Christine N. Ziemba on March 8th, 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 get your culture on this weekend, from political satire to (live) animation to a special day for all at MOCA.

FRIDAY, MARCH 9

THE DEATH OF STALIN (Film)

“The Death of Stalin,” a political satire film directed and co-written by Armando Iannucci, opens on Friday. The New Yorker notes, “Iannucci shows something that few people understand about Stalin’s reign and its aftermath: that it was both terrifying and ridiculous, and terrifying in its ridiculousness.” And if you don’t know Iannucci’s name, you might know his other creation better: HBO’s “VEEP.” Catch “The Death of Stalin” at the ArcLight Hollywood for several special Q&As this weekend (Friday to Sunday) with Iannucci and/or actor Jason Isaacs. ArcLight tickets: $16.75-18.25.

ARTNIGHT PASADENA (Music + Art)

ArtNight Pasadena takes place on Friday from 6-10 p.m. at nearly 20 cultural institutions throughout the city. Enjoy free art, music and entertainment at places like ArtCenter College of Design, artWORKS Teen Center, the Jackie Robinson Community Center, Kidspace Children’s Museum, Armory Center for the Arts, MUSE/IQUE, Norton Simon Museum, Pasadena Museum of California Art, Parson’s Nose Theater, USC Pacific Asia Museum and many others. Free shuttles and food trucks throughout the night, too.

SATURDAY, MARCH 10

VIVA LA MUXER (Art + music)

Las Fotos Project holds its fourth annual Viva La Muxer art and music benefit festival on Saturday at Plaza de La Raza in Lincoln Heights. The event’s proceeds benefit Las Fotos Project, a nonprofit that provides teenage girls with photography mentoring programs. Held in honor of International Women’s Day, the event features an all-women lineup, including more than 250 musicians, dancers, artists, vendors, organizations and local leaders. Tickets: $25 in advance, $35 at the door; VIP: $55.

SMORGASBURG: POP-UP ON THE PIER (Food)

Westside! Get ready to indulge your taste buds as Smorgasburg LA returns for its second annual pop-up event on the Santa Monica Pier (behind the carousel and Rusty’s Surf Ranch) from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday. Choose foods from more than 70 vendors like Shrimp Daddy, Amazebowls, Sticky Rice on Wheels, Big Mozz and Lobsterdamus. Free admission.

NEVER HAVE I EVER (Art)

The group art show “Never Have I Ever” opens at Coagula Curatorial on Saturday. The exhibition, curated by Rachel Gibas, is the fourth installment of the gallery’s “New Curator Series” and includes works by artists Jill Emery, Leonard Greco, Daphne Hill, Patrick McGilligan, THEOHUXXX, Wishcandy and others. Examining themes of identity and youth, the works include art crafted from found objects, fibers, mixed-media, painting, sculpture and collage. The opening artists reception takes place on Saturday from 7-9 p.m.

PICTURE THIS! (Comedy + animation)

“Picture This!” — a “live animated comedy show” with standup comedians performing while they’re drawn live by animators, cartoonists and other artists — celebrates its sixth anniversary at the Virgil on Saturday night at 8 p.m. Hosted by Brandie Posey, comics on the bill include: Jermaine Fowler, John Early, Jena Friedman, Jenny Zigrino and Bill Cruz with animation by Mike L. Mayfield (Big Mouth, Mr. Pickles), Mike Hollingsworth (BoJack Horseman), Will Finn (Disney), Colin Heck (The Simpsons), Luke McGarry (National Cartoonist Society), Tayen Kim and Alex Salyer. The show is free. Ages 21+

THE SEVEN DEADLY PLAYS (Theater)

IAMA Theatre Company in Atwater Village continues its 10th anniversary celebration by presenting a three-week reading series of “The Seven Deadly Plays by Leslye Headland. The play cycle features readings of six of the plays that explore ancient sins in the context of contemporary culture, leading up to a full run of the seventh, a world premiere production of “Cult of Love” (pride), from May 24 to June 24. “The Seven Deadly Plays” series begins on Saturday at 8 p.m. with “Cinephilia” (lust) and Sunday at 7 p.m. with “Bachelorette” (gluttony). Tickets: $10.

SUNDAY, MARCH 11

MOCA COMMUNITY DAY (Artivism)

MOCA teams with My Friend’s Place, Midnight Mission, Downtown Women’s Center, Skid Row Housing Trust, OBEY GIANT, MADWORKSHOP and KCRW for a day of “service, discussion, and creative activation” around LA’s homelessness crisis on MOCA Community Day. All are invited to participate and discuss possible short- and long-term solutions to the problem. The day-long event begins at 11 a.m. on Sunday at the Geffen Contemporary at MOCA with activities on the plaza, music and food trucks, followed by panels (Art As Transformation and Envisioning a Different Framework) and performances (by Urban Voices and Street Symphony). Activities end at 4 p.m. Participants are asked to bring white tube socks as donations for the day’s partner organizations. Free.

NOWRUZ FESTIVAL (Iranian New Year)

The Farhang Foundation holds its 10th Annual Nowruz (Iranian New Year) celebration at UCLA’s Royce Hall and Dickson Court beginning on Sunday at noon. The free festival allows guests the opportunity to explore Iranian culture while also celebrating the (upcoming) first day of spring. The day includes a colorful Spring Walk parade, an Iranian Tea House, children activities, a puppet show, cultural dances and music, and a rare performance by Iranian legend Sima Bina. The outdoor components of the festival are free; the music program inside Royce Hall, starring Bina, begins at 6 p.m. and tickets start at $25.

TWO TRUTHS AND A LIE LIVE! (Storytelling podcast)

Two Truths and a Lie is a storytelling podcast that tapes live at Angel City Brewery on Sunday at 8 p.m. The show, hosted by Spencer Howard and Daniel David Shapiro, features three people sharing their personal stories in front of an audience at the brewery — and only two are telling the truth. The audience then must figure out who’s lying. The show is free.

||| Also: Get more at Pop Radar LA and follow Christine Ziemba on Twitter and Instagram.