The 2012 FILManthropy Festival Showcasing Films that Inspire and Raise Awareness to Create a Better World. Open your eyes and your heart at the FILManthropy Society’s 3rd annual FILManthropy Festival. This unique event is a canvas for instigating and inspiring change by showcasing films that inspire, educate, raise awareness and motivate, so that audiences may open their minds and their hearts to creating a better world. The FILManthropy Festival encourages patrons to not only watch these inspiring films, but to do something – to work for change. Each filmmaker attaches a charity to his/her film and 100% of the Festival’s net proceeds are distributed between the winning filmmakers’ charities.

The Amgen Tour of California, one of the world’s most prestigious cycling road races, takes 16 elite U.S. and international cycling teams on a scenic, albeit rigorous 800-mile course through much of California from May 13 – 20. Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills serves as the starting point for the all-important last leg of the race on May 20.

A true original, Lily Tomlin has commented on life’s absurdities with both edge and humanity, a mix of the darkly humorous and the poignantly insightful. Starting with her breakthrough appearances on one of the seminal programs of its era, Rowan & Martin’s Laugh-In, Tomlin unleashed her witty and outrageous gallery of idiosyncratic characters on the world and soon became one of the cherished names in comedy.

Everyone is invited to explore our exotic and adventurous English sea port town! We have over 1500 costumed performers, 150 booths with crafts, hand-powered rides, games, hearty English ales, fine wines and gourmet foods. For more info call 626-969-4750 or go online at www.renfair.com/socal…

Opa! St. Nicholas Church and its 500 volunteers invite you to enjoy a cultural experience for the entire family with live music, dancing, gourmet food, homemade pastries, cooking demonstrations, children’s activities, a Greek market, and a variety of shopping boutiques. Boasting a three-day average of 50,000 guests, the admission-free fundraiser is the largest festival of its kind in the area. So make the most of your Memorial Day weekend and immerse yourself in the cultural vision that is the 39th Annual Valley Greek Festival.

People flock to Fiesta Hermosa each year for not only the art fair, but for the Music – which is always of the highest caliber. There are two stages featuring live music – one at the Main Stage on the Pier and another in the Charity Beer & Wine Garden. The Main Stage features the finest “tribute bands” performing the classic rock of bands such as Led Zeppelin, the Eagles, Jimi Hendrix, Phil Collins, Fleetwood Mac, and Crosby Stills Nash & Young, to name just a few.

Strawberry pizza anyone? A delicious destination for family fun, the 29th Annual CALIFORNIA STRAWBERRY FESTIVAL gets underway May 19 and 20. Among the nation’s top outdoor events, the Festival serves up a menu of delectable strawberry delights, along with concerts on two stages, Strawberryland For Kids with free rides and attractions, gooey contests, 200+ Fine Arts & Crafts booths, the Strawberry Promenade with cooking demonstrations, the Green Scene, and more…

Ellen, the wife of a successful author, has herself just written a sizzling tell-all autobiography and assembles four of her closest East Coast friends to her Malibu beach house to read it. Imagine their surprise as they read their own secrets exposed…then step back and watch the sparks fly! A sharply funny play that pokes fun at both the Malibu Colony and New York sensibilities. The Supporting Cast runs the gamut from slapstick to satire-a hilarious play not to be missed!

Come join us for a night of fishy fun and celebrate southern California’s very own Grunion fish! Hatch grunion eggs, learn how to make grunion origami, participate in grunion arts and crafts, watch a classic grunion video, interact with grunion researchers, touch live tidepool animals and see the many fish and other live animals in the Aquarium. Don’t miss your chance to test your GQ (Grunion Quotient), or guess what’s in the Mystery Box! After participating in fun grunion activities, everyone will head to the beach to observe these enchanting fish. During the month of May grunion may be observed, but not captured. Warm clothing is recommended.

Exposition Park will soon be overrun with winged creatures and creepy-crawlies who are convening at the Museum, along with our scientists, for North America’s biggest bug festival.

An annual celebration of Scottish and Irish music, dance, sports, family fun and foodand culture in Orange County. The Massed Bands will perform at the opening ceremony on Saturday starting at 12 Noon, and at Closing Ceremonies, held both days starting at 5 pm.

The 30th annual Contemporary Documentaries series is a showcase for feature-length and short documentaries drawn from the 2010 Academy Award nominations, including the winners, as well as other important and innovative films considered by the Academy that year.

English Beat will play for Doctors Without Borders, the Nobel Peace Prize winning organization that provides non-partisan emergency medical assistance for people all over the globe. The event is sponsored by Malibu Global Awareness, and is also a tribute to Andrew Johnston and Michael Ruotolo. Come and enjoy the music, have dinner and drinks, and learn more about the life-saving efforts of Doctors Without Borders.

The Santa Monica Festival offers an eclectic mix of live music and dance, DIY art workshops with recycled and repurposed materials, guilt-free shopping featuring earth friendly artistic wares and local services offered by a variety of City, environmental and local non-profit organizations.

On THREE STAGES plus The Dance Barn and Children’s area, set within Western movie sets and mountain locations — bring your instruments and ”sit in“ with jamming musicians! Since 1961, Southern California’s favorite old-time, bluegrass, folk song, fold dancing & craft festival. Tickets at gate: Adults: $16.00 – Teens/Seniors: $11…discounts for pre-sale.

The 23rd Annual Simi Valley Cajun & Blues Music Festival 2012 promises to continue their tradition of bringing fans a full weekend of nonstop award-winning entertainment, more food choices than you can sample in two days, and activities to keep kids of all ages entertained too.

This year’s line-up includes Gregg Allman and Steve Miller Band at the Doheny Blues Fesitval on May 19 & 20. They will join Buddy Guy, Los Lonely Boys, Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue, Tab Benoit, Johnny Winter and Imelda May. More artists to be announced soon.

Making his highly anticipated Broad Stage debut, Brad Mehldau is “universally admired as one of the most adventurous pianists to arrive on the jazz scene in years” (LA Times). Internationally celebrated for explorations of formal musical architecture that inspire expressive improvisations, Mehldau also brilliantly reworks popular songs by The Beatles, Cole Porter, Nick Drake, and Radiohead into the jazz idiom.

“Art Conversation” curated by Helen Kim showcases the artwork of creative and diverse artists from the Artist Co-op 7, Abira Breskal, Selina Cheng, Judy Dekel, Guilda Daniel-Elias and Caren J. Gafni.

Photography’s remarkable propensity to shape visual identities has made it the leading vehicle for representing the famous. Soon after photography was invented in the 1830s, it was used to capture the likenesses and accomplishments of great men and women, gradually supplanting other forms of commemoration. In the twentieth century, the proliferation of photography and the transformative power of fame have helped to accelerate the desire for photographs of celebrities in magazines, newspapers, advertisements, and on the Internet. (Andy Warhol, New York City, Marie Cosindas, American, 1966. © Marie Cosindas)

DIGITAL DARKROOM features the work of 17 artists from around the world that explore the intersection of art and technology. The artists come from a range of backgrounds, each specializing in fine art, commercial art, portraiture, still life, fashion, architectural or other types of photographic and illustrative expression.

The free show features art by 250 exhibitors from around the nation, who showcase their work in painting, sculpture, watercolor, photography, mixed media, ceramics, jewelry, drawings and printmaking.

Hamilton Galleries and Tony Shalhoub present One-Night only 100cameras, Exhibition Fundraiser: Through the Lens of a Child. 100cameras Gives Cameras to Marginalized Children and teaches them how to them how to tell their story through photography. Come see their perspective. Come celebrate their voice. It will be an evening to enjoy good wine, honor stories of children and purchase their photography to raise funds to better their communities.

Walk for Warriors is a fun, community-oriented 5K run/walk to take place on Memorial Day, May 28, 2012 at the West LA Veterans Affairs Campus. Proceeds from Walk for Warriors will help New Directions provide transitional services for returning veterans. By participating in Walk for Warriors, you will help support our nation’s veterans and the thousands of men and women who are currently serving our country.

This is an all-trail race which is rugged and steep in parts and which takes place in one of the most beautiful State Parks in the Santa Monica Mountains. Note that Race Day parking is limited — please carpool! All proceeds to benet youths sport and tness in the Santa Monica Mountains.

Make the most of your OUTDOORS experience in the Santa Monica Mountains. Read More to link to the events calendar and search for National Park Service programs in the recreation area near you.

A good photograph uses technique, composition, and being in the right place at the right time. We can provide a stunning setting, while Volunteer Naturalist Renata can help with the rest. Bring your camera.

The Friends of Robinson Gardens will welcome the public to their twenty-fourth annual “…into the garden” Tour. This year’s theme is “California Dreamin’.” As usual, there will be five extraordinary private gardens on view, all of them exemplifying excellence in landscape architecture and varying horticultural styles. In addition to viewing these private gardens, guests are welcomed at the historic Virginia Robinson Estate and Gardens in Beverly Hills, to revel in what many consider the garden party of the year. There is truly nothing else like this event in Los Angeles.

They are having approximately 20 dogs on site that are available for adoption. The mission of this project is to raise mone fo rA Wish For Animals, find homes for dogs and offer great deals on premium products.

Unseasonably warm weather is making this early spring season difficult for millions of Americans who suffer from asthma and allergies. To help adults and children who are experiencing symptoms find out if they are at risk, Los Angeles- and Orange County-area allergists will be conducting free asthma and nasal allergy screenings in your area beginning in May.

Mangos are starting to roll into the markets, cheap and delicious! Modernize a classic Caprese salad by adding ripe mango chunks to your fresh mozzarella, tomatoes and basil. You can dust with a touch of truffle salt, or a splash of your insanely expensive balsamic, or eat it naked. It’s all good.