SAT MAY 11
MICHAEL FEINSTEIN
Known as “The Ambassador of the Great American Songbook,” the five-time Grammy-nominated Feinstein covers classics from musical theater as well as the songs of Frank Sinatra and other standards. $40-$85. 8 p.m. California State University, Northridge, Valley Performing Arts Center, 18111 Nordhoff St., Northridge. (818) 677-8800. valleyperformingartscenter.org.
SUN MAY 12
WORLD’S LARGEST MOTHER’S DAY CELEBRATION
Spring wouldn’t be the same without the nationally renowned annual Mother’s Day program at the Los Angeles Jewish Home. A Sunday morning brunch as well as an afternoon of entertainment and festivities on both Jewish Home campuses honors all mothers. Sun. 10:30 a.m. $25 (12 and older), $10 (ages 5-11). Los Angeles Jewish Home, Grancell Village, 7150 Tampa Ave., Reseda; Eisenberg Village, 18855 Victory Blvd., Reseda. (818) 774-3324. jha.org.
MON MAY 13
“THE GOLEM AND THE JINNI”
Author Helene Wecker combines elements of Jewish and Arab folk mythology in her buzzed-about debut novel. “The Golem and the Jinni” (Harper) tells the story of two supernatural creatures who arrive separately in New York in 1899 — a golem, who is created out of clay to be her master’s wife, and a jinni, a being of fire trapped in a copper flask for thousands of years, who is released by a tinsmith in Manhattan’s Little Syria. Mon. 7 p.m. Free. Book Soup, 8818 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood. (310) 659-3110. booksoup.com.
TUE MAY 14
BURT BACHARACH AND MITCH ALBOM
The legendary songwriter and composer, whose new memoir, “Anyone Who Had a Heart: My Life and Music,” offers a candid backstage look at show business and his personal struggles, appears in conversation with best-selling author Mitch Albom (“The Time Keeper,” “Tuesdays With Morrie”). Tue. 8-9:15 p.m. $22-$70. Alex Theatre, 216 N. Brand Blvd., Glendale. (818) 243-2539. alextheatre.org.
ANVIL
Made up of middle-aged rockers — including frontman Steve “Lips” Kudlow and drummer Robb Reiner — this Canadian band released more than a dozen albums of loud, distorted and overly masculine rock music to relative obscurity over the course of three decades. In 2008, acclaimed rock doc “Anvil! The Story of Anvil” catapulted the band into the public’s consciousness. Anvil and Kemical Kill open for British speed-metal group Motorhead. All ages. Tue. 8:30 p.m. $40-$46.50. Club Nokia, 800 W. Olympic Blvd., Los Angeles. (213) 765-7000. clubnokia.com.
SHAVUOT (TUESDAY-WEDNESDAY)
The Jewish Journal has highlighted 10 ways for Angelenos to celebrate the annual festival marking the giving of the Ten Commandments at Mount Sinai. All-night study sessions across the city include the joint Tikkun Leil Shavuot with Temple Beth Am, American Jewish University’s Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies and PicoEgal; IKAR and Jewlicious’ “Revealed and Concealed,” a night of learning and celebration in Pico-Robertson with Rabbis Sharon Brous and Yonah Bookstein; Valley Beth Shalom’s “City of Angeles-Envisioning a New L.A.,” featuring appearances by mayoral candidates Eric Garcetti and Wendy Greuel and lectures led by Rabbi Ed Feinstein; and Temple Israel of Hollywood’s “Blintzes, Bible, Banter and Borrekas.” Tue.-Wed. Various times, places and prices (most events are free).
WED MAY 15
MARC MARON AND JUDD APATOW
This Writers Block Presents event features two of comedy’s most successful stars sharing the stage. Maron — creator of the podcast “WTF!” and star of the new IFC show “Maron” — talks with Apatow (“The 40-Year-Old Virgin,” “Freaks and Geeks”) about his new memoir, “Attempting Normal,” which charts the ups and downs of his professional and personal life. Wed. 7:30 p.m. $25 (general), $15 (students with ID). Saban Theatre, 8440 Wilshire Blvd., Beverly Hills. (323) 655-0111. writersblocpresents.com.
THU MAY 16
COMMON CHORDS
World-renowned klezmer violinist Yale Strom and famed Pakistani singer-guitarist Salman Ahmad lead this gathering of accomplished musicians from different cultures and religious traditions. Common Chords combines rock, klezmer, jazz, bhangra, Indian, Sufi and qawwali music into a hybrid executed by Ahmad, Strom, vocalist Elizabeth Schwartz, tabla master Samir Chatterjee, bassist Mark Dresser, dhol player Sunny Jain, accordionist Lou Fanucchi and saxophonist and flute player Tripp Sprague. The evening is part of Skirball’s new concert series, “Journeys and Encounters,” featuring collaborations between musicians of diverse genres. Thu. 8 p.m. $35 (general), $30 (members), $25 (full-time students). Skirball Cultural Center, 2701 N. Sepulveda Blvd., Los Angeles. (310) 440-4500. skirball.org.
FRI MAY 17
“STATE 194”
Participant Media’s new documentary from producer Elise Pearlstein (“Food, Inc.”) begins with former Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad’s plan in 2009 to demonstrate that his people were deserving of United Nations membership. Since then, they’ve made progress, but the political quagmire between Israel, the Palestinians, the United States and other parties — and Fayyad’s recent resignation from office — might destroy the opportunity for peace. Fri. Various times. Laemmle Music Hall 3, 9036 Wilshire Blvd., Beverly Hills. (310) 478-3836. laemmle.com.
