May 18
Alt Building Expo, exhibits, workshops and panels on green building techniques and materials, Friday is trade day, Saturday open to public, 10am-5pm, free, Barker Hangar, 3021 Airport Ave., 310.390.2930, altbuildingexpo.com. Also May 19.
Choosing a First Telescope, 8pm, preceded by The Night Sky Show, 7pm, $5/$9 for both, John Drescher Planetarium, Drescher Hall, SMC, 1900 Pico Blvd., 310.434.4223.
Cuban Film Series presents Cinco Miradas (Five Visions), about five Cuban photographers and their work during the Revolution, discussion follows, 7pm, $5, 601 9th St., 310.451.2752.
Identity Theft: Eleanor Antin, Lynn Hershman, Suzy Lake, opening reception 7-9pm, through August 11, Santa Monica Museum of Art, Bergamot Station, 310.586.6488.
The Micropolitics of Land Use: Demystifying L.A.’s Neighborhood Councils, presented by Westside Urban Forum, 7:30am, $40-$50, Regency Club, 10900 Wilshire Blvd., LA, 310.394.0253.
Taught 2 Dance, a musical memoir with Melanie Chartoff, 8pm, $18, proceeds to Santa Monica Playhouse Save the Playhouse campaign, Santa Monica Playhouse Main Stage, 1211 4th St., 310.394.9779 x1.
Trail to the Stars, night hike, 7-9pm, free, Temescal Gateway Park, 15601 Sunset Blvd., PP, 310.454.1395 x106.
Veteran’s Appreciation Day Job Fair, presented by the Crenshaw/WLA Workforce Services Office and the Marina del Rey Work Source Center, 8am-noon, free, 5401 Crenshaw Blvd., LA, 323.290.5160.
May 19
Book Release Party and staged reading for Stories from the Inside Edge by B.C. Petrakos, 8pm, $10, Church in Ocean Park, 235 Hill St., 310.496.1582.
Build-A-Bear Workshop, help stuff teddy bears for needy children, 10am, free, Westside Pavilion, 10800 Pico Blvd., WLA, 310.446.3290.
Concert for Peace, with Nikhil Korula Band and Yuval Ron Ensemble, 6pm, $5-$15, Culver City High School, 4401 Elenda St., CC, josemontero@ccusd.org
Despite the Light, group exhibit by Martin Kippenberger, Tom Simpson, Santos R. Vasquez, David Ostrem, Jeremy Shaw and Steven Shearer, through June 23, The Balmoral, 1522 Abbot Kinney Blvd., Venice, 310.392.3635.
Fiesta de Mayo Carnival, silent auction, live bands, carnival rides, 1-7pm, free, Grant Elementary School, 2368 Pearl St., 310.450.7651.
How to Start Your Own Business, workshop, 10am-noon, free, American Intercontinental University, 12655 W. Jefferson Blvd., LA, 310.302.2444.
Iceberg: Richard Carter and Margaret Pezalla-Granlund, opening reception 7-9pm, through August 11, Santa Monica Museum of Art, Bergamot Station, 310.586.6488.
Lily’s Purple Plastic Purse, through June 3, 11am Saturdays and Sundays, $5-$7, Morgan-Wixson Theatre, 2627 Pico Blvd., 310.828.7519.
Lincoln High ROTC: Jona Frank, opening reception 7-9pm, through August 11, Santa Monica Museum of Art, Bergamot Station, 310.586.6488.
Mentorship Cruise, sponsored by iCare Foundation, 4:30-8pm, followed by dance party 8:30pm-midnight, cruise $75, dinner-dance $50, FantaSea Yacht One, departs from 13509 Fiji Way, MDR, 323.755.4696.
Pacific Palisades Film Festival, Social Justice Films, noon-8pm, $10, Palisades Elementary Auditorium, 800 Via de la Paz, PP, friendsoffilm.com.
Don Suggs, Concentric, opening reception May 19, 6-8pm, LA Louvre Gallery, 45 N. Venice Blvd., Venice, 310.822.4955.
Toxic Algae will be the topic of a talk by marine biology professor David A Caron, 3:30pm, free, Heal the Bay Santa Monica Pier Aquarium, 1600 Ocean Front Walk, healthebay.org.
The 12 Steps for Everybody’s 3-Hour writing workshop, $15 donation, 9am-noon, Westside Pavilion, Community Room A, 10800 Pico Blvd., 310.428.0904.
Venice Art and Architecture Tours, featuring modern homes in Santa Monica and Venice, 11am-4pm, $50, children under 12 free, meet at office of David Hertz, 1920 Olympic Blvd., veniceartwalk.info.
Peter Winter, sculpture, opening reception 6-9pm, through July 15, Lois Lambert Gallery, Bergamot Station, 310.829.6990.
May 19-20
Affaire in the Gardens Art Show, live music and art exhibits, 10am-6pm, free, Beverly Gardens Park, Santa Monica Boulevard between Crescent and Rodeo, BH, 310.550.4796.
Matthew Kelly, author of Becoming The Best Version Of Yourself and Perfectly Yourself, 7:30pm Saturday and Sunday, $20 per event, $30 for both nights, St. Monica’s Church, 725 California Ave., 310.393.9287.
Santa Monica Contemporary Ballet, 8pm Saturday/3pm Sunday, $20, Katnap Dance Center, 12932 Venice Blvd., LA, 310.396.7324.
May 20
Kids in the Courtyard Build Big, drop-in workshop for families, 1-4pm, free, Fowler Museum at UCLA, WW, 310.825.4361.
Forbidden Fruit, well-known actors read from banned books, hosted by Larry Gelbart, special guest Kirk Douglas will be honored, 11:30am, $200-$350, Skirball Cultural Center, 2701 N. Sepulveda Blvd., LA, tickets, 310.862.1555 x365.
Hairspray, the original pre-musical movie directed by John Waters, 2pm, free, MLK Jr. Auditorium, Santa Monica Main Library, 601 Santa Monica Blvd., 310.458.8600.
LA Café Plays, latest edition of plays written and brought to the stage in 10 1/2 hours, 7:30 and 9pm, $10, Ruskin Group Theatre, 3000 Airport Dr., 310.397.3244.
Santa Monica Festival, theme this year is “Zero Waste,” sustainable exhibits, food booths, crafts, children’s activities, music, dance and spoken word entertainment, 10am-5:30pm, free, Clover Park, 2600 Ocean Park Blvd., 310.458.8350.
Topanga Banjo Fiddle Contest, 9am-6pm, $7-$12, children under 10 free, contestants may enter for $10, Paramount Movie Ranch, Agoura, 818.382.4819.
Venice Art Bar-B-Que, an art event to complement the Venice Art Walk with artists Maryjane Morrison and Cameron Gray, 11am-6pm, free for Art Walk participants, 823 and 825 Superba, Venice, maryjanemorrison. com or manufacturedart.com.
Venice Art Walk, spend the day exploring private artists’ studios and enjoy exhibits, entertainment and silent auction, 11am-6pm, $50, children under 12 free, begins and ends at Westminster School, 1010 Abbot Kinney Blvd., Venice, 310.392.9255, veniceartwalk. info.
May 21
Dr. Strangelove screens as part of SMC’s Political Film Series, 6:30pm, free, History and Social Science 105, SMC, 1900 Pico Blvd., 310.434.4098.
Documental screens films by Santa Monica resident William Richert, 6-10pm, UnUrban Coffeehouse, 3301 Pico Blvd., 310.306.7330.
Eagle Creek Travel Clinic, workshop for mountain travelers, 7pm, free, REI Santa Monica, 402 Santa Monica Blvd., 310.458.4370.
It’s Not Easy Being King, performance piece in connection with exhibit Identity Theft, 7pm, free, Santa Monica Museum of Art, Bergamot Station, 310.586.6488.
Property Tax Assessment Seminar, sponsored by County of Los Angeles, 10am, free, Culver City Public Library, 4975 Overland Ave., CC, information, 213.974.4240.
Allan Rich, actor and revered acting coach, guest speaker for SMC’s Mary Pickford Entertainment Industry Speakers Series, 7pm, free, SMC Academy of Entertainment & Technology’s Screening Room, 1660 Stewart St., 310.434.3777.
Star Wars 30th Anniversary Celebration, 7pm, free, MLK Jr. Auditorium, Santa Monica Main Library, 601 Santa Monica Blvd., 310.458.8600.
Volunteer Recognition Breakfast, 8:30-10am, Le Merigot Hotel and Spa, 1740 Ocean Ave., 310.394.7558.
May 22
An Ounce of Prevention, safety workshop for parents and caregivers, taught by Pattie Fitzgerald, 7-9pm, free, MLK Jr. Auditorium, Santa Monica Main Library, 601 Santa Monica Blvd., reservations, 310.203.1300.
Singles Supper, sponsored by PICAS Singles, 7pm, $2 members, $4 non-members (plus cost of dinner), Earth Wind and Flour, 2222 Wilshire Blvd., reservations, 310.450.3465.
May 23
If I Scratch I Write, film about poet D.A. Levy, 8pm, preceded by discussion and live poetry, 7pm, 7 Dudley Cinema, Sponto Gallery, 7 Dudley Ave., Venice, 310.306.7330.
Mitsuko Namiki, New Work, reception June 2, 4-6pm, through June 23, FIG, Bergamot Station, 310.829.0345.
SMC, Transportation Issues and Our Environmental Audit, lecture with Martin Martinez, 6:30pm, free, Bundy 223, SMC Bundy Campus, 3171 S. Bundy Dr., LA, 310.434.4743.
May 24
Carlos Almaraz: Drawings, Nigel Grierson: Transparency of Matter (photographs), Pamela Kendall Schiffer: The Blue of the Sky (paintings), opening reception 5-7pm, through June 30, Craig Krull Gallery, Bergamot Station, 310.828.6410.
An Evening of Balanchine with the Los Angeles Ballet, performances of Rubies, Apollo and Serenade, 7:30pm, $35-$95, Freud Playhouse, UCLA, WW, 310.998.7782. Also May 25.
Peter Fletcher, guitarist, in concert, 7pm, free, MLK Jr. Auditorium, Santa Monica Main Library, 601 Santa Monica Blvd., 310.458.8600.
Debbie Robins, author of Where Peace Lives, signs her books at a fundraiser for City Hearts: Kids Say “Yes” to the Arts, 7-9pm, $35, Tracy Park Gallery, 1431 Ocean Ave., 310.479.0216.
To Kill a Mockingbird, introduced by Norman Jewison who will also lead a discussion of the film, 7:30pm, $8-$10, Skirball Cultural Center, 2701 N. Sepulveda Blvd., LA, 310.440.4500.
Mark Your Calendar
Topanga Days Music Festival, May 26-28.
Small Press Book Fair, Church in Ocean Park, May 28.
Heal The Bay’s Annual Bring Back the Beach Fundraising Dinner, May 31.
Artists For The Arts Benefit with Jackson Browne, David Crosby, June 2.
