Friday, May 3
Tiato restaurant hosts “The Grateful Heart Gala” from 6:30-10 pm. Five-time Emmy Award winning news anchor, Asha Blake, will emcee the evening filled with live music, exotic food, live and silent auctions, and presentations on Grateful Heart’s programs. Admission $150. 2700 Colorado Ave. oneheartworld-wide.org.
haleARTS S P A C E presents two consecutive shows, “TWELVE X 12” and “EIGHT X 10.” Each show will run for one weekend only. The opening reception for TWELVE X 12 will be held today, May 3 from 5-8 pm. The opening reception for “EIGHT X 10” will be held the following Friday, May 10 from 5-8 pm. 2443 Main St. 310.314.8038, halearts.com.
Santa Monica College’s Global Motion World Dance Company presents “Poverty and Wealth,” a program of choreography from throughout the world. The title of the program reflects SMC’s 2012-13 SMC Global Citizenship theme. Performances are 7:30 pm today, May 3 and 4 pm and 7:30 pm Saturday, May 4. The Broad Stage at the SMC Performing Arts Center on Santa Monica Boulevard and 11th Street. Tickets $15-$18. 310.434.3005, smc.edu/eventsinfo.
Saturday, May 4
The 6th Annual Walk To Cure Psoriasis will be held at the Santa Monica Pier. Registration begins at 8 am and the 1K and 5K walks begin at 9 am. The public is welcome and fundraising is encouraged. walk.psoriasis.org.
The Broad Stage presents “The Section Quartet: Radiohead’s OK Computer” at 8 pm and 9:30 pm. The first complete album that The Section Quartet ever tackled, back in 2001, this performance of Radiohead’s masterpiece will be followed by selections from their album “The Bends” and other indie rock favorites. Admission $25. 1310 11th St. 310.434.3200, thebroadstage.com/The-Section-Quartet.
StreetcraftLA presents “Locals Only Show” from 5-11 pm at 2009 Main Street. Enjoy Santa Monica’s diverse arts and culture scene with this special event at Street Craft LA, featuring local Santa Monica street artists such as Natus, Todd Goodman, Supa, DJ Exempt and more. Open to public. streetcraftla.com.
Santa Monica Public Library presents “Yoga for You: Special Needs Yoga – Live Demonstration and Screening” at 3 pm to learn what special needs yoga is all about. The live demonstration and DVD screening takes place in Main Library’s Multipurpose Room, 601 Santa Monica Blvd. This program is free and all ages are welcome. Space is limited and on a first-arrival basis. 310.458.8600, smpl.org.
Fillmore & Western Railway hosts “Weekend Scenic Excursions Train Rides” May 4, 11, 18, 25, and 26. Take this daytime train ride between Fillmore and Santa Paula. Have lunch in the diner or sit in the fresh air observation car (food and beverage costs separate from train ride cost); four-hour round trip train ride through the beautiful citrus and avocado groves of the Heritage Valley. Adults $24, seniors $22, youth 4-12, $14, 2-3 year old: $10. 805.524.2546, fwry.com.
Sunday, May 5
Celebrate Brit Week with a special screening of “Tortoise in Love” at Santa Monica’s Laemmle Theater at 11 am. The film is a feel-good romantic comedy in the tradition of “Local Hero,” “Calendar Girls,” and “The Full Monty.” It’s about an incredibly slow mover in love and the village that tries to speed him up. The entire film is set in the beautiful countryside of the Vale of the White Horse in Oxfordshire so what better way to get in touch with your British side. $5. 1332 2nd St. laemmle.com.
Loews Santa Monica Beach Hotel will host a Cinco De Mayo Pre-Wanderlust Yoga Pool Party from 9-11 am. All Wanderlust lovers are invited to celebrate Cinco De Mayo with yoga poolside and in the pool. There will be a raffle, giveaways, a yoga performance and more. Free. wanderlustsm.eventbrite.com.
Loews Santa Monica Beach Hotel will host “Flavors of Los Angeles 2013” with a reception at 5:30 pm; dinner at 7 pm. Unleash your inner “foodie” and experience a distinct evening of dining while helping to fund the research, education, and advocacy efforts of the American Liver Foundation. Admission: $275. 1700 Ocean Ave. 310.670.4624, go.liverfoundation.org.
YWCA Santa Monica/Westside presents a staged reading of “It’s Just My Life” at 2 pm. The event is a collection of true, shared stories, chronicling profound and poignant moments this group of women has faced in their lives. These include (but are not limited to) losing children, contemplating children, parenting children, starting over, and wondering “How did this happen?” What may seem extraordinary and overwhelming to some, just becomes part of the fabric of each life. $10 donation. 2019 Fourteenth St. smywca.org.
Monday, May 6
Santa Monica Public Library welcomes iconic musician Paul Anka for an author talk and book signing at 7 pm in the Main Library’s Martin Luther King, Jr. Auditorium, 601 Santa Monica Blvd. From his teen idol days in the 1950s crooning classics like “Diana and “Put Your Head on My Shoulder” to writing music classics like “Puppy Love” and Frank Sinatra’s signature song “My Way,” Anka has entertained music fans for decades. Join him at the Santa Monica Public Library as he discusses his new autobiography, “My Way,” and CD, “Duets,” with “Inside Edition” chief correspondent Jim Moret. Free tickets for auditorium seating will be released one hour prior to program in the Main Library lobby. 310.458.8600, smpl.org.
Tuesday, May 7
Mi’s Westside Comedy Theater presents “Unpopular Opinion” – standup comedy form the writers of Cracked.com at 8:30 pm. It will feature Adam Tod Brown (Cracked.com), Ben Blanchard (Craigslist Casual Encounters), Dan O’Brien (Cracked.com), Michael Swaim (Cracked.com, Kill Me Now), Cody Johnston (Cracked.com), Annie Lederman (Regular on Chelsea Lately, MTV’s “Money From Strangers”), and Sean O’Connor (The Ben Show). $5. 1323-A Third Street Promenade. 310.451.0850, westsidecomedy.com.
Wednesday, May 8
The May Mid-Week Recital is organist John West performing in the Sanctuary at First United Methodist Church of Santa Monica. The Mid-Week Recital concert runs from 12:10-12:40 pm to accommodate lunch schedules. The concerts are always free and open to the public. 1008 Eleventh Street, santamonicaumc.org.
Mi’s Westside Comedy Theater presents “Hitchprov: An Improvised Alfred Hitchcock Thriller” at 8 pm. Double crosses, twists and turns, MacGuffins and mistaken identity abound in this new show inspired by the master of macabre, Alfred Hitchcock). $5. 1323-A Third Street Promenade. 310.451.0850, westsidecomedy.com.
Thursday, May 9
Santa Monica College will host a free “Lost In Living” documentary film screening at 7 pm. Director Mary Trunk will present the film and attend a Q&A following the screening. “Lost In Living” is a funny and poignant film about four mothers and their struggles and triumphs to raise children and make art. Filmed over seven years, the film confronts the contradictions inherent in personal ambition and self-sacrifice, female friendship and mental isolation, big projects and dirty dishes. Humanities & Social Sciences Bldg., Room 263, 1900 Pico Blvd. maandpafilms.com/lostinliving.
Santa Monica Playhouse presents “MOTHER – She’s with you wherever you go” at 8 pm. One daughter’s hilarious and touching journey to find herself, even with her mother’s apron strings tethered around her neck. A true tale about an extraordinary Irish-Catholic mother and a complicated relationship that will take you on a roller-coaster ride from survival to forgiveness and all the insane and life-affirming moments in between. 1211 4th St. $25 (includes coffee and dessert after the show). 310.394.9779 ext. 1, santamonicaplayhouse.com.
