all day: Exhibit

The Petersen Automotive Museum celebrates the 50th anniversary of rock ‘n’ roll and the music’s lyrical link with the automobile with a new exhibit titled “Cars & Guitars of Rock ‘n’ Roll.” A ‘50s Oldsmobile, a Thunderbird from the ‘60s and the “Little Red Corvette” immortalized in the 1983 Prince hit of the same name will be among the 35 cars on display. Eric Clapton’s 1940 Ford and a 1932 hot rod belonging to Jeff Beck will be two of the cars of the stars that will be showcased. The exhibit will also include guitars from such rock heroes as Clapton, Bob Dylan, Jimi Hendrix and Eddie Van Halen.* “Cars & Guitars of Rock ‘n’ Roll,” Petersen Automotive Museum, 6060 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles. Opens Friday. Museum hours: Tuesday-Sunday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. $7; seniors and students with ID, $5; ages 5-12, $3. (323) 930-CARS.

8 pm: Jazz

Nevermind the bake sale ... acclaimed vocalist Al Jarreau headlines the fifth annual “Jazz at J.B.” concert to support renovation of the historic, 75-year-old John Burroughs Middle School auditorium.* “Jazz at J.B.” featuring Al Jarreau, John Burroughs Middle School, 600 S. McCadden Place, Los Angeles. 8 p.m. $25, $35, $50. (213) 387-9177.

7:30 pm: Movies

Eight Oscar-nominated shorts screen Friday at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences as part of the “Academy Standards” series. The three animated films, Oscar winner “Father and Daughter” by Michael Dudok de Wit, “The Periwig-Maker” and “Rejected,” will open the program. Following a brief intermission, the five live-action shorts will be presented, including “By Courier,” “One Day Crossing,” Paolo Machline’s Oscar-winning “Quiero Ser (I Want to Be ... ),” “Seraglio” and “A Soccer Story (Una Historia de Futebol).” The academy has had a public screening of the nominated live-action and animated short subjects each year since 1996.* “Academy Standards,” Oscar-nominated animated and live-action shorts, Samuel Goldwyn Theater, 8949 Wilshire Blvd., Beverly Hills. Friday, 7:30 p.m. $3 to $5. (310) 247-3600.

8:15 pm; Pop Music

Ruben Blades takesa break from his careeras an actor to demonstratehis unmatched versatilityand imagination as amusician.* Ruben Blades, with Victor Manuelle, Universal Amphitheatre, 100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City. 8:15 p.m. $28.50-$68.50. (818) 622-4440.

8 pm: Theater

In “A Thurber Carnival,” tales by humorist James Thurber have been adapted for stage: “The Night the Bed Fell,” “How Mr. Peeble Got Rid of His Wife,” “The Pet Department” and “The Secret Life of Walter Mitty.”* “A Thurber Carnival,” El Portal Center for the Arts, Circle Theatre, 5269 Lankershim Blvd., North Hollywood. Thursdays-Saturdays, 8 p.m.; Sundays, 7 p.m.; Saturdays and Sundays, 2 p.m. Ends July 15. $20. (818) 508-4200, (800) 233-3123.

8&9 pm: Dance

Last year the C.O.L.A. (City of Los Angeles) performance series made news with its edgy, uncompromising work. This year, it begins with Dulce Capadocia’s Silayan Philippine-American Dance Company holding forth in Theatre 1 at the L.A. Theatre Center and, an hour later, Licia Perea performing a solo work based on Virginia Wolfe’s “Orlando” in Theatre 3. Among the artists who received 2001-02 city fellowships in the performing arts, Capadocia blends a contemporary sensibility with folkloric performing skills while Perea develops her dances from an intuitive perspective. One ticket gets you into both events--with another doubleheader scheduled for next week.* C.O.L.A. (City of Los Angeles) Performance Series, L.A. Theatre Center, 514 S. Spring St., downtown L.A. 8 and 9 p.m. Also Saturday, 8 and 9 p.m. $5 (Arts Card member) to $10. (213) 485-1681.

8:30 pm: Performance Art

A multidisciplinary double bill is on tap this weekend: Rochelle Fabb’s perform-ance work “At First Blush” explores the lives of three “girls gone wrong,” through music, voice, movement and visuals; butoh dancer-choreographer and visual and performance artist Michael Sakamoto premieres his work “The Forsaken,” based on the “Dr. Chi” science-fiction film series of the 1920s and ‘60s.* “At First Blush” and “The Forsaken,” Highways, 1651 18th St., Santa Monica. Friday-Sunday, 8:30 p.m. $15. (310) 315-1459.

*

Freebie

* Bassist Marcus Shelby, who usually accompanies theJazzAntiqua Dance Ensemble, leads his orchestra in an outdoor performance at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, 5905 Wilshire Blvd. 5:30 p.m. (323) 857-6115.