TODAY at 4 on the USC Campus between Bovard Auditorium and Taper Hall

Interesting things to do this weekend:

Who could turn down free pizza? I can guarantee you that Captain Ahab and Sonic Death Rabbit will put on a great show. And I’d really like to know more about the genre, acoustic beardcore. address/map

On Sunday there will be another “beat swap meet” in Chinatown, outside of the Grand Star Jazz Club from 12-6pm. You can buy, sell, or trade records and purchase dj related items and apparel. Inside the club, there will be a party going on. You can get in free to this if you bring a canned good. (the swap meet itself is outside and free) address/map

Definitely a few of my favorite Los Angeles bands and no strangers to the scene. A fantastic time is promised.

Fellow Trojan and singer/songwriter Alyssa Suede comes into the Live Show on February 27th. Tune in 1-2pm.

Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti is coming to play the Live Show on KSCR this Friday February 20th from 1-2pm. The L.A. five-piece will be opening for Animal Collective next Thursday the 26th at the Henry Fonda (a very, very sold out show). Tune in for a live set and interview.

Has anybody been feeling a little dicked around by Ticketmaster? If you purchased a ticket for the Henry Fonda show with Animal Collective, Lucky Dragons, and Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti, then you may have received an alert via e-mail/phone yesterday that the show was re-scheduled for Monday 2/23. If you changed your schedule, then you may like me be totally pissed off that another alert arrived this morning that the show was re-scheduled again to the date AC has on their Myspace, Thursday the 26th.

We’ve already been through so many uncertainties and date changes. Ticketmaster really needs to get it together. I feel like I should at least be refunded my convenience fee.

The USC campus has never been immune to bicycle thievery, but in the last month this has proved especially apparent. Within my small circle alone, two bicycle thefts and two wheel losses (unfortunately including my own) have occurred in the last month. Here are a few tips for novices and experts for prevention:

• Get a great U-Lock. This article by Slate may be two years old, but the principle remains the same: not all locks were created equal. Another lesson learned is that security may come at a price. The Kryptonite New York Fahgettaboudit U-lock was the winner and can be found on Ebay for as low as $50. An investment, really, as the true value of a bicycle is not known until it’s gone…

• Even for short-term locking, use a cord lock in addition to the U-lock. Especially if you have quick-release wheels and even if you have a bolted-on wheel, an additional 15 seconds of locking really is worth it.

• Lock through the frame, wheel, and to a rack, even if this means more walking to find an appropriate place. Pull the cord lock through your frame, front wheel, and to your lock.

Other guides to safe locking: SF Bicycle Coalition, eHow.

Movies are expensive to go to and lately with our poor economy, some theaters have been going out of business. Unfortunately, the most expensive and corporate ones are still standing and constantly flooded with people. Here’s a list of some cheaper and more interesting alternatives that not everybody knows about.

Academy 6 1003 Colorado Blvd (Pasadena)
This is hands down my favorite theater in Los Angeles. Showing all the movies you might have missed, mainstream and independent, its a great place to go if you want to avoid crowds and inflated movie/popcorn prices. The free parking lot in the back and its proximity to the Lake metro station make your trip worthwhile and if that doesn’t, the $3 admission will. The best part, however, is $2 matinees and $1 Sundays. Even better is the tiny Gourmet Cobbler Factory on your way back to the parking lot, which you should stop at and pick up the most delicious peach cobbler ever made!

Highland 3 5604 N. Figueroa St (Highland Park)
Not the most amazing selection of movies (mostly mainstream) and not the cleanest theater but the movies are $3 on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. All other days, movies are $6. It’s also in close proximity to the highland park metro station and there’s plenty of street parking.

Los Feliz 3 1822 Vermont Ave (Los Feliz)
I’ve only been here once but my experience was pretty satisfying. The theater room was narrow and the screen was very small and high up, I felt as if I were in an old train. Some people may find this slightly bothersome but I really enjoyed it. My favorite movies of 2008 have been playing at this theater all year, its relatively cheap ($6 matinees), and its located right next to Fred 62 (great food)!

Laemmle’s Playhouse 7 (Pasadena)
This is the ultimate place to go for independent and less mainstream movies. A little pricier than others ($8.50 students / $7 matinee), but it is walking distance from the Memorial Park metro station and it has a free parking lot located 1 block behind the theater.

Vista 4473 Sunset Dr (Silverlake)
A beautiful and elegant theater, screening one movie at a time at a rather cheap price of $8 ($5 matinee). Occasionally they have midnight screenings but currently there isn’t anything scheduled that I know of. Street parking is a bit tricky but the theater is in walking distance from the Vermont/Sunset metro station.

Echo Park Film Center 1200 N. Alvarado St (Echo Park)
Not actually a theater but on Thursday nights they have open screenings where anyone can come and show films they have made. Its free, inspiring and fun. They also sell super 8 film and rent out camera equipment. If you are a student you can get a yearly membership for $20 and get 50% off all equipment you rent.

Fairfax Regency 7907 Beverly Blvd (West Hollywood)
A quick drive down the 10 freeway will get you to this theater, where admission is $7.50 ($5 matinee) and parking is available around the corner. The chairs are comfortable but the rooms are quite cold. I have only had great experiences at this theater and they tend to show intelligent and interesting movies. They also screen midnight movies every Friday and over the next few weeks you can go see The Big Lebowski, Robocop, The Princess Bride, and Ghostbusters among other cult favorites.

Good movies out right now:
Waltz with Bashir
Slumdog Millionaire
Milk
Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Frost/Nixon
Doubt
The Wrestler
Wendy & Lucy (Fairfax & Academy 6)
Let The Right One In (Fairfax)
Synecdoche, New York (Fairfax)