Do It. Also I Like to Rock at the Hammer.

Now that Carmaggeddon has come and gone, it's time to try and venture out to the westside again, if you so dare. Also I Like to Rock, the summer music concert series at the Hammer Museum, is worth the trouble.

The series is already halfway through, but you've still got great performances ahead of you: Grouplove this Thursday, and the Henry Clay People the next. Put on by one of my favorite local bloggers, Kevin Bronson at BuzzBandsLA, and KCRW, you know you're getting a look into what's next and what's good in the indie music scene. And an extra plus: the concert and the museum are both free! A great way to enjoy a summer night.

Also I Like to Rock takes place Thursdays in July beginning at 7pm at the Hammer Museum, located at 10899 Wilshire Blvd. in Westwood.

-- Chau Tu
Photo credit: Laurie Scavo

Advance Notice. Autobiography of Mark Twain Celebration at the Hammer.

Last fall, 100 years after Mark Twain's death, the first of three volumes of his complete and unexpurgated autobiography was released, and immediately became a smash hit.

So many great books came out last year, and I haven't had a chance to read all the ones I'm interested in (I'm way behind the crowd, and still on Freedom). My boyfriend is currently powering through Keith Richards' autobiography, and I'm hoping he'll read Twain's after that so I can grab it when he's done.

Next Tuesday, UCLA's Hammer museum is having a celebration of the book with Twain scholars and even a band--The Americans--performing renditions of classic American rockabilly and folk blues. Awesome.

February 8 at 7:00 p.m. Free. Info: hammer.ucla.edu, (310) 443-7000

The Hammer is located at 10899 Wilshire Boulevard in Westwood.

-- Leslie Anne Wiggins

Photo credit: hammer.ucla.edu

Do It. Open projector night at the Hammer.

Not every film that gets released is Oscar-worthy, and many others aren't even worth the $15 ticket price. So how best to get your money's worth?

See some films for free. Sure, some of the BYOfilms that end up on the screen at this Hammer Museum event tonight probably won't be anything extraordinary (and I'm being nice here), but you might also end up seeing some gems too. Open projector night is a free-for-all, and anything could happen. Maybe you'll see the first short of some future amazing filmmaker. Or you may not. But it's all in good fun, and it's some free entertainment for the night. Plus free popcorn and an open bar, and MC entertainment from comedian twins Jason and Randy Sklar.

And maybe even you perhaps have a short film to show? Don't rely on your best friend for their honest opinion. It's first come, first served to get on the screening list -- just make sure it's under 10 minutes and on a usual film media format. More info is here.

Martin Scorsese had to start somewhere.

Open Projector Night is happening tonight at 7:30pm at the Hammer Museum, located at 10899 Wilshire Blvd. in Westwood. The event is free.

-- Chau Tu

Do It. Go to the Hammer Museum for free.

Considering that the Hammer Museum in Westwood is still putting together hip and cool exhibits, and hosting fun nights like sleepovers and free concerts, it can be difficult to believe that it's already turning 20 years old this year. But it's keeping up with the fun by offering free admission for 20 days, starting this Friday, Nov. 26 until Dec. 18.

While you're there, be sure to check out its contemporary collection exhibition, and its new exhibit from L.A. artist Mark Flores, who uses photographs as inspirations for his paintings. You can also stop by on Dec. 14th for a free event on 75 years of DC comics, or on Dec. 15 for a free screening of The Deep, "in which metal objects of the past come to life in the depths of the sea."

This free admission will be a great way to kick-off your long weekend after the stress of Thanksgiving, especially if you want to avoid the crazy Black Friday crowds.

Happy birthday, Hammer Museum! Keep up the great work.

-- Chau Tu

Do It. Jonathan Gold and Bret Easton Ellis at the Hammer.

I'm so excited about this event, I'm blogging on the weekend.

On Tuesday evening, Bret Easton Ellis (author) and Jonathan Gold (food critic) will be at the Hammer Museum for a "Hammer Conversations" event. They share a fascination for L.A., pop culture, and eating.

Free. Tuesday November 16 at 7:00 p.m. The Hammer is located at 10899 Wilshire Blvd. in Westwood, Calif. Info: hammer.ucla.edu, (310) 443-7000

-- Leslie Anne Wiggins

Photo credit: hammer.ucla.edu

Do It. Also I Like to Rock at the Hammer.

This whole museum + cool concert thing sure is catching on, isn't it? Tonight we're headed on over to the Hammer Museum, which is kicking off its own free outdoor summer concert series, called Also I Like to Rock.

This month-long program is curated by KCRW and Buzz Bands LA, who definitely know a thing or two about up-and-coming local bands. For tonight's edition, they're featuring the dance-worthy Saint Motel and the edgy-rock Kitten, which just so happens to be led by a 15-year-old (but a pretty darn talented one at that!). Next week, look for mini-supergroup Admiral Radley, and beyond that, the rising Fitz and the Tantrums. There'll also be appearances by your favorite KCRW DJs (Garth Trinidad's soothing voice in person?!), and of course, the galleries for your perusal (open until 9pm).

The fun is set to officially begin at 8pm, but seeing as how these cool free L.A. events have become quite the uber-popular, stretching-into-almost-annoying settings as of late, you better plan early. Not just an hour before showtime early, but really early. Trust me. Or you can invest in a "Rock the Summer" pass courtesy of KCRW, which will get you express (but not guaranteed) entry into all the AILTR shows plus some of those awesome KCRW benefits (and it's tax-deductible!).

The Hammer Museum is located at 10899 Wilshire Blvd. in Westwood. Parking is $3 after 6pm (but really..you might need to show up earlier).

-- Chau Tu

Advance Notice. Zidane at the Hammer.

Although he's officially retired and not in this year's World Cup, his shocking headbutt four years ago is one of those amazing, crazy moments recorded forever in soccer history.

Next Tuesday, if you haven't yet gotten your fill of football, the Hammer Museum in Westwood will be showing an art film shot from the footballer's perspective, shot one year before the fateful game between France and Italy.

The 2006 game was the first time I had heard of the Marseilles-native Zinedine Zidane, but for his French fans Zidane is a long-time household name. For those of us who haven't known Zidane since he was with Real Madrid, a look into what a soccer match looks like from the perspective of a major footballer could be very interesting, especially as the World Cup comes to a close July 11.

The documentary is being shown July 6 at 7:00 p.m. for free at the Hammer Museum. The Hammer is located at 10899 Wilshire Blvd.

-- Lauren Williams

Do It. Bike night at the Hammer.

Get your bike on/get on your bike tonight and head to Westwood's Hammer museum for Bike Night at the Hammer!, an evening that will include free vegan food and live entertainment.

There will be a bike valet, screenings of UCLA student bike-themed short films, and a 9:00 p.m. screening of Pee-Wee's Big Adventure (I'd say Pee-Wee is up there with Lance Armstrong on the 'everyone's favorite bicyclist' list).

Thursday April 8 at 7:00 p.m. - the Hammer is located at 10899 Wilshire Blvd. in Westwood.

-- Leslie Anne Wiggins

Photo credit: Michael Chen/hammer.ucla.edu

Advance Notice. Youth in Revolt.

Somehow, through his various roles as the lovable George Michael (Arrested Development) to the kind-of-ass Michael Cera (Paper Heart), Michael Cera has become that actor people love to love or love to hate. He's always playing the same sort of character, but it's one that you can't help but like, and goshdarnit if Cera isn't just a cute, bumbling Canadian.

But this next movie may be a test of Cera's staying power. In Youth in Revolt, Cera not only plays Nick Twisp--a by-the-book coming-of-age Cera character--but also Francois, Twisp's cooler, more confident alter ego. Can Cera defy us all and become someone actually different?

See for yourself at a sneak preview screening of the film at the Hammer Museum this Thursday. The screening will be followed by a Q&A with director Miguel Arteta and Cera himself. If that feels like it'll be too much Cera for you (unbelievable!), you can always check out the film when it's released on Friday.

**BONUS TRACK: Perhaps we have underestimated Mr. Cera...-- Chau Tu

Photo credit: Hammer Museum, digg.com

Advance Notice. Martin Scorsese at LACMA.

Martin Scorsese (Taxi Driver, Raging Bull, The Color of Money, Goodfellas, Casino, Gangs of New York, The Aviator, The Departed ... ) is championing a cause--film preservation. During the summer, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art-LACMA announced the planned end of their weekend film program--or at least an indefinite break from it due to lost funds. Scorsese wrote an open letter to LACMA CEO Michael Govan, which resulted in an outpouring of community support for the program. A Film Club is now in place, and the announcement of it's inception resulted in $150,000 in donations, as well as the $50 fee for each new member who joins.

Now the New York Academy Award winner is headed to the West Coast to give us some more of his thoughts on the matter.

The legendary director will be in conversation with Govan at LACMA on January 20 at 7:30 p.m. I know those of you who have 2010 calendars are just dying to mark them up with January plans, so write down January 4 as the on sale date (as well as of course the 20th).

LACMA is located at 5905 Wilshire Blvd. in Los Angeles - (323) 857-6000

-- Leslie Anne Wiggins

Photo credit: www.listal.com

Do It. Museums!

If you're in the lucky majority of those who get the next couple of days off for the holidays (i.e. students, people who wisely saved up vacation time, the unemployed, not me), it's excellent timing to take advantage of one of Los Angeles' greatest assets: its art. Plus, it's a great, non-super-touristy thing to take out-of-towners to do. Here's a round-up of what's currently going on at the city's big museums:

MOCA: Collection: MOCA's First Thirty Years
A year ago, MOCA was about to go under for lack of sufficient funding. Celebrate its perseverence with this retrospective exhibition, featuring the renowned museum's collection at its best, including special focuses on artists like iconic contemporarists Robert Rauschenberg and Mark Rothko. If anything, the museum needs and deserves your support!
250 S. Grand Ave. & 152 N. Central Ave., downtown; open this week Mon. 11-5 & Thurs. 11-3; $10

Hammer Museum: The Bible Illuminated: R. Crumb's Book of Genesis
And he's done it again. Seminal comic artist R. Crumb has been challenging and influencing the art world for decades with his strange, insane and stark images on society at large, and now he's up and illustrated the first book of the Old Testament, the Book of Genesis. Cain and Abel, Adam and Eve, The Creation...it's all there, now distinctly portrayed with the unforgettable R. Crumb touch.
10899 Wilshire Blvd., Westwood; open this week Tues.-Wed. 11-7 & Thurs. 11-3; $7

LACMA: Heroes & Villains: The Battle for Good in India's Comics
Gods as superheroes and demons as villains? It's nothing particularly new, but take it from an Indian perspective and drop them into modern society and you've got some interesting comics. This exhibit's got both Indian and American comics, vintage and modern, and include other Indian art from LACMA's collection.
5905 Wilshire Blvd., Miracle Mile; open this week Mon.-Tues. 12-8 & Thursday 12-5, $12

-- Chau Tu

Photo credit: Hammer Museum