GO LA: Alvin Ailey, Karen Kilgariff and the Bloody Truth About Downtown

SUNDAY, MARCH 22

You call this courtship?

Something bad’s going down on Main Street.

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More About

• Alvin Ailey
• Karen Kilgariff
• Baghdad
• Winter Sports
• Figure Skating

Ice Pick of the Week

WE ARE THE WORLDS

Is winter over already? In fact, did winter even arrive here this year? Los Angeles may not seem like a winter wonderland, especially to those around the rest of the country who are still digging out their cars from piled-up banks of snow, but this week our fair city gets to host the ISU World Figure Skating Championships for the first time in the history of the competition, which started in 1896. The truth is, Southern California has had a long relationship with figure skating; Peggy Fleming, Tai Babilonia & Randy Gardner, Sasha Cohen, and, of course, Michelle Kwan (the sport’s equivalent to Michael Jordan) are among the many skaters who were raised in the Southland. And several skaters with local ties compete this week, including El Segundo’s Evan Lysacek, a two-time World bronze medalist; Del Mar’s Rachael Flatt, an energetically appealing jump specialist; veteran pairs team Rena Inoue & John Baldwin; and the precociously talented young skaters Bebe Liang and Mirai Nagasu. Korea’s Yu-Na Kim and Japan’s Mao Asada (who might attempt an unprecedented quad jump) should battle for the gold in the ladies event, but keep an eye on Flatt and Ohio’s relatively mature Alissa Czisny (age 21), the new U.S. champ, who skates with a welcome artistic elegance. On the men’s side, Lysacek could be tested by fellow Americans Jeremy Abbott and Brandon Mroz, Canada’s Patrick Chan and last year’s World champ, the redoubtable Brian Joubert of France. The pairs competition will likely come down to three of China’s high-flying, death-defying teams: Xue Shen & Hongbo Zhao, Qing Pang & Jian Tong, or Dan Zhang & Hao Zhang. In the more formally grounded and graceful ice dancing event, we’re pulling for the terminally vivacious Tanith Belbin and partner Benjamin Agosto to finally snag their first World gold medal. Staples Center, 11th & Figueroa sts., downtown; Sun., March 22-Sun., March 29. (888) SKATE09 or www.isuworlds2009.com.  —Falling James

Film Festival

AND YOU CAN TAKE THAT TO THE BANK

Burbank is home to such major motion picture studios as the Walt Disney Company, Warner Bros., Touchstone, Columbia and (well, it’s close) Universal Studios. None of them have anything to do with The First Annual Burbank International Film Festival. The weeklong fest kicks off today with an inauguration ceremony and screening of The Brothers Warner, a documentary directed by by Cass Warner (granddaughter of Warner Bros. founder Harry Warner). The fest will also screen the doc Faire: An American Renaissance and include a medieval party where guests are encouraged to come in corset and tights and such. Woodbury University, 7500 Glen Oaks Blvd., Burbank; Sun., March 22-Sun., March 29. For schedule: (888) 767-4631 or www.burbankfilmfestival.org. —L.M.

MONDAY, MARCH 23

Film

HOW TO BE AN ASSHOLE, L.A. VERSION

Stephen Farber’s Reel Talk film series gives us the opportunity to see romantic thriller Duplicity before the masses. Then we can go to Whole Foods — the one on San Vicente, of course — and talk loudly about the movie until even Reese Witherspoon gives us the evil eye. We’ll dissect Julia Roberts’ performance and post-baby bod and comment on Clive Owens’ shirtless scene, which we heartily approve of. Then we’ll talk up the supporting performances by Paul Giamatti and Tom Wilkinson until Shirley MacLaine storms out of the store, forgetting to pay for her wheatgrass. Wadsworth Theatre, on the Veterans Administration grounds, Bldg. 226, West L.A.; Mon., March 23, 7 p.m.; $20. (213) 365-3500.  —L.M.

TUESDAY, MARCH 24

Comedy Pick

KAREN KILGARIFF, DISCOMFORTABLE

The former head writer for Ellen and Mr. Show leaves her house for a little standup action. —Libby Molyneaux

L.A. WEEKLY: Kilgariff — what kind of name is that?

KAREN KILGARIFF: It’s Irish and, if what I’ve been told is correct, it means little church on a hill.

Who do people say you look like?

My mother, Delta Burke, Natalie from Facts of Life and, if someone is trying to kiss my ass, Sherilyn Fenn. Once, in the early ’90s, I got Björk from a doorman in San Francisco. I burst into tears of joy.

Who are your comedy heroes?

The earliest one I can think of is Jane Doorknacker. She was a standup in San Francisco and in the late ’70s she did the traffic report on KFRC, the local AM station we listened to on the way to school. When she came on, all you heard was her talking, and everyone else in the booth laughing hysterically. I just sat there thinking, “I want to do that.” I was also rubbing my hands together maniacally and rocking back and forth. I made carpool uncomfortable for the other children.

If you could never leave one block of L.A., where would it be?

The one my house is on, and I rarely do, and stop judging me.

If the Internet is to be believed, you have won “numerous Emmy and PGA Awards.” What do you do with them?