Photo by Rocky Schenck

FRIDAY, AUGUST 5

Adieu, Bricktops, we hardly knew vous. The last Bricktops — Vaginal Davis’ homme-erific homage to Jazz Age–Café Society Paris and other eras where literary types did debauchery with panache — features just about everyone who’s ever performed on the petite stage, including Abby Travis, Kristian Hoffman, the Pretty Things, Selene Luna, La Poubelle Twins and undoubtedly some surprises. At some point, Ms. Davis will use the word “Piaf” in a way no one else can. The new owner, Sean MacPherson, is turning the space into yet another yuppie haunt, so we can also bid goodbye to cheap, strong drinks. Quel fromage! The Parlour Club, 7702 Santa Monica Blvd., West Hollywood; $5. (323) 650-7968.

SATURDAY, AUGUST 6

It’s just another mela (“bazaar”) in Pakistan as you stroll through the aisles of vendors selling all kinds of Indian and Pakistani music and mouth-numbing biriyani dishes at PakDayLA. The organizers of the huge South Asian festival have bought out all the regular Coliseum food stands promising “no nachos.” The highlight will surely be the performances by Junoon, “the U2 of South Asia,” hot off of playing at Live 8, and UK bhangra star Juggy D. Come see why Muslims don’t need alcohol to have a wild, colorful time. Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Exposition Park; 4 p.m.–1 a.m.; $1 donation. (310) 483-7804.

After digging into the history, Matt Scott — an apprentice puppeteer under Bob Baker at the famous L.A. marionette theater — realized that the beauty and entertainment of the old-time minstrel show was something people should still appreciate. So after eliminating the blatantly racist aspects of a minstrel show (like Jim Crow), he’s assembled Rasputin’s Minstrels in Showboatin’: A Marionette Spectacle, a circa-1876 minstrel show re-creation including a puppet modeled after Bessie Smith singing “Alexander’s Ragtime Band.” There will also be a live performance by a duo paying homage to the blackfaced singers the Duncan Sisters, minstrel artwork by Gidget Gein and “free giveways.” California Institute of Abnormalart, 11334 Burbank Blvd., North Hollywood; 8:30 p.m.; $10. (818) 506-6353.

Does driving by all the banners around town for “Basquiat” at MOCA qualify as seeing the exhibit? Well, it should. MOCA is pulling in hipsters, artsters and hipists with its summertime series NIGHT VISION: MOCA After Dark. Basically, it’s permission to drink and see art. The museum stays open till midnight and, meanwhile, there’s a different lineup of groovy entertainment each Saturday. This week’s event features screenings of graffiti/hip-hop docs Style Wars and Style Wars Revisited, followed by a panel discussion with director Tony Silver and then a performance by soul fusers the Sahaja Uprockers. The celebrated dead junkie would have loved it. MOCA, 250 S. Grand Ave., downtown; 8 p.m.–mid.; free with museum admission, $8, $5 students & seniors. (213) 621-1734.




Fun
with Krishnas.
See Sunday.
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SUNDAY, AUGUST 7

PakDay’s over for another year, but there’s still the Festival of the Chariots, which the organizers are calling the “largest religious event in Southern California.” This is the only festival of the week with three 50-foot chariots, plus a free feast for all, thanks to the International Society for Krishna Consciousness. Live entertainment by drummers, swordfighters, dancers and mantra-rockers, plus yoga, meditation and reincarnation exhibits round out the spectacle. Where else but Venice! Ocean Front Walk Plaza, 1530 Ocean Front Walk, Windward Ave. & the boardwalk (look for the saffron robes). (310) 836-4342.

MONDAY, AUGUST 8

As a species, human beings have a lot to brag about. One of them, Dr. Robert Boyd, wrote a book called Not By Genes Alone: How Culture Transformed Human Evolution, which explains why homo sapiens, in a word, rule. Dr. Boyd will give a lecture on how and why we are so much better, smarter and more adaptable than cats and even dogs. Afterward, go look at the fish and yell, “Loser!” Aquarium of the Pacific’s Honda Theater, 100 Aquarium Way, Long Beach; 7–8:30 p.m.; $7. (562) 590-3100.

TUESDAY, AUGUST 9

Joey, dead. Johnny, dead. Dee Dee, dead. This proves that if you were a member
of the Ramones, it paid to be the drummer, of which there are four still alive
(Tommy, Marky, Richie, Elvis). If you’re a fan, you’ve probably already seen the
excellent Ramones doc The End of the Century, but the new Route
05 Film Series, brought to you by that strange Scion car, presents a free
screening, plus a Q&A with director Michael Gramaglia and after-party. Silent
Movie Theater, 6111 N. Fairfax Ave.; 6:30 p.m.; free, but resv. required at
www.scion.com/route.

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 10

He’s the guy responsible for Gilda Radner’s Roseanne Roseannadanna character and wrote many of the classic “Samurai” skits for John Belushi. He’s written a ton of other stuff, too. Alan Zweibel’s latest novel, The Other Shulman, is the story of a middle-aged man, whose adventures, we’re guessing, are tons funnier than we could ever be. Book Soup, 8818 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood; 7 p.m.; free. (310) 659-3110.

THURSDAY, AUGUST 11

If it’s every other Thursday, it must be Sit ’n’ Spin, Jill Soloway and Maggie Rowe’s hip but not too hip gathering of genuinely funny people who write, and writers who are genuinely funny. This one’s an all-boy show, with Bill Rutkowski, Ben Wexler, Paul Gilmartin, Peter Melman and Jimmy Doyle with music by David Zasloff. Call to rsvp asap cuz these things fill up fast. Comedy Central Stage, at the Hudson Theater, 6539 Santa Monica Blvd., Hollywood; 8 p.m.; free but resv. required. (323) 960-5519.

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