Christine N. Ziemba on April 19th, 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.]

FRIDAY, APRIL 20

COMPLEXIONS CONTEMPORARY BALLET: STARDUST (Bowie + Dance)

Complexions Contemporary Ballet’s “Stardust,” which runs Friday through Sunday at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in DTLA, is a tribute to late rock icon David Bowie. The production features Bowie’s music (including a cover of “Heroes” sung by Peter Gabriel) as well as costumes inspired by the fashion-forward star. “Stardust” is the first installment of what will be a full evening-length rock opera ballet tribute to the genre-bending rock star spanning his 40-year career. In addition to “Stardust,” this weekend’s program opens with Bach 25, using music by Johann Sebastian Bach to explore chemistry in relationships that cause harmony and discord. Founded in 1994, Complexions Contemporary Ballet reinvents dance through a groundbreaking mix of methods, styles and cultures, using dance to remove boundaries. Tickets start at $34.

CINEARTE FESTIVAL (Film + art + performance)

The Los Angeles LGBT Center presents “CineArte 2018: a Latinx Queer Film Festival,” celebrating stories from the queer Latinx, interracial & indigenous communities, from Friday through Sunday. The fifth annual festival takes place at The Village at Ed Gould Plaza in Hollywood. CineArte tells the stories of Queer Latinx people through film screenings, visual art and performances. The art exhibition’s opening reception takes place from 7-10 p.m. on Friday, with live entertainment beginning at 8:30 p.m. Weekend passes: $25-$30, individual film tickets are $8-$10.

4/20 FEST (Film + fun)

There’s a “4/20 Fest” at the Wiltern on Friday, featuring a 10th anniversary screening of the James Franco-Seth Rogen film “Pineapple Express” and a number of 420-friendly vendors. Doors at 7 p.m., show at 8 p.m. Ages 18+. Munchies will be available for purchase as well as a full bar, with ID. Tickets: $4.20 + fees (general admission); $14.20 + fees (for VIP). Day of tickets: $15. The first 420 ticket holders (ages 21+) will receive a free G Pen.

SATURDAY, APRIL 21

THE RENEGADE CRAFT FAIR (Crafty)

The Renegade Craft Fair returns to DTLA’s Los Angeles State Historic Park on Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day. The weekend features the talents, crafts and wares of hundreds of makers, vendors and artists. DJs provide the soundtrack for the day, and food trucks and libations will be available for purchase. Free admission. 

BORDERLESS: LATIN AMERICA​ (Street art)

Gabba Gallery opens the art exhibition “Borderless: Latin America” on Saturday with a reception from 7 to 11 p.m. The show features works by six of Latin America’s premier street artists: Colombians DjLu, Erre, Toxicómano Callejero and Lesivo; Binho Ribeiro from Brazil and Iskar from Mexico. During their stay in Southern California, the artists will also be painting murals throughout the region in collaboration with Gabba Alley Project, Smile South Central and House of Trestles Street Artist in Residence program. The opening features music by Toshee. Curated by Jason Ostro and Elena Jacobson, the exhibit remains on view through May 12.

LOS ANGELES TIMES FESTIVAL OF BOOKS (Literature & Multimedia)

Coachella, Schmoachella. Who needs it when the Los Angeles Times “Festival of Books” takes over USC this weekend (both Saturday and Sunday)? It’s a must-do for wordsmiths and bookworms as well as music lovers this year. In addition to literary guests such as former U.S. Poet Laureate Juan Felipe Herrera, Joyce Carol Oates, Gustavo Arellano, MariNaomi, Reza Aslan and Junot Diaz, the festival explores new mediums of storytelling in a set of programs called “Newstory.” The new area will include immersive experiences (such as the Vortex Immersion Media 360 Dome and Beatie Wolfe’s “The Art of Music: Musical Innovation and Creativity” experience), a poetry slam and panels about VR and gaming (such as Two Bit Circus and “Women of Gaming” panels), podcasts, TV/film, comedy (Second City, Mortified) and music guests including KRS-One, Ali Shaheed Muhammad from a Tribe Called Quest, Linda Perry, Inara George of The Bird and the Bee, Moby, Lucinda Williams, Allee Willis and producer Kerry Brown, among others. Free admission.

LITTLE TOKYO MINI OPEN (Mini golf)

A nine-hole, pop-up mini-golf course opens at the Japanese American Cultural & Community Center this weekend and next (April 21-22, April 28-29). Each hole is an artwork created by a local artist paying tribute to the 134-year old Japanese American community. Walk-ins are welcome, but RSVPs are highly recommended. Free for kids 12 and younger; $3 for ages 13 and older. Entrance is on 2nd Street across from the Little Tokyo Village Plaza.

SUNDAY, APRIL 22

Image: Live Talks Los Angeles via Facebook

AN AFTERNOON WITH QUESTLOVE (Talk)

Musician, designer, producer, professor, culinary entrepreneur and all-around Renaissance man, Questlove, discusses his own personal journey as well as the wisdom shared with him over the years on how to live your best creative life from George Clinton, D’Angelo, Ava DuVernay, David Byrne, Björk and others, all gathered in his new book, “Creative Quest.”  The Roots’ frontman participates in Live Talks Los Angeles: An Afternoon with Questlove on Sunday at 4 p.m. at the Aratani Theatre in Little Tokyo. Tickets: $21.25-$80.

SILENT SUNDAYS: THE CAMERAMAN (Film)

San Gabriel Mission Playhouse’s third season of the Silent Sundays film series comes to a close with a screening of “The Cameraman,” starring comic legend Buster Keaton, on Sunday at 2:30 p.m. The 1928 film will be accompanied by a live score performed on the Playhouse’s Wurlitzer organ. Tickets start at $10.

EARTH-GINA MONOLOGUES (Comedy)

To wrap up Earth Day, UCBT Sunset features the program, “The Earth-gina Monologues,” on Sunday at 9 p.m. Comedians perform first-person monologues as Earth, each focusing on a different environmental aspect. Hosted by producer Scott Thiede, performers include Sarah Claspel, Travis Coles, Lorraine DeGraffenreidt, Holly Laurent, Patrick McDonald, Mélia Mills, Bryan Rainstein, Geoff Ross, Maddy Wager, Lou Wilson and Dopetown 3000 (Greg Smith, Zora Bikangaga and Shaun Fisher). Tickets: $7.

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