Wednesday, March 30, 2022

Weekly What To Do: WonderCon Weekend 22

Fri Apr 1-Apr 3
Anaheim Convention Center
$$
 
The map for this year's WonderCon. WonderCon finally updated it's Schedule, you can see it all here. Highlights from the unofficial SDCC blog.
 
It might not be the biggest, but at least it's back this year. WonderCon returns after what only could be called "sad things, please, no more" or what they called it, WonderCon@Home.

This time around it's mostly fans and artist alley, the big names have abandoned us in both booths and panels. Head out to Anaheim for a weekend and just enjoy a con again.

As we've reported multiple anime conventions in SoCal have gone on without a hitch. Just have your V card ready and we mean your vaccination card. Please, please put on some deodorant. 
 
We don't need the smells coming back.
 
Hayao Miyazaki Encores
Apr 1 – May 27
The Academy Museum
6067 Wilshire Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90036
$10 a screening
 
In celebration of the final months of the exhibition Hayao Miyazaki, the Academy Museum is screening seven key films by the director. All will screen on English-subtitled 35mm prints, most newly-struck by the Academy Film Archive. 

April 2nd, 2022, 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM  
3330 Civic Center Dr, Torrance, CA 90503
$10-$150 
Free parking

Speak of the devil, here's another anime convention in SoCal. AniFest is a smaller one and you'll only have a day to check it out. They have what you need with great artists, performance, dealers, and live entertainment. Create amazing cosplay content at the Japanese garden or the main plaza.
 
Sat, Apr 2, 2022, 4:00 PM
Aratani Theatre
244 San Pedro Street
Los Angeles, CA 90012 
$15 – $35
 
Everyone’s favorite ultraromantic rom-com arrives to Los Angeles with the U.S. premiere of Kaguya-sama: Love Is War -Ultra Romantic- hosted by Aniplex of America!

The premiere event will feature an advance screening of Episode 1 (Japanese audio with English subtitles), plus a talk show featuring the main cast Aoi Koga (Kaguya Shinomiya), Makoto Furukawa (Miyuki Shirogane), Konomi Konohara (Chika Fujiwara), Ryota Suzuki (Yu Ishigami), and Miyu Tomita (Miko Iino).

Premium ticket holders will get early admission in addition to a poster and a limited-edition tote bag featuring Kaguya and her iconic “How cute”. 
 
 
Glendale on Apr 1st
Monica Film Center on Apr 1st
$

A deaf mother and daughter interrupt a serial psychopath as he attempts to claim his next victim, only to finds his wrath redirected toward them instead.

 

 

 

 

 

Friday, April 1, 2022 at 5pm 
Natural History Museum
$20 Non-members
Free for Members 
 
Our annual series is back! Explore the Museum after hours with live music, DJs, topical discussions, signature cocktails, and more. April 1 Theme:  Wild Harvesting
 
Saturday April 2nd
3420 Eagle Rock Blvd
from 12-6 PM.

The Rad Coffee Truck will be at Revenge Of. Revenge Of is also dropping new T-Shirt designs .

 
Sat, April 2, 2022 12:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Los Angeles Center Studios 1201 W 5th St
Los Angeles, CA 90017

Thinkspace Projects is thrilled to present Casey Weldon’s latest solo show, ‘Tacit Turnabout.’ Exploring real world predicaments from the social lives of his friends, Weldon presents an all new colorful and varied body of work.

 

OPENING RECEPTION April 2, 2022 | 12:00 pm – 6:00 pm
COREY HELFORD GALLERY
571 S. Anderson St. Los Angeles, CA 90033

Downtown Los Angeles' Corey Helford Gallery (CHG) is proud to announce Sixth Sense, a six-artist exhibition featuring new works from world renowned Nigerian painter Arinze Stanley, Taiwanese artist Chen-Dao Lee, London-based artist Chloe Early, Latvia-born artist Jana Brike, Indonesia-born pop-artist RYOL, and Switzerland-based painter Zoé Byland, opening Saturday, April 2nd in the Main Gallery. 
 
 
Eternal Spa
Organized with QNA
April 2, 2022
5pm–10pm (Performances 6pm-8pm)
The Geffen Contemporary at MOCA
Tickets: $10 general admission/$8 MOCA members
Eternal Spa, presented in collaboration with artists Angela Dimayuga, jas lin, 미친년/ Michinyeon (Kwonyin, Na Mira, and Saewon Oh), Brandon Nguyen, Daphne Nguyen (aka Fine China) and Yuki, and Scott Oshima invites visitors into a multi-sensorial, durational performance in the historic Japanese American neighborhood of Little Tokyo. Taking the metaphor of Asian spas and health centers as a starting point, the performance engages questions of embodiment, sexuality and sex work, self-care, and identity, critiquing how Asian bodies have been othered and exoticized — especially one year after the Atlanta shootings. Eternal Spa seeks to reclaim a collective ability to heal and to commune. The performance will be accompanied by programming, which includes sexual health resources, music, dancing, and food for sale by local restaurants. Eternal Spa is organized with QNA (Louie Bofill, Jae-an Crisman, Paulie Morales, Ly Tran, and Howin Wong), a Los Angeles-based collective and platform that highlights queer and trans API artists and culture through art, nightlife, and community.
 
7:00 P.M. on Monday, April 4th, 2022
The Michelle and Kevin Douglas IMAX Theatre
The Robert Zemeckis Center for Digital Arts (RZC)
3131 S. Figueroa Street, Los Angeles, CA 90007
(Entrance on 32nd Street)
 Free, Must RSVP

Following NASA veterans Bob Behnken, Doug Hurley, and their families in the leadup to launch, Return To Space brings viewers along for their thrilling ride to the International Space Station, and into mission control with Musk and the SpaceX team as they bring them back to Earth for a dramatic splashdown return.
 
 
 
 
 
7:00 P.M. on Tuesday, April 5th, 2022
The Ray Stark Family Theatre, SCA 108
George Lucas Building, School of Cinematic Arts Complex
900 W. 34th Street, Los Angeles, CA 90007
Free, Must RSVP
 
Adapted from Adrian Tomine’s acclaimed graphic novel, PARIS, 13TH DISTRICT weaves a breezy tapestry of modern love stories. Beautifully realized in crisp black-and-white cinematography, the electrifying, multicultural 13th arrondissement sets the stage for a panoramic tale of four young lovers.

Friday, March 25, 2022

The AMC 16 Stand-Up Incident

 
Know Your Meme has an entire breakdown of what happened to a unexpected crowd going to an early showing of The Lost City @ AMC 16 in Burbank. A stand-up comedian got up and started doing a routine.

It seemed bad.

Kirby and the Forgotten Land @ CityWalk This Weekend

Looks like there's a photo-op this weekend over at CityWalk for Kirby and the Forgotten Land. It just came out today!

And some Targets are showing their Kirby love too.


 

We would have told you earlier, but Nintendo of America's PR team forgot to remind us about it like they usually do. This is also probably the first special event they've done in maybe two years with Covid. Sadly, Nintendo won't have a presence at WonderCon like they have in the past, which would make total sense for all these fun photo-ops. Here's hoping they save these statues for AX.

Ooh, gotta remember some of Nintendo's team might have been fired too with the closing of the Redwood City office, last year.

Anyway, let's hope the PR team bounces back as the CityWalk event is not even up on their official Twitter as of writing this.

Hype: The Castle of Cagliostro Poster, Cartoons Have Changed, Disney Walkout & More

 

Hero Complex Gallery has a new Sci-Fi inspired show to check out.  

WELCOME TO THE MACHINE

A mini show celebrating Cyberpunk and Tech Noir Art

 

"Cyburger Time" by Glen Brogan


If you've ever edited anything for school or for a project you probably used this guy's free music. 

We love this British game show for comedians and now it has its own streaming service, Taskmaster SuperMax+, but also you can just watch it legally on YouTube.

Thursday, March 24, 2022

WonderCon 2022 Update: Map Up

 

The map for this year's WonderCon is finally up. It's missing a few of the big boys of the past. No Marvel or DC booth out in front. We don't even see Dark Horse or Dynamite. Where's IDW? It looks like the cons are slowly coming back to normal and that isn't too fun for the fans/consumers of those companies.

Some Places To Go: Fugetsu-Do, O-Kashi, Player One, Round 1, Uncool Bar & More

LA has a vast amount of restaurants, eateries and stores that no other city has. There's such a diversity of what to check out and a new place to go or an old favorite. Here's a few places we were reminded of or just heard about that you should visit.
 

315 E 1st St Los Angeles, CA 90012
8am-5pm every day
 
The Japanese candy store that's been in Little Tokyo for ages has never seemed that inviting. Frequenting the area, we can't say its been a must for our visits. Mochi and Japanese sweets make an anomaly that you have to go to at least once. You'll get a pack of mochi to share with friends and it'll all be worth it. And if you like what you got, you gotta go again.
 
Totally a Mom & Pop operation, so its got nothing that fancy about it. It's just a place to snag some yummy sweets treats. Fugetsu-Do is as old school as it can get as it's almost a 120-years-old.

We'll reiterate, "Get the candy, then get out."

 
 
 
319 E 2nd St Ste 117 Los Angeles, CA 90012
12pm-5pm Wed-Sun
 
A street over is a wrapped and bagged Japanese sweets store that just opened up...and we're not sure if it'll survive much longer. You might want to check it out before it's gone. This new sweet shop is like many stores we've seen come-and-go in Little Tokyo; really not utilizing it's space. It hurts that it has candy that looks like you can find in one of the Japanese supermarkets nearby.

5126 Lankershim Blvd North Hollywood, CA 91601
6pm-1am, till 2am Fri-Sat

Who would think of another arcade bar in LA? Player One did. This is a place to remember your time at the arcade and play some old school arcade machines. Now, as an adult you can drink while doing it though. They have a collection of arcade cabinet favorites. And, they have a splattering of events like trivia, karaoke and bingo. So, team up with other X-Men for battle or try and beat up Ryu.
 
 

201 E Magnolia Blvd Burbank, CA 91502
10:00 AM - 2:00 AM every day
 
Located in the Burbank Town Center Mall, besieged by a triumvirate of AMC's, is our very own Japanese arcade...bowling alley/karaoke & billiards. Yes, Round 1's brand comes from Japan and gives us the sweet perk of Japanese arcade machines. Sadly, it doesn't bring any Japanese snacks. Eat anywhere else in the mall.
 
We've talked about Round 1 many times before on the site, but to get to any of them you'd have to drive far to LA's outlands, to the places of the banished and strange, like Pomona. Ooooooh! Scary. Now, it's an easy drive to Burbank and a pleasure to go to before or after a movie.

Round 1, just has hours of enjoyment with arcade games you won't find at Player One or even Dave & Buster's. And, a decent spot to sing karaoke that isn't downtown or Sawtelle is nice too.
 
*Tip, just pay for 2 hours of karaoke, 1 is never enough
 
 

7881 Santa Monica Blvd West Hollywood, CA 90046
OPEN EVERY DAY 11:00am to 2:00am
 
Dude, not cool. Or is it? That's what this bar/restaurant tries to pull off. It's got mixed reviews, but the name alone and some of the food options make us want to sink our teeth into one of the burgers at least once and snag a photo of the strange logo and look. The food does look mouthwatering and tasty.

 

305 N Harbor Blvd Ste 001 Fullerton
5:00 PM - 10:00 PM every day
 
For a trip near Disneyland, you might want to head down to The Cellar. This restaurant and winery is literally in the basement of a building and made up from an Imagineer who helped make Disneyland. Other than its amazing looks the menu is an expensive treat you should got to celebrate any occasion.
 
4519 Eagle Rock Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90041
Thurs: 3PM – 6PM / Fri – Sat: 12PM – 6PM
Sun: 12PM – 5PM hours fluctuate

This fun indie store features its own goods based on its own brand with indie comics and designer toys to rest on your desk. Oh, and even apparel. 

Revenge Of
3420 Eagle Rock Blvd, 
Los Angeles, CA 90065 
323-561-3017 
Closed Monday
T-Th 11am-7pm
Sat 11am-9pm
Sun 12pm-6pm
 
We've got a comic book store/pinball arcade out in Eagle Rock. But, it seems to be so much more with board games, snacks and drinks and all kinds of fun fan merch inside. If there was a hole left inside your heart when Meltdown used to be, so many years ago, this place looks to fill it and also shove as many good things into that space as possible. Cuz, their stock of goods runneth over.
 

Wednesday, March 23, 2022

Weekly What To Do: Everything @ 626 Mini All At Once, Oh, Oscar Sunday

Don't forget, don't leave your car anywhere near the Oscars as it will be towed. People get towed every
year near Hollywood and Highland as they prepare for the biggest awards night in town. There's a bunch of signs that go up, but a week to a few days before they shut down the streets nearby, including the Metro and you're car is gone.

Also, Wanda Sykes is still alive? And one of the hosts? We thought she was dead, but way to get someone popular Oscars team, you're blowing us away with how entertaining this will be already. Getting someone who we thought was a corpse. Great job!


March 22-26
Samuel Goldwyn Theater
8949 Wilshire Blvd.
Beverly Hills, CA 90211
Tickets are $5 for the general public

In the week leading up to the 94th Oscars®, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences will present a series of public programs celebrating this year’s nominees in the Animated Feature Film, Documentary Feature, Documentary Short Subject, International Feature Film, Makeup and Hairstyling, and Animated and Live Action Short Film categories. All events will be held at the Academy’s Samuel Goldwyn Theater in Beverly Hills.

 

Thurs, March 24-Apr 2 
Online and two real life locations

Dance Camera West aims to foster groundbreaking talent and to encourage new work in the are of dance film by supporting creation, presentation and distribution of films. DCW presents an annual international festival held at renowned arts venues throughout Los Angeles, and informative and educational events throughout the year, to bring dance to the world beyond the stage and through the language of film.
 
 
 
 

BREAKING POINT: THE WAR FOR DEMOCRACY IN UKRAINE
March 24, 2022, March 24, 7:00pm
The Ray Stark Family Theater, SCA 108 George Lucas Building, School of Cinematic Arts Complex 900 W. 34th Street, Los Angeles, CA 90007
Free


A MULTIPLE AWARD-WINNING DOCUMENTARY THAT HELPS EXPLAIN THE RUSSIAN WAR AGAINST UKRAINE

Discussion with the filmmakers will follow the screening

 

EVERYTHING EVERYWHERE ALL AT ONCE
Actor Michelle Yeoh
Fri, March 25, Q&A after the 7:10 pm show
Actors Stephanie Hsu,
Key He Quan & James Hong
Sat, March 26, Q&A after the 7:10 pm show

A crazy new film from the Daniels, you gotta go see it!

 

March 26, 2022 - April 10, 2022
Sat, Mar 26, 5:00PM - 8:00PM
NUCLEUS FLAGSHIP 
210 East Main St Alhambra CA 91801
 
Gallery Nucleus is proud to welcome Monica Robles Corzo aka "Monarobot" to the gallery for her first gallery exhibition in the United States. Inspired by Mayan, Aztec, Mesoamerican and contemporary pop culture, these all new works will feature famous monsters from pop culture as well as creatures of her own design.


 

March 26, 2022 - April 10, 2022
Sat, Mar 26, 5:00PM - 8:00PM
NUCLEUS FLAGSHIP 
210 East Main St Alhambra CA 91801 
 
 Gallery Nucleus is pleased to welcome back Jenny Yu and Meyoco as they explore the theme "space and time" in a dual show.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Sat-Sun March 26-27
Globe Theatre Los Angeles
740 South Broadway
Los Angeles, CA 90014

March 26-27, 
Lot 27 (1324 5th St., Santa Monica, CA 90401), near Santa Monica’s iconic Third Street Promenade
Event hours will be from 1pm-10pm both Saturday and Sunday 
 
Welcome to our new event series. We’ve partnered with Downtown Santa Monica to start a new series of markets beginning in late February. Similar to our flagship events that take place in the summer, with a curated list of recurring vendors to lead up to our regularly scheduled events. We hope to welcome new and returning food lovers from the Westside to join us. With a smaller number of vendors we hope to have a more intimate and casual setting for attendees to enjoy our favorite vendors. The event will also feature an alcohol garden with limited edition cocktails. 
 
The Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) will launch Building Art, a series of outdoor artworks created for the facade of the museum, featuring work by leading contemporary artists. Beginning March 28, 2022, MOCA will present Sonic Boom by artist Derek Fordjour on the exterior of the MOCA Grand Avenue building. Future plans and artist collaborations for Building Art outdoor artworks will be announced. 
 
Largo, known for comedy shows. Grab some tickets before everything sells out. Many new shows from some of LA's top comedians. We see Bill Burr, Patton Oswalt, Pete Holmes and Sarah Silverman performing here to name a few.
 
Every Sunday
10am-4pm at @rowdtla
 

 
 
 

Street Food Cinema