La Jolla Calendar of Events - February to May

Through Sunday, February 21 - The 20th Annual San Diego Jewish Film Festival continues. See http://sdcjc.lfjcc.org/sdjff/2010/ for details.

February 23 – Wendy Craig-Purcell, author of Ask Yourself This, will speak and sign her new book at Warwick’s, 7812 Girard Avenue, at 7:30pm. http://www.warwicks.com/

February 15 to 28 - The La Jolla Art Association, 8100 Paseo del Ocaso (La Jolla Shores), Winter Invitational features artwork by prize-winning La Jolla artists (www.LaJollaArt.org).

Through the end of February - “Travels Through Europe” watercolors by Francoise Farron are on exhibit at the La Jolla Public Library, 7555 Draper Avenue.


February 21 to May 16 - The Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego (MCASD) in La Jolla will feature a new exhibit, Pleasure Point: Celebrating 25 Years of Contemporary Collectors. Organized by the museum, the exhibit celebrates the achievements of two groups of passionate collectors who support the MCASD, the Contemporary Collectors and the International Collectors, by showcasing major highlights of the museum acquisitions they have made possible during the past 25 years. Among the many works on view will be Tony Oursler’s confrontational video installation, Don’t Look at Me (1994); Doris Salcedo’s untitled, concrete-impregnated armoire (1995); Cornelia Parker’s scintillating Rorschach (Accidental IV) (2006), constructed from 70 crushed, silver-plated objects; and one of the most ambitious works ever acquired by the Museum, Nancy Rubins’ exuberant site-specific installation Pleasure Point (2006). http://www.mcasd.org/

February 28 to March 28 - Discover the beauty and mystery of life along the La Jolla coast during tide pooling excursions with naturalists from Birch Aquarium at Scripps Institution of Oceanography. At this time of the year, lower tides reveal wider beaches and pools teeming with native marine life, such as hermit crabs, sea hares and sea anemones. Aquarium naturalists will guide participants through these fragile environments and identify inhabitants. The cost is $12, ages 2 and older. Directions to meeting place will be provided at time of RSVP. 858-534-7336 http://aquarium.ucsd.edu/

February 28, 2-4 p.m., False Point.
March 13, 1-3 p.m., Dike Rock.
March 28, 1:30-3:30 p.m., False Point


March 4 - During six presidential administrations, Nancy K. Clarke served as the White House Chief Floral Designer. In this role, she decorated for 31 holiday seasons and prepared arrangements for numerous state dinners. On Thursday, March 4 at 1:30pm, she will share her story and photos and give a floral demonstration at Sherwood Auditorium at the Museum of Contemporary Art, La Jolla. The program is sponsored by The Village Garden Club of La Jolla and will benefit their Schoolyard Gardening Project. Tickets for non-members are $65 and include a reception following the lecture and complimentary valet parking. The $250 per person tickets also include a cocktail party on March 3 at the spectacular Mt. Soledad home of club member Judy White and her husband Jack. (http://www.villagegardencluboflajolla/, 760-814-1430)


March 4 to March 14 - As part of its Page to Stage program, the La Jolla Playhouse will showcase the one-man show, John Leguizamo Diary of a Madman. Emmy Award-winner John Leguizamo gets up close and personal with vivid accounts of where he's been and the people who’ve shaped his life in the new, uncensored and uninhibited production. Currently Leguizamo delights younger fans as the voice of “Sid” in Ice Age 1, 2, and 3 in addition to appearances in several movies including The Happening, Righteous Kill and Love in the Time of Cholera. http://www.lajollaplayhouse.org/


Photo courtesy Scripps Oceanography.

La Jolla Festival of the Arts - June 20-21

I just realized that in my last post I included the La Jolla Festival of the Arts in the Calendar of Events, but I didn't point out that it's this weekend - June 20-21 from 9am to 5pm. More than 200 artists will be exhibiting their work. Live music and a food court will add to the fun.

If you're planning to visit La Jolla this weekend, you might want to go to the Festival on Saturday when the forecast is for clouds and save sunnier Sunday for the beach or a bike ride.

The Festival will take place at the east campus of UCSD at Genesee Avenue and Regents Road. Admission is $10, but active military and children under 10 are free of charge.

For more information call 858-456-1268 or go to http://www.lajollaartfestival.org/.

Have fun!

Timing Is Everything - A Calendar of La Jolla Events

Important Travel Information:

A Calendar of Events and Weather Information

When planning a trip to La Jolla – or anywhere else – it’s important to be aware of seasonal weather changes. Our community is known for its mild climate, but that doesn’t mean you can comfortably wear a swimsuit on the beach in November. It’s also good to keep in mind “May gray” and “June gloom.”

September is my favorite month in La Jolla because the weather is great and the crowds are gone. I wrote about the advantages of a fall visit for The Dallas Morning News and posted the clip on my website at www.elizabethhansen.net/travelWritingClips/insiders.htm

Special events may also influence your decision. Car guys will definitely want to be here in January for the La Jolla Motor Car Classic. Other folks will want to attend the Rough Water Swim or the Christmas Parade. The calendar below can help you decide when to visit La Jolla.

January - La Jolla Motor Car Classic (http://www.lajollamotorcarclassic.com/). In 2010, this event will take place on Sunday, January 10 from 9am to 3pm.

The annual Buick Invitational at Torrey Pines Golf Course will take place January 25-31, 2010 (http://www.buickinvitational.com/)

February – This is prime whale watching season. Birch Aquarium at Scripps Institution of Oceanography conducts twice daily trips with one of their naturalists onboard. http://aquarium.ucsd.edu/Education/Public_Programs/Outdoor_Adventures/Whale_Watching/
March – The Spring Egg Hunt Celebration takes place at the La Jolla Recreation Center, 615 Prospect St. on the day before Easter (858) 552-1658.

April – The La Jolla Half Marathon (http://www.lajollahalfmarathon.com/) will take place on Sunday, April 25, 2010. The race starts at the Del Mar Fairgrounds and follows a scenic route along the coast.

La Jolla’s Mediterranean climate means that in April our gardens burst into bloom. Horticulturally-inclined out-of-towners might want to spend some time driving slowly around town admiring them.

May – The Secret Garden Tour of Old La Jolla (see my April 23, 2009 post below) provides a unique opportunity to visit some of La Jolla’s most interesting home gardens. The event benefits the La Jolla Historical Society (http://www.lajollahistory.org/).

June – Free live concerts at Scripps Park near the La Jolla Cove start at the end of June and run through early September. BYO picnic blanket on Sunday afternoons from 2-4 pm. (http://www.lajollaconcertsbythesea.org/).

The season of the Tony-Award winning La Jolla Playhouse starts in June and runs through the end of the year (http://www.lajollaplayhouse.com/)

La Jolla Festival of the Arts (http://www.lajollaartfestival.org/) is a two-day event of art, food, music, and more. Sponsored by the Torrey Pines Kiwanis Club, the event benefits disabled San Diegans.

July – This is when the really wonderful summer weather starts. Don’t miss the Fourth of July fireworks at The La Jolla Cove.

August – Whether you want to surf, kayak, swim, or just laze in the sand, this is high season at the beach. Nothing beats summer in La Jolla.

September – The La Jolla Rough Water Swim (http://www.ljrws.com/) is a sight to behold. See my July 7, 2008 post below. This year the race will take place on September 13.

October – If you’re in town for Halloween and choosing a spot for dinner, I’d recommend Barbarella Restaurant & Bar at 2171 Avenida De La Playa (858) 454-7373. Host Barbara Beltaire goes all out with spooky decorations.

If you're a diver and you'd rather catch your dinner, note that spiny lobster season opens October 3 and runs through March 17, 2010.

November – The annual San Diego Jewish Book Fair, one of the top Jewish literacy events in the nation, will take place November 5-12, 2009 at the Lawrence Family Jewish Community Center, 4126 Executive Drive. (858) 457-3030. (http://www.lfcc.org/)

December – Join locals at the very family-friendly La Jolla Christmas Parade & Holiday Festival (http://www.ljparade.com/) on December 6, 2009.

And keep in mind that visitors are welcome at any of these events. There's nothing we La Jollans like more than showing off our community. The important thing is that you enjoy yourself.