{mosimage}FRIDAY, May 4

Summer’s not far off, and for my money, the best film ever made about beach season is Mr. Hulot’s Holiday, Jacques Tati’s (mostly) silent, black-and-white film that stars the director as the bumbling, havoc-causing Monsieur Hulot, who can’t even hold a tennis racket or a walking stick without making hilarious, beautiful chaos. Tati’s biography contains this comical line: “Much to his parents’ disgust, he became a mime.” He won an Oscar with Mon Oncle, another work of sheer, silly genius. See both films at the double-feature presentation, part of American Cinematheque’s “Tativille: The Films of Jacques Tati.” Aero Theater, 1328 Montana Ave., Santa Monica; Fri., May 4, 7:30 p.m.; $10, $8 students & seniors. (323) 466-FILM.

SATURDAY, May 5

When I was living in the Hotel Chelsea with Robert Mapplethorpe in the mid-’70s . . . wait, that was Patti Smith, not me. I always make that mistake. “Bande à Part,” a new exhibit of photographs from the NYC art scene of the ’60s, ’70s and ’80s — when the East Village was creeping with Ramones and Dolls instead of Jamba Juices and strollers — opens today with work by Roberta Bayley, Danny Fields, Gerard Malanga (Warhol pal), Billy Name (ditto) and Marcia Resnick (knew Blondie). Another Warhol crony, Anton Perich, is coming in from the Big Apple for the opening. The Shooting Gallery, 7403 Sunset Blvd., Hlywd.; opening Sat., May 5, 7-11 p.m.; show runs thru June 9. RSVP at (323) 882-8340.

Click here to see more images from the exhibit, “Bande à Part,”

SUNDAY, May 6

Be the first on your block to witness Pelicanman, the brainchild of Mike Watt and Petra Haden, at this groovy Blast! [4] benefit and silent art-auction for SASSAS — the Society for the Activation of Social Space Through Art and Sound. Proceeds from the auction (including works by Catherine Opie, T. Kelly Mason and others) and the concert, also featuring My Barbarian, Puttanesca, the Dublab Soundsystem and Tom Recchion, go to support SASSAS’s upcoming summer series, which includes Smegma’s Oblivia, Fred Frith, L.A. composer Leticia Castaneda and other avant-gardists. At a private home in Brentwood; Sun., May 6, 4-8 p.m.; $75, $30 students; $50 SASSAS members; $300 ticket includes an iPod shuffle programmed by the Guerrilla Girls or Christopher Williams. www.sassas.org. See Music Pick.

MONDAY, May 7

“I write entirely to find out what I’m thinking, what I’m looking at, what I see and what it means. What I want and what I fear.” The quote is from Joan Didion, but it is also, coincidentally, how this author brings these blurbs to life. Didion, author of The Year of Magical Thinking, along with The White Album and Play It as It Lays, gives a talk as part of the Music Center Speaker Series. Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, 135 N. Grand Ave., dwntwn.; Mon., May 7, 8 p.m.; $50-$150. (213) 972-0700.

TUESDAY, May 8

You’ve seen the Überorgan. You’ve heard the Überorgan play its ominous notes. You’ve even smelled the Überorgan. But do you really understand how Tim Hawkinson’s collection of gigantic reservoir balloons works? (Hint: motion detectors and Mylar.) The Getty’s “Masterpiece of the Week Talk” is a 15-minute in-depth look at the thing. The Getty (meet at the Museum Information Desk), 1200 Getty Center Dr., L.A.; Tues., May 8-13, 4 p.m.; free, $8 parking. (310) 440-7300.

WEDNESDAY, May 9

Will Shortz is like a rock star among the crossword-puzzle cognoscenti, which you already knew if you saw the documentary Wordplay. The New York Times crossword editor is taking his act on the road for An Evening With the Puzzle Master: Will Shortz,  an evening of audience-participation word games, questions and answers. Royce Hall, UCLA, Wstwd.; Wed., May 9, 8 p.m.; $20-$35. (310) 825-2101.

THURSDAY, May 10

Hollywood nightclubs aren’t limited to fledgling Iggy Pops and boozy starlets — not that there’s anything wrong with that. L’effleur des Sens is turning into a flagship boulevard scene offering choreographer Cati Jean’s sexy rendition of French cabaret. The dancers all have extensive training and experience and serve up hot moves with no tipping required. King King, 6555 Hollywood Blvd., Hlywd.; Thurs., May 10, 8 p.m.; $26 reserved seating; $15 general admission at door, $10 in advance. (323) 960-9234 or www.ticketweb.com.

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