Best Bets: Thurs 9/3

All day: Movie Memorabilia

A lifelike model of a tarantula created for “Dr. No” (1962), a specially adapted Rolex worn by Roger Moore in “Live and Let Die” (1973), the lethal metal-rimmed hat worn by Oddjob in “Goldfinger” (1964) and hundreds more items of James Bond movie memorabilia will be on view today and Friday at Christie’s Los Angeles. The collection of costumes, props, posters, cars and ephemera is representative of more than 250 lots of material to be sold at Christie’s South Kensington Sept. 17 in the first-ever auction devoted to Ian Fleming’s fictional secret agent.

* James Bond Movie Memorabilia, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. today; 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Friday. Christie’s Los Angeles, 360 N. Camden Drive, Beverly Hills. Free. (310) 385-2600.

8:30 pm: Pop Music

Cuban Orlando Valle--who goes by his nickname, Maraca--has established himself as perhaps Latin America’s leading flutist. The alumnus of the group Irakere brings his eclectic blend of traditional and contemporary forms to L.A. for the first time, along with a 14-piece band that includes Pio Leyva and Barbaro Torres from the Grammy-winning Buena Vista Social Club.

Maraca, with Johnny Polanco y Su Conjunto Amistad, Sportsmen’s Lodge, 12833 Ventura Blvd., Studio City. $25. (818) 755-5000.

9 pm: Comedy

Comedian George Carlin, an inspiration to many comics--not to mention one now-infamous newspaper columnist--is at the Comedy Store this weekend and next working out material for an upcoming HBO special. “Here’s something I can do without: People ahead of me on the supermarket line who are paying for an inexpensive item by credit card or personal check. People! Take my word for this: Tic Tacs is not a major purchase.” That’s from Carlin’s latest book of stand-up philosophy, “brain droppings,” and it’s among the lines Mike Barnicle, formerly of the Boston Globe, was nabbed using in his column. Good thing Carlin has an overactive mind.

* George Carlin, the Comedy Store, 8433 Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles. Today and Friday, 9 p.m.; Saturday, 8 and 10:30 p.m.; Sept. 10-11, 9 p.m.; Sept. 12, 8 and 10:30 p.m. $20 for Thursday shows, $25 for Friday and Saturday shows. (323) 656-6225.