Get Out and Go: Concerts, Art Exhibits—and a Party at a Library

Haven't yet firmed up your plans for the weekend? Our exhaustive guide of things to do should help fill in any gaps. With a litany of notable events happening from Friday through Sunday, once again, there's no reason to be bored in Santa Monica.

1. Britten’s The Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra

Where/When: ; Saturday, 10 and 11:30 a.m.

Why Go: The latest installment in The Broad Stage's Saturday Morning Mash-Ups is more than just a concert; expect to be wowed by spoken-word performers and other interactive elements during the multimedia event.

Pricing: $20

2. Beach House Lecture

Where/When: ; Saturday, 2 to 4 p.m.

Why Go: This new series hosted by the Santa Monica Conservancy doubles as a public-lecture presentation and training class for prospective docents at the Annenberg Community Beach House. The first installment features historian Marc Wanamaker and author Cari Beauchamp, who will talk about William Randolph Hearst. RSVP to rsvp@smconservancy.org or 310.496.3146.

Pricing: Free for docents-in-training; donation requested for other attendees

3. Ocean Park Branch Library Open House

Where/When: ; Saturday, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Why Go: "Check out" the library's —the undertaking of which caused a temporary closure in January—at this celebration. The fun includes a balloon show, a live-music performance, a surfer photo booth, ocean-themed crafts and refreshments.

Pricing: Free

4. Santa Monica Symphony Concert

Where/When: ; Saturday, 7:30 p.m.

Why Go: Pianist Peter Toth will perform Rossini’s Italian Girl in Algiers Overture, Liszt's Piano Concerto No. 1 and Shostakovich's Symphony No. 6. Come an hour early for a pre-concert chat with Raymond Knapp.

Pricing: Free

5. Community Shred Event

Where/When: Fire Training Tower at the ; Saturday, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Why Go: The first day of spring isn't until Mar. 20, but if you want to get a head start on cleaning, look no further than this event. SM residents only.

Pricing: Free

6. Cause for Creativity: The Alchemy of Grooming

Where/When: ; Sunday, 2 to 5 p.m.

Why Go: At this workshop, which is co-hosted by the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics, attendees will learn how to craft their own safe and natural grooming products and packaging. The program also includes the screening of an animated short film, The Story of Cosmetics.

Pricing: $5 (free for SMMoA members)

7. “Galaxies, Galaxies Everywhere”

Where/When: John Drescher Planetarium, ; Friday, 8 p.m.

Why Go: The second of three special shows happening at the planetarium in March, this one will revolve around "our ability to 'hear' the radio voices of galaxies, look deep into dark dust clouds, and 'see' gamma- and X-rays from the cores of these celestial bodies," according to a statement from the college. As usual, it will be preceded an hour earlier by "The Night Sky Show."

Pricing: $5 ($9 with "The Night Sky Show")

8. "Oceans 4: Mixing Media"

Where/When: Annenberg Community Beach House; through Sunday

Why Go: Sunday is the last day to catch this exhibit, which has been on display since early December. It features the works of four Santa Monica artists who interpret the Pacific Ocean with acrylic paint, photographs, watercolor, ink, charcoal, wax, neon, resin and other materials.

Pricing: Free

9. Michelle Shocked Concert

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

Why Go: The Dallas-born musician is one of the most respected, if somewhat unsung, singer/songwriters in the independent-music world.

Pricing: $24.50 (sold out)

10. Marshall Crenshaw Concert

Where/When: ; Friday, 8 and 10 p.m.

Why Go: The rootsy singer/songwriter has been putting out albums for almost 30 years, and his new one—Jaggedland—is his first in six. And it's hard to imagine a better venue for him to perform than .

Pricing: $22.50 (first show is sold out)

11. Evening of Song by Gale Oliver and Gregory Schreiner

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

Why Go: Almost 200 years' worth of classical music that was created in various European countries—by conductors ranging from Rossini to Britten to Schumann—will be showcased at this event, which is part of the SMC Music Department's Spring 2011 Concert Series.

Pricing: Free

12. Santa Monica Citywide Reads Discussion

Where/When: ; Saturday, 1 p.m.

Why Go: This is your last chance to participate in the ninth-annual Santa Monica Citywide Reads program, in which all residents are asked to participate. This year's book is Dolen Perkins-Valdez's Wench, a story about four slave mistresses in pre-Civil War America.

Pricing: Free

13. Matinee Kids' Show With Ozokidz

Where/When: ; Sunday, 11 a.m.

Why Go: Haven't heard of Ozokidz? Perhaps you're familiar with Ozomatli, whose family-friendly alter ego is this act.

Pricing: $15 (sold out)

14. Young Musicians Foundation's Debut Orchestra

Where/When: ; Sunday, 4 p.m.

Why Go: This concert will feature the L.A. premiere of John Adams' Doctor Atomic Symphony. Also featured will be a multimedia backdrop, Wagner's Flying Dutchman and Prokiev's Violin Conerto No. 2.

Pricing: sold out

15. I Will Follow Film Opening

Where/When: ; Friday, Saturday and Sunday at 10:30 a.m., 12:40 p.m., 2:50 p.m., 5:10 p.m., 7:30 p.m., 9:45 p.m.

Why Go: An official selection at the American Film Institute's 2010 AFI Fest, the film will see a limited engagement at the AMC Criterion. I Will Follow is one of a series of independent African-American films that will be shown in select cities.

Pricing:

16. 2010/2011 Masterpiece Series Concert No. 4

Where/When: Barnum Hall at ; Sunday, 4 p.m.

Why Go: The New West Symphony will commemorate Chopin's 200th birthday with this concert also featuring compositions by Beethoven and Mozart. Jan Lisiecki, a critically acclaimed pianist, will be tickling the ivories. 

Pricing: $25 to $110