Thursday, May 26
Gone girl
Kim Hooper, author of “People Who Knew Me,” about a woman who runs away from everything after 9/11, discusses her work at 7 p.m. in {pages}, 904 Manhattan Ave., Manhattan Beach. RSVPs appreciated. Call (310) 318-0900 or go to pagesabookstore.com.
Anything goes
The North High School Dance Dept. presents its “Spring Dance Show” at 7 p.m. Thursday and Friday in the James Armstrong Theatre, 3330 Civic Center Dr., Torrance. Jazz, hip-hop, contemporary… you name it, they’ll do it. Tickets, $10. Call (310) 938-7033.
Friday, May 27
Remember that old cartoon?
A “Vintage Cartoon Festival” screens Friday and Saturday at 8:15, plus Saturday and Sunday at 2:30 p.m., in the Old Town Music Hall, 140 Richmond St., El Segundo. Betty Boop, Flip the Frog, Oswald Rabbit… they’re all coming back. Tickets, $10 general; $8 seniors. Call (310) 322-2592 or go to OldTownMusicHall.org.
Saturday, May 28
Top of the pops
Ukulele player Jack Tracy, with backing by Feed the Kitty, is the opening day music headliner for this year’s Fiesta Hermosa, taking place in downtown Hermosa Beach on Saturday, Sunday, and Monday. They’re on the Main Stage from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
His mind’s on New York
Mike Santoro’s “The Stranger” is an interactive concert that pays tribute to Grammy-winning piano man Billy Joel, and it takes place at 8 p.m. in the Norris Theatre, 27570 Norris Center Drive, Rolling Hills Estates.
Tickets, $48 to $58. Call (310) 544-0403 or go to palosverdesperforming arts.com.
Say it in less words
Poet and writer Genie Nakano gives a writing workshop on tanka, a Japanese poetic form that consists of five unrhymed lines, at 10:30 a.m. in the Peninsula Center Library Community Room, 701 Silver Spur Road, Rolling Hills Estates. Nakano has been publishing her poetry in the Gardena Valley News. Call (310) 377-9584 or go to pvld.org.
Sunday, May 29
Surf’s up!
The 14th Annual South Bay Surf Stomp, with eight bands, takes place at Suzy’s Bar & Grill, 1141 Aviation Blvd., at Prospect, in Hermosa Beach. The Anchovys at 2 p.m.; Black Ball Bandits at 3 p.m.; The Riptides at 4 p.m.; The Volcanics at 5 p.m.; The M-Squad at 6 p.m.; The Tiki Creeps at 7 p.m.; CHUM at 8 p.m., and Paul Johnson (composer of “Mr. Moto”) at 9 p.m. Cost, only $5. Call (310) 379-6171.
Coming up fast
The “Beach Shorts Film Festival” takes place on August 20, but now through August 1 they’re accepting submissions for surfing and beach lifestyle films in the 6-10 minute range. Email Barry Hatchett at barry@polarispromotions.com.
