OCT 30: LACMA Muse Annual Costume Ball Mixes Music, Art & Creative Revelry Into An Amazing Halloween Event

Posted by Don Rose - Featured Event_____________________________

LACMA Muse Costume Ball - A Fabulous Evening Awaits

Saturday, October 30  - 8:30 pm to 12:30 am

NOTE: INDIVIDUAL TICKETS ARE SOLD OUT, BUT HERE IS HOW TO GET 2 TICKETS FREE: A LIMITED NUMBER OF MEMBERSHIP PACKAGES ARE STILL AVAILABLE. JOIN LACMA AT THE ACTIVE+MUSE LEVEL ($140) AND RECEIVE TWO TICKETS TO COSTUME BALL FOR FREE ($100 VALUE)! CALL 323 857-6151 TO SIGN UP BY ASKING FOR THE "FASHIONABLY MUSE" PACKAGE. PHONE LINES ARE OPEN MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY, 9 AM–5 PM.  Muse is LACMA's premier membership group for art enthusiasts in their 20s, 30s, and 40s. Offering everything from private exhibition tours to penthouse after-parties, we support the arts through a dynamic series of social, educational, and philanthropic activities within LACMA and throughout Los Angeles.

COSTUME BALL SCHEDULE:

Part 1: BP Grand Entrance/BCAM/Resnick Pavilion
8:30 pm–11 pm

Now in its seventh year, the consistently sold-out Muse Costume Ball attracts more than 1,000 costume-clad revelers to the museum for a night filled with tricks and treats. Enjoy live music and video projections in the BP Grand Entrance and an exclusive preview of William Eggleston: Democratic Camera—Photographs and Video, 1961–2008 along with after-hours access to Fashioning Fashion: European Dress in Detail, 1700–1925, Olmec: Colossal Masterworks of Ancient Mexico, and Eye for the Sensual: Selections from the Resnick Collection.

8:30 pm: Costume Ball begins. Visual projections and live painting in the BP Grand Entrance curated by Eder Cetina and Victor Solomon. Five featured exhibitions open for viewing.
9:15 pm: Live performance by Grouplove on the Urban Light stage in the BP Grand Entrance.
10:20 pm: Last call at all downstairs bars.
11:00 pm: Exhibitions close for viewing.

Part 2: LACMA West Penthouse
9:45 pm–12:30 am

Enter a rich and decadent world just beyond the edge of your perception. Sypher Art Studios brings the Salon de La Mode to the LACMA West Penthouse. The lovely Catherine De Troys, director of the Diable Oprea, has opened her Parlor this All Hallows Eve to a rancorous and intricate gathering. Here gathers a mix of regal characters, sinful dancers and roguish explorers from the new world. The ambassadors of the ancient world come and go with elaborate fashions and intrigues, whilst a glimpse of devilish fun ensues. Expect lavish costumes and exotic vignettes, with acts and soothsayers to mingle within the delectable Salon de La Mode.

9:45 pm: LACMA West Penthouse opens. Bar service begins. DJ Pumpkin takes the stage.
10:10 pm: Vanagloria (Dance)
10:25 pm: Superbia (Dance)
10:40 pm: Mirdin (Music)
11:11 pm: Avaritia (Dance)
11:15 pm: Costume Contest
11:55 pm: Temperantia (Juggling/Improv)
12:15 pm: Caritas (Dance)

Complimentary drinks provided by Malibu Family Wines, Effen Vodka, Hornitos Tequila, Dekuyper, Pernod Absinthe, FIJI Water, and more.

Tickets: $25 Muse Members | $50 General Public. Ticket includes admission, complimentary drinks, and parking. On sale now. Purchase tickets by calling 323 857-6010, or in-person at LACMA's Ticket Offices. Please note: $2 convenience fee per ticket added to all phone and internet orders.

OCT 30: SingularCity Halloween Haunted House Party

Posted by Don Rose - Featured Event

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SingularCity's Halloween Party is Almost Here!

Make Sure to Get Your Tix in Advance!

On spooky Saturday, October 30 from 8 PM – 1 AM join a great group of guys and gals (and maybe a few ghouls) for a spectacular Halloween celebration held in a real haunted house in West Los Angeles. We’ll mix all the scary stuff with a lot of great fun and food, music, a DJ with dancing under the stars, and magic from pro-magician extraordinaire Brandon Scott who performs regularly at the Magic Castle.  Psychic Readings by Dorothy will provide combo palm and tarot card reading, at the party, when you donate $10 Forte Animal Rescue http://www.farescue.org/. Dorothy is a professional reader with three locations in the Los Angeles area.

The tasty eats will include a delicious gourmet spread from Mr. Cecil's http://www.mrcecilscaliforniaribs.com/ of baby back ribs, barbecued chicken, grilled veggies, mac and cheese, cold slaw, baked beans and roasted corn on the cob with chili lime butter. Jamaica's Cakes http://www.jamaicascakes.com/ is providing a delicious array of desserts. They make their sweet treats completely from scratch with quality ingredients to please the eye and feed the soul.

You must be a member of the SingularCity website community, or the guest of a member in order to attend. It's free to join and you can do that here: http://singularcity.com/community/signup.php

All attendees must be at least 21 years old and sign a release before entering the party. We cannot be held responsible for how you might react to any paranormal activity.


Tickets are $40 and includes all the food, drinks, entertainment, fun and fright you can handle.


Questions? Email community@singularcity.com or call 310-481-0413.
Costumes are encouraged! Valet parking is available.


YOU MUST BUY YOUR TICKET TO THE PARTY IN ADVANCE!
https://singularcity.com/halloween-ticket-processing  

Hammer Museum Presents The Mandala Project: Oct 25 – Nov 7

Posted by Don Rose

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THE HAMMER PRESENTS A RARE OPPORTUNITY FOR ANGELENOS

TO EXPERIENCE THE COMPLEX AND RICH TRADITION OF MANDALA

The Mandala Project: October 25 – November 7, 2010 (First Public Event on October 26)

The Hammer Museum in Westwood Village, in partnership with Ari Bhöd — the American

Foundation for Tibetan Cultural Preservation — is pleased to present The Mandala Project. This two-

week program will feature the construction of a Tibetan sand mandala by a team of traditionally

trained Lamas visiting Los Angeles from the Thubten Choeling Monastery in Pharping, Nepal. The

mandala they create will be a sacred painting, following precise and ancient instructions passed

down over thousands of years. Millions of grains of colored sand will be sprinkled carefully on a flat

surface over an elaborate 10-day ceremony.

The mandala painting represents boundless compassion, purity and clarity. It is believed that

mandalas have the power to transform negativity and awaken altruism and compassion in the viewer.

Accompanying the sand mandala will be a series of architectural drawings of a proposed four story

mandala for Ari Bhöd by Los Angeles based architect Michael Rotondi, as well as a smaller three-

dimensional mandala, created by Pema Namdol Thaye, a master of Tibetan art. The project also

includes a Hammer Conversation with Rotondi and Thaye, and culminates in a ceremonial sweeping

of the sand and a concluding procession to the Pacific Ocean for the dispersal of the sand on

November 7, 2010.

The mandala is a profound, universal symbol that translates literally to “center and its surroundings”

and is a physical representation of our interdependence, or the notion that everything and everyone

is interlinked. Mandalas are found in many forms, but always include a circle, a central point, and

some form of symmetry. They can be created in sand, on paper or cloth, or built as 3-dimensional

models or buildings. The vivid painted mandalas of Tibet are the most widely known. There are only

a few three-dimensional mandalas in the world, due in part to the large commitment of time and

expertise needed to create them.

Traditionally created as a tool for visualization and meditation, every single detail of a mandala—

the design, the colors, and placement of symbols—is deliberate. The blueprints are considered

sacred, with many layers of deep meaning and positive representation. Before beginning, traditional

mandala artists generate the intention to benefit others and the motivation of compassion, which is

believed to infuse the art or structure with unique spiritual and sacred qualities.

THE ARTISTS

Venerable Gelong Kalsang Rinpoche – Former Vajra Master of Rigdzin Drub-Pai Ghatsal, the retreat

center of His Holiness Chatral Rinpoche in Nepal, Gelong Rinpoche will be leading the traditional

ceremonies and creation of the sand mandala.

Venerable Lama Ngawang Thogmed – A master of ritual arts and a master mandala artist, Ven.

Lama Thogme is often sought out to train many of the monks of the Nyingma and Kagyu lineages at

monasteries throughout India and Nepal in the complex art of sand mandala making.

Lama Nawang Sampten Lhundrup – Master temple craftsman and ritual artist.

Lama Rinji Sherpa Tsewang – Assistant mandala artist.

RELATED PUBLIC PROGRAMS

Tuesday, October 26, 11am

The public is invited to watch the monks begin their work on the mandala.

Saturday, November 6, 2-7pm

Mandala Viewing

The public is invited to view the completed mandala before its dissolution the following day.

Sunday, November 7, 1pm

Hammer Conversations

Michael Rotondi & Pema Namdol Thaye

Architect and educator Michael Rotondi is the principal of RoTo Architecture, an award-winning firm

that creates unconventional structures that aim to dissolve the boundaries between design, science,

technology, and the fine arts. Rotondi co-founded Morphosis in 1972 and was director of the

Southern California Institute of Architecture (SCI-Arc). A master of Tibetan art, Pema Namdol Thaye

is renowned for his expertise in traditional Tibetan thangka painting, sculpture and the creation of

rare three dimensional mandalas. For more the 25 years, Pema has provided a vital contribution to

the world’s understanding of traditional Tibetan Art. All Hammer public programs are free.

Sunday, November 7, 3pm

Dissolution Ceremony & Procession to Pacific Ocean

The monks will perform a dissolution ceremony at 3pm, and at 3:30pm they will lead a procession to

the ocean. All are welcome to join the dissolution ceremony and procession, but you will need your

own transportation. Driving directions will be provided at the ceremony.

ABOUT ARI BHÖD

Ari Bhöd was founded by Venerable Lama Chödak Gyatso Nubpa to preserve the ancient Nyingma wisdom

tradition of Tibet. The Nyingma tradition, known as the Ancient Onis the original tradition developed in Tibet

by the great spiritual adept Padmasambhava in the ninth century. These teachings were preserved in Tibet in

an unbroken transmission for more than one thousand years. Its benefits have stood the test of time, the

methods proven effective in bringing forth positive qualities, especially altruism and compassion. It is our

aim to preserve, in a living environment, all essential aspects of this endangered world heritage so that it

remains a source of benefit for future generations of Tibetans and non-Tibetans alike.

Ari Bhöd’s mission is to preserve and transmit the priceless legacy of the ancient Tibetan Nyingma lineage

tradition, a sacred culture of peace that has been kept vital and effective through more than fifty generations

of lifelong practitioners and lineage masters. Ari Bhöd’s retreat center, Pema Drawa, is located on 475 acres in

the peaceful mountains of Tehachapi, California. Pema Drawa is the site for the construction of Zangdok Palri

U.S.A, a four-story monument to inspire compassion, transformation and peace. With offices in southern

California, Ari Bhöd’s principle programs and activities include:

• Traditional Tibetan Art and Architecture

• Meditation Practice and Ceremonies

• Text Translation and Publishing

• Tools for Peace™, an education program based on the principle of mandala

www.aribhod.org  

ABOUT THE HAMMER MUSEUM

The Hammer Museum, a public arts unit of the University of California, Los Angeles, is dedicated to exploring

the diversity of artistic expression through the ages. Its collections, exhibitions, and programs span the

classic to the cutting-edge in art, architecture, and design, recognizing that artists play a crucial role in all

aspects of culture and society.

The museum houses the Armand Hammer Collection of Old Master, Impressionist, and Post-Impressionist

paintings and the Armand Hammer Daumier and Contemporaries Collection. The Hammer’s newest collection,

the Hammer Contemporary Collection, is highlighted by works on paper, particularly drawings and

photographs from Southern California. The museum also houses the Grunwald Center for the Graphic Arts,

comprising more than 45,000 prints, drawings, photographs, and artists’ books from the Renaissance to the

present; and oversees the management of the Franklin D. Murphy Sculpture Garden on the UCLA campus.

The Hammer presents major single-artist and thematic exhibitions of historical and contemporary art. It also

presents approximately ten Hammer Projects exhibitions each year, providing international and local artists

with a laboratory-like environment to create new work or to present existing work in a new context.

As a cultural center, the Hammer offers a diverse range of free public programs throughout the year, including

lectures, readings, symposia, film screenings, and music performances. The Hammer’s Billy Wilder Theater

houses these widely acclaimed public programs and is the new home of the UCLA Film & Television Archive’s

renowned cinematheque.

HAMMER MUSEUM INFORMATION

For current program and exhibition information call 310-443-7000 or visit www.hammer.ucla.edu.

Hours: Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, 11am – 7pm; Thursday, 11am – 9 pm; Sunday, 11am – 5 pm;

closed Mondays, July 4, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day.

Admission: $7 for adults; $5 for seniors (65+) and UCLA Alumni Association members; free for Museum

members, students with identification, UCLA faculty/staff, and visitors 17 and under. The Museum is free for

everyone on Thursdays.

Location/Parking: The Hammer is located at 10899 Wilshire Boulevard, at Westwood Boulevard. Parking is

available under the Museum. Rate is $3 for three hours with Museum validation.

Hammer Museum Tours: For group tour reservations and information, call 310-443-7041.

The Beatles "Red" & "Blue" Debut Anew: Both Double-CD Remastered Packages Available Oct 19

by Don Rose

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The Beatles' original greatest hits packages, first released in 2 vinyl volumes back in 1973, are back!

Fans informally refer to them as the Red and Blue albums, due to their original covers' colors.

Each set includes 2 CDs as well as new photos and liner notes. The 1962-66 set (Red) and 67-70 (Blue) have both been remastered, and are available in stores as well as online beginning October 19. (I checked Best Buy today in Westwood and their price -- $13.99 per double-CD set -- seems to match Amazon's.)

Thought for Today: If you include the band's "White Album", today's releases mean you can finally have the all-British Beatles in All-American Red, White and Blue.

OCT 14-19: 3rd Annual Bel-Air Film Festival Features Films, Panels, Receptions & More

Posted by Don Rose

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The Bel Air Film Festival is back. The third edition of this annual fest takes place at the UCLA James Bridges Theatre (inside Melnitz Hall). 

BAFF will run October 14-19, 2010.

The BAFF opening night on October 14 is jam-packed, featuring 3 films, several honors and a reception. Highlights include Joey Sylvester’s “Walk a Mile in My Pradas” and the documentary “The Last Elephants in Thailand.” More info on the fest is at www.BelAirFilmFestival.com. Info below is from the official press release (as seen on Film Threat).

The 2010 Bel-Air Film Festival (BAFF) will host its third annual event October 14th-19th with screenings held at the UCLA James Bridges Theater. 58 films will be presented including 35 world premieres and 12 Los Angeles premieres.

The festival will recognize and honor Brian Austin Green with the festival’s Best Actor Award, Kathy Najimy and Mark Rydell with the Legendary Filmmaker Awards, and Salaam Remi for Best Music in Film.

The ceremony will screen Walk a Mile in My Pradas, a film by the festival’s headline sponsor Dream It Productions. This “Work in Progress” feature film starring Nathaniel Marston, Tom Arnold, and Tom Archdeacon, tells a timely story about relevant issues such as Prop 8 and gay rights. With Christmas in Los Angeles as its backdrop, Writer/Producer, Rick (Sudi) Karatas creates a fantastical world where a little Christmas magic causes two coworkers to switch sexual orientations. The film offers messages of tolerance and acceptance, in a light and heart warming, comedic fashion and marks director Joey Sylvester’s feature debut.

In its Los Angeles Premiere the short film Turning Japanese, starring Brian Austin Green, will be screened. Turning Japanese tells the story of a couple struggling with their finances that stumble upon an unknowing sleepwalker and exploit her nightly episodes by selling tickets. Brian Austin Green is well known from his role on the hit TV series 90210 as well as his performances in the sitcom Freddie, the films Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles and Domino and recurring roles on the TV series Smallville and Desperate Housewives.

Kathy Najimy will introduce the Los Angeles premiere of the documentary The Last Elephants in Thailand and bring attention to a cause she personally supports: the fight to save the dwindling population of elephants in Thailand and expose the abuse of elephants in amusement parks and the way elephants are forced to paint. Named Ms. Magazine’s “Woman of the Year” in 2005 and known as the voice of Peggy Hill on 14 seasons of the animated series King of the Hill, she is also easily recognized for her roles in the films Sister Act I and Sister Act II, the animated film Wall-E and over 20 feature films including Hocus Pocus, Rat Race and The Wedding Planner. An active philanthropist, she has been recognized frequently for over 20 years of charitable efforts.

Mark Rydell will receive the Legendary Filmmaker Award, presented by Katharine Kramer. Rydell’s recent projects includes work with Forest Whitaker, Danny DeVito, and Kim Basinger in the upcoming film, “Even Money,” and the film, “Hollywood Ending,” starring Woody Allen. Rydell was also director of the TV bio-pic James Dean which earned actor James Franco a Golden Globe award. Rydell also acted in the movie, playing Jack Wagner. Mr. Rydell is a member of the board of directors at the Katherine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center.

Salaam Remi is being recognized by BAFF for Best Music in Film. He has produced for Nas, The Fugees, Amy Winehouse, Alicia Keys and Ricky Martin among others and is responsible for the sounds of Sex and the City and Rush Hour 3. A favorite of directors Brett Ratner and Michael Patrick King, Remi is one of the most sought after producers in Hollywood. He recently finished scoring an upcoming documentary on Mike Tyson.

OCT 15-17: Conscious Life Expo Presents the New Visionaries

Posted by Don Rose - Featured Event

www.consciouslifeexpo.com   Tickets now on sale!                              Humanity Unites Brilliance (HUB) Presents:       Grammy Award Winning musician Freddie Ravel,  Leading Visionary's                  Claire Zammit, Terry Tillman, Marcia Martin, Jesus Nebot,            Special featurette from Pachamama Alliance's "Awakening the Dreamer"                                 Sunday, October 17 -2:00pm-8:00pm                                           Special Los Angeles Debut - "Miracles Do Happen"                       An Evening with Guruji Mahendra Kumar Trivedi                   Experience the group Blessing and energetic transmissions                                   on Friday, October 15 - 8:00pm-9:30pm PLUS, don't miss the special  LIFEChanges LIVE! Show with Filippo Voltaggio  on Friday, October 15th at 7:00pm!        Special panels, music performances, yummy organic foods served on site Friday, Oct. 15-3pm-10pm; Saturday, Oct. 16-10am-11pm; Sunday, Oct. 17 10am-8pm                         LAX Hilton Hotel -5711 Century Blvd., Los Angeles 90045           General Admission: $20 Advance/$25 Door.  Keynote Speakers: $35/$45                         Connect with the Conscious Community!

OCT 10: Pier Del Sol Event on Santa Monica Pier Benefits Special Olympics So Cal

Posted by Don Rose

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Special Olympics Southern California is celebrating its 14th Annual Pier Del Sol event at Pacific Park on the Santa Monica Pier on Oct. 10. 

This year's "Hawaiian Paradise" theme includes hula lessons, Hawaiian dancers, live tropical music, family and kid-friendly activities, rides, games, as well as a spectacular VIP brunch from L.A.'s top restaurants, including Melisse, Providence, Water Grill, Angelini Osteria and Spago. Unlimited Pacific Park rides and games are included in the price of admission. 

Arnold Schwarzenegger with Special Olympics athlete at Pier del Sol 2009

Along with other celebrities and sports figures, California's First Lady, Maria Shriver, is attending as the honorary chair. This year's honoree is Tony Buzzelli, Vice Chairman and Regional Managing Partner of Deloitte LLP. 

To purchase tickets and for more information, please visit:
www.pierdelsol.org

Since 1997, Pier del Sol has raised almost $5 million, benefiting and changing the lives of more than 13,000 Special Olympic Southern California athletes. 

Special Olympics Southern California has been changing lives through the power of sport for more than 40 years and offers opportunities for children and adults with intellectual disabilities to participate in year-round sports training and competition. For more information about how to compete, coach or contribute to Special Olympics Southern California, please visit: www.sosc.org.

Special Olympics Southern California

Pier Del Sol: Hawaiian Paradise

Sunday, October 10th, 2010, 10am - 2pm
Pacific Park
380 Santa Monica Pier
Santa Monica, CA 90401

General Admission: $45, includes unlimited rides, 8 game booth tickets, and 1 meal coupon for Pacific Park's Food Placa

VIP Coaster: $150, includes unlimited rides, 10 game booth tickets, and VIP Brunch
VIP Child: $50 (ages 5 - 12)
VIP Admission Package: $500 for 5 VIP Coaster tickets
www.pierdelsol.org

Back to Back To The Future: AMC Brings Classic Film Back to Theaters Oct 23 & 25; Blu-ray Trilogy Due Oct 26

by Don Rose

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We previously reported on the 25th anniversary of Val Kilmer's first starring vehicle, the sci-fi comedy "Real Genius". As far as we know, there was no big celebration to commemorate the occasion, but fortunately for lovers of comedy science fiction, such is not the case for "Back to the Future" and its 25th anniversary! BttF is being re-released in theaters October 23rd and October 25th in over 40 U.S. cities, apparently for those two nights only. Those

 who attend the special screenings are promised a poster commemorating the 25th anniversary of the movie (until they run out, of course, so get there early, kids). We also learned that theaters will have "special movie-related giveaways". 

The print to be shown in theaters is a digital re-master, in advance of the upcoming release of "Back to the Future" on Blu-ray, which should look fantastic (or, as Marty might say, "heavy"). The hi-def Blu-ray and regular DVD release (set for October 26) is a trilogy box set that will include the two BttF sequels and many bonus features. 

We hope to see you at the screenings. If you can't jot down the info right now, just remember: "25 Oct, Doc!" or "25th party on the 25th, Marty!" (Okay, AMC isn't promising a real party-party with your ticket price, but close enough - heck, if you bring your pals, it will be a party!)

Below is more info on the upcoming BttF screenings:

from JOBLO.com:

AMC Theaters is showing the original film twice - once on October 23 and once on October 25 (the day Marty McFly went back in time) ... And as an added bonus, all attendees will get a full-size BACK TO THE FUTURE poster just for showing up ... head to AMC's site to see if BTTF is playing near you and to purchase tickets.

from AMCTHEATRES.com:

AMC Theatres is bringing back the film for 2 special screenings on Saturday October 23rd at 12:30PM and Monday October 25th at 7:00PM on 158 screens over 40 cities! All guests will receive a full-sized poster commemorating the 25th anniversary limited release of the movie with their ticket purchase, while supplies last. Each theatre will also have special movie-related giveaways prior to the movie as a part of the experience.  We’re excited to bring this digitally remastered film back for a new generation to see the film as it was intended. Tickets for this AMC exclusive are on sale now!