Top photo by Chris BennionBottom photo by Echo DannonDang! Supergrass is sold out. Otherwise, we’d encourage anyone who loves
songs that sear your every molecule with shivering joy to go to Friday’s Troubadour
show. Instead . . .
FRIDAY, September 30
Here’s a hurricane benefit with a philosophy that fits closely with why we love
New Orleans — it’s all about eating, drinking and music. Weiland Brewery co-owner
Rick Bennett came up with The Big Easy in Los Angeles, where the more you
imbibe, the more you help. It’s simply this: a special food and drink menu with
100 percent of the proceeds going to the Red Cross Relief Fund. So belly up for
blackwater gumbo, Creole catfish and hot links. Bennett’s bar staff has been studiously
perfecting hurricanes like the ones we’ve all had too many of after a night at
Pat O’Brien’s and mint juleps (“They’re surprisingly hard to make,” he tells us).
Bands will play, too. And the place is Red Line-able. So give till you puke. Weiland
Brewery, 400 E. First St., downtown; Fri., Sept. 30, 3 p.m.-midnight. (213) 680-2881.
SATURDAY, October 1
Stop reading this if you’re one of those purists who only acknowledges A.A. Milne’s
original Winnie the Pooh and not the Disneyfied version. The new spectacular Disney
Live! Winnie the Pooh — from the people who brought us Disney on Ice — is
a high-tech, high-energy, high-quality production with lots of audience participation.
Kodak Theater, Hollywood Blvd. & Highland Ave., Hollywood; Fri., Sept. 30,
6:30 p.m.; Sat., Oct. 1 & 8, 10:30 a.m., 1:30 & 4:30 p.m.; Sun., Oct. 2 & 9, 10:30
a.m. & 1:30 p.m.; Thurs.-Fri., Oct. 6-7, 11 a.m.; $20-$50. (213) 480-3232.
SUNDAY, October 2
Taking over My Two Dads Park (a.k.a. West Hollywood Park) for one big lit-fest
is the Fourth Annual West Hollywood Book Fair. Bill Maher, Michael York
and Neil Gaiman will sign copies of their latest tomes, and the numerous panel
discussions include “All About Me: Writing the One-Person Show” (with Michael
Kearns, Julia Sweeney) and “Little House on the Bowery” (Dennis Cooper, Trinie
Dalton, Richard Hell). Weekly writer Erin Aubry Kaplan digs into “Free
Speech in a Post 9/11 World” with Robbie Conal, David Ulin and Steve Rohde. I
will be at the Blurbology 101 tent signing copies of these listings. West Hollywood
Park, 647 N. San Vicente Blvd., West Hollywood; Sun., Oct. 2, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.;
free. (323) 848-6515 or www.weho.org/bookfair.
It’s the battle of the cultural festivals. Since you can only scarf so many versions of meat pies, choose carefully: At Sabor De Mexico Lindo — A Taste of Beautiful Mexico sample tasty dishes and watch folkloric dancers dance, singing groups sing and mariachis mariach. For three days! Pacific Blvd., betw. Florence Ave. & Randolph St., Huntington Park; Fri., Sept. 30, 5-11 p.m.; Sat., Oct. 1, 11 a.m.-11 p.m.; Sun., Oct. 2, 11 a.m.-10 p.m.; free. (323) 585-1155.
I’ll take your tamale and I’ll raise you pineapple curry. It’s Sri Lankan
Cultural Day. Count on traditional food and beverages, music, dance, theater
and a screening of Parasathu Mal by famed Sri Lankan actor/director Gamini
Fonseka. Ackerman Grand Ballroom, Second Floor, UCLA, 308 Westwood Plaza, Westwood;
Sun., Oct. 2, 9 a.m.-9 p.m.; free. www.slaasc.com.
The flier for the 2005 Lithuanian Fair shows a woman in an ornate peasant
dress dancing with some sort of fabric. Let’s hope she’ll show how to do traditional
folk dances at the fair celebrating art, music and food. St. Casimir’s Church,
2718 St. George St.; Sat.-Sun., Oct. 1-2, 11:30 a.m.-5 p.m.; $8, $6 seniors. Semi-formal
dinner cruise on Sat., Oct. 1, 7 p.m.; $110, resv. required. www.lithuanianfair.com.

MONDAY, October 3
He was a poet, then a rocker, a publisher, a draw-er, an actor, a film critic. Richard Hell’s latest novel is Godlike, which should be arriving on my desk any day now. If I had the book in hand, I could tell you that it’s set in the East Village in the early ’70s. His readings are special and rare things. All of which brings up the question: What’s Jim Carroll up to these days? Book Soup, 8818 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood; Mon., Oct. 3, 7 p.m. (310) 659-3110.

TUESDAY, October 4
You know what? The sun will come up tomorrow, by gum. You and your hipster/boho/Echo
Park/ironic T-shirt/text messaging/emo boy/blogging pals could really use a dose
of Annie. You bet it’s a hard-knock life and we all have days that
are gray and lonely – but stick out your chin, you spineless hipster. When you
sing about it, you feel better, especially when there’s a shaggy dog involved.
Pantages Theater, 6233 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood; Tues.-Thurs., 7:30 p.m.;
Fri., 8 p.m.; Sat., 2 & 8 p.m.; Sun., 1 & 6:30 p.m.; (additional perf Thurs.,
Oct. 13, 2 p.m.; no evening perf Sun., Oct. 16); Oct. 4-16; $25-$68. (213) 365-3500.

WEDNESDAY, October 5
He’s been called a “wacko film mauler” and “the godfather of idiot cinema” (by
way-indie Guerrilla Monster film auteur JMM). Now Emmy Collins screens his “deranged”
short films The Egoist, The Chicken Motel and Rays of Ineptitude
— trashy but not as classy as Russ Meyer. The First Annual Emmy Collins Film
Fiesta also features burlesque dancing and a rare screening of JMM’s Super-8
Teenage Tupelo. Hell, it’s free. Sponto Gallery, 7 Dudley Ave., Venice;
Wed., Oct. 5, 8 p.m.; free. (310) 306-7330. Also at Echo Park Film Center, 1200
N. Alvarado St.; Thurs., Oct. 6, 8 p.m.; $5. (213) 484-8846.
THURSDAY, October 6
Their names are Chloë, Lisa, Deirdre, Orla and Máiréad, and if last night’s sicko film fest left you in need of a cleansing, put on a clean Aran sweater for Celtic Woman, a little bit Enya, a little bit glockenspiel, and not a bit nasty. Greek Theater, 2700 N. Vermont Ave.; Thurs., Oct. 6, 7:30 p.m.; $44.50-$54.50. (213) 480-3232.

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