City of West Hollywood
Home MenuNews
February News Briefs
City Seeks Musicians for Winter Sounds Concert Series
Photography Exhibit, In a New Land: 10 Years Later, Closes February 19
In 2005, during the City of West Hollywood’s 20th anniversary year, Venice Arts partnered with the City and the California Council for the Humanities to create In a New Land, a project with recently arrived immigrant teens from Ukraine, Moldova, Belarus, and Russia. Together, they learned how to use photography to tell the stories of their new world and the presence of the old world within it. In a New Land: Ten Years Later brings back several of the original participants, along with new contributors, for the City’s 30th anniversary.
The exhibition of images is on display until Friday, February 19, 2016 at the West Hollywood Library, 625 N. San Vicente Boulevard, during regular library hours: Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Friday/Saturday: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The Library is closed on Sundays and on holidays. The exhibit is free and open to the public.
For more information about In a New Land: Ten Years Later, please visit www.weho.org/arts or contact Michael Che, Economic Development and Cultural Affairs Coordinator, at (323) 848-6377 or at mche@weho.org.
Street Media Project Ad Hoc Design Committee Meeting, February 2
The Street Media Project Ad Hoc Design Committee will meet on Tuesday, February 2, 2016 from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. to discuss creating a unified pedestrian wayfinding and street-media system that uses technology to integrate signs, maps, and information displayed throughout the City of West Hollywood.
The Street Media Project Ad Hoc Design Committee will work with City staff and design teams to assist with the design development and selection of the Street Media Program. The project will improve upon design and will help promote the use of public transit.
The committee meets on the first Tuesday of each month. All meetings will be held in the West Hollywood Library Community Meeting Room, located at 625 N. San Vicente Boulevard.
For more information, please contact Kate Mayerson, Innovation Analyst, at (323) 848-6464 or at kmayerson@weho.org.
Women and Books Club to Discuss The Woman Upstairs, February 2
The WAB Club (Women and Books) is a monthly book club that meets the first Tuesday of each month to discuss books written by women authors. This month’s discussion is the book The Woman Upstairs by Claire Messud.
The book club meeting will take place on Tuesday, February 2, 2016 at 7 p.m. in the West Hollywood Library Community Meeting Room, located at 625 N. San Vicente Boulevard. Admission is free, and parking in the adjacent structure is free with validation.
The Women and Books Club is sponsored by the City of West Hollywood’s Women’s Advisory Board.
To RSVP or for more information, please email carlabrowning@hotmail.com, visit www.meetup.com/womenandbooksinweho, call (310) 652-5340, or visit www.weho.org/wab.
Outfest West Hollywood Series Celebrates Black History Month with a 20th Anniversary Screening of Spike Lee’s Get on the Bus, February 3
Outfest West Hollywood celebrates Black History Month with a 20th anniversary screening of Spike Lee’s Get on the Bus, a groundbreaking film that included LGBT characters (played by Isaiah Washington and Harry Lennix) in a tale of a busload of travelers heading cross-country to participate in the historic Million Man March. Boasting an impressive ensemble cast — including Ossie Davis, Andre Braugher, Charles S. Dutton, Bernie Mac, Wendell Pierce, Hill Harper, and Richard Belzer — this acclaimed comedy-drama marked the first time that Lee included gay men of color in his ongoing exploration of race in the United States.
The screening, which is presented by Outfest West Hollywood and the Outfest UCLA Legacy Project with the support of the City of West Hollywood through WeHo Arts, will take place on Wednesday, February 3, 2016 at 7:30 p.m., in the City of West Hollywood’s City Council Chambers/Public Meeting Room at West Hollywood Library, located at 625 N. San Vicente Boulevard.
Tickets are $10 general/$6 for Outfest members. For more info and to buy tickets, please visit www.outfest.org/weho-series or www.weho.org/arts.
City of West Hollywood Hosts Noise Control Ordiance Meeting, February 4
The City of West Hollywood invites the community to participate in a meeting to discuss proposed amendments to the City’s Noise Control Ordinance on Thursday, February 4, 2016 from 7 – 8:30 p.m. in the West Hollywood Library Community Meeting Room, 625 N. San Vicente Boulevard.
For more information, contact Jeff Aubel, Code Compliance Manager, (323) 848-6424, or via email at jaubel@weho.org.
West Hollywood Goes Red from February 5 to February 12 for National Wear Red Day and American Heart Month
In recognition of National Wear Red Day on Friday, February 5, 2016 and to recognize American Heart Month in February, the City of West Hollywood will join other municipalities across the country in lighting up City Hall in red for a week to raise awareness about heart disease and stroke — City Hall will be cast in red lighting from Friday, February 5, 2016 to Friday, February 12, 2016.
National Wear Red Day provides an opportunity for people to speak up and speak out about heart disease in women. The campaign encourages women to learn about the actions they can take to reduce their risk of heart disease. February is American Heart Month and the City of West Hollywood is partnering with the American Heart Association to promote heart health awareness to all throughout the month with the of theme “Rock the Red.”
For more information about National Wear Red Day and American Heart Month and other heart-health awareness resources, visit www.goredforwomen.org
Winter Sounds Free Live Concert Series Presents Garretson and Gorodetsky, February 6
Winter Sounds, an indoor concert series presented by the City of West Hollywood through its Arts and Cultural Affairs Commission, presents songwriters Weba Garretson and Ralph Gorodetsky live on Saturday, February 6, 2016 at4 p.m. Songwriters Garretson and Gorodetsky will be joined by Brainchildren of Xenog in a freewheeling concert which combines folk tunes, pop ideas, blues riffs and jazz harmonies to create songs that are haunting as well as humorous. Their music explores fragility of existence, whether it’s a song about a garden slug or a predatory scrub jay. They have previously performed at the Getty Museum, UCLA, Skirball Cultural Center and MOCA.
The concert will take place in the City of West Hollywood’s City Council Chambers/Public Meeting Room at West Hollywood Library, located at 625 N. San Vicente Boulevard. All concerts are free to attend, and first-come, first-served seating is provided.
RSVPs are not required, but are requested by joining the event’s Facebook event invite at www.facebook.com/events/182711305404821.
For more information, to hear music samples and to RSVP please visit www.weho.org/arts.
For additional information, please contact Michael Che, Economic Development and Cultural Affairs Coordinator, at (323) 848-6377 or at mche@weho.org.
The PickUp Provides Service for Mardi Gras, February 9
The City of West Hollywood’s popular free nightlife shuttle service, The PickUp, will run special service on Mardi Gras, Tuesday, February 9, 2016, from 8 p.m. to 3 a.m.. Service will run along The PickUp’s regular route on Santa Monica Boulevard between Robertson Boulevard and La Brea Avenue.
For more information, please visit www.wehopickup.com.
2016 Rent Stabilization Ordinance Building Blocks Seminar “Affordable Housing Waitlists,” February 9
As part of a series of meetings to educate property owners, managers, tenants and other community members about the Rent Stabilization Ordinance (RSO), the City of West Hollywood will host a Rent Stabilization Ordinance Building Blocks Seminar: “Affordable Housing Waitlists” on Tuesday, February 9, 2016 at 7 p.m. in the West Hollywood Community Center at Plummer Park, located at 7377 Santa Monica Boulevard, in Room 6. This seminar is an opportunity for the community to learn about affordable housing waitlists in the area, how to be included on a waitlist, and tips to ensure that those who are interested in affordable housing are “tenant ready.”
For more information on this and upcoming seminars, please visit /community/rent-stabilization-housing or call (323) 848-6450.
Valentine’s Day is For Seniors at West Hollywood’s Desert and Tea Dance in Plummer Park, February 11
Seniors and their guests are invited to join in Valentine’s Day-themed festivities on Thursday, February 11, 2016, at 3 p.m. Plummer Park’s Fiesta Hall, located at 7377 Santa Monica Boulevard. There will be dancing and music featuring the Great American Swing Band. Desserts, coffee, and tea will be served. There will be a $2 per person fee for the event. Priority will be given to West Hollywood seniors and their guests.
For more information call (323) 848-6820 or email croskin@weho.org.
One Billion Rising Revolution Rally on February 13
The City of West Hollywood will, for the fourth year in a row, join One Billion Rising, a global campaign to end violence against women and girls, and to take a stand against gender inequality, with a rally on Saturday, February 13, 2016 from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Sal Guarriello Veterans’ Memorial, at the intersection of Santa Monica Boulevard at Holloway Drive.
One Billion Rising, launched on Valentine’s Day 2012 by award-winning playwright and activist Eve Ensler, author of the world-famous play The Vagina Monologues, began as a call to action based on the staggering statistic that 1 in 3 women on the planet will be beaten or raped during her lifetime.
The West Hollywood event, which takes place on the 18th anniversary of V-Day, a global activist movement to end violence against wormen, will feature guest speakers, including members of the West Hollywood City Council, as well as local activists affiliated with the One Billion Rising Campaign, and various performances. The event will culminate with a mass dance action of the official One Billion Rising “Break the Chain” dance, choreographed by three-time Emmy Award-winner Debbie Allen.
For more information, please visit www.onebillionrising.org or www.weho.org, or contact Larissa Fooks, Community Events Coordinator at (323) 848-6413, or by email at lfooks@weho.org.
Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Training Program Begins February 13
The Los Angeles County Fire Department’s Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) program provides basic training in safety and life-saving skills for the general public. The City of West Hollywood will host the CERT classes, which is free to the public, on four consecutive Saturdays, beginning on Saturday, February 13, 2016, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the West Hollywood Community Center at Plummer Park, located at 7377 Santa Monica Boulevard in Rooms 5 & 6. The second and third classes will follow from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, February 20, 2016 and Saturday, February 27, 2016. The third class meeting, which will consist of a drill and graduation, will be from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Saturday, March 5, 2016. All classes will be held at Plummer Park, and students will be given specific location information on the first day of class. Free Parking is available in the Plummer Park north and south parking lots.
Participants must sign up for the class in advance by emailing Shirley Berry at sberry@weho.org.
City of West Hollywood Hosts Noise Control Ordiance Meeting, February 13
The City of West Hollywood invites the community to participate in a meeting to discuss proposed amendments to the City’s Noise Control Ordinance on Saturday, February 13, 2016 from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.. in the West Hollywood Library Community Meeting Room, located at 625 N. San Vicente Boulevard.
For more information, contact Jeff Aubel, Code Compliance Manager, (323) 848-6424, or via email at jaubel@weho.org.
City of West Hollywood Welcomes Los Angeles Marathon Runners on February 14
The 2016 Sketchers Performance Los Angeles Marathon’s runners will be making their way through West Hollywood, along the Sunset Strip, on Sunday, February 14, 2016 as they strive to complete the 26.2-mile course that begins at Dodger Stadium and ends in the City of Santa Monica.
To ensure the safety of the athletes and spectators, there will be several street closures in the City of West Hollywood from 4 a.m. to 2 p.m. on that day. The closures are as follows: Sunset Boulevard between Havenhurst Drive and Doheny Drive; San Vicente Boulevard from Melrose Avenue to Sunset Boulevard; Santa Monica Boulevard between La Cienega Boulevard and Doheny Drive; and Doheny Drive from Santa Monica to Beverly Bouleverard.
For more information on street closures and a map of the full L.A. Marathon route, please visit www.lamarathon.com. General inquires may also be directed by email to info@lamarathon.com or by telephone to (213) 542-3000.
For more information specific to the City of West Hollywood regarding the L.A. Marathon or street closures, please contact the City’s Special Events Division at (323) 848-6307.
Lesbian Speakers Series presents Julie Goldman in Conversation with Beth Lapides, February 17
The City of West Hollywood’s Lesbian Speakers Series and the UnCabaret partner to present the popular and hilarious comedian, actress and musician Julie Goldman in conversation with Beth Lapides, the host, producer and creator of UnCabaret, a legendary venue for wildly fun, idiosyncratic and conversational comedy, on Wednesday, February 17, 2016, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. in the City of West Hollywood’s City Council Chambers/Public Meeting Room at West Hollywood Library, located at 625 N. San Vicente Boulevard.
Admission to the event is free. For more information or to RSVP, please contact Corey Roskin at croskin@weho.org.
“Time Presses” Wednesday-Night Recreation/Social Club, February 17
The City of West Hollywood and its Russian Advisory Board host the recreation club “Time Presses” — a Wednesday-Night Social Club on Wednesday, February 17, 2016, from 6 p.m. to 9:45 p.m. The event will take place at the West Hollywood Community Center at Plummer Park, located at 7377 Santa Monica Boulevard, in Great Hall.
The evening will feature karaoke singing, movies, potluck food, and an opportunity to communicate in Russian and English languages. There will be a special presentation by the members and an open microphone. Admission is free.
For more information, please call (323) 848-6826, email info@timepresses.com, or visit www.timepresses.com. For people who are deaf or hearing impaired, please call TTY (323) 848-6496.
TRIBE, Gay Men’s Discussion Group, February 17
The City of West Hollywood’s Gay Men’s Discussion Group, TRIBE, continues a series of monthly events that encourage attendees to discuss their own experiences in relation to issues of importance in the gay male community on Wednesday, February 17, 2016 at 7:30 p.m. in the West Hollywood Library Community Meeting Room, located 625 N. San Vicente Boulevard.
TRIBE events are free and open to the public, and validated parking is available in the adjacent five-story parking structure.
For more information, please visit www.weho.org/tribe.
WHAP! Lecture Series Presents Fictions and Fabulations of Sentience, February 19
The West Hollywood Aesthetics and Politics (WHAP!) lecture series, organized by Cal Arts and supported by the City of West Hollywood, presents Fictions and Fabulations of Sentience on Friday, February 19, 2016 at 8 p.m. in the West Hollywood Library Community Meeting Room, located at 625 N. San Vicente Boulevard. The lecture features Steven Shaviro, the DeRoy Professor of English at Wayne State University, who is the author of Post-Cinematic Affect, The Universe of Things, and No Speed Limit: Three Essays on Accelerationism.
For more information, please visit: https://aestheticsandpolitics.calarts.edu/lecture-series/whap or www.weho.org/arts, or contact Michael Che, Economic Development and Cultural Affairs Coordinator, at (323) 848-6377 or at mche@weho.org.
Winter Sounds Free Live Concert Series Presents Jack’s Cats Vintage Swing, February 20
The City of West Hollywood , through its Arts and Cultural Affairs Commission, presents Jack’s Cats Vintage Swing at Fiesta Hall at Plummer Park, 7377 Santa Monica Boulevard on Saturday, February 20, 2016 at 4 p.m., as part of its Winter Sounds free indoor concert series. Featuring swing clarinetist Jack Malmstrom, Jack’s Cats entertains audiences with a sound that is unmistakably grounded in the 1930s and 40s, yet also feels contemporary and alive. All concerts are free to attend, and first come, first served seating is provided.
RSVPs are not required, but are requested by joining the event’s Facebook event invite at www.facebook.com/events/1020530044635716. For more information, to hear music samples and to RSVP please visit www.weho.org/arts.
For additional information, please contact Michael Che, Economic Development and Cultural Affairs Coordinator, at (323) 848-6377 or at mche@weho.org.
Water Quality and Conservation Workshop and Rain Barrel Distribution, February 20
Residents of West Hollywood are invited to a pre-order rain barrels and attend a Water Quality and Conservation Workshop on Saturday, February 20, 2016 from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. at the Plummer Park Community Center, located at 7377 Santa Monica Boulevard in Rooms 5 & 6. Rain barrels must be pre-ordered and paid-for prior to the workshop — residents must attend the workshop in order to receive rain barrels.
The event is sponsored by a coalition of the Westside Cities and Rain Barrels International and pre-registration is required. The pre-order deadline for rain barrels at this event is Thursday, February 18, 2016. For more information on how to pre-order rain barrels, rain barrel rebates, and how to register for the event can be found at www.wehorainbarrels.eventbrite.com.
Women In Film Speakers Series, February 22
The Women In Film Speakers Series features filmmakers and industry leaders across many areas of entertainment who share valuable professional insights into the art and craft of film, television, and media-making.
This month’s event will be held on Monday, February 22, 2016 from 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., at the City of West Hollywood’s City Council Chambers/Public Meeting Room at West Hollywood Library, located at 625 N. San Vicente Boulevard. Admission is $10 per person; there will be free parking is in the adjacent five-story parking structure with validation.
Women In Film is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting equal opportunities for women, encouraging creative projects by women, and expanding and enhancing portrayals of women in all forms of global media. This event is co-sponsored by the City of West Hollywood, through its Women’s Advisory Board.
For more information, visit http://womeninfilm.org/speaker-series
2016 Rent Stabilization Ordinance Building Blocks Seminar “Emergency Preparedness for Apartment Buildings,” February 23
As part of a series of meetings to educate property owners, managers, tenants and other community members about the Rent Stabilization Ordinance (RSO), the City of West Hollywood will host a Rent Stabilization Ordinance Building Blocks Seminar on “Emergency Preparedness for Apartment Buildings” on Tuesday, February 23, 2016 at 7 p.m. in the West Hollywood Community Center at Plummer Park, located at 7377 Santa Monica Boulevard in Room 6. This seminar is an opportunity to learn how to prepare buildings and tenants for major emergencies and disasters, and will outline what skills and supplies are necessary to survive for three or more days.
For more information on this and upcoming seminars, please visit /community/rent-stabilization-housing or call (323) 848-6450.
LAMBDA Literary Book Club Meets February 23
The Lambda Literary Book Club, which is co-sponsored by the West Hollywood Library, meets on Tuesday, February 23, 2016 at 7 p.m. in the West Hollywood Library Community Meeting Room, located at 625 N. San Vicente Boulevard. The Book Club highlights a different LGBT book each month and is moderated by West Hollywood’s first City Poet, Steven Reigns.Admission is free, no RSVPs are needed, and validated parking is provided. To see this month’s book selection, please visit www.lambdaliterary.org/book-clubs/lambda-lit-book-club.
For additional information, please contact Michael Che, Economic Development and Cultural Affairs Coordinator, mche@weho.org.
Free Theatre in the Parks Presents The Black Doctor , February 27
In honor of Black History Month, the City of West Hollywood, through its Arts and Cultural Affairs Commission, presents The Black Doctor as part of the City’s Free Theatre in the Parks program. This minimally staged reading of Ira Aldridge’s story of interracial love in Revoltionary France will take place on Saturday, February 27 at 2 p.m. in the West Hollywood Library Community Meeting Room, located at 625 N. San Vicente Boulevard.
This performance is a production of Classical Theatre Lab.
The event is free to attend, RSVPs are not necessary, and seating will be provided. For more information please visit www.classicaltheatrelab.org, www.weho.org/arts, or call (323) 960-5691.
The City of West Hollywood Hosts Follow-Up Community Meeting on Eastside Traffic Calming, February 29
The City of West Hollywood invites the community to a meeting to discuss the neighborhood consensus-building phase and next steps for implementing recommended traffic calming improvements to reduce speeding and cut-through traffic in the City’s Eastside residential areas. The meeting will be held Monday, February 29, 2016 from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in the West Hollywood Community Center at Plummer Park, located at 7377 Santa Monica Boulevard in Room 1.
The proposed improvements, which are being considered as part of the City’s Neighborhood Traffic Management Program, are based on neighborhood input, traffic volumes and speeds, potential benefits and an analysis of needs for the entire Eastside street system. For more information, call (323) 848-6328, or email wdavis@weho.org.