Best Bets: A quick guide to La Jolla entertainment and experiences

The La Jolla Light presents this continuing listing of local in-person events and online activities.

Lectures & learning

• The La Jolla Historical Society presents “Thinking with the Harrisons: What Does Re-Making Civic Environments Mean?” at 10 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 16, at 780 Prospect St. Free. bit.ly/40F8F0Z

• Birch Aquarium presents the Perspectives on Ocean Science Lecture “Understanding California’s Fisheries from Cannery Row to Offshore Wind Energy Development” at 6:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 18, at 2300 Expedition Way, La Jolla. Noelle Bowlin of California Cooperative Oceanic Fisheries Investigations will speak. Free for aquarium members, $12 for non-members. aquarium.ucsd.edu/events/perspectives-ocean-science-lecture

• Agustina Paglayan, author of  “Raised to Obey: The Rise and Spread of Mass Education,” discusses “Politics and the Future of Education” in conversation with Peter Cowhey at 5 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 19, at Seventh College West, Building 1, Room 15A, 10176 Scholars Drive North, UC San Diego, La Jolla. Free. bit.ly/3YICT0b

• “A Chinese Education: Teaching and Learning from Two Generations of Students” with author and New Yorker writer Peter Hessler is scheduled for 4 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 26, at UC San Diego’s Ida and Cecil Green Faculty Club, 3035 Muir Lane, La Jolla. Free. bit.ly/48H3U97

Health & fitness

• The La Jolla Newcomers Club offers Saturday Morning Walkers at 9:30 a.m. Nov. 23 at La Jolla Hermosa Park, 5780 Chelsea Ave. Free. lajollanewcomers.org

• “Bliss Yoga for Immunities & Spinal Flexibility” is presented for all ability levels at 9:30 a.m. Tuesdays through Dec. 10 at the La Jolla Cove Bridge Club, 1160 Coast Blvd. $20 per class. Email solyoga@yahoo.com.

• “Sunset Stretch & Peaceful Pranamaya” is offered at 4:40 p.m. Wednesdays through Dec. 11 at the La Jolla Cove Bridge Club, 1160 Coast Blvd. $20 per class. Email solyoga@yahoo.com.

Arts & culture

• The Athenaeum Music & Arts Library presents “Surrealism Turns 100!” an art history lecture series by Cornelia Feye, at 7:30 p.m. Thursdays, Nov. 14 and 21, at 1008 Wall St., La Jolla. Nov. 14 will cover “Surrealism: Paris 1924-1939” and Nov. 21 will cover “The Spread of Surrealism Around the World.” $28 for the series for Athenaeum members and $38 for non-members; $16 per individual lecture for members, $21 for non-members. ljathenaeum.org/events/feye-24-series

• The San Diego Early Music Society presents harpsichordist and conductor Christophe Rousset and his ensemble Les Talens Lyriques performing French music, joined by mezzo-soprano Ambroisine Bré, at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 15, at St. James by-the-Sea Episcopal Church, 743 Prospect St., La Jolla. $10-$60. 619-291-8246, sdems.org

• UC San Diego presents the Vitamin String Quartet playing “The Music of Taylor Swift, Bridgerton and Beyond” at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 15, at the Epstein Family Amphitheater, 9480 Innovation Lane, La Jolla. $17-$58. amphitheater.ucsd.edu/event/vitamin-string-quartet

• Susan Meissner, author of the children’s book “To Mimi’s We Go,” appears for a story time and meet-and-greet at 11 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 16, at Warwick’s bookstore, 7812 Girard Ave., La Jolla. Free. warwicks.com/event/meissner-2024

• The World Design Capital Convocation Ceremony is set for 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 16, at UC San Diego’s Epstein Family Amphitheater, 9480 Innovation Lane, La Jolla. The ceremony will conclude San Diego-Tijuana’s designation as World Design Capital 2024. Free. amphitheater.ucsd.edu/event/world-design-capital-convocation-ceremony

• Bodhi Tree Concerts presents “Música y Magia,” an event to support the world premiere of the bilingual children’s opera “Pancho Rabbit and the Coyote,” at 7 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 16, at the La Jolla Community Center, 6811 La Jolla Blvd. $150-$200. 917-596-9359‬ or email bodhitreeconcerts@gmail.com

• Warwick’s bookstore presents La Jolla author Elle Jauffret discussing her book “Threads of Deception” at 1 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 17, at 7812 Girard Ave., La Jolla. Free. warwicks.com/event/jauffret-2024

• San Diego French American School hosts a performance by pianist Joe Khoury, a 15-year-old FrenchAmerican School alumnus, at 5 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 17, at 6550 Soledad Mountain Road, La Jolla. 858-456-2807

• Comedian Taylor Williamson performs at 7 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 17, at the Lawrence Family Jewish Community Center, 4126 Executive Drive, La Jolla. bit.ly/4edfN7T or email reannam@lfjcc.org

• Former U.S. Rep. Christopher Cox discusses his book “Woodrow Wilson: The Light Withdrawn” at 7:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 18, at Warwick’s bookstore, 7812 Girard Ave., La Jolla. Free, or $34.99 for a reserved seat and book copy. warwicks.com/event/cox-2024

• The La Jolla Theatre Ensemble presents “Leaving Lebanon” at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 19, and 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 24, in the Community Room at the La Jolla/Riford Library, 7555 Draper Ave. Free. (858) 552-1657

• The Athenaeum Music & Arts Library presents an artist talk with Amy Adler at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 19, at 1008 Wall St., La Jolla. $15 for Athenaeum members, $20 for non-members, $5 for students. ljathenaeum.org/artist-talks

• Warwick’s bookstore presents author Sebastian Junger discussing his book “In My Time of Dying” at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 19, at 7812 Girard Ave., La Jolla. Free, or $27.99 for a reserved seat and book copy. warwicks.com/event/junger-2024

• La Jolla Playhouse presents “Your Local Theater Presents: A Christmas Carol, by Charles Dickens, Again,” a comedy written by Anna Ouyang Moench and directed by Les Waters, running Tuesday, Nov. 19, through Sunday, Dec. 15, at the Sheila and Hughes Potiker Theatre, 2910 La Jolla Village Drive. $30-$95. lajollaplayhouse.org/show/your-local-theater-presents

• The La Jolla Library Poetry Group meets at 2 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 21, at the La Jolla/Riford Library, 7555 Draper Ave. Free. sandiego.librarymarket.com/event/la-jolla-library-poetry-group-29

• The History Matters Book Club for Middle Graders meets at 3:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 21, at the La Jolla/Riford Library, 7555 Draper Ave. The group is intended for children in fourth through eighth grades. The November read is “Navajo Code Talkers” by Blake Hoena. Free. sandiego.librarymarket.com/event/middle-grade-book-club-404251

• The seventh annual Joyce Forum Jewish Short Film Festival is set for 7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 21, through Saturday, Nov. 23, at the Lawrence Family Jewish Community Center, 4126 Executive Drive, La Jolla. The festival will feature more than 25 short films from around the world. bit.ly/4hCvGYs

• Warwick’s bookstore presents author talk Michael Idov discussing his book “The Collaborators” at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 21, at 7812 Girard Ave., La Jolla. Free, or $28.99 for a reserved seat and book copy. warwicks.com/event/idov-2024

• The Alex Ciavarelli Trio plays at 4:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 22, at the Wu Tsai QRT.yrd at the Conrad Prebys Performing Arts Center, 7600 Fay Ave., La Jolla. Free. theconrad.org/events/qrt-yrd-alex-ciavarelli-jazz

• Birch Aquarium and UC San Diego’s Scripps Institution of Oceanography present Indigenous Ocean Day from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 23, at the aquarium, 2300 Expedition Way, La Jolla. The event will feature birdsinging groups, storytelling, ethnobotany with native plants, tule boat making, opportunities to engage with Indigenous cultural and educational organizations and more. Included with aquarium admission. aquarium.ucsd.edu/events/indigenous-ocean-day

• Joseph Bellows Gallery presents a collection of photographic art by Bevan Davies titled “New York Typologies” through Saturday, Nov. 23, at 7661 Girard Ave., La Jolla. The exhibit features black and white photos of lower Manhattan in the mid-1970s. Free. (858) 456-5620, josephbellows.com

• The Athenaeum Music & Arts Library presents flutist Holly Hofmann and flutist/bassist Rob Thorsen at noon Monday, Nov. 25, at 1008 Wall St., La Jolla. Free. ljathenaeum.org/events/mini-concert-2024-1125

• Quint Gallery presents an exhibition of art by Michael Sitaras through November at 7655 Girard Ave., La Jolla, and “Gail Roberts: Natural Selection” through Saturday, Dec. 7, at 7722 Girard Ave. quintgallery.com/exhibitions

• The La Jolla Art Association presents its fall exhibition featuring paintings and photography through November at the La Jolla Community Center, 6811 La Jolla Blvd. Free. lajollaartassociation.org

• The monthly Athenaeum Jazz series takes place from November to January at the Athenaeum Music & Arts Library, 1008 Wall St., La Jolla. Shows will start at 7:30 p.m. The performers are: Dec. 2, Billy Childs Quartet; Jan. 1, Alex Kautz Quartet. $141 for the series for Athenaeum members, $156 for non-members; $50 per individual concert for members, $55 for non-members. ljathenaeum.org/jazz

• The School of the Arts Book Club meets at 4 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 10, at the Athenaeum Music & Arts Library, 1008 Wall St., La Jolla. The session, led by Anna DiMartino, will discuss a piece of literature. $10 for Athenaeum members, $15 for non-members. ljathenaeum.org/class/82

• The Athenaeum Music & Arts Library presents the art exhibition “Carlos Castro Arias: The Splinter in the Eye” through Saturday, Jan. 11, at 1008 Wall St., La Jolla. Free. ljathenaeum.org/events/exhibition-2024-castro-arias.

• The La Jolla Historical Society presents “Urban Ecologies” as part of “Helen and Newton Harrison: California Work” through Sunday, Jan. 19, at 780 Prospect St. The exhibition, curated by Tatiana Sizonenko, is part of the Getty Foundation series “PST Art: Art & Science Collide.” lajollahistory.org/helen-and-newton-harrison-california-work

• The Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego hosts “For Dear Life: Art, Medicine and Disability” through Sunday, Feb. 2, at 700 Prospect St., La Jolla. The exhibition depicts illness and impairment from the 1960s to the COVID-19 era. It is part of the Getty Foundation series “PST Art: Art & Science Collide.” mcasd.org/exhibitions/for-dear-life-art-medicine-and-disability.

• Birch Aquarium at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography hosts “Embodied Pacific: Ocean Unseen” at 2300 Expedition Way, La Jolla. The installation features 11 projects blending art and science into interactive experiences focused on scientific ocean exploration. The exhibition, part of the Getty Foundation series “PST Art: Art & Science Collide,” runs until September 2025. Included with aquarium admission. aquarium.ucsd.edu

Galas & events

• Soroptimist International of La Jolla presents a Purse Plus Party & Accessories Boutique from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 16, at the Alta La Jolla clubhouse, 1570 Alta La Jolla Drive. $5 or a purse donation. All funds raised will benefit the Soroptimist Dream Programs benefiting women and girls. soroptimistlj.org

• The annual La Jolla Village Holiday Open House is scheduled for 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 24, with many businesses participating. The event will include live music, demonstrations, prize drawings, sales, treats, children’s activities and an appearance by Santa and Mrs. Claus. Free admission. bit.ly/3NTp3Dt

Do you have an event — online or in person — that you’d like to see here? Email your leads to Rob Vardon at robert.vardon@lajollalight.com by noon Friday for publication in the following week’s edition. ♦