August 17
Madagascar screens, 2pm, free, MLK Jr. Auditorium, Santa Monica Main Library, 601 Santa Monica Blvd., 310.458.8751.
Waiting List, Cuban comedy screens as part of Cuban Film Series for the Cuban 5 Defense Fund, 7pm, $5 donation, 601 9th St., 310.451.2752.
August 18
Culture of Peace Distinguished Speaker Series, with Peter McLaren, PhD., 4pm, free, Culture of Peace Resource Center, 606 Wilshire Blvd., 310.260.8900.
Existing Caves, art by Rachel Kohn, opening reception, 6-8pm, through September 22, Tarryn Teresa Gallery, Bergamot Station, 310.453.4752.
Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, week three of Movies in the Park, Field of Dreams, Palisades Recreation Center,_851 Alma Real Drive, PP, 310.459.7963.
Richie Furay Band and Chris Hillman with Herb Pedersen, $35-$55, Malibu Performing Art Center, 23825 Stuart Ranch Rd, Malibu, 866.468.3399.
The Hasty Heart, WWII drama by John Patrick, through October 14, 8pm Thursdays-Saturdays/3pm Sundays, $20-$25, Pacific Residence Theatre, 703 Venice Blvd., Venice, 310.822.8392.
Pride and Prejudice, with Keira Knightley, 3pm, free, MLK Jr. Auditorium, Santa Monica Main Library, 601 Santa Monica Blvd., 310.458.8751.
Rodeo Days features Cowboy Bill at noon-3pm, free pony rides, Brentwood Country Mart, 225 26th St., brentwoodcountrymart.com.
Sabbath Music Event with Beth Shir Sholom’s Rabbi Neil Comess-Daniels and new Cantor Ken Cohen, with the synagogue’s all member band, The Tishtones, 10am-noon, free, Center Court, 1300 block of Third Street Promenade, 310.453.3361.
The Trial of the Catonsville 9, play reading to benefit Office of the Americas and The Actors’ Gang, with Martin Sheen, Tim Robbins, Beau Bridges, Sandra Oh, Mike Farrell, Camryn Manheim and others, 8pm, $250, Kirk Douglas Theatre, 9820 Washington Blvd., CC, tickets and information, 310.838.gang.
August 19
Cut, and The Slave Ship, two exhibitions of paintings by David Settino Scott, opening reception 6:30-9:30pm, through September 12, Frank Pictures Gallery, Bergamot Station, 310.828.0211.
Fancy Dress Swim To Make Poverty History, wear finery and help raise funds for anti-poverty projects, noon, free, meet at Church in Ocean Park, 235 Hill St., 310.399.1631.
Jazz on the Lawn with Nate Birkey, 5-7pm, free, in front of Santa Monica City Hall, 310.458.8350.
LA Café Plays, five short plays created in 10 _ hours, 7:30pm and 9pm, $10, Ruskin Group Theatre, 3000 Airport Dr., 310.397.3244.
Peter Alsop’s Kids Koncerts presents Debi Derryberry (the voice of Jimmy Neutron), 11am, $8, Will Geer Theatricum Botanicum, 1419 N. Topanga Canyon Blvd., Topanga, 310.455.3723.
Rodeo Days features mechanical bull rides, 11am-3pm, 225 26th St., brentwoodcountrymart.com.
August 20
Blue Crush screens as part of Monday Night Movies at the Malibu Pier, 7:30pm, free, Malibu Sports Fishing Pier, Malibu, 310.924.4212.
Closing Night Party of art show Three Visionaries From Lower Topanga, 7-10pm, Edgemar Center for the Arts, 2437 Main St., RSVP, 310.392.7327.
Drink Tasting, mixer for professionals, 5:30-7:30pm, free, Abode Restaurant & Lounge, 1541 Ocean Ave., RSVP smchamber.com/events.
Great Red Cross Golf Ball Drop, a fundraising event in which 1,500 numbered golf balls are dropped over the MountainGate Country Club golf course. The public can buy balls for $15 each, $500 prize to the owner of the golf ball that makes a “hole in one,” 8:30am, MountainGate Country Club, 12445 MountainGate Dr., LA, to purchase balls or for information 310.394.3773.
I Pity The Fool, documentary about Detroit by Brent Coughenour, who will appear to discuss the film, also Coughenour’s Night Flight and Tim Jackson’s Radical Jesters, Documental, 6-10pm, free, UnUrban Coffeehouse, 3301 Pico Blvd., 310.306.7330.
August 22
Voice in the Well presents Kathy Leonardo, Brad Kay, Suzy Williams, Mews Small and other musicians, 7:30pm, $5 donation, Warszawa Restaurant, 1414 Lincoln Blvd., 310.489.0299.
August 23
Combatants for Peace, with Ra’ed Haddar and Shimon Katz, talk on uniting Palestinians and Israelis in the struggle for peace, 7pm, $10 donation, Topanga Community House, 1440 N. Topanga Canyon Blvd., Topanga. Also August 24, 7:30pm, $10, Temple Beth Shir Shalom, 1827 California Ave., information, 818.642.0734.
Holmes Brothers and Carrie Rodriguez, Twilight Dance Series, 7:30-9:30pm, free, Santa Monica Pier, twilightdance.org.
Mark Your Calendar
Broad Humor Festival, August 25-27.
Last Waves of Summer Heal the Bay Event, August 25-26.
Malibu Chili Cook-Off, September 1-2.
Ice Cream Social with the Oceanaires, September 8.
Community Announcements / Ongoing Events
Auditions for the Kentwood Players Production of Romantic Comedy by Bernard Slade will be held September 8, 10am-3pm, and September 10, 7-10pm, at Westchester Playhouse, 8301 Hindry Ave., Westchester, kentwoodplayers.org.
Bilingual Computer Literacy Classes are now being offered, Saturdays, 8:30am-12:45pm, free, University High School, 11800 Texas Ave., WLA, 323.477.2084.
Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Los Angeles and the Inland Empire (BBBSLAIE) is looking for male volunteers to become Big Brothers to boys in need. Call Jenny Biechele at 310.338.0055.
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.
California Adult Education Center has classes in citizenship, computer skills, ESL, GED preparation and testing, math and reading labs and high school diploma labs and testing. Classes are available for adults 18 and older, 310.664.6222.
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.
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.
Community Classes in Theatre Games, offered by Mob Rule Inc., a community outreach project, Sundays at 6pm, $5, fanaticsalon, 3815 Sawtelle Blvd., info@mobruleinc.org.
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. This is an open call for artists to submit their qualifications for consideration. Deadline to apply is September 14, 2007, 18thstreet.org/artistRFQ.html.
The 12 Steps for Everybody’s writing meeting, Thursdays 7-8pm, 16730 Bollinger Dr., PP. Call Frank L. at 310.454.5138.
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.
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.
The Independent Adoption Center is holding an Adoption Information Session on August 11, 9:30am-2pm, IAC’s Los Angeles office, 5777 W. Century Blvd., LA, 800.571.2913.
“I’ve Got 7” is a campaign to alert Santa Monicans to disaster preparedness, launched by the Santa Monica Red Cross, the Santa Monica Fire Department and the City of Santa Monica, ivegot7.com.
Leads Club is an international organization that offers a weekly forum for business people. The Santa Monica branch meets for breakfast every Thursday from 7:30-8:45am at Bravo Cucina, 1319 Third Street Promenade, 310.442.5752.
LAUSD offers classes for veterans at Westside Education and Career Center. Classes are held at the University High School campus, 11800 Texas Ave., WLA, $20, 310.914.3565.
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.
The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health has introduced its “Just Be Ready: Prepare Together” emergency preparedness ad campaign as the next phase of its ongoing effort to encourage residents to ready themselves in case of an emergency. TV, radio, print and online PSAs (public service announcements) in 12 languages will inform the public about assembling emergency kits and planning strategies with their families for dealing with an emergency. For more information, go to lapublichealth.org.
The Marshall McLuhan-Finnegan’s Wake Reading Club meets first Mondays from 6-8pm at the Venice Library, 501 S. Venice Blvd., free, 310-306-7330 or jesgrew.org/wake.
Mother’s Prayer Group meets Wednesdays at 10am and allows mothers to get together for prayer, teaching, camaraderie and support. Childcare provided for small fee. Westside Vineyard, 3838 S. Centinela Ave, LA, 310.391.7366.
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 National Foundation for Advancement in the Arts is registering artists for its youngARTS 2008 program. High school seniors in the 2007-2008 school year or graduates who will be 17 or 18 years old on December 1, 2007 are encouraged to apply for individual cash awards of up to $10,000 and the chance to be named a Presidential Scholar in the Arts. Call 800.970.ARTS.
The Oscar Niemeyer Centennial Photo Contest is accepting entries. Take a picture of a Niemeyer building anywhere in the world and submit before October 30, 2007. See neimeyer-madeira.com for details.
The Deborah Page Gallery presents Thursday evenings with free cocktails and musical entertainment, through August, 5-8pm, free, Deborah Page Gallery, 1028 Montana Ave., 310.458.4400.
Paid Internships are available at 18th Street Arts Center. All interns must be continuing undergraduate students either residing or attending colleges or universities in Los Angeles County and not graduating before December 20, 2007. To apply, e-mail, fax or mail cover letter and resume to Michael Sakamoto, 18th Street Arts Center, 1639 18th Street, Santa Monica, CA 90404, 310.453.3711 x103 or fax 310.453.4347.
Project Nightlight’s latest billboard is up on Abbot Kinney Boulevard at Westminster Avenue. Project Nightlight is devoted to helping children tell someone if they are being abused. The billboard contains the organization’s phone number.
Recovery Inc. is a nonprofit self-help mental health group that conducts free (donation requested) weekly meetings. Meetings are Fridays, 6pm at SHARE! 5521 Grosvenor, Los Angeles.
For information go to recovery-inc.org or call 310.306.6766
Recycle your old electronics. To request a pick-up go to californiarecycles.com.
Relief Beads are handmade bead bracelets that raise money for Relief International’s work in Darfur. To purchase a bracelet go to reliefbeads.org.
Sand & Sea Speakers is a top-ranking Toastmasters club. Learn to become a more confident, poised speaker, Best Western Gateway Hotel, Carousel Room, 1920 Santa Monica Blvd., Monday nights, 7-9pm, 310.474.7704.
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 Conservancy’s walking tour of downtown Santa Monica is offered weekly. Tours meet at 10am every Saturday and cost $10 general, $5 for Conservancy members, RSVP 310.496.3146.
Santa Monica is joining its sister water agencies across the southland to promote simple ways to contribute to statewide water conservation efforts in what is now California’s driest year on record. The “20 Gallon Challenge” asks every person to save this much water each day at home and at work by implementing simple strategies for both indoor and outdoor water use, 866.728.3229 or smepd.org.
The Santa Monica Library is taking suggestions for the next CityWide Reads book. Suggestions will be accepted until September 1, 2007. Call 310.458.8600, e-mail citywidereads@smgov.net, or fill out an online form at smpl.org/cwr.
Santa Monica Oceanaires barbershop harmony chorus invites men of all ages and voice parts to sing each Tuesday, 7-10pm, Church of Christ, 9733 Venice Blvd., WLA, oceanaires.org, 310.202.1380.
Santa Monica’s Solid Waste Division has launched a new website that answers many residential and business customer queries. To learn how to setup recycling programs at apartment buildings, what to do with unwanted electronics devices, where to drop off bulky items like refrigerators and answers to many more questions go to smgov.net/swm.
Sony Studios is conducting Twilight Tours every Thursday through September 28, 6:30pm, $25, approximately 90 minutes, RSVP 310.520.tour x8687.