This Weekend in Santa Monica!

• LEARN SOMETHING

Where/When: , 1501 California Ave.; 7 p.m. Saturday
Why go: The best-selling mystery authors will kickoff Santa Monica Citywide Reads is a community reading program that is produced by Santa Monica Public Library and encourages everyone to read and discuss the same novel. This year's book is Raymond Chandler's Lady in the Lake.
Pricing: Free

Where/When: Santa Monica Airport, 300 Airport Ave.; 10 a.m. Saturday
Why go: The newly expanded and renovated museum will officially reopen after closing temporarily in 2002. It features extensive exhibits and displays on the history of the Douglas Aircraft Company and the Santa Monica Airport and a hands-on interactive area for children.
Pricing: $10 for adults, $8 for seniors and students and $6 for children ages 6 to 12. Children ages 5 and under are free.

Where/When: , 1900 Pico Blvd.; 7 p.m. Friday
Why go: The feature show is “2012: Space Exploration Preview,” which takes a look at the numerous exciting space missions slated to unfold this year, including the landing of the most capable surface science package ever on the Red Planet and the first flights of two American-built robotic cargo ships to the International Space Station.
Pricing: $6 or $11 for the “double bill,” with discounts for children and seniors

Where/When: , 1210 4th St.; 7:30 p.m. Friday
Why go: This two-hour multi-media dance retrospective presented by The Central Avenue Dance Ensemble chronicles the history of African and African-American inspired social dances that have been popularly danced in the United States from the 1800s to today.
Pricing: $22.50

FREE SUNDAYS AT THE AQUARIUM
Where/When: .; 2:30-5 p.m.
Why go: In partnership with Cirque du Soleil's Ovo—performances public to visit the Aquarium for free any Sunday in February are running now March 20 under the big top near the Pier—the public is invited to visit the Aquarium for free any Sunday in February.
Pricing: Free

• BE MERRY


Where/When: 395 Santa Monica Place.; 2-6 p.m. weekends
Why go: Santa Monica Place is offering live entertainment every weekend until March 2013.
Pricing: Free

• BE ENTERTAINED

Where/When: , 1310 11th St; 11 a.m. Saturday
Why go: Actress and best-selling children's author, Jamie Lee Curtis, narrarates her own children's stories Where do Balloons Go and When I was Little. Members of the Sol-LA Music Academy children's chorus will perform along with original music by Tom Farrell and Clara Lysy.
Pricing: $15.50

Where/When: , 2437 Main St.;  7:30 p.m. Friday
Why go: Billed as sexy and occasionally poignant, Why We Have A Body, is a comedy accompanied by a score that's recreated live at each
performance by five musicians playing jazz, funk, blues and classical music.
Pricing: $15.50

Where/When: , 1211 4th St.; 3:30 p.m. Sunday
Why go: A cast of young actors present key passages from the recently declassified Pentagon Papers on the 40th anniversary of the Watergate break-in.
Pricing: $19.50


Where/When: , 1211 4th St.; 3 p.m. Saturday and 12:30 p.m. Sunday
Why go: The comical reworking of the classic fairy tale family-friendly musical is filled with romance, seduction, danger and lots of laughs.
Pricing: $12.50