July 27
Tony Daniels Magic, sponsored by FOL, 1:30pm, free, Community Room, Lloyd Taber Marina Del Rey Library, 4533 Admiralty Way, MDR, 310.821.3415.
Force of Habit, 9 short plays performed by kids and adults, presented by the Virginia Avenue Project, Friday 7:30pm/Saturday 3pm and 7:30pm, $5 donation or pay what you can, 24th Street Theatre, 1117 W. 24th St., LA, 310.264.4224. Also July 28.
Hold On To Your Butt Day, presented by Surfrider WLA/Malibu, activities in various locations will raise awareness about littering with cigarette butts, e-mail the LA/Malibu chapter for info, malibuchapter@hotmail.com.
Manifest Your Soulmate Workshop, facilitated by Kathyryn Alice, 7-9:30pm, $30-$35, Agape, 5700 Buckingham Pkwy, CC, 310.581.1981.
Mods and Rockers Film Festival, films made in and about the 1960s,including Janis, Petulia, A Hard Day’s Night and Skidoo, see Movie Listings for show times, $8-$10, American Cinematheque at the Aero Theatre, 1328 Montana Ave., 323.466.film. Also July 28-29.
July 28
Bob and Ed’s Discount Enlightenment Warehouse, an irreverent comedy by Jim Rasfeld and Bill Jenkins, through August 25, 8pm, $10, Fanatic Salon Theatre, 3815 Sawtelle Blvd., LA, 310.795.7469.
Brushstrokes in Light, photographs by Ram Bilgrai, opening reception 7:30pm, through September 29, La Foto Gallery, 806 Pico Blvd., 310.664.1563.
Celebrating Children’s Authors, with Erica Silverman, Henry Winkler and Lisa Yee reading from their children’s books, 1-3pm, free, MLK Jr. Auditorium, Santa Monica Main Library, 601 Santa Monica Blvd., 310.458.8600.
Church in Ocean Park Youth Dinner and Report Back on Youth Honduras Trip, gathering 6:30pm, vegetarian dinner 7pm, followed by report on trip to Honduras, free, Church In Ocean Park, 235 Hill St., 310.399.1631.
Culver City Garden Club 54th Annual Show and Plant Sale, _Saturday noon-4pm, Sunday 10am-4pm, free, Veterans’ Memorial Auditorium, 4117 Overland Ave., CC, 310.203.1482. Also July 29.
Dracula, adaptation of the Bram Stoker classic, through September 29, 8pm Fridays and Saturdays, $8-25, Will Geer Theatricum Botanicum, 1419 N. Topanga Canyon Blvd., Topanga, 310.455.3723.
Hansel and Gretel, new adaptation of the fairy tale by Maria Pavone, through August 11, 2pm Saturdays, $7, family pack for 4, $25, Westchester Playhouse, 8301 Hindry Ave., Westchester, 310.645.5156.
Kathy Leonardo, local Venice singer, performs for the American Cancer Society’s Santa Monica Relay for Life, 1:10pm, free, John Adams Middle School, 2425 16th St., kathyleonardo.com.
Sand In Your Pants – The California Beach, 30 artists will be in the third annual summer show, mixed media, all pieces are 20” x 24” max, opening reception 6-9pm, through August 25, Blue Seven Gallery, 3129 Pico Blvd., 310.449.1444.
July 28-29
Relay for Life, 24-hour walking event, 9am on the 28th to 9am on the 29th, team registration $150, begins at John Adams Middle School, 2425 16th St., summerleesmith@gmail.com.
July 29
Afrobeat Down, Afrobeat music concert, 4pm, free, Fowler Museum at UCLA, WW, 310.825.4361.
California Spirit XXIII, gourmet garden party benefiting the American Cancer Society, with dishes from prominent restaurants, 4pm-dusk, $350 per person, call for location, 310.348.0356 x227.
Free Story Hour, plus snacks, in conjunction with the Family Film Festival matinee at the Aero Theatre, 2pm, Every Picture Tells a Story, 1311-C Montana Ave., 310.451.2700.
Kids in the Courtyard, workshop in “Archi-texture” for kids, 1-4pm, free, Fowler Museum at UCLA, WW, 310.825.4361.
Kidsave’s Los Angeles Miracles Walk, 5K walk for Kidsave’s Miracles program, 8am-2pm, $10-$35, Cheviot Hills Recreation Center, 2251 Motor Ave., LA, 310.479.5437.
Noah’s Ark Weekend Workshop, art for kids in the Ark, 11am-noon and 2-3pm, free with admission, Skirball Cultural Center, 2701 N. Sepulveda Blvd., LA, 310.440.4500.
Sing! Sing! Sing! presents The Music of Jules Styne, 4pm, $25, Jazz Bakery, 3233 Helms Ave., CC, 310.271.9039.
Writers Toolbox Day, presented by PEN USA, panels on writing, 10am-3pm, free, Plummer Park, WH, followed by reading with authors Christopher Rice, Denise Hamilton and John Lescroart, 6pm, free, Pacific Design Center, 8687 Melrose Ave., WH, information, penusa.org.
July 30
Reading of “Bozza” screenplay with professional actors, free, 8pm, Promenade Playhouse, 1404-08 Third Street Promenade, 818.548.4950 x 241.
July 31
Etiquette for Young Ladies, presented by My Beauty Camp, 11am-2pm, Santa Monica Studios, Stage A, 3025 Olympic Blvd., 323.549.9470 or 310.210.6103.
Full Moon Hike in the Ballona Wetlands, 7:30-9pm, free, meet at end of Pacific Ave. on the pedestrian/bike bridge over Ballona Creek, wear walking shoes and bring water, 310.454.1395 x106.
August 1
Ten Things You Must Know About New Product Development, seminar with Robin Carol, 6-9pm, $40-$55, The Olympic Collection, 11301 W. Olympic Blvd., WLA, pdmala.org.
August 2
Mary Frosch reads from Coming of Age Around the World, 7:30pm, free, Multipurpose Room, Santa Monica Main Library, 601 Santa Monica Blvd., 310.458.8600.
Mark Your Calendar
Santa Monica Film Festival, August 3-6.
Comedy Benefit for Peace and Freedom, Powerhouse Theatre, August 5.
Patti Smith at the Twilight Dance Series, August 16.
Community Announcements / Ongoing Events
The City of Santa Monica offers competitive landscape grants to help property owners set up sustainable irrigation systems, 866.728.3229 or smepd.org.
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 18th Street Arts Center is building a new facility and needs an artist or artist team to add to the design group. The design team will create Santa Monica’s first “green” art center. Deadline to apply is September 14, 2007, 18thstreet.org/artistRFQ.html.
The Friends of Ballona Wetlands and Santa Monica Bay and Los Angeles Audubon Chapters are offering a six-week training program for volunteers to lead tours of schoolchildren through the Ballona Wetlands. Training begins September 11, 9am-noon, and goes for 6 Tuesdays. For more information, call Cindy Hardin at 310.301.0050.
Into EdVentures is looking for families to host international exchange students, 877.522.4868.
Liberty Hill Foundation is looking for pledges to double a matching fund. The first 100 people to contribute at least $150 will be entered in a drawing for a special night on the town. Donate online or print out form at libertyhill.org/common/ to_print/donateform.pdf or write to Liberty Hill Foundation, 2121 Cloverfield Blvd., Suite 113, Santa Monica, CA 90404.
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.
The Santa Monica Baha’i Center offers Sunday morning prayer services, followed by class on the theme of “Reflections on the Life of the Spirit,” 10am, free, 3102 Colorado Ave., santamonicabahai.org.
The Santa Monica Film Festival showcases the films of many local, national and international filmmakers, and will use “text voting.” Funds from each vote will support the Santa Monica Film Festival’s nonprofit 501c3. Entry fee is $50, more information at smfilmfestival.com.
The City of Santa Monica offers competitive landscape grants to help property owners take up the conversion challenge, providing partial funding for new or remodeled innovative gardens. Applications for the current grant cycle will be accepted through September 27, 866.728.3229 or smepd.org.
Sony Studios is conducting Twilight Tours every Thursday through September 28, 6:30pm, $25, approximately 90 minutes, RSVP 310.520.tour x8687.
