1). Sunset Strip Music Festival to Celebrate “The Doors” from Thursday, August 16, 2012 through Saturday, August 18, 2012

Street Festival to take place on Saturday, August 18, 2012

The Fifth Annual Sunset Strip Music Festival is set for Thursday, August 16, 2012 through Saturday, August 18, 2012 in West Hollywood. A VIP kick-off event honoring the iconic Sunset Strip band The Doors will take place on Thursday, August 16, 2012 at the House of Blues. This year’s event will feature live performances at popular music venues on Thursday, August 16, 2012 and Friday, August 17, 2012 including the Key Club; House of Blues; The Roxy Theatre; Viper Room; and Whisky A Go-Go, culminating in an all-day street festival on Saturday, August 18, 2012.

Ray Manzerak will perform with the rest of the Doors at the Sunset Strip Music Festival. Photo by Sean Patrick.

The three-day event will feature Marilyn Manson, who will headline the SSMF street festival. For the fourth year, Sunset Boulevard will be closed to traffic for the day, between San Vicente Boulevard and Doheny Drive to accommodate outdoor stages and music in the venues. Other performers will include The Offspring, Steve Aoki, Bad Religion, Black Label Society, Far East Movement, De La Soul, Das Racist, Dead Sara and The Mowgli’s. Many of the artists will celebrate The Doors by performing their take on some of The Doors’ legendary songs. The SSMF will feature more than 50 bands on two full-scale stages, food vendors and a VIP beer garden. Last year’s festival drew nearly 15,000 people to The Sunset Strip.

The Doors’ organist Ray Manzarek, guitarist Robby Krieger, drummer John Densmore and late singer Jim Morrison, have earned worldwide notoriety for being one of the most influential rock groups of all time. With an intoxicating, genre-blending sound, provocative and uncompromising songs, and the mesmerizing power of singer Morrison’s poetry and presence, The Doors had a transformative impact not only on popular music but on popular culture too. The band was formed in Venice, California and remains a vital piece to the legacy and history of The Sunset Strip. It was on The Strip that The Doors got their start at the London Fog before moving down the street to perform as the house band at the Whisky A Go-Go. A show at the Whisky in August 1966 helped them land a deal with Elektra Records, which would propel the band into international music icons.

The iconic band will be headlining the SSMF V.

General admission, VIP and 3-Day VIP tickets for the SSMF event are available through www.TicketWeb.com/SSMF SSMF street festival GA tickets are $75 and VIP street festival tickets, which include access to a private tented area with a full no-host bar and seating area, are available for $135. A very limited number of three-day “VIP” passes are available, which include entrance to The Doorscelebration on Thursday, August 16, 2012 at the House of Blues, the SSMF venues for three nights as well as access to a VIP rooftop and other VIP areas at the street festival are $250. There will also be individual ticket sales for The Sunset Strip venues on Thursday and Friday nights and Saturday night for venues outside of the street festival closure (House of Blues and the Viper Room).

A portion of ticket proceeds will benefit the Impact Drug and Alcohol Treatment Center in Pasadena, which has been treating individuals struggling with addiction since 1969. Impact is a residential treatment community for men and women from all walks of life and has outpatient clinics, transitional housing and in-custody programs throughout L.A. County. Impact offers programs to everyone from the roadie to the rock star, with their simple and effective no-nonsense approach to substance abuse treatment.

For more information, regarding The Doors please visit www.thedoors.com For more information, regarding Impact Drug and Alcohol Treatment Center, please visit www.impacthouse.com For more information, regarding the Sunset Strip Music Festival, including the full conference lineup, contact MSO PR at, (818) 380-0400 or visit www.ssmf.com

2). Numerous Neighborhood Celebrations to Make Strong Statements Against Crime at the City of West Hollywood’s Annual “National Night Out” on Tuesday, August 7, 2012

Nearly 2,000 West Hollywood residents are expected to celebrate in the streets in a show of unity against crime during the City of West Hollywood’s annual National Night Out on Tuesday, August 7, 2012. The City’s Neighborhood Watch Groups, in coordination with Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department and Los Angeles County Fire Department as well as City officials and staff, will hold evening events and social gatherings in neighborhoods throughout West Hollywood. Neighborhood events will include block parties, barbecues, live entertainment and dancing.

“National Night Out is a great way to promote neighborhood spirit and safety by getting to know your neighbors, City and public safety staff, and members of the Sheriff’s and Fire Departments,” said West Hollywood Mayor Jeffrey Prang. “Do plan to come out and join me and the entire City Council on August 7th at one of the block parties throughout our City. It is a night of great fun and good food, and helps us all keep our neighborhoods safer,” added Mayor Prang.

Street closures for National Night Out will take place on Tuesday, August 7, 2012 from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. and include:

·   The cul-de-sac at Sherbourne Drive and Ashcroft Avenue, with closures at San Vicente Boulevard and Ashcroft Avenue, and Ashcroft Avenue at Sherbourne Drive;

·   Lloyd Place extending east from Elevado Street to Norma Place;

·   Rugby Drive from Westmount Drive up to and including the driveway of 8617 Rugby Drive;

·   Norton Avenue between Laurel Avenue and Hayworth Avenue;

·   Westmount Drive cul-de-sac starting at the barricade just north of Santa Monica Boulevard up to 940 Westmount Drive, south of the Westmount Drive/West Knoll Drive traffic circle;

·   Fuller Street from 1205 to 1215 Fuller.

National Night Out is a national campaign that involves citizens, law enforcement agencies, civic groups, businesses, neighborhood organizations and local officials from more than 15,000 communities from all 50 states, U.S. territories, Canadian cities and military bases worldwide. In all, over 36 million people participated in National Night Out 2011.

For more information, please call (323) 848-6831 or www.weho.org/nno

Plotz! will perform in WeHo.

3). Jazz, Fusion and World Music Featured at the 2012 Summer Sounds Series Throughout the Summer

The City of West Hollywood’s Arts and Cultural Affairs Commission presents the 2012 Summer Sounds Series, a concert performance series that will take place throughout the summer in West Hollywood. This year’s lineup of performances is an eclectic mix of contemporary, jazz, fusion and world music. Summer Sounds Concerts at Plummer Park, 7377 Santa Monica Boulevard include:

·   Sunday, August 5, 2012 at 4:00 p.m. featuring PLOTZ!

A fixture in Southern California’s underground Balkan/gypsy, jazz and rock music scenes, PLOTZ! has been rocking stages and thrilling audiences for the better part of a decade. With Daniel Rosenboom on trumpets, Gavin Templeton on saxophones, Brian Walsh on clarinets and saxophones, Jake Vossler on guitars, Orest Balaban on bass, and Austin Wrinkle on drums, PLOTZ! is made up of some of California’s most accomplished and innovative young musicians.

·   Sunday, August 19, 2012 at 4:00 p.m. featuring Incendio

Incendio is a Latin guitar world-fusion group that features a unique compositional and performance slant. The group has explored jazz, Celtic, Middle-Eastern and electronica throughout their career, putting their own stamp on their self-produced music. They subtly bring influences as diverse as Weather Report, Jimi Hendrix, XTC, Paco de Lucia, Buddha Bar and Joni Mitchell to bear on their musical tapestry.

Chairs will be available for attendees of the free concerts in the park, or guests are encouraged to bring a blanket and lounge on the lawn while enjoying the music.

For more information about the 2012 Summer Sounds Series, please call (323) 848-6883 or visit www.weho.org/arts For the deaf and hard of hearing, please call (323) 848-6496.

4). Summer Reading Program at the West Hollywood Library: The Jules Moss Rockin’ Music Show 4 Kids on Wednesday, August 1, 2012

As part of its Summer Reading Program, the Friends of the West Hollywood Library presents the Jules Moss Rockin’ Music Show 4 Kids on Wednesday, August 1, 2012, from 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the West Hollywood Library Community Meeting Room, 625 N. San Vicente Boulevard. Moss is an award-winning early childhood educator, and has received the OCAEYC (Orange County Association for the Education of Young Children) honor. The program will entertain and encourage children to sing and participate. Moss plays guitar and percussion, reads, sings and accompanies classic stories for children ages 2 to 6.

Admission is free. Parking is available at the West Hollywood Library Parking Garage. For more information, please call (310) 652-5340 or visit www.colapublib.org

For more information please call (310) 652-5340.  For ADA accommodation, such as sign language interpreter or materials in an alternate format, call (562) 940-8462 (voice) or (562) 940-8477 (TTY), Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., at least six business days prior to event.

5). WAB Club: Woman And Books! to Discuss She’s Come Undone on Tuesday, August 7, 2012

Join the West Hollywood Women’s Advisory Board for its monthly gathering of the WAB Club: Women And Books! from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on Tuesday, August 7, 2012 at the West Hollywood Library Community Meeting Room at 625 N. San Vicente Boulevard. With the vision of transforming a city into a community one woman at a time, the WAB Club is a book club that meets to discuss books of interest to women. The reading selection for August is She’s Come Undone: A Novel by Wally Lamb. 

Admission is free. Parking is available at the 5-story West Hollywood Park/Library Parking Garage. For more information please call (213) 840-4958 or email carlabrowning@hotmail.com or visitwww.weho.org/wab For the deaf and hard of hearing, please call (323) 848-6496.

6). Movie in the Park: The Artist Will Screen Under the Stars on Tuesday, August 7, 2012

As part of the “National Night Out,” the City of West Hollywood Recreation Services Division presents a Movie In The Park night on Tuesday, August 7, 2012. There will be showing of The Artist, beginning at 8 p.m. in the grassy area near the tennis courts at Plummer Park, 1200 N. Vista Street. The film won five Academy Awards this year, including Best Picture. Everyone is encouraged to bring a lawn chair or a blanket, and enjoy the movie under the stars. Admission is free. 

For more information please call Laura Manukian at (323) 848-6831. For the deaf and hard of hearing, please call (323) 848-6496.

7). Summer Reading Program at the West Hollywood Library: Christopher Yates’ Rusty Blade’s Dream of Pirate Adventures on Wednesday, August 8, 2012

As part of its Summer Reading Program, the Friends of the West Hollywood Library presents Christopher Yates’ Rusty Blade’s Dream of Pirate Adventures on Wednesday, August 8, 2012, from 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the West Hollywood Library Community Meeting Room, 625 N. San Vicente Boulevard. Kids will get the chance to venture forth on a high-seas expedition in pursuit of famed female pirate AraBella Drummond. They’ll learn what pirate life was like, and learn about navigation, knots, barnacles and booty. Visiting exotic ports, and encountering strange creatures and unscrupulous characters will also be part of the fun.

Admission is free. Parking is available at the West Hollywood Library Parking Garage. For more information, please call (310) 652-5340 or visit www.colapublib.org

For ADA accommodation, such as sign language interpreter or materials in an alternate format, call (562) 940-8462 (voice) or (562) 940-8477 (TTY), Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., at least six business days prior to event.

8). SHE – WeHo Lesbian Discussion Group

Wednesday, August 8, 2012 Topic is “Modern Family”

The City of West Hollywood’s new discussion group SHE provides an open space for building relationships, promoting dialog and creating solutions for issues currently facing Lesbians. This month’s topic, “Modern Family,” will be discussed from 7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Wednesday, August 8, 2012 in the Community Meeting Room at the West Hollywood Park, 625 N. San Vicente Boulevard. All SHE discussion groups are free and open to the public. Seating is on a first-come, first-served basis.

“Modern Family” will explore what the new picture of a family looks like. With acceptance and the beginnings of marriage equality comes family. Speakers will include a diverse group of Lesbians talking about their experiences with this evolving theme. Discussion topics include: marriage equality, adoption and parenting, choosing not to become a parent, extended families, and family and cultural traditions: holidays, birthdays, funerals and weddings. 

The SHE – WeHo Lesbians’ Discussion Group meets the second Wednesday of every month in the Community Meeting Room at West Hollywood Park. Validated parking is available at the 5-story West Hollywood Park/Library Parking Garage. For more information, please visit www.weho.org/she or email she@weho.org For the deaf and hard of hearing, please call (323) 848-6496.

9). TRIBE – WeHo Gay Men’s Discussion Group

Thursday, August 9, 2012 Topic is “Gay Youth”

“Gay Youth” is the topic of the August TRIBE WeHo Gay Men’s Discussion Group. It will take place on Thursday, August 9, 2012 at 7:30 p.m. in the Community Room in the West Hollywood Library, 625 N. San Vicente Boulevard. This discussion will be programmed entirely by Gay men under the age of 30 and will include a message for the youth, a message for the elders, and a message for all those in between. Discussion topics include where we are and where we are going, what the younger generation knows and the older generation needs to know, the future of the gay community. 

The West Hollywood Gay Men’s Discussion Group meets the second Thursday of every month for a series of lightly moderated discussions open to the public to encourage attendees to discuss their own experiences about issues of importance to the Gay male community. The TRIBE discussion group will provide an open space for building relationships, promoting dialog, identifying challenges, and creating solutions for issues currently facing Gay men. 

All TRIBE discussion groups are free and open to the public. Seating is on a first-come, first-served basis. Validated parking will be available at the 5-story West Hollywood Park/Library Parking Garage.

For more information, please visit www.weho.org/tribe or email tribe@weho.org For the deaf and hard of hearing, please call (323) 848-6496.