Fifi and Bibi Poubelle
(Credit: Danielle Bedics)
Monday, November 26
We understand. After a Thursday full of tryptophan and a weekend of eating cold, leftover stuffing—maybe finishing a pie while your family was asleep—the last word you probably want to hear is “restaurant.” But we suggest that you enjoy a calorie-free, sonically rewarding trip to the Echo to see our favorite Texas transplants, Restaurant, play the last night of their free, month-long residency. Picture a guy drumming on an empty beer box and a hubcap, bashing cymbals made of battered license plates, accompanied by a fella on slide guitar calling out old-time, crackly, distorted vocals. Get your urban hoedown on, and take advantage of the cheap Dewar’s specials. Yee-haw, comrades.
Tuesday, November 27
We’re a little frightened of Style Wars at Cinespace tonight. It might just be too awesome. House of Diehl is staging a war of the wardrobes, as designers pitted against each other thrash fabric, snip dresses and rebuild their creations under the gun and the pressure of a five-minute time limit. There’s no Tim Gunn languidly strolling by as designers thoughtfully mull and measure. Nope, this is far more feral and frenzied. In fact, we’d be shocked if there wasn’t at least one nipple slip.
Wednesday, November 28
People, we just don’t know what to say about this one. If we admit that we faithfully watched "American Gladiators" in the ’90s, will you judge us? Or will you give us your most robust high-five, and call yourself “Hurricane” at the American Gladiators tryouts in Culver City? That’s right, your favorite jousting program is back, with Hulk Hogan as a host, and real live civilians can crash the tryouts for the chance to be the Nitro or Malibu of their generation. We’re drinking egg whites to get ready. Okay, not really, but maybe we’ll have a Jamba Juice to get pumped.
Thursday, November 29
We admit it: We love Sarah Silverman. We think she’s funny. We’re not going to craft some cool indifference, especially since she’s hosting, with Roseanne Barr and various members of “The Sarah Silverman Program,” the Comedy Without Borders insanity at Bovard Auditorium, which benefits The Arava Institute for Environmental Studies. Prepare for some major irreverence, and a high probability of crotch grabbing.
If you’re less in the mood for comedy and more in the mood for twin female wrestlers, head to El Cid, where Lucha Va Voom wrestlers Bibi and Fifi Poubelle will be signing their 2008 calendar. Twelve full months of scantily clad female ass-kickers? I know what I’m getting Grandma for Christmas.
Friday, November 30
Some things are stupid. Others are happy. Have the best of both worlds at the Stupid Cancer Happy Hour at the Derby, which provides you with an open bar from 8 p.m.-9 p.m., plus live musical performances and a chance to restore your bad karma by contributing to a fund that helps young adults succeed in kicking stupid cancer’s arse—which is something to be happy about.
Saturday, December 1
Saturday provides you with many an option: hit Project: gallery in Culver City for their Wishful Thinking exhibit of tiny 4”x 6” paintings by some of L.A.’s best underground artists. Prices are beyond reasonable, so pick up some fine art gifts and know that’d you’re helping out the Make-A-Wish Foundation while also remaining on the cutting edge of the L.A. art scene. Two birds, one very cool stone. And as long as you're in an art frame of mind, you may want to hit the Merry Karnowsky Gallery for iconic L.A. street artist Shepard Fairey's latest show, "Imperfect Union." There may not be wheatpaste involved, but there might be some free wine.
Not into fine art and charity? Is bellowing and competitive drinking more your style? Awesome—head over to El Guapo for the beer pong championship.
Neither the artsy nor the beer-swilling type? You must like puppets, then. Actually, what mammal wouldn’t dig a free potluck and puppet show adaptation of Edward Gorey's "Gashleycrumb Tinies" by the Los Angeles Guild of Puppetry in a weird Bob Baker Marionette Theater? Don’t answer that, just go.
Sunday, December 2
You’ve had a doozy of a week: Gladiatorial toils, twins in bikinis and binge drinking is a lot to take in… Wind down with a little Baroque music by Telemann, Scarlatti, Handel and Bach at UCLA's Schoenberg Hall. If you’d like to feed your brain as well as your ears, show up 40 minutes early for a lecture on Baroque-era music. And if you’d like to feed your belly, we suggest hitting up Diddy Riese for an ice cream sandwich before and/or after the show.
Until next week, my comrades!
Alie Ward is Events editor for Metromix Los Angeles.
