Mon 3/31-4/2 Wes Anderson double-feature

The New Beverly Cinema, LA's premier revival movie theater, is hosting a 3-night-only double-feature of Wes Anderson's The Royal Tenenbaums and The Darjeeling Limited. And the best part is that tickets are only $7. The Darjeeling starts at 7:30, followed by the Tenenbaums at 9:20. I, for one, hope to see overenthusiastic fans costumed as Anderson characters in attendance. Location: 7165 West Beverly Blvd.Los Angeles, 90036, (323) 938-4038.

Sat 3/29 Shudder opening @ ISM:

SHUDDER: The Photographer's Unwavering Eye is opening at ISM: Gallery this Sat 3/29 7-10pm. Looks like the show will present a side-by-side comparison of personal and professional projects by celebrity portrait photographers Jeremy & Claire Weiss, Patrick Fraser, Dan Monick and Michael Lavine. Should be an interesting juxtaposition. ISM: is located at at the Koos Art Center, 540 East Broadway, Long Beach 90802.

Fri 3/28 TOMS Collaborative @ Thalia Surf

Thalia Surf is hosting a collaborative incorporating art, music, and TOMS shoes this Fri 3/28 from 6-10pm. If you don't know, TOMS shoes donates a pair of shoes to a child who needs them every time a pair is purchased. The festivities will include shoe-customization by Sean Woolsey and Justin Bauer, music by The Growlers, and the premier of an installation by Andy Davis, known for those iconic, retro-chic surf images. Here's the info: 915 S. Coast Hwy, Laguna Beach 92651, 949.497.3292

Thurs 3/27 Ed Fox @ the Taschen Store

The Taschen Store in Beverly Hills is hosting a book signing with one of the world's most noted foot fetishists, photographer Ed Fox. If you love to celebrate the female foot, or just want to get your hands on one very sensual coffee table book, you can meet Mr. Fox and have him sign your copy of Glamour From the Ground Up, available for $39.99. The event is free and runs 6-8pm tonight Thurs 3/27. Details: 354 N. Beverly Drive, Beverly Hills, 90210, 310.274.4300 or http://www.taschen.com/

Sorry for not posting in a while

I hope you haven't been depending upon us recently. We've been occupied with one of the Heathers' wedding...

...and going to Santa Catalina Island. But now that we're back, we promise to be more diligent in bringing you the happs!

Fri 3/7-Sat 3/8 Whittier Film Festival

The inaugural 2-day Whittier Film Festival kicks off on Fri 3/7. It features films on Fri night and all day Sat, including Jack Turner and the Reluctant Vampire, Bella, Journey to India, The Craftsman, Santa Teresa, Save Me, and Smooch. Prices are extremely reasonable: 1 screening-$5, 3 screenings-$12, festival pass (all screenings and opening reception/party)-$25. The awards ceremony and afterparty are Sat 3/8 at 7pm at Sage Restaurant, and tickets are only $20 and include dinner. Check out http://www.whittierfilm.org for more details and film schedule.

Sun 3/9 Country Sundays @ The Echo

The Echo is kicking off 2008's first Country Music & Sunday Barbeque this Sun 3/9, showcasing The Blasters and Tony Gilkyson, and hosted by Chris Morris, host of 103.1's Watusi Rodeo, and DJ Cuz'n Roy. The fun gets started at 5pm, welcomes all ages, and is free. Address: 1822 Sunset Blvd., Echo Park 90026. Visit http://www.attheecho.com/?m=20080309&cat=2 for venue info and http://www.blastersnewsletter.com/ for background on The Blasters.

Sat 3/8 Alpha @ Studio 74

Alpha, featuring new work by greats Tim Schafer and Dusty Mendes, is opening at Studio 74 on Sat 3/8 6-9pm. Details: 1274 N. Van Ness Ave., Fresno 93728, (559) 908.0658, http://studio-74.org/default.aspx. Fresno is definitely a haul from OC, but the show promises to make the journey worth your while. And as additional incentive, they will have a taco truck there! Find out more about Dusty via his blog: http://www.vequalsir.blogspot.com/

Fri 3/7 Why? and Yacht @ Natural History Museum

This Friday is First Fridays - Dinner, Discussion, Music & More at the Natural History Museum, featuring Why?, Yacht and Dub Lab DJs Ale and MatthewDavid. Evening schedule runs as follows: 5:30pm- Tour, 6:30pm- Discussion, 8:00pm- Music. Details: Fri 3/7, 900 Exposition Boulevard, Los Angeles 90007, all ages, tickets $9 adults/$6.50 students. Visit http://www.nhm.org/firstfridays/ for additional information.

Sat 3/8, Sun 3/9 Las Vegas Diaspora @ LAM

Las Vegas Diaspora: The Emergence of Contemporary Art from the Neon Homeland travels to Laguna Art Museum from its recent premiere at the Las Vegas Museum of Art. Organized by art critic and curator Dave Hickey, this exhibition celebrates the work of twenty-six artists who received their degrees from UNLV. All of the featured artists studied with Hickey between 1990 and 2001, when he taught in the Department of Art at the school. The member opening is Sat night 3/8, and the show opens to the public on Sun 3/9 and runs through 6/1. Visit http://www.lagunaartmuseum.org/Current-Exhibit.html for further info.

Thurs 3/6 MCASD TNT: Urban Context (acronym crazy)

MCASD is hosting Urban Context tonight, as part of its Thursday Night Thing (TNT) regular events. Tonight's affair examines urban life and landscapes with an assortment of urban-themed activities, including artist/designer talks, reflective button-making, and entertainment provided by BRAAIINS!, Longstay, and DJ Destijl. Details: Thurs 3/6, 7-10pm, downtown galleries: 1100 & 1001 Kettner Blvd., San Diego 92101, http://www.mcasd.org/events/lectures.asp#TNT

The Psycho Ex-girlfriends Rollerderby

Orange County's own Psycho Ex-girlfriends will be taking on the Angel City Derby Girls at the OC Fairgrounds on Sat 3/1 at 6pm. There are other bouts happening as well (so I've read), starting at 4pm, but the one to watch is the Psychos, featuring the always glamorous Bugsy Merlot (at left). Tickets are $20 before or $25 at the door. Visit http://www.ocrollergirls.com/ for details. I should also mention that the event is sponsored by Spanky's Adult Emporium. Fun fun fun!

Closing reception @ Space on Spurgeon

Another Santa Ana location hosting during the Artists Village Open House on Sat eve 3/1. Space on Spurgeon, a self-described "urbane gallery of art," is having their closing reception for artist Dirk Hagner's show Mastery of Hand. His prints really look lovely. Visit http://www.spaceonspurgeon.com/ for more information.

James Cady opening @ OMC Gallery

James Cady has a new show opening at OMC Gallery, featuring works of metal, of fishy semblance. The opening is part of the larger Artist Village Open House taking place from 7-10pm on Sat 3/1. OMC is a German-American partnership gallery, in case you were wondering. Here's their website: http://www.omc-llc.com/

Bad Religion @ House of Blues Disneyland

Seems awfully ironic. Bad Religion is playing an all ages show with Miss Derringer and Del Toro at the House of Blues in Anaheim on Fri 2/29. Tickets are $22.50, doors open at 7pm. http://www.hob.com/tickets/eventdetail.asp?eventid=49583 for further details.

Megan & Murray McMillan: The Listening Array

Boston/Providence artists Megan and Murray McMillan are opening their show The Listening Array tonight at the Greenleaf Gallery at Whittier College. Not sure of their relation to each other, but here's their blog, so you figure it out: http://www.meganandmurray.com/ Details: Thurs 2/28 7-9pm. Address: 13406 Philadelphia St Whittier, CA 90803

Hello Stranger @ The Highlands

Hello Stranger is playing a free show at The Highlands, along with Pump up the Volume, on Thurs 2/21. As you can see, they are 3 guys and a keytar-playing frontwoman. Enough said, I'm sold.

Listen and decide for yourself: www.myspace.com/hellostrangermusic. Doors open at 8pm. As Ben Norman, a reviewer on Amazon, says, "Go for it. You know you want to." Address: 6801 Hollywood Blvd., Top Floor.

The Importance of being Earnest

Arguably the world's most underhanded satirist, Oscar Wilde has written many gems. The Importance of Being Earnest, in my opinion the funniest play, is currently running at the Segerstrom Stage at South Coast Repertory through Sun 3/09. Tickets start at $18. Visit www.scr.org/tickets for details.

Auction 100 @ Laguna Art Museum

Laguna Art Museum's Auction 100, like its namesake, features 100 works from 100 premiere Southern California artists being auctioned live and online. The festivities commemorate the 90th Anniversary of the formation of the Laguna Beach Art Association in 1918. The main event is Sat 2/15 from 6-10pm, with a live and silent auction, buffet, drinks, and DJ. Tickets are expensive, but there are some great artworks available, at pretty reasonable prices as of now. Details: http://www.cmarket.com/auction/AuctionHome.action?vhost=lagunaartmuseum

(pictured is Jeff Koegel's 187. sugar, water, protein)

Kingsley Amis' On Drink

I just read an article on Kingsley Amis and his interesting, albeit thorough, manner of consuming alcohol. He's said to have invented the "Tigne Rose," which consists of one part gin, one part whisky, one part rum, one part vodka and one part brandy. Wow, now that's a drink. On Drink, a collection of columns originally written for daily newspapers, sounds like a great way to get inside his head. Which is somewhere that I'd certainly like to explore.