Last Chance
Bernd and Hilla Becher: Basic Forms, through September 14, Getty Center, 1200 Getty Center Dr., LA, 310.440.7360.
Bury The Dead, Irwin Shaw’s anti-war play, through September 13, 8pm Thursdays-Saturdays, 3pm Sundays, $25, Actors Gang, Ivy Substation, 9070 Venice Blvd., CC, 310.838.4264.
Cemetery Golf, a one-man show by Jim Loucks, through September 13, 8pm, Thursdays-Saturdays, $15, Beyond Baroque, 681 Venice Blvd., Venice, 866.811.4111.
Citizen Artists Making Emphatic Arguments, show of activist art, through September 13, 18th Street Arts Center, 1639 18th St., 310.453.3711.
Houseguest, art selected by Jennifer Bornstein from the Grunwald Collection, through September 14, Hammer Museum, 10899 Wilshire Blvd., LA, 310.443.7056.
Looky See, group art show, through September 13, Ben Maltz Gallery, Otis College of Art and Design, 9045 Lincoln Blvd, LA, 310.665.6905.
Once On This Island, a musical retelling of “The Little Mermaid,” by Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty, through September 14, 8pm Tuesdays-Fridays, 2 and 8pm Saturdays, 2 and 7pm Sundays, $20-$75, Freud Playhouse, MacGowan Hall, UCLA, WW, 310.825.2101.
August Sander: People of the 20th Century, photographs of the German people before WW II, through September 14, Getty Center, 1200 Getty Center Dr., LA, 310.440.7360.
THIS WEEK
September 12
A Blessing To One Another, Pope John Paul II and the Jewish People, through January 4, 2009, $5-$10, Skirball Cultural Center, 2701 N. Sepulveda Blvd., LA, 310.440.4544.
Kevin “Brandino” Brandon Quintet, 7 and 9pm, $10, Edye Second Space, SMC Performing Arts Center, Santa Monica Blvd and 11th St., 310.434.4323.
Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Richard Dreyfus encounters some ETs in Steven Spielberg’s film, doors open at 7pm, movie screens at dusk, free, Santa Monica Pier, smff.com.
Little Green Men, the War of the Worlds scare has some campers fearing close encounters in this comedy by Scott Martin, through October 18, 8pm Fridays-Saturdays, 2pm Sundays, $18-$20, Westchester Playhouse, 8301 Hindry Ave., Westchester, 310.837.3609.
Opening reception, for Martin Kersels, Bruce Pollock, and Henry Taylor art shows, with music of Puttanesca, 7-9pm, Santa Monica Museum of Art, Bergamot Station, 310.586.6488.
Preview: NASA Returns to the Moon, 8pm, preceded by The Night Sky Show, 7pm, $5 or $9 for both shows, John Drescher Planetarium, SMC, 1900 Pico Blvd., 310.434.4223.
Treesavers First Anniversary Gathering, discussion of proposed tree commission and tree-shaped cupcakes, 6pm, free, Promenade Playhouse, 1404 Third Street Promenade, 310.399.1000.
Work Week-Jow, salon artist project, reception 6-9pm, through September 18, See Line Gallery, 1812 Berkeley St., 310.829.1727.
September 12-14
Contemporary Dance at the Miles, with Lion’s Pounce Dance Theatre, 8pm Friday-Saturday, 2pm Sunday, $10-$20, Miles Memorial Playhouse, 1130 Lincoln Blvd., 310.396.7324.
Santa Monica Antique Show, 11am-7pm Friday-Saturday, 11am-5pm Sunday, $4-$7, Santa Monica Civic Auditorium, 1855 Main St., 310.458.2288.
2008 MixMatch Dance Festival, 8:30pm Friday-Saturday, 2pm Sunday, $10-$13, Electric Lodge, 1416 Electric Ave., Venice, HartpulseDance.com.
Weekend Meditation at Sha’arei Am Synagogue, 1448 18th Street, sponsored by nonprofit education foundation Cosmos Tree, with Friday, 8 pm talk by founder Roger B. Lane, Ph.D., and Saturday and Sunday events. 310.913.7212 or cosmostree.org
September 13
Abalone Food Demo, with Brad Buckley from The Abalone Farm demonstrating the uses of red abalone, noon-4pm, free, Surfas, 8777 Washington Blvd., CC, 310.559.4770.
Stephen Berkman, Chamber Pieces, through November 23, gallery walk with the artist October 16, Laband Art Gallery, Loyola Marymount University, 1 LMU Drive, LA, http://cfa.lmu.edu/laband.
Gordon Chandler, The Game Show, reception 6-9pm, through November 9, Lois Lambert Gallery, Bergamot Station, 310.829.6990.
Chili Roaster at the Pico Farmers Market, 9am-noon, free, Pico Farmers Market, Virginia Park, Pico and Cloverfield Blvds., 310.458.8712 x2. Also September 20, 27.
Jamie Lee Curtis signs her books and reads from Big Words For Little People, 11am-noon, ages 4-8, Children’s Book World, 10580 Pico Blvd., LA, 310.559.2665.
The Fountainhead, by Ayn Rand, is discussed by the Literature Book Group, 11am, free, Fairview Branch Library, 2101 Ocean Park Blvd., 310.450.0443.
Sid Garrison, Peripheral Vision, exhibit of color pencil drawings, reception 6-9pm, through October 11, Sherry Frumkin Gallery, Bergamot Station, 310.397.7493.
Grassroots Acoustica, music show, 7pm, donation, Talking Stick Coffee Lounge, 1411-C Lincoln Blvd., Venice, 310.450.6052.
Jonathan Kirsch discusses The Grand Inquisitor’s Manual: A History of Terror in the Name of God, 2pm, free, Barnes & Noble, 1201 Third Street Promenade, 310.260.9110.
Carolyn Mary Kleefeld, Visions From Big Sur, reception 5-7pm, through December 14, Frederick R. Weisman Museum of Art, Pepperdine University, 24255 PCH, Malibu, 310.506.4851.
Martin Kersels: Heavyweight Champion, through December 13, Santa Monica Museum of Art, Bergamot Station, 310.586.6488.
Mashup, group exhibit, reception 7-9pm, through October 11, Arena 1, 3026 Airport Ave., 310.397.7456.
Motta Tango Duo, noon-2pm, $5-$10, Café Z, Skirball Cultural Center, 2701 N. Sepulveda Blvd., LA, 310.440.4544.
Much Love Pet Adoption Day, 10am-2:30pm, free, Whole Foods Market West Los Angeles,11666 National Blvd., LA, wholefoodsmarket.com.
Simone Nieweg, Plants, through October 28, Gallery Luisotti, Bergamot Station, 310.453.0043.
The Los Angeles Out of the Darkness Community Walk for the American Foundation For Suicide Prevention, registration 7:45am, walk 9am-noon, free, meet at Santa Monica City Hall, 818.593.8110.
Paint-Out at Adamson House, sponsored by Allied Artists of the Santa Monica Mountains, 9:30am-1:30pm, free, bring supplies and lunch and preferably a tarp to place under the easel, near Malibu Pier, parking lot is on ocean side of PCH, opposite Serra Road, call Carole Garland at 310.338.0333.
Poetry with John Harris, Gerald Locklin, Patricia Cherin, Michael C. Ford, and introducing Zachary Locklin, 7:20pm, admission by sliding scale donation, Church In Ocean Park, 235 Hill St., 310.399.1631.
Leo Politi Celebration, honoring the life and work of the artist, with slide show and lecture by author Ann Stalcup, 2pm, free, MLK Jr. Auditorium, Santa Monica Main Library, 601 Santa Monica Blvd., 310.458.8600.
Dean Snyder Films, experimental films, 8pm, pre-show with music, 6:30pm, free, 7 Dudley Cinema, Sponto Gallery, 7 Dudley Ave., Venice, 310.306.7330.
Two Projects: Henry Taylor, Girrrrrl! (Project Room 1), Bruce Pollock: Circling West (Project Room 2), through December 13, Santa Monica Museum of Art, Bergamot Station, 310.586.6488.
September 13-14
Nautica Malibu Triathlon, with foot races, sand castle demonstrations, children’s events, celebrities, 4:30am-5pm Saturday, 4:30-11am Sunday, Zuma Beach, 30000 PCH, Malibu, nautica.com.
September 14
Peter Alsop’s Kids Concerts at Theatricum Botanicum presents Jumbo Shrimp Circus, 11am, $8, The Will Geer Theatricum Botanicum, 1419 N. Topanga Canyon Blvd., Topanga, 310.455.3723.
Ballona Institute Open House, 3-5pm, free, Ballona Institute, 425 Culver Blvd. PDR, 310.578.5888.
Brentwood Autumn Art Show, art, animal adoptions, health fair, food court, children’s area, 10am-6pm, free, San Vicente Blvd., between Saltair and Darlington, Brentwood, BrentwoodArtshow.com.
Discover Your Mentoring Mosaic, guidance in finding a mentor with Lu Ann Darling, 2pm, free, MLK Jr. Auditorium, Santa Monica Main Library, 601 Santa Monica Blvd., 310.458.8600.
Mary Ellen Geist discusses Measure of the Heart, 5pm, free, Barnes & Noble, 1201 Third Street Promenade, 310.260.9110.
Jazz Vespers, 5pm, free, Mt. Olive Lutheran Church, 1343 Ocean Park Blvd., 310.452.1116.
Rima Rudner discusses her book Choose to be Happy, 2pm, free, Barnes & Noble, 1201 Third Street Promenade, 310.260.9110.
Melly Trochez, Ghost In The Machine, reception 6:30-9:30pm, through October 7, Frank Pictures Gallery, Bergamot Station, 310.828.0211.
Theo Westenberger, reception 6:30-9:30pm, through October 7, Frank Pictures Gallery, Bergamot Station, 310.828.0211.
September 15
Emma Gilbey Keller, author of The Comeback, is interviewed by Willow Bay, 7:30pm, free, MLK Jr. Auditorium, Santa Monica Main Library, 601 Santa Monica Blvd., 310.458.8600.
Raphael Kryszek, animator, is guest speaker at the Mary Pickford Entertainment Speakers series, 7pm, free, Screening Room, SMC Academy of Entertainment & Technology, 1660 Stewart St., 310.434.3777.
September 16
Mark Eliot discusses Reagan: The Hollywood Years, 7pm, free, Barnes & Noble, 1201 Third Street Promenade, 310.260.9110.
10 Questions For The Dalai Lama, documentary film, 7pm, free, Fairview Branch Library, 2101 Ocean Park Blvd., 310.450.0443.
Mark Twain, Jet Setter, lecture on Mr. Twain by Steve Botts, 7:30pm, free, Temescal Gateway Park, 15601 Sunset Blvd., PP, 310.858.7272 x115.
September 17
Decline and Fall, a documentary about bombings, protests, and reconstruction, by Erika Suderburg, 7pm, free, 7 Dudley Cinema, Sponto Gallery, 7 Dudley Ave., Venice, 310.306.7330.
Fall Kindergarten Fair, with participation by Los Angeles area Independent Elementary Schools, 6:30-8:30pm, free, Crossroads School, 1715 Olympic Blvd., 310.828.1196.
The Golden Notebook, by Doris Lessing, is discussed, 7pm, free, Montana Branch Library, 1704 Montana Ave., 310.829.7081.
September 18
Sustainable Santa Monica Report Card Release Breakfast, 8-10am, free, MLK Jr. Auditorium, Santa Monica Main Library, 601 Santa Monica Blvd., 310.458.2213.
Mark Your Calendar
Santa Monica Film Festival, September 19-21
Coastal Cleanup Day, September 20
Pico Art Walk and Car Show, September 27
September 20
Firefighters’ Ball, Santa Monica Firefighters’ 32nd Annual Benefit Dance and Casino Night, 8pm-1am, Fairmont Miramar Hotel, 101 Wilshire Blvd., 310.391.7714.
