"Take Me Out" to Amoeba

Fr. Jan. 30, 7pm

Amoeba

Hollywood

Arrive early for a FREE Franz Ferdinand concert to celebrate the release of the new album.  Posters will be available with CD purchases.  This event is first come, first served.

What the Fondue

Fri. Feb. 6, 7pm

Breadbar

Century City

$30

Join this lovely eatery for a fondue demo.

Swiss, Italian and French-style cheese will be provided (all you can eat), to be paired with six varieties of artisanal breads: rustic millstone, whole-rye, whole wheat blend, baguette, kalamata olive and golden raisin walnut.

Space is limited to the first 60 guests who RSVP, so call the restaurant now.

Do You Wonder Where the Self Resides?

I don't post concerts often, but there are two good ones coming up in the next few weeks:

Mon. Feb. 2nd, 8:3pm - DeVotchka (you may remember them from the Little Miss Sunshine soundtrack) at The Viper Room.  Should be a treat seeing them perform in such an intimate setting. $25

Wed. Feb. 18th, 8pm - Andrew Bird (pictured) at The Orpheum Theater.  $30-$35

Wanna Know How I Got These Scars?

In anticipation of the Oscars, Warner Bros. has decided to rerelease The Dark Knight to IMAX theatres.  So where can you see it (now)?

Burbank - AMC Burbank 16
Los Angeles - AMC Century City 15
Los Angeles - AMC Universal CityWalk Stadium 19
Los Angeles - IMAX Theatre at The Bridge: cinema de lux

Don't forget to see it a 2nd (or 22nd) time...

Protect Your Balls

Sundays, 1:30-2:30pm

Hollywood Rec Center
1122 Cole Ave.

Los Angeles

$3-5 per session

Tempted to play dodgeball, but not too competitive?  Join the Stay Puft League of Los Angeles.  According to the Los Angeles Dodgeball Society:

"Stay Puft" is our most co-ed friendly style of dodgeball. Games are played with "no-sting" rubber balls by folks of all levels who can be as fearless as they want to be without having to worry about the messy bruising. Leagues go pretty much year round and you can join as a loner or with friends.

Click here for more info.

Class(y) Action Lawsuit

My former employers over at Mom Logic have discovered the find of the day:

"Right now, until the end of the week (or until product runs out), Macy's, Dillard's and Nordstrom are giving every US citizen who bought cosmetics between 1994 and 2003 between $18 - $25 worth of free cosmetics. No. We are not joking. In settling a class action lawsuit, retailers agreed to give away $175 million worth of products. You don't need a receipt, all you need to do is sign an affidavit claiming you bought products during that time. Easy!"

Hmm...who else wants to hit up all three department stores??

Holly-would You Dine at Shin?

1600 N. Wilcox Ave.

Hollywood

According to Daily Candy, the restaurant Shin is offering 25% off your bill if you dine there at night anytime from now until Feb. 2nd.

Don't forget to print the website from Daily Candy to ensure that your offer is valid!

O-Thank You, O-bama

Tues. Jan. 20th brings us a new President, along with some new deals: 

Dunkin' Donuts - 89 cent "stars and stripes" doughnuts

Krispy Kreme - a FREE doughnut of choice at participating locations

Rubios - $1.25 fish tacos after 2:30pm

My Bloody Q&A

My boss will be very excited I posted this (as long as you promise not to stalk him at the screening):

Tonight (Sat. Jan. 17th, 8pm), you can see My Bloody Valentine 3-D, followed by a Q&A with the director at The Arclight in Sherman Oaks.  Click here to buy your tickets.

Dim Sum Sundays

Sun. Jan. 18th, 10am

5711 N. Figueroa St.

Los Angeles

I seem to be the only blogger who hasn't posted this yet, so I am finally caving in:

Every third Sunday of the month, the Flying Pigeon Bike Shop (in Highland Park) hosts this super sweet bike ride - that starts at their shop and ends in Chinatown for dim sum.  You can either meet there with your bike, or borrow one of theirs for FREE (just call in advance to secure a ride: 213.909.8986).

Bring $20 to cover the cost of your meal.  The entire ride lasts about 4o min.

**After this weekend, the rides will start in Alhambra at the Pasadena Gold Line Station.

Support The Foundry

The Foundry
7465 Melrose Ave.
Los Angeles

If an evening at this restaurant falls short of your expectations, tell the manager, and you will receive a gift certificate for the price of your meal (excluding alcohol and gratuity). Thanks to EaterLA for digging up this info.

FWJ readers, head to The Foundry now. I am in favor of supporting any restaurant interested in supporting US during the recession! And don't take advantage. If the food is good, pay for your meal and return again for more.

Worth a Blog Post, But Not a Picture

For a limited-time only, McDonald’s is offering two Big Macs for only $3.50.

A Grande Cup of Love, Served Steaming Hot

Okay, so I know this is not exclusively related to Los Angeles, but I could not resist posting the following:

Who here has ever checked out the "missed connections" link on Craigslist? I have, although more for a good laugh than to "accidentally" stumble upon the love of my life. What this service offers is a space for individuals to post descriptions of people they fell for at first sight but, for whatever reason, were unable to snag that person's digits when they had the chance.

Where do these "missed connections" tend to happen? Thanks to Racked LA and Very Small Array, we now know. Women in California - men have been drooling over you at Starbucks. Men - now get this: women want you in their houses. That's right. They can't resist those cable guys and pool men. So if you're in LA and looking for love, try getting a job that calls for a plumber's butt.

Old Factory, New Discount

To celebrate its 40th anniversary, the Old Spaghetti Factory is offering 40% off for the entire month of January on Monday and Tuesday nights at all 37 locations.  5pm-closing.

Is Your Friend Worth a Whopper?

Yes.  Burger King has finally turned us all into backstabbing princesses.  

By adding this application, you can now de-friend 10 of your friends on Facebook for a FREE whopper.

This is not a joke.

Happy Birthday, Pinkberry

Sat. Jan. 10th, 5-7pm

868 Huntley Dr.

West Hollywood

In honor of their four year anniversary, Pinkberry is offering FREE samples today at their original location! Hurry up and get in on the action.

Can't make it?  Print out this coupon and get 2 for 1 until Jan. 25th.

A Sale for Your Stomach

Thanks to Caroline on Crack for digging up this special offer from restaurant.com.  By typing in a designated code, you can actually purchase $25 gift certificates to various eateries for only $5!

New Year at the Knitting Factory

Thx to FWJ reader Megan, you can now get FREE tickets to the Knitting Factory on Jan. 12th (at 6m) for the performance of your choice.  To check out the full list of options, click here.

Personally, I am planning on checking out Dear and the Headlights along with Miniature Tigers on Feb. 24th.

Ever Wanted to Work for the FBI?

Now is your chance. To apply for one of 2100 new job openings in all departments, click here!

For American Express Cardmembers

Book your reservation from Jan. 1-10th. Everyone else (including moi):

I absolutely cannot wait for dineLA's "Restaurant Week." For two whole weeks (Jan. 25-Feb. 6), you can now eat 3 course meals at LA's most amazing (participating) restaurants at very affordable prices. Lunch will be anywhere from $16-28 and dinner will be $26-44, depending upon the normal price range of the restaurant. Either way, you will be leaving with a very good deal and a very full stomach.

Menus I am most looking forward to (excluding seafood restaurants because I think eating stuff below the ocean is icky):
- Angeli Cafe
- Beachcomber Cafae

- BLT Steak
- Cafe Pinot
- Catch Restaurant & Sushi Bar

- El Pollo Inka Peruvian Restaurant

- Grace
- Gus' BBQ

- Katsuya

- Nick & Stef's Steakhouse

- Noe Restaurant & Bar

- O Bar & Kitchen

- Royal/T Cafe

- The Happy Ending Bar & Restaurant

- The Restaurant at The Standard Downtown LA

- The Terrace Restaurant at The Langham Hotel

- Twist

- Upstairs 2

- Whist

- Zucca Ristorante

Ladies, book your reservations beginning Jan. 11th if you do not currently own an Amex. Gentleman, now is the time to pick up the ladies (and an Amex?), so you can take them to the above destinations!

For a fall list of participating restaurants, click here.

Deanna Bites the Dust

FWJ reader Florencia has requested a reminder (as if we needed one!): 

The Bachelor starring Jason Melnick premieres tomorrow night (Mon. Jan. 5th) from 8-10pm on ABC.  Fall in love with him (again) along with his now-fiancee (yes, ladies, he is currently engaged!) and try to be happy for the man.  After all, third time's a charm.

"I Don't Want to Survive..."

"...I want to live!"

Wed. Jan. 21st, 8pm

Los Angeles

Hurry and sign up for a screening of Wall-E at The Arclight, followed by a Q&A with writer/director Andrew Stanton, the visionary behind Toy Story and Finding Nemo.

DO NOT TEXT WHILE DRIVING

...whether in motion or at a stop light.  You will get a ticket - $20 for the first fine and $50 for each one thereafter.

You have been warned.

P.S. How much does this new law suck??

Focus on Female Directors

Wed. Jan. 7th, 7:30pm

American Cinematheque 

6712 Hollywood Blvd.

$10

An array of short films by female directors.  Highlights to include Kirsten Dunst's "Welcome" starring Winona Ryder, Isabella Rosselini's "Green Porno" about the sex life of bugs, and "Family Portrait," a documentary from the director of Under the Same Moon (one of my favorite films of all time).

Purchase tickets now before they get sold out.

Do the Cobra

every Sunday at 10:15am

8675 Washington Blvd.

Culver City

Okay, I suppose it would be unfair of me to deprive my readers of FREE yoga lessons at Hastens with Lauri Ashworth simply because I am not a yoga fan myself.  So there it is.  Check it out, and report back to Jaydi!

Thx to Yelp for the heads up.

Get Pink...Or Purple...Or Red

So I'm not gonna lie...I read Perez Hilton.  And for those of you who read his blog, too, get excited about his appearance at The Grove for a book signing at Barnes & Noble - Wed. Jan. 14th. at 7pm.

Don't you love how the celebrity-obsessed can become celebrities themselves?  Maybe we're all barking up the wrong tree and should consider a career move.

66th Annual Golden Globes

...on NBC...

Jan. 11th, 8pm

Click here for a printable ballot.

Also, check out the foreign language nominee series at the Aero Theatre leading up to the Golden Globe awards.