the BEAT of the week: Summer Camp Allnighter at Cinespia.

I've already extolled all the wonderful virtues of a Cinespia screening in the summer, but this one is definitely on a level of its own. It's what happens when you combine the super-cinema-powers of Cinespia and Cinefamily, offering something so truly fun and unique and reminds you why you live in a great city like Los Angeles.

Kicking off Cinefamily's annual Everything is Festival, this all-nighter in the cemetery features one of my all-time favorite films, Wet Hot American Summer. But did you catch that? It's an all-nighter. In a cemetery. So the fun only begins with that summer classic. You'll also get screenings of the ‘80s horror film Sleepaway Camp, and Little Darlings, which stars Tatum O'Neal. Expect other fun movie mashups and highlights, plus DJs and even a photobooth. Bring a picnic and friends, and you won't even notice the night fly by you. And let me tell you, there's nothing quite like sunrise in Hollywood Forever.

Get in on the fun by reserving tickets here (only $10!).

The Everything is Festival at Cinespia: Summer Camp Allnighter takes place next Saturday, Aug. 18 from 7pm-6am at Hollywood Forever, located at 6000 Santa Monica Blvd. in Hollywood.

-- Chau Tu

the BEAT of the week: Cinespia at Hollywood Forever Cemetery.

It's back! You know summer's just about in full swing when Cinespia, the extremely popular and quintessentially L.A. film series, returns, giving Angelenos the perfect excuse to day-drink and parade in what's become our excuse for a park. As always, the line-up of movies offers something for everyone -- having already screened Lolita, Nightmare on Elm Street and Cheech and Chong. On the slate for this weekend: the classic Jack Nicholson flick Chinatown.

Cinespia's now offering presale tickets for $10 in case you're worried about sold out screenings, but most should still be able to get in by buying tickets at the door. Nevertheless, remember to show up early, bring lots of snacks, and a blanket for when the sun finally goes down. Happy almost-summer!

Cinespia screenings take place on Saturdays this summer at 9pm at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery, located at 6000 Santa Monica Blvd. in Hollywood. Check out the list of films here.

-- Chau Tu

the BEAT of the week: Hester Street Fair in Hollywood.

The Hester Street Fair is a huge outdoors market that's become a prime attraction on the weekends, offering lots of vintage and contemporary jewelry, clothing, art among food and entertainment. Sounds fun, right? The only problem? It's in New York City, on the Lower East Side.

Until now. Hester's finally headed west, and will be taking over Hollywood this summer. On four separate Saturdays -- beginning this weekend -- Angelenos will finally get a peek at what the hype's all about. First up is this Saturday's Bite Size Food and Craft Festival, with booths from L.A. restaurants and food trucks showing off their stuff in bite-sized goods. Then in July, there's the Hollywood Night Market, which will, appropriately, take place a little later at night and focus on a more intimate shopping experience among the booths. In August, there'll be the Indie Design Market, where independent goods will get a spotlight. And the last weekend in August will be the closing event, the Good Night Hollywood Blvd. Music & Indie Crafts Festival, the big soiree to end it all. Look out for a craft beer festival and music at all the weekends, too.

New York? Fuggedaboutit. Time to show that L.A. is where it's at -- and convince the Hester Fair it should stay! Check out all the info for the events here.

The Hester Street Fair kicks off this Saturday, June 2nd from 11am to 7pm at the parking lot at Argyle Ave. and Hollywood Blvd., located at 6200 Hollywood Blvd.

-- Chau Tu

the BEAT of the week: David Lynch at Amoeba.

The L.A.-loving David Lynch has always been known for the striking sound design in his films, but now he's expressing his noise skills in another way: a solo album. Crazy Clown Time is Lynch's first official album, after having written lyrics for others and curated compilations (2009's Dark Night of the Soul). One of the songs features the Yeah Yeah Yeah's Karen O on vocals, but otherwise Lynch takes the lead on the album, a strange, electro-poppish sort of creation.

You can ask Lynch about the album yourself when he makes an appearance at Amoeba tonight. He'll be signing Crazy Clown Time (and one other item, if you wish) and will surely be entertaining should you have some time with him. Get there early -- Lynch loves L.A., but L.A. may love him back even more.

David Lynch will be signing at 7pm tonight at Amoeba Hollywood, located at 6400 Sunset Blvd. in Hollywood.

-- Chau Tu

Click It. BEAT picks of the week.

A cute film about young love, by a young California director--Like Crazy. It's showing at the ArcLight and the Landmark, among other Los Angeles-area theaters.

Another easy-on-the eyes college (and beyond) romance--One Day--came out on DVD this week. Just after its star Anne Hathaway's real-life engagement.

Hollywood holiday cards!

Alicia Silverstone, of Clueless fame, and now one of my favorite lifestyle bloggers on thekindlife.com, is hosting a live chat on Tuesday December 6 at 4:00 p.m. PT. Join in!

Keep your hair soft and manageable this winter with Kiehl's Formula 133.

A signed copy of Marilyn: Intimate Exposures would make a great Christmas gift for any fan of the bombshell--and really, who isn't?

Marilyn's favorite face soap: Erno Laszlo Sea Mud Soap (Audrey Hepburn was a fan, too).

-- Leslie Anne Wiggins

Photo credit: collider.com

the BEAT of the week: AFI Fest.

Los Angeles' longest running international film festival returns this week, and the lineup of films is, as usual, quite spectacular. Look out for screenings of highly anticipated movies like The Artist, Shame, Into the Abyss, Melancholia and Butter, alongside acclaimed shorts and foreign films. Tickets may be a bit hard to come by for a lot of the popular films, but ticket packages -- like $100 for access to all Special Screenings -- are still available and can be a good deal.

Stay tuned to the website for more details.

AFI Fest takes place Nov. 3-10 at various locations around the city.

***

And speaking of a film screening at AFI Fest this week -- Roman Polanski's Carnage -- the two lead actors, John C. Reilly and Christoph Waltz, are set to appear at LACMA this week. The intimate event is sure to bring some new insight into how they work and how they create the amazing performances they've become known for (Waltz is a Oscar winner, Reilly was Oscar-nominated) -- plus, considering Reilly's comedic background and Waltz's deadpan humor, there will probably be some good laughs too. They'll be interviewed by New York Times writer-at-large Charles McGrath.

A Conversation with John C. Reilly and Christoph Waltz takes place this Saturday, Nov. 5 at 3pm at LACMA, located at 5905 Wilshire Blvd. in Mid-City. Tickets are $25 and available here.

-- Chau Tu

the BEAT of the week: Dia De Los Muertos at Hollywood Forever.

In my new weekly post, I'll be sharing what will be called 'the BEAT of the week' -- my pick for what's coming up soon here in L.A. (and maybe a bit beyond) that's surely worth a bit of your time.

We kick it off with what has surely become a regular yearly attraction for many: Hollywood Forever Cemetery's Dia De Los Muertos festival. Also known as The Day of the Dead, Dia De Los Muertos is the Mexican holiday celebrated after Halloween to remember and honor those who have passed on. The festivities generally include building altars and shrines complete with photos, candles, incense and more; and then there's also music, dancing, storytelling and feasting to celebrate 'with' the dead.

It's a tradition extra special here thanks to L.A.'s large Hispanic demographic, and the perfect venue is found in the Hollywood Forever Cemetery (and in fact, Hollywood Forever claims it is the only cemetery in the country that opens itself for such festivities). This year -- its 12th -- the event will include musical performances by Astrid Hadad and Ruben Albarran, as well as a grand procession for the holiday. Everyone's encouraged to dress up -- especially in the traditional painted skull face known as Calaca.

It's a great way to indulge and learn about an ancient ritual, while also getting in on the spooky festivities of Halloween early -- and really, there's no better place to do it in L.A.

Dia De Los Muertos takes place this Saturday from 12pm to 12am (there are three ticketing times, click here for more info) at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery, located at 6000 Santa Monica Blvd. Tickets are $10.

-- Chau Tu

Photo credit: Ofrendas Inc.

**Check back on Thursday for Leslie's weekend list!

Do It. St. Vincent at Space 15 Twenty.

All right, start planning now. You officially have an hour and a half -- or less -- until 10:30am, when you can officially buy St. Vincent's new album, Strange Mercy, at Amoeba in Hollywood, and in turn, receive a free ticket to see her perform live tonight at Space 15 Twenty.

Whew. Kind of a handful, but totally worth it. The woman is something to be seen live -- with her doe-like but always-in-a-daze eyes combined with her mad guitar skills. And Strange Mercy is already probably my favorite album of hers yet, getting more intellectually complex in her tunes and lyrics than ever before. Plus, who can beat a (sort of, considering you do have to buy the album) free concert?

St. Vincent's Strange Mercy will be available for purchase at 10:30am at Amoeba Music, located at 6400 Sunset Blvd. in Hollywood. It's one ticket per album, limit 2 to a person. The free concert will take place at 6pm tonight at Space 15 Twenty, located at 1520 Cahuenga Blvd. in Hollywood (basically across the street from Amoeba).

-- Chau Tu

Do It. AFI's Great American Movie Quiz with Alex Trebek.

If you're ticking off those last things to do before this summer ends and you don't have a barbecue to hit on Sunday, it might be the perfect excuse to head to the Hollywood Bowl. It's not your regular classical concert or even one of those contemporary concerts they've been having -- nope, Sunday night is The Big Picture: AFI’s Great American Movie Quiz Hosted by Alex Trebek.

How does that not sound amazing? Participate in the ultimate sort of movie trivia put on by the foremost film expert (AFI), hosted by the foremost kind of host. And the questions will be answered/performed live by the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra, as film clips are shown on screen. Perfect for the movie buff, or the non-movie buff (because hey, you'll learn something!), or just everyone in between looking for an inventive night out.

The Big Picture: AFI’s Great American Movie Quiz Hosted by Alex Trebek takes place this Sun., Sept. 4 at the Hollywood Bowl, located at 2301 N. Highland Ave. in Hollywood. Tickets are still available (ranging from $16-$168) and can be bought here.

-- Chau Tu

Do It. Amoeba's Monday Movies at Space15Twenty.

Free movies every Monday at 8pm, all month at Space15Twenty. Grab a burger at Umami and sit back and enjoy the show, or stop by early and check out the racks at Urban Outfitters, What Comes Around Goes Around or Hennessey + Ingalls. Since Amoeba is sponsoring the screenings, be prepared for music-themed movies: this week it's an advance screening of Magic Trip : Ken Kesey's Search For A Kool Place, featuring never-before-seen-footage; next week it's a fun mix of Beastie Boys films and music videos.

Check out the rest of the lineup here.

Amoeba's Mondays Movies are screening at Space15Twenty, located at 1520 N. Cahuenga Blvd. in Hollywood.

-- Chau Tu

Do It. Breakfast at Tiffany's cemetery screening.

There's a Cinespia cemetery screening this Saturday night that you won't want to miss: Breakfast at Tiffany's. Audrey Hepburn as Holly Golightly is beyond charming in this iconic role.

Arrive early, and bring plenty of food and drink--melba toast and cottage cheese (Holly's go-to), martinis, or croissants and good coffee.

I also highly suggest the book.

Saturday August 6 - gates open 7:00 p.m., film at 8:30 p.m. $10 cash at entry gate.

6000 Santa Monica Boulevard in Hollywood. Info: cinespia.org

-- Leslie Anne Wiggins

Photo credit: Paramount, via filmreference.com

The monthly BEAT: Hollywood. The Cat & Fiddle.

Among the clubs and glitzy restaurants, the Cat & Fiddle finds itself nestled quietly among them all. Quietly for Hollywood, at least. The restaurant takes up a huge large space with a spacious and pretty patio, but proudly calls itself a pub, which means soccer (erm, football) and other sports games being broadcast on TV screens, there's often live entertainment by bands (jazz on Sundays!) and the general sort of shenanigans you'd expect from a good old fashioned British spot. And that's what can often make it a sort of oasis in Hollywood. Gone are all the pretensions and shallowness this area can sometimes inhabit. This is just a honest-to-goodness pub. Drop into the Cat & Fiddle and you can sit back and just enjoy a cold pint, maybe even play some (free) darts or a game of pool. The waiters and waitresses and bartenders are always friendly, and ready to serve you a good serving of fish and chips, or bangers and mash.

And hey, you can still get a taste of Hollywood here: scenes from Casablanca were filmed there, when it used to act as commissary for surrounding film studios back in the day.

The Cat & Fiddle is located at 6530 Sunset Blvd. in Hollywood.

-- Chau Tu

Photo credit: The Cat & Fiddle

The Monthly BEAT: Hollywood. Crabfest 2011 at the Hungry Cat.

It's that time of year! Make your reservations now for Crabfest 2011 at the Hungry Cat Hollywood. It's Sunday June 26. Arrive hungry.

A soft-shell crab dish I had there with grits and fried green tomatoes late last summer still makes my mouth water.

Bon appétit!

Info: (323) 462-2155, thehungrycat.com

-- Leslie Anne Wiggins

Photo credit: vintagemetalart.com

The monthly BEAT: Hollywood. Kitchen 24.

In my opinion, you can never have too many late night restaurants. And if there were a part of L.A. that I feel needs them the most, it's probably Hollywood. You may just be coming back from a pleasant family outing to the Hollywood Bowl or a movie at the Arclight, or it may be from a crazy night at the club. No matter which way, be thankful for Kitchen 24.

As the website proclaims, it's Hollywood's only 24-hour diner and bar, and you could simply say that the Hollywood diner and bar. While serving up great diner classics like mac and cheese and burgers and all-the-time breakfast fare, the restaurant also has a mix of fancy cocktails, all served in a room full of mirrors and glitzy chandeliers. It's just the right mashup of high and low and weird and cool that Hollywood seems to encompass.

The food, meanwhile, is pretty consistently fantastic. My picks are the Jolly Green Giant omelette or the delicious Mac and cheese, paired with a manmosa -- citrus-flavored beer and orange juice. Talk about mashup, right? Oh and don't forget the homemade cupcakes!

Kitchen 24 is located at 1608 N. Cahuenga Blvd. in Hollywood and is open 24/7. There is also another branch of the restaurant being opened soon in West Hollywood.

-- Chau Tu

The Monthly BEAT: Hollywood. Harold and Maude Cinespia Cemetery Screening.

You don't really need us to tell you that there's a lot happening in Hollywood this June, but we're here to anyway.

For the second month of our new "Monthly BEAT" series, tinseltown is the focus, and I'm thrilled to announce that this Saturday night one of my very favorite films, Harold and Maude (1971), will be screened at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery.

Cinespia always does a fantastic job curating the popular summer series, but this Hal Ashby gem may be the best yet.

I suggest getting in line early, and bringing board games, picnic blankets, snacks, food and drinks (cold beer from the nearby Whole Foods or a thermos of homemade margaritas).

Tomorrow, Saturday June 4, 2011

The Hollywood Forever Cemetery is located at 6000 Santa Monica Blvd. in Hollywood. Gates open at 7:30 p.m., film starts at 9:00 p.m. Tickets are $10 (cash).

-- Leslie Anne Wiggins

Photo credit: Paramount

Do It. ColLAboration Pop-Up Beer Garden [Thirsty Thursdays!].

There's no doubt that L.A. is all about craft beer now. And that's being well-represented by ColLAboration, a quartet of craft beer enthusiasts from some of the city's most popular bars, including the Surly Goat, Blue Palms Brewhouse and the soon-to-be-opened Mohawk Bend. Ryan Sweeney, Brian Lenzo, Clay Harding and Tony Yanow have dedicated their restaurants to having the best craft brews around, and they're putting on a fun event where you can try a few.

The ColLAboration Pop-Up Beer Garden will be open this Saturday from noon to 7pm for all your beer-tasting pleasures. Check out their Facebook page for all the updated info on what beers will be on tap, but expect some old favorites and some new specialities. Each attendee will receive their own membership glass for only $10, and pours will vary from $5-6. A great deal, plus you get a souvenir! And it doesn't get much better than a good brew to enjoy a good weekend.

The ColLAboration Pop-Up Beer Garden will be taking place this Saturday, June 4 from noon to 7pm at 6100 Hollywood Blvd. in Hollywood. Get your membership glass here.

-- Chau Tu

Advance Notice. Hero Complex Film Festival.

Ah, summer: the season of the movie blockbuster. But forget your Green Lanterns and Transformers, let's talk about the classics.

Think Superman, Star Trek, Iron Man. Throw in some Dick Tracy, and now you've got a film festival -- as in the second annual Los Angeles Times Hero Complex film festival, happening June 9-12. The paper's own superhero-comic-specialist-columnist Geoff Boucher will be hosting all the events, which will comprise of the above mentioned screenings coupled with Q&As with some greats, including Warren Beatty, Jon Favreau, Richard Donner and more. There's even a reported extra special message coming about the DC Universe with the screenings of the Superman movies.

Get your tickets now (single and festival tickets still available) and enjoy the true classic superhero.

The Los Angeles Times Hero Complex Film Festival takes place June 9-12 at the Grauman's Chinese Theater, located at 6801 Hollywood Blvd. in Hollywood.

--Chau Tu

Do It. Mondrian Sessions at Skybar.

We've written about the excellent concert series put on by IAMSOUND Records at the Skybar at the Mondrian Hotel in the past. And if you missed such excellent acts like Jens Lekman and Lykke Li perform intimate sets at a location that is L.A. to its core (plus, can you beat that view?), you've got yet another chance.

The spring series of the Mondrian Sessions is about to begin. Light Asylum kicks it off tomorrow with a set at 8pm. Then look out for performances from buzzworthy acts like Cults and Dirty Beaches.

It's all free, but you have to RSVP, and you should do it early, as these events are rightfully popular and fill up. RSVP doesn't guarantee your entry, either, so make sure you show up early. Check the Mondrian's Facebook page for likely more band announcements soon.

Mondrian Sessions will be taking place at Skybar at the Mondrian Hotel, located at 8440 Sunset Blvd. in Hollywood.

-- Chau Tu

Check It. Pabst Brewing Company moving to L.A.

Over the weekend, the Los Angeles Times reported that Pabst Brewing Company (since 1844) is moving their headquarters from the Chicago suburb of Woodridge, Ill. to Los Angeles this summer. Welcome to the neighborhood, and cheers!

A few favorite L.A. places to drink PBR:

The Hungry Cat (shown above), where the budget beer is served in a brown bag with ice, alongside fresh fancy cocktails like my favorite, their greyhound proper

Cha Cha Lounge (I love anyplace with a photo booth)

The White Horse Inn (just the kind of place where a PBR is the right order)

Click here for more locations

-- Leslie Anne Wiggins

Photo credit: stylespotting.com

Do It. Elizabeth Taylor tribute at the Egyptian.

It was truly sad to hear of the passing of Hollywood legend Elizabeth Taylor just a few weeks back. But now it's time to honor her in the best way we could: rewatching her magic on the big screen.

Beginning tomorrow, the American Cinematheque will be holding "Lovely Tumult: A Tribute to Elizabeth Taylor" at the Egyptian. Watch for screenings of all of Taylor's best works, from A Place in the Sun to Cat on a Hot Tin Roof to, of course, Cleopatra.

Additionally, ticket buyers will be eligible to enter a drawing for a free DVD box set of Elizabeth Taylor classics, and all will receive $2 off admission to the nearby Hollywood Museum, where a current exhibition houses Taylor’s gold throne and palace ornaments from Cleopatra, and her blue one-shoulder gown and cape and her hat from National Velvet, among other treasures.

Relive your favorite, or watch them all for the first time -- and honor a true legend.

"Lovely Tumult: A Tribute to Elizabeth Taylor" takes place beginning Thursday, May 5 until Saturday, May 15 at the Egyptian Theatre, located at 6712 Hollywood Blvd. in Hollywood. Each screening is $11 each. Check showtimes here.

-- Chau Tu