February 16
The Night Sky Show, 7pm, $5, John Drescher Planetarium, Drescher Hall, SMC Campus, 1900 Pico Blvd., 310.434.4223.
Time Has Told Me: A Nick Drake Tribute by Christopher O’ Riley, 8pm, $15-$42, Royce Hall, UCLA, 310.825.2101.
What Stars Did the Dinosaurs See? night hike, 7pm, free, bring jacket, water and flashlight, Temescal Gateway Park, 15601 Sunset Blvd., PP, 310.454.1395 x106.
February 17
Always But Not Forever, staged reading of a Henry Jaglom play followed by a cocktail party and Q & A with the author, 7pm, $100, Edgemar Center for the Arts, 2437 Main St., 310.392.7327 x3.
A Black Experience, 7:30pm, $10 donation, John Adams Middle School, 2425 16th St., 310.399.1788.
Calliope Caloyera Babu-Khan, exhibit of art, opening reception 3-5pm, through February 28, Pacific Palisades Library, 861 Alma Real Dr., PP, 310.454.3067.
How to Hold a Knife, techniques from a knife expert, 10-11:30am, complimentary knife sharpening from 1-5pm, Surfas, 8777 Washington Blvd., CC, 310.559.4770 x202.
If You Give a Mouse a Cookie, a play based on the children’s book, 11am and 1pm, $10-$15, Smothers Theatre, Pepperdine University, 24255 PCH, Malibu, 310.506.4522.
LA Café Plays, the latest installment of the series where five plays go from conception to performance in 10 1/2 hours, 7:30pm and 9pm, $10, Ruskin Group Theatre, 3000 Airport Dr., 310.397.3244.
12-Step Writing Workshop, for 12-step group members and anyone with a habitual problem, 9am-noon, $15 donation, ($10 for returnees), Westside Pavilion Community Room A, 10800 W. Pico Blvd., 310.428.0904.
February 17-18
Art Odyssey for Families, family tours of the museum galleries, 2pm, every weekend through June 30, free with advance tickets, sign-up at 1:45pm, Getty Villa, 17985 PCH, Malibu, 310.440.7300.
Family Art Stops, half-hour art shows for families with children five and older, 2:30pm, every weekend through May 20, free, Getty Center, 1200 Getty Center Dr., LA, 310.440.6198.
Lian Ensemble (Sounds of LA), mystical Persian music, 8pm Saturday/3pm Sunday, free with reservation, Harold M. Williams Auditorium, Getty Center, 1200 Getty Center Dr., LA, 310.440.6198.
Mardi Gras at the LA Farmers Market with Cajun-style bands, food and beads, noon-11pm, Los Angeles Farmers Market, 3rd and Fairfax, LA, 323.730.0233.
Weekend Scenic Excursions, three-hour train trip between Fillmore and Santa Paula, visit Heritage Valley avocado and citrus groves, departs Fillmore noon, returns 3pm, rain or shine, Fillmore and Western Railway, 800.773.8724 or fwry.com. Also Feb. 24-25.
February 18
Anne Silver Remembered, performances of poetry and music, silent auction of works by poet Anne Silver, 3-5pm, $25 donation, James Gray Gallery, Bergamot Station, 310.315.9502.
Botanicum Seedlings, play development series, presents a staged reading of Leonardo Da Vinci and The Possibility of Human Flight by Michael Andrew Walton, noon, free, Will Geer Theatricum Botanicum, 1419 N. Topanga Canyon Blvd., Topanga, 310.455.2322.
Coalition for a Sustainable Africa presents two films, Left Behind and Baba Mandela, as part of the Pan-African Film Festival, followed by after-party, $20 for both events, films 4:45pm, Magic Johnson Theaters, Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza, 3650 Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd., LA, 323.295.1706., after-party 8pm, Club Fais Do-Do, 5253 West Adams Blvd., LA, 323.954.8080.
Madeleine Peyroux, vocalist-guitarist, 7pm, $46, Smothers Theatre, Pepperdine University, 24255 PCH, Malibu, 310.506.4522.
Red Hill, a documentary about Echo Park made by local youth, screens with other documentary films as part of Documental, 8pm, free, UnUrban Coffeehouse, 3301 Pico Blvd., 310.306.7330.
Turning Heart, an evening of Sufi music, poetry and whirling dervishes, 7pm, $15 advance, $20 at door, Church in Ocean Park, 235 Hill St., 818.505.1355.
February 19
Behind the Mask, a planning event for the upcoming Purim holiday, 7:30-9pm, $10, Chabad Jewish Community Center, 15207 Sunset Blvd., PP, 310.454.7783 x202.
February 20
Fandango Frontera, part of Chautauqua Series, a historical presentation about music in old California, 7:30pm, free, Dining Hall, Temescal Gateway Park, 15601 Sunset Blvd., PP, 310.454.1395.
February 21
Ash Wednesday Services with “Imposition of Ashes,” 7pm, Pilgrim Lutheran Church, 1730 Wilshire Blvd., 310.829.4113.
Ballet Flamenco with Sara Baras, 8pm, $30-$70, Royce Hall, UCLA, 310.825.2101. Also February 22.
Fighting Disinformation with Real Intelligence, with Scott Ritter, former U.N. Weapons Specialist and Jeff Cohen, media analyst, discussing media coverage of the war on terror, 7:30pm, suggested donation $10, Unitarian Universalist Church of Santa Monica, 1260 18th St., 310.842.8794.
Making Your World More Efficient and Sustainable kicks off the spring season of SMC’s Environmental Lecture Series, 6:30pm, Room 123, SMC Bundy Campus, 3171 S. Bundy Dr., 310.434.4743.
Mean Creek will screen as part of the Dysfunctional Family Film Festival, 7pm, free, followed by discussion with director Jacon Aaron Estes, Fairview Branch Library, 2101 Ocean Park Blvd., 310.450.0443.
Rimshot Steppin’ by Silvia Wagensberg, Baby Blues BBQ, 444 Lincoln Blvd., Venice, 310.396.7675.
Taurobolium, a film about bullfighting (not for the faint of heart), 8pm, and other films of celebrity out-takes, 7pm, 7 Dudley Cinema, 7 Dudley Ave., Venice, 310.306.7330.
Mark Your Calendar
Planned Parenthood’s Annual Food Fair, Santa Monica Civic Auditorium, March 1.
Community Announcements
Art classes are starting now at Los Angeles Arts Academy, with classes for kids, teens and adults. LA Arts Academy, 1925 Broadway, Santa Monica, 310.829.ARTS.
Building inspections are now available online. The City of Santa Monica has launched a new Internet service, eInspections.smgov.net, enabling homeowners and contractors to schedule building inspections online. Another option is to call interactive voice response (IVR) system at 310.458.2202.
Community Art School is now open in Santa Monica. Classes are offered in a garden setting and are in conjunction with an online learning center, 310.804.0335 or go to campbellart.com.
The Fairview Library is looking for volunteer library tutors who will meet once a week with children in grades 1-5. To apply, call Sylvia Anderle, Fairview Branch Children’s Librarian, 310.450.0443.
Pottery Wheel Throwing Classes, 8 weeks, $350 clay and firing included, Wednesdays or Thursdays, 10am-noon/Thursdays, 7-9pm, Jennifer Joyce Pottery Studio, 3028 Pico Blvd., 310.392.4626.
Recycle your old electronics. To request a pick-up go to californiarecycles.com.
Santa Monica Playhouse’s Youth Play Production Project is open for enrollment for students 6-14. Classes begin February 14, culminating in a live performances May 21-31. For information and to set up an interview call Tammy Truong, 310.394.9779 x673.
