LA Weekly

FRIDAY, May 2

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Ron English’s Hellaboy. See Saturday.

Judy Toll was a talented and funny writer and comic whose life was cut short in 2002 by melanoma. Along the way, she became buddies with fellow Groundlings member Kathy Griffin, wrote for Sex and the City, appeared on Curb Your Enthusiasm and managed to extricate herself from the evil Scientology fucks. After Judy’s death, her brother Gary relocated his family to L.A., took classes at the Los Angeles Film School and spent four years making Judy Toll: The Funniest Woman You’ve Never Heard Of, featuring Griffin, Andy Kindler, Taylor Negron, Mindy Sterling and many others. This special screening on the sixth anniversary of her death benefits the John Wayne Cancer Institute. Los Angeles Film School Theater, 6363 Sunset Blvd., Hlywd.; Fri., May 2, 8 p.m.; free, donations accepted; www.judytoll.com.

SATURDAY, May 3

Lewis Black might be the angriest comic on the planet these days. Dig this: “They’ve gotta stop reporting wind chill. That’s nonsense. It really is. I don’t know where they came up with it, why they came up with it, but it’s a lie. They come on, ‘Well, it’s 27 degrees today, but with the wind chill, it’s minus 3.’ ... Well, then it’s minus 3, asshole!” Though he tours regularly, he never quite makes it to L.A. proper, preferring those “Greater L.A.” stops. What’s the matter, Mr. Black? Long Beach Terrace Theater, 300 Ocean Blvd., Long Beach; Sat., May 3, 8 p.m.; $47.50-$65.50. (562) 436-3661. Also at Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza, 2100 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd.; Fri., May 2, 8 p.m.; $45-$65. (805) 449-ARTS (2787).

Carnivora — The Dark Art of Automobiles sounds like an incident that involved me, a burrito and a stop sign on Fountain. It’s really an exhibit and book by a horde of artists that “takes you on a chilling joy ride powered by the automotive age’s hottest artists and coolest writers.” Art director Les Barahy curated the show, which includes work by H.R. Giger, Anthony Ausgang, Robert Crumb, Glenn Barr and Robert Williams. L’Imagerie Gallery, 10555 Victory Blvd., N. Hlywd.; opening reception Sat., May 3, 7 p.m.; Tues.-Sat., 11:30 a.m.-6 p.m.; thru June 14. (818) 762-8488.

 
SUNDAY, May 4

What’s so strange about the Getty? Up there on that hill, spines are being tingled at Selected Shorts: A Celebration of the Short Story, which concludes this weekend. It’s a classy place for noir galore, featuring crime stories from “The Black Lizard Big Book of Pulps” (Fri., May 2); “The Best American Mystery Stories” (Sat., May 3) and “Dangerous Women” (Sun., May 4), with stories read by Christina Pickles, René Auberjonois and Hattie Winston. Getty Center, 1200 Getty Center Dr.; Fri.-Sat., May 2-3, 8 p.m.; Sun., May 4, 3 p.m.; $20. (310) 440-7300.
 

MONDAY, May 5

It’s Cinco de Mayo, the day St. Pedro chased the owls from Tijuana, or something. When most people think of Cinco de Mayo, they think of getting Stinko all Dayo on margaritas. While the bars and clubs are filled with people drinking neon-green concoctions that come from a spigot, I suggest you stay home and mix a real margarita. Here’s el ultimo recipe de George Molyneaux:

One-and-a-half ounces clear tequila, preferably Herradura Silver
Splash of Cointreau
Bigger splash of freshly squeezed lime juice
Lots of ice
Blend only if you don’t have the good tequila. Salt if you want. Drink. Repeat.

 
TUESDAY, May 6

When it comes to comedy, Canada is a name you can trust, especially if “Toronto” is mentioned in the first sentence of a Canadian-sent press release. Here we have Spare Some Changes, featuring Rebecca Addelman, Inessa Frantowski and Holly Prazoff, who’ve been called “the Charlie’s Angels of the alt-comedy scene,” a designation that doesn’t sound very promising unless they have talking boobs or something. The Steve Allen Theater, 4773 Hollywood Blvd., L.A.; Tues., May 6, 8 p.m.; $5. (323) 666-9797.

 
WEDNESDAY, May 7

Fresh from his hot-potato talks with Hamas, President Jimmy Carter will sign his new book, A Remarkable Mother, his homage to his mother, Miss Lillian Carter. Here’s the deal: You have to buy the book the night before, when you will receive your validated line ticket that tells you what time to show up. You’ll need one ticket for every book you want signed. Even then, try not to look suspicious, or you’ll run the risk of arousing the ire of the Secret Service. Vroman’s Bookstore, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena; Wed., May 7, 6:30 p.m. (626) 449-5320.

 
THURSDAY, May 8

“People telling the truth, but funny,” promise the organizers of Sit ’n’ Spin, the writers’ reading series brought to us by Jill Soloway, Maggie Rowe and Jaclyn Lafer. This installment features the hilariously brilliant Carol Leifer, who once said, “I’m not into working out. My philosophy: No pain, no pain.” Also with Davis McHenry, Andrea Abbate, Brian Reich, Keith Blaney, Kevin Nealon and musical guest Liesel Euhler. Comedy Central Stage, 6539 Santa Monica Blvd., Hlywd.; Thurs., May 8, 8 p.m.; free, resv. required. (323) 960-5519.