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7:30 pm: Movies

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This year, the Los Angeles Film Critics Assn. has bestowed its career achievement award on two legends from one of Hollywood’s darker chapters--screenwriter Julius Epstein and writer-director Abraham Polonsky, both of whom were blacklisted in 1951. The Los Angeles County Museum of Art will screen four films over two nights that represent the best of Epstein and Polonsky’s work. On Saturday, after a screening of “Tell Them Willie Boy Is Here,” screenwriter Robert Towne will moderate a discussion with the still outspoken Polonsky.

* Los Angeles Film Critics Assn. Salute to Julius Epstein and Abraham Polonsky, LACMA, Bing Theater, 5905 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles. Friday, 7:30 p.m.: “Casablanca” (1942) and “Force of Evil” (1948), with guest Aljean Harmetz, author of “Round Up the Usual Suspects.” Saturday, 7:30 p.m.: “Tell Them Willie Boy Is Here” (1969) and “Reuben, Reuben” (1982), with guests Polonsky, Robert Towne and director Walter Shenson. $5 to $7. (323) 857-6010.

8 pm: Jazz

The Stan Kenton Orchestra won a Grammy in 1961 for its jazz recording of Leonard Bernstein’s “West Side Story.” Now, the American Jazz Institute Orchestra, conducted by Mark Masters, revives Johnny Richards’ arrangement of the Bernstein classic with some members of Kenton’s ’61 orchestra as well as jazz notables Carl Saunders, Bill Perkins and Jack Montrose. Also on the bill, longtime Mel Torme bassist John Leitham and his trio.

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* “Jazz Meets Broadway: Celebrating Stan Kenton’s Adaptation of Leonard Bernstein’s ‘West Side Story,’ ” Garrison Theatre, Claremont McKenna College, 231 E. 10th St., Claremont. $20 to $35. (909) 607-8255.

3 pm: Architecture

Challenged with transforming an abandoned warehouse into a 24-hour cultural center, urban planners, designers and artists answered the call in the design competition “Save the Los Angeles Downtown Arts District.” The winning entriesin the competition, sponsored by the Alliance to Preserve the Downtown Arts District and Action: Space, will be unveiled Saturday at an opening reception at Action: Space. Additional activities include a book-signing with noted architectural photographer and juror Julius Shulman, a spoken word performance and a mini-budget film festival.

* Save the Los Angeles Downtown Arts District Urban Design Competition and Exhibition of Entries. Through March 20. Action: Space Studio, 734 E. 3rd St. Reception, 3 to 9 p.m. Saturday. Julius Shulman book-signing, 3 to 4 p.m.; announcement of winning entries, 5 p.m.; Grotowski and “Poor Theatre” Tribute, 6 p.m.; Spoken Word and Open Doors Project, 8 p.m.; Mini-Budget Film Festival, 9 p.m. Admission free. (213) 680-4237.

all day: Theater

“Women in Theatre Celebrates Women’s History Month” presents dozens of free performances throughout Los Angeles County at bookstores, libraries and theaters, including such works as “What a Black Woman Feels,” “Lifting the Arab Veil,” and solo shows on the lives of Pearl Bailey, Elizabeth Kubler-Ross, Corazon Aquino, Golda Meir and others.

* “Women in Theatre Celebrates Women’s History Month,” 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Free. Call hotline for nearest performances: (818) 763-5222.

11 am: Art

New geometric abstractions by admired Los Angeles painter John M. Miller will be featured in “Ritual,” opening Saturday at Patricia Faure Gallery. The exhibition will include the artist’s trademark stripped-down paintings as well as the drawings and collages that are the basis for the works.

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* “John M. Miller: Ritual.” Patricia Faure Gallery, 2525 Michigan Ave., B-7, Santa Monica. Ends April 10. Tuesday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Free. (310) 449-1479.

8 pm: Jazz

Big-band jazz has been a Monday-night institution at New York’s fabled Village Vanguard club since 1966, when the late Thad Jones introduced the now legendary Thad Jones-Mel Lewis Orchestra. The latest band to hold court at the Greenwich Village nightspot, the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, makes its first Southern California appearance with such notables as saxophonists Dick Oatts and Walt Weiskopf, trombonist John Mosca, pianist Jim McNeely, and bassist Dennis Irwin.

* The Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, Harriet and Charles Luckman Fine Arts Complex, Cal State L.A., 5151 State University Drive. $27.50 to $32.50; students and seniors, $15. (323) 343-6600.

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FREEBIES: Dog training seminar from L.A. Animal Services and New Leash on Life Animal Rescue, North Central L.A. Shelter, 3201 Lacy St., 10 a.m. to noon, (888) 452-7381.

Pop and folk singer Fernando Olivares performs at Borders Books and Music, 12615 Artesia Blvd., Cerritos, 8:30 p.m. (562) 809-5775.

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