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 Pen to Paper writing class is offered at 1 p.m. Thursdays at the La Jolla/Riford Library, 7555 Draper Ave. The weekly class is open to writers 18 and older of all experience levels. Free. (858) 552-1657

• Cheer Home Care in La Jolla hosts Total Brain Health Flex 1.0, with Director of Care Michelle Wile discussing ways for people with mild memory loss to maintain thinking skills and promote well-being. The class, developed by Total Brain Health and Dr. Cynthia Green, will be held at 10:30 a.m. Tuesdays, July 9 and 23, at 5685 La Jolla Blvd. RSVP to (858) 868-5500 or email events@cheerhomecare.com.

• Attorney Dawn Allenby will discuss “Estate Planning to Protect Your Family” at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, July 9, at the La Jolla/Riford Library, 7555 Draper Ave. Free. bit.ly/4cvQZaD

• The San Diego chapter of the American Association of Individual Investors presents “Adapting to a Higher Tide: Opportunities in Global Fixed Income Investing” by Tim Dubost, client portfolio manager at Nuveen Investments, at 9 a.m. Saturday, July 13, at Good Samaritan Episcopal Church, 4321 Eastgate Mall. Free. aaiisandiego.com 

Health & fitness

• The La Jolla Newcomers Club presents Saturday Morning Walkers at 9:30 a.m. July 13, covering La Jolla Cove through the Park Row neighborhood. Free. For club membership and more information, visit lajollanewcomers.org.

Arts & culture

• The San Diego Public Library’s Summer Reading Program presents the Microphone Doctors in a rap/hip hop, dance and comedy performance at 10:30 a.m. Friday, July 5, in the Community Room of the La Jolla/Riford Library, 7555 Draper Ave. Free. bit.ly/3x50Kh6

• Warwick’s bookstore presents Allan Havis, author of “Maddie Q” and “Clear Blue Silence,” at 1 p.m. Sunday, July 7, at 7812 Girard Ave, La Jolla. Free. warwicks.com/event/havis-2024

• The La Jolla Theatre Ensemble presents “Halpern & Johnson” by Lionel Goldstein at 2 p.m. Sunday, July 7, and 6 p.m. Monday, July 8, at the La Jolla/Riford Library, 7555 Draper Ave. The play stars Haig Koshkarian and Steve Schlam, with narration and direction by John Tessme. Free. bit.ly/45Mp8AW

• The Athenaeum Music & Library presents its 25th annual Summer Festival with pianist Gustavo Romero playing music by Frederic Chopin at 4 p.m. Sundays, July 7, 14, 21 and 28, at 1008 Wall St., La Jolla. Dinner will be offered after the first and last concerts. $192 for the series for Athenaeum members, $212 for non-members; $50 per individual concert for members, $55 for non-members. (858) 454-5872. ljathenaeum.org/summer-festival

• La Jolla Playhouse presents “The Ballad of Johnny and June” through Sunday, July 7, at the Mandell Weiss Theatre, 2910 La Jolla Village Drive. The play, written by Robert Cary and Des McAnuff, highlights the lives and music of Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash. $25-$119. lajollaplayhouse.org/show/johnny-and-june

• The La Jolla Book Club meets at 1:30 p.m. Monday, July 8, at the La Jolla/Riford Library, 7555 Draper Ave. The featured book is “Hello Beautiful” by Ann Napolitano. Free. bit.ly/3VUvv1v

• The La Jolla Music Society presents Tom’s Elton Tribute, a salute to Elton John featuring Tom Cridland, at 7 p.m. Monday, July 8, at the Baker-Baum Concert Hall, 7600 Fay Ave. $43-$68. theconrad.org/events/23-24-toms-elton-tribute

• Warwick’s bookstore presents author Renée Carlino discussing her book “This Used to Be Us” with Liz Fenton and Lisa Steinke at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, July 9, at 7812 Girard Ave., La Jolla. Free, or $18 for a reserved seat and book copy. warwicks.com/event/carlino-2024

• Author Marjan Kamali discusses her book “The Lion Women of Tehran” at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, July 10, at Warwick’s bookstore, 7812 Girard Ave., La Jolla. Free, or $28.99 for a reserved seat and book copy. warwicks.com/event/kamali-2024

• Authors DC Frost, Kate Gale and Lily Hoàng discuss their books “A Punishing Breed,” “Under a Neon Sun” and “Underneath” with Saul Gonzalez at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, July 11, at Warwick’s bookstore, 7812 Girard Ave., La Jolla. Free, or preorder one of the books for a reserved seat. warwicks.com/event/frost-gale-hoang-2024

• Dream Like Taylor, a tribute to Taylor Swift featuring Cassie “Cassie B” Bauerman, plays at 8 p.m. Friday, July 12, at UC San Diego’s Epstein Family Amphitheater, 9480 Innovation Lane, La Jolla. $25-$35. amphitheater.ucsd.edu/event/dream-like-taylor

• The Cream of Clapton Band performs at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, July 13, at UC San Diego’s Epstein Family Amphitheater, 9480 Innovation Lane, La Jolla. The band includes lead guitarist and vocalist Will Johns, nephew of Eric Clapton; keyboardist Noah East, son of Clapton’s longtime bassist Nathan East; and drummer Steve Ferrone, who played in Clapton’s band between 1986 and 1992. $35-$70; free for UCSD students. amphitheater.ucsd.edu/event/the-cream-of-clapton-band

• The La Jolla/Riford Library hosts BWT Pride Honors 2024, presented by Breakthrough Workshop Theater, at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, July 14, at 7555 Draper Ave. The event will recognize 10 honorees through a presentation featuring music, theater, poetry, stories, history and more as part of San Diego’s LGBTQ+ Pride activities  Free. bit.ly/3RQ5ga5

• The Kiwanis Club of La Jolla presents the 2024 Concerts by the Sea series from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. on four consecutive Sundays at Scripps Park, 1100 Coast Blvd. July 14: Atomic Groove (variety dance band); July 21: Jimmy’s Buffet (Jimmy Buffett tribute band); July 28: Betamaxx (’80s music); Aug. 4: Big Time Operator (big band music). Free. kiwanisclublajolla.org/concerts-by-the-sea

• Warwick’s bookstore presents author Richard Lange discussing his book “Joe Hustle” in conversation with Matt Coyle at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, July 16, at 7812 Girard Ave., La Jolla. Free, or $29 for a reserved seat and book copy. warwicks.com/event/lange-2024

• Author T. Jefferson Parker discusses his book “Desperation Reef” at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, July 17, at Warwick’s bookstore, 7812 Girard Ave., La Jolla. Free, or $28.99 for a reserved seat and book copy. warwicks.com/event/parker-2024

• The La Jolla Library Poetry Group meets at 2 p.m. Thursday, July 18, at 7555 Draper Ave. The event provides an opportunity for budding and experienced poets to share their writing with others. Free. bit.ly/3RMjetN

• Warwick’s bookstore presents “Booked for Lunch” with author Taffy Brodesser-Akner discussing her book “Long Island Compromise” at 11:45 a.m. Friday, July 19, at a location near the store. For reservations and the address, email marylee@warwicks.com. For more information, visit warwicks.com/event/booked-brodesser-akner-2024.

• The Athenaeum Music & Arts Library presents an opening reception for the 32nd annual Juried Exhibition at 6:30 p.m. Friday, July 19, at 1008 Wall St., La Jolla. The art exhibition will run July 20 through Sept. 28. ljathenaeum.org/events/exhibition-2024-juried

• City Ballet of San Diego presents “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, July 19-20, at UC San Diego’s Epstein Family Amphitheater, 9480 Innovation Lane, La Jolla. The production, with choreography by Elizabeth Wistrich, is based on William Shakespeare’s play. $39-$59. amphitheater.ucsd.edu/event/midsummer-july19

• The Athenaeum Music & Arts Library presents its annual series of summer jazz concerts at 1008 Wall St., La Jolla. Upcoming performers include the Peter Erskine Trio with Bob Mintzer at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, July 20, and Camila Meza at 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 4. $40 for individual shows for Athenaeum members, $45 for non-members. ljathenaeum.org/jazz

• The La Jolla Community Center presents its 2024 Fourth Friday Jazz Series with monthly concerts through October at 6811 La Jolla Blvd. All concerts begin at 8 p.m., with a pre-show reception at 7 p.m. Upcoming performers are the Sherry Williams Trio on July 26, singer Rose Mallett on Aug. 23, flutist Holly Hofmann on Sept. 27 and trumpeter Gilbert Castellanos on Oct. 25. $25-$35. ljcommunitycenter.org/ffjs

• The Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego presents “Forecast Form: Art in the Caribbean Diaspora, 1990s-Today” through Sunday, July 28, at 700 Prospect St., La Jolla. The exhibition features an intergenerational group of artists who live and work across the Americas and Europe. mcasd.org

• “Hold Fast,” an exhibit exploring San Diego’s kelp forests and climate change, runs until September at Birch Aquarium, 2300 Expedition Way, La Jolla. The show features works of local photographer and marine scientist Oriana Poindexter, gyotaku prints created by artist Dwight Hwang and kelp forest mapping by Scripps Institution of Oceanography Ph.D. student Mohammad Sedarat. Hours are 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily through Labor Day, Monday, Sept. 2. The exhibit is included with aquarium admission: $24.95 for adults, $19.95 for children ages 3-17. aquarium.ucsd.edu

Galas & events

• La Jolla’s Fourth of July drone show takes off at 9 p.m. Thursday, July 4, from the Beach & Tennis Club, 2000 Spindrift Drive. The 15-minute show will feature 200 synchronized lighted drones forming iconic images in the sky.

• The La Jolla Historical Society’s Architecture Adventures Summer Camp is scheduled for Monday through Friday, July 8-12. The camp is designed for aspiring architects and designers ages 8-10. It will end with an exhibition in which participants will present their projects and discoveries for parents and peers. $250 for Historical Society members, $300 for non-members. lajollahistory.org/summer-camp

• The La Jolla Newcomers Club presents “Coffee Around Town” at 10 a.m. Friday, July 12, at Caroline’s Seaside Cafe, 8510 Charles F. Kennel Way. Free. For club membership information, visit lajollanewcomers.org.

• The Zovargo Animal Show comes to the La Jolla/Riford Library at 10:30 a.m. Friday, July 12, at 7555 Draper Ave. as part of the Summer Reading Program. Free. bit.ly/4eEdPyA

• The La Jolla Recreation Center hosts the Sunshine Safari Adventure Filled Camp from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.  Monday through Friday, July 15-19, at 615 Prospect St. The camp, featuring arts, crafts and outdoor activities, is for children ages 5-12. $200. (858) 552-1658, bit.ly/3VFpWTD

• The San Diego Public Library’s Summer Reading Program presents “Spin, Pop, Boom! with Mad Science” at 10:30 a.m. Friday, July 19, at the La Jolla/Riford Library, 7555 Draper Ave. The children’s program will explore chemical reactions. Free. bit.ly/3L8Hi6e

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. ♦