Jamison's Los Angeles Blog

The third annual Venice Custom Bicycle Show is this Sunday, July 20th. They'll be showing off the incredible, creative and bizarre of the bicycles world. They've also got a skateboarding competition, live music, breakdancing, BMX stunt riders, and more. LA bands Loyal Enemy, New Vices and Rue will hit the stage starting at 2pm. If you've got a great bicycle, come down and enter the contest!

Venice Custom Bicycle Show Basics

• Where: On the sand at Venice Beach, from Market Street to 17th Street at Ocean Front Walk
• When: 10:30am - 6pm, Sunday July 20th
• Website: www.venicecustombicycles.com
• To Register for the Contest: Contact Terry Talbot: (310) 621-3615

_{Photo © Triple T Productions}

American Cinematheque launches the Old Pasadena Film Festival this Friday. From July 11th through the 26th they'll be screening a series of films in locations that are thematically linked to the film. You can catch the Texas Chainsaw Massacre in a spooky basement, the original 1953 The War of the Worlds on a rooftop, or an all-night showing of Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings in the outdoor courtyard at One Colorado.

For a full schedule of events check out the Old Pasadena Film Festival website.

_{Photo © American Cinematheque}

It's that time of year. The 4th is back so celebrate in style. There are some incredible fireworks displays lined up all over LA. No matter where you live in the city, there's going to be a great show somewhere nearby. Check out this breakdown of LA's best fireworks displays for July 4th, 2008.

Boston is adrift in a waving sea of celebrating green. The mood in the purple and gold Southland is not quite so cheerful. What happened? What went wrong? Everyone's got an opinion. Here's a roundup of the armchair punditry.

• The LA Times
• More LA Times
• ESPN
• New York Times
• Sporting News
• Boston Globe
• USA Today
• Time Magazine
• Bleeding Purple & Gold

Got a theory of your own? Want to tell the world exactly what you think of Boston? Pay a visit to the LA Forum and sound off.

_{Kobe Feeling the Pain
Photo © Getty Images}

Sometimes the only appropriate way to watch a Dodgers game is at the bar. And if you're going to spend the game at a bar, why not make it one of the city's best sports bars? Be it Melrose or Los Feliz, Burbank or Playa del Rey, we've got all the spots to have your game and drink it too.

Plan ahead, check out the official Dodgers game schedule and note which one matches a Happy Hour near you.

_{Photo © Getty Images
Los Angeles Dodger pitcher Clayton Kershaw}

The same company that produced last year's hit concert version of Chess at the Ford Amphitheatre is headed back to LA with a new production of The Who's Tommy. It's got a talented cast of Broadway's best and the show will be presented in high definition 3D Audio. Whatever that is, it sounds very impressive. Don't miss it!

The Who's Tommy Basics

• When: June 18 - 29
• Where: The Ricardo Montalban Theatre, 1615 Vine St, Hollywood, CA 90028
• Tickets: www.thewhostommy.com

_{Aleks Pevec as Tommy
Photo © Ryan Miller}

The Autry Center is already a pretty cool place. But now they reaching out to new levels of coolness. Their sumer music program has kicked off with an Angeleno-style infusion of Western music and salsa. If you haven't visited the Autry this is the perfect excuse to saddle up and get your groove on.

Autry Summer of Music Basics

• Schedule:
  • June 22: Clásica: The Roots of Music - Robert Miranda and Cross Cover
  • Thursdays in June: Western Fling - dancing, food, music, and more.
  • Tuesdays in July: Dinner and a Movie - catch a Gene Autry classic and chow down.
  • Thursdays in July and August: Sizzling Salsa - add some Southern spice to your summer.
  • Third Sunday of every month: Western Music Association Jam.
• The Autry Summer of Music website.

Explore the Autry National Center: find all the info you need, address, phone, tickets and more.

_{Photo © Jamison Selby 2007}

The three-day weekend is here at last. Leave the office behind and enjoy the outside world. As you head off to barbecues, beaches, movies, and fun of all shapes and sizes, maybe take a few moments to remember why this holiday is called "Memorial". We've got beautiful skies and warm weather and the freedom to enjoy it all. Take a moment to remember the Angelenos currently serving in the military overseas in Iraq and Afghanistan and all their Southland brethren who have served with honor over the years.

The holiday started off as Decoration Day back in 1868 and it's been celebrated in different ways by different states ever since. Memorial Day didn't become the official name of the holiday for nearly a hundred years.

• Check here to explore the history of Memorial Day.
• Check here for Memorial Day events in Los Angeles.

_{Photo © Getty Images}

Add some culture to your life. Check out the talents of one of LA's most gifted artists. The paintings of Mary Addison Hackett will be on display at the Kristi Engle Gallery until June 7. Her work begins in a chaos of materials, battling with lines of total control and uncontrollable explosions. What does that mean exactly? Decide for yourself. The artist is giving a talk at the gallery on May 18 at 2pm.

"I forget now what all this is about..." Basics

• Address: Kristi Engle Gallery, 5002 York Blvd, LA, CA 90042
• Phone: (323) 472-6237
• Dates: Thru June 7. Thurs - Sat: 12pm - 6pm or by appointment
• Artist Talk: Sun, May 18 at 2 PM
• Website: www.maryaddisonhackett.com

_{"The Highest Mountain" acrylic on canvas
Photo © Mary Addison Hackett}

The Whole Children Whole Planet Expo returns for its annual visit to Los Angeles this weekend. If you haven't made the pilgrimage to the Green mecca, don't miss this year's event. It's got celebrities, raffles, organic food, live performers, and green products of all shapes and sizes. Ed Begley, Jr. will be there. Ask him about the solar power system that runs his house. This is a great event for parents and kids. For a truly green day - take the LA Metro.

Whole Children Whole Planet Expo Basics: Head here.

_{Kids join The Ohmies on stage.
Photo © Kathy Arnos}