The La Jolla Light presents this continuing listing of local in-person events and online activities.
Lectures & learning
• Ron Davidson presents a lecture on Buddhism from 3 to 4 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 19, at the La Jolla Community Center, 6811 La Jolla Blvd., as part of the Peer Learning Collaborative. The topic is “What is the Buddhist Community?” ljcommunitycenter.org/plc
Davidson also will speak on “The Beginnings of the Buddha Image in India and Central Asia” at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 3, at the Athenaeum Music & Arts Library, 1008 Wall St., La Jolla. $17 for Athenaeum members, $22 for non-members. ljathenaeum.org/events/davidson-26-0303
• “Rediscover Chinatown: Performing Arts, Identity and the Making of Community,” a lecture covering how Chinese arts, from 19th-century opera to lion dances, have helped shape American culture, is scheduled for 4 p.m. Friday, Feb. 20, at UC San Diego’s Ida and Cecil Green Faculty Club, 3035 Muir Lane, La Jolla. A reception will begin at 3:30 p.m. Nancy Yunhwa Rao, a professor of music at Rutgers University, and David Lei, a community leader, cultural advocate and historian, will speak. Free, though registration is required at bit.ly/4r6fjrn.
• The Sierra Club Seal Society San Diego presents a talk about La Jolla’s seals and a walk to view them beginning at 1 p.m. Saturdays, Feb. 21 and 28, at Mangelsen Images of Nature Gallery, 7916 Girard Ave. Free. 858-551-9553
• The La Jolla Historical Society presents a guided walking tour of historical sites and buildings in The Village with historian Carol Olten at 2 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 22, beginning at Wisteria Cottage, 780 Prospect St. $10 for Historical Society members, $15 for non-members. bit.ly/3M9z1Dp
• Republican Women of California, La Jolla, presents Sayrs Morris, secretary of the California Republican Party, discussing “America at 250: A CAGOP Update and Vision for California’s Future” at 11:30 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 26, at a location in La Jolla. The address will be provided upon registration by Thursday, Feb. 19. $50, includes lunch. Email skipandtoby@yahoo.com or call 858-293-3296.
• Adventurer, wildlife photographer and storm chaser Keith Ladzinski speaks about “Forces of Nature” at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 26, at the Baker-Baum Concert Hall, 7600 Fay Ave., La Jolla. $36-$56. theconrad.org/events/keith-ladzinski-forces-of-nat
• The La Jolla/Riford Library hosts the “Navigating Senior Life” lecture series from 10:30 a.m. to noon the fourth Saturday of each month through August at 7555 Draper Ave. The schedule is: Feb. 27, “Senior Living Options”; March 27, “Simple Solutions to Safely Stay in Your Home”; April 24, “Options for Those Living with Dementia”; May 22, “How to Pay for Senior Living”; June 26, “From Family Home to New Beginnings”; July 24, “Legal, Tax, Trust Maintenance”; Aug. 28, “Living & Dying with Dignity.” Free. Register at navigatingseniorlife.com.
• Rabbi Susan Freeman guides “Death Over Dinner,” a discussion exploring death, grief and the soul, at 7 p.m. on a choice of three Thursdays, March 5, 12 or 19, at the Lawrence Family Jewish Community Center, 4126 Executive Drive, La Jolla. Dinner will be provided. $30 for Jewish Community Center members, $36 for non-members. my.lfjcc.org/16184/16185
Art & film
• The La Jolla Historical Society’s “Space Maker,” an exhibit featuring a blend of historical and contemporary pieces by local artists highlighting wide-ranging interpretations of form, geometry, color and place, opens to the public with a reception from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 20, and continues through Sunday, June 7, at 780 Prospect St. Free. lajollahistory.org/space-maker
• A benefit in La Jolla raises funds for “Dear Alaska,” an upcoming documentary feature film about the Indigenous Tlingit people of the Pacific Northwest, from 4 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 21, at the Suraj Israni Center for Cinematic Arts at UC San Diego’s Sixth College, 9655 Scholars Drive North. The event will feature a 20-minute segment of the film, followed by a Q&A with director Keeyées Tláa. A reception from 3 to 4 p.m. will include aerialists CirqueParty, a Tlingit silks performance, food, a silent auction of Indigenous art from Turtle Island, and a live performance by the Filam Film Collective AAPI Actors Studio improv group. $40. Tickets: bit.ly/4reqoXl. Donations: bit.ly/3LWJzFV.
• The art exhibit “Color It Contemporary” runs through Friday, Feb. 27, at the La Jolla/Riford Library, 7555 Draper Ave. The show features the work of Grant Pecoff, Mona Ray, Sally Samins and Kelly Villasenor. Free. 858-552-1657
• The Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego presents works that will be featured in the museum’s Art Auction in an exhibition through Sunday, March 8, at 700 Prospect St., La Jolla. About 60 pieces are on display, including paintings, sculptures and works on paper. The Art Auction will be Friday, March 6. mcasd.org/exhibitions/2026-art-auction
• “A Decade of Pop Prints and Multiples, 1962 to 1972: The Frank Mitzel Collection” runs through Sunday, March 15, at the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego, 700 Prospect St., La Jolla. The exhibit marks the public debut of Mitzel’s gift to the museum of more than 60 pop art prints he collected over three decades. It includes works by Peter Blake, Richard Hamilton, Gerald Laing, Joe Tilson and more. mcasd.org
• The Athenaeum Music & Arts Library presents its 2026 art exhibitions at 1008 Wall St., La Jolla. The schedule is: “Dar(r)en Bader,” now through Saturday, April 25, pairing artists Daren and Darren Bader; Coralys Carter and May-ling Martinez, opening reception from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Friday, May 1, and continuing through Saturday, July 25; 34th annual Juried Exhibition, opening reception from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Friday, July 31, and continuing through Saturday, Oct. 10; and Sylvia Fernandez, opening reception from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 16, and continuing through Saturday, Jan. 2, 2027. ljathenaeum.org/upcoming-exhibitions
Music & dance
• Ephrat Asherie Dance and Grammy Award-winning pianist and composer Arturo O’Farrill perform “Shadow Cities” at 3 and 7 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 22, at the Baker-Baum Concert Hall, 7600 Fay Ave., La Jolla. The show incorporates Latin jazz, house music, club culture and club dance forms. $35-$85. theconrad.org/events/shadow-cities
• Harpist Chiara Capobianco performs in concert at noon Monday, Feb. 23, at the Athenaeum Music & Arts Library, 1008 Wall St., La Jolla. Free. ljathenaeum.org/events/mini-concert-2026-0223
• The Athenaeum Music & Arts Library presents violinist Andrés Cárdenes, cellist Steven Doane and pianist Ines Irawati in a chamber music concert at 7:30 p.m. Monday, Feb. 23, at 1008 Wall St., La Jolla. The program will feature music by Dvorák and Brahms. $16-$63. ljathenaeum.org/events/chamber-2026-0223
• The La Jolla Music Society presents the lecture series “Music 101” from 2 to 3 p.m. the last Tuesday of each month through May (except for the third Tuesday in March) in The JAI at the Conrad Prebys Performing Arts Center, 7600 Fay Ave. Michael Gerdes, director of orchestras at San Diego State University, leads the lectures. The remaining schedule is: Feb. 24, “We’re All in This Together: The Reign of Homophony”; March 17, “The Long and Winding Road: Music Takes Form”; April 28, “Purple Rain: Color as the Joy of Listening”; and May 26, “Go Your Own Way: After Sonata Form.” Free. Register at theconrad.org/events.
Mao Fujita will perform Friday, Feb. 27, at the Baker-Baum Concert Hall in La Jolla. (La Jolla Music Society)
• The La Jolla Music Society presents classical pianist Mao Fujita at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 27, at the Baker-Baum Concert Hall, 7600 Fay Ave. $108-$130. theconrad.org/events/mao-fujita
• Camarada’s International Art of Tango Festival returns Feb. 24-28 with four programs at four different venues across the San Diego-Tijuana region, including at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 28, at the Baker-Baum Concert Hall, 7600 Fay Ave., La Jolla. Concerts will feature the Camarada Tango Quartet along with guest artists. $28-$98. theconrad.org/events/25-26-camarada_art-of-tango-ii
• The Athenaeum Music & Arts Library presents its Athenaeum Jazz Winter Series with concerts in the Joan & Irwin Jacobs Music Room, 1008 Wall St., La Jolla. The remaining schedule is: 7:30 p.m. Monday, March 2, Bill Frisell Trio; 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 18, Tord Gustavsen Trio; 7:30 p.m. Monday, March 23, Immanuel Wilkins Quartet. $53 per concert for Athenaeum members, $58 for non-members. 858-454-5872. ljathenaeum.org/jazz
• San Diego Baroque presents its 2025-26 Bach’s Lunch Concert Series at 12:30 p.m. the first Wednesday of each month through May 6 at St. James by-the-Sea Episcopal Church, 743 Prospect St., La Jolla. Upcoming performances are: March 4, French baroque; April 1, Vivaldi Stabat Mater; May 6, works based on Shakespeare and Cervantes. Free. sdbaroque.com
• The Chucho Valdés & Arturo Sandoval Legacy Quintet performs Afro-Cuban jazz at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, March 4-5, at the Baker-Baum Concert Hall, 7600 Fay Ave., La Jolla. A waiting list is available at theconrad.org/events/valdes-sandoval.
• UC San Diego music professor Steven Schick has organized a series of public concerts on campus highlighting what he considers the most important threads of his tenure at the La Jolla university. The remaining schedule is: “The Solo Percussion Music of Roger Reynolds,” 7 p.m. Wednesday, May 6, Conrad Prebys Music Center Experimental Theater, 9410 Russell Lane; The Arcades Festival, Sunday, May 17, time to be announced, Conrad Prebys Music Center; “Sonic Explorations,” 7 p.m. Wednesday, May 27, Conrad Prebys Music Center Experimental Theater. music-web.ucsd.edu/concerts
Books
• Author Grant Ginder discusses his book “So Old, So Young” in conversation with Jeniffer Thompson at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 19, at Warwick’s bookstore, 7812 Girard Ave., La Jolla. Free, or $30 for a reserved seat and book copy. warwicks.com/event/ginder-2026.
Ginder also will appear at a Booked for Lunch event at 11:45 a.m. Friday, Feb. 20, at a location near Warwick’s. Register at warwicks.com/event/booked-ginder-2026.
• Warwick’s bookstore hosts author Huda Al-Marashi as she launches and discusses her book “Hail Mariam” at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 24, at 7812 Girard Ave., La Jolla. Free, or $17.99 for a reserved seat and book copy. warwicks.com/event/al-marashi-2026
• Gideon Bernstein, author of “Giving: A Handbook to Happiness for the Modern Philanthropist,” speaks at 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 26, in the Garfield Theatre at the Lawrence Family Jewish Community Center, 4126 Executive Drive, La Jolla. $30, including a book copy, for JCC members, $36 for non-members. my.lfjcc.org/15682/15683
• Local resident Steven-Paul Lapid, author of “Helm & Horizon: Daily Leadership Principles for the Motivated Sailor,” discusses his book from 1 to 3 p.m. Sunday, March 1, at Warwick’s bookstore, 7812 Girard Ave., La Jolla. Free. warwicks.com/event/lapid-2026
Author Lauren Groff is scheduled to appear at two events in La Jolla on Wednesday, March 4. (Warwick’s)
• Lauren Groff, author of “Brawler,” is scheduled to appear at a “Booked for Lunch” event at 11:45 a.m. Wednesday, March 4, at a location near Warwick’s bookstore in La Jolla. To register, call 858-454-0347 or email booked4lunch@warwicks.
Groff also will discuss the book in conversation with Jason Blitman at 7:30 p.m. March 4 at Warwick’s, 7812 Girard Ave. Free, or $29 for a reserved seat and book copy. warwicks.com/event/groff-2026
Theater
• La Jolla Playhouse presents the world-premiere play “The Recipe” through Sunday, March 22, at the Sheila and Hughes Potiker Theatre, 2910 La Jolla Village Drive. The production, written by Claudia Shear, directed by Lisa Peterson and starring Christina Kirk and Norbert Leo Butz, follows the story of famed chef, author and TV personality Julia Child. $77-$124. lajollaplayhouse.org/show/the-recipe
Galas & events
• The La Jolla/Riford Library hosts “Remember Us the Holocaust,” or “RUTH,” an exhibit that features stories of Holocaust survivors living in San Diego County and artifacts from the Holocaust and World War II, through Sunday, June 28, at 7555 Draper Ave. Free. bit.ly/49TLiDr
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. ♦