Calendar Picks and Clicks September 19–25, 2009

The inaugural Middle Eastern Comedy Festival in Los Angeles gathers some of the top stand-up comedians in the business to dispel the myth that talent from that region of the world is only applied to explosive engineering. (That was a joke.) The festival begins with the Brown Carpet Stand-Up Comedy Gala for charity, starring Maysoon Zayid (“You Don’t Mess With the Zohan”), Peter the Persian (Sultans of Satire), Ronnie Khalil (Comedy Central’s “The Watch List”) and others, hosted by Maz Jobrani. The laughs continue with “Night of 1001 Sketches ... More or Less ... Probably Less,” four performances of sketch comedy at Acme Comedy Theatre. The last night, a stand-up comedy showcase at the Laugh Factory, will feature more headliners and up-and-comers, followed by a closing party. Opening Night: Tue. 7:30 p.m. $40-$50. Laugh Factory, 8001 Sunset Blvd., Hollywood. Through Sept. 25. For details, visit mideastcomedyfest.com.

[additional-authors]

Dikla Kadosh

September 16, 2009

SAT | SEPTEMBER 19

(ROSH HASHANAH)
Arbeter Ring gets in the spirit of the season with a thoughtful, secular Jewish New Year celebration, featuring reflections on the past year’s accomplishments and shortcomings as well as renewed hopes for the coming year. Traditional Rosh Hashanah fare, such as apples and honey, will be served. A Yom Kippur program will take place Sept. 28. Sat. 3 p.m. $10 (members), $20 (general). The Workmen’s Circle/Arbeter Ring, 1525 Robertson Blvd., Los Angeles. (310) 552-2007. ” title=”skirball.org”>skirball.org. ” title=”alpertjcc.org”>alpertjcc.org.

(DISCUSSION)
Writer’s Bloc, a nonprofit literary series, will host outgoing LAPD Chief Bill Bratton in conversation with crime reporter John Buntin, the author of “L.A. Noir: The Struggle for the Soul of America’s Most Seductive City.” The two crime buffs will discuss the power struggle between the Jewish mob and the LAPD in 1950s Los Angeles, when Mickey Cohen, Bugsy Siegel and their tycoon buddies ruled the city’s streets. Mon. 7:30 p.m. $20. Writers Guild Theater, 135 S. Doheny Drive, Beverly Hills. (310) 855-0005. ” border = 0 vspace = ‘8’ hspace = ‘8’ align = ‘left’>(COMEDY)
The inaugural Middle Eastern Comedy Festival in Los Angeles gathers some of the top stand-up comedians in the business to dispel the myth that talent from that region of the world is only applied to explosive engineering. (That was a joke.) The festival begins with the Brown Carpet Stand-Up Comedy Gala for charity, starring Maysoon Zayid (“You Don’t Mess With the Zohan”), Peter the Persian (Sultans of Satire), Ronnie Khalil (Comedy Central’s “The Watch List”) and others, hosted by Maz Jobrani. The laughs continue with “Night of 1001 Sketches … More or Less … Probably Less,” four performances of sketch comedy at Acme Comedy Theatre. The last night, a stand-up comedy showcase at the Laugh Factory, will feature more headliners and up-and-comers, followed by a closing party. Opening Night: Tue. 7:30 p.m. $40-$50. Laugh Factory, 8001 Sunset Blvd., Hollywood. Through Sept. 25. For details, visit ” title=”pbs.org/pov”>pbs.org/pov.

(LECTURE)
Ed Feinstein, Scholar, author and senior rabbi of Valley Beth Shalom, will be the guest speaker at University Women of American Jewish University’s (AJU) membership day opening program. Feinstein, whose most recent book, “Capturing the Moon,” is a collection of classic and modern Jewish folktales, will discuss “How to Wrestle With God and Win.” The program includes a continental breakfast. Tue. 9:30 a.m. Free (members), $18 (general). AJU, 15600 Mulholland Drive, Bel Air. RSVP is required. (310) 440-1283.

WED | SEPTEMBER 23

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THU | SEPTEMBER 24

Howard Dean

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(BENEFIT)
Eliza Dushku from “Dollhouse” and Brittany Snow from “Hairspray” will co-host Fashion for the Cure, a runway fashion show raising funds and awareness for breast cancer research and services through the Los Angeles County Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure. Kicking off breast cancer awareness month in October, the show will feature local cancer survivors, professional models and celebrities affected by breast cancer modeling Diane von Furstenberg’s new collection at Smashbox Studios. Thu. 6 p.m. (cocktails and silent auction), 7:30 p.m. (program and fashion show). $100-$350. Smashbox Studios, 1011 N. Fuller Ave., West Hollywood. (310) 575-3011. ” title=”lajewishchamber.com”>lajewishchamber.com.

(LEARNING)
Throughout the year leading up to its mega conference in February, LimmudLA hosts mini learning salons that serve as appetizers before the main meal. This month’s taste test will include Sally Webber on gefilte fish, Gregg Alpert on text study, Erik Greenberg on melting-pot assimilation in the early 1900s, Alice Greenfield on Zionism, Susan North Gilboa on Israeli dancing and Claudia Bobrow on challah making. Thu. 7-9 p.m. Free. Encino location disclosed upon RSVP. {encode=”taste@limmudla.org” title=”taste@limmudla.org”}.

(MUSIC)
The Oscar-winning composer Yuval Ron and his ensemble will perform “Days of Awe,” sacred Hebrew music and spiritual storytelling from the mystical Jewish tradition for the season of renewal, with soulful Israeli singer Maya Haddi. Thu. 8 p.m. $17 (prepaid), $20 (at the door), $15 (students and seniors). Electric Lodge, 1416 Electric Ave., Venice.