LAaLALanders, 
This weekend's highlights are:
Thursday – Café Unplugged Benefit show at the Comedy Store
Friday – Got Next's Barack Obama art exhibit & Dance Downtown
Saturday – Method Man book signing, the defunct soap “Passions” auction & a glam day with Latina Magazine
Sunday – LA’s Puerto Rican Fest, a screening of Danny
Glover’s new Sundance winning Katrina doc & Taylor Dayne performing for free in BurbankAll Weekend – there are the Watts & Watermelon Festivals
Enjoy!
Laala
THURSDAY, 8.7.08::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
CAFÉ UNPLUGGED BENEFIT SHOW
Enjoy “LA's ONLY HOT SPOT” in the Comedy Store’s main room for a night of comedy, poetry and live music performances to benefit for the show’s producer Nichelle Murdock. Comedian Esau McGraw hosts and duo Perfect Harmony perform at this special event.
$10 in advance @ 215.397.8642 or http://cafeunpluggedla.eventbrite.com/ ;$15 at the door
Doors open @ 8pm & the show starts @ 9pm
World Famous Comedy Store
8433 Sunset Blvd.
Hollywood , CA
http://myspace.com/cafeunplugged
www.flystarentertainment.com
COME OUT & DANCE SERIES featuring CHINO ESPINOZA Y LOS DUENOS DEL SON
Take advantage of a live salsa concert with this big band orchestra @ 7pm and dance lessons by Francisco and Stacey of The Dance Family Studio @ 6pm.
Free
6-9 pm
AMC Walkway
Downtown Burbank
JULIAN MARLEY & UPRISING Perform
See one of the legendary Marley clan perform… Opening up are Dub Kinetic and DJ Sonic Dread. 18 & over only…
$12.50 + $2.50 facility fee
8pm
Malibu Inn
22969 Pacific Coast Hwy
Malibu
TWILIGHT DANCE SERIES presents OLIVER MTUKUDZI & ROCKY DAWUNI
The Santa Monica Pier lights up with this taste of Afropop. Zimbabwe’s top-selling artist Oliver Mtukudzi headlines as Rocky Dawuni fuses Afrobeat, Dub, Reggae, Hip-Hop turntablism and traditional African rhythms. Hey, add in the fried corn, great music deals from Amoeba and you’re set!
Free
7-10pm
Santa Monica Pier
Santa Monica, CA
FRIDAY, 8.8.08:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
GOT NEXT - BARACK OBAMA ART EXHIBIT
This art exhibit includes a site-specific installation inspired by the Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama. DJ Jeremy Sole from Afro-Funke and KCRW and Firecracker's Alfred Hawkins rule the wheels of steel.
Free
Opening Reception tonight from 5-10pm
HVW8 Gallery
661 North Spaulding Avenue
Los Angeles, CA
http://www.gotellmama.org/
http://gallery.hvw8.com/category/current/
DANCE DOWNTOWN presents ZYDECO
Get on the dance floor and learn how to do the southern dance Zydeco with TLou and his Zydeco Band …. The dance floor is provided (literally.)
Free
6:30-10pm
Music Center Plaza
135 North Grand Ave.
Los Angeles, CA
http://www.musiccenter.org/
SATURDAY, 8.9.08::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
DAYTIME DRAMA “PASSIONS” COSTUMES AND PROPS AUCTION
Universal Media Studios & Premiere Props host this one day only farewell auction of items from the defunct NBC soap. Costumes and props including: high-end props such as a juke box and a Yamaha 1400cm3 motorcycle, Sheridan Crane Boothe’s teal silk dress, Theresa Lopez-Fitzgerald’s "Milly of New York" halter gown, Kay Bennett Crane’s "Arden B." button-up yellow dress, Tabitha Lenox’s magic wands, a paperbound photo album of Luis Lopez-Fitzgerald and Sheridan Crane, Sheridan Crane's Locket and Rebecca Hotchkiss's "Wonder Woman" costume. Also, Tabitha Lenox's whole living room set including her cabinet, fireplace, furniture, game table, artwork, and bookcase are on sale. Fans can also place live bids online at http://www.icollector.com/ and or http://www.ebay.com/ in case they’re not there in person.
Free entry
9-11am
Premiere Props Warehouse
128 Sierra Street
El Segundo, CA or http://www.premiereprops.com/
310.322.PROP
DRUM DOWNTOWN on the MUSIC CENTER PLAZA
Get into the beat of percussion instruments and bang, beat, shake or ring a bongo, maraca, or triangle. This group improv jam session is quite a unique experience.
Free
10-11:30am
135 N. Grand Ave.
Los Angeles, CA
http://www.musiccenter.org/
GET GLAM WITH LATINA MAGAZINE!
Enjoy a free day of beauty including makeup application sessions, dry hairstyling, mini-manicures, 10 minute back massages, drinks and a lot more! You’ll even leave with some swag!Free with mandatory RSVP to rsvp_losangeles@latina.com with your name, age and number of guests
12-5pm
Renaissance Hollywood Hotel
1755 North Highland Avenue
Los Angeles, CA
HIP-HOP STAR IN PERSON METHOD MAN
M-E-T-H-O-D MAN is autographing his new self-titled graphic novel, written by Occult Crimes Taskforce’s David Atchison, is illustrated by Wonder Girl: Champion’s Sanford Greene and was thought up by the Wu’s finest. His rougher than rugged alter ego, a ninja-like ''murder priest'' pledged to fight the forces of evil called Peerless Poe fights Lilith, an infernal ancient spirit. Most definitely a wicked story! Hey, you may even win tickets to see him rock the Rock the Bells show the same night! What?! K-DAY all day aight!
Noon-2pm
Golden Apple Comics
7018 Melrose Ave.
Los Angeles, CA
SUNDAY, 8.10.08::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
BORICUA FEST::: LA’s PUERTO RICAN FESTIVAL
This Goya sponsored fest brings the southland’s Rican population out. There are live reggaeton and salsa groups, traditional Afro-Boricua dancing, food, a live dancefloor and great people. There’s even a Domino competition that’ll make you feel like you’re back in Spanish Harlem!
$15 in advance, $25 at door
Pomona Fairplex
http://www.theboricuafest.net/
SUNDAY EVENING CONCERTS AT THE STARLIGHT BOWL featuring TAYLOR DAYNE
Go back to the ‘80s with the very talented multi-platinum recording artist Taylor Dayne. She’s releasing her first studio album in 10 years called Satisfied. Opening up is Chicago native Michael Sullivan's band.
Free
6:30pm
Starlight Bowl,
275 E. Olive Ave.
Burbank
RAVEN-SYMONÉ NEW DVD “RAVEN-SYMONÉ PRESENTS” IN-STORE SIGNING
I’ve loved Raven-Symoné since The Cosby Show! She’s signing her new DVDs before performing at Six Flags Magic Mountain. Get there early for obvious fanfare!
Free
3pm
Wal-Mart
26471 Carl Boyer Drive
Santa Clarita, CA
SCREENING OF DANNY GLOVER’S “TROUBLE THE WATER”
This very different Katrina doc won the 2008 Sundance Film Festival’s Grand Jury Prize. Post screening discussion is moderated by Torré Brannon Reese and includes Danny Glover, Ta Lessen, Carl Deal, and Kim and Scott Roberts.
Free with mandortory RSVP @ Young Comm. Group 213.738.9240 x210 or lrsmith@youngcomms.com
Fine Arts Theatre
8556 Wilshire Blvd
Beverly Hills, CA
http://www.troublethewaterfilm.com/
MONDAY, 8.11.08::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
GREAT TO BE NOMINATED SERIES Screening of “BABEL”
Until 8.25.08, this 17-week series showcases films from each 1993-2007 Academy Awards® year that was most nominated without the winning Best Pic $5, $3 for students and Academy members
7 pm Pre-show & 7:30pm Screening
Samuel Goldwyn Theater
Beverly Hills
ALL WEEKEND:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
WATTS SUMMER FESTIVAL
For three days enjoy music, performances, documentaries and a general celebration of solidarity on the streets of Watts since the 1965 Riots. I love this fest!
Free
8.8-10.08
944 W. 53rd St.
Los Angeles, CA
http://www.wattsfestival.org/
SUNLAND-TUJUNGA WATERMELON FESTIVAL
This 47th festival includes free watermelon, eating, carving and seed spitting contests! This is an all-out carnival including rides and an international food court!
$1
8.8-10. 08
Sunland Park Recreation Center
8651 Foothill Blvd.
Sunland, CA
http://www.lionswatermelonfestival.com/
