Christine N. Ziemba on April 26th, 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 27

PLATO’S PHAEDRUS/THE MADNESS OF LOVE MIXTAPE (Theater + hip hop)

The Chicago-based performance artists Q Brothers remix Plato’s “Phaedrus” in “The Madness of Love Mixtape” this weekend as part of their first Villa Theater Lab performance at the Getty Villa. “Phaedrus” is a conversation between Socrates and Phaedrus that “explores the themes of madness, the soul, love and the art of discourse itself.” In their version, GQ and JQ (the Q Brothers) have created conversation sung in rhyme, with hip-hop, electronic and pop influences. One brother assumes the role of the right brain (“side A”) moving through the world guided by his gut and heart, while the other brother personifies the left brain (“side B”) with logic and reason as his guide. The performances take place on Friday at 7:30 p.m., Saturday at 3 and 7 p.m. and Sunday at 3 p.m. Tickets: $7.

ALL 76 CHARACTERS FROM AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR DO A MONOSCENE (Comedy)

Mark David Christenson and Joey Clift host the mouthful program “All 76 Characters From Avengers: Infinity War Do a Monoscene” on Friday at midnight (11:59 p.m.) at UCB Franklin. The movie, “Avengers: Infinity War,” features 76 Marvel superheroes/characters trying to take down Thanos, but the UCB version (with 76 different comedians) also has those same characters doing improv. Tickets: $5.

OUR L.A. VOICES: SPRING ARTS FESTIVAL (Visual + performing arts)

This weekend, Grand Park presents “Our L.A. Voices: Spring Arts Festival” to celebrate L.A.’s arts community. The programming includes outdoor theatrical, music and dance performances; storytelling; live art and a public marketplace curated by Self-Help Graphics and DTLA PROUD with nearly 30 artists creating and/or selling their work during the festival. Highlights include a staged performance of Fountain Theatre’s “CITIZEN: AN AMERICAN LYRIC” by Claudia Rankine and adapted by Stephen Sachs (8 p.m. on Friday & Saturday), PROUD Stories sharing and celebrating the LGBTQ experience (Saturday at 2 p.m.), the Pomona Youth Orchestra (Sunday at 1 p.m.) and the José Hernandez Mariachi Heritage Society (Sunday at 2 p.m.).  The Spring Arts Festival runs Friday from 6 to 10 p.m., Saturday from 1 to 10 p.m. and Sunday from 1 to 6 p.m. Free. (Note: Broadway will be closed between Temple and 5th for Fiesta Broadway. Enter/exit via Hill St. or take the Metro to the Civic Center/Grand Park Station or Little Tokyo/Arts District Station.) 

SATURDAY, APRIL 28

INDEPENDENT BOOKSTORE DAY (Shop locally)

Last Saturday, you went out there and celebrated records for Record Store Day, right? Now this Saturday, celebrate books and literature during Independent Bookstore Day. Many local bookshops are holding events or offering specials. A number of Bookstore Day offerings are available on Saturday from artists and authors including Colson Whitehead, Dave Eggers, Colin Meloy, Vera Brosgol and Nikki McClure among others. Skylight Books, for example, is hosting team literary trivia beginning at 2 p.m. and a launch party for Exposition Review’s latest issue, Vol. III: “Orbit.”

16TH ANNUAL SAN FERNANDO VALLEY FOOD & WINE FESTIVAL​ (Food + drink)

The 16th Annual San Fernando Valley Food & Wine Festival takes place on Saturday from 4 to 8 p.m. at Los Angeles Mission College. The festival, which serves as a fundraiser for student scholarships and awards, features dishes created by the college’s Culinary Arts Institute with wines to complement the food. There’s also a special VIP section, silent auction, pastry pavilion and live performances. General admission tickets: $65, VIP: $150.

STANDUP AT THE MALIBU PLAYHOUSE (Comedy)

The Malibu Playhouse hosts a night of standup comedy on Saturday night with headliner Morgan Jay and supporting comics Logan Guntzelman (Ventura Comedy Festival), Paige Weldon (Comedy Central), Felicia Folkes (Laughs on FOX), Tre’ Stewart (Laughs on FOX), Leah Kayajanian (Comedy Central) and a couple surprise guests. A portion of the proceeds benefit the ACLU, Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) and Planned Parenthood. Doors 7:30 p.m., show at 8 p.m. Tickets: $20-$25.

PANCAKES AND BOOZE (Art show)

“The Pancakes & Booze Art Show” returns to L.A. on Saturday night, from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. at Union. The night of underground art features works by more than 150 artists, body painting, music, live art, free pancake bar and a cash bar. 21+. Tickets: $15 line jumper tickets (online) and $10 general admission (cash only at the door).

ETHAN RUSSELL: BEST SEAT IN THE HOUSE: TRUE STORIES & THE PICTURES TO PROVE IT (Photography lecture)

Ethan Russell is a rock photographer (and author and director) who’s toured with the Rolling Stones, the Beatles, the Who and other members of music royalty. On Saturday night at 8 p.m. at the Luckman Center at Cal State LA, Russell recounts his adventures in rock with the illustrated lecture “The Best Seat in the House: True Stories & the Pictures to Prove It.” The stage show is presented in conjunction with a retrospective of Russell’s work on view through May 26 in the Luckman Gallery. Tickets for the lecture are $30-$50. Cal State LA student tickets are $20; other student tickets: $25.

UCLA CELEBRATION OF IRANIAN CINEMA (Film fest)

The Farhang Foundation presents the UCLA Celebration of Iranian Cinema, which opens on Saturday at UCLA’s Billy Wilder Theater (at the Hammer Museum) with the L.A. premiere of “No Date, No Signature.” The rest of the film lineup showcases the best in contemporary Iranian cinema and includes three Los Angeles premieres, three U.S. premieres and a tribute to Iranian cinema pioneer Bahram Beyzaie. The films selections are in Persian or Azari with English subtitles. The film celebration runs through May 19, with regular general admission screenings at $10. Opening night VIP reception tickets are $100.

SUNDAY, APRIL 29

THE THING IN THE LABYRINTH (Horror book club)

“The Thing in the Labyrinth” is a horror book club that meets on Sunday at 8:45-10:30 p.m. at The Last Bookstore in DTLA. The April book is “Fever Dream” by Samanta Schweblin, translated from Spanish by Megan McDowell. Horror author Kathryn E. McGee moderates the club (which meets after hours for extra spookiness). Tickets: $30.95 plus fees (includes book) and snacks.

DOWNTOWN MODERNISM SHOW (Vintage design)

“Downtown Modernism,” a biannual marketplace for vintage 20th century design, takes over the Modernica Factory in Vernon on Sunday from 8 a.m.-2 p.m. Expect more than 80 vintage modern vendors. Clothing and reproductions are not permitted for sale. Entrance: $8 (cash only) for adults and children free.

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