Thursday, August 20 – Thursday, August 27

THURSDAY, AUGUST 20

The Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy’s weekly Family Fun Campfire Night, featuring nature tales, campfire songs, games and, of course, marshmallows, 7 p.m. in Temescal Gateway Park. Parking is $7, but the campfire is free. Eileen Davidson, who stars as Ashley Abbott on ‘The Young and the Restless,’ will read from her second novel, ‘Dial Emmy for Murder’ (a sequel to her debut novel, published by Penguin Books), 7:30 p.m. at Village Books on Swarthmore. Tabloids and fans are stunned when daytime soap opera star Alexis Peterson leaves her show. She’s too busy with her new job as presenter at the Daytime Emmy Awards to even notice, but when her co-presenter is killed, Alex realizes she has another mystery on her hands.

FRIDAY, AUGUST 21

Caren Day reads ‘You and Me,’ a book that encourages children (ages 2-8), through exciting graphics and text, to celebrate their unique qualities and embrace their differences, rather than fear them, 6:30 p.m. at Village Books on Swarthmore. Day will also bring crayons for kids to create their own story with her help in the special bonus coloring book featured in the back of ‘You and Me.’ Free screening of ‘Guys and Dolls,’ one of the great movie musicals, directed by Joseph L. Mankiewicz and starring Marlon Brando, Frank Sinatra and Jean Simmons, 1 p.m. at the Palisades Branch Library, 861 Alma Real.

SATURDAY, AUGUST 22

Reception for Palisades artist Rebecca Newman, 2 to 4 p.m. in the community room at the Palisades Branch Library, 861 Alma Real. The Movies in the Park series continues with ‘Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl,’ 8 p.m. on the Field of Dreams at the Palisades Recreation Center. Free admission. The August 29 movie will be ‘Cars.’ SUNDAY, AUGUST 23

Ann Whitford Paul discusses ‘Writing Picture Books: A Hands-On Guide from Story Creation to Publication,’ 3:30 p.m. at Village Books on Swarthmore. With purchase of a book, Paul will do a five-minute manuscript review for aspiring picture-book authors.   Highlights from the opera ‘Faust’ by Charles Gounod will be performed in concert version by Palisades Symphony, conduced by Joel Lish, 7:30 p.m. at the Palisades Lutheran Church, 15905 Sunset. The concert is free, but seating is limited. Contact: 310-454-8040.

MONDAY, AUGUST 24

Monthly meeting of the Pacific Palisades Civic League board, 7:30 p.m. in Tauxe Hall at the Methodist Church, 801 Via de la Paz. There is only one home on the agenda, under new business: 507 Arbramar (second-story addition). The public is invited.

TUESDAY, AUGUST 25

Story-Craft Time, ‘suggested’ for ages 4 and up, 4 p.m. at the Palisades Branch Library, 861 Alma Real.

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 26

Sunrise Senior Living hosts a free Alzheimer’s support group on the second Monday and fourth Wednesday of each month, 6:30 p.m. at 15441 Sunset. RSVP: Bruce Edziak at (310) 573-9545.

THURSDAY, AUGUST 27

Greg Treverton discusses and signs ‘Intelligence in an Age of Terror,’ which emphasizes how much the analysis of terror has changed inn the last two decades.