Nightlife in LA has been at its creative pinnacle in recent years, in my humble opinion--mixing all different kinds of entertainment and settings for a more unique experience. In that same vein, this Wednesday, a new weekly nightlife event, The Lucent Dossier Experience, launches at H.Wood.

The Lucent Dossier Experience is known to tour venues performing with a live band, singers, aerialists, dancers, acrobats, jesters, clowns, burlesque dancers, stilt-walkers, contortionists and so on creating an interactive spectacular.

Their weekly hedonistic happening will include a rose water foot bath along with the usual DJ sets and dancing (sounds like a great way to reward yourself for some fancy footwork!). In true LA fashion, there will be aura readings and cleansing herbal elixirs. They've also promised a couple of other enigmatic, wait-and-see highlights such as the "Post Portal Post Office" and the "Sweet Teddy Bear Tea Party."

Doors open at 8 p.m. and the 21 and over revelry runs until 2 a.m. The shows are set to run betwen 9 p.m. and midnight. Cost of entrance is $15.

Photo Courtesy of The Lucent Dossier Experience

Tomorrow, Saturday, all you would-be 'Barflies' will get the chance to spend the evening at Vroman's Bookstore, Charles Bukowksi-style. At 7 p.m. the Pasadena retailer will host a celebration of the nomadic fringe South LA writer's work and life. This will consist of a slide presentation--of Bukowski's life through photos-- by the Huntington Library's lead archivist and curator of literary manuscripts Sue Hodson. Also on-hand: John Dullagahn, director of the documentary Bokowski: Born into This. LA poetess Linda Lee Bukowski (wife of the late scribe) will read from a new book about the Barfly's life: The Continual Condition.

Home and food are the core building blocks of life. On Saturday, from 12:00-6 p.m. the Mak Center for Art and Architecture (at the Schindler House in W. Hollywood) will present a free day, focused on both of these basic themes.

The activities launch at noon. First up on the day's agenda is a graphic workshop (with community nutrition advocacy group Project Food/LA) in preparation for the Edible Endeavors Convention. Participants will get the chance to lend their creative hands, fashioning 'foodie flyers, posters and banners.'

At 1 p.m. visitors will get a walk-through of the Otto Neurath/Gypsy Urbanism exhibit with guest curator and architectural critic and theorist Nader Vossoghian.

A panel discussion focusing on exhibition strategies will be moderated by MAK Center director Kimberli Meyer at 2:30 p.m. Panelists include designers, historians, artists and architects.

Finally, the day's events will culminate at 3:30 p.m. with the Edible Endeavors Convention featuring rapid-fire presentations on food issues in LA. The centerpiece event is being billed as a combo political convention, lecture, panel discussion and rally.

Photo: Gerald Zugman/MAK Center

Part of the whole gastro-pub trend that continues to pick up speed in recession/comfort era LA, Santa Monica's The Yard threw a re-opening party last night, boasting its latest asset: Chris "CJ" Jacobson of Bravo's hit show Top Chef. The laidback Broadway eatery has a new look and CJ-designed menu.

The competition is certainly intense out there these days and it seems like everyone needs at least one marquis name to survive. CJ is definitely a good one in name and follow-through. Hors d'oeuvres versions of the plates regularly on offer at The Yard were making the rounds generously on trays last night and they were good!

My favorites were the fresh fish tacos (with local sea bass, cumin slaw, guacamole and Pico de Gallo), the chocolate persimmon with burrata (with pomegranate, basil, house smoked almond and olive oil) and the mouth-watering Yard burgers which the 6'8" tall celeb chef told me were made of several different meats. I was less enthralled by the cocktails, with the exception of their BackYard Lemonade, which was tasty and fresh.

In attendance to support his Bravo network-mate was well-clad baby-faced Million Dollar Listing co-star Chad Rogers. Despite more emphasis on eats than beats, the music was fantastic with DJ Jeremy Sole of Afro Funke and KCRW at the helm.

Could the era of mass-production be coming to a close? If micro-trends like the work of LA writer/musician Billy Mark are any indicator, we may be knee-deep in a creative era of uniqueness, independent production and individuality.

Mark collaborates with his wife Sarah--a clothing designer and fabric artist--in creating unique CDs of original music (and CD artwork) as singular works of art. The catch is that when you buy the CD/artwork, you own the only copy and the rights of that music--the master.

Sound like a lot of work? It is, and probably worth at least its going price of $250. The CD jackets are also intricately stitched and handmade by Sarah Mark. Each CD contains four songs (one song for each image on each side of the disc jacket).

This Thursday Edgar Varela Fine Art will launch "Locating Value," a show of Billy and Sarah Mark's work. Ten CDs of original music and artwork will be available for sale at the show. The opening night festivities, from 7 to 10 p.m., will feature a live music performance by Mark and friends.

Photo © William Mark

Just saw that LA Observed has blogged a story from the Daily News about the mysterious, enigmatic "747" area code. Apparently it was supposed to have begun infiltrating the "818" codes in the crowded San Fernando Valley six months ago.

The Daily News has announced the odd fact that "the first 747 number has yet to be assigned." The story goes on to say that spokespeople for phone service providers, the California Public Utilities Commission and the North American Numbering Plan Administration could not "identify any 747 numbers assigned to residential or business customers."

Yet, in a Google and Wikipedia search I came up with two businesses using the "747" area code as of October. Will this Valley mystery ever be decoded?

The time-honored annual Laurel Canyon tradition of "Photo Day" went off without so much as a hitch today. Droves of Canyonites, young and old, came out of their proverbial log cabins to pose for a picture in front of the Canyon Country Store.

As always, a photographer stood on the traffic island at the intersection of Laurel Canyon Blvd. and Kirkwood Dr. trying to capture the hundreds (?) of locals for a group portrait that will hang on the wall of the store alongside other photos from decades gone by.

The difference this year was that Tommy, the owner of the store arranged to have the intersection blocked off by the city. Traditionally, the photographer has had to direct traffic and the locals 'boo' any cars that don't stop to allow the photo to be taken. Another change this year: the many Canyon canines were relegated to the parking lot.

As always, a band including Canyon Store clerk Brad played. Lilly's coffee cart remained opened and was a central hub for the event. And of course the "Canyon carnies," in their top hats jumped up onto the traffic light pole...and snap...the moment was immortalized in a sweltering heat (which strangely always seems to plague the annual October event).

The morning after....Thankfully we have a whole extra hour to rest and recover from last night's Halloween's festivities. As promised, I return with a recap of the KCRW Masquerade Ball.

The radio stars DJ'ing the event (Jason Bentley, Raul Campos, Liza Richardson, Garth Trinidad, etc.) were perhaps only overshadowed--pun intended--by a special guest appearance by DJ Shadow who spun downstairs in the grand old MacArthur Park-adjacent Park Plaza Hotel. Other talent were Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeroes, Little Dragon and Sea Wolf.

I can't tell you how many personal memories of club events past this stellar venue brought up. In fact I probably saw Jason Bentley spin here back in his early pre-KCRW days. It remains--in my humble opinion--one of the best spots to throw a club event in LA with its multiple upstairs-downstairs rooms, grand staircase-imposed foyer, classic architectural ambiance filled with sexy, romantic nooks, and just plain grandeur.

In a film town like LA, I wouldn't have expected any less than the awesome, creative and often elaborate costumes I saw at last night's jam-packed party. Group costumes like "penguins," "'80s aerobicizers, and Alex and gang from A Clockwork Orange seemed to be more popular this year. Legendary LA house DJ Marques Wyatt (there as a "civilian") was also clad in Clockwork Orange attire but corrected me saying he was there as the guy from "A Clockwork Blood Orange." Some folks went all out in the Dangerous Liaisons period garb. I was happy to see few of the old low-commitment "blood on the mouth costumes."

The event was super well planned out and DJ sets ran surprisingly on time. Everyone seemed to be having a blast, especially outside by the front entrance where several food trucks including the famous Korean mobile vendor Kogi and gourmet cupcake bakers Sprinkles were parked. I couldn't help picking up a couple Red Velvet myself.

By 1:30 a.m. things seemed to be winding down and thinning out...guess everyone got their Halloween beat fill. I queried one reveler as to whether he felt the event had been worth its $75 entrance fee. He replied that he'd "paid more for less" and had had a great time.

Photo © KCRW

Halloween is finally upon us. Whether you've been celebrating all month or are just getting into the spooky vibes this weekend, there are places to haunt and people to spook all over LA. Halloween events like the Playboy Mansion party and traditions like 'the witch's house' abound. And in a movie industry town like Los Angeles there's no shortage of Halloween costume ideas.

I will personally be heading over to what I believe to be 'the party of the night' (everyone says that about their plans, right?), the KCRW Masquerade Ball, and will report back on the ghoulish grooves provided by the station's ace DJs. Would love to hear what everyone else is doing as well.

How ever you choose to spend your Halloween--trick or treating with the kids or partying it up--remember to be safe. And if you are doing the latter think about taking a taxi or calling on a community service like Safe Rides.

Happy Halloween!

Photo: David McNew/Staff/Getty Images

LA's own Cambodian-fronted indie band Dengue Fever is--as the name implies--heating up. On the heels of their guest spot on "Morning Becomes Eclectic" and a Hollywood Bowl performance with art-disco legend Ms. Grace Jones, the retro '60s infused psych-popsters are playing a show at The Broad Stage in Santa Monica this Friday.

The all ages event starts at 6:30 p.m. and opens with lecturer Stephanie Khoury and a traditional Cambodian dance group from the Khmer Arts Academy. Tix run from $32 to $55.
Dengue Fever's last album release was Venus on Earth (2008).

Photo: Kevin Estrada