Pick of the Week, is Friday Night, the 3rd Anniversary Party of Color Ink Book in Culver City!

Pick of the week is Color Ink Book’s 3^rd Anniversary show entitled Shades of Ray. Hold on to your pants as Color Ink Book celebrates three successful years with their first ever gallery exhibit at WWA gallery with the massive group show. Snag your very own one-of-a-kind Rayola sculpture created exclusively for this show.

Be one of the first 100 guests through the door opening night and receive an exclusive mini-print, from one of Color Ink Book’s alumni – Alex Pardee.

You will have the chance to win a limited edition Travis Lampe Rayola plush and enjoy live painting too. The Project Space will feature artist, Sam Arshawsky.

Wednesday, July 27th

Duncan Miller presents their annual Summer party at their Santa Monica pop-up projects space on Ocean Park. This new exhibition is entitled Summertime. Many of these works (from 16 artists) have not been seen before.

Reception runs from 7:00 pm till 9:00 pm at the Duncan Miller Gallery located at 1716 Ocean Park Blvd. Santa Monica 90405. http://www.duncanmillergallery.com/

Get their a bit earlier and stop into the furniture store, Rumba, who will also be having an opening reception from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm. Rumba is located at 1740 Ocean Park Blvd. http://www.rumbastyle.com/

Then stay in Santa Monica and pop by Bleicher/Golightly Gallery (1431 Ocean Ave in SM) to see their final Summer Studio Sale  featuring work from Arman and Arghisti Musakhanyan, the sons of artist Raffi Musakhanyan, as well as Carol Powell. Opening reception runs from 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm. Refreshments, wine will be served. http://caporalebleicher.com/

If you are up for the valley (or live nearby) Vitello's Jazz & Supper Club (4349 Tujunga Ave. in North Hollywood) offers Grammy nominated trumpet player/arranger/composer Ron King and his amazing quartet of A-list players.

Music charge is $15.00 plus $13.00 food or drink minimum. I've been to Vitellos, great Italian food. So treat yourself and enjoy a nice meal.  Tickets available at www.ticketweb.com or www.vitellosrestaurant.com; (818) 769-0905;

Thursday, July 28^th

In Santa Monica, Public Works Improvisational Theatre presents Voice in the Well: “Steering by the Stars”, poetry, readings and music featuring Catherine Allison, Marie Bergenholtz, DJ Carlile, Kaitlin Ferrell, Kathy Leonardo, Doug Spitz & Jeffrey Van Der Byl.

Hosted by Eric Vollmer, this event will be held at Warszawa Restaurant, (upstairs in the attic), 1414 Lincoln Blvd., in Santa Monica. Show starts at 7:30 pm. Donations encouraged…they are asking $7.00, but no one will be turned away. Deserts and refreshments will be served. http://www.publicworksimprov.com/calendar/

Also at the Santa Monica Pier presents Reggae/Ska: Slackers and Star Pool (plus the finalists of Rusty’s Surf Ranch emerging artist competition) tonight from 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm.

Also, after the concert at 10:00 pm, stop by Poseidon SUP's new store is located at 1654 Ocean Ave, Santa Monica CA 90401 They will be having live music every Thursday for the summer. Wine & Beer will be served. http://www.poseidonstandup.com

And the Culver City Music Festival offers the Acoustic Celtic band Molly’s Revenge with special guest vocalist Christa Burch from 7pm-9pm from July 7th thru August 25th. Shows occur in the Culver City Hall Courtyard. Access to the courtyard begins at 4:30pm.

Parking is free underneath City Hall. For more info, check out the Upcoming events page.

In Venice, POST NO BILLS presents their second exhibition in its Venice Beach based print shop. The European Bailout Show will feature exclusive new limited edition prints and original artwork by ten of Europe's most innovative and highly celebrated artists- Anthony Micallef, Conor Harrington, Ian Francis, Jonathan Yeo, JR, Mode 2, Paul Insect, Stanley Donwood, Vhils and Zevs. Event runs from 7:00 pm till 10:00 pm. Post No Bills is located at 1103 Abbot Kinney Blvd., Venice Beach, CA 90291 http://www.postnobillsshop.com/

At the Talking Stick in Venice Mikal Sandoval hosts a speakeasy every fourth Thursday each month and people are invited to come their speakeasy attire.

The Talking Stick offers delicious, reasonably priced salads, sandwiches, hummus & pita, tasty desserts, and an array of smoothies, coffees and teas in a cozy, family-friendly atmosphere. Free parking and BYOB (with $8 corkage).

The Talking Stick Coffee Lounge is located at 1411 Lincoln Blvd. Venice 90291. 310.450.6052; www.thetalkingstick.net; $10.00 admission.

One more in Venice is Paparazzi Comedy who is celebrating their 1 year tonight  at The Canal Club 2025 Pacific Avenue, Venice Beach, CA. Produced by Gisele. Hosted by Twista Jaye and Jeffery Peterson featuring Barry Sobel and Kristi McHugh. Come hear the hottest and funniest comics on the Westside. Also performing Jason Hadley, Sean McBride, Brett Gilbert & The 420 Comic..... Special Music Guest Norwood Fisher. Valet and Street parking available. Drink and food specials. FREE before 8pm if RSVP at paparazzicomedy@yahoo.com.

Friday July 29^th

 

Now before my Pick of the Week, you may want to stop by Figtree’s Café to enjoy a tasty happy hour and hear some great live music tonight at 5:00 pm. Fefe Lee, will be performing a solo set on guitar. Beatle songs are a big part of his repertoire. Show goes till 7:00 pm.

Figtree’s Café is known for their healthy delicious food, located right on the Venice boardwalk at 429 Ocean Front Walk Venice, at Paloma Ave, two blocks south of Rose. Figtree’s has been voted the best restaurant on the boardwalk since 1978. Figtree’s has a wonderful happy hour, Monday thru Friday and also has FREE delivery. 310 392-4937; www.figtreescafe.com;

   

Now for the Pick of the Week…Color Ink Book creators, The Brothers Washburn present Shades of Ray, Color Ink Book’s 3^rd Anniversary show.

Be one of the first 100 guests through the door opening night and receive an exclusive mini-print, from one of Color Ink Book’s alumni – Alex Pardee.

This is going to be a really great time and fun reception from 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm. You will have the chance to win a limited edition Travis Lampe Rayola plush and enjoy live painting too. The Project Space will feature artist, Sam Arshawsky.

WWA Gallery  is located at 9517 Culver Blvd., 90232. 310 836-4992; http://wwagallery.com/.

Then pop by Prism at 8746 W. Sunset Blvd, 90069.  

See some legendary talents such as Eric Kroll, Roy LIchtenstein, Ed Ruscha, Andy Warhol and Tom Wesselmann from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm. 310-289-1301; http://www.prismla.com/.

There’s lots happening at Copro Gallery (T-5), located at Bergamot Station 2525 Michigan Ave. in Santa Monica) who will be offering the exhibition, Immaculate Deception featuring the works of two female artists "Genevive Zacconi" and "Ewelina Ferruso".

Also showing is Chris Peters as well as a group show. 8:00 - 11:00 PM at Copro Gallery, (T-5) Copro always has fun openings. 310 829-2156; http://www.copronason.com/.

South, on Wilshire presents DJs and dancing from 9:00 pm to 2:00 am. It’s always a fun night with tasty drink specials and a yummy happy hour! Starting at 3:00 pm and runs till 8:00 pm. Get there hungry! South also offers $3 beer, ($10.00 pitchers) and $5 wells.

South is located at 3001 Wilshire Boulevard, Santa Monica, CA 90403. (310) 828-9988; http://southsantamonica.com/.

Saturday, July 30^th

New Image Art Gallery, located at 7908 Santa Monica Blvd., West Hollywood, 90046 offers artists Owen Schmit and Paul Wackers. See image to left.

Opening Reception runs from 7:00 pm – 10:00 pm.  323.654.2192; http://www.newimageartgallery.com/

Then stop by Merry Karnowsky Gallery is proud to present this summer’s group exhibition featuring Deedee Cheriel’s Songs For Infinite Starry Nights, Femke Hiemstra’s Big Thousands of Golden Flowers, & Audrey Kawasaki’s Restlessly Still.

Opening reception runs from 8 - 11pm. Located at 170 S. La Brea Ave., (In The Art 170 Bldg) LA 90036. http://www.mkgallery.com/.

Or in Venice, stop by Marine Contemporary for All the ifs and whens, an exhibition by London based artist, Annabel Emson (see image) and Cologne based artist, Gereon Krebber.

This two-part exhibition takes place in London and Los Angeles. Part I opened at Kenny Schachter/Rove Projects in London on July 12th and continues at Marine Contemporary in Los Angeles tonight.

  The reception runs from 6:00 pm till 9:00 pm. Venice Marine Contemporary is located at 1733A Abbott Kinney Blvd., between Venice Blvd and Washington Blvd. 310.399.0294; http://www.marinecontemporary.com/.

 

Don’t forget there’s free music tonight at the Marina del Rey Summer Concerts in Chase Burton Park (13650 Mindanao Way), bring a blanket, a picnic and enjoy.

Tonight's event runs from 7:00 pm till 9:00 pm featuring Tito Puente, Jr. Orchestra.

   

Ride your bike or you can park at County lots #4 and #77 on Mindanao Way, or lot # 5 on Bali Way. See more concert info on my Upcoming Events page. http://file.lacounty.gov/dbh/docs/cms1_146017.pdf

Or you may want to attend a very special dinner, entitled Le Secret Supper. Chef Leslie Paonessa offers a provencal French menu. Hosted in a charming Venice cottage by Esquire Jachem, meet new friends and enjoy incredible food at this private affair. For more info and full menu, see Weekly Features Page. Contact Leslie at lfpsm@earthlink.net for reservations and additional info.

Don’t forget to check out Grand Performances, which is a free outdoor concert series in it’s 25^th year located at California Plaza in Downtown LA.

Tonight’s show features The Shoghaken Ensemble and Tigran. Grace, passion and enduring strength mark the music of Armenia, both modern and traditional. Tigran exemplifies the modern global jazz sensibility, marrying deep respect for this Armenian provenance while plumbing the depths of this piano's sonic potential.  http://grandperformances.org/

Sunday July 31^st

 

It’s Los Angeles Navy Week 2011. Those gorgeous men in uniform are out. Yum ..and gorgeous women too. Men and Women or whatever team you’re playing on, keep your eyes out and come down to the Santa Monica Pier from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm.  

Enjoy the Navy band, The Destroyers, who will play two sets of music and the US Navy Parachute Demonstration Team, The Leap Frogs, parachute onto the Pier! Good looking men jumpin’ out of the sky…Mama likes that!

The band, The Leap Frogs is a fifteen-man team comprised entirely of U.S. Navy SEAL and SWCC commandos. This is a free event happening on the Santa Monica Pier. For more information: 310-458-8350. http://www.navyweek.org/losangeles2011/

Feeling all American, you’ll want to stop by the Happening Gallery who is having a Sunday afternoon opening reception of a group show, entitled “Spark the Mind”.

The event runs from 1:00 pm till 4:00 pm and the address is 4047 Lincoln Blvd. at Washington Blvd in Marina Del Rey. Wine & tasty treats will be served. 310 305-ARTS; www.thehappeninggallery.com.

As always, check back for the Weekend Update for some new fun events.