Serving Larchmont Village, Hancock Park, and the Greater Wilshire neighborhoods of Los Angeles since 2011.

Weekend Buzz – Events for April 7-8, 2018

The annual Run to Remember on Sunday will memorialize first responders who have fallen in the line of duty.

Those who love art will find a lot to love this weekend, but there is actually a pretty wide spectrum of topics covered in this weekend’s event schedule.

Starting at 9 a.m. on Saturday, the Petersen Museum hosts “My Summer Job at GM,” a  conversation with former General Motors Chairman (and Petersen Museum Board Member) Kent Kresa, focusing on Kresa’s summer as Chairman of General Motors in 2008. Following the financial crisis that year, Kresa was pulled in by the White House and appointed Chairman to help steer GM in a new direction, recovering from bankruptcy while planning the long-term future of the industry giant.  Coffee and pastries will be served, and a Q&A with Kresa will follow his talk.

At 10 a.m. on Saturday, and just a block east on Wilshire, LACMA will host a one-day “Let’s Make Books!” intergenerational workshop for the whole family (ages 5+). Participants will learn bookmaking techniques, as well as how to use color, texture, pattern, design, and composition. Families can create books together, work on individual projects, or both. Led by artist Debra Disman. Tickets are $35 for LACMA NexGen members (and include a second adult registration), or $40 for non-member guests plus one adult.  Pre-registration is required.

Shifting from art to the environment, the Sierra Club will be hosting a hands-on educational Zero Waste Fair/ Expo in downtown’s Grand Park, 200 N. Grand Ave., from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday. Come and meet representatives of many organizations that are leading the way toward a future with zero waste, and learn how your household can become more zero-waste friendly.

Back in the Larchmont area, the Friends of John C. Fremont Branch Library, 6121 Melrose Ave., will hold its monthly book sale from 12-4 p.m. both today (Friday) and Saturday, and from 12-5 p.m. on Sunday.  Most books are between 10 cents and 1 dollar…so there are lots of bargains to be had, along with a special sale this month on all biographies, history and politics books — which will be discounted by 50%

Going back to art later on Saturday afternoon, head over to the LaunchLA Gallery, 170 S. La Brea, for an artist-led exhibition talk, from 4-6 p.m., with artists Alison Ragguette and Stanton Hunter, whose shows “Visceral Bandwidth” and “Intimate Corners/Intimate Sprawl,” respectively, are now on display.  Ragguette’s work “explores the ways in which natural and synthetic worlds intersect as inspired by theories of synesthesia and biomimicry,” while Hunter’s work, “reflects my interest in groupings and repetitions of forms that can collectively activate a space visually. Originally designed to morph as a whole into the architecture of a particular space, for Launch, they are mounted as their own nomadic cityscape.” Gallery hours are 12-6 p.m. if you’d like to peruse the shows before the talk.

Sunday dawns with the annual Run to Remember 10K and Half Marathon races, starting at 7 a.m. at The Grove and paying tribute to L.A.-area first responders (LAPD, LAFD, etc.) who have made the ultimate sacrifice and lost their lives in the line of duty.   The race course runs along Beverly, La Brea, Melrose, Western and Hollywood Blvd., before looping back and returning to the Grove, where there will be entertainment and other festivities to celebrate the occasion.  (Note: even if you’re not participating, be careful of the street closures for this event.)

Starting at 10 a.m. on Sunday, at Barnsdall Art Center, 4814 Hollywood Blvd., you can support local artists by shopping the Barnsdall Art and Craft Fair (great for picking up some early Mother’s Day gifts!)  The fair will also feature a fundraising raffle with many great prizes, including work from talented artisans and a few surprising grand prizes. Proceeds from the event will support arts programming and education for Los Angeles kids and adults. Also, in addition to the great art and craft items, lunch and other tasty treats from local restaurants will be available for purchase.

Local ninjas, especially those ages 3-10, will want to head over to the Miracle Mile Toy Hall from 11 a.m. to noon on Sunday, for  very special Ninja Party (a.k.a. “a fun, non-contact introduction to martial arts”).  The event will feature ninja skills and challenges, sports games, and more.  Advance tickets are $10 per ninja, and  $6 for each additional ninja…or $12 for each ninja at the door.  There will also be free goodie bags and free samples from GoGo Squeeze for all ninjas.

After the party, you can also take the ninjas kids back to LACMA, for an Andell Family Sundays event called “Panamanian Cosmos,” starting at 12:30 p.m.  This weekly family event features artist-led workshops and friendly gallery tours and activities thematically based on special exhibitions and LACMA’s permanent collection.  This week, participants will check out the animals (real and mythical) of ancient Panama in the exhibition Creatures of the Earth, Sea, and Sky: Painting the Panamanian Cosmos.  Painted on ceramics, these playful depictions of serpents, armadillos, fish, and other creatures will inspire your own clay pinch-pots and animal drawings in artist-led workshops. The workshop is free and open to the public; children must be accompanied by an adult.

Across the street, the Craft and Folk Art Museum will also be in family workshop mode, with Loome Party! Pom-Pom and Tassels with Loome, starting at 1:30 p.m.  on Sunday. Participants will make pom-poms or tassels using Loome, a hand-held weaving tool, and experiment with colorful yarns and fibers to make pom-pom garlands, key chains, necklaces, or other incredible creations. Following the workshop, you can also meet and mingle with the Loome creators to celebrate their new book launch. Tickets are free for CAFAM members, and $10 adults/$7 children for non-members (including materials).  Space is limited, so please RSVP at the link above.

Click to see full-size flier.

Finally on Sunday, the focus shifts to a much more sober topic facing families these days, as City Attorney Mike Feuer, and LAUSD present a community hearing on school safety at Hollywood High School, 1521 N. Highland, from 2-4 p.m.  In the wake of the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School and the student-led momentum on gun violence prevention, Feuer recently announced a “Blue Ribbon Panel on School Safety, made up of leading experts in a variety of fields (see the event link for more information on the panel members). Sunday’s event will be the first of these group discussions, and will be co-hosted by LAUSD Board Vice President Nick Melvoin. There will also be presentations from Los Angeles School Police Chief Steve Zipperman and interim LAUSD Superintendent Vivian Ekchian. The goal is to produce tangible recommendations for improving safety both on-campus and in surrounding neighborhoods.  Parents, students, teachers, administrators and all residents are all invited to attend, participate and provide valuable input. Refreshments will be served and Spanish translation will be available.

Have a great weekend!

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Elizabeth Fuller
Elizabeth Fuller
Elizabeth Fuller was born and raised in Minneapolis, MN but has lived in LA since 1991 - with deep roots in both the Sycamore Square and West Adams Heights-Sugar Hill neighborhoods. She spent 10 years with the Greater Wilshire Neighborhood Council, volunteers at Wilshire Crest Elementary School, and has been writing for the Buzz since 2015.

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