October 12, 2006

7 Days in the Arts

http://www.jewishjournal.com/ picks_clicks/article/7_days_in_arts_20061013/

The Valley Artists Studio Tour -- VAST -- is Sunday

Saturday the 14th

?Como se dice, "fun" en Espanol? LA Latino Book and Family Festival, por

Keren's Corner

Jewish Book Month isn't till November, but why wait? Two Jewish children's authors have events of note going on this week. At Pepperdine's Smother's Theatre, see the staged musical adaptation of Judith Viorst's "Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day" by now a hilarious classic. Or for Jewish folktale funnies, Children's Book World hosts storyteller Jon Reed, reading from Ann Redisch Stampler's "Shlemazel and the Remarkable Spoon of Pohost." Stampler will also attend and sign copies of the book.

Pepperdine: Oct. 14, 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. $10-$15. (310) 506-4522.

Children's Book World: Oct. 14, 10:30 a.m. Free. (310) 559-2665.

supuesto! The festival comes to the Fairplex in Pomona this weekend, and features a children's stage and play area, food courts, science discovery center and a youth and adult writing exhibition. Pick up a new title, like Susanna Reich's "Jose! Born to Dance" in the book village, view Latino arts and crafts in the culture and travel village or wander off into one of the other three themed villages.

10 a.m.-6 p.m. (Sat.), 10 a.m.-5 p.m. (Sun.). Free. (760) 434-7476.

www.latinobookfestival.com.

Sunday the 15th

Vast about sums it up. Bringing pride to the San Fernando Valley this weekend is the 2006 Valley Artists Studio Tour -- VAST, get it? -- an impressive 45-artist self-guided tour. The public is invited to meet Val artists like Judaica creator Thelma Starr and sculptor Joan Carl, and view their studios, all while promoting music and art education initiatives of the San Fernando Valley Arts Council. An artists reception is also held on Saturday.

10 a.m.-5 p.m. (Sat. and Sun.). $20-$25 (valid both days). (818) 572-3150. www.sfvartscouncil.com.

Monday the 16th

UCLA Hillel's art galleries mess with our emotions this season. Serenity can be had on the third floor's "Silent Waves" photographs by Douglas Isaac Busch. Just one floor below, however, the Gindi Auditorium features Shulie Seidler-Feller's unsettling snapshots of a devastated New Orleans, in "Broken Landscapes." They are on view through Nov. 15 and the end of December, respectively. Hillel at UCLA, 574 Hilgard Ave., Los Angeles. (310) 208-3081.

www.uclahillel.org.

Tuesday the 17th

The stories of six Jewish women's survival at Auschwitz-Birkenau became the subject of filmmaker Jon Kean's documentary, "Swimming in Auschwitz," which premieres at the University of Judaism today. The six women, who speak of camp families and of faith, will participate in a panel discussion along with Kean, following the screening.

7:30 p.m. Free. University of Judaism Gindi Auditorium, 15600 Mulholland Drive, Bel Air. R.S.V.P., (310) 470-1297.

Wednesday the 18th

The new season of West Coast Jewish Theatre opens with a story about generational secrets, memory and identity. Playwright Wendy Graf's "Leipzig" introduces us to Helen Kelly, a daughter struggling to know the past her mother hid from her; to Eva Kelly, Helen's mother, whose quickly developing Alzheimer's threatens to keep her secrets buried; and to her father, George Kelly, who would prefer that history remain there.

Previews Oct. 17-19; Runs Oct. 20-Dec. 10. $27-$30. Marilyn Monroe Theatre at the Lee Strasberg Institute, 7936 Santa Monica Blvd., West Hollywood. (323) 650-7777.

www.westcoastjewishtheatre.org.

Thursday the 19th

Dealer and defender of sentimentality Mitch Albom strikes again with his new release, "For One More Day," about a suicidal alcoholic man who gets that miraculous titular day with his eight-years-deceased mother. The "Tuesdays With Morrie" writer comes to Starbucks today for a Q-and-A, and to Sinai Temple tonight, for a reading and signing.

Starbucks: Noon. 11707 San Vicente Blvd. (Brentwood), Los Angeles. (310) 207-4202.

Sinai Temple: 7:30 p.m. 10400 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles. (310) 474-1518.

Friday the 20th

Bob Dylan performs "Like A Rolling Stone". Click on the big arrow to view

For his live take on "Modern Times," get to the Forum, this evening. Bob Dylan makes an L.A. stop tonight on the latest installment of his "Never Ending Tour." What he'll perform is anyone's guess. As always, the one thing the show promises to be is unpredictable.

7:30 p.m. $35-$75. The Forum, 3900 W. Manchester Blvd., Inglewood.

www.ticketmaster.com.