7 Days In Arts

Jewish hipsters, get thee to a cemetery tonight. In an effort to boost young membership, Yiddishkayt L.A. has created AVADA, a new project aimed at reaching the under-35 demographic.

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Jewish Journal

August 14, 2003

Saturday

Jewish hipsters, get thee to a cemetery tonight. In an effort to boost young membership, Yiddishkayt L.A. has created AVADA, a new project aimed at reaching the under-35 demographic. Tonight, they host the coolest Yiddish event we’ve heard of in a while — a screening of the classic Yiddish film, “The Dybbuk,” at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery. “It’s the Yiddish ‘Exorcist,'” program manager Tali Pressman, 23, said of the film. The Jewish dead man’s party lineup includes a DJ at 8 p.m., with the screening beginning at 9 p.m. Bring blankets, beach chairs, food and night-vision goggles for those of you still afraid of the dark. The only light you’ll have will come from the moon and the screen.8 p.m. $8-$10. Hollywood Forever Cemetery, 6000 Santa Monica Blvd., Los Angeles. (323) 692-8151.

Sunday

The Conga Room remembers a jive-talkin’ jazz legend tonight with “The Neem: A Tribute to Henry Nemo.” The evening includes a special tribute concert, a sculpture exhibit and display of Nemo’s memorabilia collection. Expect to hear Nemo tunes like “Don’t Take Your Love From Me,” “Tis Autumn” and “I Haven’t Changed a Thing” covered by Kay Starr, Billy Vera, Bea Wain and other surprise guests.6 p.m. The Conga Room, 5364 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles. (323) 938-1696.

Monday

Those looking for a new read may want to consider Lee Langley’s “Distant Music.” The work of romantic Jewish historical fiction begins in Portugal in 1429, and tells the love story of Emmanuel, a Jewish sailor, and Esperanca, a Catholic peasant girl. Described as “a variation on the kabbalistic phenomenon of gilgul, which allows for the reincarnation of unfulfilled souls,” by Publisher’s Weekly, the story spans more than 500 years of Sephardic Jewish history.$22. www.amazon.com.

Tuesday

No boys allowed tonight. Kol Neshama Performing Arts Conservatory takes the stage with a three-day run of two shows, today, tomorrow and Thursday. The day camp for Orthodox girls was started by Robin Saxe Garbose to give religious girls an outlet for their creativity. With modesty preserved, the girls sing and act for an all-female audience in “Hear O Israel: A Musical Tribute to the Holy Land” and “Little Lord Titchwood: A Musical Play.””Hear O Israel: A Musical Tribute to the Holy Land.” Aug. 19, 3 p.m.; Aug. 20, 7 p.m.; Aug. 21, 3 p.m.”Little Lord Titchwood: A Musical Play.” Aug. 19, 7 p.m.; Aug. 20, 3 p.m.; Aug. 21, 7 p.m.$12 (one show), $20 (both shows). The Ivar Theatre, 1605 N. Ivar Ave., Los Angeles. (310) 226-8095.

Wednesday

Jewish and World music fuse today and tomorrow thanks to the Skirball’s Zeitgeist Festival. Tonight, it’s a performance by “grandfather of Algerian pop” Maurice El Medioni with Karim Dellali on darbuka (percussion) followed by a conversation between El Medioni and Jonathan Walton (of Brit band Oi-Va-Voi) about the connections between Jewish and Arab music in North Africa.Return tomorrow for Dis/Orient, a concert featuring El Medioni and Oi-Va-Voi, as well as classical Arabic and Andalusian musicians El-Andalus, dancer Mia Serra, DJ Max Reinhardt. The party continues with Reinhardt mixing Middle Eastern and klezmer music with dance beats well into the night.Aug. 20, 8 p.m.; Aug. 21, 7:30 p.m. (Dis/Orient), 10 p.m. (Club Night with DJ Max Reinhardt). 2701 N. Sepulveda Blvd., Los Angeles. (323) 655-8587.

Thursday

Images of people hovering on amusement park swing attractions and gondolas take on deeper meaning in artist Sherry Karver’s latest collection of paintings, “These Are the Good Old Days.” Karver plays with shadows, light and color to evoke feelings of nostalgia, while playing with the ideas of play and flight. The works can be seen through Sept. 1 at Greenwood Chebithes Gallery.11 a.m.-5 p.m. (Tuesday-Sunday). 330 N. Coast Highway, Laguna Beach. (949) 494-0669.

Friday

Singer/songwriter Randy Newman is known for hits like “I Love L.A.” and “Short People,” and soundtrack songs like “I Love to See You Smile,” “You’ve Got a Friend in Me” and “When Somebody Loved Me.” He finally won an Oscar in 2002 for “If I Didn’t Have You,” after 15 previous nominations. Tonight, Newman shows Los Angeles the love at the Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts.8 p.m. $25-$60. 12700 Center Court Drive, Cerritos. (800) 300-4345.