Welcome to the first post-"" weekend, where life should be back to normal here in Santa Monica. Of course, "normal" means there are so many things going on that making a weekend planner can be as intimidating as a climb up the Santa Monica Stairs. Lucky for you, Santa Monica Patch has done the legwork, assembling a planner tailored just for you.
Here are the top 20 things to do in town this weekend:
1. Surf's Up
Where/When: ; Saturday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Why Go: The Beach House will be bursting with activity on Saturday for this special, family-friendly event. Live music, chalk art and a slew of games—disc golf, Twister, ladder ball—are on the bill. Also, Los Angeles County Lifeguards will share safety tips for the summer, and at 1 p.m., there will be a group-paddle demonstration. Marion Davies Guest House fans, fear not: The house will still be open from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., with free tours given at 11 a.m., 12 p.m. and 1 p.m.
Pricing: Free (normal rates for pool, fitness room and parking still apply)
2. Wanderlust Yoga in the City
Where/When: (between Wilshire and Arizona); Sunday, 12 to 5 p.m.
Why Go: How could a seven-city tour promoting yoga culture not include Santa Monica among its destinations? The sixth stop on the tour will bring together the city's yoga and wellness community, encouraging camaraderie and the sharing of best practices. The tour, sponsored by Smartwater, will also feature a stress-less lounge.
Pricing: Free
3. Preserving Old Havana: Conservation and Tourism in Today’s Cuba
Where/When: ; Sunday, 3 p.m.
Why Go: The title of this illustrated lecture, presented in conjunction with a related exhibit at the Getty Center, says it all. The lecture will be delivered by Dr. Ken Breisch, who is the director of Historic Preservation Programs at the University of Southern California and a regular contributor to the 's educational programs. To ensure entry, register here, drop an e-mail to RSVP@SMConservancy.org or call 310.496.3146.
Pricing: Free
4. Stogie Kenyatta's The World Is My Home—The Life of Paul Robeson
Where/When: ; Sunday, 7 p.m.
Why Go: Kenyatta, who was born in Jamaica and bred in Brooklyn, delivers this multi-faceted production about Robeson, a legendary black artist, athlete and civil-rights activist. "Armed with nothing more than the strength of his convictions and his vision of a world where men live as brothers, his message was his life," Kenyatta said in a statement. "He shows us that in spite of our differences, we still have more in common than we do in conflict."
Pricing: $20 (all proceeds benefit the Save the Playhouse Campaign)
5. South Orange Track Club Fundraising Car Wash
Where/When: southwest corner of 16th and Pearl Streets in Santa Monica; Saturday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Why Go: Next week, 16-year-old track phenom Drake Johnston and his teammates head to the National Junior Olympic Track & Field Championships in Wichita, Kansas. But they need some coin to help pay for their trip. Go here to read more about what's in store for the team next week.
Pricing: $20 (all proceeds benefit the Save the Playhouse Campaign)
6. Couples “Hands-On” Cooking & Cuisine
Where/When: The Gourmandise School of Sweets & Savories at at ; Saturday, 6 to 9 p.m.
Why Go: Looking for something to do with your lover—or need a good excuse to finally check out The Market? Attend this class, where you'll make a tasty meal and then enjoy it with a glass of wine. On the menu is arugula salad with poached eggs and lemon vinaigrette, baked fish en papillotte and tart tatine.
Pricing: $150 per couple
7. Dolls!—Not Your Usual Love Story Preview
Where/When: Santa Monica Playhouse; Saturday, 7:30 p.m.
Why Go: The uplifting musical—which the playhouse describes as "a cheerfully mysterious, unexpectedly amorous musical unveiling of the remarkable secret life of the dolls we left behind"—is making its world premiere. It's also serving as part two of the Actors' Repertory Theatre's 50th Anniversary Festival of Theatre. The show formally opens Aug. 6 and runs through Sept. 25.
Pricing: $15
8. York Chang's Second Life Artist Reception
Where/When: 's Project Room; Saturday, 6 to 10 p.m.
Why Go: The Los Angeles-centric exhibit has been showing at the center since June 18 and will continue to be there through Aug. 28, but it's getting a little extra love this weekend courtesy this artist reception. "This project explores Los Angeles’ legacy as a site of artistic transformation and second chances, through the poetic investigation and fictional re-construction of the Artist Actualization Services, a short-lived and obscure performance art group active in Los Angeles from 1979-1980," Chang said in a statement.
Pricing: Free
9.
Where/When: Aero Theatre; Saturday, 7:30 p.m.
Why Go: Screenwriter Robert Towne will talk about Chinatown and its sequel, The Two Jakes, in between screenings of the two flicks.
Pricing: $11 (discounts available)
10.
Where/When: ; Friday, 7:30 p.m.
Why Go: Breaking away from its usual double-features, the Aero presents a program consisting of short films by legendary silent comedians. Fans of Charlie Chaplin, Buster Keaton and Laurel & Hardy, look no further.
Pricing: $11 (discounts available)
11.
Where/When: ; Saturday, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Why Go: At this workshop, teens learn the basics of photography and take a brief photo excursion around the neighborhood to practice their techniques.
Pricing: Free
12.
Where/When: 's Theatre Arts Studio Stage; Friday, 7 p.m.; Saturday, 1 and 7 p.m.; Sunday, 1 p.m.
Why Go: SMC's Theatre Arts Department is putting on A Year With Frog and Toad as its latest children's play. But beware: The summer production won't be running all year; it ends July 31.
Pricing: $10 for adults; $5 for children ages 2 to 12
13.
Where/When: ; Saturday, 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.; Sunday, 11 a.m.
Why Go: Sunday is your last chance to catch this musical production, which made its L.A. premiere earlier this year. It's based on the book of the same name and is presented by The Youth Education Entertainment Series.
Pricing: $8 ($6 for children under 13)
14. In Bed With Tenn
Where/When: ; Friday and Saturday, 8 to 10 p.m.
Why Go: Helmed by award-winning writer, actress and director Natalia Lazarus, this tribute to Tennessee Williams ends its run Saturday. The production explores the various theories surrounding the author's death and features six of his rarely performed one-act plays.
Pricing: $20
15.
Where/When: Morgan-Wixson Theatre; Friday and Saturday, 8 p.m.; Sunday, 2 p.m.
Why Go: Based on a true story, the stage play was first brought to life in 1975 by Bob Fosse. Set in the roaring '20s, the prohibition story revolves around two women, each accused of murder. With show-stopping numbers choreographed by Morgan-Wixson veteran Krystal Combs and directed by Geoffrey Award winner Anne Gesling, this show is a must-see for all musical lovers.
Pricing: $23 (general admission); $18 (seniors and students)
16. Let Me Down Easy
Where/When: ; Friday, 7:30 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, 2 p.m.
Why Go: Nurse Jackie and West Wing actress Anna Deavere Smith continues performing her one-woman tragic/comic show this weekend. "In a spellbinding evening, she channels 20 people, some you know, some you've never met from Lance Armstrong to first supermodel Lauren Hutton, to Governor Ann Richards to a rodeo bull rider to distinguished doctors and holy men," according to The Broad Stage. "In the end, the show is about resilience, grace and most of all, love."
Pricing: $30 to $75
17.
Where/When: ; Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Why Go: Angela Featherstone, the actress who played Adam Sandler's girlfriend in The Wedding Singer, unveils her first curated art show at the gallery. The show features works by both unknown and world-renowned female artists, some of whose work is being shown for the first time.
Pricing: Free
18. Community Shred Event & Electronics Recycling
Where/When: Fire Training Tower at the ; Saturday, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Why Go: Skipped spring cleaning this year? Do it in the summer instead, and bring your once-important documents and electronics to this shredding session. For SM residents only.
Pricing: Free
19. A Memory of Two Mondays
Where/When: ; Friday and Saturday, 8 p.m.; Sunday, 2 p.m.
Why Go: Directed by Amelia Mulkey, this ensemble production is a new production of the Arthur Miller play.
Pricing: $25 (general admission); $20 (guild members, seniors and students)
20.
Where/When: ; Friday, 7 p.m.
Why Go: Author readings are common at the bookstore, but this one is billed as more of a performance than a traditional reading. Adam Chester, his mother and an accompanying live band will put on a show based around the letters of advice that Chester's mother sent him for more than three decades. The letters are featured in Chester's book S’Mother.
Pricing: Free
City News Service contributed to this report.
