Come on Down to Wacko this Afternoon to Get a Signed Copy of Bowlarama!

Wacko has always been a fun place for parties and book signings. Come on down today to grab yourself a copy of “Bowlarama: The Architecture of Mid-Century Bowling” by Chris Nichols with Adriene Biondo. Why not pick up an extra for an awesome Christmas or Hannukah present? In fact, you can get all your holiday shopping done in the attached Soaplant while you’re there. Chris Nichols and Adriene Biondo have been doing the book signing rounds, but Wacko is probably the funnest location. Starting at 3pm today!

Chris Nichols signing at Tiki Oasis.

The heavily visual book, packed with retro photos and architectural drawings, is not about the sport of bowling per se, but does a deep dive into the art, architecture and style of the midcentury game. Both authors have a longstanding history with the Los Angeles Conservancy. King of Kitsch Chris Nichols is a journalist, editor, preservationist, and author of “The Leisure Architecture of Wayne McAllister” and “Walt Disney’s Disneyland.” He has also been keeping LA informed with the “Ask Chris” column in LA Magazine since 2000.

When she is not writing for Schiffer Publishing and eichlernetwork.com, Adriene Biondo has been keeping busy on conservancy committees and boards. She has been Chair Emeritus at Los Angeles Conservancy Modern Committee, Board member for Valley Relics Museum, and Chair Emeritus at Museum of Neon Art

According to Amazon, where the book is already a Best Seller, “…bowling became the ultimate modern lifestyle for Americans savoring the boom years that followed World War II. Bowling alleys were modern palaces…Bowlarama brings back…all the optimism, enthusiasm, and joie de vivre of the era.”

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Movies Till Dawn: Action Packed ’24

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When Titans Ruled the Earth: Clash of the Titans & Wrath of the Titans” * (2010/2012, Arrow Video) Highly caffeinated but entertaining remake/revamp of the 1981 fantasy film of the same name, best remembered for Ray Harryhausen’s stop-motion special effects and Laurence Olivier’s utterance of “Release the kraken!” which launched countless memes, jokes, etc. The basic framework of “Clash” and its sequel, “Wrath of the Titans,” is the same as its source material: the gods of ancient Greece, miffed at humanity’s lack of proper groveling, deliver punishment via the aforementioned Kraken, which demigod hero Perseus (Sam Worthington) must stop with the head of Medusa. The 2010 and 2012 films take the “Harry Potter” route by tapping an impressive array of Serious International Talent to play the gods: Liam Neeson as Zeus, Ralph Fiennes as a doom-metal Hades, Mads Mikkelsen, Gemma Arteton, Danny Huston, Luke Evans, and others, all of whom appear to enjoy (or tolerate) playing sword-and-sandal games (“Wrath” swaps Rosamund Pike for Alexa Davalos’s Andromeda and adds Edgar Ramirez and Bill Nighy). Both “Titans” take a long time to reach their final showdowns – in “Wrath,” Perseus has to repel the gods’ father, the living volcano Kronos (modeled after the Greek monster Typhon) – but has the good sense to load these winding paths with plenty of CGI monsters and action setpieces. If you revere the ’81 version, you’ll probably find fault with these brawny re-dos, but if not, you’ll appreciate Arrow’s Limited Edition presentation, which provides 4K and Blu-ray editions of both titles as well as new interviews with producer Basil Iwanyk, vintage making-of featurettes with plenty of behind-the-scenes footage and interviews, and even some amusing deleted scenes.

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“Beetlejuice Beetlejuice: The Afterlife Experience” is Now Open in Hollywood

“Beetlejuice Beetlejuice: The Afterlife Experience.” Photos by Karin E. Baker for The LA Beat.

Enter the world of the recently deceased at “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice: The Afterlife Experience.” It’s an interactive celebration of the much-anticipated release of the “Beetlejuice” sequel, “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice,” opening on September 6 and starring Michael Keaton, Winona Ryder, and Jenna Ortega. 

This immersive “Beetlejuice”-inspired experience just opened inside an 11,000-square-foot space at Ovation Hollywood. 

You’ll begin with your Afterlife Passport. Assuming you make it through Immigration, you’ll enter the Waiting Room and meet numerous members of the Recently Deceased from the world of “Beetlejuice.” Rife with photo ops, you’ll step into some of your favorite scenes from the movie. You’ll also be able to get your makeup done or hair coiffed at the beauty salon, get your fortune told by a dead woman, snack on themed foods, purchase exclusive themed merch, and more. 

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Movies Till Dawn: This Is Also Not a Dream

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Abigail” * (2024, Universal Home Entertainment) A kidnapping scheme goes from bad to worse when the mismatched conspirators discover that their young victim (Alisha Weir) is not only the daughter of a fearsome crime lord, but is also something far older and more deadly than a precocious, ballet-loving pre-teen. Amusing horror-comedy from the Radio Silence duo (“Scream 6”) benefits from a uniformly solid cast – including Dan Stevens (adding another entry to his growing list of screen eccentrics), Melissa Barrera, Kathryn Newton, and an elegantly menacing Giancarlo Esposito – who navigate the tart, faux-tough dialogue with particular relish. Their presence also helps when the film’s momentum slows to focus solely on geysers of gore, but the real selling point is Irish actress Weir (“Matilda the Musical”) in the title role, a morbidly funny riff on the manic, whipsawing moods, and open disdain for adults displayed by all middle schoolers.Universal’s Blu-ray/DVD/digital combo includes several making-of docs (including one focused on the blood-soaked FX), deleted scenes (one of which links Matthew Goode’s cameo as Abigail’s father to an iconic monster in Universal’s stable), and commentary by the filmmakers.

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Tiki Oasis Part 2 Saturday Photo Gallery

On Saturday there were book signings, workshops, art, shopping, parades, DJs, and pool parties galore!

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Michelin-star Chef Elevates Chain Restaurants at ChainFEST

Savor the return of Trader Vic’s & Koo Koo Roo while enjoying glammed-up versions of dishes from Panda Express, Red Lobster, KFC & much more

ChainFEST has been referred to as Chef Tim Hollingsworth’s “glow-up” of chain restaurant food. The Michelin-starred chef, famed for his work in the kitchens of French Laundry, Otium, and Per Se, is bringing ChainFEST to LA for the second time on October 5 at Skylight Row DTLA.

Produced in association with his friend BJ Novak (“The Office”), ChainFEST offers gourmet variations on iconic chain-eatery dishes. You and 10,000 other food lover will also get a chance to try dishes from chains we don’t have in California, like White Castle.

You don’t have to be a chain restaurant aficionado to enjoy ChainFEST – just a curious palate and an appetite for new, unexpected tastes.

Some highlights:

Tiki lovers lamented when Trader Vic’s legendary bars and restaurants shut down their LA locations. ChainFEST attendees will be able to savor a festival-exclusive Trader Vic’s Mai Tai, some classic favorite dishes, and check out authentic memorabilia and decorative objects from one of the world’s largest tiki collections.

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Tiki Oasis: Deke & The Whippersnappers

Friday as day turned into night, Deke and the Whippersnappers whipped up the crowd with their particular brand of honky tonk — a mix of solid rockabilly, 50s country and updated Western tunes. The rhythm guitarist jumps around the stage in a frenzy while the drummer and standup bass keeps things steady. Deke is a practiced professional, leading the band with never faltering style. If you get a chance, definitely check them out.

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Tiki Oasis Part One: Friday!

Friday night was a blast at Tiki Oasis. We spent a lot of time shopping, singing along with King Kukelele, dancing to the awesome DJs, checking out the art show, and loving the live music. We even hit some workshops in-between the parties! Stay tuned for cocktail discussions, book signings, photos of Deke and the Whippersnappers, and our favorite–the Aloha Caftan Society!

 

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Movies Till Dawn: Life During Wartime

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Catching Fire: The Anita Pallenberg Story” * (2024, Magnolia Pictures) Compelling but crushing doc about the titular ’60s figure, muse and running partner to at least three of the Rolling Stones, and cautionary tale about the excesses of a life lived in constant personal conflagration. Scarlett Johansson reads text from Pallenberg’s unpublished memoir discovered by her children after her death in 2017, which paints the author as a woman withstanding the circus that swirled around her from inside a cage of addiction, possessive and destructive men, and the expectations/restrictions placed on women who want to live their own lives. Keith Richards is heard but not seen, while son Marlon, filmmaker Volker Schlordoff, and Kate Moss, among others, add perspective to a subject that defied easy definition. Worth it for music/culture/zeitgeist devotees, but a tough watch.

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Pret a Manger Launches its New Summer Menu

 

Pret a Manger. Photo by Karin E. Baker for The LA Beat.

Pret a Manger (French for ‘ready-to-eat’) is a food chain that’s a huge success in England. Prepared with just natural ingredients and selling items only on the day they were made, their convenient grab-and-go items (sandwiches, salads, wraps, soups, chia bowls) are healthy but tasty items you don’t really find in U.S. convenience stores – but wish you could.  

Pret just opened its second Los Angeles location in Studio City — and launched its new summer menu. The summer items feature fresh, seasonal ingredients. Think dishes like the Pesto Chicken, Strawberry & Burrata Salad (Gotham Greens Pesto chicken, creamy burrata, mesclun, cucumber, strawberries and basil with Pret’s simple vinaigrette), Falafel & Hummus Wrap (turmeric falafel, hummus, cucumber, pickled cabbage & carrots, spicy chipotle sauce, pickled jalapeno and romaine on 7-grain wrap) and Chicken, Elote Corn & Avocado salad (antibiotic-free grilled chicken, spicy chipotle sauce, avocado, elote corn mix, feta, grape tomatoes, pickled red onion, cilantro, lemon juice, and chili salt over romaine with herb yogurt dressing).

Other new flavors offered include the Guava Coconut Chia Pot, the Dragon Fruit Coconut Chia Bowl, and Chili Crunch Veggie Cottage Cheese Pot. Seasonal drinks like Dragon Fruit Mango Lemonades and Iced Teas are delicious and not overly sweet.

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