Mardi Gras Time....Pick of the Week is this Saturday, The Kings Ball

Mardi Gras time is here! Grab your beads and Go! My Pick of the Week is this SATURDAY, FEB 26….What can I say? I can’t turn down a party!!! And this will be a great party!  An evening of entertainment & special guests, Mardi Gras Style! They say it’s gonna be COLD and RAINY on Saturday….so come indoors, turn up the heat, while you dance the night away. Sounds like a plan right?  At last year’s event, I danced my little booty off, all night…..Fun times!

Miss Jessica and the Sugar Shack Attack present The King's Ball at Dannys Venice (23 Windward Ave.) This is a FREE event with drink specials and a yummy happy hour till 7:00 pm. So get there early for some good cheap grub and great music.

Event starts at 6:30 pm. Miss Jessica starts with some cool jazz, then later some, R&B. Special guests include Kathy Leonardo (yes, I am singing my Strong woman blues) and the remarkable Suzy Williams, Then the Gumbo Brothers take the stage and the beads start flyin’…dance the night away….ok only until 10:00 pm when they kick us out….The King and Queen will be crowned too….so don’t forget to get into the groove, put on some wild attire and funk out with us!

Before we start the week off ….let me just talk about Live Theatre. Theatre has changed the lives of many people (it definitely saved me) and inspired all types of art, music and poetry. Growing up in NYC, I saw tons of shows and started my acting career by singing and dancing and touring with some incredible Broadway productions by famous composers such as Charles Strouse (Annie) and got the chance to tour for over 9 months with Anthony Newley (Actor, Singer, i.e. My Fair Lady and composer of Stop The World, I Want to Get Off). As you can imagine, live theatre has always been dear to my heart. So I am asking for your help.

Here in Venice we have a gem of a theatre called Pacific Resident Theatre, (PRT) and they are currently raising funds for one of their shows, Julia, which was its 2010, premier play. Julia has been offered a 4 week run in New York. Please help make this dream a reality. Whether your gift is $10 or $1000, anything will help. Email Marilyn Fox at prtmarilyn@earthlink.net for more info.   SUPPORT LIVE THEATRE…Every little bit helps!

Wednesday, February 23^rd

Tonight, Jodi Siegel is guest hosting along with Mark Shark this week’s Guitarology at the Melody Bar & Grill (9132 S. Sepulveda Blvd., 90045) from 8:00 pm till 11:00 pm. Jodi happens to be a friend of mine. We have performed together many times. She is an awesome talented musician. Plays a mean slide guitar and has a sultry smooth voice. Guitarology has become a musical haven for incredible musicians. If you’re into music, gotta check it out!

This series has picked up "Best Live Music Event of The Year" from Los Angeles Magazine (get there early-reservations suggested) 310 670-1994

Or you can always head down to the Venice Boardwalk to enjoy live music at The Venice Bistro (323 Ocean Front Walk 90291). Rock out with The Venice Street Legends who play every Wednesday from 5:00 pm till 10:00 pm. Happy hour specials and dancing.

If food is more of a priority, go to Figtree’s Café, to have dinner (delicious happy hour specials), only a ½ block away on the boardwalk, at Paloma Ave, then pop back in the Bistro.

Every Wednesday, Join deyermond art + books, 2801 Main Street, in Santa Monica, for an evening of spoken word, music, song and dance. 8:00-11:00 PM. http://www.deyermondbooks.com/. Check out their site for Thursday Scrabble night too. They always put on fun events. Refreshments served.

Thursday, February 24th

Santa Monica Museum of Art presents a discussion with acclaimed artist Terry Winters. Winters will discuss the work of Al Taylor. Learn more about Taylor's artistic process and the New York art world that spawned it. You can see Taylor’s show “Wire Instruments and Pet Stains at SMMOA through April 16^th.

Free Admission, starts at 7:00 pm. RSVP: rsvp@smmoa.org or 310.453.9184; Mention KTR Promo. . http://www.smmoa.org/. Santa Monica Museum of Art is located at Bergamot Station G-1, 2525 Michigan Ave., Santa Monica, CA 90404

Janet’s Circle, a business networking company is having their 4 year anniversary party. This one does have a $20 charge, RSVP Pre-paid ONLY - List Closes Feb. 23, 7pm - $30 at Door (cash/check only)  http://www.janetscircle.com/

This months circle will be held at Mariner's Village Clubhouse (4600 Via Marina, Marina del Rey, CA 90292) from 6:30 till 9:30 pm and features networking, as well as successful entrepreneurs sharing their insights on succeeding in this economy. Enjoy light appetizers and wine while making new business contacts!

Entrepreneurs Panel Featuring: Lorenda Phillips,Business Coach, The Essential Entrepreneur; Justin Krane, Financial Planner, Krane Financial Solutions; David Marchese, Personalized Wine Tours, WineWorldtours.com; Tiffany Bradshaw, Brand Strategy, Bradshaw and Company

Paparazzi Comedy is having another fabulous comedy show. Hosted by "Kente Scott" with headliner Kristi McHugh This Thursday’s event will be held at The Canal Club from 8:00 pm till 11:00 pm and has a great lineup of comedians:  Janet Rousseau, Jonas Garvin, Jason Hadley, Fire Fighter Billy Barnes and Chris Dunham

The Canal Club is located at 2025 Pacific Avenue, Venice, CA, Arrive early, limited seating. FREE with RSVP. $5.00 if you don’t rsvp. 310-823-3878 or visit http://www.canalclub.com./

And we’re off to the weekend….

Friday February 25^th

The G2 Gallery (1503 Abbot Kinney) an ecologically responsible gallery and organization hosts the sounds of Ragas of India with Paul Livingstone and Debasish Chaudhuri at 7:30 pm. A free evening of world music.

You may want to wander over to Beverly Hills for to renowned artist Ed Rusha’s latest show “Psycho Spaghetti Westerns” at Gagosian Gallery (456 N. Camden Dr. 90210) This opening runs from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm 310.271.9400;  http://www.gagosian.com/

Then be sure to stop in at ACME at 6150 Wilshire Blvd., 90048 for “An Evening of Sound” featuring Connie Walsh and Kathleen Johnson. Event begins at 7:00 pm and goes till 8:00 pm. 323-857-5942; http://www.acmelosangeles.com/

Saturday, February 26^th

Back to my PICK OF THE WEEK! Hey, I can’t miss a Party… what can I say? It's Mardi Gras time! Let’s celebrate The King's Ball with Miss Jessica & the Sugar Shack Attack. An evening of entertainment & special guests, in honor of Mardi Gras!

This is a FREE event at Dannys Venice with drink specials and a yummy happy hour till 7:00 pm. So get there early for some good cheap grub and great music.

Miss Jessica starts with some cool jazz, then later some, R&B. Special guests include Kathy Leonardo (yes, I am singing my Strong woman blues) and the remarkable Suzy Williams, Then the Gumbo Brothers take the stage and the beads start flyin’…dance the night away….ok only until 10:00 pm when they kick us out….The King and Queen will be crowned too….so don’t forget to get into the groove, put on some wild attire and funk out with us!

Dannys Venice is located at 23 Windward Ave between Pacific Ave and the beach. 310-566-5610;  www.dannysvenice.com/

Ok so if music and dancing all night doesn’t do it for and you are craving to see some art, check out 'Second Helping', A One-Week Exhibition, at LeBasse Projects (6023 Washington Blvd. 90232) Opening receptions runs from 6-9pm. 310.558.0200;  http://www.lebasseprojects.com/

LeBasse Projects presents a one week opportunity to view artwork from some of the most intriguing names in contemporary art such as Banksy, KAWS, Shepard Fairey, Faile, BAST, Aiko, Miss Bugs, Camille Rose Garcia, Laura Keeble and more.

Also, Robert Tilton is having an opening at 5801 Washington Blvd, 90232 from 6:00 pm till 8:00 pm. This one features the work of Eberhard Havekost. 323.549.0223
http://www.robertsandtilton.com/

Then traipse over to Corey Helford at 8522 Washington Blvd. 90232 for “UK Street Art Print Nite”, a selection of fine art prints from the streets of England. This opening reception runs from 7:00pm till 10:00 pm.  See image.

310-287-2340; http://www.coreyhelfordgallery.com/

OR you can start early, at Bergamot Station (2525 Bergamot Station)…..there are just a couple events happening here, though it does seem silly that the times are totally off for these two. Craig Krull Gallery (B-3) 310.828.6410; http://www.craigkrullgallery.com/ from 4-6pm featuring a panel discussion with Dan McCleary. As usual, some galleries do stay open, so if you do go, make sure to look for other galleries that will be open.

You can always save this one for the end of the night, since it goes till 11:30 pm. Copra Gallery, (T-5) is having a group show from 8:00 pm till 11:30 pm. 310 829-2156   http://www.copronason.com/. This is also at Bergamot.

Sunday February 27^th, 

Now this one will be fun. If you have never been to Barnsdall Park, it’s really beautiful. Los Angeles Municipal Art Gallery is putting on a fun event. The exhibition, a daytime event 2-5 pm) is called FRAMING ABSTRACTION: MARK, SYMBOL, SIGNIFIER with guest co-curators Peter Selz, Marlena Doktorczyk-Donohue. Artists include Lita Albuquerque, Jordi Alcaraz, Gary Edward Blum, Hans Burkhardt, Meg Cranston, Mark Harrington, James Hayward, Charles Christopher Hill, Kevan Jenson, Naomie Kremer, Manfred Müller.  Image to left is by Charles Christopher Hill.

Opening Reception hosted by the Los Angeles Municipal Art Gallery Associates: Sunday, February 27 4800 Hollywood Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90027 from 2 to 5 pm. 323.644.6269;  http://www.lamag.org/

OH MY ….don‘t forget about the Oscars!!! Better get yer butts over to the most lavish Oscar Party you can find…..sorry I can’t invite you to where I’m going. Happy Oscar Night!!!

See ya next time!