Itinerary: The 1960s

The great thing about living in Los Angeles in the year 2000 is that you actually have your pick of decades in which to exist. Wanna swing? Go ahead and put on that zoot suit. Wanna boogie? Disco cover bands await your requests. Whatever your style, there’s a club, a record rack, a thrift store and probably a used car to suit it.

This weekend, the American Cinematheque travels deep into the best and worst of the 1960s. Rev up your VW Beetle and go along for the ride.

Thursday

Icon of the ‘60s Bob Dylan is making a concert sweep through Southern California this weekend, starting tonight at 7 at Verizon Wireless Amphitheater (8808 Irvine Center Drive, Irvine, [949] 855-2863). The folk-rock singer is appearing with Phil Lesh, and they also have shows Friday at 7 p.m. at Seaside Park (Ventura County Fairgrounds, [213] 480-3232) and Saturday at 7 p.m. at the Del Mar Fairgrounds (2260 Jimmy Durante Blvd., Del Mar, [619] 755-1161).

Or, on the other end of the ‘60s music spectrum, join the mod squad at Cafe Bleu at Tempest (7323 Santa Monica Blvd., West Hollywood. $5. $7 under 21. [323] 850-5115). At this Thursday-night club, DJs spin ‘60s sounds from England and live bands play groovy Brit-pop-ish tunes for an 18-and-up crowd. Dig out your go-go boots and dance. You’ll know you’re there when you see the dozens of Vespas parked on the sidewalk. Scooter drivers get in free.

Friday

Inspired by the success of the Austin Powers movies, the American Cinematheque last year hosted a Mods & Rockers film series. It was a fabulous hit, so they’ve come back this year with Mods & Rockers 2000: More Fab Flicks From the Shag-a-delic Sixties!!

Three films begin the 13-day program: At 7 p.m., “Smashing Time” (1967), about a pair of country girls in London; at 9:30 p.m. “Georgy Girl” (1967), about a supposedly ugly duckling pursued by a rich, married older man, and “The Guru” (1968), an early collaboration between James Ivory, Ismail Merchant and Ruth Prawer Jhabvala about a British rocker searching for enlightenment in India. Lynn Redgrave, Rita Tushingham and Michael York, all of whom star in “Smashing Time” and “The Guru,” will appear at the screening at the Egyptian Theatre (6712 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood, [323] 466-FILM). The series runs through July 12. All screenings cost $7.

Saturday

Get grounded in the art from the 1960s at Kantor Gallery (8642 Melrose Ave., L.A., [310] 659-5388). The exhibition “The ‘60s Works on Paper,” running through July 20, reveals the ambiguous relationship between commercial and fine art during the period, and includes work by Andy Warhol, Robert Rauschenberg, Edward Ruscha and others.

The Mods & Rockers 2000 takes a turn for the musical Saturday night with “A Hard Day’s Night” and “The Making of ‘A Hard Day’s Night,’ ” at 5 p.m., followed by “The Rolling Stones Rock & Roll Circus” at 8:15 p.m., and “Yellow Submarine” and “A Mod Odyssey” at 10 p.m.

Sunday

Relive the British invasion in one day. There are earlier screenings, but definitely get there from 6 to 10 p.m. for the Mods & Rockers English Tea Party. It starts with “Go Go Mania” (1965), a concert flick with the Beatles, the Animals, Herman’s Hermits and others. Afterward comes the tea ($20-$25 for party and film) with live music from an all-star band: Spencer Davis, Andy Summers, Micky Dolenz and others.