Since opening in 2009, SideShow Rare and Remarkable Books, Art & Curiosities has hosted readings and workshops, poetry and spoken word evenings, music, comedy and myriad film screenings. Highlights include our first event in 2011, an electric car weekend in our parking lot in support of the film THE REVENGE OF THE ELECTRIC CAR with electric car makers from around the world discussing their vehicles — including an afternoon with a then-fledgling car maker named Elon Musk. Another early highpoint was the celebration of Ken Kesey’s ELECTRIC KOOL-AID road trip featuring Grateful Dead cover bands, light shows and non-electric kool-aid!
The COLLAGE COLLEGE workshop with prominent LA artists was held every Thursday night from 2018 through the start of the pandemic and continues now on a bi-monthly basis.
Jenna Dorn’s BACKYARD Poetry and Music Open Mic nights in 2018-2019 featured LA poets and musicians presenting new works.
Comedy Nights, NOVELTY COMEDY and STACKS COMEDY showcased rising stand-up comedians such as HBO’s Hannah Einbinder and Saturday Night Live’s James Austin Johnson among others.
A number of writing workshops focused on short fiction, memoir and screenwriting ran here pre-pandemic.
Dozens and dozens of musicians played here on the back patio and in front of the bookstore presenting all genres of music from folk singers to acid jazz and electronica.
