Our lovely autumn weekend starts with a big estate sale at 175 N. Hudson. Advertised as “3800 Square Feet of Shopping” the 60-year accumulation includes a lot of mid-century items, including chandeliers, a card table and chairs, two dining tables and chairs, collectibles, more chairs, wall mirror, rolling cart, credenza, coffee tables, a three-tiered buffet, desk, couches, rugs, lamps, an upright piano, more tables, bedroom suite, wood room dividers, Judaica, records, Garrard turntable, vintage Zenith TV, Asian items, books, jewelry and much more. The sale starts on Friday, and continues from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on both Saturday and Sunday.
For some more seasonal fun, head over to the Natural History Museum, where the new Butterfly Pavilion is now open through October 16. The permanent structure — located outside, on the south side of the museum — features more flight space, more resting spots, and more natural light then the previous seasonal pavilion. There will be hundreds of free-flying butterflies inside, from all across the United States, with museum interpreters who can explain why the animals are so special. You can see up close how butterflies use their tubular mouth parts to obtain nectar, and witness caterpillars feed on leaves and go through the process of their transformation into adults. Various butterflies are present at different points during the season and the plants they live with will grow and change as well. The exhibit is free to NHM members (though reserved tickets are required). Discounted tickets are available for groups of ten or more people.
Later, for the weekend’s big cultural festival, move north to Chinatown for the 78th Annual Mid-Autumn Moon Festival. From 5-11 p.m. on Saturday, at several locations in and near the Central Plaza, 943-51 N. Broadway, the event will include a “New Chinatown” Photo Booth (6pm-10pm) with 1940 vintage cutouts, a capuchin monkey and trainer (6-9 p.m.), food trucks, a main stage with music, moon cake demonstrations and sampling, a moon festival ritual, dance performances and a DJ. There will also be a dedicated live music stage, craft beer garden, and large marketplace, along with sculpture exhibitions, face painting, a calligraphy workshop, a culinary stage and saturn and moon viewing (starting at 7 p.m.) with telescopes provided by the Griffith Observatory.
For Saturday-night movie lovers, try a reading of a screenplay that’s not yet a film, but may become one. Black List Live! presents a live read of Trey Ellis’ Holy Mackerel, at 8 p.m. at the Montalban Theater (1615 Vine St.). The script tells “the riveting true story of the rise and fall of the pioneering all-black sitcom AMOS ‘N’ ANDY and the brilliant cast of comedians who, in just three years, went from being the most famous TV stars in the country to penniless obscurity.” The cast includes Jesse Williams, David Alan Grier, Mykelti Williamson, Yvette Nicole Brown and Reno Wilson. Tickets are $25.
On Sunday, the first thing we’ll tell you is that you should probably avoid Downtown and the Staples Center/USC/Exposition Park areas, unless you’re going to the Rams’ game or the Emmy awards (in which case, enjoy!). Street closures and traffic aplenty. Click on the map at the right to see the affected areas.
A much better plan is to have breakfast with books – about 10,000 of them – at Big Sunday’s 4th Annual Books and Brunch event, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Big Sunday headquarters at 6111 Melrose Blvd. For the last few weeks, the giving-oriented non-profit has been collecting books to give away to folks who need them…and at the event more good volunteers will sort and box the donated books while enjoying a delicious community brunch. For more information, to donate books, or to attend the brunch and help pack, contact [email protected].
Later, if you’re not too stuffed, or when dinner time rolls around, it’s worth noting that Sunday is National Cheeseburger Day. So we’d definitely suggest perusing the Buzz’s recent round-up of notable area hamburger purveyors and sampling at least one or two.
And last but not least on Sunday, after your burger, you can take advantage of a rare chance to see a true cinematic epic on the big screen, as the American Cinematheque screens Director William Wyler’s multi-Oscar winner BEN-HUR at 7:30 p.m. at the Egyptian Theater (where it first debuted in 1959). The film stars Charlton Heston and Stephen Boyd as boyhood comrades who grow up to be fierce enemies in the time of Christ. With chariots. Lots of chariots.
Finally, as usual, our weekly reminder: Wilshire Blvd. will be closed from 8 p.m. tonight (Friday) through 6 a.m. Monday for subway construction…so please plan your travels accordingly. Do note, however, that jet grouting – originally scheduled for Saturday at Wilshire and Arden – has been postponed…so that intersection should be open as usual.
Have a great weekend!
