WEEKEND FORECAST

TODAY

EVENTS

Gothamites

get to strut their stuff

Oh, those New Yorkers! The opening reception for the New York International Independent Film and Video Festival in L.A. is unpretentiously being called the New York International Art Festival in L.A. The “art festival,” which happens tonight at the Bel Age Hotel, will feature pieces in various media including painting, ceramics, digital photography, jewelry, sculpture and posters. Attendees will get a chance to meet the featured artists and schmooze with the filmmakers whose work is being presented at the film festival. The film and video festival, which runs today through next Thursday, will screen more than 100 international and domestic films, shorts, documentaries and animations at the Laemmle Fairfax. Several seminars will be held at the Bel Age and parties will combust spontaneously each night following the screenings.

* New York International Art Festival in L.A., Bel Age, 1020 N. San Vicente Blvd., West Hollywood. 7 to midnight tonight. $20. (702) 361-1430.

* New York International Independent Film and Video Festival in L.A., screenings at the Laemmle Fairfax, 7907 Beverly Blvd., L.A., today through next Thursday. $12; seminar space is limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis. Schedule: www.nyfilmvideo.com

JAZZ

Bona’s bass instincts are quite sound

The roots of jazz reach back to Africa, and lately we’ve begun to hear from young African musicians who -- via their unique takes on contemporary American jazz -- are providing yet another wave of African influence. Cameroonian bassist Richard Bona is one of the most visible. Bona’s musical epiphany came when he was around 13 and heard a recording by bassist Jaco Pastorius. “I never looked back,” he says. Since he moved to the U.S. in 1995, he’s worked with the likes of Joe Zawinul, Herbie Hancock, Harry Belafonte and Joni Mitchell. But on his own recordings -- “Scenes From My Life,” “Munia,” “Reverence” and the just released “Tiki” -- his amazing combination of bass playing, singing and composing shines.

Richard Bona, Temple Bar, 1026 Wilshire Blvd., Santa Monica. 9:30 tonight. $12. (310) 393-6611.

FRIDAY

MOVIES

Bambino’s back at bat

The bulk of this week’s movie attention may be going to L.A.’s grim unsolved mystery “The Black Dahlia,” but baseball fans will be curious about the inspirational animated film “Everyone’s Hero,” a labor of love by the late Christopher Reeve that was completed by Daniel St. Pierre and Colin Brady. It’s the tale of a young Yankees fan (voiced by Jake T. Austin), the talking baseball he befriends (Rob Reiner) and their quest to return Babe Ruth’s stolen bat (Whoopi Goldberg) before the deciding game of the 1932 World Series. With Brian Dennehy as the voice of the Great Bambino.

In general release. Rated G for all audiences.

WORDS

Talk about ‘Teeth’

Zadie Smith, a North London-bred author born to a Jamaican mother and British father, first gained attention for her scrappy and audacious debut, “White Teeth,” an intergenerational, multicultural saga set in her native hood. Her follow-ups, “The Autograph Man” and “On Beauty,” haven’t made quite the same splash, but have garnered respect and praise all the same. Catch her in a rare U.S. appearance, in conversation with Times book editor David Ulin, at this kickoff to UCLA Live’s spoken word series.

Zadie Smith, UCLA Live, Royce Hall, 340 Royce Drive, L.A. 8 p.m. Friday. $15 to $35. (310) 825-2101.

ART

Revving up for the Crawl

Sunset Junction has come and gone but the Eastside is throwing another weekend shindig: The ninth annual Art Crawl, which, unlike the Sunset Junction, is still free but on a grander scale than in previous years. Some 20 galleries and art spaces throughout Los Feliz, Silver Lake and Echo Park will showcase their fall exhibitions, but on Friday, the Echo sets the tone with a free Family Crawl followed by a Kick Off Party (21 and older after 8 p.m.) with live performances by Anavan, Creekbird, Teenage Talking Cars and others on Friday. And if you’d rather pedal than crawl, M&A; in Silver Lake has bicycles on loan all weekend.

* Art Crawl at various Eastside galleries. Go to www.laluzdejesus.com for list of venues. Friday through Sunday. Free.

* Family Crawl and Kick Off Party at the Echo, 1822 Sunset Blvd., L.A. Family Crawl, 6 p.m. to 7:45 p.m. Friday; free. Kick Off Party, 8 p.m. to 2 a.m.; $10; $5 with official flier. www.attheecho.com

SATURDAY

THEATER

Mythical Racine

A Noise Within’s 15th-anniversary season opens with “Phaedra,” Jean Racine’s classic 17th century version of the Greek myth of Phaedra, queen of Athens, whose scandalous, tragic love for her stepson, Hippolytus, shakes the city to its core. Directed by Sabin Epstein from the translation by Richard Wilbur, with original music by Laura Karpman.

“Phaedra,” A Noise Within, 234 S. Brand Blvd., Glendale. Opens 8 p.m. Saturday. $34 and $38. Opening night performance and reception, $53. (818) 240-0910, Ext. 1; www.anoisewithin.org* Continues 2 and 7 p.m. Sunday. Also runs 8 p.m. Oct. 4 to 6 and Nov. 2 to 4; 2 and 8 p.m. Nov. 18; 2 and 7 p.m. Nov. 19. Ends Nov. 19.

DANCE

Cheaper by the dozen

For dance diversity, head for Huntington Beach. Twelve professional choreographers will showcase their work in the 2nd Annual Invitational Dance Concert at Golden West College Theater. Expect everything from jazz dancing to world dance traditions to experimental dance-theater as created by Andrew Vaca, Erin Landry, Christine Baltes, Nannette Brodie, Regina Klenjoski, Veronica Parker, Jeff Hendrix, Erica Plano, Jennie Hill Sustaita, Anandha Ray, Mike and Monique Melton.

2nd Annual Invitational Dance Concert, Golden West College Theater, 15744 Golden West St., Huntington Beach, 8 p.m. Saturday. $16; $10 (students, children). (714) 895-8150; www.gwctheater.com

POP MUSIC

Who needs the CMA?

Toby Keith might have been shut out of the upcoming Country Music Assn. Awards, where he has twice been named entertainer of the year, but the veteran singer is going strong with his “Hookin’ Up and Hangin’ Out” tour. Keith, who released his latest album, “White Trash With Money,” on his independent Show Dog label, has also made his movie acting debut in “Broken Bridges.”

Toby Keith, Hyundai Pavilion, 2575 Glen Helen Parkway, Devore, 7:30 p.m. Saturday. $36.25 to $69.75. (909) 880-6500.

SUNDAY

MUSEUMS

The fabric of our time

Roushing, boning, stitching. These are more than just clothing construction techniques, they’re elements of high art. “Breaking the Mode: Contemporary Fashion From the Permanent

Collection” highlights

40 designers whose use

of cutting-edge technology and textiles have changed the rules of fashion and design long established

by European fashion houses.

“Breaking the Mode: Contemporary Fashion From the Permanent Collection,” Los Angeles County Museum of Art, 5905 Wilshire Blvd., L.A. Opens Sunday. $5 to $9; 17 and younger, free. (323) 857-6000.

* Hours: noon to 8 p.m. Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays; noon to 9 p.m. Fridays; 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. Ends Jan. 7.

POP MUSIC

A blast at Bergamot

No, it’s not a tribute to the co-leader of the Clash. But the Summer Strummer festival distributes a solid lineup of mostly Los Angeles-based performers across its three stages, topped by Latin electronic-rockers Kinky and NoCal female rockers the Donnas. John Doe, Johnette Napolitano, Rooney, the Vacation, the duo of Matthew Sweet and Susannah Hoffs and Agent Orange are among the many more on hand for the all-ages event.

Summer Strummer festival, Bergamot Station, 2525 Michigan Ave., Santa Monica. Noon Sunday. $25 general admission; $50 VIP. www.myspace.com/thesummerstrummer