Thursday, July 23-Thursday, July 30

THURSDAY, JULY 23

The Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy’s weekly Family Fun Campfire Night, featuring nature tales, campfire songs, games and, of course, marshmallows, beginning at 7 p.m. in Temescal Gateway Park. Parking in Temescal is $7, but the campfire is free.
Comedy veteran Carol Leifer discusses and signs “When You Lie About Your Age, the Terrorists Win: Reflections on Looking in the Mirror,” 7:30 p.m. at Village Books on Swarthmore.

FRIDAY, JULY 24

Theatre Palisades Youth’s musical, “Annie, Jr.,” opens at the Pierson Playhouse, 941 Temescal Canyon Rd. Performances continue: July 24 through 26, 30 and 31, and August 1 and 2, with Thursday, Friday and Saturday shows at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday shows at 2 p.m. For tickets ($12), call the box office at (310) 454-1970.

SATURDAY, JULY 25

Tom Kurai, director of the Taiko Center of Los Angeles, conducts a hands-on taiko drumming workshop for all ages and provides an introduction to Japanese culture and folk arts, 1 p.m. in the Palisades Branch library community room, 861 Alma Real Drive.
Reception for Palisadian Peter Alexander’s photographs and monoprints, “Velvets and Palms,” 5 to 8 p.m. at g169, a new gallery at 169 W. Channel Rd. The exhibition remains through August.
Members of the Los Angeles Metropolitan Opera, co-founded by Palisadian Linda Jackson, will perform excerpts from the upcoming 2009-10 season as well as a selection of popular operatic hits, 8 p.m. at the Palisades Methodist Church, 801 Via de la Paz. Tickets at the door: $25.

MONDAY, JULY 27

The monthly meeting of the Pacific Palisades Civic League has been cancelled.

TUESDAY, JULY 28

Story-Craft Time, “suggested” for ages 4 and up, 4 p.m. at the Palisades Branch Library, 861 Alma Real.
The Temescal Canyon Association’s summer evening hiking group will travel the beautiful Los Liones Trail to take in the views from the East Topanga Fire Road. Meet in the Temescal Gateway parking lot at 6 p.m. for carpooling. No dogs! Expect to be back by 9 p.m. Information: temcanyon.org.

THURSDAY, JULY 30

East Coast writer Adrienne Kane discusses and signs “Cooking and Screaming: Finding My Own Recipe for Recovery,” 7:30 p.m. at Village Books on Swarthmore. From nosherteria.com blogger Kane comes a recipe-filled memoir about loss, recovery, and finding oneself through food and cooking.