Weekend Docket: 4/22/11

Just got a little crunched for time as my company finally realized that no one was accomplishing anything towards the end of this Good Friday, so here goes.  Tonight, dinner with V & B at The Foundry... tomorrow, competing in the Grilled Cheese Fest & then partying it up at the Natural History Museum.  And then it's Easter Sunday for a day filled with bunnies, egg hiding & finding and lots of noming on delicious foods cooked by my extended family.

All Weekend

To Japan: from L.A. with Love Fundraiser at Space 15 Twenty
Sat., 7-10 p.m.; Sun., 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
A coming together of the Los Angeles community to celebrate the beauty of Japanese Culture and raise money to help rebuild through art, music and generosity of spirit.  On Saturday, they'll be screening Rashomon by Akira Kurosawa at 8PM and on Sunday Naoko Moore will be hosting a cooking class at 11AM.
There will be an art auction, raffles & a bunch of pop-up shops with all of the proceeds going towards Japan Relief. Space 15 Twenty: 1520 N. Cahuenga Blvd., b/t Selma Ave. & Sunset Blvd., Hollywood http://space15twenty.com/to_japan_from_la_with_love

Friday, 4/22

Rhythms & Visions Live @ USC
 7:30PM Start
The USC School of Cinematic Arts Complex will be transformed for a spectacular live-cinema event merging music, animation and video. Exciting and innovative UK audiovisual collective D-Fuse and Los Angeles artist Scott Pagano will perform live. Their cutting-edge performance will span experimental documentary, social commentary and abstract visual music. Additionally, giant 3-D stereoscopic animations will be projected onto the building facade, interacting with the audience and the architecture. 3-D glasses will be provided. The evening will conclude with an engaging panel discussion exploring the way visual media is embedded in our daily lives through architecture, music, design and communication. Admission is Free. University Park Campus: School of Cinematic Arts Complex 900 West 34th Street, Los Angeles, CA Rhythms and Visions--Expanded and Live

G2 Gallery Celebrates Earth Day with Eco-Friendly Art
6:30PM - 9PM
The G2 Gallery in Venice will host the "Eco Runway for Earth Day" featuring Venice jewelry designer Veronica Brigitte Rose's latest Ladjili Jewelry line. The gallery, known for supporting local arts and the environment, has teamed up with the Goodmakers Street Team to unite art and activism throughout the Venice community. They are also creating an Eco Runway for Earth Day which will feature Ladjili Jewelry, in addition to Zavella, an organic clothing company for active minds and bodies.  There will be free Sephora & Whole Foods samples along with some free Chipotle at the event. $5 admission fee will directly support environmental charities. G2: 1503 Abbot Kinney Blvd. Venice Check out the event here.

Saturday, 4/23

2nd 8th Annual Grilled Cheese Invitational
11am - 6pm
This Saturday, April 23rd, Los Angeles Center Studios plays host to what has grown into a massive annual tradition. Over 300 amateur & professional competitors battle for grilled cheese glory, and the best part? YOU can be the judge.  In addition to the usual crowd of foodies, fans and cheese heads, you can expect some fierce competition out of the likes of Top Chef Masters: Eric Greenspan from The Foundry, Food & Wine’s Best New Chef of 2011: Ricardo Zarate from Mo-Chica and the soon to be hit Picca, the amazing Walter Manzke formerly of Bastide, Church & State and currently at Le Saint Amour, Eric Samaniego from my Sunday night favorite Comme Ca, Micah Fields who loves to please at the Standard Downtown and Nyesha Arrington from the gorgeous Cache on Main Street. Plus the fabulous Alie & Georgia of McNuggetini Cocktail Fame will be on hand mixing up magical libations during the event!  Plus, yours truly will be competing with a bacon-y apple-y cheese-y creation of her own!  You can read more about it on Blogging.LA!!

cave of forgotten dreams: herzog premiere & museum-wide party
5:30pm - 11pm
This Saturday, Cinefamily and Cinespia are hosting a FREE ADMISSION museum-wide party at the Natural History Museum, presented as the closing event to the “Art In The Streets” film retrospective. First, they’re showing Cave of Forgotten Dreams directed by Werner Herzog at 5:30pm. (the film-rsvp list is already closed, but there will be some seats held for the standby line) Also, the Herzog Q&A will be projected live in the Museum’s Whale Room at approximately 7PM, for those who are unable to get into the screening. Once the movie is over, then the party starts!  At 8PM, the doors open and guests are invited to wander the Museum’s exhibit halls for FREE! There will be live bands, DJs spinning, food trucks, cash bar & an art installation by Mastodon Mesa. Natural History Museum, 900 Exposition Blvd.  Read more about this event on Blogging.LA.

Sunday, 4/24

There are a ton of Bunny themed events happening all over the city, but the girls at FinerThingsLA did a much better job of compiling a list, so I'll just leave it to them!!
 

Boozy Bunny Brunches from FinerThingsLA
http://finerthingsla.wordpress.com/2011/04/22/boozy-bunny-brunches-vol-ii/

I’ve been snacking away on Cadbury Mini Eggs all month (the best Easter candy EVER….they even have their own FB page), and finally, Easter weekend has arrived. We are back this year with our guide to mimosa-filled Easter brunch picks around town.  We know we are a little late on this one since Easter is 2 days away, but hopefully if you call now you can still snag a reservation at the spots below.  What better way to get through any holiday than to be boozed up on mimosas? ~ FinerThingsLA

Monday, 4/25 ~ Wednesday, 5/11

2nd Annual Belgian Beer Fest @ Library Alehouse
Daily starting at 11:30am
This sounds like a worthwhile investment.... $15 snags you a collectible glass at Santa Monica's Library Alehouse which then affords you $5 refills for the rest of the Beer Fest.  They'll have a selection of 10 rotating taps throughout the fest to whet your palate. Library Alehouse, 2911 Main St. www.libraryalehouse.com