A whole bunch of our friends are back and doing the wild thang in L.A., from Chinese Angelenos to the furious Spearhead. Happy Year of the Pig! The Brazilians do it harder, but Chinatown celebrations are free and fun, so we know where we'll be! We don't believe art should be in competition, and are pretty sure The Fake Awards will be keeping it realer than The Academy Awards (Go Forrest!).  For a look at oodles of new, whispered about, and up-and-coming artists, Cannibal Flower will be throwing a ton of 'em on the wall, and we're probably going to take time for a trip to Monkeyhouse and Farmlab for their shenanigans. The Self-Help graphics show will no doubt be meaningful. Aren't those rolled-up duck doobies technically tacos anyway? Xie xie!

Thursday February 22nd

~ Michael Franti/Spearhead w/ Blackalicious @ The Wiltern ~ 3790 Wilshire Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90010 ~ 8PM ~ $20

Friday February 23rd

~ Father & Daughter Print Retrospective @ Self-Help Graphics ~ 3802 Cesar E. Chavez Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90063 ~ Father Frank and daughter Sonia Romero show their individual and collaborative print works. Frank has been printmaking at Self-Help for over 40 years! Opening reception: 7-10PM.

~ 2nd Annual 67th Annual FAKE Awards @ The Fake Gallery ~ 4319 Melrose Ave. Los Angeles, CA (323) 661-0786 ~ Great comedians roust the Oscars through impersonations and satire ~ 9PM ~ $10

~Garden of Brokeness @ FARMLAB ~ 1745 N. Spring St. #4 Downtown Los Angeles, CA 90012 ~ Stiltwalkers, food, drink, exhibitions, music, and film, special exhibit by James Elaine ~ 7-11PM

~ Documenting the Undocumented @ Casa 1010 ~ 2009 E. 1st St. Boyle Heights, CA 90033 ~ Fri-sat: 8PM, Sun @ 3PM ~ $8-10 suggested donation ~ Through Sunday

Saturday February 24th

~Brazilian Carnival @ the Queen Mary ~ 1126 Queens Hwy. Long Beach, CA 90802 ~ Non-stop dancing, Samba, BBQ, costumes, and fun. Always sells out! See www.braziliannites.com ~ 8PM ~ $38-$60

~108th Golden Dragon Parade & Festival for Year of the Golden Pig ~ 900 N. Broadway Chinatown, Los Angeles, CA 90012 ~ Chinese Street fair, floats, bands, and more ~ 10AM-10PM ~FREE

~Cannibal Flower Group Show @ Infusion Gallery ~ 719 S. Spring St. Downtown Los Angeles, CA 90014 ~ Huge group show w/ paintings by Alex Garcia and music by Killsonic and 3 Djs ~ $5-$7 ~ 9:30PM-2AM 

~Untold Tales from the Toadstool @ Monkeyhouse Toys & Gallery ~ 1618 1/2 Silverlake Blvd. Silverlake, CA 90039 ~ New Mixed media paintings by Leticia Lacy ~ Opening reception 5-8PM

~Nudist Priest LIVE w/ L7's Donita Sparks @ Safari Sam's ~ 5214 W. Sunset Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90027 ~ We've never heard them, but if they are one-tenth as good as their name, it's worth the door-price ~ 9PM ~ $10

Sunday February 25th

~Kamikaze Karaoke @ The Bigfoot Lodge ~ 3172 Los Feliz Blvd. Atwater Village, CA 90039 ~ Wild and debauched rock n' roll karaoke night w/ $3 kamikaze shots ~ 10PM