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Sunday, May 5, 2024

Yes, KAWAII is Art x Starbucks

 

"As a special kawaii treat, JAPAN HOUSE Los Angeles teamed up with Starbucks to create an exclusive, limited-edition beverage in honor of the “Yes, KAWAII is Art -EXPRESS YOURSELF-” exhibition. The special beverage will be available to purchase at select Hollywood Starbucks locations from May 7 – May 31 and in August as a special collaboration celebrating this exhibition and its message of embracing creativity, self-expression, and community spirit. Refresh yourself with the cutest beverage in town!"

Friday, May 3, 2024

Tournament of Cheeseburgers

 

Oh, this, this is what we live for. LAist has teamed up with Smorgasburg to have the first ever Tournament of Cheeseburgers. Starting now until the end of June you can vote on your favorite place to munch down burgers with cheesy goodness upon them, only in SoCal. Then, on July 7th at Smorgasburg they'll crown the winner.

To be a part of it, just submit your favorite cheeseburger place here. If it wins, it and 7 other burger joints will be invited to sell their burgers at Smorgasburg July 7th  and the revealed winner will take the crown that day.

Love this from the press release: "This event, in partnership with Smorgasburg LA, will be a fun-filled, family-friendly day of food and drink, live entertainment, and interactive games and activities, all showcasing the rich tapestry of cheeseburger culture and bringing together the Los Angeles community."

"... all showcasing the rich tapestry of cheeseburger culture...." which is very true.

This event celebrates the 100th Anniversary of the supposed first cheeseburger in Pasadena and the reason behind what you might us recall writing about year after year, Cheeseburger Week.

This sounds like a delicious tournament, one that might require you to test many of the contestants. 

Will update you with any Cheeseburger updates or at the very least the top eight and winner. Start munching!

Moving News: Top Secret Headquarters & Geeky Teas & Games

 

Top Secret Headquarters is now in Echo Park at 1816 Sunset Blvd, doubt they're ready for Free Comic Book Day, but they at least have a location again. And, I guess is the new name by adding the Top to Secret Headquarters.

Geeky Teas & Games moved to 900 W Alameda Ave, Burbank, CA, they had me at Kitten Cafe Caturdays, but it looks like an amzing place to play your board games at.
 


Thursday, May 2, 2024

Bleak Week: Full Schedule Is Up

As we stated earlier in the week, we're just fans of Bleak Week. An assortment of movies most foul, but not in gross-outs or depravity, though some are; these ones stain your soul. These stay with and haunt you.
 

'Bleak Week: Cinema of Despair - Year 3'
Sat. Jun 1 - Fri. Jun 7, 2024
Aero Theatre, Egyptian Theatre and Los Feliz 3
 
What's so crazy about this one is that so many directors are coming to show off their utterly depressing work. And, it's really all crammed into one week.
 
In-person guests include: Jerry Schatzberg, Al Pacino, Kenneth Lonergan, Lynne Ramsay, Charlie Kaufman, Lynne Littman, Elliott Gould, Michael Rooker, Allen Hughes, Bernard Rose, Karyn Kusama, Steve De Jarnatt, Phil Hay, Matt Manfredi and Don Hertzfeldt
 
We've only already seen a handful or heard of them and they all just are on a different level, definitely not a fun one. These are ones to cry at or contemplate.
 
We're giving you a heads up, because we can see some of these selling out (some already have) and because, once again, we love the concept.

We say go deeper and have tissues packs with the Bleak Week logo on them. 
 
Maybe a showing of The End of Evangelion, we're not seeing much Japanese love. And, boy, do they know how to communicate messed-up sadness.

Go through the full schedule above.

Extra To Do: Star Wars It Up

 
Here's even more Star Wars things to do.

Discover Los Angeles has a mighty fine list of Star Wars activities 
 
@ Scum & Villainy Cantina
6377 Hollywood Boulevard Los Angeles, CA 90028

maybe have a better website showcasing events,  Scum & Villainy, because we did not see it when we looked.
 
Oh, and if you wanna go way-off the beaten path. The hidden area just above Palm Springs, Idyllwild's The Rustic Theatre is going all out for Star Wars Day.




Anime Hype: Anime Riverside, ONE PIECE Music Symphony & Current Anime

 
Some reminders with upcoming anime conventions this Summer. June has Anime Riverside. Now we've only been to it once, but been blown away at how well a job they've done with this one. A perfect starter anime convention if you want to ease you way into it. And, they had some pretty nice, niche gets on guests. We'll update you as we hear more about it.

Friday, May 31st - Pre-registration (early badge pick up OPTIONAL) - 12 noon - 8 pm
Saturday, June 1st - 10 am - 7 pm
Sunday, June 2nd - 10 am - 6 pm
Riverside Convention Center
3637 5th St, Riverside, CA 92501 
$30 per day or $45 for both days

We, of course, have to promote this event their. Who doesn't want a scream off?


A heads up on grabbing tickets for the ONE PIECE Music Symphony taking place during Anime Expo this July. It's not at Anime Expo, but if you're in the area, why not?

"It is time to celebrate One Piece’s 25th anniversary with an epic array of music full of action and emotion! Immerse yourself in the magic of a full orchestra as it performs One Piece's iconic music live on stage, while the greatest moments from the anime come to life on screen in perfect sync."

So far, TTDILA has gotten into a few new animes after finishing Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End, which we highly recommend. We're still watching Delicious in Dungeon, a weekly dumb treat on Netflix.

We've gotten into KonoSuba: God's Blessing on This Wonderful World! Season 3, Go! Go! Loser Ranger!, Astro Note & A Salad Bowl of Eccentrics.

Wednesday, May 1, 2024

The Contestant LA Premiere May 6

You know we love the weird stuff and Japanese stuff, so this is a perfect fit. A free show and the LA Premiere of The Contestant.

THE CONTESTANT
Mon. May 6, 2024 | 7:30pm
Aero Theatre
Free, RSVP
*This is an RSVP which means first come first served. This RSVP does not guarantee a seat.
Free Screening! L.A. Premiere!

"This true story of a Japanese reality TV star left naked in a room for more than a year, tasked with filling out magazine sweepstakes to earn food and clothing, prompts innumerable questions about our culture of oversharing.

Before the onslaught of reality television in the West, there was an ominous harbinger in Japan of what was to come in our oversharing-obsessed culture. THE CONTESTANT traces the experience of aspiring comedian Tomoaki Hamatsu, nicknamed Nasubi, who unwittingly became an extreme case study. While parts of Nasubi’s infamy have been recounted before on YouTube and This American Life, filmmaker Clair Titley and producer Megumi Inman bring a revelatory depth of insight by interviewing Nasubi, Tsuchiya, and others close to them."