuring Toy Selectah (Monterrey), electropical pioneer DJ Chucuchu (Tijuana), futurist fusion masters and Digital Tiger duo Sonidero Travesura (Tijuana), and award-winning illustrator Teddy Kelly (Mazatlán/Los Angeles).

MUSIC: The Brooklyn-based indie pop band Wakey!Wakey! headlines a night of music the Bootleg Bar. Also on the bill are NYC singer-songwriter Jillette Johnson and Casey Shea. 9:30 pm. 18+. Advanced tickets: $12. Doors at 8 pm.

MUSIC + ART: Avant-garde musician Dorian Wood performs Friday and Saturday at Human Resources gallery in Chinatown. The performances take place inside an installation named Deflated/Defeated, which was designed by artist Jacqueline Bell. Several times throughout the evening programs, audience members will be invited to experience the performance from different points within the space.

MUSIC: Listen to stripped-down musical performances while sipping on chilled champagne at the State Social House’s lounge from 8-10 pm. Business casual attire (no hoodies / sneakers). The event is free, but RSVPs are mandatory. Use the password “StateSocialHouse” or email RSVP directly.

TV TALK: PaleyFest 2014 continues its great slate of programming this weekend, beginning with the cast of Mad Men at 7 pm at the Dolby Theater in Hollywood. Scheduled to participate are cast members include Jon Hamm, January Jones, Vincent Kartheiser, Elisabeth Moss, Christina Hendricks, Robert Morse, Jessica Paré, John Slattery and Kiernan Shipka. Tickets: $25-75+ fees. [Saturday’s shows are The Vampire Diaries/The Originals at 7 pm and Sunday’s event features Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. at 1 pm.]

MUSIC: Atlanta’s own Black Lips headline the El Rey with The Coathangers joining them on the bill. Doors at 8 pm. Tickets starting at $22.

FILM: The New Beverly continues its Val Lewton (producer) / Jacques Tourneur (director) B-movie double feature, beginning with Cat People (1942) at 7:30 pm. It’s followed by I Walked with a Zombie (1943) at 9:05 pm. The films screen on Saturday as well. Tickets: $8+ ticket fees.

MUSIC: March 21 marks Bach's 329th birthday and cities around the world—including LA—are teaming up to bring Bach to their local communities. Musicians perform at metro stations, bus stops and in public parks in LA today, including local concert pianist, Riko Weimer performing with other musicians outdoors at the corner of Robertson and Rosewood and an ensemble performing Brandenburg Concerto No. 3 at Civic Center/Grand Park.

VARIETY: Lindsay Brenner presents her one-woman silent comedy show The Book of Love Show at Slur in Lincoln Heights. She describes her act as if “Lucille Ball and Charlie Chaplain had a love child who likes to juggle.” Directly following the show is a game night with a giant connect four, dart boards, extreme ping pong, chess, hungry hungry hippos and Rock em sock em robots. Doors at 8:30, show at 9 pm. $10 donation at the door appreciated, but not required.

MUSIC + INK: If you’re up for a drive this weekend, Musink, the music festival and tattoo convention presented by Travis Barker (of Blink-182/Transplants), takes place in Costa Mesa at the OC Fair and Expo Center through Sunday. Performers include Transplants, The Descendents, The Vandals, Tech N9ne, Gorilla Biscuits, Judge, H20 and many more. Tickets: $25 single day ($30 Day of Show), $50 3-day ($60 Day of Show/Sold on Friday Only).

SATURDAY, MARCH 22

AUCTION: Premiere Props is auctioning off a collection of 34 uncovered photos of James Dean (including negatives and all reproduction rights granted) on Saturday and Sunday at their El Segundo headquarters. A preview takes place from 9-11 am PT with the live auction beginning at 11 am PT. In addition to the photos, there are more than 1,000 movie and TV props up for auction including items from Gone with the Wind, Cleopatra, Planet of the Apes, Stargate SG1, 2001: A Space Odyssey and A Clockwork Orange. Oh and some hair from dead celebrities (which is a little creepy).

DESIGN FAIR: The Parachute Market’s third edition Let “There Be Light” takes place on Saturday and Sunday in the Arts District (405 Mateo Street). This spring-inspired design fair and marketplace features furniture, objects, fine arts, sculpture and fashion by emerging and established artists, designers and collectors. The participating artists and designers will “develop their work in a way that relates to the season’s theme and will present pieces that demonstrate their interpretation of light in design.” Saturday from 12-7 pm and Sunday from 12-6 pm. General admission: $8 online/$10 at the door.

STORIES: Robert Sean Leonard hosts the program Selected Shorts 2014: Drama at Dinner at the Getty Center this weekend. The literary feast features notable performers reading stories that keep with this year’s theme and are “set in kitchens, at dinner parties, behind the scenes at a bakery, at family dinner tables, and even a mad hatter's tea party.” The cast includes Jane Kaczmarek, Michael Imperioli, Christopher Lloyd, Joshua Malina, Christina Pickles, Catherine O'Hara and Amber Tamblyn. A few tickets still remain for the weekend’s 3 pm matinees. (Readers vary with each program.) Tickets: $35 and include a small bite and a select wine tailored to each performance.

FILM NewFilmmakers Los Angeles holds its March screening program on Saturday at AT&T Center in DTLA. The first program of four short films begins at 6:15 pm, followed by another short film program at 7:45 pm. The feature-length film screening of Friended to Death begins at 9:15 pm. There are pre- and post-receptions for each program as well as audience Q&A sessions. Admission to the programs are $5 advane/$7 at the door or $16 for all three.

BOOKS: Author/photographer Robert Landau discusses and signs his book Rock’N’Roll Billboards of the Sunset Strip at 3 pm at Samuel French Bookshop on Sunset. The book delves in to rock history and features “these definitive signs of a special time, a time when rock was the most important music ever recorded, when youth, politics, and art merged to turn counterculture into mainstream culture.”

FESTIVAL Descanso Gardens in La Cañada Flintridge ushers in spring with its annual Cherry Blossom Festival this weekend. It’s a celebration of Japanese culture and the flowering trees on the grounds. Throughout the weekend, visitors can enjoy music performances, origami, garden walks and food. Admission: $9 adults, $6 seniors/students, $4 children 5-12; children 4 and younger enter free. All activities are free with admission unless noted.

PERSIAN NEW YEAR: The Farhang Foundation presents a weekend-long celebration of the Persian New Year at LACMA. On Saturday night, the 6th Annual Farhang Foundation Short Film Festival Awards Ceremony & Reception takes place from 6-9 p.m. at the museum’s Bing Theater. The night includes a screening of six short films that showcase Iranian culture. Tickets: $35-45. On Sunday, Nowruz (Iranian New Year) festival heralds the arrival of spring with a full day of activities around campus, including live music performances, storytelling and calligraphy for children, and Persian-inspired dishes. For the first time this year, there will be a traditional Iranian costumes parade, in which individuals of all ages are invited to participate. Most of the events are free (except those that take place in the theater).

TOAST: The Young Literati of the Los Angeles Public Library holds its sixth annual Toast—at Sony Pictures Studios in Culver City—to raise funds for the Library and its summer enrichment program. The evening features literature and music that explores Los Angeles. Curated by Amanda and Shepard Fairey, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Moby and Busy Philipps, the evening features readings by Jason Reitman, Nick Kroll, Lizzy Caplan, Gillian Jacobs and a musical performance by Jenny and Johnny. Cocktails provided by Cedd Moses’ 213 Spirited Ventures (The Varnish, Cana Rum Bar, Las Perlas, and more). Tickets: $175 per person ($125 for Young Literati Members).

MUSIC + ART: Music & Conversations 2.0 series presents the The Lyris Quartet, which performs at Jack Rutberg Fine Arts. The evening of music is being held in conjunction with the gallery’s major exhibition Twin Visions, featuring the work of brothers Jerome Witkin and Joel-Oeter Witkin. The evening begins with a wine reception at 7 pm, followed by a performance of pieces from Billy Childs, Jane Brockman, Samuel Barber and Ben Johnston. Tickets: $20.

SUNDAY, MARCH 23

FAMILY FILM: The Hammer Museum and the UCLA Film & Television Archive screen the Harold Lloyd silent classic Safety Last! (1923) at 11 am. This is the comic film that generated the iconic image and scene in which Lloyd hangs precariously from a clock. Recommended for age 6 and older. Remember that this is a 35 mm, b/w, silent film—but there’s live musical accompaniment provided by Cliff Retallick. Free.

HARMONTOWN GARAGE SALE: The Harmontown Charity Garage Sale takes place in the NerdMelt Showroom from 11 am-6 pm. Dan Harmon and the Harmontown gang are selling their stuff to benefit 826LA. There will be music, baked goods and Harmon in person to “sign blenders, t-shirts, furniture, art work and any other ‘treasures’ you may discover.” Free.

COMEDY: M.I.'s Westside Comedy Theater holds a Rooftop Comedy live taping from 7-8:30 pm. Hosted by Chet Wild, the comics performing include Danny Jolles, Rob Christensen, Grant Lyon, Ryan Sickler, Roy Wood Jr. and Adam Ray. Free giveaways and no drink minimum. Tickets: $5 online (with the code stalker) or $10 at the door.

PERFORMANCE: Broadway’s Telly Leung (Godspell, Glee, Rent, Wicked) performs at Rockwell: Table & Stage on Sunday at 8 pm. He brings his jazz trio to perform pop, jazz and Broadway favorites as well as tunes from his debut album, {i'll cover you}. Doors open at 6:30 pm. Tickets range from $15-25.

Want the 411 on additional events and happenings in LA? Follow @LAist or me (@christineziemba) on Twitter.