Christine N. Ziemba on May 10th, 2018

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

FRIDAY, MAY 11

RUPAUL’S DRAGCON LA 2018 (Drag convention)

RuPaul’s DragCon returns to the Los Angeles Convention Center this weekend (Friday through Sunday), providing a platform for drag and pop culture fans of all ages and backgrounds to network with each other and to meet celebs and icons in a friendly, accessible environment. DragCon features more than 300 vendors and exhibitors, panels, screenings and shopping opportunities. Weekend passes are $70, and single-day tickets for Saturday and Sunday are $40. Additional tickets are needed for the runway show, pageant and other activities. Werk it, baby, yeah!

BEYOND THE STREETS (Art + Art History)

A follow-up to MOCA’s “Art in the Streets” exhibit at the Geffen Contemporary in 2011, “Beyond the Streets (BTS)” is slated as the definitive exhibition of graffiti and street art, documenting “the history of mark making and rule breaking as well as a current, robust studio practice primarily derived from the graffiti and street art movements.” Curated by graffiti historian, urban anthropologist, collector, magazine publisher and Oscar-nominated producer (Exit Through the Gift Shop) Roger Gastman, BTS is a showcase of paintings, sculpture, photography, multimedia and installations through 40,000+ square feet of industrial indoor and outdoor space. More than 100 artists are featured, including Shepard Fairey, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Guerrilla Girls, Jason REVOK, FUTURA 2000, LADY PINK, Lee Quiñones, INVADER, HAZE, SWOON, Barry McGee, Stephen Powers, CHAZ, FAILE, Kenny Scharf, Dash Snow, Jenny Holzer, C.R. Stecyk III, Felipe Pantone, Maripol, RETNA, Gordon Matta-Clark, Martha Cooper, TAKI 183 plus Dennis Hopper, Takashi Murakami, Mark Mothersbaugh and many others. BTS is on view Tuesdays through Sundays from noon to 7 p.m. through July 6. Tickets: $25 (ages 3 and up).

SATURDAY, MAY 12

AN EVENING WITH DAVID SEDARIS (Humor)

Ahead of the release of his latest book, “Calypso,” Grammy-nominated, New York Times bestselling author David Sedaris overshares in front of a live audience on Saturday at 8 p.m. at CSUN’s The Soraya (Valley’s Center for the Performing Arts) in Northridge. With sardonic wit and incisive social critiques, Sedaris has become one of America’s pre-eminent humor writers. He is the master of satire and one of today’s most observant writers addressing the human condition, with original pieces often heard on NPR’s “This American Life.” Pre-orders for “Calypso” will be available at the event, with a signed bookplate for the first 50 orders (limit 2 bookplates per person). Tickets are $39-$98.

UNIQUE LA SPRING MARKET (Shopping)

Unique LA celebrates its 10-year anniversary at this weekend’s Spring Market at the California Market Center from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Snack and shop until you drop because there are more than 300 local makers and vendors selling their wares. Admission includes a free artist-edition cotton tote & an exclusive 10-Year anniversary Magazine, Tillamook ice cream, DIY floral crowns, drinks (coconut water, kombucha and cocktails), and a portrait by Oh! Snap Studios. Admission: $15-$35.

CAMILLE ROSE GARCIA, EWA PROŃCZUK-KUZIAK, JON FOX + SUSH MACHIDA (Art opening)

On Saturday night from 7 to 11 p.m., Corey Helford Gallery holds opening receptions for several art shows including the massive showcase “The Wonderful World of Dr. Deekay” by Camille Rose Garcia, as well as exhibitions by Ewa Prończuk-Kuziak, Jon Fox and Sush Machida. Based on her  dystopian horror fairytale that will be published in a long-awaited illustrated book this summer, Garcia will premiere 36 new paintings, including watercolor paintings, 40 framed original sketches, puppets, a stop-motion animated film and a new mural on the gallery’s wall. The works remain on view through June 16. Free.

THE FROGTOWN SHOW (Comedy)

“The Frogtown Show” returns to the Spoke Bicycle Cafe on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. for a night of free comedy. The special Mother’s Day weekend show is hosted by Emily Maya Mills, Erin Lennox, Christian Duguay, Cory Loykasek and Donny Divanian and has a fantastic lineup that includes Kurt Braunohler, Caitlin Gill, Bryan Cook, Eddie Della Siepe and Sabrina Jalees. Food, wine and beer are available for purchase from the cafe. The show is free. 

ECHO PARK CRAFT FAIR SPRING 2018​ (Fair)

The Echo Park Craft Fair returns to Mack Sennett Studios this weekend (Friday to Sunday) featuring the works of artists, designers, artisans, food purveyors and craftspeople. New this year: a HiFi Exchange CBD Lounge and men’s fashion brands. There’s a special VIP preview party on Friday night from 6-9 p.m. to benefit Inner City Arts. Tickets are $25 for Friday night’s party; $16 for two-day passes; $10 single-day admission.

SUNDAY, MAY 13

… A TUTTA PIZZA! (Food & Cooking)

“…A Tutta Pizza!” is a celebration of last December’s designation of pizza-making as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. The festivities convene at the Hollywood Palladium on Sunday that’s part of the L.A. Times Food Bowl, including 20 food vendors between pizzerias, restaurants and pizza trucks; cooking workshops & demos (including pasta) and panel discussions. Special guests include top pizza chefs Enzo Coccia, Nancy Silverton, Tony Gemignani, Zach Pollack, Daniele Uditi, L.A. Times restaurant critic Jonathan Gold and Times Deputy Food Editor Jenn Harris, and producer and host Phil Rosenthal (Somebody Feed Phil, Netflix). Tickets start at $40. Doors at noon for VIP ticketholders, 1 p.m. for general admission. (Pop Radar LA is giving away a pair of tickets for this event. Details)

THOSE MAGNIFICENT MOMS LIVE! (Comedy)

UCB Franklin presents “Those Magnificent Moms LIVE!” on Sunday at 7:30 p.m., featuring real comics teaming up with their moms for a variety show with loads of surprises. There’ll be singing, dancing and moving tributes set to the music of Josh Groban. Hosted by Mark & Marilou Rennie and featuring John Flynn, Jackie Johnson and Greg Smith; expected performers include Fiona Landers and Murphy Cross, Mike Lane and Sophie Liang, Phoebe Neidhardt and Denise Gour, Olivia Snow Norman and Andrea Norman, Tony Rodriguez and Joyce Kerkhoff, Marissa Strickland and Jan Fish, Gregg Wallace and Gizelle Vazquez, Ele Woods and Cynthia Cannady, and Marlene Maginot and Penny Pedersen. Tickets: $7.

PRINTMAKING WORKSHOP (Artmaking)

Here’s another non-brunch Mother’s Day idea: On Sunday at 1 p.m., the Ace Hotel’s rooftop bar Upstairs holds an Intaglio-style printmaking workshop led by artist and master printer Kyle Simon. (In Intaglio printmaking, the image is incised into a surface and the line or sunken area holds the ink, as opposed to a relief print.) Simon has been a master printer for the last 20 years, most notably working at Pace Prints for the last 12 years in New York (before recently moving to Joshua Tree) where he collaborated with hundreds of contemporary artists, such as James Turrell, Chuck Close, Kiki Smith, Shepherd Fairey and Mathew Barney. Make art while sipping on cocktails on the roof. The workshop is free to the public and supplies are provided. 

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