Westside Calendar
Thursday, 5/16
SANTA MONICA FAMILY YMCA — presents Overcoming Fear and Anxiety, featuring Rachel Fintzy, licensed psychotherapist and workshop facilitator, providing techniques to help you deal with fear and develop greater self-confidence, 4-5:30 p.m., free, YMCA DeWind Room, 1332 Sixth St., Santa Monica, (310) 393-2721.
Friday, 5/17
LUNCH & LEARNS — Western Institute for Sexual Health (WISH) offers free educational sessions with board certified urologists, psychologists and other experts, featuring best selling author and sex expert Lou Paget and Dr. Larry Paletz discussing problems in the bedroom and sex over 50 issues, noon-1 p.m., 2001 Santa Monica Blvd. Suite 890W, Santa Monica, (800) 222-9474.
VENICE ABBOT KINNEY BRANCH LIBRARY — presents children’s program, “Lego Play Build,” create structures with friends and parents, blocks provided, 501 Venice Way, Venice, (310) 821-1769.
FIESTA EN MAYO — food truck night, featuring over 15 food trucks, live music by Couchois Brothers Band, movies for the kids, dessert café, face painting and hoop dancing, magician, 5-10 p.m., free, Visitation School grounds, 8740 S. Emerson Ave., Westchester, (310) 994-9904, www.visitationschool.org.
CHILDREN’S AFTER SCHOOL THEATER — Fifth-12th graders star in original tale with popular musical favorites in a CAST Revue, KCAST-The Radio Station performances at 7 p.m. May 17, 12:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, May 18 and 19, Simkins Hall at First United Methodist Church, 1008 11th St., Santa Monica, $10 for adults or $5 for seniors/children, www.santamonicaumc.org.
FEEDING THE SOUL FOUNDATION — non-profit that creates concerts for causes is putting on its first L.A. show to benefit Rock n’ Roll Camp for Girls in Los Angeles, a social justice organization that empowers girls ages 8-17 through music education, performances by Andree Belle, Dawn Mitschele and Jessie Payo, $25 admission includes first drink, $5 off when purchased online at http://ftsfmuseic2.eventbrite.com, doors open 7 p.m., music at 7:30 p.m., WitZend, 1717 Lincoln Blvd., Venice, (310) 305-4792.
Saturday, 5/18
GRAND VIEW FINE ART STUDIOS — hosts final open artists’ studios event of season, 6-9 p.m., and 10 a.m.-1 p.m. during Mar Vista Farmers Market Sunday, May 19, free, refreshments offered and parking available, 3871 Grand View Blvd., Mar Vista, (310) 903-2173, www.facebook.com/GrandViewFineArts.
HERE COMES THE SUN — John Wayne Cancer Institute and Bloomingdale’s host exclusive shopping event to benefit the Melanoma Research Program at the John Wayne Cancer Institute, special presentation by Dr. Delphine Lee discussing latest discoveries in the fight against and prevention of skin cancer at 1 p.m., event from noon to 5 p.m., Bloomingdale’s Santa Monica Place, 315 Colorado Ave., RSVP to (310) 582-7436, development@jwci.org.
LLOYD TABER MARINA DEL REY LIBRARY — presents local personality Masako Unoura-Tanaka, a survivor of the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami, speaking about her experiences and the lessons she learned, free, 1:30 p.m., 4533 Admiralty Way, Marina del Rey, (310) 821-3415.
WALK TO AFRICA — Santa Monica pediatrician Bob Hamilton has just returned from his 22nd overseas Medical Mission trip with a team of doctors, nurses and lay people to Guinea Bissau, Africa, where they treated 1,000 patients diagnosed with active malaria and HIV; to fund these trips Hamilton has organized a walk-a-thon with local residents, $35 individual registration or $30 children registration, 9 a.m. opening ceremonies and start of walk, Crescent Bay Park, 2000 Ocean Ave., Santa Monica, covers 4 miles and also features 2-mile children’s walk and family fun zone, www.walktoafrica.com.
OTIS COLLEGE OF ART AND DESIGN — Ben Maltz Gallery presents reading event, “Writing this Side of the 405,” live and online poetry and prose reading by 25 writers who live and work in neighborhoods near 405 Freeway, also features live streaming of event online at www.otis.edu/writing405, free, parking in structure on La Tijera Boulevard, Ahmanson Building’s The Forum at Otis College, 9045 Lincoln Blvd., Westchester, (310) 665-6909, galleryinfo@otis.edu.
ELEMENTAL STRINGS — auditions for 10th season of youth orchestra specifically for elementary school-aged students, 9-11 a.m., Will Rogers Elementary School, 2401 14th St., Santa Monica, www.elementalstrings.com/auditions.
COMMON GROUND LANDSCAPES — opening reception for exhibit on San Gimignano and La Ballona Wetlands, series of landscapes by Tony Osio inspired by two completely different environments separated by thousands of miles and located in two continents, 5-7 p.m., exhibit runs through June 15, free, Schomburg Gallery at Bergamot Station, 2525 Michigan Ave. E3A, Santa Monica, (310) 453-5757, www.schomburggallery.com.
FRIENDS OF SANTA MONICA PUBLIC LIBRARY — hosts semi-annual book sale featuring over 800 books priced from $5 to $100, monies raised will benefit library programs, 11 a.m.-2 p.m., Friends bookstore at Santa Monica Library, 601 Santa Monica Blvd., Santa Monica, (310) 458-8608.
PLAYA VISTA PUBLIC LIBRARY — Westside Real Estate Seminar with presentation by seven real estate professional practitioners, designed to provide general information to both first-time as well as existing homeowners, noon-1:30 p.m., check-in at 11:30 a.m., free, pre-registration required, 6400 Playa Vista Drive, Playa Vista, (310) 968-4459.
TOWER 42 — Ripped Jeans Productions presents live music by Del Guido and Friends, 9 p.m.-1 a.m., 119 Culver Blvd., Playa del Rey, (310) 823-6800, www.tower-42.com.
SANTA MONICA PUBLIC LIBRARY — presents a film screening of “Ball Talk: Baseball’s Voices of Summer,” followed by a question and answer with director Kevin Bender, 3 p.m., free, MLK Auditorium, 601 Santa Monica Blvd., Santa Monica, (310) 458-8600.
WAREHOUSE RESTAURANT — featuring Eric Vincent and the Diamondcutters performing cover music from Neil Diamond, Frank Sinatra, Bobby Darin and more, 8-11 p.m., $5 cover, Warehouse, 4499 Admiralty Way, Marina del Rey, (310) 391-8288.
Sunday, 5/19
KATON STUDIO — event honoring women artists, featuring Rachel Goodrich playing and singing the songs she writes and paintings by Audrey MacNamara, Sara Issakharian, Sirpa Baylis Heikka and others, portion of sales goes to art supplies for needy children, Native Americans and WWII veterans and Venice Clinic; juice, water and snacks provided, noon-7 p.m., 324 Sunset Ave., Venice, (310) 399-8701, www.katonart.com.
INERGETIX HEALING SYSTEM — presented by “Dr. B,” who has 25 years in holistic healing, information and discussion on remote energy system for all levels for people, animals, businesses, etc., 1:30 p.m., free, Santa Monica Library, 601 Santa Monica Blvd., Santa Monica, RSVP to: (310) 433-2382.
Tuesday, 5/21
SANTA MONICA PUBLIC LIBRARY — movie screening and discussion for “Living Downstream,” a feature documentary based on the book by Sandra Steingraber, following Steingraber during one pivotal year as she travels across North America working to break the silence about cancer and its environmental links, 7-8:30 p.m. screening of “Living Downstream,” 8:30-9 p.m. discussion, free, MLK Auditorium, 601 Santa Monica Blvd., Santa Monica, (310) 458-8716 ext. 3.
FABULOUSLY WED’S — event intended to educate brides, engaged couples, event professionals and interested community residents on various aspects of event planning and event design, 7 p.m., 20th Church of Christ Scientist ballroom, 132 Brooks Ave., Venice, RSVP to: http://fabwedworkshop.eventbrite.com.
TYPHOON RESTAURANT — presents Hound Dog Dave and the Mel-tones, an American roots and blues quartet, 8-10:30 p.m., 3221 Donald Douglas Loop at Santa Monica Airport, (310) 387-6947.
Wednesday, 5/22
VENICE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE — hosts local business expo, business leaders from the Venice community come together to showcase their products and services at the second annual business expo, featuring over 40 exhibits and sampling of food and beverages from local eateries, $5 admission, Boys & Girls Club of Venice, 2232 Lincoln Blvd., Venice, (310) 822-5425, www.venicechamber.net.
ROTARY CLUB OF PLAYA VENICE SUNRISE — Craft Talks by new Rotarians, 7:15 a.m., full buffet breakfast $25 per person, Hotel MdR, 13480 Maxella Ave., Del Rey, www.playasunrise.org.
