Christine N. Ziemba on February 22nd, 2018

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[Weekending is Buzz Bands LA’s new weekly column of things to see and do. For more, visit Pop Radar LA.]

Ten ways to enrich your cultural diet this weekend — not to mention your short game — from a Bill Barminski retrospective to a musical based on George Takei’s family to a travel show to women’s arm wrestling. Not to mention: Saturday is Bob Baker Day. 

FRIDAY, FEB. 23

Image via barminski.com

BILL BARMINSKI RETROSPECTIVE (Art)

There’s a two-night Bill Barminski Retrospective that takes over the Castelli Art Space on Friday and Saturday from 6 to 10 p.m. The art show focuses on the 30-year career of the underground cartoonist, painter and multimedia artist, who’s known for the iconic Absolut Vodka billboard on Sunset, the security entrance to Banksy’s Dismaland and many more works. The retrospective includes more than two dozen paintings from various periods of Barminski’s career, focusing on the mid-’80s and 2000s. The exhibit also features a never before-seen large bronze sculpture and new renditions of his signature cardboard sculptures.

NO TASTE FOR BAD TASTE (Art)

For the exhibition, “No Taste for Bad Taste,” opening at the A+D Museum, 40 designers, philosophers, manufacturers, artists, journalists, gallery owners and photographers were interviewed by the Peclers agency to explain their vision of “French design” and help conceptualize the exhibition. This group was asked to select 40 cult objects to represent their definitions and ideas. “No Taste fort Bad Taste” opens Friday and runs through April 29. General admission: $7.

ALLEGIANCE (Theater)

“Allegiance” is a musical inspired by actor George Takei’s family, particularly their time spent in a Japanese incarceration camp during WWII. Music and lyrics are by Jay Kuo, and the book’s written by Kuo, Marc Acito and Lorenzo Thione. “Allegiance” is in previews this weekend on Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. Tickets start at $25. The show runs through April.

THE CURED (Film + Q&A)

“The Cured,” written and directed by David Freyne, posits the question/problem: What happens when the undead return to life? The Cured are ex-zombies, who are healed, but are hated, feared and distrusted in society. They are also often haunted by the kills and the violence of their former selves. There’s a Q&A on Friday at the 7:30 p.m. screening with director Freyne and actor Ellen Page; and on Saturday at 1 p.m. with Freyne.

CALL ME BY YOUR NAME (Book talk)

Book Soup, WeHo Reads and the West Hollywood Public Library present author Andre Aciman who’ll discuss and sign his novel, “Call Me by Your Name,” which was adapted into the Oscar-nominated film. He’ll discuss the book with author Abdi Nazemian, an associate producer of the film. This event is free and open to the public and takes place off-site at the WeHo Public Library’s City Council Chambers. Book signing line priority given to those who purchase a copy of “Call Me By Your Name” or “Enigma Variations” from Book Soup.

SATURDAY, FEB. 24

Image courtesy of the Bob Baker Marionette Theater

BOB BAKER DAY (Celebration)

The fourth annual Bob Baker Day takes place inside and outside at the Bob Baker Marionette Theater on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The day’s being held on what would have been founder Bob Baker’s 94th birthday. Enjoy performances by the Bob Baker Marionettes, Healing Gems, Very Be Careful, Radioactive Chicken Heads, Tiny & Mary and King Kukulele. The carnival features special special guests including DJ Lance Rock of Yo Gabba Gabba!, Tim Nordwind of OK Go, and many others. Free.

GLOW BALL (Night golf)

Play Glow Ball — glow-in-the-dark, pitch-and-putt golf — at the Los Feliz par 3 golf course on Saturday night. Check-in begins at 5 p.m. with food and drinks, and a shotgun start at 6 p.m. Prizes given out at 8 p.m. Sign up by calling Geri at (818) 246-1633. Tickets: $25.

TRAVEL & ADVENTURE SHOW (Convention)

The 2018 Los Angeles Travel & Adventure Show takes over the L.A. Convention Center Halls J/K on Saturday and Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. where real-life and armchair adventurers can feed their wanderlust. Discover more than 300 destinations and plan trips with travel experts; attend educational seminars on travel tips and cooking demos; meet travel celebrities Samantha Brown, Rick Steves and Phil Keoghan; and take part in family-friendly activities. Adult admission: $11, $16 (for both days). Admission for children 16 and younger is free.

LOS ANGELES LADY ARM WRESTLING (Arm wrestling)

Los Angeles Lady Arm Wrestlers presents Super Claw on Saturday night at 7 p.m. at the Bootleg Theater. it’s a little mix of of WWF, roller derby, burlesque, drag and performance art, with women wrestlers creating wild personas, theme songs and entourages. The performers also solicit donations from the audience, with proceeds benefiting The Women’s Center for Creative Work. Tickets: $10-$15. Super Claw is the final event for the Queens at the Table Conference, which seeks to share ideas and discussion on ways to empower women.

SUNDAY, FEB. 25

AIRTALK’S FILMWEEK OSCAR PREVIEW (Film talk)

AirTalk’s FilmWeek Oscar Preview, hosted by KPCC’s Larry Mantle, returns to The Theatre at Ace Hotel on Sunday at 1 p.m. Mantle is joined onstage by AirTalk’s FilmWeek critics for its 16th annual Oscar preview event. Panelists are: Justin Chang, Tim Cogshell, Andy Klein, Christy Lemire, Lael Loewenstein, Wade Major, Amy Nicholson, Peter Rainer and Charles Solomon. Tickets: $12-$14.

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