South Bay arts calendar for October 3 to 9
Dark Harbor, on and adjacent to the ailing Queen Mary, is open through Nov. 2. All sort of thrills, including six mazes. Sundays and Thursdays, tickets start at $34 (hours 7 p.m. to midnight); on Fridays tickets start at $39 (except 10/25: $44); and on Saturdays tickets start at $44 (except 11/2: $39). Weekend hours are 7 p.m. to 1 a.m. Photo . Info at queenmary.com
On the big screen
The “8th Annual San Pedro International Film Festival” takes place this weekend in downtown San Pedro, beginning at 5 p.m. with a Festival Lounge Reception at Arches (on Sixth St.) that features the art of Katrina Vanderlip, Steve Shriver, and Rick Humphreys. “Easy Rider” is being shown at the Warner Grand Theatre, with “The Lords of Flatbush” screened on Friday and “Robert Scheer: Above the Fold” screened on Saturday. The iconic Warner Grand is at 408 W. Seventh St. And don’t forget to enjoy the First Thursday Art Walk. Film festival information at SPIFFest.org.
Suspense and intrigue
“Operation Ajax” is based on the true story about the 1953CIA covert operation to overthrow Mohammad Mossadegh, the Prime Minister of Iran. The play was written by Matthew Spangler (“The Kite Runner”) and Farshad Farahat (actor, “Argo,” “House of Cards”) and it opens at 8 p.m. at Little Fish Theatre, 777 S. Centre St., San Pedro. Suzanne Dean directs. Additional performances Friday at 7 p.m. and Saturday at 8 p.m. Also Friday and Saturday, Oct. 11 and 12, at 8 p.m.; Sunday, Oct. 13 at 2 p.m.; and lastly Friday and Saturday, Oct. 18 and 19, at 8 p.m. Tickets, tonight $24 general and $15 for those 25-and-under who use the code “Hipster.” Afterwards,$28 regular and $26 seniors. (310) 512-6030 or go to littlefishtheatre.org.
Violinist Joanna Lee, with fellow L.A. Ensemble members cellist Bingxia Lu and pianist Feng Bian, perform at 12:15 p.m. in the First Lutheran Church and School in Torrance. Featured: Mendelssohn’s “Piano Trio No. 2 in C Minor, Op. 66.” Free; donations help. Pictured, Joanna Lee. (310) 316-5574
Big Mess plays the Manhattan Beach Hometown Fair on Sunday from 3 to 5 p.m. The group’s eighth album, “Midlife Crisis” hits the stands this December
Piping up
The ACE Trio, with clarinetist Ryan Glass, pianist Jason Stoll, and flautist Shannon Canchola, performs at 7:30 p.m. in the Rolling Hills United Methodist Church, 26438 Crenshaw Blvd, Rolling Hills Estates. They’re dedicated to promoting the newest voices in music. Free; donations appreciated. (310) 377-6771 or go to rhumc.org.
To entertain you
Violinist Joanna Lee, with fellow Los Angeles Ensemble members cellist Bingxia Lu and pianist Feng Bian, performs at 12:15 p.m. in the First Lutheran Church and School, 2900 W. Carson St., Torrance. They were enchant us with Felix Mendelssohn’s “Piano Trio No. 2 in C Minor, Op. 66.” Free; donations appreciated. (310) 316-5574.
Grammy-nominated guitar duo
Strunz and Farah perform original music that combines Latin American and Middle Eastern influences at 8 p.m. in the Grand Annex, 434 W. Sixth St., San Pedro. Tickets, $27 general; $32 cabaret; and $37 front row cabaret. There is also an optional wine tasting with sommelier Mona Harrington from 7 to 7:45 p.m. Free for members; $16 for the rest of you. (310) 833-4813 or go to grandvision.org.
“Peedrow Boogie Woogie” features recent work by Ann Weber, opening Saturday with a reception from 4 to 7 p.m. in the Fine Arts Gallery of L.A. Harbor College, 1111 Figueroa Place, Wilmington. Gallery hours are 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Through Dec. 13. Call (310) 600-4873 or check out annwebersculpture.com
What have they been cooking up?
The Artists’ Studio of Palos Verdes Tour d’Art is set for Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days. It’s a self-guided tour of seven artists’ home studios on the PV Peninsula plus the Atrium at the Palos Verdes Art Center. There are 40 artists altogether, which (go ahead, do the math) means that several artists will be congregating at each location. They’ll have stuff for sale, too. Tickets, $20, and you can split up the tour over two days. Buy them with cash or check at The Shop @ PVAC, in the art center at 5504 W. Crestridge Road, Rancho Palos Verdes. Need to learn more? Visit taspv.com.
Kicked by a pony?
LA Opera’s Community Educators clue us in to the specifics of “The Light in the Piazza,” opening soon at LA Opera in the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion. The free talk is at 2 p.m. in the Kitty Geissert Civic Center Library, 3301 Torrance Blvd, Torrance. (310) 618-5959.
The title says it all
“Peedrow Boogie Woogie” features recent work by Ann Weber, and it’s opening with a reception from 4 to 7 p.m. in the Fine Arts Gallery of L.A. Harbor College, 1111 Figueroa Place, Wilmington. Gallery hours are 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., and by appointment. Through Dec. 13. Call (310) 600-4873 or have a look at annwebersculpture.com.
Hotel San Pedro
The Boys of Summer is an Eagles tribute band and they’re playing from 8 p.m. at Alva’s Showroom, 1417 W. Eighth St., San Pedro. It’s $30 for the all-ages event. (310) 833-7538 or go to alvasshowroom.com.
In case you missed it: The ladies from La Imperial Dance, Redondo dazzled the Beach Cities with “All That Jazz” at the Hermosa Beach Community Theater last Friday evening. Photo by Kevan Z. Romero
“But Can You Sit On It?” is an exhibition of capricious furniture by Michael Lewis Miller, David Perry, Fred Rose, and Norm Tornheim, opening reception with a reception on Wednesday from 7 to 9 p.m. in the El Camino College Art Gallery, Crenshaw and Redondo Beach boulevards, Torrance. Michael Miller does a gallery walkthrough on Tuesday, Oct. 15. Closes Oct. 31. Pictured, “Cliff’s Chair,” by David Perry. (310) 660-3010
If it looks solid or comfortable
“But Can You Sit On It?” is an exhibition of capricious furniture by Michael Lewis Miller, David Perry, Fred Rose, and Norm Tornheim, and it goes on view Monday but with an opening reception on Wednesday from 7 to 9 p.m. Where? The El Camino College Art Gallery, Crenshaw and Redondo Beach boulevards, Torrance. Michael Miller does a gallery walkthrough on Tuesday, Oct. 15. This isn’t the kind of stuff you’ll find at Ikea. Closes Oct. 31. Call (310) 660-3010.
Tuesday, October 8
But you may sit down
Solo guitarist TJ Brinjak plays from noon to 1:30 p.m. at the Standing Room, 1320 Hermosa Ave, Hermosa Beach. Half of the tip jar goes to Making Strides. (310) 318-1272 or go to thestandingroomrestaurant.com.
Ongoing
Headline news
Selected “Random Lengths News” front covers from the past 40 years are on view through Dec. 20 at Page Against the Machine, 2714 E. Fourth St, Long Beach. Random Lengths keeps tabs on San Pedro and the harbor area. (562) 588-7075. ER