Our Pick: The New Weird America Festival featuring Imaad Wasif w/ Two Part Beast Ancestors, Night Horse, Weird Owl, Radio Moscow, Spindrift, Farflung @ Nomad Collective Art Compound (1993 Blake Ave., Los Angeles)

Tonight Berkeley-bred rock singer-songwriter John Fogerty, best known for his time with Creedence Clearwater Revival, will be closing out a three-night stint at the Hollywood Bowl. Rhode Island-based rockers Deer Tick are poised to grace Spaceland with locals Dawes. And, lastly, the Hootenanny Festival, which features none other than Los Lobos, Reverend Horton Heat, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy and Dusty Rhodes and the River Band, among many others, will be commencing in Orange County. But we strongly suggest heading over to the Nomad Collective Art Compound to catch the New Weird America Festival. LAist favorites Imaad Wasif, Spindrift and Night Horse are all slated to perform.

You can find these listings as well as the rest of the week's in our weekly Week In Rock post, which (generally) goes up every Sunday.

Imaad Wasif - "Loose Talk"

John Fogerty @ Hollywood Bowl
Deer Tick, Dawes, The Moondoggies @ Spaceland
The New Weird America Festival featuring Imaad Wasif w/ Two Part Beast Ancestors, Night Horse, Weird Owl, Radio Moscow, Spindrift, Farflung @ Nomad Collective Art Compound (1993 Blake Ave., Los Angeles)
Second Annual Riot Girl Carnival: Benefit for The Downtown Women's Center w/ A Pretty Mess, Las Sangronas Y El Cabron, Mermaid, Anus Kings, Kitchen, The Potential Lunatics @ The Smell
Sander Kleinenberg, Joachim Garraud @ Avalon
Lillian Axe @ The Viper Room
Hootenanny 09 w/ Reverend Horton Heat, Los Lobos, HorrorPops, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, Supersuckers, Blasters, 3 Bad Jacks, Roger Alan Wade, Lee Rocker, Dusty Rhodes and the River Band @ Oak Canyon Ranch

“I can’t wait to get to the field,” Dodgers slugger Manny Ramirez said of his 50-game suspension. “I miss the game the game that I love.”

And with that Manny being Manny returns three-ring style in Petco Park in San Diego.

Throughout the day walking around my hotel in the Gaslamp District in Downtown San Diego, it looked like Dodger fans outnumbered Padres fans. You could see the natives leering at those wearing their Dodger jerseys.

As game time grew closer Dodger fans could be seen congregating in the outlying parking lots.

“There are going to be more Dodger fans than Padres fans tonight,” Omar Franco from Los Angeles told me in one of those outlying parking lots.

And there were. As I stepped through the turnstiles all I saw were Dodger fans. I really tried to look for Padre fans, but looking for them was like searching for Waldo.

“As you can see [the Padres] don’t have a fan base,” said San Diego resident Drew Lang who was wearing his Padres gear. Apparently so since it took me fifteen minutes to find him.

But when I asked him if he was a true Padre fan he responded, “No, I’m a Yankee fan.”

“I just came to boo Manny,” Lang continued. “I’ve always disliked him, but I’ve always respected him as a player. Now I have to question him.”

Fair enough, even though he was rooting for the Dodgers to win a Dodgers-Yankees World Series because of his admiration of Joe Torre. But that’s neither here nor there.

As I settled in my seat for the game, it really did feel like a Dodger home game. Boos for the Padres, cheers for the Dodgers. The “Let’s Go Dodgers” cheer being heard as clear as day. If I had to hazard a guess, I would have to say it was a 70-30 Dodger crowd.

Then Manny came to the plate. While boos and jeers could be heard, it was dueling with the cheers from the Dodger fans. In the end Manny would go 0-for-3 with a walk, but the Dodgers would win 6-3 thanks to a five run first inning that lasted nearly 30 minutes.

“We’re not expecting him to hit a home run tonight,” Franco said. “We’re expecting him to just add to the lineup.”

The rust showed in Manny’s swings, and predictably he was taken out after his fourth plate appearance in the sixth inning. He probably won’t be in the lineup Saturday afternoon.

Regardless, LA has its Manny back and from the sound of it LA couldn’t be happier.

The Cocoanut Grove, a supper club where the rich and famous dined and danced, opened 3 months after the Ambassador Hotel, in April 1921. It was designed in Moorish style. The palm trees that decorated the room were rumored to have come from the Rudolph Valentino film, The Sheik and they had stuffed monkeys hanging from them. The ceiling was painted midnight blue and sparkling stars were strewn across its firmament.

Joan Crawford won over a hundred dancing contests under those stars. It's said that she was discovered there, while on the dance floor, as was Carole Lombard and Loretta Young. It was a regular hang out of the Rat Pack in the fifties. In remembrance, Sammy Davis Jr. recorded a live album there. He wasn't the only one. When Judy Garland staged her comeback there, her live album featured the last night of her appearance. Bing Crosby began his career crooning to the dancers.

The first Academy Awards where they gave the famous "Oscar" statue was held in the Grove in 1930. It was also the home of the first Golden Globe Awards.

There were efforts on the part of the LAUSD to save the Cocoanut Grove as part of the school they were building there. Later, it was found (because of numerous overhauls) to be unsalvageable, and has since been demolished.

Now the ghosts have had to find some place else to dance. Those stars have been extinguished, the whole building, with all its style and history wiped out, the victim of necessity and blindness.

LAistory is our series that takes us on a journey to what came before to help us understand where we are today.

Check out our other entries in the series:

Val Verde; Thelma Todd's Roadside Cafe; An eclectic house in Beverly Hills; Echo Park's Bonnie Brae House; Marineland of the Pacific; Grand Central Air Terminal; LA's Own Wrigley Field; How LA got its name; The wreck of the Dominator; The 1925 "Hollywood Subway."; The Pink Lady of Malibu; Lions Drag Strip; Disneyland...when it was cheap to get in; The ugliest building in the city; Union Station; Union Station's Fred Harvey Room; A Smelly Mystery at another train station; The Egyptian Theatre; Pilgrimage Bridge; The "It" Girl, Clara Bow; Elias J. "Lucky" Baldwin; Get Involved!; Houdini's House; Spanish Kitchen; The Platinum Blonde; Chutes Park; Fatty Arbuckle; The Brown Derby; Griffith Park; The Outpost Sign; Cross Roads of the World; Sowden House; Monkey Island ; Carthay Circle Theater; The Post-War House & the Home of Tomorrow; Dan the Miner; Tropical Ice Gardens; William Desmond Taylor; Alligator Farm; Schwab's Pharmacy; Tail O' the Pup; Good Reads; Fatty Arbuckle's Plantation Cafe; The Garden of Allah, Mapping LAistory, The Pan Pacific Auditorium; Pickfair; Tower of Wooden Pallets; Hollyhock House; Randy's Donuts; the Ennis House; Helms Bakery Coaches, The Ambassador Hotel

What's that saying? You can't swing a dead cat without (in today's case) hitting some sort of 4th of July celebration. Yeah, that's pretty much how it is. If you are looking for something to do, there are a few events you might want to look into, or, grab your loved ones and head out to where the fireworks are legit.

Burbank's Starlight Bowl
The Starlight Bowl's Summer Concert Series begins tonight with the program "Star Spangled Salute to America." The show, which takes place under the stars in the lovely hills above Burbank, features performances by the Burbank Philharmonic Orchestra, the Swing Kings and a finale fireworks show. Performances at 6:30 p.m.; fireworks are at 9 p.m.

The Standard Hollywood's Free Pool Party
There's a free poolside party today 11am-7pm at the Standard Hotel in Hollywood. Check out the fun in the sun and enjoy live performances by DJ Max Vanville and a sun-filled BBQ with organic hot dogs. Try your luck in the Ping Pong Tournament, too.

Shin Hae Chul and N.E.X.T. @ the Ford Ampitheatre
Korean Pop legend Shin Hae Chul, who pioneered the fusion of pop music with traditional Korean instruments, popularized "arena rock" in Korea and launched the Korean techno dance craze, makes his first ever L.A. appearance with his band N.EX.T. tonight at the historic Ford Ampitheatre in the Hollywood Hills. Show is at 7:30. Bring a picnic!

Le Merigot's Classic Americana BBQ
Santa Monica’s Le Merigot (a JW Marriott Beach Hotel and Spa) is throwing a beachfront BBQ with all the fixin's from 11:30-4 today in the Courtyard. Enjoy a gourmet meal and hang around the beach to catch fireworks from neighboring areas. $35 per guest; $17.50 for the “young-ins” 12 and under. Call for reservations/availability. (310) 395-9700.

Bootie LA Mashup Dance Party
Bootie LA is Los Angeles’ original mashup dance party, showcasing the best in bootleg music, culture, and DJs. They play the first Saturday each month, at The Echoplex, and they aren't taking a break today. Head over to see and hear the "fireworks" on the dancefloor and shake your Bootie like a true American. 9pm till 2am; Cover: $5 before 10pm, $10 after (& free Bootie mashup CDs for the first 75 patrons). 21+ only.

Remember it's illegal (not to mention annoying and kind of stupid) to light your own fireworks in Los Angeles, but if you want to see pretty sparkles in the sky and some serious flag waving, here are the public and professional fireworks shows happening when the sun goes down on this Fourth of July. Some even have stuff to hang around and do before the pyrotechnics, too.

Have fun, and be safe!

Like to sing? An aspiring musician? Maybe a hack at both? Then Machine Project in Downtown LA has an alternative 4th option for you: “The Porch of July: Folk Americana Groupsing with an Open Porchestra” at 6 pm.

It’s an acoustic celebration and singalong of American folk music led by balladeers Daniel Brummel and Laura Steenberge. Song selections will run the gamut from subversive to spiritual and peace to protest (think: Guthrie, Seeger).

Everyone’s going to be encouraged to singalong (even badly), while real and amateur musicians are being asked to bring their acoustic instruments to provide accompaniment. (Check out the chords and songs here.) If you don’t have instruments at home, hand percussion instruments will be widely available.

The event’s free and open to the public, and refreshments will be provided. If it's a little too Mayberry for you, then here's to hoping they spike the lemonade.

The Porch of July
6 pm
Machine Project
1200-D North Alvarado St., Los Angeles

• A man who went into the street to rescue a woman trying to commit suicide died in the hospital after being struck himself. The driver of the car was not cited or arrested but the accident is still under investigation.
• Investigators are saying that the death of the Bentley driver on the 101 last December might have been a Cartel hit.
• You can get seriously busted for watering your grass past hours, but it turns out some government agencies aren’t even following the law!
• The CHP are stepping up patrols to prepare for the Independence Day weekend. Be careful out there!
• Mayor Tony V went on vacation a day after his inauguration. He will attend a summit in South Africa sponsored by the Academy of Acheivement.
• The fireworks at Marina del Rey are a sight to behold… the bad thing is that everyone wants to go and see them. If you are around there you might want to be mindful of some street closures.
• Finally… If you find yourself celebrating a little too hard to drive home, AAA is offering free tow-rides home. Celebrate safely LA! Just call (800) 400-4AAA (4111)

For the past 15 years, the Fourth of July marked not just the holiday celebration at Hanson Dam near Valens' Pacoima home in the Northeast Valley, but also a correlating festival named in his honor (additionally, there is a city park named after him).

Back at the Grammy Museum, officials announced three new Valens artifacts: the shirt he wore in his first promo photo, his 1957 harmony guitar and the handwritten lyrics to his hit song, La Bamba (Valens' aunt actually wrote them down for him because his Spanish was not up to par).

Valens, 17 at the time, died on February 3rd, 1959 in a small plane crash in Iowa that is now known as the day music died. Buddy Holly and J.P. "The Big Bopper" Richardson were also aboard. At today's ceremony, Tommy Allsup who played with Holly, spoke about how he and Valens flipped a coin for a seat on the plane--Valens had never flown before and won the seat.

Valens was one of the first to have a breakout Spanish rock and roll song and the Northeast San Fernando Valley wont' let that part of history be forgotten.

One of the most consistent tips police give retail business owners along Ventura Blvd. is to leave cash registers empty and open over night to show potential burglars there's nothing to steal. However, that doesn't mean they'll try anyway.

One night last week, the New Orleans Sno-Ball and Cupcake Shop, NOLA Ice and Se' La Vi Sweets in Sherman Oaks, became a victim when a man threw a rock through their front glass door at 3 a.m. He headed toward the register where only a minimal amount of cash--$20--was left over night and made his way out (dude, you missed the awesome cupcakes!).

Luckily, their security camera caught him on tape, which is aiding police who have been dealing with a string of similar smash and grabs in the area.

Local foodie Aarti Paarti's latest webisode tempts us to make Indian lassi's with a twist this weekend. How can you go wrong with mango, chile, lime and cayenne? Or rosewater, pistachios and cardamon? But first, we're off to the farmer's market this weekend to accomplish the strawberry, basil and black pepper lassi. Aarti's videos are accompanied by the recipes written down on her blog.

Tonight

8:00pm Friday Night With Jonathan Ross BBC America - Matthew Fox; David Mitchell & Robert Webb; Davina McCall

8:00pm Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader? FOX - Returns from hiatus

8:00pm The Chopping Block NBC - The contestants must serve dishes to Italian customers, including Vincent Pastore, Federico Castelluccio and Mario Batali.

9:00pm Bill Moyers Journal PBS/KCET - Scholars Cornel West, Serene Jones and Gary Dorrien examine what America's core ethics and values say about the nation's politics and policy.

Saturday

6:30am Cycling - Tour de France Versus - Stage 1 From Monaco

8:00pm Kings NBC - King Silas sends David on a mission to recover a national treasure; Jack and Katrina's (Leslie Bibb) engagement gets attention.

10:00pm Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular CBS - Neil Diamond performs some of his classic hits with the Boston Pops Esplanade Orchestra, conducted by Keith Lockhart

Sunday

5:30am Cycling - Tour de France Versus - Stage 2 From Monaco to Brignoles

A Los Angeles federal judge tentatively threw out a jury's verdicts against a Missouri mother who used MySpace in a hoax directed towards a teenage girl who eventually killed herself. The trial about the out-of-state incident happened in Los Angeles because MySpace servers are located here. Judge H. Wu's decision will become final once it's in writing.

Wu overturned the jury's decision because if Lori Drew were convicted of illegally accessing a computer, anyone could be guilty of a misdemeanor for breaking a website's Terms of Service (TOS).

From a legal internet perspective, many cheered Wu's move, even if they were saddened by Drew's actions and the out come for her. "For the state to deny her liberty for lying when she created an account on a social network would be excessive and chilling and imperil hundreds of thousands of people who, while doing the TOS version of jaywalking, set themselves up for selective prosecution if some chain of evidence or events can associate them to someone else’s tragedy," expressed John C Abell on Wired.

PERFORMANCE
Now here's something you don't get a chance to see everyday: “Mild Light: An evening of Cantastoria from the Performance Department of the Museum of Everyday Life” comes to the Manual Archives tonight. "Cantastoria" involves the display of representational paintings accompanied by sung narration. Clare Dolan, Chief Operating Philosopher of the Museum of Everyday Life (Vermont), will demonstrate the "versatility and saucy immediacy of this performance form, with stories ranging from accounts of bloody crime in the 1930's written by Bertolt Brecht, to the dilemmas of a modern-day heroine trying to make a living and achieve total happiness." There are two shows tonight at 8 and 10 pm. Tickets are $12/$8.

ART+BOOKS*
Alhambra in da house! Gallery Nucleus is holding an opening night martini reception for "A Kiss from Tokyo Art Exhibition & Book Release" tonight at 7 pm. It's a retro-inspired exhibition and the official book release of "The Seductive Espionage: The World of Yuki 7," about a cute little spy girl from Tokyo. The book and exhibition of the same name, is the brainchild of artist/ illustrator Kevin Dart, who'll be displaying his art along other artists like Bob Logan, Bridgette Barrager, Chris Turnham, Daniel Arriaga, Don Shank, Elizabeth Ito, Horia Dociu, John Klassen, Josh Parpan, Justin Parpan, Megan Brain, Scott Morse, Ted Mathot and Victoria Ying. The exhibit runs through July 14.

BRASIL
Viver Brasil returns to the Ford Amphitheatre tonight at 8:30 pm with "Feet on the Ground/Aiyê," featuring sacred and contemporary dance, multimedia displays, "Afro-Bahian rhythms, drums, rolling hips and exuberant colors and costumes." The event is perfect for the whole family, with $33 tickets. $5 tickets for students and children. And remember you can head up to the Ford early and picnic on the grounds.

SHAKESPEARE
If you're in the mood for a little Shakespeare in the park, then head over to the outdoor stage at Barnsdall park (next to the Hollyhock House) tonight at 7:30 pm. On the program tonight is The Tempest. Admission is free, but reservations are recommended. Bring your kids, bring your picnics.

Art by Miles Thompson @ La Luz Gallery.

NEIL DIAMOND
And while the MJ exhibit at the Grammy Museum has been getting a lot of play this past week, we don't want to forget another American legend: Neil Diamond. (And yes, I am being totally serious.) The Museum's "I Am, I Said: Selections from the Neil Diamond Collection" features a selection of personal and iconic pieces from Diamond's own archives. On display: costumes from the covers of albums Hot August Night and The Jazz Singer, an early guitar, handwritten lyrics and Diamond's high-school letterman's sweater for....fencing? Who knew?

*Pencil pick of the day

The beyond ironically-named "Love Crusades" of Westboro Baptist Church is on its way to Los Angeles to demonstrate at Michael Jackson's memorial. The crusades are part of a hate-based mission started in Kansas by the WBC and Fred Phelps in order to picket the funerals of people who had died of AIDS, demonstrate against the "fag lifestyle" and other loving Christian activities. It appears their main beef is well, Michael Jackson's very existence, his death, and any mourning by anybody. If you are still unclear, here is the official announcement from the website's picket schedule. I am intentionally not linking to their site, because this is probably more attention than they deserve already.

07/07/2009 Staples Center - Michael Wacko Jacko Jackson is in hell! 1111 S. Figueroa St WBC will be there to remind you to stop worshiping the dead. We will be there to tell you to Thank God for the death of this filthy, adulterous, idolatrous, gender-confused, nationality-confused, unthankful brute beast. We will be there to remind you that God Killed Wacko Jacko. There is a God, and a Day of Judgment. For you to wallow and murmur against God for his righteous Judgments is sin and will cause YOU to join Michael in hell

Imagine the most peaceful soft-focus picture of Jesus you have ever seen. Now try to imagine Him carrying a sign saying "GOD HATES FAGS". Who the hell are these people to tell us who God likes or doesn't like? God can give us a flood or plague of locusts and tell us Himself.

Previously: Uh Oh, They're Back: Westboro Church to Protest Fairfax High School

Our Pick: One Trick Pony, Ema and The Ghosts, Seasons, The Sleeping Bags, VOICEsVOICEs @ Mr. T's Bowl

Tonight Berkeley-bred rock singer-songwriter John Fogerty, best known for his time with Creedence Clearwater Revival, will be taking on a three-night stint at the Hollywood Bowl. Local roving marching band Killsonic (LAist Review, #2) are poised to grace the Troubadour. And, lastly, LA-based garage rock outfit Dirt Dress will be performing at Silver Factory Studios. But we strongly suggest heading over to Mr. T's Bowl to catch local indie rockers One Trick Pony.

You can find these listings as well as the rest of the week's in our weekly Week In Rock post, which (generally) goes up every Sunday.

One Trick Pony - "Loose Talk"

John Fogerty @ Hollywood Bowl
Killsonic, Beatnik Jr, Max & Sam, Later Days, Angels and Demons, Private Wasabi @ Troubadour
One Trick Pony, Ema and The Ghosts, The Sleeping Bags, VOICEsVOICEs @ Mr. T's Bowl
The Wallburds, Tall Hands, Dirt Dress @ Silver Factory Studios
The Meeting Places @ Club Violaine (686 N. Spring St.)
Infinity, PRISS, Venus Envy @ Spaceland (All female Kiss tribute band, all female Journey tribute band)
CKY, Hail the Villian, Fall from Grace @ The Roxy
Terry and the Lovemen @ Bootleg Theater (XTC tribute band)
Bacteria Cult, Andorkappen, XDUGEF, Kawaiietly Please @ The Smell
Midnite Theory, MC Homeless & Liz Aeby, Open Mike Eagle, Cadilack Ron @ Pehrspace
Dead Ponies, Carnage Asada, Jellmunekita, The Fay Wrays @ The Blvd (2631 Whittier Blvd., Los Angeles)

AEG officials announced today that 17,500 tickets will be available for Tuesday morning's memorial service for popstar Michael Jackson at the Staples Center. A website has been set up for people (U.S. Residents only) to enter for a chance be selected for a pair of tickets, meaning a total of 8,750 names will be drawn. You have until 6 p.m. PST, July 4th to enter, so don't delay! Names drawn will be notified on Sunday by 8 p.m. PST (Update: It seems the server has crashed as the whole world tries to enter their info for a ticket)

"The event will be live-streamed on television and the Web, and there will be no funeral procession," reported the LA Times. "Those without proper security ID or tickets will not be allowed within these boundaires: Flower Street to the east, Olympic Boulevard on the north, Pico Boulvard on the south and Blaine Street to the west, which is one street west of the Harbor Freeway." City Councilmember Jan Perry, who represents portions of downtown, suggested people would be better served by staying home and watching it on TV.

Before the Smog Cutter was East Hollywood’s most infamously decrepit karaoke joint, it was reportedly one of Charles Bukowski’s dives of choice. While this has yet to be corroborated by the ninety-year-old hunchbacked regular who apparently takes a vow of silence between spirited performances of Clarence Carter’s “Stroke It,” one look at the dingy, faux-wood paneled interior and world-weary patrons seems like evidence enough. You may not be as lucky as I am and live spitting distance from the place, but if you share old Hank’s penchant for stiff drinks, small time hustlers and hard women, you just may have found yourself a home away from home.

From the pool table and dollar store bar snacks to the faulty toilet and questionable Health Department rating, The Smog Cutter boasts all the accoutrements of the classic dive bar, but alas, with one glaring exception: cheap drinks. A scant well drink will set you back seven bucks, and if you factor in the requisite Jack Daniel’s shots (here’s where the hustle comes in, folks) that perpetually wasted karaoke host Jan will charge to your tab before she will deign to butcher your name as she calls you up for a song you didn’t actually pick, then you might as well have gone to none-too-distant Cheetah’s, where at least your cash will earn you a little personal attention from someone who came by it honestly. That being said, there’s a lot to love about this place, especially if you’re a fan of the kind of raucous karaoke that only a den of ill repute can provide. Where else could I have ended the night draped across the lap of a beautiful tranny, crooning Freddy Fender’s “Until the Next Teardrop Falls” into her ear while she doused me with Designer Imposters body spray? Not in my hometown.

The Smog Cutter’s song book doesn’t appear to have been updated since the addition of “I Want It That Way,” but all your basic country, soul, 70s singer/songwriter and arena rock hits are represented, not to mention a fair number of traditionals (if “When the Saints go Marching In” is more your style). The regulars are a friendly bunch and take their performances seriously, regardless of audience reception or level of talent. Though Katie, the other karaoke DJ, is considerably more agreeable, even the aforementioned Jan is not without her charms. Sure, the last time I signed up for “Jolene” she made me sing “Colors of the Wind” instead and dismissed my gentle protest with her standard “I don’t give shit! You tip me or get the fuck out!” Sure, she’s shifty, loud and prone to sudden fits of violence, but if you’ve got a decent buzz on and are feeling particularly generous, it helps to see her as merely tough, mouthy and gloriously unhinged. Her shrill karaoke performances alone are worth every tip dollar. Her taste leans heavily toward 70s soft rock and her delivery is as impassioned as it is atonal. Go ahead, request Fleetwood Mac’s “Dreams” and if you’re as sentimental/psychologically impaired by long term recreational drug use as I am, then you can bet your heart will swell as much as your eardrums.

For all its volatility, the Smog Cutter can be a welcoming place, provided you keep your wits about you and follow a few simple rules: introduce yourself, abide by the two drink minimum, don’t forget to tip and be respectful, i.e., don’t goad Jan unnecessarily or use her drunken antics as an excuse to launch into a profanity-laden tirade of your own. I guarantee that by the time you’ve been in a few times, bartenders Joanne and Bonnie will not only remember your name and your preferred beverage, they will pour extra heavy and might even kick you down one of their signature flaming shots once in a while. If it should ever come to blows (Jan generally does not mix well with the weekend crowd), step outside for some Marlboro-tinged fresh air and a chat with Mike, the resident doorman/referee. He is an eager conversationalist and one of the kindest people you will ever meet. In a place as unpredictable as this, a little kindness goes a long way.

The Smog Cutter
864 N. Virgil Ave.
Los Angeles, 90029
Karaoke every night except Tuesday, 8pm-close

Guests were encouraged to dress in "safari casual" attire and were gifted with handmade tote bags crafted by artisans in a co-op for widows of genocide in Rwanda. Vans carried attendees to the top of the hill near the black bears, where the twilight event started. Betty White, a GLAZA Trustee, was among those on hand to greet arrivals, along with an array of passed hors d'ouvres. A meandering path led guests past various exhibits, live bands, bars, and buffet tables. Zoo staff were also roaming the event on "animal walkabouts" with furry, feathered and scaly zoo inhabitants.

There was an enormous silent auction and additional buffet tables at the end of the trail. Memorable dishes from the event were the Pear and Brie Crositini from La Poubelle, homemade sausages from Villa Soriso, Ceviche on a Plantain Chip from Smith Brothers Restaurants and the Mashed Potato Bar from Rennaisance Fine Catering.

The evening culminated with an award presentation to Laura Wasserman and a live auction with celebrity auctioneer Fritz Coleman for exciting events including a tour of the zoo with Betty White ($8,500), a reptile tour with Slash of Guns N' Roses ($5,000), and being drawn onto the cartoon "Family Guy" ($4,000). A live band playing 70s boogie drew a crowd out onto the dance floor as others perused the dessert table until only the nocturnal zoo inhabitants partied on.

After 30 years of planning, the MagLev project between Anaheim and Vegas lost one of its biggest proponents last month to a train part of the federal high-speed rail corridor. Nevada Senator Harry Reid is now behind the DesertXpress between Southern California and Las Vegas that would mainly go along Interstate 15. Unfortunately, the phase planned right now only goes between Vegas and Victorville. Why Victorville? Their website explains:

Of course it would be great if DesertXpress could be extended to downtown Los Angeles, Anaheim and Ontario, and someday it might. But for this initial project, it is critical for the station to serve the Southern California market and be financeable without public tax dollars.

Victorville makes a lot of sense because it is the first major population center northeast of the Cajon Pass through the San Bernardino mountain range separating the High Desert from the Los Angeles basin. Victorville is within only a 30- to 45-minute drive for roughly 5 million people who live in the Inland Empire, Antelope Valley, and the eastern portions of Los Angeles County, and only a one to two hour's drive for most of the rest of the Southland's 21 million residents—many of whom routinely drive at least an hour to and from work each weekday.

Victorville also is the choke point of I-15, where the roadway narrows from from four through lanes to three in each direction. With the station in Victorville, DesertXpress avoids the uncertainty of the challenging 200-mile drive across the Mojave Desert that could take anywhere from 4 hours to 10 hours - you never know, because of congestion and incidents or accidents.

Yes, someday "it might" go to Los Angeles." The Victorville leg will cost $3.5 to $4 billion for 200 miles of work--that's less than proposed subway to the sea in Los Angeles.

• Why did the police close down Pershing Square this afternoon? A manhunt ensued for three jewelry suspects involved in a jewelry store theft.
• LA Weekly's cover story this week is all about environmental activism in the city, or the lack thereof: "Activists leave the street-fighting to the little guys. The city’s environmentalists must increasingly deal with the fact that labor unions, big businesses and politicians are embracing a green economy to solve their own financial and political woes."
• California attorney general Jerry Brown is aiding the investigation into Michael Jackson's death. The DEA is also helping.
• If Michael Jackson's public memorial service happens at the Staples Center, who is going to pay for all the city services such as police, street closures, etc? Also, the price for the event, if it happens, will apparently be $25.
• A proposed 7-11 on Fairfax Ave. in Mid-City West seems to have the community concerned. Not over the temptations that the highly caloric pretzel cheese nacho Combos bring (yum!), but that of sketchy characters, alcohol sales to the underaged and panhandlers.
• They're not painted green, but these LAUSD buses more eco-friendly, according to the Daily News. A new state-of-the-art propane refueling station in North Hollywood was unveiled this week for a new fleet of buses to use. Meeting 2010 emissions standards, the buses produce 80 percent fewer greenhouse gas.
• Booking it Bus Style is a newly found blog that is the adventures of one city girl who gave up her car for the bus, trying to read a book a week (via Streetsblog).
• David Markland at Metblogs is gearing up to save money this summer by dropping Netflix, canceling Arrowhead water delivery among other tactics. What are you doing to save money?

So California is issuing IOUs for the first time since 1992. They carry an interest rate of 3.75%, but that's apparently on an annual basis only earning about ten bucks for every thousand you're owed. But that's not stopping people from trying to buy them on Craigslist! Unlikely it's for profit, it's probably just for the kitsch souvenir factor.

This year marks the 30th anniversary since the NoHo Arts District began to change from scary, dirty and dangerous to the still-blossoming arts and theatre neighborhood. Part of the neighborhood's redevelopment includes three gateway arches, one of which will be revealed next week by prolific public artist Peter Shire, who may be known for his work at the Wilshire/Vermont Subway Station, Union Station, Elysian Park, LACMA, West Hollywood and various other places around town.

“I love public art projects because, when they’re done right, they give identity and character to a neighborhood," said City Councilman Tom LaBonge in a statement. "This Peter Shire installation is a special project because it celebrates North Hollywood’s contribution to the entertainment industry, so the design relates to the neighborhood."

The gateway, which will be illuminated at night, incorporate the behind the scenes support of the entertainment industry (think characters building sets, operating cameras and designing costumes). The support structure will be painted a vibrant yellow, with the
artwork contrasting in a range of reds, oranges and stainless steel.

The unveiling will take place next week Thursday night at its location of Lankershim and Huston. ExperienceLA has RSVP info.

Link: LAist Photo Essay: Electric Daisy Carnival

Link: Meet James Zabiela: Not Your Average Superstar DJ (EDC DJ)

Photos by Drew "Rukes" Ressler (website | email | LAist Interview ) / used with permission

The TV Junkie Plan: "In the Motherhood", "Moments of Impact", "The Listener", "The Daily Show"

8:30pm In the Motherhood ABC - Where There's a Will There's a Wake

9:00pm So You Think You Can Dance FOX - Two of the top 14 dancers are eliminated; Kelly Clarkson performs.

9:00pm Moments of Impact Discovery - A teenager regrets keeping a lion as a pet; a skier tries to outrun an avalanche; mobsters target a restaurant.

10:00pm The Listener NBC - Toby saves a troubled teen from a gang beating, he stumbles upon a hidden group of runaways.

11:00pm The Daily Show With Jon Stewart Comedy Central - Robert Kenner, Filmmaker, "Food, Inc."

If making noise isn't your thing, the Form and Function Foundation is ready to help kick-start your summer with their Summer of Strange Love benefit for VisionsfortheFuture.org, a non-profit Sri Lankan organization. Check out Plastic God's giant portrait of rapper/artist/all-around awesome M.I.A., dance to DJs Dirty Dave, Ben Barnes and John Eastwood or watch short films and more at the multimedia event. It's happening from 7 to 10 p.m. at Space 1520, located at 1520 N. Cahuenga Blvd. in Hollywood.

A Recession Obsession is, 1) a meal so great that it stays in your mind long after digestion's end, and, 2) plays nice with your sensitive wallet. Is there a better place than Los Angeles to eat a wide variety of amazing food that so happens to be inexpensive? Probably not. We're as lucky as we are well fed. We last obsessed over Thai Town's Ruen Pair, and went Greek at Papa Cristo's. Today, we obsess...

NYC transplants decry LA's apparent lack of hardcore Italian delis. That is, until a clued-up Angeleno points that Negative Nancy to Bay Cities Deli and Bakery. If New York were a sovereign nation (it's not,) its local embassy would be this Santa Monica hotspot.

Here you’ll find world-class Italian sandwiches. And while you can customize your order North of $10 (thanks to exotic cured meats and cheeses,) you don’t have too. Bay Cities has reasonably sized sandwiches that are reasonably priced for about $4-$7 each. That’s why Bay Cities is LAist’s latest Recession Obsession.

The Rub On The Grub

The Godmother is a sandwich many would walk over their godmothers to eat. It’s genoa salami, mortadella, coppacola, ham, prosciutto, provolone, on a crunchy and fresh Italian roll. Get it with “The Works” -- mayo, mustard, onions, pickles, tomatoes, lettuce, Italian Dressing & Mild/Hot peppers -- and you’ve got a serious gastrointestinal commitment. It’s a tasty one that I’ve learned doesn’t do me as right as my eyes (or colleagues) persuasively suggest.

I abandon those Works, pick a single meat, and focus, focus, focus. Something like hamon serrano (pictured, delicious,) chicken cutlet, prosciutto, is right up my alley. Or if I want a light bite, I’ll go for the caprese (fresh mozzarella + basil + tomato = party.) Beware of a Large Sandwich. It's the size of a toddler's leg.

Unfortunately, An Institution

I recently conducted a poll and the result was “everyone” “loves” “Bay Cities.” Good for Bay Cities. Bad for sandwich-eaters who don’t like lines that resemble Studio 54’s Saturday night queue.

The way to enjoy Bay Cities in this wretched economy is to forget about lunch. They can get so crowded that a line of cars forms on Lincoln Boulevard to enter the parking lot. It’s not safety-friendly, and it’s a waste of time. And our time is money -- especially for the 9.5% of the nation who is now unemployed (who should be using that time to find a new gig.) Head here after 3 p.m. but before 7 p.m. (when they close on most nights.)

Bay Cities is like a trip to New York with less Yankee caps and lousy attitudes. But if you feel braving the lunch crowd is for you, beware, you might leave with the attitude of a Yankees fan whose team has just exited the first round of the playoffs.

• Bay Cities Italian Deli & Bakery 1517 Lincoln Boulevard | Santa Monica 90401| (310) 395-8279

Photo by Caleb Bacon (Twitter) for LAist

Where do you get your Italian subs? Comment Below!

DANCE*
The Santa Monica Pier Twilight Dance Series kicks off tonight at 7 pm at the pier. Tonight’s free concert features the Playing for Change Band -- an Internet project that enlisted musicians from all over the world in a viral video and led to the creation of a CD that benefits street musicians and homeless populations. Also on the bill: Bushman (Jamaican Roots Reggae). So bring a picnic and your dancing shoes.

HIKE
The Sierra Club’s Griffith Park group continues its evening hike series tonight for all levels (1=beginners, 6=very strenuous). If you want to pre-empt some of the beer and hot dog calories you’ll probably consume this weekend, then meet the rest of the group at the upper merry-go-round parking lot #2. Flashlight optional. Be ready for a two-hour hike. (Most first time visitors shouldn't hike at more than level 3.)

BOOKS
Tonight at Vroman’s Bookstore author Harry Brant Chandler discusses and signs his book Dreamers in Dream City tonight at 7 pm. Chandler, of the LA Times family, has written a book that provides bios and insights into 54 powerful, entertaining or “colorful” people that LA has hatched, including Abbott Kinney, Ed Ruscha, Dr. Robert Schuller, William Mulholland, Nobu Matsuhisa; Jim Morrison, Raymond Chandler, Jerry Bruckheimer; Nat King Cole, Ray Bradbury, Walt Disney, Aldous Huxley, Amelia Earhart -- and many others.

SALSA
On the other side of town, the Autry Museum is holding its own summer nights concert featuring Yari Moré and his salsa orchestra. The concert begins at 6 pm and there are free dance lessons and a stocked taco and drink bar. Tickets are only $7.

MUSICAL THEATRE
Just a few more dates are left for the musical Fellowship, a musical parody of The Fellowship of the Ring directed by Joel McCrary. It plays tonight at 8 pm at the Falcon Theatre in Burbank, and runs through July 12. This is a Broadway-style sendup of Tolkein’s characters, includes 12 original songs, and an “over-the-top opening number with barefooted tap-dancing Hobbits, to an elf-on-human 80's power ballad with a live guitar solo performed by the rightful heir of Gondor.”

*Pencil pick of the day

Our Pick: Amazing Baby, Band of Skulls, Dazzler @ UCLA Hammer Museum

Tonight Berkeley-bred rock singer-songwriter John Fogerty, best known for his time with Creedence Clearwater Revival, will be taking on a three-night stint at the Hollywood Bowl. The Echo & Echoplex will be hosting a benefit for booker extraordinaire Jennifer Tefft, which features She Wants Revenge, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club (Canceled!), Great Northern, Dead Meadow, LA Ladies Choir, Rocco Deluca, Nico Stai, Useless Keys and Living Things. And, lastly, San Franciscan psych rockers Citay are poised to grace the Silver Lake Lounge. But we strongly suggest heading over to the UCLA Hammer Museum to catch the first night of the summer concert series 'Also I Like To Rock.' LAist favorites Amazing Baby are slated to rock, as well as Band of Skulls.

You can find these listings as well as the rest of the week's in our weekly Week In Rock post, which (generally) goes up every Sunday.

Amazing Baby - "Headdress"

John Fogerty @ Hollywood Bowl
Amazing Baby, Band of Skulls, Dazzler @ UCLA Hammer Museum
Benefit for Jennifer Tefft w/ She Wants Revenge, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, The LA Ladies Choir (with Becky Stark, Eleni Mandell & more), Great Northern, Dead Meadow, Rocco Deluca, Nico Stai, Useless Keys, Living Things, Moving Units DJ set @ The Echo & Echoplex
Citay, Black Math Horseman, The Dry Spells @ Silver Lake Lounge
Oak and Gorski, Paper Bird, Chasing Kings, Matt Taylor and His Laurels, Joe Thalman, Holly Conlan @ The Hotel Café
Whitman, Splinter Cake, Nora Keyes, Nicole Kidman @ The Smell
Bunnies and Kitties, The Preacher's Son, The Extraordinares, Eben Stewart @ Hyperion Tavern
Stabbings, Comprachios @ The Prospector

During one visit to The Golden State we overheard one very discerning customer telling her spouse, "See that? This is a perfectly cooked medium rare burger." The Golden State menu includes burgers, muffuletta, chicken, a BLTA, and tuna. For vegetarians they offer veggie burgers and sandwiches. On Friday nights they serve amazing beer battered fish 'n' chips. The ice cream is the from frozen treat wizard Tai Kim of Scoops. Of course we had to try the beer float, Old Rasputin with Scoops Brown Bread ice cream. After several visits, we thought it was time to sit down with owners Jason Bernstein and James Starr and get the inside scoop on their new restaurant.

LAist: How did you come up with the concept for The Golden State?

Jason Bernstein: We went back and forth. Initially we were thinking about opening up a beer and wine bar. When we found out that the permits are very expensive for bars, we decided to do a restaurant. The restaurant had to be something that is very executable with a simple menu idea. Stuff that would go well with beer and wine. We like is simply executed food and food sourced as close to here as possible which basically meant California. Living is a state that basically has the economy of an entire country, why not celebrate that?

James Starr: We knew we were going to get this space on Fairfax before we had a cohesive concept. We wanted to engineer something for the people who live in this neighborhood.

How did you get this space?

JS: A family friend of mine owns this building. We knew this space was going to become available. We really liked this location a lot. We started brainstorming what would work best in the neighborhood. Jason has a lot of friends who live here. We asked them what they thought would work on this neighborhood. Something of good quality and also good value. Everything we serve is $10 or less with really fresh, quality ingredients.

What do you like about the Fairfax neighborhood?

JS: There are two things we like about it. We like the traditional Jewish roots here. It's a place our grandparents used to come visit and where our friends live now. We like that duality.

JB: Frequently you have areas in any city that are really touristy and others that are really insidery. This area is very historic and significant and wears its history on its sleeve. It's also very modern and culturally relevant. So if you go to the Grove and the Farmer's Market, Angelenos shop next to tourists from Ohio. I don't think you have that same phenomenon if for example you go to Hollywood and Highland. Fairfax felt like that great way to welcome people to California and make them feel at home here, as well as making a place that really fit in with the vibe of the area. We had to play a lot with that in the decor and ambiance. How do we make something that feels both at home and really new? We tried to do it on a shoe-stringy budget. We tried to fit in with the area. Seeing Animal come in was really great. This street really feels like a city. I live in Koreatown now, and it's one of the thing I like about living in the city.

Do you have a favorite Korean BBQ?

JB: I like Parks at 955 S. Vermont. Parks is the only restaurant, aside from this one, that I know the address for. I like Cham Sut Gol on the corner of 4th Avenue and Olympic. Those two are pretty solid. And Soot Bull Jeep on 8th Street.

Can you talk a little bit about developing the menu with Samir Mohajer?

JB: The menu was sort of developed twice. The first time with Samir, because we were two knuckleheads who didn't know how to run a restaurant. First we met with Samir for ideas, but a lot of the menu changed and developed when we started working with Rene. He deserves a lot of credit too. A lot of the menu items came with Rene Lopez. He runs the kitchen now. (Jason points out Rene in the kitchen.) Like the BLT. We had this really great bacon from the Farmer's Market and thought, "what do we do with it?" It's one the burger, but we wanted to do something to feature it. He suggested doing something really simple like a BLTA. He is responsible for that and the lamb burger and for the fish 'n' chips. James played basketball with Samir. He was so warm and open. At the time he was leaving a restaurant to open a restaurant very similar to ours. We worked with him for about six weeks while he showed us the ropes, taught us how to operate a kitchen.

There was a Jonathan Gold article where he talked about The Golden State and referred to amateur restaurants. How did you feel about that?

JB: I think it is great. The attitude that he came in with was the attitude we would love everyone to come in with. There isn't a lot of showmanship here. We possess a certain amount of knowledge, but our menu is more curatorial. It's created out of love. Fundamentally I think our job is to get really good ingredients and not screw them up.

Talk a little bit about how you chose the meat for the burgers and Let's Be Frank Hot Dogs.

JB: Every aspect of the menu was chosen by James and myself. We would sit down and try things with Rene or Samir. For the burgers we tried about five or six different blends of beef.

JS: With the beef and the hot dogs, they already they already had that recognition. Our families shopped at those places. I had Let's Be Frank hot dogs at my wedding. Those were things that were close to us before we opened this place. We wanted to share that familiarity and that family feeling from those vendors and products with our customers.

JB: We said that from the beginning. We are doing less of running a restaurant than we are running a talent show and trying to host these people and showcase the food. I guess we are producers.

How did you approach Tai Kim from Scoops and convince him to let you sell Scoop Ice Cream at The Golden State?

JS: We asked him, "If we open a place, can we sell Scoops? He said, "Sure." I don't think he ever thought that 10 months later he'd be standing here. Many other people have asked to sell Scoops.

JB: We were already really good friends with Tai. The funny part is until about eight months into construction, Tai had agreed to do it from day one , but one day he walked in to see the place and said, "Ok, you guys are actually doing this."

JS: We just started out as Scoops customers. We would go there all the time. We became friends with him. We know people approach him often.

JB: During construction I didn't have another job. So I would roll, over to Tai's and help him scoop three days a week there. A guy came in here last week and asked me, "Weren't you just scooping at Scoops? How did you get the money to open a restaurant?"

Does Tai choose the flavors or do you?

JB: It is collaborative, especially when we have really new beers. We have worked at the Craft Beer Fest together. Usually Tai rolls by with whatever he wants. He created a Sour Cherry Dill ice cream to pair with our Ommegang Rouge.  The cherries were marinated in brandy and he added a little bit of dill. He also did a Jim Beam nutmeg ice cream for a beer float, too.

Explain the beer float phenomenon to people who can't imagine beer and ice cream in the same glass.

JB: We definitely are not the first people to do the beer float thing. I am confident in saying we are the first ones to have Old Rasputin and Scoops. Actually, when we were doing it at the house and we were futzing around with it, we started with a carbonated beer, but it really comes into its own when we use a nitrogenated beer. It has a very silky mouth feel to it.

JS: It already has that natural creamier texture.

You focus on local foods for the menu. Are all the beers local?

JS: Right now seven out of the eight draft beers are local. We want to offer the best and when we can source it out of California we are going to do it.

JB: The cod for the fish n chip is not caught off of the Santa Monica Pier. It's line caught wild Icelandic cod. It couldn't be further from California if we tried, but it is really good.

So local with a few exceptions.

JS: The cod is beer battered with local beer.

JB: California produces a lot of great beer, but James and I like a particular kind of beer called Saison and it is not produced frequently in California. So we did put a Saison Dupont on the menu. We have had some local Saisons. Sometime we have to go elsewhere to get it.

How did you decide on counter service for ordering instead of having waiters come to the table?

JB: When I am taking orders at the counter I have had several people comment. "Hey, you really know a lot about this place." I say, "I am the owner." People are surprised to see us taking orders and wiping down tables. It's made it really efficient. When we designed the place we wanted to make sure every table is visible from the central vantage point at the cash register. We want to be able to see everyone, to see if they need anything. So I take order, fill drinks, and act like a waiter for the tables. It is counter service, but we take care of bringing the food and the personal interaction. That's the part I like the most. I love to recommend what beer will go best with the meal.

You have become pretty popular with some people in the restaurant business. We have seen Joan McNamara from Joan's on Third here and hear that Nancy Silverton is a fan. Where do the two of you eat when you have time off?

JB: I go to El Torino and Jitlada. El Torino is on Olympic and Hoover at the edge of Koreatown.

And Jitlada is a Jonathan Gold favorite. How how about you James?

JS; I eat Cup of Noodles and Top Ramen at home or I will save up money and go eat sushi.

Where is your favorite sushi place?

JS: I can't tell you. I don't want anyone else to know. I save up enough money to eat at that one sushi place about every three months.

How long have you both lived in Los Angeles?

JB: My whole life. I grew up in Beverly Hills and went to college up north at UC Berkeley. James went to UC Santa Barbara. We went to high school together at Crossroads. Now I live in Koreaown.

JS: I live in Carthay Circle.

Favorite unique place to visit in LA?

JB: I remember loving the Griffith Observatory when I was a kid. I want to get back there to see the renovation. I haven't had time. It looks so gorgeous from down here.

JS:  I remember loving going to place I called Camel Park. There was a sandbox with statues of camels in it. It was near Aaron Spelling's house in Westwood. That's probably not the real name- just what I called it when I was a kid.

JB; When I was a kid I spent a lot of time at the Farmer's Market with my grandma. We went there every week.

JS: And I always loved going to Rite Aid for ice cream.

And now you serve Scoops. This space use to be Nova Express.

JB: It was an intergalactic coffeehouse with cosmic pizza. It had an eight foot drop ceiling. It was exclusively lit by black light. We ripped up the floors, added a bathroom, expanded the kitchen, added gas- it was all electric. We couldn't afford an architect or a general contractor. That was really an adventure. We couldn't afford an expediter, the person you pay ten grand to push your alcohol permits through. So we had to go before the zoning boards and the city council and to the zoning administration. We put on suits and ties.

So I guess now putting on a Golden State shirt and serving beer is pretty cush.

JB: Yes we've been wearing our Golden Shirts every day for a while now.

Who designed the t-shirts?

JS: A guy named Lando Ettrick.

JB: We wanted kind of a Saul Bass look.

JS: I used to work in advertising and I use to work with him. He lived downstairs. Jason and I went out to dinner one night and told him about what we were thinking. A sort of Saul Bass font meets Doris Day/Rock Hudson Calligraphy.

What has surprised you the most about owning a restaurant?

JB: We thought, "Let's create a place that we would like and our friends would go to." Friends are coming in and friends of friends. My mom comes in and says, "It is nice to see faces in here that I don't recognize." I said to her, "Well, it is a restaurant." People always talk about how hard it is to run a restaurant. I was prepared for it. I am not saying it's not hard, but I think about what makes me feel tired and beleaguered and run down and it is certainly not running this place. What I hated was building a restaurant. The construction, dealing with the city, permits, the nightmarish bureaucracy, and the departments that don't agree with each other. I was surprised that that was the horrifying part.

JS: I guess I was surprised that people actually come here. They come back. They seem to like it. I don't know if we expected to open our doors and have the kind of response we have had so far. Jason and I both feel really lucky to have this clientele base that we really like. People are appreciative. People seem to be happy. It's refreshing and it's nice to see.

Head over to The Golden State to see the shirts, eat the food, and meet Jason and James. They are located at 426 North Fairfax Avenue across from Canter's Deli. They are open noon -10p.m. Tuesday through Sunday.