Exposition Blvd

The noise-pop mad-scientist Dan Deacon earned a reputation for chaotic, neon-splattered party punk by playing on the floor and blurring lines between artist and audience. On last year's album "America," however, he showed a more thoughtful, rigorous side of his composing skills. Natural History Museum, 900 Exposition Blvd., L.A. 6 p.m. Fri. $18. nhm.org.

The noise-pop mad-scientist Dan Deacon earned a reputation for chaotic, neon-splattered party punk by playing on the floor and blurring lines between artist and audience. On last year's album "America," however, he showed a more thoughtful, rigorous side of his composing skills. Natural History Museum, 900 Exposition Blvd., L.A. 6 p.m. Fri. $18. nhm.org.

First Fridays with Luis Chiappe, Gayngs and Dirty Beaches Where: Natural History Museum, 900 Exposition Blvd., L.A. When: 5-10 p.m. Friday Price: $12 adults, $9 seniors and students, $8 youths (13-17), $5 children 5-12, free for children 4 and younger Info: (213) 763-3466; http://www.nhm.org

The DJ/producer who goes by the Gaslamp Killer has been a staple of the L.A. beat scene for years, as a resident at the renowned Low End Theory club night that helped put dubstep on the map in America. But he's come into his own as an artist, releasing his debut full-length "Breakthrough" last year and winning over international audiences with his fiery stage presence. Natural History Museum, 900 Exposition Blvd., L.A. 6 p.m. Fri. $18. nhm.org.

If you caught "Night at the Museum" and thought that would be a lovely way to spend a weekend, here's your chance (albeit sans Ben Stiller). Camp Archaeology is part of the Overnight Adventures in which your little Indiana Joneses can take part in a mock dig with archaeology equipment all over the museum. The Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, 900 Exposition Blvd., Los Angeles, 6:30 p.m. Friday. $43. (213) 763-3536.

FRIDAY Global Graffiti Cinefamily, 611 N. Fairfax Ave. 8 p.m. $10. Cinefamily.org FRIDAY Stella Rose Pizza Bar 2000 Main St., Santa Monica 5 p.m.-midnight (310) 396-9250 SATURDAY Herzog Movie Premiere and Party Natural History Museum, 900 Exposition Blvd. 5-11 p.m. Free http://www.cinespia.com SUNDAY Roam Music Jimmy's Lounge, 6202 Santa Monica Blvd. 2 p.m.-8 p.m. Free. (323) 957-1066 SUNDAY 50-Cent Martinis The Blvd at Beverly Wilshire, 9500 Wilshire Blvd.

The DJ/producer who goes by the Gaslamp Killer has been a staple of the L.A. beat scene for years, as a resident at the renowned Low End Theory club night that helped put dubstep on the map in America. But he's come into his own as an artist, releasing his debut full-length "Breakthrough" last year and winning over international audiences with his fiery stage presence. Natural History Museum, 900 Exposition Blvd., L.A. 6 p.m. Fri. $18. nhm.org.

The experimental L.A. folk outfit Lord Huron earned local renown for pairing brokenhearted songwriting with dreamy and unorthodox arrangements. The band (the project of singer-songwriter Ben Schneider) released its debut full-length "Lonesome Dreams" on Iamsound in the fall, and they play the First Fridays series with Wildcat! Wildcat! Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, 900 Exposition Blvd., L.A. 5:30 p.m. Fri. $18. http://www.nhm.org.

Sixty-five million years of history meets cutting-edge interactive technology in the exhibit "Age of Mammals," opening Sunday at the Natural History Museum. The new permanent exhibit, housed in the museum's renovated northern wing, chronicles the evolution of mammals via skeletons, taxidermy, hands-on kiosks and multimedia displays. Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, 900 Exposition Blvd., L.A. 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Sun. $9 for adults; $6.50 for students, seniors and children 13-17; $2 for children 5-12; free for children under 5. (213)

Pop & Jazz Previews by August Brown The Happy Hollows The perennially tipped-for-success Silver Lake trio just released its best work yet, the twisty and frantic yet perpetually melodic album "Spells." Live, they're usually never less than incendiary. The Mint, 6010 Pico Blvd., L.A. Thu., 8 p.m. $10. Atlas Sound Bradford Cox's more intimate and homemade solo project nonetheless captures many of his best traits as a songwriter and arranger -- the wispy guitars, gallons of reverb and his equally doomed and lovestruck lyrics are showcased in sharp focus.

The experimental L.A. folk outfit Lord Huron earned local renown for pairing brokenhearted songwriting with dreamy and unorthodox arrangements. The band (the project of singer-songwriter Ben Schneider) released its debut full-length "Lonesome Dreams" on Iamsound in the fall, and they play the First Fridays series with Wildcat! Wildcat! Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, 900 Exposition Blvd., L.A. 5:30 p.m. Fri. $18. http://www.nhm.org.

First published on Jan. 30, 2011. Revised and expanded in early 2012. The tourists think big. Arriving in Southern California, they expect to conquer Disneyland and Hollywood, perhaps on the same day, in between the surfing and snowboarding. Then they get stuck in traffic. Then come the recriminations, the tears, the vows to visit an island next time. The locals think small. Tracing tight little loops between home and work, they dodge freeways and alien neighborhoods. There are Los Feliz people who haven't set foot in Venice since the latter Bush administration (until this project, I was one)

First Fridays with Luis Chiappe, Gayngs and Dirty Beaches Where: Natural History Museum, 900 Exposition Blvd., L.A. When: 5-10 p.m. Friday Price: $12 adults, $9 seniors and students, $8 youths (13-17), $5 children 5-12, free for children 4 and younger Info: (213) 763-3466; http://www.nhm.org

FRIDAY Global Graffiti Cinefamily, 611 N. Fairfax Ave. 8 p.m. $10. Cinefamily.org FRIDAY Stella Rose Pizza Bar 2000 Main St., Santa Monica 5 p.m.-midnight (310) 396-9250 SATURDAY Herzog Movie Premiere and Party Natural History Museum, 900 Exposition Blvd. 5-11 p.m. Free http://www.cinespia.com SUNDAY Roam Music Jimmy's Lounge, 6202 Santa Monica Blvd. 2 p.m.-8 p.m. Free. (323) 957-1066 SUNDAY 50-Cent Martinis The Blvd at Beverly Wilshire, 9500 Wilshire Blvd.

Sixty-five million years of history meets cutting-edge interactive technology in the exhibit "Age of Mammals," opening Sunday at the Natural History Museum. The new permanent exhibit, housed in the museum's renovated northern wing, chronicles the evolution of mammals via skeletons, taxidermy, hands-on kiosks and multimedia displays. Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, 900 Exposition Blvd., L.A. 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Sun. $9 for adults; $6.50 for students, seniors and children 13-17; $2 for children 5-12; free for children under 5. (213)

Pop & Jazz Previews by August Brown Stand With Haiti Benefit The cheeky pomp-rockers Tenacious D might be unlikely headliners of any show benefitting more than their chick-pulling ambitions, but they get top billing at this Haiti benefit with The Shins' James Mercer, Frank Black and comedian Patton Oswalt. The Wiltern, 3790 Wilshire Blvd., L.A. Tue., 7 p.m. $39.50-$74.50. (213) 380-5005. Laura Marling The young Marling has such startlingly articulate insights into love and loss that one pities the scads of loutish teenage boys back in her native Eversley who surely tried and failed to stir her heart.

EVENTS Sea and Space Benefit Weekend More than 80 local artists donated work from every conceivable medium to be auctioned off tonight to benefit this nonprofit artist-run gallery. A benefit concert Saturday night features performances from all-female acoustic cover group B.Y.O.F.F., plus songstress Julia Holter and Video. Sunday features a free clothes swap. Sea and Space Explorations, 4755 York Blvd., L.A. Today, 8-11 p.m.; Sat., 9 p.m.-midnight; Sun., 2-6 p.m. Free today, $10 donation Sat. Raffle tickets $15. (323)