Upcoming events from Los Angeles Visionaries Association

Here are some brief highlights from LAVA's calendar – visit http://lavatransforms.org for full details and new additions.

We hope you can join us for some of these Visionary-hosted events. If you can make just one each month, make it our Sunday Salon from noon to 2pm (next one is Sunday, 5/30). This is a regularly scheduled lunchtime gathering held on the last Sunday of each month at Clifton's Cafeteria, and it's where the LAVA will really start flowing, as we get to know each other better over confetti-flecked jello andother delights.

*FRIDAY, MAY 21*

Late Night At Musso & Frank:
Each Friday and Saturday night from 9:30pm untilclosing, Visionary Jordan Jones transforms his family's venerable Hollywood restaurant into a cool retreat echoing with the strains of classic jazz vocals with the spotlight on the mixological talents of legendary barkeep Rueben Rueda, who poured for Bukowski among other luminaries. Musso and Frank Grill, Hollywood, 9:30pm. See http://lavatransforms.org/musso50710

* SATURDAY, MAY 22 *

The Visionaries of Esotouric host The Birth of Noir: James M. Cain's Southern California Nightmare,
a literary and cinematic bus tour. Southern California 1931: Amongst the burgeoning urban sprawl built atop bulldozed orange groves and the bitter realization that you can’t eat the sunshine, recent emigré James M. Cain found a kernel of truth and his voice, which would eventually distill through his novels, ”The Postman Always Rings Twice,” “Mildred Pierce” and “Double Indemnity” and subsequent film adaptations into the unique American genre: Film Noir. How did this East Coat sophisticate go from managing editor of “The New Yorker” to populist novelist accused of writing dirty books? The tour explores Cain’s L.A. from Hollywood to Glendale and along old Route 66, and includes illuminating visits to Forest Lawn Memorial Park (a Glendale institution and site of the funeral of Mildred Pierce’s “other” daughter, Ray), the Glendale Train Station where the “Double Indemnity” murder plot played out, and the punch line to a Billy Wilder joke so subtle, it’s taken 63 years for anyone to get. The tour will also cover the artisans who transformed Cain’s tales into film, including Billy Wilder, Raymond Chandler, Joan Crawford and Lana Turner, each an important contributor to the Film Noir canon. $58, departs from Chinatown,12pm, info http://lavatransforms.org/cain0510

Late Night At Musso & Frank, see above listing. http://lavatransforms.org/musso50710

* SUNDAY, MAY 23 *

"Roda de samba" (backyard samba party) with Samba Society:
Visionary Beto González, Samba Society and Trópico de Nopal gallery/art space invite youto an afternoon of vintage samba in a relaxed backyard setting. After playing to a packed house at UCLA's Schoenberg Hall in March we are bringing the group to Trópico de Nopal for a traditional "roda de samba" (informal backyard-style samba jam). The gallery's space is beautiful, spacious, open air, and DANCING is not only allowed, it is encouraged!!! The return of Samba Society earlier this year was quite an event. The vibrant Kátia Moraes and the exceptional guitarist Mitchell Long joined us onstage as special guests but are now permanent Samba Society Fellows!

We will be bringing toyou our 11-piece band, with full vocal harmonies, swinging percussion rhythm section, plus the traditional sounds of the 7-string guitar and the cavaco. Samba Society will play a repertoire of vintage sambas, B-sides, and arrangements of classics primarily from the 1960s and 70s. We will feature songs by composers of the "Old Guard" of samba that have been largely ignored by mainstream media and are little known outside of Rio, even to Brazilians.$5, Trópico de Nopal: gallery/art space, Hollywood, 4pm. Info http://lavatransforms.org/rodadesamba

* FRIDAY, MAY 28 *

Late Night At Musso & Frank, see above listing. http://lavatransforms.org/musso50710

* SATURDAY, MAY 29 *

Art of Bleeding & Friends:
The Art of Bleeding returns to the curio-crammed sideshow environs of California Institute of Abnormal Arts for another night of grievously misguided health-and-safety lessons. Abram the Safety Ape, RT the Robot Teacher, and the wise old hand puppet Dr. Moody are joined by the delectably unprofessional Art of Bleeding Nurses in the latest episode of "Magic Ambulance Theater." Surgically reconstructed AoB "funmaker" Dr.Sunshine (with surprise guest) offers new and powerful demonstrations of laughter as a medicine of last resort. Outside medical consultants of Kabezade Vaka Arcestra provide a visionary soundtrack makeover for a vintage classroom health-and-safety film. Alternative comedian Robert Selander explores the possibilities of home surgery, and magician Bieno Svengali exposes audience members to high levels of X-ray radiation, all in the name of Safety Consciousness. The evening will be hosted by Danny Shorago of the Fuxedos. CIA, North Hollywood, 8:30pm, discounted tickets for costumes. Info http://lavatransforms.org/AOBmay2010

Late Night At Musso & Frank, see above listing. http://lavatransforms.org/musso50710

Visit the LAVA Calendar for full details on all of these and other provocative events added regularly - http://lavatransforms.org/lavacalendar

Subscribe to LAVA's community blog for a steady stream of Things We Love About LA and LAVA event reviews - http://lavatransforms.org/blog

Express yourself in the LAVA forums - http://lavatransforms.org/forum

Support LAVA's mission and feed your mind when you browse our curated online bookshop - http://astore.amazon.com/lavatransforms-20

We recommend you always check our calendar before heading out to attend a LAVA event.

Are you a prospective LAVA Visionary interested in joining our creative community and sharing your events on our calendar? Visit the link below for application materials. http://lavatransforms.org/apply