Introducing: Weekending, our new culture column of things to do beyond music

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Alfre Woodard hosts a celebration of James Baldwin on Sunday
Alfre Woodard hosts a celebration of James Baldwin on Sunday

There’s a big, brilliant world out there beyond the music, so meet Weekending, the new weekly column of things to see and do covering the visual and performing arts, film, food and pop culture.

This roundup is but a sampling of the work by journalist Christine N. Ziemba of Pop Radar LA, which has deep knowledge of all things that feed artistic appetites in L.A.. Follow her @christineziemba on Twitter or Instagram.

Ten cool events happening in L.A. this weekend:

FRIDAY, FEB. 9

BOMB CITY (Film + Q&A)
There’s a special screening of “Bomb City”, presented by Gravitas Ventures and Arena Cinema, at the Cinelounge Rooftop at the Montalban on Friday at 8 p.m. Written and directed by Jamie Brooks, the crime-drama focuses on a group of punk rockers in a conservative Texas town. Their ongoing battle with a more affluent clique leads to a controversial hate crime. There’s a cast and crew Q&A hosted by CJ Ramone of the Ramones following the screening. Tickets: $25.

EDWARDIAN WORLD’S FAIRE + BALL (Party)
The Edwardian Ball traditionally honors the artistic and literary contributions of author and illustrator Edward Gorey. This year, there’s a two-part celebration of Gorey’s only choose-your-own-adventure tale: “The Raging Tide: or, The Black Doll’s Imbroglio”, taking place at the Globe Theater in DTLA. The event begins on Friday at 8 p.m. with the World’s Faire, featuring the Underground Gardens, a Museum of Wonders, installations, characters, games, tarot, an absinthe bar and more. The Edwardian Ball starts at 8 p.m. on Saturday, blending dance, costumes, live music, theater, fashion, circus acts and other festivities. Tickets for the faire begin at $65; tickets to the ball start at $75.

CALIFORNIA INTERNATIONAL ANTIQUARIAN BOOK FAIR (Books)
The 51st California International Antiquarian Book Fair — an exhibition fair of rare books — takes over the Pasadena Convention Center this weekend (Friday from 3 to 8 p.m., Saturday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.). On view are antique books, original manuscripts, photographs and ephemera from more than 200 sellers. The 2018 Book Fair also celebrates the 200th anniversary of the publication of Mary Shelley’s “Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus,” with a special exhibit featuring items from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences, Occidental College Library’s Ned Guymon Mystery and Detective Fiction Collection, among other collections. Tickets for Friday are $25 and includes the rest of the weekend; Saturday or Sunday are $15. All tickets include free admission to the Huntington during the Book Fair.

SATURDAY, FEB. 10

The exhibition, Jasper Johns: Something Resembling Truth. | Image: Flag, 1967. Art © Jasper Johns/Licensed by VAGA, New York, NY.

JASPER JOHNS: ‘SOMETHING RESEMBLING TRUTH’ (Art)
The exhibition “Jasper Johns: Something Resembling Truth” opens at The Broad on Saturday, marking the first full survey of Johns’ storied career in Southern California in more than 50 years. Organized with the Royal Academy, London, the exhibition features more than 120 of Johns’ paintings, sculptures, prints and drawings. The works will remain on view through May 13, with a series of special events programmed to coincide with the exhibit. Tickets to the exhibition are $25 for adults; free for children ages 17 and younger. Additional fees for special programmed events.

MORTIFIED DOOMED VALENTINE’S SHOW (Humor + storytelling)
Mortified
—the OG storytelling show—returns to Wanderlust Hollywood on Saturday night for a special “romance” themed edition. “Doomed Valentine’s Day” features tales ripped from diaries, letters and journals of teenagers, rife with heartaches, crushes, hormones and more. Adult readers share their most embarrassing moments they went through as kids—in front of strangers. There are two shows on Saturday at 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. Tickets: $20-$40.

THE ART OF WHISKEY (Art tour + cocktails)
Women Who Whiskey L.A. presents The Art of Whiskey
, a co-ed pre-Valentine’s Day event on Saturday with Greenbar Distillery — the first distillery in L.A. since Prohibition — and Cindy Schwarzstein, founder of Cartwheel Art Tours. The morning starts off at 10:45 a.m. for a 90-minute mural and street art tour with Schwarzstein, followed by a welcome cocktail and a 60-minute tour of the distillery. Greenbar has the largest portfolio of organic spirits in the world, and guests will be able to pick and choose three to sample. Tickets: $50. Ages 21-plus.

SAN GABRIEL LUNAR NEW YEAR (Festival)
San Gabriel rings in the Year of the Dog on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. with a day of live entertainment, food, shopping, kids’ activities and family fun during the 2018 San Gabriel Lunar New Year Festival. The free festival takes place in and around the Mission Playhouse. Food trucks and booths will abound, including vendors like Mad Dumplings, Jinbao Chestnuts, Waffle Land, Kai Kai Dumplings, Squidies. Beer purveyors: Sapporo, Angel City and Lagunitas.

SUNDAY, FEB. 11

CELEBRATING JAMES BALDWIN HERE AND NOW (Words + ideas)
The Skirball Cultural Center and Beyond Baroque team up to present Celebrating James Baldwin Here and Now on Sunday at 2 p.m. at The Skirball. The event includes readings and discussion focused on the life and legacy of writer-activist James Baldwin. Actor, producer and political activist Alfre Woodard hosts the program, which includes readings by L.A. poet laureate Robin Coste Lewis and performances of Baldwin’s work by actor Jussie Smollett of “Empire.” General admission: $15.

THE ONE DAY PLAYS (Theater)
The IAMA Theatre Company creates six new plays in a single day with its 4th annual One Day Plays event this weekend. Members and friends of the theater company meet up on Saturday to draw directors, writers and actors from a hat to determine six teams. Writers have nine hours to write the scripts, and actors get their lines on Sunday morning to rehearse and memorize with the directors. At 7 p.m. on Sunday, those six works are performed for a live audience at the Atwater Village Theatre. Tickets: $40.

SUNDAYS OF THUNDER (Comedy)
The Groundlings Theatre unveils its new sketch comedy show Sundays of Thunder this Sunday at 7:30 p.m., featuring new sketches from The Groundlings Sunday Company. Performances are scheduled weekly through April 29 with a team of comics and improvisers led by Matt Cook. Tickets: $16. Ages 16+.

||| Also: Get more at Pop Radar LA