"Vaudeville in the Park" at the Old Zoo in Griffith Park is this weekend!

The signature fundraising event is back on May 4 from 3 to 6 p.m. at The Old Zoo in Griffith Park.  Tickets for this one-day-only fundraising event begin at just $35, and the event beneifts the Griffith Park Free Shakespeare Festival 

Special Guests include, Councilmember Tom LaBonge...singing Elvis,  Erik Palladino from NCIS,  Film actress  Missi Pyle (The Artist, Charlie and Chocolate Factory, and the upcoming Gone Girl), Mitchel Evans of the Mitchel Evans Mime Experience, The Jumbo Shrimp Circus, and The Moscow Traveling Wonder Circus.  

Also featured will be Dr. Pinch & the Pinchtones plus your favorite ISC actors in guest appearances throughout the afternoon, along with strolling performers, face-painting, and some fantastic auction and raffle items.

Ticket prices are as follows:  Guest Tickets: $35/Guest Family $70. Premium Single: $100/Premium Family $180.

Premiere tickets include Reserved seating area, the new Dr Pinch cd, and access to the Vaudeville Lounge which includes adult beverages, child-friendly refreshments, and a candy bar!

VIP Single $250/VIP Family $400 tickets All of the above plus reserved parking and picnic treats!  More information and purchase tickets online.

This weekend - Finish the Ride with us!

www.FinishTheRide.com

LA police will close sections of road between Los Feliz and Griffith Park this Saturday morning 
while groups of cyclists will be taking a ride to increase awareness about hit-and-runs. 
 
The event, Finish this Ride, was developed after local resident Damian Kevitt, 37 was hit by a van then dragged virtually a quarter-mile close to the Los Aangeles Zoo last February. Not too long ago, Los Angeles logged over 21,000 hit-and-run criminal offenses, including over 1190 injuries as well as 41 fatalities, according to L.A. police stats. In Kevitt's incident, the drivers got away and Kevitt broke 20 bones and lost part of his leg. 
 
"The is a just way I could bring closure from what happened to me is through embracing the undesirable event that occurred and making it something great," Kevitt said within a statement launching this Ride. 
 
Anyone who would like to participate in Finish this Ride can register on-line or Saturday morning starting at 6:40. Registration fees range from $35 to $70 depending on which route you choose, 6-, 12- or 23-mile course. 
 
The event begins at 8am inside the Church of Scientology vehicle lot, 4810 Sunset Blvd. in 
Los Feliz, and finishes away at Autry National Center in Griffith Park near where Kevitt was hit.  Proceeds from the ride will go to Challenged Sports athletes Foundation, which delivers active equipment to people with bodily handicaps and also the Los Angeles Local Bicycle Coalition. 
 
Police will have rolling closures as cyclists move through intersections along the route, organizers 
mentioned. In the wake of the Kevitt's trauma, city representatives offered the $25, 000 for any information resulting in the driver's public arrest. Assemblyman Robert Gatto (D-Los Angeles) also introduced legislation to increase the charges for hit-and-runs.  For more information visit:  http://finishtheride.com/

Ben Scott now at the helm of the Messhall Bar

Mixologist Ben Scott

In Los Feliz, one of our favorite local establishments has a new bar manager. The place is called MessHall (4500 Los Feliz Blvd. at Hillhurst) and Ben Scott is now in charge.

Scott is a NY-to-LA transplant, and lacks the pretension many managers seem to have. He came to California with his girlfriend, who wanted to pursue a writing career in a new, sunnier, warmer place. Initially, he worked crappy movie studio jobs but then switched to bartending at Lukshon.

Today, Scott oversees MessHall, which is known for burgers and such, but also its wide array of drinks. If you’re looking to sample a variety of American whiskeys in Los Feliz, MessHall is the place to go nowadays. Indeed, MessHall stocks some harder-to-find whiskeys you don’t normally drink at home, such as Balcones Brimstone and Monterey Rye. In addition, barrel aged cocktails are available.

While in Los Feliz, MessHall is worth a visit; see their website at www.messhallkitchen.com or call 323-660-6377 for more information. And if you see a guy there people call Ben, say hello and ask him to recommend a drink for you!