The American Red Cross is looking for volunteers. Various positions are available. To volunteer, call Tom Viscount at 310.394.3773 ext. 112 from 1-5 p.m., Monday through Thursday.
Beyond Baroque offers free writing workshops including Monday night Literary and Experimental Fiction, 8 p.m., Tuesday night Creative Non-Fiction, 8 p.m., Wednesday night poetry, 8 p.m., Thursday night alternative screenplay, 8 p.m., Saturday afternoon poetry 1:30 p.m., and fourth Saturday of the month morning poetry and prose 11 a.m. Beyond Baroque Literary / Arts Center, 681 Venice Blvd., Venice, 310.822.3006
Do You Have the Heart for Hospice? Roze Room Hospice seeks volunteers to provide support and companionship to terminally ill patients and their families. Training is free. We have patients at home and in nursing facilities in throughout the Westside and Los Angeles. For more information, contact Kathleen McMahon, Volunteer Coordinator, at 323.938.1155 or volcoord@rozeroomhospice.org
Dao-In Tao Yoga Thursday from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. with Dr. Mao Shing Ni and Baylen Karl Slote through Oct. 13. The ancient Taoist predecessor to Tai chi chuan, is performed sitting and lying down. These gentle movements can be done by almost anyone in almost any circumstance, and include meditative postures to invigorate personal energy. Beginners and walk-ins welcome. $18/class or $55/4 Class set. 1412 Fourteenth Street, Santa Monica. The Wellness Store at 310.260.0013
Donate blood on Monday and Wednesdays at the American Red Cross of Santa Monica, 1450 11th Street. Hours for donations vary, so call to schedule an appointment. 1.800.GIVE.LIFE or 1.888.POR.FAVOR
The Downtown Santa Monica Farmers Market is held Wednesdays at Arizona Ave and Second St. and Saturdays at Arizona and Third St. The two weekly markets are widely considered to be among the best on the west coast and feature field-fresh produce, hundreds of kinds of vegetables, brilliant cut flowers, breads, cheeses, delicious foods, live music, and more. 310.458.8712, smgov.net/portals/farmersmarket/
Free help with anxiety, depression, stress, and anger. Recovery International provides tools and practice in changing thinking habits so individuals can gain personal control over distressing emotions and improve general well-being. This worldwide non-profit organization, founded in 1937, holds weekly meetings every Saturday, 12 p.m., at Trinity Church, California and Eleventh Street, Santa Monica. Donations are requested but not required. For more information, call Randy at 310.828.9328 or go to lowselfhelpsystems.org
Food Addicts in Recovery Anonymous, a 12-step program for those struggling to control their relationship with food, has three meetings every week in Santa Monica. Tuesday, 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., First Presbyterian Church, Youth Lounge, 1220 Second Street, Santa Monica; Wednesday, 7 to 8:30 a.m., Unitarian Universalist Community Church, The Cottage, 1260 18th Street, Santa Monica; and Saturday, 9 to 10:30 a.m., First United Methodist Church, Room 101, 1008 11th Street., Santa Monica. Free. Call: 800.600.6028 or see: foodaddicts.org
Harmony Tai Chi captures the gracefulness and meditative benefits of the popular yang style of TaiChi, the power generating aspects of Chen style, and the agility of the Wu style with Kumiko Yamamoto. It brings about unity between the body, mind and spirit and is a good practice for people of any age for health, joy and artistry. Beginners and walk-ins welcome. $18/class or $55/4 Class set. 1412 14th Street, Santa Monica. Tuesdays 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. through Oct. 4. The Wellness Store at 310.260.0013
Have you ever wanted to act? Design sets? Make costumes? Whether you want to be on stage, or behind the scenes, we can help you unlock your creative side. Work with professional writers and directors, as well as teens just like you, to develop and sharpen your skills in our free teen theatre workshop. Thursday, 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. at The Christian Institute, 1308 Second Street, Santa Monica. For more information call 310.394.4178 or 310.617.4905
Heart Centered Toastmasters Club meets 7:15 p.m. to 8:30 pm Thursdays in Santa Monica. Practice and improve your communication skills in a warm, heart-centered environment. Call Cynthia at 310.995.4283 for more information.
Joel S. Goldsmith Tape Group meet Mondays to listen to the taped class work of Joel S. Goldsmith on his spiritual teaching known as The Infinite Way. 7:15 p.m (silent meditation), 7:30 p.m. (tape played), 8:30 p.m. (silent meditation). New Age Bible and Philosophy Center, 1139 Lincoln Blvd. (rear entry only off alley) in rear classroom. $5 minimum donation appreciated. 310.963.9377 or email in.stillness@yahoo.com
The Malibu Adamson House Foundation is recruiting volunteers/docents to be trained in
conducting Saturday tours of the historic Adamson House and Malibu Lagoon Museum. The training will be held on Tuesday afternoons from Oct. 18 to early December,
2011 (skipping the Tuesday of Thanksgiving week). If interested in becoming a Saturday docent at the Adamson House, please contact Joan Hurley, 818.889.8520 for more information.
Meals on Wheels West needs volunteers to deliver meals to homebound people in Santa Monica. Deliveries are from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Mondays through Fridays. To volunteer call 310.394.7558
Movies on the deck at Santa Monica Place. Enjoy classic favorites under the Stars Wednesdays at 7 p.m. on the Dining Deck, Level 3, through Oct. 26. Movies complimentary and are shown in their original, unedited format. It is first come first serve basis. Feel free to bring your own blankets, chairs, food, etc. 395 Santa Monica Place, 310.260.8333
Mt. Olive Film Night, entertaining and thought-provoking films shown on the second Saturdays of each month, supper at 6 p.m., films start at 7 p.m., free, Mt. Olive Lutheran Church, 1343 Ocean Park Blvd., 310.452.1116
A new Grief Support Group for Parents who have lost children to addiction, drugs, medications, alcohol. Santa Monica near Ocean and Montana Ave. Dates and times TBA. 310.917.5008, grasphelp.org, graspsantamonica@yahoo.com
Pico Farmers’ Market takes place every Saturday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Free. Virginia Avenue Park located at Pico and Cloverfield. 310.458.8712
Pranic Healing Sessions and Meditation. Whether you’re stressed, in pain or just in need of inner peace, PRANIC HEALING can help. Master Choa Kok Sui’s PRANIC HEALING is an energy healing technique that utilizes “prana” or life energy to promote physical, emotional and mental health. It has worked successfully with ailments ranging from asthma, arthritis, cancer, to addictions, stress, depression and phobias. Aanad Saagar Fridays, 6 to 8 p.m., 606 Venice Blvd., #21. Contact: Isabel 310.883.8371 Suggested love offering $10. pranichealingsm@yahoo
Pregnancy Support Group, ongoing on Mondays, facilitated by Sahaja Douglass, MA, LMFT and Aleksandra Evanguelidi, LM, CPM. This Support Group will focus on building community, releasing fears about birthing and mothering, and offering a safe place where questions can be answered by health care professionals. 2 to 4 p.m., $25, 11965 Venice Blvd., Suite 204, Los Angeles, CA 90066, 310.566.7690
Recovery International provides tools and practice in changing thinking habits so individuals can gain personal control over distressing emotions and improve general well-being. This worldwide non-profit organization, founded in 1937, holds weekly meetings every Saturday, 10:30 a.m., at Trinity Church, California and 11th Street, Santa Monica. Free, but free will contributions welcomed. For more information, call 818.268.9841 or go to lowselfhelpsystems.org
Main Street Farmers’ Market is held weekly on Sundays from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Free. Main Street at Ocean Park Blvd., 310.458.8712
Qigong in Clover Park for People Affected by Cancer. Free qigong classes for people with cancer and their families in Clover Park, 2600 Ocean Park Boulevard, Santa Monica, Mondays from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. and Fridays from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. Wear comfortable clothes. Experience firsthand this ancient healing art with instructor, Michael Sieverts, a brain cancer survivor since 2000. Sponsored by Cancer Support Community-Benjamin Center. For more information, please call 310.314.2555 or visit cancersupportcommunitybenjamincenter.org.
Santa Monica Oceanaires barbershop harmony chorus invites men of all ages and voice parts to sing each each Monday 7 to 10 p.m., Grace Lutheran Church, 4427 Overland Avenue, Culver City, oceanaires.org, 323.377.3570 or contact us at oceanaires_info@earthlink.net
SMC’s Continuing Education Program is offering free ESL and Citizenship classes, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesdays, at SMC’s Bundy campus, 3171 South Bundy Drive., West Los Angeles and at the Madison campus, 1310 11th Street, 310.434.3400
Babies, kids and teens can explore our world this summer at the Santa Monica Public Library by earning prizes for the amount of time they spend reading (or being read to)! This year’s summer reading program celebrates the richness of our world’s many cultures with the themes “One World, Many Stories” for children, and “You Are Here” for teens. Kids, teens, and parents of babies can sign up at the Main Library, 601 Santa Monica Blvd., 310.458.8600
Soroptimist is a service organization available to help women and children. Meetings are held the first and third Wednesday of each month, 310.395.6168
Take a walk through Santa Monica history. The Santa Monica Conservancy conducts downtown walking tours every Saturday at 10 a.m. Tickets are $5 for Conservancy members, $10 for non-members. For reservations, call 310.496.3146 or go to smconservancy.org
The People’s Voice. Emulating the centuries-old tradition of Speaker’s Corner in London’s Hyde Park, the People’s Voice puts up a weekly soap box and microphone for anyone to freely speak his or her piece. Free. Every Sunday 10 a.m. to noon Palisades Park at the intersection of Santa Monica Blvd. and Ocean Ave.
Volunteer for the Girl Scouts of Greater Los Angeles, Marina del Rey center. We have various opportunities, at the Marina del Rey center and other locations, weekdays and weekends. Open to all, 18 years and older. Contact Gail at 626.677.2297 or gtomura@girlscoutsla.org
Volunteer to conduct guided programs for school groups and the general public, host a nature center, or patrol park trails. For more information contact Lisa Ann Carillo, 310.858.7272
Yin Section Harmony Tai Chi from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. on Fridays through Oct. 28. Harmony Tai Chi balances the energy of the three energy centers of the body. This class will focus on the yin section of harmony Tai Chi, which covers the first 58 steps of the complete, 108-step long form version of harmony Tai Chi. Taught by Curt Callison. $18/class or $55/4 Class set. 1412 14th Street, Santa Monica. For more information please contact the Wellness Store at 310.260.0013
Yoga for the Community. New days and hours. Tuesdays and Thursdays 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. and Saturdays 12:15 to 1:15 p.m. by donation. All levels welcome. No experience necessary. Classes are on-going. Drop-ins welcome. Classes taught by Max Diamond diamond.max1@gmail.com Classes located at Mt. Olive Lutheran Church, 1342 Ocean Park Blvd. Free parking off of 14th street mtolivelutheranchurch.org
Yoga Classes by Donation, Sundays at 11:30 a.m., Tuesdays at 3:30 p.m., Kathmandu Boutique, 1844 Lincoln Blvd., hathayogawave@gmail.com, 310.392.4711
The YWCA Santa Monica / Westside holds classes for adults and kids, plus free exercise for women with cancer and free programs for girls in middle school. For more information call 310.452.3881 or go to smywca.org
Zen meditation group led by Sensei Daishin Buksbazen, teacher at Zen Center of Los Angeles meets weekly on Wednesday evening at the Hill Street Center, 237 Hill Street, Santa Monica. Meditation instruction for newcomers held at 7 to 7:30 p.m., Zazen from 7:30 to 9 p.m., Dharma talk the first Wednesday of each month. Contact Sensei Daishin at 310.315.3506 or daishin@zcla.org
Food Addicts Anonymous has free meetings every Saturday from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Holy Nativity Episcopal Church, 6700 W. 83rd Street, Westchester. There are
no dues or fees, just the desire to abstain
from the foods we crave. foodaddictsanonymous.org
Musicians invited to meet weekly and perform in concert with the Brentwood-Westwood Symphony Orchestra, Tuesdays, 6:30 p.m., Church of the Nazarene, 1001 18th Street. Santa Monica. 310.313.3726
It’s hip to be square. Fun and fitness set to music. New class in Square and Line dancing every Tuesday at 7:30 p.m., Marine Ave Park, 16th and Marine Ave., Santa Monica. Eight sessions, $42 for Santa Monica residents (others $46). Sponsored by the Red Ribbon Squares in association with Santa Monica Parks and Recreation. Information: 310.312.0410
Sand and Sea Speakers Award-winning Toastmasters club meets Monday nights 7 to 9 p.m. Improve your communication skills in a positive, fun environment and practice becoming a better public speaker. Guests visit free. Call 310.450.8589
The Marshall McLuhan-Finnegans Wake Reading Club meets first Tuesdays from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Lloyd Taber Marina Del Rey Library, 4533 Admiralty Way, Marina Del Rey, 310.306.7330 or venicewake.org