Weekend Planner: 23 Things To Do In Los Angeles

Not going to Coachella? Not going home for the Easter weekend? No worries because there’s PLENTY to do this weekend in L.A. 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 23 events. Now, no more excuses...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, APRIL 18

FILM: The Academy presents a screening of The Decline of Western Civilization parts 1 & 3 on Friday at LACMA, beginning at 7:30 pm. Director Penelope Spheeris is a special guest at the event, discussing the film, which examined LA’s punk scene of the early 1980s (Black Flag, Catholic Discipline, Circle Jerks, Germs and X, et al). The third film in her trilogy examines the LA punk scene of the late 1990s. Tickets: $5 general admission. Standby only.

WONDERCON: WonderCon—a smaller version of Comic-Con—takes over the Anaheim Convention Center this weekend. There’s something for all geeks (and we say that with love): comics, movies, TV, animation, exhibitors and programming, including interesting panels like "Hip-Hop & Comics: Cultures Combining" that features Cut Chemist and DJ Nu-Mark, graphic artists James Reitano and Kenny Keil, L.A. graffiti artists Meme and Glow. Three-day passes are sold out, but single day tickets ($8-$25) for Friday and Sunday are still available. Badges are available online only. No badges will be sold at the convention center.

FILM: In honor of Easter holiday, American Cinematheque screens Vatican-approved films. (The Vatican lists includes 45 films, some included for their religious themes, others for their values or artistic merit.) Screening on Friday at 7:30 pm at the Egyptian Theatre is a double-feature: Up first is Dersu Uzala (1975), a Russian-Japanese co-production directed by Akira Kurosawa. It’s followed by Ingmar Bergman’s 1957 classic The Seventh Seal. Tickets: $11.

FILM: Over at the Aero Theatre in Santa Monica, the American Cinematheque goes in a different double feature direction on Friday. Screening at 7:30 pm is Donnie Darko (2001) with director Richard Kelly in person. It’s followed by Sam Raimi’s The Evil Dead (1981)—the film they’re watching in Donnie Darko. The conversation with Kelly takes place between films and will be moderated by Geoff Boucher. Tickets: $11.

THEATER: A Theatre Connection and SkyPilot Theatre Company present the West Coast Premiere of Brett Neveu's Detective Partner Hero Villain, a mashup of superheros and crime noir. The show runs on Fridays and Saturdays at 8 pm through May 24 at NoHo Actors Studio in North Hollywood. Tickets: $20.

The History of Silent Porn (featuring book release party for Black Francis & Josh Frank's "The Good Inn") from Cinefamily on Vimeo.

FILM: Cinefamily, in conjunction with Book Soup, presents the program The History of Silent Porn at 7:30 pm. The evening marks the release of the Pixies’ Black Francis’ and Josh Frank’s new illustrated novel The Good Inn. A sampler history of titillating imagery on screen, both animated and live-action will be screened, plus there will be dramatic readings from The Good Inn with special guests actors.

FILM: There’s a midnight (11:59 pm) screening on Friday of one of the quintessential L.A. films of the 1990s—Swingers—at the Vista Theatre. The film had its premiere at the Vista in 1996. Now here’s a couple tips for parking: Street only. Don’t park in valet or paid lots because they close at 2 am. You can park in the Vons across the street, but only in the row furthest east—then go in to be put on the manager's list for Midnight Movie goers. Tickets: $10.

HORRIBLE MOVIE: On Friday at 9 pm, Horrible Movie Night returns to NerdMelt with a screening of Laser Mission (1989) starring the late Brandon Lee. The audience is welcome to roast the movie as it plays, and the best one-liners can win prizes. Free popcorn and cheap snacks...what more do you need? Oh, there’s stand-up comedy, too. $8 in advance, $10 at the door.

NIGHT MARKET: The first and totally hyped KTOWN Night Market takes over the Robert F. Kennedy Community Schools in Koreatown on Friday from 4 pm to midnight and on Saturday from 2 pm to midnight. There will be more than 100 food and merchandise booths as well as food trucks on site.

MUSIC: Pete Escovedo Latin Jazz Orchestra plays a free show at LACMA at 6 pm to kick off the Jazz at LACMA 2014 concert series. Escovedo has played with many artists in his four-decade career, including Carlos Santana, Herbie Hancock, Mongo Santamaria, Bobby McFerrin, Cal Tjader, Al Jarreau, Arturo Sandoval, Poncho Sanchez, Chick Corea and Tito Puente. Escovedo pays tribute to his friend George Duke, who passed away last year.

SATURDAY, APRIL 19

RECORD STORE DAY: Get out and celebrate the indie record stores and culture on Saturday for Record Store Day. There are a number of special releases and promotions at a number of participating stores. Great live music at various stores, too, including a 2 pm set by Little Dragon at Amoeba.

MUSIC: Now in its fourth year, Brokechella, the in-town Coachella alternative music and arts festival, takes place on April 19 in a new location: 590 Sante Fe Avenue in DTLA. The lineup features yOya, Kera & the Lesbians, LA Font, ZIBBZ, Hott MT, Greenhorse, Dark Furs, Francisco The Man, The Singles and StaG (on just one of the stages). There’s art installations and affordable libations, boutique vendors, street food/food trucks, a not-so-silent movie theater and Puppychella (during the daytime hours). Tickets: $10 in advance / $20 at the door.

MUSIC: The lo-fi band Princess Reason plays the Bootleg Bar with Alec Benjamin and Trevor Menear. Doors at 8 pm. Show at 8 pm. 21+. Tickets: $8 in advance.

WAKE N’ RAKE: Join the Angel City Brewery from noon to 3 pm on Saturday for its monthly neighborhood cleanups. They’re taking to the streets of the Arts District this month to pick up trash and beautify the neighborhood. Participating volunteers should gather at Angel City Brewery at noon to pick up their volunteer t-shirt and grab some gloves, trash bags and trash pickers. After the cleanup, it’s back to Angel City for a little fun. To register for the cleanup, please email Emily@angelcitybrewery.com.

LIVE READ: Film Independent presents the world premiere of a staged reading by Quentin Tarantino: The Hateful Eight. (This is the project that Tarantino shut down after the script was leaked to the public.) The event takes place at The Theatre at Ace Hotel in DTLA on Saturday at 8. The ticket prices are steep ($100-$200), but the proceeds benefit the year-round programing efforts of Film Independent at LACMA. The event will not be recorded or live-streamed—and no cell phones or recording devices are allowed in the theater, so leave them in your car.

MUSIC: Filter Magazine & The Satellite present Royal Canoe (who just opened for Bombay Bicycle Club at the El Rey), headlining a bill at The Satellite with Madi Diaz and Roses. Doors: 8:30 pm and the show is at 9 pm. Tickets: $10.

COMEDY: The “dying lounge act” The Lampshades (Kate Flannery from The Office and Scot Robinson from Anchorman) are back for their monthly show at ioWest on Saturday night at 8 pm. Special guest is King Kukulele from Tiki Oasis. Tickets: $10. 21+.

ART We love the name of Ashkahn and Adam Villacin’s art show opening on Saturday at KK Los Angeles in Chinatown: Pobody’s Nerfect. The two artists share a love of the imperfect. Opening reception from 7-10 pm.

LIT: Eric Jerome Dickey is at Eso Won Bookstore at 5 pm on Saturday to read from his latest novel A Wanted Woman. Described as “noir with a twist,” the novel is set in the back alleys and backrooms of Trinidad and Barbados.

ART: Gallery Nucleus in Alhambra presents the Imaginary Friends exhibit to celebrate the release of author/artist Dan Santat's new book, The Adventures of Beekle: The Unimaginary Friend. The opening reception is Saturday from 7-10 pm.

FILM: NewFilmmakers Los Angeles holds its April 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 Tarsus (dir. Mickey Reece) begins at 9:20 pm. There are pre- and post-receptions for each program as well as audience Q&A sessions. Admission to the programs are $5 advance/$7 at the door or $15 for all three. Free event parking at 1133 S. Olive St.

SUNDAY, APRIL 20

FILM: The Vatican Goes to the Movies series continues at the Egyptian at 7:30 pm with a special Easter Screening of The Passion of Joan of Arc (1928), a classic silent film directed by Carl Theodor Dryer. “Dreyer's closeup-driven style brutally forces the audience to share her pain - no director, not even Bergman, has ever been as conscious of the camera's ability to explore the mysteries of the human face.” Cliff Retallick provides the live musical accompaniment. Tickets: $11

MIND CONTROL: La Luz de Jesus Gallery and TrineDay presents a 4/20 Hollywood, Drugs & Mind Control Event. It’s an evening of books, discussion, music and ritual with Daniel Hopsicker, Kris Millegan and Cheri Seymour, with a music set by The Normal Bean Band, featuring Prairie Prince of The Tubes. TrineDay author and publisher Kris Millegan performs a Native American ritual of the three sacred herbs. 6-9 pm. Free.

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