Mar. 15: Samohi Welcomes the Spring With Annual Concert

Good day, all. In case you missed us on Monday, we published a story on Santa Monica College students protesting for community-college funding in Sacramento; the latest installment in our ongoing Whiz Kids feature; a preview of Sunshine Week; and the week's first SM AM Report.

Now, on to today:

Weather Forecast

• partly cloudy
• high temperature: 68 degrees
• low temperature: 54 degrees
• chance of precipitation: 10 percent
• humidity: 64 percent
• sunrise: 7:05 a.m.
• sunset: 7:02 p.m.

The Main Event

• 's six orchestras unite this evening for their annual spring concert. On the program are compositions by Gershwin, Mendelssohn and Tchaikovsky. The performance will take place at—you guessed it—Barnum Hall. Admission is $10 for adults, $5 for seniors and students.

The Runner-Up

• Are you "driven" when it comes to sustainability? Then head over to this morning for a discussion about "conscious capitalism" among business professionals. “” takes place at 11:15 a.m. in the Humanities & Social Science Lecture Hall, and it's free, of course. In conjunction with the discussion, SMC is staging a Social Enterprise Business Proposal Competition. The winner will get 500 bucks and a $100 gift certificate from campus food vendor Eat Street.

Other Happenings

• Longtime Ben Harper collaborator Tom Freund continues his monthly series of Tuesday performances at tonight. The Venice-based singer/songwriter is supporting his new album, Hug Trees, which was produced by Harper. The 21-plus show starts at 8 p.m., and tickets are $10.
• Get a behind-the-scenes look at Hollywood movie-making when authors Steven Bingen, Stephen X. Sylvester and Michael Troyan chat about their new book, MGM: Hollywood’s Greatest Backlot, this evening. The tome features interviews with actors and staff who made classic cinema for MGM. As for the talk, it will take place at at 7 p.m.
• Keep your fingers crossed for Santa Monica Patch Whiz Kid , who is competing in the Boys & Girls Club's LA County Competition and Celebration. If she wins, she'll advance to the California State Competition. The competition will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. at The Museum of Tolerance in Los Angeles.

Last but Not Least

• Sustainable Works' latest Green Living Workshop happens tonight from 7 to 8:30 p.m. for more info.

(Go here for more events happening today.)

This Day in Santa Monica History

• On Mar. 15, 1918, the banquet hall opened on the and hosted the Christian Endeavor Convention (source: Santa Monica Pier: A Century on the Last Great Pleasure Pier)

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.