GTD This Weekend: Culture

Art, music, food, and fashion, all this weekend. Who said LA lacks culture?

SATURDAY

• Oh em gee! The cast of Glee is going American Idol on themselves, except they’re skipping the contest part and going straight to solo album. Puck was the first out of the recording studio; now Mr. Schuester, Matthew Morrison, is ready for his close-up. He’s launching his solo career at The Grove on Saturday, with performances and, likely, dancing. Two words of caution, Mr. Morrison: Joey Lawrence. Free. 12pm to 3pm at The Grove.


• The Louvre says that anyone can enter its doors regardless of ability to pay; from firsthand experience, I can tell you that this policy is sort of a lie. In contrast, museums across this city really will let you in gratis on Saturday and Sunday during the sixth annual Museum Free for All. The California Science Center, MOCA, and the Skirball Center all participating. Free, really free. Saturday and Sunday; check participating museums for exact hours of operation.


• After the Museum Free for All, check out even more art at Art Los Angeles Contemporary, LA’s “international contemporary art fair.” High end galleries as far flung as Dublin and as close as Culver City will be on hand, and there will be everything from installations from artist-magician A.Bandit to conversations about the role of this city in producing and supporting women in the business of art. $18 single day admission/$28 for a 3-day pass. 11am to 7pm on Saturday; 11am to 6pm on Sunday at the Barker Hanger in Santa Monica.


• You, like me, probably harbor a very secret hope to be one of those people on Antiques Roadshow who walk in with their grandmother’s tea kettle and walk out with The Tea Kettle Used By Abraham Lincoln The Morning Before He Was Assassinated. Here’s our chance to satisfy our curiosities: antiques dealer and auctioneer I.M. Chait is hosting an appraisal clinic. You bring in up to six items; an expert appraiser will evaluate the object of your dreams and tell you, without any obligation, whether you’re sitting on a gem or family souvenir (read: it’s not worth anything but the memories). Free. From noon to 5pm at I.M. Chait Gallery, 9330 Civic Center Dr. in Beverly Hills.

SUNDAY

• Tickets may be sold out by the time you read this, but hopefully not: a few more tickets were released for Peter, Bjorn & John’s exclusive show at the Center for the Arts in Eagle Rock. This will be an almost impossible chance to see a very good band in a very tiny venue for a very small price: $12 plus a nominal ticket fee. And no, I would not have told you about this unless I already secured my tickets. $12. 7:30pm at the Center for the Arts in Eagle Rock. Really, get on this NOW.


• Oh, this sounds very cool: female-owned food trucks like Mandoline Grill and Dosa Truck will gather around the parking lot table in the first ever Femme Festival Food Truck event. Yeah, women know how to drive. 1pm to 5pm at The Other Door, 10437 Burbank Blvd, North Hollywood.


• Yes, Amoeba is right across the street from Space15 Twenty, but if you can have an outdoor record fair at the end of January, why not? Amoeba teams up with a few record labels, pop-ups, Origami Vinyl, B-Music, Dublab others in a big Record Fair. Pick up a few vinyls for the ol’ record player, maybe a CD for the ol’ CD player, and Judas Priest rock tee for ol’ times sake. Free. 10am to 2pm at Space15 Twenty’s courtyard in Hollywood.


• If you thought clothes when I said vinyl up there, you’re probably better off going to the Vintage Clothing and Textile Show in Burbank. Some sixty-five vendors will be on hand to show off and sell a variety of materials, as well necessities like cute buttons, linens, and perfume bottles. There’s enough there to inspire you to open up your own Etsy shop. $7 GA/$20 early admission. 9am to 3pm at The Pickwick Gardens, 1001 Riverside Dr. in Burbank.

Photo of an exhibit at the California Science Center by calvinfleming via the Blogging LA Flickr pool. Yeup, science and museums are pretty cool.