The Culture Calendar: September

Summer laze, be gone! Here's NBCLA's day-by-day preview of art, music, theater and film events going on around town this month.

SEPTEMBER

1– Legend of the fall: Grammy winner John Legend brings his Evolver show to the Greek Theatre.  India.Arie and Vaughn Anthony will be supporting.  (Music)

2 – Soul singer Aloe Blacc, known best for his cover of John Legend’s “Ordinary People,” shares the West LA Civic Center Bandshell stage with progressive hip-hip artist Ta Raach. (Music, Free)

3 – It's kick-off night for Slanguage’s cinematic Engagement Party residency at MOCA. They will debut videos made in response to the museum’s 1992 exhibition “Helter Skelter: LA Art in the 1990s”. (Film, Free)

4 – There’s something about Baryshnikov. Did anyone ever look more dashing in dancewear? See the dance legend with also-legendary Ana Laguna perform “Three Solos and a Duet” at The Broad Stage in Santa Monica. (Dance)

5 – Hollywood’s Upright Citizen’s Brigade (stomping ground of Amy Poehler and other now-famous funny people) presents “Live Green or Die,” a talk show hosted by self-proclaimed “Earth Steward” Sebastian Wydell. Sure to take the preciousness out of living a green life. (Theater)

6 – Have the last laugh: closing night of Monty Python’s Spamalot at the Ahmanson Theatre. (Theater)

7 - Martin Scorsese’s 1970 Academy Award-winning documentary “Woodstock: 3 Days of Peace & Music” shows at Space15Twenty. The film follows alt-folk rockers Joan Baez, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin and others in their early days. (Film)

8 – Higher education, without all the reading! Start your first day of L.A.W. School – that is, Learn About Wine School, in a credential program made for trade professionals and regular old wine-drinkers alike. First of four Tuesdays. (Class)

9 – Looking good for her age, the Santa Monica Pier turns 100. The birthday party includes special events including free musical, theatrical and dance performances. (Event, Free)

10 – Will California ever live up to its Blue State rep when it comes to gay marriage? Legal scholar Tobias Barrington Wolff and civil rights attorney Eva Jefferson Paterson take on the topic in their “Untying the Knot of Separate and Unequal Marriage” forum at the Hammer Museum. (Talk)

12 – Art, incense and kung pao chicken. So go Chinatown Art Nights, a quarterly series of gallery openings on Chung King Road. 6-9pm. (Art, Events)

13 – The final finale: it’s the last night of the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra’s “Blame It On Rio” show, complete with the famous fireworks display. (Music)

14 – Ace Frehly, lecturer. Yes, you read that right. Legendary and oft made-up KISS guitarist Ace Frehley discusses his first new album in 20 years, the day before its release. Grammy Museum. (Music, Talk)

15 – Celebrating five years of one-man show performances, Brian Copeland’s “Not a Genuine Black Man” opens a five-week run at the Hayworth Theatre in LaFayette Park. (Theater)

16 – When people willingly humiliate themselves by reading letters, diary entries and classroom notes from their youth it’s impossible not to laugh. Heartily. Almost painfully. Mortified at the King King, one night only. (Comedy)

17 – David Cross drinks for a reason. Thus his book “I Drink For a Reason,” in which the “Arrested Development” and “Mr. Show” star goes off on everyone from religious figures to sensitive lefties, is aptly named. Reading at Book Soup, 9:30pm. (Reading)

18 - Annette Bening takes on passion, rage and mere mortals in Medea, the updated Euripides classic, opening in preview at the Freud Theatre. Produced by UCLA Live. (Theater)

19 - Tahitian fire dancing? We’re so there. “Aloha Fest! Music & Magic From Paradise” opens, serving up performances from one of Hawaii’s most legendary vocal groups. (Theater)

20 – Yes, there *is* a winery in the middle of Downtown LA. Want proof? The San Antonio Winery holds its “Taste of the Americas” food and wine festival so you can see (and eat, and drink) for yourself. (Events)

21 – If you don’t know what an indie-folk-tronic duo sounds like, sister act CocoRosie will educate you (and make you a fan while they’re at it). Guitars, harps and drums included. Henry FondaTheater. (Music)

22 – Offbeat tour company Esotouric embarks on a voyage of “Hotel Horrors and Main Street Vice,” taking lovers of L.A.’s dark side on an exploration of Downtown’s post-war underbelly. (Tour)

24 – LACMA’s CEO and Director Michael Govan is having a conversation with renowned artist John Baldessari, and you’re invited. If you’re quick, that is. This talk is part of LACMA's popular Director’s Series and the free tickets go fast. (Art, Talk)

25 – Fans of FX hit “It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia” will want to see “The Nightman Cometh” -- a live stage adaptation of the episode "The Waitress," in which Charlie writes a rock opera to woo his longtime obsession. Hollywood Palladium. (Theater, Event)

26 – Just a spoonful of sugar -- and a couple glasses of vino -- and you, too, will be belting out Julie Andrews tunes at the top of your lungs. “The Sound of Music!” Singalong (and parade, and costume-y fashion show) is back at the Hollywood Bowl. (Music)

27 – While the Pier turns 100 its neighbor, the Annual Abbot Kinney Festival, turns a spritely 25. Over 150,000 people are expected to jam into Venice’s historical main drag. (Festival, Event)

28 – Think small. No, think tiny. Tiny Vaudeville – LA’s teeniest vaudeville and variety show (with some big name performers) – is at the Echoplex in Echo Park. Proceeds benefit 826LA’s admirable free writing and tutoring programs for kids ages 6 –18. (Event, Benefit)

29 – Fountain of youth? They've found it. Alt rock icons Sonic Youth, who've made raucously beautiful music for more than 20 years, take the stage at The Wiltern to play songs from their new album “The Eternal.” (Music)

30 – Khalen Hosseini, author of bestselling novels “The Kite Runner” and “A Thousand Splendid Suns,” speaks about the lives of Afghans in times of war. Royce Hall, UCLA. (Talk)

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