Weekend Docket: 1/20/12

What am I doing this weekend? Oh really? You'd like to know? Awesome. Because I'm going to tell you regardless...

Tonight I'm going to see if 2012 is my lucky year (even though I'm not Chinese) before I wander through a disappearing environment shrouded in a sea of dry ice fog. Then it's off to an early night's sleep so I'm fully refreshed for a hopefully rain free day of rooftop yoga at the shangri-la {with oysters and caviar obviously} a mini-work out sesh at the cycle house on la cienega with the always up for anything loveonthego and perhaps wrapping up the night with a photobooth shoot at The Churchill. Sunday is a day of football (or so I'm told) but I'm going to try and sneak in a dineLA early supper at Starry Kitchen before heading to Staples for a little Laker's action. But of course everything I mentioned above is all contingent on the hope that my constant fits of sneezing, coughing, runny nose & bursting out into giggle fests (just ask the Grumpy Bear) are the result of allergies & not the beginnings of a cold.

What about you guys?  I want to hear all about your weekend plans too! Leave em in the comments below :).  And as always... if you want to connect, you can follow me on twitter @nicolemiizuka or find me on Facebook!

All Weekend

The Affordable Art Fair
Through Sunday Jan 22nd
Twelve years ago, Will Ramsay changed the model of the traditional art fair by creating the Affordable Art Fair, where contemporary art is accessible to all. Now in ten locations around the world, with the L.A. fair being the eleventh, Affordable Art Fair proves that you do not need to be an art expert or a billionaire to have original works of art by living artists in your home or office. With prices starting at $100 (ranging up to $10,000) the Affordable Art Fair will present original, contemporary works to entice the entire L.A. community. Event Deck at L.A. Live 1005 Chick Hearn Court Los Angeles,, CA 90015 www.affordableartfair.us/losangeles/

Pacific Standard Time Festival
Through Jan 29th
The history of postwar art in Los Angeles is punctuated by dramatic examples of public artworks, large-scale spectacles, expansive performances, and small-scale interventions in the public sphere. The Pacific Standard Time Performance and Public Art Festival celebrates this history through a contemporary lens, with a series of adaptations, re-inventions, and commissions that are inspired by the installation and performance artists working in Los Angeles between 1945 and 1980. Throughout the 11-day festival, a group of new public artworks will be on view throughout the city. In addition, new performances will premiere every day, including outdoor visual spectacles, experimental theater and sound art, social and political interventions, and media art. A nightly after-party, Black Box, will provide a space for socializing, and include surprise performances each evening. Various locations across L.A. www.pacificstandardtimefestival.org.

Starting THIS Weekend

DineLA
Jan 22-27 || Jan 29-Feb 3
“This is an exciting time to be a chef in Los Angeles - not only are you blessed with great local product from the land and sea but so many talented people are coming to LA and opening restaurants. World class chefs like Michael Mina, Gordon Ramsay and others have decided to come here to do business, as well as tremendous local chefs like Suzanne Goin and Wolfgang Puck and others who continue to create amazing places to eat. dineLA Restaurant Week is the chance for diners to introduce themselves to these great new restaurants.” – José Andrés, The Bazaar by José Andrés. You know what to do. Start making those reservations! http://discoverlosangeles.com/restaurantweekv2/index.jsp

Friday, 1/20

Beverly Hills Celebrates Chinese New Year
6pm - 9pm
God I love the Golden Triangle. It will be a Chinese New Year to remember as Beverly Hills celebrates the Year of the Dragon with a spectacular evening of entertainment, shopping and dining. The festivities unfold on the 400 block of Rodeo Drive as an exciting Chinese lion dance and drum corps performance group takes center stage on the block for all to enjoy. Not only is the general public encouraged to join the revelry, but the first 1,000 people who register at the welcome table will also receive a Good Fortune envelope. Each envelope contains a commemorative pin and listing of special in-store events and offers. Additionally, a limited few might also be fortunate enough to win an exclusive gift valued at $200 or more from some of Beverly Hills' most exceptional merchants, restaurants and hotels. Several stores and restaurants on and around Rodeo Drive embrace the arrival of the Chinese New Year with in-store specials and dining promotions throughout the evening. The Golden Triangle, Beverly Hills http://www.lovebeverlyhills.com/dragon

Saturday, 1/21

LA Ri-ettes vs. San Diego Wildfires
6pm - 10pm
Are you ready for some All Women's Bank Track Roller Derby action? Founded in 2003, the L.A. Derby Dolls (www.derbydolls.com/la) are the West Coast's premiere women's banked-track, quad-skating, roller derby league. Within the league, four fierce teams battle for dominance: Fight Crew, Sirens, Tough Cookies and Varsity Brawlers with the Ri-Ettes featuring our best athletes that battle it out against All Stars from visiting cities. While their uniforms may be stylish and their names playful, do not be fooled by their appearance. The Derby Dolls are athletes who skate a sport that is unscripted and real. Honored as a Treasure of Los Angeles by the Central City Association, the L.A. Derby Dolls embody the do-it-yourself, "for the skaters, by the skaters" ethos of modern women's roller derby. The event offers a full range of entertainment on and off the track, with the Doll Mall featuring an eclectic assortment of boutique vendors, food from Garage Pizza, Hot Dog on a Stick, and other popular food trucks, as well as natural energy beverages provided by Ex-Drinks. Tecate and Jack Daniel's ready-to-drink bottles will be served by Alex's Bar. The Doll Factory 1910 W. Temple St., Los Angeles www.derbydolls.com/la

Sunday, 1/22

Free Dance Classes at Your Neighborhood Studio
1:30pm - 7pm
With a motto "When in doubt... DANCE!" who wouldn't want to check this place out? And for free? Located in Culver City, Your Neighborhood Studio offers 70 classes a week including Zumba, Club Karma, GROOV3, Burlesque, Samba, Bollywood, Cardio Ballet, Pop Video, Old School, Yoga Booty Ballet, Jazz Funk, Strip Hop, Contemporary Lyrical, Modern, Classical Ballet, Basic Jazz, Contemporary Jazz, Hip Hop, House, West African, Tahitian, Tap and Breakin'/Rockin'... so many to choose from and on Sunday they're offering 30 minute intro classes on a first come, first serve basis. Here's to actually completing all your New Years Resolutions! Your Neighborhood Studio, 3625 Hayden Avenue, Culver City, CA 90232 www.yourneighborhoodstudio.com

2012 Hawaiian Slack Key Festival
2pm - 5pm
Kala Koa Entertainment presents the first and biggest showcase of its kind anywhere outside the islands and the most prestigious Hawaiian music concert event in the mainland U.S. Honoring one of the world's great acoustic guitar traditions, "slack key" (ki ho'alu), this year's lineup features some of the most respected names in Hawaiian guitar music today: Cyril Pahinui (son of Gabby Pahinui) performing with GRAMMY winner Jeff Peterson, Sonny Lim and sister Lorna Lim of the Lim Family, Jim "Kimo" West (recording and touring guitarist for "Weird" Al Yankovic), slack key guitarist and falsetto singer Steven Espaniola and one of Hawaii's hottest new groups, Hi'ikua. They will also have an Island Marketplace opens at 11am on the grounds of the Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center and is free and open to the public. Tickets $34 - $55 Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center 1935 Manhattan Beach Blvd. Redondo Beach, CA www.kalakoa.com

Georges Mélièls Shorts Program
5pm
If you've seen Martin Scorsese's Hugo, you've gotten a taste of the fantastical filmmaking of Georges Mélièls. Mélièls (pronounced mel-YEZ), who made films from the 1890s through the 1920s, is credited with making the first science-fiction film and was even known as the "Cinemagician." Time-lapse photography, multiple exposures and hand-tinted coloring were a few of the techniques he helped develop. American Cinematheque presents a Georges Mélièls Shorts Program with live musical accompaniment, featuring such rarely seen titles as L'Auberge du Bon Repos, Le Chapeau A Surprise (the surprising hat!), Le Monstre, Le Livre Magique and many more. $11 Aero Theatre, 1328 Montana Ave., Santa Monica www.americancinematheque.com

Wednesday, 1/25

Whole Hog Dinner at Wood & Vine
8:30 p.m.
Local favorites Wood & Vine and Lindy & Grundy are joining forces for a whole-animal dinner and discussion on sustainable meat practices. The four-course menu features such porcine goodness as house-made charcuterie, pork-cheek ravioli, slow-roasted pork shoulder, and bourbon ice cream with chocolate-covered house-smoked bacon. $50 with optional cocktail pairings. Wood & Vine, 6280 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood www.woodandvine.com

Thursday, 1/26

Studio Ghibli Retrospective
Jan 26th - Feb 12th
The American Cinematheque is thrilled to present a comprehensive retrospective of Studio Ghibli’s films, including new 35mm prints of several films that have never been released in North America. Don’t miss this rare opportunity to see Miyazaki’s beloved favorites MY NEIGHBOR TOTORO, PRINCESS MONONOKE, NAUSICAÄ OF THE VALLEY OF THE WIND, HOWL’S MOVING CASTLE, KIKI’S DELIVERY SERVICE, CASTLE IN THE SKY and PORCO ROSSO, as well as seldom-seen films by Takahata, such as POM POKO, ONLY YESTERDAY and MY NEIGHBORS THE YAMADAS. Also included in this comprehensive program are the first Ghibli feature to be made by someone other than Miyazaki or Takahata, Tomomi Mochizuki’s OCEAN WAVES, Miyazaki protégé Yoshifumi Kondo’s sole feature WHISPER OF THE HEART and Hiroyuki Morita’s sequel to the Kondo film, THE CAT RETURNS. Screenings are at both the Egyptian and Aero Theaters. Check the website for dates/times. http://www.americancinemathequecalendar.com/content/castles-in-the-sky-miyazaki-takahata-and-the-masters-of-studio-ghibli