September 7
Two Rooms, a new play by Lee Blessing, special pay-what-you-can preview tonight, opens September 9 and runs through September 30, 8pm Thursdays-Saturdays/7pm Sundays, Powerhouse Theatre, 3116 2nd St., 310.396.3680 x7 or www.powerhousetheatre. com.
September 8-10
Greek Fest in LA. Palisades residents Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson host this celebration of all things Greek from baklava to bouzouki, Friday 5pm -11pm; Saturday, 1pm-11pm and Sunday, noon-10pm, St. Sophia’s Cathedral, 1324 S. Normandie Ave., LA, 323.737.2424 or www.lagreekfest.com.
September 8
4X4, works by four new artists. Friday’s show features Joe Von Appen and April Hava Shenkman, 8:30pm, Highways Performance Space, 1651 18th St., www.highwaysperformance.org.
Getting There Is Half The Fun (and Most of the Work), the SMC Planetarium’s 8pm show about space exploration, preceded by “The Night Sky Show” at 7pm. $5, Drescher Hall, 1900 Pico Blvd, 310.434.3000.
Hippolytos, the classic Greek tragedy by Euripides at the Getty Villa’s new amphitheater, runs Fridays and Saturdays through September 30, 8pm, Getty Villa, 17985 Pacific Coast Highway, PP, 310.440.7300.
The Most Happy Fella, Frank Loesser’s classic musical, presented by Kentwood Players, 8pm Fridays and Saturdays/2pm on Sundays, through October 21, Westchester Playhouse, 8301 Hindry Ave., LA, 310.645.5156.
South Lake Garden, premiere reading of a new musical at Venice Mootney Cabaret Theatre, 2508 S. Stoner Ave., WLA, 310.478.7379 or www.mootney.org.
September 9
Ray Brown Drawings, opening reception 5-7pm, FIG, Bergamot Station G6, 310.829.0345.
The City is offering an afternoon at Virginia Avenue Park that will have workshops, ice cream, arts activities, and a forum for community input. Help make your vision of Santa Monica come true. From 3pm on, 310.458.8350 or go to http://santa-monica.org/creativesantamonica
Gordon Chandler, New Work, opening reception 6-9pm, show runs to November 5, Gallery of Functional Art and Lois Lambert Gallery, Bergamot Station, 310.829.6990.
Dive, paintings by Peter Alexander, opening reception, 4-6pm, show runs through October 14, Craig Krull Gallery, Bergamot Station, 310.828.6410.
Eenie Meanie, a performance piece by Teresa Willis, about childhood and racism, presented as part of 4X4, along with D*Face by Michael Phillis, 8:30pm, Highways Performance Space, 1651 18th St., www.highwaysperformance.org.
I’d Love To Turn You On: Works from the ‘60s and ‘70s, through October 14, Track 16 Gallery, Bergamot Station, C1, www.track16.com.
last night after the lights went out we fell, exhibit of art by Frohawk Two Feathers, opening reception 6-9pm, through October 7, Taylor De Cordoba, 2660 S. La Cienega Blvd., LA, 310.559.9156.
MFA WMDs: Selections from LA Art Schools, through October 13, opening reception, 7-11pm, Track 16 Gallery, Bergamot Station C1, www.track16.com.
Mozart’s 250th Birthday Concert Series concludes with a concert of duets and arias from Mozart’s operas by Bright Light Chamber players, 2:30pm, Santa Monica Main Library, Martin Luther King Jr. Auditorium, 601 Santa Monica Blvd., 310.458.8600.
Open House in Landscape Architecture at UCLA Extension, 9am-1pm, free, Room 320, 1010 Westwood Blvd., 310.825.9414.
Passages Between The Past and the Future, exhibit of photography by Bedouin children of Abu Kaf, Israel, through September 30, reception 5-7pm, Venice Art Gallery, 1809 Lincoln Blvd., Venice, 310.578.1745.
Prayer: Katrina’s Waters, works by William Pajaud inspired by the Katrina disaster, through October 29, M. Hanks Gallery, 3008 Main St., 310.392.8820.
Lee Webster Shaw, exhibit of oil paintings, opening reception, 5-7pm, Schomburg Gallery, Bergamot Station, 310.453.5757.
Songs in the Everyday, photography by Barry Goldberg, opening reception 6-10pm, show through November 10, Endless Noise,1453 Third Street Promenade, viewings by appointment only, 310.339.9225.
Storytelling With Kathleen Zundell and her puppet friends, for children 3-8, 10:30am, Children’s Book World, 10580 1/2 Pico Blvd, 310.559.BOOK.
Urban Tango: The Agony and Ecstasy of Amateur Tango, a special engagement of a dance show about people with a passion for the tango, 3pm (also on September 10 at 3pm), $15, Electric Lodge, 1416 Electric Ave., Venice, 800.838.3006 or www.brownpapertickets.com.
September 10
Celebration of Persian Culture with lectures and music, sponsored by UCLA Center For Near Eastern Studies, 4-6pm, free, Barnum Hall, Santa Monica High School, 601 Pico Blvd.
Depicting Action: performance and opening reception for artists, Nezaket Ekici and Jeff Huckleberry, 18th Street Arts Center, 1639 18th St., 310.453.3711 or office@18thstreet.org.
James Ellroy, author of hard-boiled crime fiction, discusses and signs The Black Dahlia, his novel about the still unsolved murder that has now become a movie, 7:30pm, free, Barnes and Noble Santa Monica, 1201 Third Street Promenade, 310.260.9110.
The 5th Annual Kickin’ Cancer 5K Walk/Run and Women’s Health Expo takes place in Brentwood, with a kids’ area, a tribute wall and health exhibits, www.kickincancer.com.
David Florimbi, Forces of Nature, new paintings, opening reception 6:30-9:30pm, through end of September, Frank Pictures Gallery, Bergamot Station, A-5, 310.828.0211.
Walkathon to raise money for children with Prader-Willi Syndrome, with raffle, door prizes, refreshments and massages available. $15 adults, $5 children,10am, Mar Vista Elementary, 330 Granville Ave., LA, 310.390.3245 or 818.207.3914.
What’s The Story? Solo Performance Workshop, ongoing, $500.00 for 12 weeks, 2pm-5:30pm, Powerhouse Theatre, 3116 2nd St., 310.450.1312 or whatsthestory2@mac.com.
September 11
PICAS Singles Party at La Cabana Restaurant in Venice, followed by a walk around the neighborhood, 7pm, 738 Rose Ave., reservations 310.838.7408.
SPARK! Monday Night Storytelling Events, “New York Stories,” donation requested, 7:30pm, Powerhouse Theater, 3116 2nd St., reservations needed, 1.866.OFF.MAIN x5 or sparkstories@gmail.com.
Tiny Books for Tiny Tots, a workshop for parents who want to make books for their kids, 2-3:30pm, $15 at door, Early Childhood Parenting Center, 1440 Harvard St., register 310.281.9770.
September 12
Santa Monica Drive-In’s Free Films at the Pier features Viva Las Vegas with Elvis and Ann-Margret. Doors open at 7pm, free, tickets available at SM Visitors Centers, chairs for rent, proceeds to Arts Fighting Cancer.
Santa Monica For You Network Dinner Meeting offers the topic of “Tips on Internet Safety” with guest speaker Suzanne Stanford, $30 members, $35 non-members, 6:30pm, Harbor House, 4211 Admiralty Way, MDR, reservations, 310.202.6360.
September 13
Ex Officio Travel Clinic with travel specialist Alaina Cunningham, who will share packing tips, 7pm, free, REI, 402 Santa Monica Blvd., 310.458.4370 x207.
Santa Monica Civic Auditorium workshop to explore ideas for future uses of the historic auditorium, 2-5pm, Multi-Purpose Room, Santa Monica Main Library, 601 Santa Monica Blvd. Give input in person or at www.creativesantamonica.smgov.net.
September 14
Deborah Butterfield, new sculpture, opening reception 7-9pm, show runs through October 14, L.A. Louver Gallery, 45 N. Venice Blvd., Venice, 310.822.4955.
Children’s Nature Walk, led by volunteers from the Children’s Nature Institute, 10am, Sullivan Canyon, 13500 Bayliss Rd., Brentwood, reservations needed, 310.860.9484 or www.childrensnatureinstitute.org.
On The Couch: Cartoons From The New Yorker, exhibit of cartoons dealing with psychoanalysis, opening reception with talk by New Yorker cartoon editor Bob Mankoff, 8pm, show runs through December 31, Skirball Cultural Center, 2710 N. Sepulveda Blvd., LA, 310.440.4500.
Save The Playhouse Benefit Series presents Served (Gratuity Not Included), a one-man show by Scott Jones, 8pm, tickets $15 (proceeds to save Santa Monica Playhouse), Santa Monica Playhouse, 1211 4th St., 310.394.9779 x1 or www.SantaMonicaPlayhouse.com.
Save Trestles Fundraiser, sponsored by Surfrider Foundation, features music, food and raffle, 5-9pm, $5 minimum donation, Neptunes Net Restaurant, 42505 Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu.
Community Announcements
Adoption Information Session. Professionals from the Independent Adoption Center will discuss adoption options, 9:30am-2pm, 5777 W. Century Blvd., #1450, LA, 800.571.2913.
American Cancer Society Shop recently moved to 920 Wilshire Blvd., after being forced to leave their longtime location at the Brentwood Country Mart. Stop by for designer clothing and accessories for men, women and children, as well as other items. Open everyday.
Just For Kids Youth Symphony is holding auditions Saturday, September 9. The program is open to all LA area students age 10 and older. Call 310.397.2490 or apply at ccchamberorcehstra.com.
SMC is accepting applications for a seat on the Personnel Commission through September 18. The term will be from December 1 of this year through December 1, 2007. Applicants must be residents of, and registered voters in, the Santa Monica Community College District. For more information, call 310.434.4402.
