Shine On, You Crazy Loft-Liver

What to do in Los Angeles this week

Comments (0) By Libby Molyneaux Wednesday, Apr 11 2007

Grin and Barrett. See Thursday

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{mosimage} FRIDAY, April 13

Press release of the week: “Orphean Circus and Bootleg Present Hot Young Girls Are Evil: A Bloody Burlesque Comedy, inspired by Pinter’s The Dwarfs and Paul McCarthy’s Wild Gone Girls. Warning: Mature and immature themes, various stages of undress and filthy, filthy language.” To which we reply, “You had us at ‘circus.’” Bootleg Theater, 2220 Beverly Blvd., L.A.; Fri., April 13 & 20, 11 p.m.; $20. (213) 389-3856.

SATURDAY, April 14

Don’t know what they feed their cats in Russia, but the Moscow Cats Theatre will put your pussy to shame. These feisty felines walk tightropes, balance balls, do pawstands and leap like crazy. Yeah, but can they produce a hairball — make that a daily hairslug, like my fuzzy boy kitty? Wilshire Ebell Theater, 4401 W. Eighth St., L.A.; Sat.-Sun., April 14-15, May 5-6, 1 & 4 p.m.; $49.90 & $59.90. (323) 939-1128.

Doris Roberts hosts A Night of Comedy V, featuring Ray Romano, Sarah Silverman, Kevin James, Bryan Callen and others helping to raise money for Children Affected by AIDS Foundation. We’ll leave the joking to the professionals on this one. Wilshire Theatre, 8440 Wilshire Blvd., Beverly Hills; Sat., April 14, 8 p.m.; $30-$125. (323) 655-0111.

SUNDAY, April 15

A VIP (very important publicist) we know says that it’s time Angelenos learned how to “live vertically.” New Yorkers, he explains, “have been doing it for years and now it’s our turn.” He’s talking, of course, of our town’s recent push for downtown loft living. DesignLofts 2007: Biscuit Company Lofts takes visitors into these gorgeous spaces, originally built in 1925 as a home for Nabisco. Hotshot designers will showcase their interpretations of this so-called modern living, and one of the penthouses will be transformed into an art gallery for the event. Meanwhile, I will attend a meeting of the vertical-living challenged. 673 S. Mateo St., dwntwn.; April 13-29 (no tours on Mon.); $25. (323) 993-7211 or www.lamag.com/biscuit?companlofts.

MONDAY, April 16

Many of the wacky comic actors on MadTV got their start at the Groundlings, where actors learn to make funny choices the way law students learn how to chase ambulances. A bunch of Groundling alums — Michael McDonald, Jennifer Joyce, Guy Stevenson, Jim Wise, Michael Hitchcock, Steven Cragg, Mary Scheer and Phil LaMarr — will share their secrets to success as part of the Groundlings Lecture Series, a.k.a. the “I Am More Successful Than You Though Less So Than Will Ferrell, and Let Me Tell You Why” series. The Groundlings Theater, 7307 Melrose Ave., W. Hlywd.; Mon., April 16, 8 p.m.; $15. (323) 934-4747, Ext. 37.

TUESDAY, April 17

If you watch TLC’s Little People, Big World, you know about the Roloff family — parents Matt and Amy and one son are little people, while their other three children are average size. The family collaborated on the book Little Family, Big Values to share what they’ve learned. Matt and Amy sign and chat. This event was included to mitigate the effects of the aforementioned Friday event. And vice versa. Dutton’s Brentwood, 11975 San Vicente Blvd., Brentwood; Tues., April 17, 12:30 p.m.; free (book is $24). (310) 476-6263.

WEDNESDAY, April 18

You probably didn’t have their sticker on your car or their tattoo on your arm, but once upon a time a little punk rock band from Victorville almost became as big as those other punk rock bands. In the new rock doc Punk Rock Eats Its Own: A Film About Face to Face, you can learn all about their rise to mediocrity and back. A Q&A with lead singer Trever Keith and the film’s producers. AFI’s Music Documentary Series at ArcLight Hollywood, 6360 Sunset Blvd., Hlywd.; Wed., April 18, 8 p.m.; $11. (323) 464-4226.

THURSDAY, April 19

Back when they were called “The Pink Floyd,” Syd Barrett was writing some of the band’s most indelible songs — “Arnold Layne,” “Apples and Oranges,” “See Emily Play.” When he died of cancer last year, no one was terribly surprised; he’d been a hermit for years suffering from mental illness. For this Syd Barrett Night tribute, he will be remembered as the handsome, bearded musical genius he once was. Slated to play: Eleni Mandell, Bedroom Walls, Pity Party, Irving, Nora Keyes, Thundersnail, Marjorie Faire, Gwendolyn and many others. No word on who gets to do “See Emily Play.” Somewhere, the original crazy diamond will be shining on. The Fold at Bordello, 901 E. First St., dwntwn.; Thurs., April 19, 7:30 p.m.; $10. (213) 687-3766.