Best Bets: A quick guide to La Jolla entertainment and experiences
This is a continuing listing of local in-person events and online activities.
Lectures & learning
• The Pen to Paper writing class is offered at 1 p.m. Thursdays at the La Jolla/Riford Library, 7555 Draper Ave. The weekly class is open to writers 18 and older of all experience levels. Free. (858) 552-1657
• Yiddishland California offers the Stronger Together Support Group for those feeling sadness, grief, anxiety or other emotions over the Israel-Hamas war. Professional mental health care and lifestyle coach Harpal Khalsa will lead sessions from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Mondays, April 29 and May 13, in La Jolla and on Zoom. A $5-$15 donation is requested. More information will be provided upon registration. yiddishlandcalifornia.org/stronger-together-support-group
• The La Jolla Community Center presents “A Better Understanding of Border Issues” at 3 p.m. Wednesdays, May 8, 15, 22 and 29 at 6811 La Jolla Blvd. as part of the center’s Peer Learning Collaborative. The discussions, facilitated by John Holbrooke, who is retired from U.S. Customs and Border Protection, will be followed by drinks and appetizers. $15 for the four-week course for Community Center members, $35 for non-members. ljcommunitycenter.org/plc
• The UC San Diego School of Global Policy and Strategy presents “A Conversation on the Bipartisan Future of Climate Policy” at 5 p.m. Thursday, May 16, in the Malamud Conference Room, 9899 International Lane, La Jolla. The discussion will focus on author Benji Backer’s book “The Conservative Environmentalist: Common Sense Solutions for a Sustainable Future.” Free. bit.ly/4aX9DaQ
Arts & culture
• Author Nguyen Phan Quế Mai discusses her book “Dust Child” at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, April 25, at Warwick’s bookstore, 7812 Girard Ave., La Jolla. Free, or $18.99 for a reserved seat and book copy. warwicks.com/event/nguyen-2024
• ArtPower at UC San Diego presents “The Beat Goes On,” Lisa McClowry’s tribute to Cher, at 7:30 p.m. Friday, April 26, at UCSD’s Epstein Family Amphitheater, 9480 Innovation Lane, La Jolla. $20-$40. amphitheater.ucsd.edu/event/the-beat-goes-on
• The La Jolla Music Society presents pianist Yefim Bronfman at 7:30 p.m. Friday, April 26, at the Baker-Baum Concert Hall, 7600 Fay Ave. $74-$118. theconrad.org/events/yefim-bronfman-3
• The Athenaeum Music & Arts Library presents its Spring Jazz Series at 1008 Wall St., La Jolla. The next concert will feature Luciana Souza and Trio Corrente at 7:30 p.m. Friday, April 26. $45 for Athenaeum members, $50 for non-members. ljathenaeum.org/jazz
• Warwick’s bookstore presents a celebration of St. Jordi’s Day in conjunction with the national observance of Independent Bookstore Day on Saturday, April 27, at 7812 Girard Ave., La Jolla. Activities include: 11 a.m., bilingual story time with Esther Riera; noon to 1 p.m., meet-and-greet with 2024 San Diego Book Crawl Author Ambassador Susan Lee; noon to 3 p.m., live music by Annela Flores; and food for purchase from Paella Lifestyle. Free admission. warwicks.com/event/independent-bookstore-day-2024
• San Diego Art Advisory presents La Jolla artist Sharon Cathey showcasing her work from 6 to 8 p.m. Saturday, April 27, at 3977 Falcon St., San Diego Free. bit.ly/442zsnC
• The San Diego Early Music Society presents the Twelfth Night baroque ensemble at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, April 27, at St. James by-the-Sea Episcopal Church, 743 Prospect St., La Jolla. $10-$50. (619) 291-8246, sdems.org
• ArtPower presents Queen tribute band Queen Nation at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, April 27, at UC San Diego’s Epstein Family Amphitheater, 9480 Innovation Lane, La Jolla. $20-$40. amphitheater.ucsd.edu/event/queen-nation
• The La Jolla Community Center presents its 2024 Fourth Friday Jazz Series with monthly concerts through October at 6811 La Jolla Blvd. All concerts begin at 8 p.m., with a pre-show reception at 7 p.m. Upcoming performers are saxophonist Christopher Hollyday on Saturday, April 27, guitarist Peter Sprague on Friday, May 24, flutist Lori Bell on Friday, June 28, singer Melissa Morgan on Friday, July 26, singer Rose Mallett on Friday, Aug. 23, flutist Holly Hofmann on Friday, Sept. 27, and trumpeter Gilbert Castellanos on Friday, Oct. 25. $25-$35. ljcommunitycenter.org/ffjs
• The Joseph Bellows Gallery in La Jolla presents “Passing Time,” a photographic exhibit by Sage Sohier, through Saturday, April 27, at 7661 Girard Ave. The gallery also is presenting “Pulp Fiction,” an online exhibition of photographs by Thomas Allen. Free. josephbellows.com/exhibitions
• The La Jolla/Riford Library hosts “Tiny Beautiful Things” presented by Breakthrough Workshop Theatre at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, April 28, at 7555 Draper Ave. The performance is based on the book by Cheryl Strayed. Free. bit.ly/3xBXytf
• La Jolla Presbyterian Church opens its 64th concert series with organist Bradley Welch performing a recital of organ classics from 4 to 5:30 p.m. Sunday, April 28, in the church sanctuary, 7715 Draper Ave. The concert will be followed by a reception. Free. ljpres.org
• La Jolla United Methodist Church presents Mark Hayes as guest conductor for a concert at 4 p.m. Sunday, April 28, at 6063 La Jolla Blvd. The concert will be performed by an expanded community choir, soloists and an orchestra and include classic hymn arrangements, original compositions, secular favorites and the world premiere of Hayes’ newest choral work. Free. lajollaunitedmethodist.org
• San Diego Master Chorale presents a performance of Duruflé’s “Requiem” at 4 p.m. Sunday, April 28, at St. James by-the-Sea Episcopal Church, 743 Prospect St., La Jolla. $10-$35; free for children younger than 13. stjamesmusicseries.com/sdmc
• The Athenaeum Music & Arts Library presents cellist Santiago Cañón-Valencia at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 30, at 1008 Wall St., La Jolla. $50 for Athenaeum members, $55 for non-members, $15 for students. ljathenaeum.org/events/chamber-2024-0430
• Yiddishland California presents guided tours of its art gallery at noon daily except Saturdays through May 2 at Hillel of San Diego at UCSD, 9009 La Jolla Scenic Drive North, La Jolla. $5. yiddishlandcalifornia.org/tour
• Author Caroline Leavitt discusses her book “Days of Wonder” at 4 p.m. Thursday, May 2, via Zoom in an event presented by Warwick’s bookstore in La Jolla. Free. warwicks.com/event/leavitt-2024
• Arthur and His Knights perform their country-Western show from 4 to 7 pm. Friday, May 3, at Hennessey’s Tavern, 7811 Herschel Ave., La Jolla. Free. (858) 551-8772
• The La Jolla Music Society presents composer and guitarist Kaki King performing a show about the world of bugs at 10 and 11:30 a.m. Saturday, May 4, at The JAI at the Conrad Prebys Performing Arts Center, 7600 Fay Ave. $23-$33. theconrad.org/events/kaki-king-bugs
• The La Jolla Music Society presents the Junction Trio at 3 p.m. Sunday, May 5, at the Baker-Baum Concert Hall, 7600 Fay Ave. $48-$63. theconrad.org/events/junction-trio
• Le Salon de Musiques presents music by Russian composers Tchaikovsky, Korsakov, Rachmaninoff and Gretchaninoff at 4 p.m. Sunday, May 5, at the La Jolla Woman’s Club, 7791 Draper Ave. The concert will be introduced by musicologist
Michael Gerdes, and a Q&A with the musicians and a buffet with French champagne will follow the performance. $45-$95. (310) 498-0257, lesalondemusiques.com
• Mainly Mozart and Promotora de las Bellas Artes present “The Sea Unites Us — Music for Our Coast” at 5 p.m. Sunday, May 5, at UC San Diego’s Epstein Family Amphitheater, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla. The concert is part of the Binational Resilience Initiative that aims to generate a program of environmental and coastal activities with an artistic approach aimed at youths and their families. Free. amphitheater.ucsd.edu/event/the-sea-unites-us
• Author Tommy Orange discusses his book “Wandering Stars” in conversation with Jeniffer Thompson at 4 p.m. Tuesday, May 7, via Zoom in an event presented by Warwick’s bookstore in La Jolla. Free. warwicks.com/event/orange-2024
• Author Doris Kearns Goodwin discusses her book “An Unfinished Love Story: A Personal History of the 1960s” at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 7, at the Baker-Baum Concert Hall, 7600 Fay Ave., La Jolla. $38-$68. theconrad.org/events/23-24-live-talks-los-angeles
• The Christopher Hollyday Quartet plays at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 8, in the Wu Tsai QRT.yrd at the Conrad Prebys Performing Arts Center, 7600 Fay Ave., La Jolla. Free. theconrad.org/events/qrt-yrd-hollyday
• Warwick’s bookstore presents author John J. Gobbell discussing his book “Danger’s Ebb” at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, May 9, at 7812 Girard Ave., La Jolla. Free, or $17.99 for a reserved seat and book copy. warwicks.com/event/gobbell-2024
• The Lawrence Family Jewish Community Center presents the exhibit “Documenting History Through Art: The Life and Art of David Labkovski” through Friday, May 10, at 4126 Executive Drive, La Jolla. Free. (858) 457-3030
• The Conrad Prebys Performing Arts Center hosts its fifth annual Community Arts Open House from 1 to 5 p.m. Saturday, May 11, at 7600 Fay Ave., La Jolla. The event at the home of the La Jolla Music Society will feature classes, arts and crafts, performances and other activities, as well as an exhibit of works by students in La Jolla High School’s Advanced Placement art program. Free, but registration is recommended at theconrad.org.
• La Jolla Symphony and Villa Musica present Link Up — The Orchestra Sings at 2 p.m. Saturday, May 11, at UC San Diego’s Epstein Family Amphitheater, 9480 Innovation Lane, La Jolla. Link Up, a program of Carnegie Hall’s Weill Music Institute, pairs orchestras with students in grades 3-5 at schools in their communities to explore orchestral repertoire through a hands-on music curriculum. Students compose and perform their own pieces inspired by the repertoire studied. Then they attend a culminating concert in which they sing and play recorder or violin with the orchestra from their seats. The concert is free and open to the public. amphitheater.ucsd.edu/event/link-up-the-orchestra-sings-2
• The La Jolla/Riford Library and Kite Flite present the kite exhibit “Up Up & Away” through Monday, May 13, in the Community Room at the library, 7555 Draper Ave. A kite-making workshop will be held from 4 to 5:30 p.m. Saturday, April 6. (858) 552-1657
• The 2024 Axline Lecture featuring sculptor and painter Daniel Lind-Ramos begins at 6 p.m. Friday, May 17, at Jacobs Hall at the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego, 700 Prospect St., La Jolla. Lind-Ramos’ artwork is included in MCASD’s exhibition “Forecast Form: Art in the Caribbean Diaspora, 1990s-Today” through July 28. The lecture is free for museum members, $5-$15 for non-members. mcasd.org/events/axline-lecture-daniel-lind-ramos
• The Martin Lawrence Gallery presents “Energy Orchestration,” an exhibit by Los Angeles-based painter Robert Standish, through Monday, May 20, at 1152 Prospect St., La Jolla. martinlawrence.com
• The La Jolla Historical Society presents “Order/Disorder: Belonging in Nature” through Sunday, May 26, in the Wisteria Cottage gallery, 780 Prospect St. The exhibition explores the beauty and complexities of La Jolla’s natural environment through a collection of sculptures, cyanotypes and more by artists Kline Swonger, Britton Neubacher, Oscar Romo, Annalise Neil and Courtney Mattison. Hours are noon to 4 p.m. Wednesdays through Sundays. Free. lajollahistory.org
• The Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego presents “Forecast Form: Art in the Caribbean Diaspora, 1990s-Today” through Sunday, July 28, at 700 Prospect St., La Jolla. The exhibition features an intergenerational group of artists who live and work across the Americas and Europe. mcasd.org
• “Hold Fast,” an exhibit exploring San Diego’s kelp forests and climate change, runs until September at Birch Aquarium, 2300 Expedition Way, La Jolla. The show features works of local photographer and marine scientist Oriana Poindexter, gyotaku prints created by artist Dwight Hwang and kelp forest mapping by Scripps Institution of Oceanography Ph.D. student Mohammad Sedarat. Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily through February and 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday, March 1, through Labor Day, Monday, Sept. 2. The exhibit is included with aquarium admission: $24.95 for adults, $19.95 for children ages 3-17. aquarium.ucsd.edu
Galas & events
• ARCS San Diego presents its Scientist of the Year celebration from 4 to 8 p.m. Saturday, April 27, at the Conrad Prebys Performing Arts Center, 7600 Fay Ave., La Jolla. The event, presented by the Achievement Rewards for College Scientists Foundation, will honor Terry Sejnowski, head of the Computational Neurobiology Laboratory at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies in La Jolla. san-diego.arcsfoundation.org
• Ambrogio by Acquerello restaurant hosts two Michelin-starred Italian chefs for meal services at 5 and 8 p.m. Tuesday, April 30, at 7556 Fay Ave., La Jolla. Milanese chef Silvio Salmoraghi, who co-owns Ambrogio by Acquerello, will co-create an eight-course prix-fixe dinner with Fabio Ugoletti of Mar’sel at Terranea Resort in Rancho Palos Verdes. $245 per person. ambrogiobyacquerello.com
• The Athenaeum Music & Arts Library presents its annual benefit gala “The Talk of the Town” at 5:30 p.m. Friday, May 3, at 1008 Wall St., La Jolla. Guests are encouraged to dress in 1930s-style attire. $250-$1,000. ljathenaeum.org/tott
• The 2024 La Jolla Mutt Strut is set for 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, May 11, at the La Jolla Recreation Center, 615 Prospect St. The event will include a scenic walk, dog contests, games and prizes, with all proceeds benefiting the Amazing Strays rescue organization. $10-$125. bit.ly/44ckgEm
• The La Jolla Historical Society presents the 25th annual Secret Garden Tour beginning at 10 a.m. Saturday, May 18. The event offers two options: a self-guided tour of six gardens that can be viewed in any order and a Platinum Tour that includes an exclusive seventh garden, plus transportation with a docent and lunch. Each garden will have musicians, plein air artists and dining table designs created by local florists and designers. In addition, the Secret Garden Party will be held at 6 p.m. Friday, May 17, at a La Jolla home. Tour tickets are $55-$155 ($10 off for Historical Society members). Party tickets are $115 before Saturday May 11, $85 when purchased with a Platinum Tour ticket. lajollahistory.org/secret-garden-tour
• The Shops at La Jolla Village presents “The Coastal Collective” featuring music and food on The Patio from noon to 2 p.m. Saturdays, May 18 and June 15, at 8801-8879 Villa La Jolla Drive. Free. theshopsatlajollavillage.com/events/the-coastal-collective
Do you have an event — online or in person — that you’d like to see here? Email your leads to Rob Vardon at robert.vardon@lajollalight.com by noon Friday for publication in the following week’s edition. ◆
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