June 3: Drive-In Movie Series Kicks Off at Pier

Greetings everyone, and welcome to a bigger-than-usual SM AM Report.

Here's what we published Thursday:

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Now, here's the outlook for today:

Weather Forecast

• mostly sunny
• high temperature: 68 degrees
• low temperature: 55 degrees
• chance of precipitation: 0 percent
• humidity: 56 percent
• sunrise: 5:43 a.m.
• sunset: 8:01 p.m.

The Main Event

• The first day of summer isn't until June 21, but it may as well be under way in Santa Monica, as 's annual Brand X drive-in movie series starts tonight. This year's kickoff actually features a TV show, not a flick: Starting at 7:30 p.m., the season 4 premiere of Whale Wars will be shown, followed by a question-and-answer session with people involved with the show, including Captain Paul Watson and Executive Producer Jason Carey. The event is free; go here for more info.

The Runner-Up

• 's Starbucks-inspired production, Java Drama 2, happens tonight at 8 p.m. The show—which combines music, poetry, theater and more—features students performing in an intimate setting (the Humanities Center Theatre). Desserts and fresh-brewed espresso drinks will be served by Samohi's theater-student wait staff. Go here for more info.

Other Happenings

• A pretrial hearing is scheduled for Doris Payne, an 80-year-old felon who allegedly stole a $16,000 ring from in October. The hearing is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. at the Airport Branch Courthouse. Go here for more info about the theft.
• Meanwhile, at the same time and place, another pretrial hearing is slated, for Paul Edmond Carpenter, a man charged in the 1998 fatal shooting death of a German tourist near .
• 's Chamber Choir is getting In the Spirit with performances of Durufle's Ubi Caritas, Gerald Finzi's My Spirit Sang All Day, spirituals by Moses Hogan and other inspiring songs. The concert takes place at the , and admission is $10. Go here for more info.
• Also at SMC, amateur astronomers will convene for "The Summer Star Party Planner" at 8 p.m. "From local and suburban locations to high, dark mountains and deserts, we'll clue you in on where and when to go, and what to bring to be a welcome star party visitor and participant," the college said in a statement. Go here for more info.
• On the hunt for kids clothes? Don't miss a special sale that's doubling as a benefit for a woman who has been diagnosed with brain cancer. The sale starts today at Lu-Ad Hair Styling Shop at 10 a.m. Go here for more info.
• David and Jerry Zucker, the men behind Airplane!, will be at the for a screening of another one of their memorable comedies, Ruthless People. The directors, along with other guests, will discuss the Danny DeVito- and Bette Midler-starring flick after it screens starting at 7:30 p.m. Admission is $11, with discounts available.

Last but Not Least

• Sylvia, a new comedy being staged at , continues at 7:30 p.m. Go here for more info.

(Go here for more events happening today.)

This Day in Santa Monica History

• On June 3, 2010, CityTV was presented with a first-place trophy from the STAR Awards. The TV station won in the Promotions category for its public-service announcement The Living Room: A Place for Adults.

Did you take a great pic of SM in the early morning? Want to see it in The SM AM Report? Drop a note to Kurt.Orzeck@patch.com.

City News Service contributed to this report.

Correction made at 8:50 a.m.: The Chamber Choir concert is happening at Edye Second Space, not the SMC main campus.