FRIDAY, September 16

She’s proud to be an American, that Exene Cervenka. Want proof? Santa Monica Museum of Art’s Project Room presents nine of the 100-some journals the lead singer of X (yeah, and the Knitters, among a couple other bands) has been keeping since 1974 in Exene Cervenka: America the Beautiful, guest-curated by Michael Duncan and Kristine McKenna. The journals include collages made from stuff Exene found on the road. Hidden somewhere in it all is the clue to who the real Johnny and Pauline are. Santa Monica Museum of Art, Bergamot Station, 2525 Michigan Ave., Santa Monica; Sept. 17-Nov. 26. Reception Fri., Sept. 16, 7-9 p.m. Performance by Ms. Cervenka on Thurs., Nov. 3, 7 p.m. (310) 586-6488.

“Norm said, ‘I wish my mother-in-law would stop barging in our house. Last night, she came in while my wife and I were blanking on the couch.’ ” Dennis Hensley returns — just try to stop him! — as Gene Rayburn for another round of The MisMatch Game, with Madeline Long as Shelley Winters, Tony Tripoli as Charles Nelson Reilly, Sam Pancake as Blair from Facts of Life, and Patrick Bristow, whose role is a surprise. You may need to down a few whiskey sours before this one. The Renberg Theater at the Village at Ed Gould Plaza at the L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center (could that be a longer friggin’ name?), 1125 N. McCadden Place, Hollywood; Fri.-Sat., Sept. 16-17, 8 p.m.; $15 (benefits the Center). (323) 860-7300.

SATURDAY, September 17

Miss Burning Man? (Why, yes, I was a finalist.) Arty exhibitionists come together
in five adjoined warehouses for the second Six Degrees Festival. Somebody
added it up to more than 44,000 square feet split into five minifestivals of art,
music, film and fashion. Examples: Scott Beibin’s Lost Film Fest, celebrating
illegal art and fun with pranks, plus a music stage with funk, soul and reggae.
Outside, the street will be filled with art cars. The best part is that you don’t
have to camp. Main entrance at 1329 E. Sixth St., downtown; Sat., Sept. 17,
3 p.m.-mid.; $10. www.sixdegreesfestival.com.

SUNDAY, September 18

You may not be able to afford to live there, but you are invited to Taste of
Santa Monica, where your $35 ticket gets you all the nibbles you can stomach
from such fancy restaurants as Locanda del Lago, the Lobster, I Cugini, Cezanne
and Mariasol. Santa Monica Pier; Sun., Sept. 18, noon-4 p.m.; $35. www.tasteofsantamonica.com.

MONDAY, September 19

Jill Soloway first gained notice for creating, with sister Faith, The Real Live Brady Bunch, followed by The Miss Vagina Pageant. Then it was a short story called “Courtney Cox’s Asshole,” and then a big, fancy job writing for Six Feet Under. (But has she ever been a professional blurbologist?) Today, she has a book signing for Tiny Ladies in Shiny Pants, which she says is “about family, sex, post-feminist politics, Monica Lewinksy, love, television, and In Touch Magazine.” What can we expect at her Tiny Ladies Extravaganza, featuring Kathy Najimy, Sarah Silverman and Justina Machado? Soloway promises “Nudity, smearing of food, accordions and fire. Okay, lying. None of those things. Metaphorical versions of those things. Nudity expressed through having brilliant actresses read only the most soul-baring parts of my book. The accordion and fire imagery might suggest you’re in for the hot, hot, jaunty, silly music of Candypants, who will play music in and around the readings from my book. Smearing of food? Well, there will be free food (and drink) afterwards at the party where I will be signing my book. Free food always leads to a food fight. Did I mention my book? MY BOOK! MY BOOK! It’s all about the book.” Comedy Central Stage, 6539 Santa Monica Blvd., Hollywood; Mon., Sept. 19, 8 p.m.; free, but resv. required. (323) 960-5519. Also reading Tuesday at The Grove’s Barnes & Noble.

TUESDAY, September 20

If you happened to be traveling through Latin America and Southern Africa a few years ago and got stuck behind a VW van, it may have been Amanda and Rich Ligato. The couple quit their jobs for a three-year adventure traveling 60,000 miles through 24 countries. Their book’s title, Wide-Eyed Wanderers, A Befuddling Journey From the Rat Race to the Roads of Latin America and Africa, pretty much tells you what to expect at this slide lecture. Ask them if they saw traffic any worse than on our own 405. Adventure 16, 11161 W. Pico Blvd.; Tues., Sept. 20, 7 p.m.; free. (310) 473-4574. Adventure 16, 5425 Reseda Blvd., Tarzana; Wed., Sept. 21, 7 p.m.; free. (818) 345-4266.

WEDNESDAY, September 21

Raise your hands if you thought the famous car chase scene in The French Connection took place in Chicago? Almost half of the L.A. Weekly editorial staff thought so. But of course, it’s NYC, and filmmakers have been trying to make a more thrilling street race ever since. Even French Connection director William Friedkin tried to outdo himself a few years later with To Live and Die in L.A. Just please drive carefully on the way home. AFI’s 100 Years . . . 100 Movies Screening Series continues with this hard-boiled classic. AFI at ArcLight, 6360 Sunset Blvd., Hollywood; Wed., Sept. 21, 8 p.m.; $11. (323) 464-4226.


THURSDAY, September 22

Geoff Haas, Joe Pickett and Nick Pruher scoured garage sales and garbage cans
to come up with the fodder for The Found Footage Festival, a touring show
of oddball clips of videotapes. The “Bad Tracking” installment includes a kid
drumming in Metallica in his living room. “FBI Warning” features homemade music
videos and a video diary by kid heartthrob Corey Haim. And maybe something you
thought you threw away. M Bar, 1253 N. Vine St., Hollywood; Thurs.-Sat., 8
p.m. (“FBI Warning” on Thurs. & Sat.; “Bad Tracking” on Fri.); $10. (323) 993-3305.

Advertising disclosure: We may receive compensation for some of the links in our stories. Thank you for supporting LA Weekly and our advertisers.