all dayMoviesKieslowski lives! Krzysztof Kieslowski, the late...

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Movies

Kieslowski lives! Krzysztof Kieslowski, the late Polish filmmaker best known for his “Three Colors” trilogy and the Ten Commandments-inspired “Decalogue,” teams posthumously with “Run Lola Run” director Tom Tykwer on the drama “Heaven,” starring Cate Blanchett and Giovanni Ribisi. Kieslowski and frequent collaborator Krzysztof Piesiewicz wrote the script, in which Blanchett plays a British woman living in Italy who is forced to take the law into her own hands.

“Heaven,” rated R for a scene of sexuality, opens Friday exclusively at the Laemmle Sunset 5, 8000 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood, (323) 848-3500; and Laemmle Monica, 1332 2nd St., Santa Monica, (310) 394-9741.

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Jazz

Take the ferry, row a boat, swim if you must--26 miles across the sea--to three days and nights of incomparable jazz on Catalina Island. This is the opening weekend of the 16th annual Catalina Island Jazztrax Festival. Friday, look for Steve Cole and Mindi Abair. The rest of the weekend’s lineup includes Pete Escovedo, Keiko Matsui, Willie & Lobo, Jimmy Reid, Acoustic Alchemy and others. The festival continues each weekend through Oct. 20.

Catalina Island Jazztrax Festival, Avalon Casino Ballroom, Catalina. 7:30 p.m. Also, Saturday and Sunday, noon and 7 p.m. $28 to $36 per concert; package rates available. (888) 330-5252 or www.frantix.net.

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8:30pm

Pop Music

Yearning for a break from all those alt-rock bands for whom wardrobe means T-shirt and dingy jeans? On Friday and Saturday, check out the Polyphonic Spree, the two-dozen strong ensemble formed in 1999 by former Tripping Daisy leader Tim DeLaughter. Members appear on stage in flowing white robes to play upbeat, melodic songs with a subtle gospel touch on all manner of orchestral instruments as well as the theremin and various other electronic effects.

The Polyphonic Spree, the Fold at the Derby, 4500 Los Feliz Blvd., Los Angeles. With Earlimart, Irving. 8:30 p.m. $11. (323) 666-2407. Also Saturday, the Troubadour, 9081 Santa Monica Blvd., West Hollywood. 7 p.m. $10. (310) 276-6168.

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8pm

Theater

“Dementia,” Evelina Fernandez’s seriocomic play, revolves around a Latino dying of AIDS and his sexy drag queen alter ego. The world premiere is presented by the Latino Theatre Company, with Sal Lopez, Richard Coca, Geoffrey Rivas and others.

“Dementia,” Los Angeles Theatre Center, 514 S. Spring St., L.A. Wednesdays-Fridays, 8 p.m.; Saturdays, 2 and 8 p.m.; Sundays, 2 p.m. Ends Oct. 20. $21 to $24. (213) 473-0560.

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6:30pm

Pop Music

Queens of the Stone Age makes heavy metal music the way it was meant to be: loud, aggressive and speedy. On its latest album, “Songs for the Deaf,” the band with the rotating drummers got an assist from Dave Grohl, back in the chair he manned for Nirvana. QOTSA is on the road with the hot Austin punk-metal band with the long moniker, And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead, and Canadian electro-punk tuff-girl Peaches. The tour reaches the Palladium on Friday.

Queens of the Stone Age, Palladium, 6215 Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles. With And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead, Peaches. 6:30 p.m. $21. (323) 962-7600.

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7:30pm

Words

In author Ray Bradbury’s “Fahrenheit 451,” the firemen don’t rush to douse fires--they ignite the flames to burn books. Bradbury’s frightening yet insightful speculation on the future of humankind broadened contemporary science fiction. Now the Long Beach Public Library Foundation is sponsoring “An Evening With Ray Bradbury.” The author of “The Martian Chronicles,” “The Illustrated Man” and countless other novels and short stories will be interviewed by Long Beach Press-Telegram executive editor Rich Archbold.

An Evening With Ray Bradbury, Center Theater, Long Beach Performing Arts Center, 300 E. Ocean Blvd., Long Beach. 7:30 p.m. $40 and $100, includes reception. (800) 505-5990.

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Festival

Carpinteria will stage its 16th annual homage to that pebbly skinned fruit with the fat pit. The California Avocado Festival came into being to boost fund-raising efforts for area nonprofits and to celebrate agricultural riches. It has since grown into one of the largest of its kind in California. Highlights include three entertainment stages with more than 40 acts, a county fair tent, artisans galore, children’s activities and the biggest vat of guacamole you’ve ever seen.

California Avocado Festival, downtown Carpinteria at Linden and Carpinteria avenues. Friday, 4-9 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m.-9 p.m.; Sunday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Free. (805) 684-0038. www.avofest.com.