The PIck of the Week is this Saturday, The G2 Gallery's 3rd Anniversary Party with Swing Dancing!!!

Hope you all had a great FAT TUESDAY yesterday and did you know it was also the 100^th anniversary of International Women’s Day?….Yeah!!! Yes I participated in events for both….what can I say? There is just not enough time to celebrate!  Unfortunately I just found out about the International Women’s Day Event, or I would have posted it.

But moving on to this week ….There are sooo many great events this week….like The Downtown Art Walk this Thursday….and I have put together a list of wonderful galleries to check out. See Thursday’s events.

BUT My pick of the week has to be Venice’s own, The G2 Gallery, who is having their 3^rd anniversary party on Saturday March 12^th. This environmentally conscious gallery has been putting on incredible openings since they have arrived 3 years ago.Yes I was at the very first one. That was a fun event. The image to the right is from the current exhibit, Boreal Future: Our Last Great Forest and the Threat of the Tar Sands by Garth Lenz.  

Don’t forget to RSVP, email events@theg2gallery.com. 

Come early to get your groove on from 5 pm to 6pm for swing dancing lessons with Rusty Frank. Then the Anniversary party starts at 6:30 and you can swing the night away while you enjoy wine, refreshments and yummy passed hors d'oeuvres.

See more details below….

Wednesday, March 9th

Remember vaudeville? The Marx Brothers?  Oh no, How old do you think I am? But I do remember hearing stories of them….just kidding….. There have been some amazing writers who blazed the trail for our modern day screenwriters. Well Irving Brecher was one of those writers. He not only wrote 2 Marx Brothers movies, he also wrote for vaudeville and radio shows for Milton Berle and much much more.

Tonight, Hank Rosenfeld will be having book signing for his book “Irving Brecher, The Wicked Wit of the West”. Rosenfeld, had the lucky opportunity to truly get to know Irv, and pick his brain, and write down so many of Brecher’s experiences and funny stories that happened throughout his life, culminating in this very funny book. Mr. Brecher's widow will also come up for a Q & A and share her many "backstage stories"

Hank happens to be a friend. A very funny man, so you are in for a treat.

This event will be held a Barn at The Hollywood Heritage Museum is located at 2100 N. Highland Ave. Hollywood, 90028. Doors open 7 p.m., program starts 7:30 p.m. Refreshments available for purchase.  (323) 874-2276 http://hollywoodheritage.org.

Admission: $5 MEMBERS, $10 NON-MEMBERS General Admission sold at the door. New option: Reserved tickets for Evening @ the Barn available through Brown Paper Tickets 1-800-838-3006 - http://www.brownpapertickets.com/. FREE PARKING in "Lot D."

If you feel prefer to hang close to the beach, he Santa Monica Place Mall offers the “Movies on the Deck” series. Tonight’s movie is When Harry Met Sally and once again will be held on the rooftop at The Santa Monica Place Mall... This will be happening every Wednesday. Movies start at 7pm and yes it’s FREE, but come early if you want to grab a great seat. And bundle up, its outdoors, or bring your honey for warmth. There are heaters on the deck. You're welcome to bring blankets or your own chairs, but there will also be seating there. This free event and runs from 7:00 pm till 10:00 pm http://www.santamonicaplace.com/events/event.aspx?eid=29207

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. www.deyermondbooks.com. Check out their site for Thursday Scrabble night too. They always put on fun events. Refreshments served.

How about some live music at The Venice Bistro (323 Ocean Front Walk 90291). Enjoy classic rock with The Venice Street Legends who play every Wednesday from 5:00 pm till 10:00 pm. Happy hour specials and dancing.

Thursday, March 10th

The LA Louver (45 N. Venice) will be having an opening featuring Terry Allen, Rebecca Campbell and Joel Shapiro from 6:00 pm till 8:00 pm. White wine only and sometimes vodka is served. Occasionally they will have nice appetizers, but they are usually done early. 310 822-4955; http://www.lalouver.com

The Bleicher/Golightly Gallery will be having a closing reception featuring Stephen Anderson’s work. They always have wine and some snacks. Enjoy a beautiful sunset too. The Bleicher/Golightly Gallery is located at 1431 Ocean Ave. in Santa Monica. 310 878-2784; http://www.bgartdealings.com

If you prefer to continue on the Westside, UCLA presents Fowler Out Loud, a new series, featuring FREE live music every Thursday in the Fowler Museum Courtyard with a reception and refreshments. This student performance series features up and coming artists and starts at 6:00 pm most Thursday nights. Remember these students have finals too, so some weeks, there may not be a performance. Be sure to check the calendar.

Tonight’s event you can hear The UCLA Bluegrass & Old-Time String Band. Under the direction of Ethnomusicology Professor Anthony Seeger they’ll be bringing enough songs to fill a grain elevator. With fiddles in force and banjos blazing, this band is always cookin.'\

You can park in lot 4 which is self parking and depending on how long you stay will be no more than $10.00. But be sure that you are in LOT 4. UCLA is located at Westwood Blvd and Sunset. See map for directions. http://www.fowler.ucla.edu/.

If you have never been to the Downtown Art Walk, this is something you have to experience. Very much like First Fridays on Abbot Kinney it has truly become a “scene”. Happening on the 2nd Thursday of every month, it was the inspiration for the Venice Art Crawl.

The art walk is a self-guided tour through Downtown’s Historic Core, Spring St and Main St between 2nd and 9th streets, where LA art lovers converge for gallery hopping, bar hopping, food truck eating and people watching.


Starting as early as noon, it doesn’t truly get going till 7:00 …it runs till 9pm or 10:00pm, some galleries are gong later now. Art galleries, retail stores, restaurants, bars and empty lots are filled with every type of art, such as paintings, sculptures, glasswork, body paintings and photography. Everyone wants a piece of the action; bands come down to show their talent, crafts people sell their jewelry and accessories; you can see live painting with DJs and hoop dancing too. There is even a shuttle covered in graffiti art available to take you to another gallery. Gotta check out the Art Park too….see info below.

Here are several openings that you should not miss….you will stumble upon more as new pop up galleries tend to appear each time.

Now you may want to start or end at The Art Park, which is located at The Medallion, 4^th and Main, cause you can park here. This is a large complex that offers artists, bands, DJ’s, Bands and food. The vendors are there till midnight. Bars are open till 2:00 am. There is also onsite parking as well. Right across the street, there is a huge lot with guess what??? FOOD TRUCKS! Gosh they are everywhere.

CHECK THIS ONE OUT!!!   They did this last month and it was such a success, they are doing it again. Experience Altervision 3-D Blacklight Experience. The hottest, mind blowing installation on this month’s Art Walk will be at the Medallion on 4^th and Main from 6:00 pm till 11:00 pm. Be aware that there is a charge of $2.00 for a one time visit and $5.00 for the whole evening (you even get to keep your 3D glasses).

As you enter the black lit exhibit, you are surrounded by beautiful hand painted florescent murals by local artist Debi Cable. Enjoy the experience of “The Enchanted Forest” a “Deep Sea Escape” and “Koi Pond”.

Another fun one is the Hive Gallery. I always feel very at home here. Located at 729 South Spring St, this funky gallery has a “Venice” vibe and always offers fabulous openings. http://hivegallery.com/2010/.

And right around the corner is the adorable Norbertellen Gallery. Experience "Infini Couleur", a group exhibition of over 80 pieces of eclectic visions from 26 talented artists. Norbertellen Gallery is located at 215 W. 6^th St. #110. 818 662 5041; www.norbertellengallery.com

LACDA presents Linda Alterwitz; Discarded Dreams. This is the first big show in their new location, right across the street. The opening reception will be held from 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm at Los Angeles Center for Digital Art (LACDA) 102 W. Fifth St., corner of Main and Spring. . 323 646-9427; http://www.lacda.com/.

Also showing in the window of LACDA is a brilliant light installation called SPECTRUM, a by a wonderful artist named Andie Villafañe (on view till 5/11) For more info, go to http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=134510076618238.

What I love about Downtown the most, it the majestic architecture of those historic buildings…such as the old Crocker Citizen’s National Bank Building which is now the very popular club, The Crocker Club located at 453 South Spring Street (5^th St.) Los Angeles, CA 90013 (213) 239-9099. http://www.crockerclub.com/

You’ll want to have a martini here.When you go inside the club, at the bottom of the grand staircase; one catches a glimpse of a handsome mahogany bar that is reminiscent of other well known historic night spot gems, such as the Edison.

How cool is it to be socializing inside an honest-to-God bank vault, dubbed the Mosler Lounge, which lies behind a massive 1960s-era stainless steel bank-vault?

Bunker Hill Magazine announces the opening of their affiliate gallery “GROUNDFLOOR” at 433 S. Spring Street, in the center of the bubbling –over downtown Gallery Row District.

For their grand opening GroundFloor Gallery presents a solo art show featuring the work of famed painter/sculptor Dustin Otterbach, 6:00pm -11:00pm. http://www.bunkerhillmagazine.com/.

Crewest Gallery presents RIPE, A Wine Show About Art Tasting. Yum, now this is my kind of show. Yes I do believe they will be serving wine at this opening, which runs from 6:00 pm till 10:00 pm. Also featured is "Create & Connect" presented by RU REPPIN’ with live screen-printing by Hit+Run. Crewest Gallery is located at 110 Winston St. off Main, between 4^th and 5^th St. (213) 627-8272.

Cotrutza Gallery is bringing to the American public a series of ink drawings celebrating the International Woman’s Day and in the same time the Artist Claudia French is showing through her creative eyes many of the woman’s issues as well (pregnancy, miscarriage, abortion, adoption, motherhood, etc.  Cotrutza Gallery is located at 446 South Main St. This opening runs from 6:00 till 10:00 pm and refreshments will be served.  213-622-0121; http://www.cotrutza.com/.

If you want to continue the party, Hold up Art is located in Little Tokyo at 358 E. 2^nd St. Enjoy their closing reception for "9 Lives of the Kitty" show, a hello kitty art exhibition. The show "Some of its Parts" will also be on display that evening in the exhibition wing, featuring artists THH70, Allison Torneros, SFaustina, and Jeru Gabriel.  Refreshments, free wine and snacks will be served. http://holdupart.com/

Friday March 11^th

Try something new for a change, head to Echo Park toThe Sancho Gallery, located at 1549 West Sunset Boulevard, 90026. Check out the opening for their latest exhibit, Et tu, Brute? This is a group show, featuring artists Anthony Ausgang, Spencer Elden, Michele McManmon and many others. This receptions runs from 7:00 pm till midnight, yeah, finally an art gallery in LA that is open late. Enjoy drinks music, jewelry and art. This will be a lively one. See photo on left of Sound Garden by Michele McManmon 310.406.6855

Or there are a couple openings on Abbot Kinney in Venice that may interest you. The Gebert Gallery (1345 Abbot Kinney) always offers a classy opening with very tasty cocktails. Tonight’s reception from 7:00 pm till 9:00 pm features the work of Michelle Stuhl (image to left) and Howard Werner.

C.A.V.E. Gallery (1108 Abbot Kinney)presents "Arcane Seasons", featuring new works by: Bryan Pickens, Codak, osh Hart and Skount. 6:00 pm – 10:00 pm. 310 450 6960;  www.cavegallery.net  

What about a wild night in Hollywood? Boys put your mascara on and go mad! Where’s my spandex???….how long has it been since I have stepped a toe into The Viper Room?…..Well this may be the night. Come have some fun with Betty Moon at the Viper Room (8852 Sunset, west Hollywood, 90069) Show starts at 9:00 pm….$15.00, but only $10.00 with this AD….just print out the pix. This chick can Rock out!!!

Saturday, March 12th

PICK OF THE WEEK!

The 3^rd Anniversary part at The G2 Gallery (1503 Abbot Kinney Blvd., 90291)  From last year's party Daniel & Susan Gottlieb(Photo by Shawna Enyart)

Start early, from 5:00 pm - 6:00 pm with Swing Dance lessons with Rusty Frank, who was inducted into "The California Swing Dance Hall of Fame". Then at 6:30 pm the Anniversary Party starts so you can try your moves out….and yes the more you drink, the more you’ll dance. ….so take advantage of the classes to at least look like you know what you are doing. Let’s celebrate The G2 Gallery's Three Year Anniversary in swingin' style with giveaways and a silent auction. The G2 Gallery will also convert their onsite garage into a gallery for the evening, to offer an extensive silent auction with donations artwork by G2 artists and staff members. Passed hors d’oeuvres will be served and complimentary valet will be offered.

Swing the night away with wine, refreshments and yummy passed hors d'oeuvres provided. Don’t forget to RSVP required to events@theg2gallery.com.  Complimentary valet; 310-452-2842; http://www.theg2gallery.com/.

Bergamot Station has a couple openings. If you want to breeze through these galleries, better get out pretty early. Get to Bergamot Station first at 2525 Michigan Ave 90404. The Samuel Freeman (B-7) is starting their opening at 5:00 pm featuring artist Jimi Gleason. This one runs till 8:00 pm.

Then stroll across to Frank Pictures (A-5) for the show, Mute: The Silence of Dogs in Cars by Martin Usborne.Soo Cute. Opening runs from 6:30 till 8:30pm. RSVP FOR THIS ONE  laurie@frankpicturesgallery.com; 310.828.0211;

As always other galleries will be open….just make sure to fill up your wine glass and enjoy the lovely art/wine buzz.

Thinkspace (6009 Washington Blvd., 90232) always has nice openings…this one is from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm. Reuben Rude and Craig “Skibs” Barker”, Liz Brizzi, Derek Gores, show their work. 310.403.8549; http://www.thinkspacegallery.com

Then head to the Michael Kohn Gallery at 8071 Beverly Blvd., 90048 and check out Camille Rose Garcia’s Snow White and the Black Lagoon

Sunday March 13^th,

Take a day to Rest!  Whew, I definitely need to. Shoot, I forgot, I have a private party!  Ugghh!