FRIDAY, September 21
“A most immaculately hip aristocrat” is how the wildy outrageous and original comic Lord Buckley was once described. Lord Buckley was a lumberjack-turned-vaudevillian. His new form of verbal jazz won such fans as Bob Dylan, Jonathan Winters, George Harrison and Lenny Bruce. Jimmy Buffett even covered Buckley’s “God’s Own Drunk.” You’ve never seen anyone like Lord Buckley — and you never will, since he died in 1960 at age 54. Fortunately, Londoner Jake Broder is keeping the Buckley flame alive with his much-acclaimed show His Royal Hipness Lord Buckley.M Bar, 1253 N. Vine St., Hlywd.; Fri., Sept. 21, 8 p.m.; $15, plus food & drinks. (323) 856-0036.
SATURDAY, September 22
When PEN USA and the Poetry Society of America offer a free two-day event called Festival of California Poets, you go. No questions asked. “Distinguished contemporary California poets discuss and read from authoritative California poets” is all you really need to know. Plus this: Stephen Yenser on Robinson Jeffers, Harryette Mullen on Bob Kaufman, and Carol Muske-Dukes on Ann Stafford. Donald R. Wright Auditorium, Pasadena Central Library, 285 E. Walnut St., Pasadena; Sat., Sept. 22, 2 p.m.; free. Also: Gallery Six, Hammer Museum, 10899 Wilshire Blvd., Wstwd.; Sun., Sept. 23, 7 p.m.; free.
Race/LA — those evil folks who think it’s fun to make you run all over town in a mad scavenger hunt — present the brand-new CityRace Urban Adventure Hunt, just to add even more frenzied stress to your weekend! You and your teammates are given three hours to crack codes and dig into research to reach the right answers to some baffling questions. This first CityRace centers on downtown and is all on foot (those things you walk with). Call for rules & meeting spot; Sat., Sept. 22, 10 a.m.; also Sat., Oct. 20, 10 a.m.; $30. (310) 360-6950.
SUNDAY, September 23
The spiders are back! Hundreds of them — and they’re not in terrariums, and there’s no glass separating them from you. Enter the walk-through Spider Pavilion at your own risk and see golden-silk spiders, the black-and-yellow garden spider and many other fascinating orb-weavers. Spider experts will tell you all about how they trap food and spin webs and write words like “radiant” in them. Maybe not that last part. Nighttime flashlight tours are also planned. Natural History Museum, 900 Exposition Blvd., L.A.; Sept. 23-Nov.4; $3, $2 seniors, $1 children. (213) 763-DINO.
MONDAY, September 24
There’s a new romantic comedy that, thankfully, doesn’t star Jennifer Aniston, and it’s called Feast of Love, with Morgan Freeman, Selma Blair, Greg Kinnear and Radha Mitchell. American Cinematheque presents a sneak preview, followed by a discussion with director Robert Benton (Kramer vs. Kramer). Egyptian Theatre, 6712 Hollywood Blvd., Hlywd.; Mon., Sept. 24, 7:30 p.m.; $11. (323) 465-FILM.
TUESDAY, September 25
Pasadenans love to show us that they enjoy the finer things in life. So of course they’re inviting one and all for A Taste of Old Pasadena, an opportunity to sample food from many of the area’s finest restaurants. It’s a walking tour, so wear comfy shoes — and pace yourself. Proceeds benefit local charities and scholarships. Tickets available at Pasadena-Foothills Association of Realtors, 1060 E. Green St., No. 100, Pasadena; Tues., Sept. 25, 5:30-9 p.m.; $25. (626) 795-2455.
WEDNESDAY, September 26
The Dodgers are playing the Colorado Rockies today. As of press time, they were four and a half games behind the Diamondbacks in the division and two and a half behind the Padres for the wild card. By the time you read this they will have played a bunch of games within their division, so either this game doesn’t matter or it could be very exciting. Dodger Stadium, 1000 Elysian Park Ave., Elysian Park; Wed., Sept. 26, 7:40 p.m.; $10-$100. (213) 480-3232.
THURSDAY, September 27
“Diamonds, daisies, snowflakes, That Girl!” Except in Molly Prather’s case, it’s, “Dildos, bar girls, cleavage, date rape!” Prather’s one-woman show That Girl makes Marlo Thomas look like . . . well, Marlo Thomas. She’s fun. Just don’t take her home. Upright Citizens Brigade, 5919 Franklin Ave., Hlywd.; Thurs., Sept. 27, 8 p.m.; $5. (323) 908-8702.?
