Arts & Entertainment

Get Out and Go: Bike Tour, Alt-Comedy Marathon

Also this weekend, the Jazz on the Lawn series continues, as does "Behold: A Queer Performance Festival."

If it's the weekend in Santa Monica, you know there's plenty to do. More than plenty, in fact. For our latest weekend planner, we pulled together 21 notable activities and events, including an art-themed bike tour, comedy showcases, a seminar on elder care, a cooking class and music performances galore.

There's a lot to dig into, so we won't delay any further:

1.

Find out what's happening in Santa Monicawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Where/When: The lawn in front of ; Sunday, 5 to 7 p.m.

Why Go: The series' latest installment features Electones, a trio that plays blues, jazz and soul songs on organ and guitar. The show is part of the Los Angeles County Arts Commission’s Free Concerts in Public Spaces program and sponsored by Los Angeles County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky. Also at the event, Green Vets LA will distribute free reusable bags, as part of the Office of Sustainability and the Environment’s Bring Your Bag initiative, before the .

Find out what's happening in Santa Monicawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Pricing: Free

2.

Where/When: ; Sunday, 12 to 7 p.m.

Why Go: The third-annual bike event will find participants venturing around town; stopping to enjoy music, dance and art along the way; and winding up at the museum for a big performance piece called The Bicycle Bell Ensemble. The cultural bike tour takes place from 2:30 to 7 p.m. and will include a  performance and a visit to Jazz on the Lawn.

Pricing: Mostly free (Spoke card art workshop costs $5)

3.

Where/When: ; all weekend

Why Go: The festival is featuring more flicks than you can shake a camera at. Moreover, a series of other special events are planned: On Friday night, B-movie actress Lisa Ann Walter hosts Midnight Movie Madness. On Saturday, '30s child actor Jane Withers will receive the Thomas Ince Award. And on Sunday, The Sting—for which Santa Monica served as the back lot—will be shown, along with Culver City - The Reel Hollywood, which is making its on-screen premiere.

Pricing: $11

4. Behold: A Queer Performance Festival

Where/When: ; Friday and Saturday, 8:30 p.m.

Why Go: For its penultimate weekend, the fest is presenting performance artist/ activist/ professor Ian MacKinnon's Gay Hist-orgy! Part 2 - The Search for Gay Love. "MacKinnon searches history, mythology, psychology ... to answer the question, 'What is Gay Love?' " the theater said in a statement.

Pricing: $15 to $20

5. WCT's Laugh Party

Where/When: ; Saturday, 8 to 9:30 p.m.

Why Go: Some big names are on the bill and some secret special guests are promised for this affordably priced, 90-minute throwdown. Among the featured performers are Jen Kirkman (Chelsea Lately, Conan); Andrew Donnelly (Jimmy Kimmel Live, Jon Benjamin Has a Van); and Carrie Clifford (Funny or Die Presents, Last Call With Carson Daly).

Pricing: $10

6. Comedy on the Down Low

Where/When: ; Sunday, 8:30 p.m.

Why Go: Also on the comedy front is this show, which happens the first and third Sunday of every month. The lineup hasn't been announced yet, but Lucky Louie actor Rick Shapiro kicked off the first show in the series when it started earlier this year, so it could be promising.

Pricing: Free

7.

Where/When: 's MLK Auditorium; Saturday, 3 p.m.

Why Go: The Pacific Lyric Association is presenting and performing Spanish operettas for this special afternoon concert. Selections will include classic zarzuelas like Luisa Fernanda, and West Side Story, among other American musicals. Tickets will be available Saturday at 2 p.m.

Pricing: Free

8.

Where/When: ; Saturday, 7 to 9 p.m.

Why Go: Downtown Santa Monica, Inc.'s new continues with this learn-to-cook event. The Mexican restaurant's Chef Alex Moreno will demonstrate how to make an easy dinner with farmer's market products. There will also be tastings, margaritas and more.

Pricing: $90 (includes tax) per couple

9. Santa Monica Museum of Art Exhibitions

Where/When: SMMOA; Saturday

Why Go: Saturday is your last chance to catch three exhibitions that have been showing at the museum since late May: Marco Brambilla's The Dark Lining, Simmons and Burke's In Media(s) Res, Media(s) in Res, and Park Studio's State of Mind.

Pricing: Free

10. Raising Up Your Parents

Where/When: ; Saturday, 12 p.m.

Why Go: Elder-care expert Susan B. Geffen will talk about how to recognize Alzheimer's disease, when to seek assisted living, what to do about elder abuse and other topics at this informational discussion. More than 3,000 adults and seniors have attended her seminars.

Pricing: Free

11.

Where/When: Main Library's Multipurpose Room; Saturday, 10:30 a.m.

Why Go: Attendees will tour local gardens, speak with homeowners and garden designers, and discover new ways to convert to lawn alternatives.

Pricing: Free

12.

Where/When: ; Saturday, 4 to 6 p.m.

Why Go: Experience deep rhythmic trance mediation, and get rejuvenated by learning to play from your heart and body instead of your brain.

Pricing: $20

13.

Where/When: ; Saturday, 8 p.m.

Why Go: Kweskin, who just turned 71 years young, is best known as the former frontman of the Jim Kweskin Jug Band, which trailblazed a humorous take on folk music (and also featured Maria Muldaur). If you dig Dan Hicks, you'll probably enjoy this gig too.

Pricing: $20

14. Stacey Earle and Mark Stuart Concert

Where/When: McCabe's Guitar Shop; Sunday, 7 p.m.

Why Go: Steve Earle's sister and her husband will perform at the same venue the following night. The duo have threatened to go their separate ways (as musicians, not husband and wife), so this could be one of your last chances to see them perform together.

Pricing: $15

15.

Where/When: ; Sunday, 6 p.m.

Why Go: Los Angeles' favorite Grateful Dead cover band holes up once again at The Central, its go-to joint in Santa Monica. Expect roughly three hours' worth of blues, country, jazz, electronic and rock.

Pricing: $10

16.

Where/When: ; begins Saturday

Why Go: Express through art what the summer means to you in this competition, which is open to kids ages 8 to 16. The contest starts Saturday with an open group lab, and winners will be announced Aug. 28 at a reception. Prizes include a one-month open lab, Certificate of Achievement, a canvas panel and more.

Pricing: $25 (includes free T-shirt, group lab and 14x18 canvas panel)

17.

Where/When: ; Sunday, 2:30 p.m.

Why Go: Sing-alongs, prayers, jokes and interactive fun are part of the program J.V. Smith has in store for his uplifting clown celebration for hospital patients. All are welcome to help with the show.

Pricing: Free

18.

Where/When: ; Sunday, at 3:30 p.m.

Why Go: Nervous about going in the water after reading SM Patch columnist , in which he discussed great white sharks under the ? Learn more about the creatures at this ongoing, popular event at the aquarium.

Pricing: $5 (suggested donation); 12 and under are free

19.

Where/When: 2515 Main St.; Sunday, 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Why Go: Another weekly, animal-related event is this rescue gathering, where abused, neglected and/or unwanted animals can find a safe, loving home.

Pricing: Free

20.

Where/When: ; Saturday and Sunday, 1 to 7 p.m.

Why Go: Are your kids acting like animals? Give yourself a break and drop them off for an afternoon of crafts, games and fun. The child care happens every Saturday and Sunday afternoon, and is intended for kids ages 5 to 12.

Pricing: $15 per hour

21. Extreme Close-Up: Essays Inspired by the Movies

Where/When: ; Sunday, 7 p.m.

Why Go: The video store's latest essay show will feature castmembers Tanya White, Marilyn Sands, Karen Knotts, George McGrath, Michael Caldwell and Anna Metcalf. Go for Santa Monica Patch's recent profile on Vidiots, which is on the rebound after suffering recent financial struggles.

Pricing: $10


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