What Is Going on This Weekend?

Hi, there. Do you know what you’re doing this weekend? I’m curating an eclectic list of events every week so you’ll never have to ask yourself, “What is there to do?” I’ve handpicked the best of theater, art, music, food and drinks, but if you ever need further guidance, or have an amazing tip, send me an e-mail. Happy weekend!

Friday

8 p.m. The Birthday Boys, which opened last week at , is a dark comedy about three U.S. Marines who are captured in Iraq. After dealing with so many violent films and media depictions surrounding the Iraq war, it is comforting to see a director take a lighter approach to the subject. The three main characters are blindfolded during the course of the play, limiting their normal interactions with each other and calling on the actors to be more creative.

4934 Lankershim Blvd. For tickets: 818-849-4039 or theatreunleashed.com.

8 p.m. If you went through (survived) a public school system, chances are you’ve read Charlotte Bronte’s Jane Eyre. While the boys in my high school (and, well, just about everyone) seemed to favor J.D. Salinger’s sarcastic teenage diary, The Catcher in the Rye, I preferred Victorian gothic novels. They were more interesting, and contained characters that couldn’t be neatly divided into “good” and “bad” columns. Just five years after BBC produced a miniseries on the novel, Hollywood is releasing another version. The Arts District is still without a proper movie theater, so you’ll have to catch the Red Line to Hollywood/Vine to see it at ArcLight. If director Cary Fukunaga does a decent job, it will be worth it. After all these years, it’s still one of my favorite pieces of literature.  

6360 W. Sunset Blvd., Hollywood. 323-464-4226. Evening show times: 7:10  8:00  9:55  10:55.

Saturday 

12 p.m. '. Come out to the parking lot to choose from among 10 food trucks, including Grill 'Em All, Canter's and Frysmith. You're even welcome to bring your street food inside the Federal, where there will be bands playing upstairs. If it's anything like the last Get Fed event, there will be long lines, so arrive early.  

5303 Lankershim Blvd., North Hollywood

6 p.m.  The Other Door is holding an “Art Junky's Art Show” all night Saturday. The event promises music, art and dancing. Local artists will be showcasing their work. There is no cover, but you must be 21 or over to attend. 

10437 Burbank Blvd., North Hollywood

8 p.m. I’m biased because I was a dancer for over 10 years, but I can think of nothing more beautiful than a well-choreographed dance show. Naturally, I’m partial to ballet, and usually steer clear of anything labeled “modern dance.” Celebrate Dance 2011 at the Alex Theatre promises to produce an entertaining show featuring top local talent. It doesn’t look like any traditional ballerinas will be performing at this annual event, but I’m open to new forms of expression in my former art form.

216 N. Brand Blvd., Glendale. Tickets: 818-243-2539 or alextheatre.org. $15-35.

Sunday

8 a.m. Weekends are obviously a time for eating high-calorie brunches and baking cream-filled cupcakes, but when you start to feel sick from all the sugar and fat you’ve consumed, there are three local Farmers Markets on Sunday to stock up on local produce for the week ahead. An asparagus, ginger and mushroom stir-fry should get you out of your Sunday sloth mode before the dreaded Monday arrives.  

Studio City: 12052 Ventura Pl. (Main cross streets: Laurel Canyon and Ventura Boulevard)

Hollywood: 1600 Ivar Ave. (Main cross streets: Sunset and Cahuenga boulevards.) Take the Red Line to Hollywood/Vine. From Hollywood, walk to Ivar.

: 10225 Riverside Dr.; 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

6 p.m. If you're tired from a day at the market, and cooking is the last thing you want to do, you can postpone healthy eating one more day and try a gourmet burger at the newly planted Umami Burger on Ventura Boulevard. The lines have been long since it opened a week ago, so get there at least half an hour before you intend to eat. They stay open until 2 a.m. in case you’re not a fan of dinner time crowds. Burgers are always better after midnight, anyway.

12159 Ventura Blvd.

Here are some other events happening:

Friday-Sunday

at the Deaf West Theatre.  Read my .

 After Hours, late night following Pinocchio.

at the , Friday and Saturday

, weekly on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, 8 p.m.

, weekly on Saturdays and Fridays, 8:30 p.m. – 9:33 p.m. (yes not a typo, 9:33 p.m. Got it?)

at Zombie Joe's Underground Theatre, weekly on Fridays, 11:00pm–11:59pm

, weekly on Saturdays, 11 p.m.–11:55 p.m.

7 p.m.

  7 p.m.–9 p.m.

Oedipus, presented by the Porters of Hellsgate at the

Angry Girls, Presented by Group Therapy, a female improvisational troupe, Friday 8 p.m. $10 cash at the door

Friday

, Friday and Saturday at 8:30 p.m. at the HaHa Cafe

Karaoke every night, Friday DJs play your requests

, Friday night is Ladies Night

, Open Mic starts at 7 p.m.

, DJ Ivan spins Top 40, Latin and Dance at this Latin-themed gay bar

, 8 p.m. 79th Street Funk/Jazz Band, 10 p.m. DecadeDance spinning hits from the 70s, 80s and 90s

at , 8 p.m.

Saturday

Karaoke every night, Saturday DJs play your requests

, Saturday night is College Night, bring your college ID for drink specials

, DJ George spins Musica Latina all night, and the Ole Ole drag queen show

, 8 p.m.  rock show with Nick Morris and the High Life Cavaliers. At 10 PM DJ Garren spins pop, rock, and old school hits.

at , 8 p.m.

Sunday

, 6 p.m.–7 p.m. at the HaHa Cafe

Weekly on Sundays, 8 p.m.–9 p.m.

, Saturday 10 a.m.–12 p.m. Magnolia Blvd & Tujunga Ave, North Hollywood, CA

on Sunday

Saturday at 6 p.m.

Friday

, 10:30am–11:00am

  7:00pm–9:00pm

Saturday

  7:00pm–9:00pm

Friday

at the

3 p.m.–8 p.m.

Friday

Weekly on Fridays, 10:00am–1:00pm

Saturday

Sunday

For a full list of Sunday services, go here. 

March 12, 2011, 10:30am–2:30pm

Sunday 8 a.m.–5 p.m.

Weekly on Sundays, 12 pm–6 pm, Kinder $ Rescue hosts a mobile dog-adoption event at Book Star, 12136 Ventura Blvd. (just west of Laurel Canyon) and offers adoptable pets of all ages.

, 5600 Vineland Ave, North Hollywood, CA 91601

This liquor store on the corner of Vineland and Oxnard has been a North Hollywood institution for more than 40 years. There are lots of liquor choices and brands, cold beverages and convenience store items. T-shirts of every color are on sale with the Circus Liquor logo and store address.