THE happenings this weekend

Photo by Robert Keane on Unsplash

Friday

Film

Meta House kicked off the annual Social Impact Media Awards Film Festival on Wednesday. The awards honor “the most cutting edge filmmaking from around the world that inspires activism, compassion and social transformation.” Tonight’s selections include five short documentaries, from a West Bank Jewish settlement to plastics in the Mediterranean, from temples in India to peacemakers in South Sudan.

7pm, Meta House, St. 178

For cheesy, action fun that is definitely not based on reality, check out Korean movie Hitman. Joon quit his job as a legendary NIS “hit man agent” in order to be a webcomic writer. Problem is: all of his stories suck and nobody reads them…until he starts writing about his real-life adventures at the NIS. Except, that makes his former bosses pretty unhappy (and they kill for a living). It’s dubbed in Khmer with English subtitles.

6pm, Aeon Mall Cinema, Sothearos Blvd.

Art

Have you ever looked at the person on the moto next to you at the traffic light and been horrified to realize that you both are wearing the same exact racer stripe helmet (seemingly plucked straight from 1960s cartoon Speed Racer)? Head to Sra’Art’s Pimp My Helmet event tonight at which artists will draw custom designs on your head protection so that you never have to worry about these embarrassing run-ins again.

6-9pm, Sra’Art, Sothearos Blvd.

Khmer painter Sous Sodavy has an opening for his collection “Danse & Gesture” at L’Institut français’s outdoor garden. The opening is paired with a dance performance by French choreographers Yannick Hugron and Philippe Lebhar. The event is free.

6:30pm, Institut français, St. 218

Elia Nurvista graduated from Indonesia Institute of Fine Arts with a degree in design, but she now has moved into many art mediums. She’ll be leading an artist talk at Sa Sa Art Projects in English with Khmer translation.

6-7:30pm, Sa Sa Art Projects, St. 350

Comedy

Get your chuckle on with another Laughter on Tap at Riel Brewing. Tonight’s special guest is Uy Le from Saigon, who plays on words and uses non-sequiturs to deliver his clever deadpan jokes. He won the 2018 Vietnam Comedy Comedition and got 1st runner up at 2019 Bangkok Comedy International Comedy Competition (in short, he’s demonstrably funny). It’s a free show, but email to RSVP.

7:30-9:30pm, Riel Brewing, St. 464 

Music

All the way from the US, via Saigon, is singer-guitarist Jared Bibler. He’ll be playing acoustic “Hometown Heros” songs; tunes from alt-Americana Americans Woody Guthrie, Bruce Springsteen, Patty Smith.

6:30pm, Farm to Table, St. 360

The Boxchords is a cover band with a twist: they only play contemporary pop hits. So think different, dancey, enjoyable.

7:30pm, Alchemy GastroPub, St. 123

Singer and guitarist Antonio Elchico is playing an acoustic mix of boppy pop and rock tunes at arty venue Cloud.

8-11pm, Cloud, St. 9

Blending Latin and blues, Los Primos will capture the feeling of Tango Orguestro in their gig tonight at LF Social Club. The trio has the delightfully unusual combination of two guitars and a violin. 

8-11pm, LF Social Club, St. 308

Hard Rock Cafe’s house band – which is the same band that has covered Metallica and Queen tunes – is now upping the ante. They are covering some pretty big power voices: Lady Gaga, Maroon 5, and Pink. Do you think they’ll nail it? Gotta go to find out.

8pm-midnight, Hard Rock Cafe, St. 102

Bassac Lane is celebrating the launch of its newest microbar Brass Monkey by inviting one of the city’s most popular bands for getting down – the 99 Boyz. Dance, jump and fist bump to their tunes from 20-30 years ago while checking out the new bar or grabbing a drink from one of the nearly dozen others in the lane.

9pm-midnight, Bassac Lane

Dance

If you have trouble getting up the nerve to move your dancing feet in public, maybe it’d help if you were on an unsteady surface. Just a thought. Anyway, you’ll have the chance if you hit up the late night Rave on the Waves boat party that will tour the river while letting you dance in the dark under stars and the city’s distant twinkle.

10pm-3am, Check invite for info

A guest DJ from Berlin is headlining Party Patio tonight. Mobit is currently touring Australia and Southeast Asia, stopping in Phnom Penh to play a free techno show. Opening for him is Shadows of Space.

9pm-1am, Party Patio, St. 308

Toul Tompoung lane hangout La Petanque Bar is having a special dance night to supplement its usual petanque games in its open air “beer garden”. French DJ Octave will play disco, indie and house music at this free event.

9pm-midnight, La Petanque, St. 155

Saturday

Film

Meta House concludes its Social Media Impact Awards Film Festival with three films. The first two shorts show women leading their communities against poverty in such diverse locales as Uganda and Bolivia. The feature-length third film, The Judge, gives insight into Islamic law and gendered justice. All films have English subtitles.

7-10pm, Meta House, St. 178

What Else?

Cloud’s popular flea market is back with vendors of all kinds selling their handmade wares and used treasures (read: vintage) for the entire afternoon into the night. And doesn’t shopping get tiring? Good thing there’s food and drink there, too!

2pm-10pm, Cloud, St. 9

Established and aspiring members of visual media (so, models, actors, photographers, TV and film producers, directors and we’ll assume writers 😉 ) are invited for an evening of networking over cocktails at Fizz Bar. Boutique modeling agency Perfect 10 is co-hosting the event and will be collecting names for “Cambodia’s first ‘Models Directory’”. All guests will receive a free welcome drink and, after some opening remarks, feel free to mingle.

6-10pm, Fizz Bar, St. 155

People with a penchant for fashion, cocktails and feeling the groove, listen up! Penh House & Jungle Addition Hotel is holding its first event in a three part series that combines all three. Tonight’s edition of “Exotic Fashion Meets Urban Jungle” will feature new fashion from Chula Fashion, custom-made cocktails by Auskhmer Import & Export, and DJ DALAH spinning dance tunes. 

6-11pm, Penh House & Jungle Addition Hotel, St. 240

Street 308’s The Garden is honouring their closing with an all-day barbecue, starting at noon, where guests bring their own main to grill and treat themselves to the restaurant’s sides and drink specials. Starting at 8pm, two DJs will bring the party from chill to dancey.

Noon-1am, The Garden at Bassac, St. 308  

A student club at CIA First International School is holding a charity auction to benefit mental health group “Untangle: A Mental Health Project”. Six independent artists as well as students at the school have donated artwork to the auction, and the event will also have a buffet, live paintings and performances, and workshops.

2-6pm, Russian Science & Cultural Center, St. 102 

Music

To see big names Ouk Sokunkanha, Zono, and other artists under Hang Meas, head straight to the 4th floor of Aeon Mall at 5pm. These artists and more will be performing live at a free show, sponsored by Huawai. There will be a lucky draw, too!

5-9:30pm, Aeon Mall, Sothearos Blvd.

Smooth singing Mirasol is teaming up with Hard Rock Cafe’s resident band with a wide-ranging repertoire, Band@Work, to play her brand of upbeat soul. Their music makes you come; $5 pitchers keeps you there after they’ve finished playing. The show is free.

8pm-midnight, Hard Rock Cafe, St. 102

Latin night at Duplex features three-piece Aguita E’Coco, playing bachata, salsa and bolero to keep the salsa dancers (and everyone else) moving their feet. 

9-11:30pm, Duplex Belgian Taverne, St. 278  

Dance

DJ INEE and her pupil Kaza are playing another double-header at Party Patio. Sound of the night: loud techno.

9pm-1am, Party Patio, St. 308

Sunday

Film

Highly rated film Dark Waters is screening at The Flicks tonight. As Mark Ruffalo’s character learns, lawyers who uncover big corporations’ illegal schemes that endanger the lives of thousands whilst making those big corporations very wealthy tend to find that their own health is at risk… from being killed. 

8pm, The Flicks, St. 95

Art

Missed the Penh House fashion show last night? Not to worry. Chula Fashion, which prides itself on slow fashion party dresses, will have all of the looks for sale at a pop-up shop today, also at the hotel. 

10am-6pm, Penh House & Jungle Addition Hotel, St. 240

Music

Touring Lithuanian pianist Martyna Jatkauskaite will perform masterpieces by Schumann, Debussy and Prokofiev at The Piano Shop. The $25 ticket includes wine and canapes. 

6-7:30pm, The Piano Shop, St. 51

What Else?

Oskar’s Bistro is going afloat, so to speak. Their afternoon boat party will take to the river with DJs LyKa and Saint Vincent, many hors d’oeuvres and drinks. Two free drinks come included in the $20/25 ticket. 

2-7pm, Check invite for info 

Phnom Climb is holding its first competition of 2020. Winners of the Sva Prey Bouldering Competition will get both monetary and gear prizes (climbing gear can add up pretty quickly) and is open to anyone over 15. Even if you’re not feeling the challenge, you can go and cheer on the other climbers who are aiming to make it to the top without a rope.

7:30am-7:30pm, Phnom Climb, St. 460 

That’s all for now folks! You Stay Class Phnom Penh