Events for Aug. 1-7, 2013

Get with THE PROGRAM

THURSDAY, AUG. 1

Join AWOL at the X Games and SSMF

MUSIC

Sunset Strip Music Festival (West Hollywood)
For three days the annual festival invades the Strip's legendary venues, culminating on the Boulevard for Saturday's street fest. Festivities begin with a Joan Jett Tribute at the House of Blues, Enuff Z'nuff at the Whisky and Ours at the Roxy tonight and continue with a pre-fest party across from the Roxy and Scott Weiland at the Viper Room Friday night. The street fest features Linkin Park, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Wale, Slick Rick & Doug E. Fresh and Warren G. So many friends are playing – tB5 Thursday, Hoobastank and the Vapes Friday, and AWOLNATION, Sad Robot and Terraplane Sun Saturday – that I'm a bit dizzy thinking about which venue I should be at during certain times.

SPORTS

X Games 2013 @ L.A. Live (Downtown) and Irwindale Event Center
It's hard to believe the Summer X Games have been around for 18 years now, and all the excitement descends upon Los Angeles through Sunday. From street and vert skateboarding to BMX and Moto X, competitions take place all over L.A. Live and at the Irwindale Speedway with athletes like Paul Rodriguez, Garrett Reynolds, Maria Forsberg and Will Hahn. There are also music performances from AWOLNATION, Robert DeLong and the Presets throughout the weekend.

FRIDAY, AUG. 2

FILM

In Theaters This Week
2 Guns stars Denzel Washington and Mark Wahlberg as two undercover agents who are each unaware that the other is working undercover; Neil Patrick Harris, Hank Azaria and Jayma Mays in The Smurfs 2, with the voices of George Lopez, Christina Ricci, Fred Armisen and Katy Perry; Based on the novel of the same name by Tim Tharp, The Spectacular Now has a screenplay by (500) Days of Summer's Scott Neustadter and Michael H. Weber and stars Shailene Woodley and Miles Teller. Also in theaters: The Artist and the Model; Cockneys vs Zombies; Drift; Drug War; Europa Report

MUSIC

Unity Tour @ Verizon Amphitheater (Irvine)
This is the 11th consecutive summer that 311 has embarked on the Unity Tour, and they join forces with Cypress Hill and G Love & Special Sauce for this year's installment. The headliners toured with Cypress Hill in 1996 and G Love in 2003, so it's a reunion of sorts, with plenty of their fan favorites like "Down," "Beautiful Disaster" and "All Mixed Up" in store.

SATURDAY, AUG. 3

My Morning Jacket (Danny Clinch)

MUSIC

AmericanaramA Festival of Music @ Verizon Amphitheater (Irvine)
All music fans should grab every chance they get to see Bob Dylan live while they can. Wouldn't you love to be able to tell the grandkids about it one day? Aside from the folk legend, there are performances from Wilco, My Morning Jacket and Richard Thompson, who could all headline their own tours, but choose to spend their summer supporting Mr. Zimmerman.

HARD Summer @ LA Historic Park (Elysian Park)
It's no surprise that two-day and Saturday general admission tickets are all sold-out, but you can still try and get Sunday general admission tickets or VIP passes for either day. Just make sure to drink plenty of water and wear comfy shoes because you'll be dancing from noon to midnight with the likes of Knife Party, Justice, 2 Chainz, Crystal Castles and Bassnectar keeping the beats pumping throughout the weekend.

FILM

Little Shop of Horrors @ Electric Dusk Drive-In (Downtown)
Whenever I think of the 1986 film, the lyric "feed me, Seymour" instantly pops into my head. Rick Moranis stars as the nerdy flower shop worker in love with his co-worker Audrey (Ellen Greene), who suffers at the tentacles of the blood-lusting plant he christened as Audrey II. Can Seymour save Audrey from the clutches of her abusive dentist boyfriend (Steve Martin) and the entire world from Audrey II? Spend the evening safely nestled in your car at Electric Dusk and find out.

FOOD

Plate by Plate @ Vibiana (Downtown)
Project by Project's 11th annual fundraiser features over 50 of SoCal's finest in food and drink, including Bestia, Seoul Sausage Co., Stella Barra Pizzeria and Starry Kitchen. This year's non-profit partner is the East West Players Asian-American theater troupe. Help the amazing volunteer organization raise money, while sampling some delicious food in the gorgeous venue set in the heart of Downtown.

MONDAY, AUG. 5

FILM

Paul Schrader @ Billy Wilder Theater (Westwood)
For almost a month, UCLA has featured a retrospective of the work of the writer-director in Hardcore: The Films of Paul Schrader with screenings of his films, from American Gigolo and Affliction to Auto Focus and Adam Ressurrected. The UCLA alumnus appears in-person to present his latest film, The Canyons, a neo-noir thriller written by Bret Easton Ellis and starring Lindsay Lohan, James Deen and Gus Van Sant.