Weekend Buzz – Events for October 30-November 1, 2015

Halloween may be this Saturday, but most of the big holiday-themed events were held last weekend.  This weekend there’s a definite seasonal shift in the air…and on the clock.

We’ll start today, Friday, October 30, with an opportunity for a free health care screening – complimentary mobile mammogram service from A Vision of Health, at The Grove from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.  Special giveaways, snacks and breast cancer prevention education will be provided. In addition, kids’ activities will be available for moms attending with their children.

Later, check out the opening day of Stan Lee’s Comikaze 2015 at the LA Convention Center.  Billed as “Los Angeles’ first multi-media pop culture convention,” the event offers “the most exciting and innovative in comics, video games, sci-fi, fantasy, horror and all things pop-culture.”  It runs through Sunday and features Marvel Comics legend Stan Lee, Elvira: Mistress of the Dark, other celebrity guests, exhibitors, events, cosplay, gaming and more.

On Friday evening, you’ll find the traditional Friday night lights shining at the Los Angeles High School Homecoming football game, in which the 8-0 Romans take on Manual Arts at the LA High Football Field at 7:00 p.m.  The legendary LA High Marching Band will be sure to make an appearance, and there will be a talent show and food court as well.

Saturday looks  to be pretty quiet in the neighborhood this weekend, giving everyone a chance to rest up before the evening trick-or-treat festivities.  Remember to be safe out there – children should always be accompanied by an adult, costumes should allow a full range of vision, especially when crossing streets, and everyone should have a flashlight when out after dark.

Then please remember to set your clocks back later, before your fall into your candy-coma-induced slumber.  Daylight Savings Time ends at 2 a.m. Sunday, so you get to enjoy an extra hour of sleep after your night of holiday fun.

Sunday dawns with a new month – no, not November (well, that too…) but also National Novel Writing Month, a.k.a. NaNoWriMo.  If you’ve ever wanted to sit down and write that brilliant novel you’ve been thinking about, here’s your chance.  NaNoWriMo is an international organization that encourages aspiring writers to commit to writing a 50,000 word novel during the 30 days of November.  You can register your project at the website (it’s free), find support with other writers and track your progress to your goal.  Ready…set…write!

After you’ve cranked out your word quota for the day, it’s time to spend some more quality time with the arts.  The much-anticipated Rain Room opens at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, during regular LACMA hours.  The exhibit “is an immersive environment of perpetually falling water that pauses wherever a human body is detected. The installation offers visitors an opportunity to experience what is seemingly impossible: the ability to control rain.”  Tickets are dated and timed, so advance reservations are required and capacity is limited. Discounts for LACMA members.

Finally, to wrap up your first real fall-feeling weekend, head over to USC to celebrate the life of a legend at “A Centennial Tribute to Frank Sinatra.” The event will present free screenings of classic Ol’ Blue Eyes’ films on Sunday, November 1 (The Musical and Comedic Sinatra), Friday, November 6 (The Dramatic Sinatra), and Sunday November 8 (The Dramatic Sinatra).  This week’s five films show at 11 a.m. (“On the Town”), 12:45 p.m. (“High Society”), 3:00 p.m. (“The Joker is Wild”), 5:15 p.m. (“The Tender Trap”) and 7:30 p.m. (“Guys and Dolls”) in the Frank Sinatra Hall at the Eileen Norris Cinema Theater Complex on the USC campus.  For more information and a list films screening next weekend, see the link above.

Happy Halloween!