Erin BroadleyOther than the term “swine flu,” we learned several very important things over the weekend: Bea Arthur (RIP) made a damn good leg of roast lamb, there is definitely a limit to how much grilled cheese one can consume, and that the Belvedere vodka served at our L.A. Weekend festival — yeah, that stuff — was 100-proof. Good times. The hangover was worth it though; it's not every weekend you get treated to surprise performances by Perry Farrell and Macy Gray at your own party.
The two-day L.A. Weekly L.A. Weekend festival kicked off Friday evening at the Nike Montalban Theatre with an art opening from People issue photographer Kevin Scanlon, music from special guest DJs Henry Rollins and Keith Morris, a reading and book signing from Wil Wheaton, music and video from The Human Ear Collective, a dinner visit from Kogi Korean BBQ truck, plus a performance by musician Lynda Kaye.
View photos from day one in Timothy Norris' slideshow and read more in Randall Roberts' “Weekend Report: Lynda Kay, Henry Rollins, Keith Morris, Geneva Jacuzzi Do the Montalban” in West Coast Sound.
Perry Farrell performs “Sympathy for the Devil” with Matt Sorum and friends at the Montalban; Credit: Timothy Norris
Day two of our L.A. Weekend festival on Saturday featured the Carnivore! meat lovers panel with Jonathan Gold, Mark Peel of Campanile, Vinny Dotolo of Animal, Octavio Becerra of Palate and Susan Feniger of Street; a special matinee performance from the cast of Point Break Live!; an authors panel with Joe Donnelly, Jerry Stahl, Richard Lange, Patrick Dewitt and Evan Wright; a rare book and print signing with artist David Weidman; a book signing with Life on Planet Rock author Lonn Friend; a comedic set by Taylor Negron and surprise appearance by his cousin Chuck Negron (of Three Dog Night) who got the entire audience singing “Jeremiah was a Bullfrog”; a screening of the music documentary The Heart is a Drum Machine; and a grand finale performance from Matt Sorum and friends that included appearances by Perry Farrell, Macy Gray, Juliette Lewis, Billy Morrison, Donovan Leitch and Chris Chaney.
View photos from day two in Timothy Norris' slideshow.
Getting Krafty; Credit: Drew Tewksbury
Also on Saturday was the 7th annual Grilled Cheese Invitational. According to Tim Walker, the event's founder and organizer, “The 1st 7th Annual Grilled Cheese Invitational is the greatest combination of bravery and unnecessarily competitive cheese the world has seen since Neil Diamond's 2008 world tour.” Over 5,000 people showed up at the Los Angeles State Historic Park to test their chops at grilled cheese slinging or to sample the finest in cheesy cuisine. View photos from the event in Drew Tewskbury's slideshow.
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