by Christopher Cappiello

Thursday, march 6

the kids are alright

Tiger Heat prowls a few blocks east to its new home at Avalon. Same 18-and-over crowd, same pulsating pop party with DJ Ray Rhodes. Every Thursday, 9:30 p.m.-2 a.m. $5 before 10:30 p.m. Avalon, 1735 Vine St., Hlywd. www.clubtigerheat.com

5-minute freebies

Belly up to the bar at 9:15, 11:15 and 12:15 for five minutes of free drinks every Thursday at O-Bar’s Smack, the fastest open bar in the free world. Free. 9 p.m. O-Bar, 8279 Santa Monica Blvd., WeHo. www.tomwhitmanpresents.com

Can you feel the heat?

Ladies—in the mood for some Heat? Check out here lounge’s Thursday night party featuring loads of luscious lesbians and the illest mixes of your favorite hip-hop, Latin dance and reggaeton songs. here lounge, 696 Robertson Blvd., WeHo. www.herelounge.com

The Wetter the better

Get an eyeful at Thursday night’s Wet-and-Wild Shorts Contest. Winner takes home $100—and most likely a few phone numbers. Eagle L.A., 4219 Santa Monica Blvd., L.A. (323) 669-9472 or www.eaglela.com

Friday, march 7

pick a card

Not just any card, but a Factory Event Space card. At tonight’s Pop Starz Card Party, they’re giving out 1,000 cards, with partnership deals with the Abbey, Murano and L.A. Sporting Club, among others. DJ Mike Bryant mans the music. 21 and over. 9 p.m. $20. Factory, 652 N. LaPeer Dr., WeHo. www.factory

nightclub.com

a spring breeze in winter

Jeffrey Sanker and Paul Nicholls freshen up the end of the week with Fresh Fridays at Eleven, a night with resident DJs Morningstar. 9 p.m. cocktails, 11 p.m. dancing. Eleven, 8811 Santa Monica Blvd., WeHo. www.jeffreysanker.com

Pull Over

You won’t find any 18-wheelers, blue-plate specials or squawking CB radios at this Truck Stop—just a bunch of hotties dancing on the bar to the tunes of DJ Herrick Hell. Every Friday. here lounge, 696 N. Robertson Blvd., WeHo. www.herelounge.com

Saturday, march 8

don’t “Walk on by”

The 24th annual Southland Theatre Artists Goodwill Event (S.T.A.G.E) celebrates the mind-boggling string of hits written by legendary songwriter Burt Bacharach. Blame it on Bacharach! will include performances by everyone from Melissa Manchester to Justin Guarini, as well as the Reader’s Digest version of Bacharach’s Broadway musical, Promises, Promises, starring Vicki Lewis. Silent and live auctions round out the fun, with proceeds benefiting APLA. Tonight, 8 p.m.; Tomorrow, 3 p.m. $50-220. Wilshire Theatre, 8440 Wilshire Blvd., Beverly Hills. www.stagela.com

fiddling around

As part of its March Madness series of one-off shows, La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts hosts Barrage, a high-octane violin ensemble, in High Strung. Barrage’s six violinists step, kick, pivot and jump, all the while madly fiddling in a range of styles. 8 p.m. $30-50. 14900 La Mirada Blvd., La Mirada. www.lamiradatheatre.com

Popularity is fleeting

After a highly popular two-year run, Tom Whitman’s Popular says goodbye to here lounge tonight in a blowout party with DJ Josh Peace. Look for Popular’s return in a new location after next week’s Elevation in Mammoth. Free. 9 p.m.-2 a.m. here lounge, 696 N. Robertson Blvd., WeHo. www.tomwhitman.com

eleven at 11

Cure your Saturday night fever at Discotheque, Eleven’s new weekly night of primo dance music from the disco era to today. DJ Paulo Ramirez picks the tunes starting at 11 p.m. 9 p.m. cocktails, 11 p.m. dancing. No cover. Eleven, 8811 Santa Monica Blvd., WeHo. www.eleven.la

Sunday, march 9

history-making candidate

No, it’s not Barack or Hillary. The original groundbreaker, Geraldine Ferraro, speaks tonight at the Torrance Cultural Arts Center. The 1984 Democratic v.p. candidate is sure to have some thoughts on this year’s historic race. 7 p.m. $35. 3330 Civic Center Dr., Torrance. Call (310) 781-7171 for tickets. www.ci.torrance.ca.us

not any given sunday

… But two Sundays a month, David Cooley and Jeffrey Sanker bring their sabbath dance party to Area. Tonight’s party includes DJ Derek Monteiro. Doors open 8 p.m. $10 after 10 p.m. Area, 643 N. La Cienega Blvd., WeHo. www.jeffreysanker.com

Monday, march 10

high desert high notes

After doing his Judy thing last year, Rufus Wainwright returns to the West Coast as himself, performing solo with just his eerily effective tenor and a piano. 8 p.m. $35-75. McCallum Theatre, 73000 Fred Waring Dr., Palm Desert. www.mccallumtheatre.com

positively DANGEROUS

Sixteen years after its release, auteur Gregg Araki’s The Living End still shocks with its reckless pair of HIV-positive lovers careening across America on a mad, murderous odyssey. REDCAT screens a new remastered cut, with Araki in attendance for a Q&A. 8 p.m. $9. 631 W. 2nd St., in the Walt Disney Concert Hall complex, L.A. www.redcat.org

on the right foot

Start your week right with a stop at Eagle LA’s Monday Mayhem. Miss Kim keeps her “malicious margaritas” flowing till 9 p.m., when former IN coverboy Marcus takes over the bar. Free pool and the usual Eagle madness is part of the fun. 4 p.m.-closing. Free. Eagle L.A., 4219 Santa Monica Blvd., L.A. www.eaglela.com

Tuesday, march 11

defying gravity

New York’s legendary Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater makes a SoCal sojourn to the O.C. Performing Arts Center this week, bringing a typically diverse program. Highlights include their 2007 premiere of Maurice Béjart’s Firebird, set to Stravinky’s delicious score, and the troupe’s classic, Revelations. Through March 16. $25-85. Segerstrom Hall, 600 Town Center Dr., Costa Mesa. www.ocpac.org

the son also rises

With three bestsellers under his young belt, Christopher Rice has established himself as a writer in his own right, and not just the “son of Anne.” His fourth novel, the gays-in-the-military thriller Blind Fall, hits stores today, and Rice marks the occasion by kicking off his national book tour in his WeHo hood. 7 p.m. Free. Borders, 330 S. La Cienega Blvd., L.A. www.christopherricebooks.com

Wednesday, march 12

natural high

More than 2,000 snow boys head to Mammoth this week for Tom Whitman’s Elevation, five days of snowboarding, skiing, parties and lots of lovelies in the lodge. DJs Brett Henrichsen, Roland Belmares and Josh Peace head up the mountain to provide music. March 12-16. $150, Elevation Party Pass (the only guaranteed entry to aprés ski events). www.mammothgayski.com

Go Metro

Get over the hump with Club Metro at Ultra Suede as DJ Ben drops the hottest hip-hop, reggaeton and R&B beats, and L.A.’s hottest go-go dancers shake their stuff. Free with guest list before 11 p.m. $7 otherwise. Ultra Suede, 661 N. Robertson Blvd., WeHo. (323) 769-6333

Sing Out, Louise

What better way to get over the mid-week hump than guzzling two-for-one drinks at Fiesta Cantina and captivating your friends with your own rockin’ renditions of old karaoke standards? Karaoke with Kenny, 10:30 p.m.-1:45 a.m. Fiesta Cantina, 8865 Santa Monica Blvd., WeHo. www.karaokewithkenny.com

Thursday, march 13

hot men from yemen

Club Nur, L.A.’s only weekly LGBT Middle Eastern club night, makes Thursday Arabian night at MJ’s. Indulge in Middle Eastern cocktails and a hookah bar. The diverse crowd includes Armenian, Arab, Persian, Israeli and Turkish boys. 9 p.m. $5 before 10:30 p.m.; $10 after. MJ’s, 2810 Hyperion Ave., Silver Lake. www.myspace.com/clubnur

you can’t stop the beat

Join the one and only Jackie Beat as she hosts Thursday night karaoke at WeHo’s Hamburger Mary’s. $5 gets you a Texas margarita or a martini. Refusing to sing gets you the wrath of Jackie. 8-11 p.m. No cover. Hamburger Mary’s, 8288 Santa Monica Blvd., WeHo. www.hamburgermarysweho.com

sophisticated ladies

Get your weekend started early with Platinum at East/West Lounge, a Sapphic soiree where L.A.’s chicest gals gather. Shannon Kampa hosts. East/West Lounge, 8851 Santa Monica Blvd., WeHo. www.eastwestlounge.com

Friday, march 14

lacma’s broad shoulders

The Los Angeles County Art Museum gets serious about contemporary art with the new Broad Contemporary Art Museum. Funded by a $50 million gift from local collector Eli Broad, the three-story cube on Wilshire boasts an all-star cast of contemporary art and not a single square foot devoted to offices or storage. Thursday-Tuesday. $12 (free after 5 p.m.). 5905 Wilshire Blvd., L.A. www.lacma.org

Weekly Bible Study It Is Not

Join Tom Whitman for Drunk and Horny, West Hollywood’s sexy Friday night party at Fubar, where DJ Josh Peace keeps the party bumpin’ with his hot mix of dirty pop, trashy house and party music. Free. 9 p.m.-2 a.m. Fubar, 7994 Santa Monica Blvd., WeHo. www.tomwhitman.com

Saturday, March 15

nature’s treadmill

Lace up the hiking boots and join the folks from Great Outdoors Los Angeles for an invigorating joint on the Palos Verdes Peninsula, including a stop at the tidal pools of Abalone Cove. No dogs allowed on some of the hike’s trails. Meet at 11:15 in the parking lot of Abalone Cove Shoreline Park ($5 parking fee). www.greatoutdoorsla.org

hrc gay-la

The Human Rights Campaign hosts one of the biggest fundraising events of the year with their annual Southland gala. 2008 honorees include the Bravo network, Iron Chef America’s Cat Cora and the Point Foundation. 5:30 p.m. VIP reception; 6:30 p.m. silent auction; 7:30 p.m. dinner. $275-400. Hyatt Century Plaza Hotel, 2025 Ave. of the Stars, Century City. www.hrcladinner.com

fasten your seatbelts

There’s no telling where you’ll end up with here lounge’s new Saturday night event, Destination, presented by Paul Nicholls and Jeffrey Sanker. Tonight’s inaugural bash features NYC’s DJ Scotty Thompson providing the beats. here lounge, 696 Robertson Blvd., WeHo. www.jeffreysanker.com

Bumpin’ the night

Tune in to Indie 103.1 FM at midnight for Neon Noise with DJ Paul V. His weekly radio show features all the dirty electro, indie rock remixes and mashups you can shake a stick at. It’s the next best thing to being at the club! www.myspace.com/smashmix

Sunday, March 16

size does matter

Whoever said size doesn’t matter hasn’t been to here lounge on Sunday evenings for the big DJs, big drinks and big fun at Size. Tonight DJ Paul Heron brings the best in new beats from London. 4 p.m. every Sunday. Free. here lounge, 696 N. Robertson Blvd., WeHo. www.tomwhitman.com

knock down, drag out

Oasis Nightclub’s latest installment of Drag Idol brings us weekly battles featuring some of the Southland’s most determined drag queens. It all leads to the May 18 finals and $1,000 prize. 10 p.m. Free before 10 p.m. (21+); $5 18-20. Oasis, 1386 E. Foothill Blvd., Upland. www.oasis-nightclub.com

far east on the east side

Following the Leftover Sundays beer bust, MJ’s gives us MasterBasian, an Asian-themed night from the folks who brought us Buddha Lounge. DJ Mike Bryant spins as Asian go-go boys strut their stuff for the mixed crowd. 9 p.m. MJ’s, 2810 Hyperion Ave., Silver Lake. www.mjsbar.com

Monday, March 17

Mondays are a Drag

Drop in to here lounge for Here’s Jackie!, the Monday night show featuring that sharp-tongued chanteuse Jackie Beat, who will have you rolling with her sassy shenanigans. Tonight, Jackie welcomes DJ Paul V. who will keep the party bumping. here lounge, 696 N. Robertson Blvd., WeHo. www.herelounge.com

Tuesday, March 18

it would be so nice

Swing by after work for the HX Gay & Lesbian Travel Expo, your one-stop shopping spot for vacation and travel plans. Whether you’re looking for a romantic getaway for two, or a big gay cruise, start planning your next holiday tonight. 4-8 p.m. Free with online registration. Hyatt West Hollywood, 8401 Sunset Blvd., WeHo. www.gaytravelexpo.com

snoopy’s medical bills

There’s nothing more heartwrenching than a beagle in distress. Bark Victory!, the nonprofit that helps pet owners with huge vet bills, stages a benefit tonight for a Southland beagle with lymphoma. Comedy trio Eva Brontosaurus and queer folk rocker Dudley Saunders are on the bill. 7:30 p.m. $10. Tangier, 2138 Hillhurst Ave., Los Feliz. www.myspace.com/barkvictory