August 24
Campfire at Temescal Canyon Gateway Park with animals, songs around the fire and marshmallows, 7-9pm, free, 310.454.1395 x106 or www.lamountains.com.
August 25
3rd Street Comedy presents “Edgy Laughs” with funny people Cassie Pappas, Nicole Jones, Cash Levy, Scott Channon and Steve Mazan, 8pm, Promenade Playhouse, 1404 Third Street Promenade, 310.656.8070 x17.
Women in the Dharma, public talk that probes the issue of women becoming enlightened through Buddhism, 7-9pm, $5 donation, presented by Santa Monica Karma Kagyu Study Group, 1220 2nd St., 310.451.4368.
August 26
Artist Peter Tigler creates a new mural, 10am-4pm, PS #1’s Field of Dreams, 12th St. between Broadway and Santa Monica Blvd.
Jack Bender Found, an exhibition of art by television producer and Brentwood resident Jack Bender, opening reception 7pm, Timothy Yarger Fine Art, 329 N. Beverly Dr., BH, RSVP, 310.278.4400.
Broadway Nights and Radio Days, a fundraiser for the community’s poor, by the Arc Players at the Parish Auditorium of St. Monica’s Church, 725 California Ave., 310.566.1500 x585. $25 advance/$30 at door ticket price includes dinner at 7pm and show at 8pm.
Casino Night at the Beach for Meals on Wheels West, 4-8pm, $50 in advance, $60 at door, Loews Santa Monica Beach Hotel, 1700 Ocean Ave., 310.394.5133 or www.mealsonwheelswest.org.
Depicting Action: opening reception for artists Sinead O’Donnell and Paul Couillard, 6-8:30pm, 18th Street Arts Center, 1639 18th St., 310.453.3711 or office@18thstreet.org.
Mediterranea Exotica, dance and music with male performers, 8:30pm, Highways Performance Space, 1651 18th St., 310.315.1459. Also on August 27, 7pm.
Reading by writers from Otis College of Art and Design, 7pm, Track 16 Gallery, Bergamot Station, 2525 Michigan Ave., 310.264.4678.
Sri Lanka Day, a cultural festival with music, dance, theater, food and more, Third Street Promenade, beginning at 10am.
S.U.R.F. Benefit in Venice, an event to raise funds for the nonprofit S.U.R.F. (Surfers United Recovery Foundation) substance abuse recovery program. Music by West Indian Girl and Shayne Blue, 7pm-midnight, tickets $20 in advance, $25 at the door, Epoxybox, 602 Venice Blvd., www.surfrecovery.org.
Watercolor Portraits by Lisa Winnick, opening reception 2-4pm, Louise’s Restaurant Gallery, 264 26th St., 310.451.5001.
August 27
Heal the Bay’s Re-Boot & Rock the Beach, beach clean-up and free concert with Jurassic 5 and Jonny Lang, beginning at 10am, 1800 Ocean Front Walk, Venice.
Instructions on Cultivating Compassion, session runs from 1-4pm, $20 donation, Santa Monica Karma Kagyu Study Group, 1220 2nd St., 310.451.4368
Lavender Diamond will perform in concert at the UCLA Art Council Amphitheater, 4pm, UCLA Fowler Museum, 310.825.4361 or www.fowler.ucla.edu.
Mark and Barbara Frog, a musical that combines songs, science and sex, show begins at sunset, Venice Mootney Cabaret Theatre, 2508 S. Stoner Ave., WLA, 310.478.7379 or www.mootney.org.
Mom and Me Yoga Spa Day at Kids’ Yoga Circle. Daughters, bring your moms for a day of relaxing with yoga exercises and spa treatments, 1:30-3:30pm, KYC at Exhale Spa, 1422 2nd St., register in advance, $30, 310.921.7100.
Palisades Symphony, Tosca highlights, 7:30pm, Palisades Lutheran Church, 15905 Sunset Blvd., PP, 310.454.8040.
PICAS Singles holds an “international potluck” with tennis and volleyball, 2pm, Rustic Canyon Park, 601 Latimer Rd., 310.827.1441 or picasla@yahoo.com.
The Santa Monica CoHousing Group will host a meeting for those interested in learning about cooperative housing, 11am-1pm in Palisades Park on the lawn near Idaho Ave. Meeting spot will be marked with a green flag, 310.656.0495.
Steamboat Bill, Jr., the classic Buster Keaton silent comedy, screens as part of the AFI/Skirball Cultural Center’s Cinema Legacy series, with host Jon Favreau and live piano accompaniment, 2pm, Skirball Cultural Center, 2701 N. Sepulveda Blvd., 310.440.4500, www.skirball.org.
Topanga Symphony, free concert, Jerome Kessler, conductor, Topanga Community House, 1440 N. Topanga Canyon Blvd., 818.591.8477 or www.topangasymphony8k. com.
August 29
PICAS Singles holds its “International Dinner Walk” with a dinner and a walk afterwards, at Lilly’s French Café, 1031 Abbot Kinney Blvd., RSVP by 1pm to 310.392.8366.
Santa Monica Drive-In’s Free Films at the Pier presents Forrest Gump, Oscar-winning film starring Tom Hanks and the Pier itself! Doors open at 7pm, free, tickets available at SM Visitors Centers, chairs for rent, proceeds to Arts Fighting Cancer.
August 30
Peace is Every Step – Meditation In Action: The Life and Work of Thich Nhat Hanh. A film about the Vietnamese Zen teacher, his anti-war work and exile from his homeland, noon, UCLA Fowler Museum, 310.825.4361, www.fowler.ucla.edu.
August 31
Hippolytos, the classic Greek tragedy by Euripides, previews at the Getty Villa’s new amphitheater, 8pm, Getty Villa, 17985 Pacific Coast Highway, PP, 310.440.7300. Also September 1 & 2.
In A Sense: Santa Monica Live 2, poetry with Sarah Maclay, John Harris and Noah Blaustein, 7pm, Martin Luther King, Jr. Auditorium, Santa Monica Main Library, 601 Santa Monica Blvd., 310.458.8600.
ONGOING
Dance and Live Fiddle Band, the California Dance Cooperative holds contradances (which is sort of like square dancing, only more fun) on the first and fourth Saturday night of every month, Brentwood Youth House, 731 S. Bundy Dr., just north of Montana Ave., 7:30pm, all ages welcome, snacks provided, $9, 818.951.2003.
LA Arts Academy offers classes for kids, teens and adults. Classes include Art For Kids, Art For Teens, Ceramic Functional Art and Sculpture, 310.829.ARTS.
Mt. Olive Film Night, Mt. Olive Lutheran Church, 1343 Ocean Park Blvd., entertaining and thought- provoking films shown on 2nd and 4th Saturdays, supper at 6pm, films start at 7pm, free, 310.452.1116.
SENIOR SCENE
Become a Mentor. The City of Santa Monica along with the Santa Monica Chamber of Commerce invite you to join Big Brothers Big Sisters in mentoring local at risk youth. Call Miguel at 213.481.3611 x212.
Free Stroke Recovery Program at the WISE Adult Day Service facility at 1510 Pico Blvd. The program runs from 9am-noon on Tuesdays and Thursdays and includes therapeutic exercise and classes on the psychological aspects of stroke recovery for stroke survivors and family members. Pre-registration is required, 310.575.1699.
Men’s Group, weekly support group for people 55 and older, talk about personal issues in a confidential environment, Wednesdays, 11:15am-12:45pm, Center for Healthy Aging, 2125 Arizona Ave., must RSVP, 310.576.2550.
Mentoring Program Seeks Retired Teachers. Help mentor first-year teachers in Compton, Pasadena, Los Angeles and Lynwood by offering your expertise, including classroom observation and feedback. Call UCLA Center on Aging, 310.794.0676.
Musicians invited to meet weekly and perform in concert with the Santa Monica College Emeritus Band, Lincoln Middle School, in the Bandroom, California and 14th Streets, Tuesdays, 7pm, 310.474.5271.
Santa Monica Strutters, a walking program for seniors sponsored by UCLA Healthcare, Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, from 8-10am in the 3rd level Community Room at Santa Monica Place, 310.319.4560.
Senior Improv Workshop. Ongoing free class for seniors over 55, 1-3pm Tuesdays, Santa Monica Senior Rec. Center, 1450 Ocean Ave., 323.512.8245.
Senior Suppers. Discounted meals for people over 55, 3:30-7pm in the cafeteria at Santa Monica-UCLA Medical Center, 1250 16th St., $3.25 plus tax, 310.319.4837.
Widows and Widowers discuss feelings that often accompany loss, Tuesdays, 10-11:30am, Center for Healthy Aging, 2125 Arizona Ave., 310.576.2554.
WISE Retired and Senior Volunteer Program offers opportunities for volunteers 55 plus to tutor children at lower income schools. Tutor reading, work with children on art and other projects or use computers to teach literacy, training available, 310.394.9871 x452.
HEALTH & FITNESS
Co-opportunity’s Monday Night Food For Thought. Talks on health, well-being, family and finances. Mondays, 7-8:30pm, Sha’arei Am – The Santa Monica Synagogue, 1448 18th St., 310.451.8902.
Fitness Programs for Women with Cancer. Team Survivor, a nonprofit providing free health and fitness programs for women in cancer treatment and recovery, weekly walking groups and exercise classes in the Santa Monica area, 310.829.7849 for locations and information.
Freedom from Smoking. Saint John’s Health Center, 1328 22nd St., developed by The American Lung Association. Meeting Tuesdays and Thursdays at lunchtime, 12-1:30pm. Cost for the 8 sessions is $80; advance registration is required, 310.829.8453.
Health workshops and lectures, some free, some at cost, ranging in topics from blood pressure to breastfeeding to parenting to care for the elderly, Santa Monica-UCLA Medical Center, 1250 16th St., 800.516.5323.
Just Between Men, Prostate Cancer Networking Group, the second Monday of each month, 7-9pm, The Wellness Community, 2716 Ocean Park Blvd., Ste. 1040, 310.314.2555, 310.314.7586.
L.A. Leggers, for marathon and half marathon training program and year-round club for runners and walkers of all abilities. Meets Saturday mornings in Santa Monica. Membership fee includes seminars, beginner-to-advanced pace groups, membership guide, marathon book, support stations and t-shirt, 310.577.8000, laleggers@earthlink.net or www.laleggers.org.
Lip-reading classes for the hard of hearing, Tuesdays and Thursdays, 9:30-11:30am, Felicia Mahood Senior Center, 11338 Santa Monica Blvd., WLA, 310.477.2084.
Nike Club Run L.A. at FrontRunners will host a marathon and half-marathon training program and offer refreshments, Nike footwear trials and a friendly, supportive running environment, 8am every Sunday through October 15, 11620 San Vicente Blvd., 310.207.0216 or www.frontrunners77.com.
Overeaters Anonymous, newcomers meeting, Wednesdays, 6:30pm, Reed Park Auditorium, Wilshire Blvd. and 7th St. No dues, fees or weigh-ins. Regular meeting follows from 7-8pm., 310.392.1130.
Santa Monica Rugby Club, men’s and women’s teams play touch on the beach every Thursday evening throughout the summer from 6pm, Tower 27, just south of Ocean Park Blvd.
Serious young dancers ages, nine and up for the L.A. KidStars Dance Team, rehearsals on Thursdays 3:30-5:30pm, Santa Monica YWCA. 2019 14th St., www.lakidstars.com or 310.842.9872.
Therapeutic Hatha Yoga, with Bea Ammidown, RYT 500, Wednesdays, 7-8pm, Thursdays, 11:30am-12:30pm, and Fridays, 10-11am; Saturdays, 9:30-10:30am, Yoga & Writing Workshop continues on Fridays to 12:30pm, 310.358.3338.
Walking for Health and Fitness, sponsored by the American Cancer Society, Santa Monica Relay for Life Program and the Santa Monica Track Club. The group meets Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 4pm and Sunday mornings at 9am in Palisades Park at San Vicente Blvd., coach Jerry Condon, 310.451.4139.
Young Adults Group Fighting Cancer Together, the Wellness Community – WLA, 2716 Ocean Park Blvd., Suite 1040, Tuesdays, 310.314.2555.
