Hotdogging-Week of August 5
Thursday, August 5
Pier pleasure
Steely Jam, a Steely Dan tribute band (who’d have guessed?), plays from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Redondo Beach Pier. All part of the city’s free summer concert series. (310) 508-6161.
Beauty is in the eye
“Honk!” – based on Hans Christian Andersen’s “The Ugly Duckling,” is a musical comedy with a message of tolerance and self-confidence, and it plays tonight and tomorrow at 8 p.m., plus Sunday at 2 p.m., in the Norris Theatre, 27570 Crossfield Drive, Rolling Hills Estates. Presented by the Negri Learning Center, it features actors up through age 18. Tickets, $25 general; $18 youth. (310) 544-0403 or go to norriscenter.com.
Now for the good stuff
“Filthy Fifties Frisco: The Art of Fogtown” features the work of Bradley C. Rader and celebrates the release of his latest book, Fogtown (DC/Vertigo), penned by Andersen Gabrych. Public viewing and book signing from 7 to 11 p.m. at Flazh!Alley Art Studio, 1113 S. Pacific Ave., Suite B, San Pedro. Enter from parking lot in back. 18 and over. (310) 833-3633 or go to flazhalleystudio.com.
Walk this way
For a free one-hour guided tour of various galleries for this month’s First Thursday Art Walk in San Pedro, meet at 6:30 p.m. at the Chamber of Commerce, 390 W. Seventh Street. Work by Yong Sin, Julia Strickler, Da Aie Park, and Yoon Jim Kim will be featured.
Friday, August 6
Here’s your backup
Plan B, with Suzan Fairchild, Phil Gilbreth, Fred Grabert, Stephen Graham, and Daniel Herrera, plays dance floor favorites from 8 till midnight at Suzy’s, 1141 Aviation Blvd., Hermosa Beach. (310) 379-6171.
Outlaws, every one
“Ali Baba and The Forty Thieves,” the 1944 adventure classic with Maria Montez, Jon Hall, Turhan Bey and Andy Devine, screens at 8:15 p.m. tonight and tomorrow, and at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday in the Old Town Music Hall, 140 Richmond St., El Segundo. Tickets, $8. Call (310) 322-2592 or go to otmh.org.
Knife, fork, and bib
The annual “Taste in San Pedro” takes place this weekend, beginning with a concert tonight from 6 to 10 p.m. and then all day tomorrow (11 a.m. to 9 p.m.) and Sunday (11 a.m. to 7 p.m.) at Pt. Fermin Park, 807 Pasel del Mar at the south end of Gaffey Street. Admission, $10 general; $5 seniors, military, and children 6 to 17. Under 5? Eat like a horse ‘cause it’s free! (310) 832-7272 or go to tasteinsanpedro.com.
Images that glow
“Nature LA: Christine Caldwell” opens with a reception from 6 to 9 p.m. at The G2 Gallery, 1503 Abbot Kinney Blvd., Venice, and features a suite from her series “Illuminated Negatives,” photographic works (or photograms) created without the use of film, computers, or even a camera. Through Aug. 15. Call (310) 452-2842 or go to thega2gallery.com.
The jury has decided
Two summer exhibitions, “2010 Juried All-Media” and “Small Treasures,” go on view today at the Palos Verdes Art Center, 5504 W. Crestridge Road, Rancho Palos Verdes, although the opening receptions take place on Friday, Aug. 13, from 5 to 8 p.m. Through Oct. 3. Call (310) 541-2479 or go to pvartcenter.org.
Suspenseful
“Fuller at Fox” showcases a few key films by Samuel Fuller, and they’re screening in Bing Theater at the LA County Museum of Art, 5905 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles. Tonight: “Pickup on South Street” (1953) and “Fixed Bayonets!” (1951). Tomorrow: “House of Bamboo” (1955) and “Hell and High Water” (1954). Next Friday it’s a wrap with “Forty Guns” (1957) and “China Gate” (1957). All programs start at 7:30 p.m. Tickets, $10 general admission; $7 members, seniors, students. (323) 857-6010 or go to lacma.org.
Reap what you sow
The 2010 “Southern California Harvest with Greg Laurie” takes place this weekend (7 p.m. tonight and tomorrow; 6 p.m. Sunday) at Angel Stadium in Anaheim. It’s free, but parking is $10. Musical artists: tonight the David Crowder Band, The Katinas; Sat.: Phil Wickham, Sanctus Real, O.C. Supertones, The Katinas; Sun.: Steven Curtis Chapman, Mercy Me, The Katinas.
Saturday, August 7
Energetic
Jeremy Buck and The Bang play alternative rock from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Redondo Beach Pier, part of the summer-long biweekly concert series. (310) 508-6161.
For the fuel tank
Two exhibitions opening this evening with a reception from 6 to 10 p.m. at Gasoline, 423 Main Street, El Segundo; the first, “Enamel,” a group show curated by 3 Sheets, and the second “Rebel Yell-ow” by Kal, are on view through Sept. 18. More at gasolinegallery.com.
Play in the sand
There’s a free summer block party from 1 to 5 p.m. at Plaza El Segundo, on Sepulveda at Park Place, just north of Rosecrans, and this is the culmination of two weeks of sand sculpting. Live music by Dean and The Legends.
Crazy for you
“Mad Love” (Juana la Loca, 2001) screens at 7:30 p.m. in the Warner Grand Theatre, 478 W. Sixth St., San Pedro. The historical drama stars Pilar López de Ayala. Tickets, $10. Call (310) 548-7672 or go to warnergrand.org.
Mouthwatering
The “17th Annual Long Beach Crawfish Festival” takes place today from noon to 11 p.m. and tomorrow from noon to 10:30 p.m. at the Rainbow Lagoon, 400-403 Shoreline Village Drive, Long Beach. Today’s lineup: The Mark St. Mary Louisiana Blues and Zydeco Band, Andre Thierry & Zydeco Magic, the BluesBox Bayou Band, and Bennie & The Swamp Gators. Tomorrow? Okay: Step Rideau and the Zydeco Outlaws, Leroy Thomas, Bonne Musique Zydeco, and the Royale Garden Dixieland Band. General admission is $13 in advance and $15 at the gate ($25 and $30 for Crawfish Feast or $30 and $41.50 for Craw Bucket Feast). Note: admission discounts online. Find all you need at longbeachcrawfishfestival.com.
Renowned session musician
The WBF Band, featuring keyboardist George Whitty, performs at 8 p.m. in Alva’s Showroom, 1417 W. Eighth St., San Pedro. Suggested donation, $20. Call (800) 403-3447 or go to AlvasShowroom.com.
When things were different
“Moonlight Madness: the ‘50s musical!” opens at 8 p.m. in the Santa Monica Playhouse, 1211 Fourth St. (between Wilshire and Arizona), in Santa Monica. Fridays and Saturday and Sundays through Sept. 26. Written by Chris DeCarlo and Evelyn Rudie, with words and music by the latter. Life, love, laughs… and lots of lipstick. Tickets, $25 general; $20 students, teachers, seniors; $15 for ages 15 and younger. (310) 394-9779 ext. 1, or go to SantaMonicaPlayhouse.com.
Sunday, August 8
A wave of swell music
“Invasion of the Surf Guitars,” a music fest of sorts that features six bands, takes place from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Suzy’s Bar & Grill, 1141 Aviation Blvd., Hermosa Beach. The groups are: Dead Men Don’t Surf, from California; The Eliminators, from California; The Wadadli Riders, from Italy; The Space Rangers, from Germany; The Surfside IV, from Arizona; and Point Doom, from California. Cover, $10. Call (310) 379-6171.
No one sits still
Brazilian music artists Katia Moraes and Sambaguru play from 4 to 6 p.m. at Columbia Park, 4045 190th St., Torrance. Moraes performed with O Espirito da Coisa during the 1980s in Rio de Janeiro. (310) 618-6342 or go to TorranceLive.us.
Acting up
The Manhattan Beach Older Adults Program presents “Showcase Scenes from the Theatre” at 2 p.m. in the Joslyn Community Center, 1601 Valley Drive, MB. The production promises to be: “quirky, serious, tragic, comic and sophisticated.” Just like your significant other! Free. (310) 540-5635.
Wherever it takes us
The South Bay New Orleans Jazz Club meets from 1 to 5 p.m. at the Knights of Columbus Hall, 214 Avenue “I” in Redondo Beach. The featured group is the Coyote Hills Jazz Band, led by trumpeter Gene Marklevitz. Visitors and new members always invited. Admission, $7 members; $9 others. Visiting musicians who come to play additional “sets” get in free. (310) 376-2591.
Shoo-bop, shoo-bop
The Wonderelles bring their Class ‘50s/’60s revue to the Polliwog Park amphitheater in Manhattan Beach, and play from 5 to 7 p.m. Free. (310) 802-5417 or go to citymb.info.
Monday, August 9
An urge to splurge
Craft Dinner 2 takes place at 7 p.m. at Silvio’s Brazilian BBQ, 20 Pier Ave., Hermosa Beach. For $49 you get five premium Craft beers (from Dogfish Brewery of Milton, Del.) and five gourmet courses. And also a limited edition Dogfish draft glass for you to keep. Reservations only. (310) 376-6855.
Wednesday, August 10
Filmed in San Pedro, “Some Kind of Wonderful” (1987) screens at 7 p.m. in the Warner Grand Theatre, 478 W. Sixth St., San Pedro. Admission is only $3 ($7 for admission, popcorn, and small drink). ER