LAVA news and events

LAVA DISCOUNTS
This week Esotouric bus adventures has TWO special offers for subscribers to the LAVA dispatch.

1) When you send a message through the contact form at http://www.esotouric.com with the following secret phrase before March 24 --"It is with our passions as it is with fire and water, they are good servants, but bad masters"-- you and one friend can reserve discounted tickets saving $18 off the regular price on any regularly scheduled Esotouric tour through May. This offer is good on regularly scheduled $58 tours, but not for guest hosted ones.

2) Also from now till March 24, use the secret phrase to reserve discounted $52 seats for you and one friend on any of our guest hosted tours "Maja's Mysteries" (3/20), "Tom Waits' LA" (4/3) or "John Buntin's LA Noir" (4/10). More info at http://esotouric.com

FEATURED VISIONARY
This week we shine our molten red glow in the direction of Visionary Gene Sculatti, who happens to be hosting the weekly edition of his internet radio show Atomic Cocktail today from 5pm-6pm LA time at http://www.luxuriamusic.com.

Gene started writing for the rock and roll press in the late 1960s, cultivating a sensibility steeped in American cool in all its permutations. His classic tome "The Catalog of Cool" would inspire thousands of obsessions in the pre-internet era, when discovering high quality cultural obscurities was practically a full-time gig. Gene co-hosted L.A.'s first dedicated punk radio show, "Unprovoked Attack" (KPFK), and will be exhibiting and discussing his fantasy cityscape scroll drawings at the March 28 LAVA Salon. Let's give it up for our own Geno, whose home on the web is http://www.genesculatti.com

EVENT CALENDAR
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 (next one is 3/28). 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 and other delights.

* SATURDAY MARCH 20 *

All About the Saban Theatre:
The Los Angeles Historic Theatre Foundation will be conducting its March "All About" docu-tours at the newly renovated circa1930 Saban Theatre in Beverly Hills (formerly The Wilshire and Fox Wilshire). Following a presentation will be a inclusive basement to projection booth tour that will include numerous areas that are usually not accessible to the general public. Free, Saban Theatre, Beverly Hills,10:30am. Info http://lavatransforms.org/saban

Maja's Mysteries - Rapture and Release:
celebrate the Vernal Equinox with the debut of an especially esoteric Esotouric bus adventure collaboration between Visionaries Maja D'Aoust and Richard Schave. Come explore some of the most fascinating spiritual sites in the Southland, including Sister Aimee's Parsonage, Aetherius Society, Krotona and Vedanta. $62, departs Clifton's Cafeteria, Downtown LA, 11am. Info http://lavatransforms.org/maja0310

* SATURDAY MARCH 27 *

Raymond Chandler's Bay City:
an Esotouric bus adventure exploring the parallels between historic Santa Monica and its fictional portrayal in the Philip Marlowe mysteries. $58, departs from Museum of Jurassic Technology, Culver City, 12pm. Info http://lavatransforms.org/baycity0310

Vision Seeds:
a new music series hosted by Visionary No'a Winter Lazerus presents avant-garde artist Octavius performing his album "Laws" with support from ambient violin group Black Church. Besant Lodge, Hollywood, 8pm. Info http://lavatransforms.org/visionseeds1

* SUNDAY MARCH 28 *

Sunday Salon: the first edition of LAVA's monthly brunch gathering features a presentation by Visionary Gene Sculatti of his imaginary cityscapes drawings on long scrolls, which he began creating when he was 9. Free! Clifton's Cafeteria, Downtown, 2pm. Info http://lavatransforms.org/salon310

The Flâneur & The City:
this walking tour hosted by LAVA founder Richard Schave offers a general rooftop overview of the forces at play within the Historic Core, followed by a stroll along Broadway and Spring Streets to discuss the finer points of the impact of recent public policy on urban renewal, gentrification and positive public space on the fragile ecologies of these two important thoroughfares. Free - reservations required at the link below. Los Angeles Athletic Club, Downtown, 2:30pm. Info http://lavatransforms.org/flaneur310

* TUESDAY, MARCH 30 *

Ross Lipman at REDCAT:
Urban Ruins, Found Moments--Known as one of the world’s leading restorationists of experimental and independent cinema, Ross Lipman is also an accomplished filmmaker, writer and performer whose oeuvre has taken on urban decay as a marker of modern consciousness. He visits REDCAT with a program of his own lyrical and speculative works.

"Everything that’s built crumbles in time: buildings, cultures, fortunes,and lives," says Lipman. "The detritus of civilization tells us no less about our current epoch than an archeological dig speaks to history. The urban ruin is particularly compelling because it speaks of the recent past, and reminds us that our own lives and creations will also soon pass into dust. These film, video, and performance works explore decay in a myriad of forms— architectural, cultural, and personal." Info http://lavatransforms.org/rossredcat

* SATURDAY, APRIL 3 *

Crawling Down Cahuenga: Tom Waits' LA:
an Esotouric bus adventure hosted by David Smay (author of the 33 1/3 series book "Swordfishtrombones"), leading the definitive tour of Tom Waits' formative creative life in Los Angeles, and the people, places and late night pastries that shaped it, from the busted souls along The Nickel to the redemption of love found at Francis Coppola's Zoetrope Studios. $62, departs from King Edward Saloon, downtown LA, 12pm. Info http://lavatransforms.org/waits0410

San Gabriel Valley Poetry Fest:
featuring Visionaries Mona Jean Cedar and Mike (the Poet) Sonksen in an open reading of 30 poets each presenting one original poem. Free, Pasadena Public Library, 3 pm. Info http://lavatransforms.org/sgvpoetryfest

pLAyLAnd:
the opening reception of a DIY inter-media pop up art space featuring the work of 23 artists (including Visionary Mona Jean Cedar and a special appearance by John Fleck) with site-specific installation, circuit-bending sound scape, international mail art show, video installation, live performing sculpture, photography, painting, large scale sculpture, poetry bomb, spoken word, performance, handmade toys that recreate science fiction scenarios - and Mudpeople. At pLAyLAnd, Eagle Rock, 6 pm. Infohttp://lavatransforms.org/pLAyLAnd

* THURSDAY APRIL 8 *

Naming of John Fante Square:
Come celebrate the 101st birthday of the great downtown novelist as the corner of 5th & Grand is renamed in his honor. The location of John Fante Square has been carefully chosen for its symbolism. 5th Street and Grand Avenue is the foot of the old Bunker Hill neighborhood where he lived and of which he wrote, and it was in the adjacent Central Library that the poverty-stricken young writer drank deeply of fiction and poetry. Years later, a young Charles Bukowski discovered “Ask the Dust”on the shelves at Central Library, and was himself inspired to become awriter. Fante Square's nomination was initially proposed by LAVA founder Richard Schave, and made possible through the support of Council members Jan Perry and Jose Huizar. Info http://lavatransforms.org/johnfantesquare

Just the Facts:
Chief William Parker's War on Mickey Cohen and the Los Angeles Underworld- John Buntin, author of the best-selling social history "L.A. Noir: The Struggle for the Soul of America's Most Seductive City" (Random House), returns to Los Angeles to host his Esotouric bus adventure based on the book. As a special preview of his bus tour through the twin histories of mobster Mickey Cohen and crusading cop Bill Parker, LAVA exclusively presents John Buntin in a night of reading, discussion andcurated vintage film and TV clips in the historic Los Angeles Athletic Club. Reservations are required for this free event, visit the link below for more info. http://lavatransforms.org/lanoir

* SATURDAY, APRIL 10 *

John Buntin's L.A. Noir Crime Bus Tour:
A collaboration between LAVA founders Richard Schave and Kim Cooper of Esotouric and visiting author Buntin, this tour uncovers the secret criminal history of Los Angeles that inspired writers and filmmakers for generations and profoundly shaped the city we live in today. Get on the bus as the whole filthy truth is spread out before you, as John Buntin's acclaimed book comes to life in visits to the LA Police Academy, Lincoln Heights Jail, Mickey Cohen's Boyle Heights and many more scenes of fascination and infamy. Info http://lavatransforms.org/buntin0410

Right Palm Up, Left Palm Down:
The Log of a Cross-Country Scavenger Hunt--An art opening at Visionary Amy Inouye's Future Studio Gallery, featuring Gabriel Aldaz., an engineer by day, and muffler man tracker by, well, when heh as the time. Over the course of several years, Gabriel tracked down various Paul Bunyan/muffler men/tall guy statues, discovering their histories. He compiled the stories of over twenty big guys that he visited. This exhibit will feature photos from his journeys, and also a book launch for the book of the same name and subject. And speaking of journeys, he's since moved to Denmark, so he will be our "artist who traveled the furthest to show at Future Studio Gallery." A title that we imagine he will hold forever. Info http://lavatransforms.org/rightpalmup

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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

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

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