FRIDAY, November 14

Howard Stern sidekick and standup comic Artie Lange once said, “Have you ever Googled yourself? I did, most depressing thing ever. People have Web sites hoping I die at 38.” Fortunately, the dude made it to 40 and has recently kicked drugs and drink. His new book, Too Fat to Fish, chronicles his life story from young troublemaker to longshoreman to coke-sniffing pig (a great story from his MADtv days you have to hear him tell) to esteemed Stern crony. Book Soup, 8818 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood; Fri., 10 p.m.; free, but ticket and book ($24.95) required. (310) 659-3110.

SATURDAY, November 15

“Absolutely No O.J. guaranteed on Esotouric’s historic West Side crime bus tour.” That’s a promise from the crime-obsessed tour leaders. They’re calling it the Wild Wild West Side Crime Bus Tour. You’ll learn about bad stuff that took place from the 1910s through the 1960s in Venice, Santa Monica, Marina del Rey and Culver City. Example: “the bungalow where a 1920s cult hid the mummified body of a gorgeous young priestess and her seven puppies for future reanimation.” Three, one, oh! Meet at the Museum of Jurassic Technology, 9341 Venice Blvd., Culver City; Sat., Nov. 15, noon-4 p.m.; $58. (323) 223-2767.

SUNDAY, November 16

We’re off to see Fake Radio — the old-timey radio re-enactors — perform what is sure to be a glorious rendition of The Wizard of Oz, as done by the Lux Radio Theater at Christmastime 1950. Singing along is highly encouraged. Lyric sheets will be provided even though some us know every word by heart. The cast includes Debra Wilson Skelton (MADtv) as the Wicked Witch. Bang! Comedy Theater, 457 N. Fairfax Ave., L.A.; 7:30 p.m., $15, $20 patron seats. www.brownpapertickets.com.

MONDAY, November 17

The following titles will screen at the Jack H. Skirball Series: An Evening with Kenneth Anger: Dangerous Cinema: Ich Will (2007, 35 min.), Mouse Heaven (2005, 12 min.), Elliott’s Suicide (2007, 15 min.), I’ll Be Watching You (2007, 4:52 min.), Foreplay (2008, 7 min.) and Scorpio Rising (1963, 29 min., 35mm). The following avant-garde filmmaker will appear in person: Kenneth Anger. Say something about how the swastika-checkers imagery in Scorpio Rising made you feel and win a prize! Roy and Edna Disney/CalArts Theater, 631 W. Second St., dwntwn.; Mon., Nov. 17, 8:30 p.m.; $9. (213) 237-2800.

TUESDAY, November 18

How to tell if you are famous: Get a call from Annie Leibovitz asking to take your portrait. While the rest of us wait for that call, we can worship at the shutter finger as Ms. Leibovitz discusses her brand-new book Annie Leibovitz at Work. Portraits include Richard Nixon’s resignation, Barack Obama, the Rolling Stones, Queen Elizabeth II, Patti Smith, William S. Burroughs, Kathy Griffin (not really) and many others more important than you or I. Skirball Cultural Center, 2701 N. Sepulveda Blvd., Brentwood; Tues., Nov. 18, 7:30 p.m. (310) 440-4500.

WEDNESDAY, November 19

The trouble with most film screenings is that you can never get a drink, let alone in a setting that recalls a 16th-century Spanish tavern. We’re in favor of films at El Cid. This week, it’s Steve Balderson’s Watch Out. No idea if the flick’s any good, but it was nominated for best film at some film festival in London that Ella Taylor’s never heard of. It’s about a guy who’s literally in love with his own body and gets it on with a blow-up doll made to resemble himself. Actually, this sounds pretty cool and/or awful. El Cid, 4212 Sunset Blvd., Silver Lake; Wed., Nov. 19, 9:30 p.m.; $10. 668-0318.

THURSDAY, November 20

Artful Solutions is an exhibition of work from the Families in Transition program, which raises awareness of homelessness. The Pasadena Police Department’s Homeless Outreach/Psychiatric Evaluation (HOPE) Team, Armory Center for the Arts and Union Station Foundation sponsor the workshops. It’s a chance to see the artistic talents of recently homeless families, women and children in transitional living. Armory Center for the Arts, Community Room, 145 N. Raymond Ave., Pasadena; Tues.-Sun., noon-5 p.m.; free. (626) 792-5101, Ext. 122; www.armoryarts.org.

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