Arts & Entertainment

Get Out and Go: Paddleboard Fest; State-Budget Workshop

Also on tap for this weekend is drive-in fun, a state-budget workshop and a DJ set by The Roots' ?uestlove.

We've said it before, and we'll say it again: If you're in Santa Monica, there's never an excuse to do nothing on the weekend.

For the latest edition of the Get Out and Go weekend planner, we highlight the top 25 things happening from Friday through Sunday:

1.

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

Where/When: ; Saturday, starting at 9 a.m.

Why Go: Ever wonder what's up with people standing on boards in the ocean? Go to the pier on Saturday, and all your questions will be answered. With an extensive history exhibit accompanying the fleet of races and competitions, the second edition of the paddleboard festival—which is benefiting —promises to be even bigger than last year's. The fest will also feature live music and special appearances by guests including Kathy Kohner-Zuckerman, after whom the famous Gidget character was modeled. Go here for more info, go here to read more about the history of paddleboarding in Santa Monica, and go here to check out a massive gallery of historical photos.

Pricing: Free for spectators

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

2. ?uestlove DJ Set

Where/When: ; Saturday; doors at 8 p.m.; concert starts at 9:30 p.m.

Why Go: The Roots' percussionist is back at The Central, stepping away from his drum kit to spin some black circles. If you're wondering, "Where have I heard of this guy?," it could have been on Late Night With Jimmy Fallon, where he serves as the house drummer. Also, he's collaborated with everyone from Christina Aguilera to Common to Hank Williams Jr. Handling opening-act duties are The Beatards.

Pricing: $15 before Saturday; $20 on Saturday

3.

Where/When: 's Bundy Campus (Room 123); Saturday, 10:30 a.m. to noon

Why Go: Assemblywomen Julia Brownley (D-Santa Monica) and Betsy Butler (D-Marina del Rey) are hosting this event, in which attendees will be able to decide how they'd balance the state budget if they could. Participants will be able to use instant-response, high-tech “clickers” to select their choices for balancing state revenues with expenditures.

Pricing: Free

4.

Where/When: Santa Monica Pier; Friday; celebration starts at 7:30 p.m.; movie starts at 8:30 p.m.

Why Go: This week sees a twist in the pier's drive-in series: Prior to the screening of the latest flick, the Adam Sandler-starring 50 First Dates, there will be a celebration of Oahu, where the movie was shot. Free food and leis will be doled out, and five-time Grammy winner Daniel Ho—who appeared in Forgetting Sarah Marshall—will perform some of his Hawaiian tunes. Aloha.

Pricing: Free

5.

Where/When: 's Barnum Hall; Saturday, 7 p.m.

Why Go: The orchestras will tip their caps (mortarboards?) to graduating students, including piano phenom , at their last show of the year. Expect to witness smashing solo performances and other unforgettable moments from the Samohi Senior Gala Orchestra.

Pricing: $10 ($5 for students)

6. Samohi Choirs' Spring Concert

Where/When: Samohi's Barnum Hall; Friday, 7 p.m.

Why Go: The theme for this, the choirs' last concert of the school year, is "Around the World in Song"—which is apropos, considering three of the school's choirs recently traveled to England and Vancouver. The school's full choral music program will perform folk-inspired music from across the globe.

Pricing: $10 ($5 for students)

7. Up on Cloud 9: The 50s Musical

Where/When: ; Friday, 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, 2:30 and 7:30 p.m.

Why Go: Billed as "a toe-tappin', finger-snappin', be-boppin', sock-hoppin' loving tribute to those simple days of yore," this production is the end result of this year's Play Project collaboration between the playhouse and . The playhouse's co-artistic directors, Chris DeCarlo and Evelyn Rudie, are heading it up.

Pricing: $8 ($5 for children) 

8. The Case Against Happiness

Where/When: Santa Monica Playhouse; Sunday, 7 p.m.

Why Go: If you're Jewish and grew up in New York, you'll be able to relate to this amusing one-man show. See for yourself if Howard Smith, who also wrote the production, makes his case. All proceeds go to the Save the Playhouse Campaign.

Pricing: $18

9.

Where/When: ; Saturday, 1 to 9 p.m.

Why Go: Is your kitchen sorely lacking a homemade butter dish, teapot or jar of any sort? If so, then add this to your to-do list for this weekend. The display, which runs through July 30, features lidded wares by 18 Santa Monica artists.

Pricing: Free

10.

Where/When: ; Friday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Why Go: Lidded objects are sure to also be available at this event, which is in its 26th year. Here's the full list of goods on display from the 250 participating artists: accessories, baskets, ceramics, enamel, fiber, furniture, glass, jewelry, Judaica, leather, metal, mixed media, paper, sculptures and wood.

Pricing: $8 (free for kids under 13)

11. Arthur Miller's A Memory of Two Mondays Preview

Where/When: ; Friday and Saturday, 8 p.m.; Sunday, 2 p.m.

Why Go: If you think the unemployment rate is bad now, imagine living in the 1930s, when it was at 25 percent. Miller was around back then, and this autobiographical play captures him dreaming of going to college during that time. Amelia Mulkey is directing this production, which will be at the theater for a short run.

Pricing: $25 ($20 for guild members, seniors and students)

12.

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

Why Go: While the first night of the two-day tribute focused on the actor's works from the late '60s, the concluding evening will feature 1971's The Hired Hand and 1999's The Limey. Fonda will chat about both flicks in between the screenings.

Pricing: $11 (discounts available for American Cinematheque members, seniors, students and KCRW members)

13. An Evening With Peter Bart and Cameron Crowe

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

Why Go: Bart and Crowe will talk about Harold and Maude after a screening of the groundbreaking 1971 film. The film buffs will also chat about Bart's new book, Infamous Players: A Tale of Movies, the Mob (and Sex), and he'll sign copies of it too.

Pricing: $11 (discounts available for American Cinematheque members, seniors, students and KCRW members)

14.

Where/When: SMC Performing Arts Center's Pete and Susan Barrett Art Gallery; Saturday, 6 to 8 p.m.

Why Go: A lucky few art students at SMC get to hunker down with faculty members and hone their individual bodies of work over the course of the semester. The results will be shown for all to see with this exhibit, which formally begins Tuesday and runs through June 25.

Pricing: Free

15.

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

Why Go: It's officially a "star party" when amateur astronauts gather to observe the night sky. "From local urban and suburban locations to high, dark mountains and deserts, this feature show will give attendees information on where and when to go and what to bring to be a star party visitor and participant," the college said. As usual, it will be preceded an hour earlier by "The Night Sky Show."

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

16.

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

Why Go: Competing with the above is this concert, for which L.A. jazz musicians will join the Cindy Bourquin-led ensemble. On the program are jazz selections specifically arranged for four-part harmonies.

Pricing: $10

17. SMC Opera Workshop

Where/When: The Broad Stage; Sunday, 4 p.m.

Why Go: Under the direction of Gail Gordon, the SMC Opera Theater will delve into more obscure works from Spanish opera and Zarzuela.

Pricing: $10

18.

Where/When: ; Saturday, 10:30 to 11:45 a.m.

Why Go: Why work out alone when you can exercise with other people ... while listening to classic rock ... and all for a good cause? The indoor spin class will be taught while a live DJ spins, and all proceeds will go to the American Cancer Society. Space is limited to 36 bikes; go here for more info.

Pricing: $25 recommended donation

19. Green Garden Academy

Where/When: ; Saturday, 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Why Go: Stressing over your garden? Save yourself time and energy at this class, where you'll learn tips about pruning, mulching, composting and pest-preventing.

Pricing: Free

20.

Where/When: 's Craig Krull Gallery; Saturday, 6 p.m.

Why Go: Folk-music-fan alert: The legendary music producer—who helped make Peter, Paul and Mary a household name—will sign copies of his book at the aforementioned place and time. The book comes out two days later.

Pricing: Free

21. Adam Pertman's Adoption Nation Book Signing

Where/When: ; Friday, 6 to 8 p.m.

Why Go: The book's subtitle says it all: How the Adoption Revolution is Transforming Our Families and America. If Pertman's name sounds familiar, you may have seen him on The View or Oprah.

Pricing: Free

22.

Where/When: Bleicher/Golightly and Hamilton Galleries; Friday and Saturday, 12 to 10 p.m.; Sunday, 12 to 6 p.m.

Why Go: Sunday is your last chance to catch this show, featuring works by nine contemporary artists. Themes include romance, animals, lust and animal instinct.

Pricing: Free

23. MESS (Media Ecology Soul Salon)

Where/When: ; Saturday, 3 p.m.

Why Go: maestro Gerry Fialka will interview Francine Oller, a member of the '70s-era Human Potential Movement who "has spent thousands of hours guiding people towards a peaceful and conscious transition from life through death," he said. "A continuing student of thanatology, theosophy, mindfulness and calligraphy Francine seeks to integrate her experience of the seen and unseen in ordinary life."

Pricing: Free

24. "Chuck Walking" Takes His Final Steps

Where/When: Santa Monica Pier; Sunday

Why Go: Last but not least, look out for a very exhausted man on the pier Sunday. Chuck La Rue will conclude his 3,000-mile walk, which he started May 13 to raise awareness about Lou Gehrig's disease. He's already raised $6,000 for the ALS Association. Someone buy this guy a drink.

Pricing: Free

Editor's note: The Selena Gomez concert and Q&A at has been canceled. Go here for more info.


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