Chance Theater’s recent loss of some grants and foundation support means the Anaheim Hills landmark is in need of help from the local community. For 24 hours straight, the theater is putting on a variety of live entertainment, including musical revues, one-act performances and a magic... More >>

Legendary poets never die old and happy—they go out tragically, seemingly a prerequisite to literary glory. Sylvia Plath put her head in an oven; a freaking dune buggy killed Frank O’Hara; Dylan Thomas died from alcohol poisoning at the White Horse Tavern. It’s a tough... More >>

As the snow melts from the crochet needles and die-cut machines, crafters and DIY-ers slowly awake from their post-Christmas hibernation—it's time for the Patchwork Spring 2012 Indie Art and Craft Festival! Presented by Grand Central Art Center and Road Less Traveled, the craft fest... More >>

Strip Strip Hooray is possibly the absolute perfect name for this titillating, celebration-worthy event coming to the Yost Theater. Miss Dita Von Teese, hands down the most famous burlesque dancer alive, is shimmying into Orange County for one of her ultra glamorous performances. And the... More >>

One thing definitely admire is an artist who unabashedly exposes their soul—both the bright and dark parts—public judgement be damned. Meet Robert "Sticky" Shaw, the first artist to partake in AR4T Gallery's summer "commotion/camaraderie/uproar" series of shows. His visions are... More >>

Born out in the Valley—possibly a Sherman Oaks Food Court, though specific evidence is murky at best—comedian Christina Pazsitzky (pronounced with the curse word as the middle syllable, hilariously) is a California girl gone wrong in all the right ways. As a writer and frequent... More >>

It didn’t happen in Treasure Island, it didn’t happen in the The Pirates of Penzance, and it certainly didn’t happen in any of the Johnny Depp Caribbean flicks—but now the fiction must be righted because what should have happened in all those swashbuckling sagas finally... More >>

Yes, the geeks have just about inherited the earth. Go ahead and ask Mark Zuckerberg or J.K. Rowling. Geeks Who Drink is an organization that pairs brains with booze; it currently hosts weekly bar events in 14 states across the country. Modeled after traditional Irish-pub quizzes, this is more... More >>

There is perhaps no piece of literature more influential to human existence than the Bible. And despite having been authored thousands of years ago, it is still relevant and, remarkably, still in existence in its original form. View portions of the Dead Sea Scrolls along with leaves from the... More >>

There's nothing quite like a drag queen that looks better than you do, with better hair and perkier boobs—and if you're hungover to boot, better make that bloody mary a double. Velvet Lounge, the youngest child in the local family of gay clubs, hosts a fabulous Sunday brunch every week... More >>

It sounds like a Ballard short story and that’s probably on purpose because this new OCCCA exhibit is a dissection of the subjectivity of time—or maybe the uncaring annihilative capacity of time; depends on who submitted what—across the perception of the individual, memory and... More >>

In 1975, a film about a sweet transvestite from transsexual Transylvania hit US theaters and a new breed of camp-loving, kitschy freaks was born. Now the longest running theatrical release ever, The Rocky Horror Picture Show is everyone's favorite midnight shenanigan, performing regularly... More >>

Is your apartment looking a bit too much like a page from an Ikea catalog? Times are tough, and furniture is expensive. Most of us can’t throw down a paycheck or two on an armoire. Less expensive home-decorating options are available, though scarce. Said Swedish super-store usually gives... More >>

Did someone say jello shots?! After Club Ripples famously bared their outdated, overpriced selves on Tabitha Takes Over (we loved that episode!), the notorious gay club is stepping up their game with massive improvements. Gone are the tacky decor, plastic cups and cover charge—and now... More >>

Damn it, we sure do love what Rothick Art Haus is doing. In addition to exhibiting titillating work from up-and-coming artists, it has jumped on the Dr. Sketchy’s wagon. Started in New York, Dr. Sketchy’s Anti-Art School is a life-drawing class that is in no way like those we took at... More >>

Yeah, we've got some recession blues to sing about. So do most folks—leave it to Max Bloom's Cafe Noir to give the people an outlet at their weekly open mic and jam session. With coffee under a dollar (very much appreciated), tasty little baked things and charming '40s decor, this might... More >>

Music, art and beer all come together in one wondrous jumble with the Copper Door's new monthly artist gathering, The Big Draw. Every second Wednesday, artsy types are invited to come hang out and get creative on 30-plus feet of communal drawing space. Selected featured artists also showcase... More >>

Leave it to South County's Derby Dueling Piano Bar to make a mid-week karaoke night into an epic test of wit and talent. Backed by a live pianist, contestants try their hand at a favorite karaoke song—only to be mercilessly scrutinized by three judges wielding a mighty gong. If you suck,... More >>

The human body serves many purposes. To the church, it is the sanctuary of sins. To science, the body is simply a vessel carrying us between points A and B. To its owner, it can be a source of great shame or pride, depending on your level of vanity. But to photographer Lois Greenfield, the body... More >>

Let's all get drunk and sing! Every Sunday night, Detroit Bar, one of OC's most prominent venues for stylish, up-and-coming musical acts, frees its stage for less talented hacks to come up and belt it out. At Sunday Karaoke, the alcohol is flowing, the mic is open and MC extraordinaire Bobby... More >>

The Maverick Theater is known for their "Staged Cinema," theater adapted from or into popular films. Richard Nixon is known for his abnormally large nose. See both at the Maverick this week, where a production of Frost/Nixon is taking place. Directed by Brian Newell and written by Peter Morgan,... More >>

Bureaucracy is the killer of good ideas, but a foundation is finally paying for the little guy. Thanks to the LA County Arts Commission, the Long Beach Museum of Art (LBMA) offers free admission to all guests every Friday. Like many of its peers, the LBMA can be hit or miss depending on its... More >>

The perfect temperatures, the cloudless skies, the beautiful locals—OC summer Sundays are the epitome of easy leaving, as long as you stay off the freeway. At the OC Great Park, the recreational grounds (which used to be a military base—and a lima-bean field before that) hosts an... More >>

Looks like the food truck epidemic is here to stay, and we're not too upset about that. For those who constantly check Twitter feeds and Facebook posts to find where their favorite rolling restaurant is headed for lunchtime—we admit it, we've driven cross-county for Sriracha-Tapatio... More >>

Open-mic events always bring out the aspiring teenage folkies, workaday closet emo crooners and ill-conceived joke bands, but OC's best open mics—Gypsy Den's included—come with a cadre of older, more experienced, more awesome amateurs in addition to the twentysomethings. There's a... More >>