The International Printing Museum ~ Carson

Visit one of the world’s greatest collections of antique printing machinery and learn how to make paper by hand.

Sat. ~ 10am - 2pm

Victor ~ King Edward Cafe ~ 129 E. 5th St. ~ Los Angeles

Grand Performances ~ Ojos de Brujo ~ Los Angeles

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“Daddy would have gotten us Uzis.”

You don’t expect to find an event called LOS ANGELES DESTROYS ITSELF in the respectable UCLA Film & Television Archive calendar. It’s like finding a piece of sexy lingerie in your parents’ closet when you were looking for your dad’s old sweater and for the first time in your young life you find yourself hanging somewhere between fear and desire. It’s on that unsafe ground that our most secret fantasies take flight and it’s in the safety of movie theaters that we live them.

“My sister used to force me to watch movies like this when we were young but now I can force my wife!” Netflix customer.

A mini-film festival, LOS ANGELES DESTROYS ITSELF highlights five classic disaster epics. After reading dozens of people’s reviews online (all of the reviews quoted in this story are from lay people, not critics) I was convinced those films were well worth sharing with Taco readers because of the powerful connections people felt for the films, the opportunity to see Los Angeles in the 1950’s, 70’s, 80’s and 1990s and the political context in which some of those films were made.

The Los Angeles river circa 1954 in “THEM!”

If, like Taco contributing cartoonist Jessica Vliet, you have days when you want to see Los Angeles die … here’s your opportunity to indulge in this guilty pleasure. Five ways LA could die care of UCLA Film & Television Archive and the Los Angeles Film Festival:

This 1984 mock-horror zombie movie has two Valley girls (Catherine Mary Stewart & Kelli Maroney - the gun totting cheerleader) fighting flesh-eating humans who survive after a comet wipes out life in LA. The People’s opinion: ” I loved this movie as a kid in the 80’s. I’m still a sucker for it. My son (14) thought it was ok. Any child of the 80’s would like it.” “This is my favourite mock-horror zombie movie ever… Note the requisite shopping scene set to the tune of “Girls just wanna have fun.” “Not bad for 1980’s technology.” “If you want big action, big effects, look elsewhere, it’s about the girls.” “It is funny, the acting is decent and the dialogue full of humorous one-liners. Check your brain at the door, kick back and enjoy a silly return to 80’s mock horror/sci-fi at its best.”

“Night of the Comet”, Saturday, June 23rd @ 8:30pm. FREE outdoor screening @ Festival Promenade on Broxton Avenue in Westwood.

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405 Frwy @ Cherry Ave. ~ Long Beach

Antonio Aguilar is being mourned by millions across the world, but especially in his home state of Zacatecas, Mexico. Aguilar starred in more then 162 films and records more then 150 albums and was the husband of Flor Silvestre. He frequently performed at the Pico Rivera Sports Arena in Los Angeles.

From the AP:

Mexican mariachi singer and actor Antonio Aguilar, who recorded more than 150 albums and began his acting career during Mexico’s “Golden Era” of cinema, was buried on Thursday at his family’s ranch in the northern state of Zacatecas.

Aguilar died late Tuesday at the age of 88 after a long battle with pneumonia.

His coffin was carried through the streets of Zacatecas, the state capital, and was honored at a memorial service attended by hundreds at a church there.

Hank’s Bar & American Grill ~ 840 S. Grand Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90017

“Zing Boom Ta-ra-rel. Join in a glass of good cheer.” Welcome to Hank’s Bar at the Hotel Stillwell. Hank first tapped the kegs in 1954. Since then, his bar has become a bed rock haven for downtown’s barfly jambalaya. Henry “Hank” Holzer (R.I.P 1998), born 1908 in Greenwich Village, NYC, opened Hank’s after retiring from a lauded career as a professional prizefighter. Apparently, Hank gathered inspiration for his bar from the classic Noir ficiton of Damon Runyon and Raymond Chandler. He came out West looking for adventure, and, by all accounts, was a stand up guy who took to memorizing his patrons’ names, faces, and favorite drinks.

Hank sold the bar in 1970 in order to look after his ailing wife, but returned in 1984 to run the bar until his death in 1998 at the age of 88. He’s said to have credited his longevity to drinking Screwdrivers and not smoking tobacco. Go figure. Hank’s Bar delivers on all fronts: nostalgia, seediness, odd customers, strong drinks, charming bartenders, wall to wall eye candy, live fish, popcorn, and a healthy prescription of low light.

The Marines aren’t the only ones looking for a few good men. Lady Greensleeves here is Hank’s longest standing patron- she doesn’t have a lot to say, but you can believe she’s seen it all. A dive bar can be a lonely place, but not when you have a classy broad like this to greet you.

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Hollywood ~ CA

Happy summer solstice! The sun is at its highest point of the year and it’s finally starting to feel like the hot, lazy days of summer in Los Angeles are upon us. Our suggestion is to just mellow out and stay cool as best you can this weekend, which unfortunately won’t be possible tonight in those long lines for LACMA’s visual/aural late-night feast, so get there early. Chase’s colorful, inspiring work always reminds us of Venice Beach, where many of his murals stand, and which pops best in summer, we’re gonna make sure to check out what’s up with his show tonight too, on Melrose. Friday’s CircuiTree show in Santa Monica will give everyone a chance to catch up with concious hip-hop, acoustic sets, and clean living, then the earthy, soul-stirring fun continues with world music and eclectic arts at Tropico de Nopal in Echo Park on Saturday. Hope we can make it to Sunday’s DJ Shadow/Cut Chemist collaboration at the Bowl, sounds like some trippy Pink Floyd kind of shit. That works well with our blazingly sunny summer dispositions.

Thursday June 21, 2007

Ghandi at the Bat @ Wadsworth Theater ~ 11301 Wilshire Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90073 ~ At the CineGear Expo. ~ 12:30PM ~ $10

Chase Solo Show @ Xin Boutique ~ 8064 Melrose Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90046 ~ Chase has painted over 60 public walls in Los Angeles with positive messages and images. Drinks from Motley Bird, beats by DJ Jasepi. ~ 8-11PM

Late Night @ LACMA ~ 5905 Wilshire Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90036 ~ DJs Steve Aoki, The Rebirth, Ima Robot and more; art by Dan FLavin and extensive permanent collection; Screen-printing by Hit & Run, murals with Ronald Kurniawan, museum of traffic projections, performances by Lucent Dossier & Vaudeville Cirque, award-winning films and much much more. ~ 7PM-3AM ~ Free to everyone ~ RSVP @ www.LACMA.org.

Friday June 21, 2007

CircuiTree Summer Solstice @ Euphoria Loves RAWvolution Cafe ~ 2301 Main Street Santa Monioca, CA 90405 ~ A night full of rocking music and great food w/ performances by Javis the Bravest, The Luminaries, I-Star, among many other short sets by local concious talent and an open jam session ~ 7-11PM ~ $5 music only, $10 includes a la carte dinner of raw foods.

SeaLevel Records ‘Going Away’ Party @ Safari Sam’s ~ 5214 Sunset Blvd Hollywood, CA 90027 ~ Division Day, The Swtich, and 4 DJs ~ 8PM

Saturday June 23, 2007

ElektroZONKIoglobal @ Tropico de Nopal ~ 1665 Beverly Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90026 ~ An original music collaboration between Mezkla & Fosforo, plus Diane Gamboa’s paper fashion accesories, DJ David Bonono on world beat drum & bass, & world and bossa house favorites Tropico. Videos, fashion, art, drinks, great music, and a nice outdoor setting ~ $10 ~ 7-10PM

Sunday June 24, 2007

DJ Shadow & Cut Chemist, Carlinhos Brown, & Sierra Leone’s Refugee All-Stars @ Hollywood Bowl ~ 2301 N Highland Ave. Hollywood, CA 90068 ~ West African reggae, Brazilian percussion, and the two world-famous turntablists doing Brain Placement: 7 Inches of Fury ~ 8PM ~ $9-$45

(Art by Chase)