The La Jolla Light presents this continuing listing of local in-person events and online activities.
Lectures & learning
• “The Past, Present and Future of Balboa Park,” a three-week series curated by Forever Balboa Park, is presented from 3 to 4 p.m. Thursdays beginning April 9 at the La Jolla Community Center, 6811 La Jolla Blvd., as part of the Peer Learning Collaborative. The schedule is: April 9, “The Foundation & History of Balboa Park,” with historian Nancy Carol Carter; April 16, “Balboa Park Today,” with Jackie Higgins, vice president of planning for Forever Balboa Park; and April 23, “The Vision & What’s Ahead,” with Katy McDonald, president and chief executive of Forever Balboa Park. The series is free for Community Center members, $20 for non-members. ljcommunitycenter.org/plc
• The Athenaeum Music & Arts Library presents the art history lecture series “Art Deco: From Paris to New York, Los Angeles & Miami” at 7:30 p.m. Thursdays through April 30. La Jolla resident and architectural historian Diane Kane will highlight the art deco style across different cities. The remaining schedule of topics is: April 9, Paris; April 16, New York; April 23, Los Angeles; April 30, Miami. $60-$80 for the series. ljathenaeum.org/events/kane-26-series
• 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, continues through Sunday, June 7, at 780 Prospect St. Free. lajollahistory.org/space-maker
An April Family Day hands-on architectural design workshop inspired by artist and architect Eugene Ray, whose work is on view in the “Space Maker” exhibition, will be held from noon to 2 p.m. Sunday, April 12, at 780 Prospect St. Free.
• Birch Aquarium hosts the lecture “Framing Earth: A Photographer’s Odyssey Toward a New Vision of Planetary Change” from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Monday, April 13. Photographer, author and environmentalist James Balog will share adventures and insights from his 45 years of experience in those fields. Free for aquarium members, $12 for non-members. aquarium.ucsd.edu/events/charles-david-keeling-memorial-lecture
• The La Jolla Historical Society continues its series of guided walking tours at 2 p.m. Sunday, April 19, with a visit to La Jolla churches. The tour will begin at the Historical Society’s Wisteria Cottage, 780 Prospect St. $10 for Historical Society members, $20 for non-members. lajollahistory.org/walking-tours
• ArtPower presents “The Making of Our Planet: Frozen Worlds,” hosted by Sophie Lanfear and featuring behind-the-scenes stories from explorers, filmmakers, scientists and adventurers at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 21, at UC San Diego’s Epstein Family Amphitheater, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla. $25-$40. amphitheater.ucsd.edu/event/our-planet-frozen-worlds
• The La Jolla Woman’s Club hosts a Women in Leadership event with La Jolla Playhouse Managing Director Debby Buchholz from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 22, at 7791 Draper Ave. Free.
• Republican Women of California — La Jolla presents commentator, writer and podcaster Kira Davis at 11:30 a.m. Thursday, April 23, at a location that will be provided with registration by Thursday, April 16. $50, including lunch. Email skipandtoby@yahoo.com or call 858-293-3296.
• The La Jolla/Riford Library hosts the “Navigating Senior Life” lecture series from 10:30 a.m. to noon the fourth Friday of each month through August at 7555 Draper Ave. The remaining schedule is: 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.
Art & film
• The San Diego chapter of Authors Guild presents a showing of documentary “The Librarians” at 3:30 p.m., Saturday, April 11 at the La Jolla/Riford Library, 7555 Draper Ave. Followed up at 5 p.m. by a discussion with local librarians.
• The San Diego Watercolor Society presents “Chirp,” a collection of 46 watercolor paintings, during regular hours through Friday, May 15, at the La Jolla/Riford Library, 7555 Draper Ave. An artists reception will be held from 3 to 5 p.m. Saturday, April 18, at the library gallery.
• The Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego presents “Giants: Art from the Dean Collection of Swizz Beatz and Alicia Keys,” an exhibition consisting of more than 130 works of art and set to the soundtrack of Marvin Gaye, from Saturday, April 18, to Sunday, Aug. 9, at 700 Prospect St., La Jolla. mcasd.org/exhibitions/giants
• LOS/NR (Level of Service Not Required) Gallery presents “Human Body,” a show featuring artistic interpretations of the human form, through Friday, April 24, at 7910 Ivanhoe Ave., La Jolla. losnotrequired.com/humanbody
• 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 Bader 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
• UC San Diego’s Mandeville Art Gallery showcases the exhibition “Faith Ringgold: Full Circle — The Teachings and Her Legacy” through Friday, May 1, at 9390 Mandeville Lane, La Jolla. The show traces the life and career of Ringgold, who introduced Black women’s pictorial, narrative and craft traditions. She was a UCSD visual arts professor from 1984 to 2002. Free. mandevilleartgallery.ucsd.edu/exhibitions/faith-ringgold.html
• “Electrospectrum,” an art exhibition featuring works by Roman de Salvo, continues through Saturday, May 23, at Quint Gallery, 7655 Girard Ave., La Jolla.
• The San Diego Art Directory presents “In Situ: La Jolla,” a curated installation placing original works by local artists inside Unscripted Spaces, a luxury interior design showroom at 7730 Girard Ave. The show runs through September. Free.
Music & dance
• ArtPower presents Chloé Arnold’s “Syncopated Ladies Live!” at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, April 9, at UC San Diego’s Epstein Family Amphitheater, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla. $30-$55. amphitheater.ucsd.edu/event/syncopated-ladies
• La Jolla Music Society’s Jazz Mini Festival continues through Saturday, April 11, at locations including the Conrad Prebys Performing Arts Center, 7600 Fay Ave. The festival honors the 100th birthdays of musical legends Miles Davis and John Coltrane. Remaining events at The Conrad are: 4:30 p.m. Friday, April 10, Brian Levy Quartet, The Wu Tsai QRT.yrd; 7:30 p.m. Saturday, April 11, “Coltrane 100: Both Directions at Once,” Baker-Baum Concert Hall. theconrad.org/jazz-mini-festival
• The La Jolla Music Society stages its outdoor Wu Tsai QRT.yrd Concert Series at the Conrad Prebys Performing Center through Wednesday, May 27, at 7600 Fay Ave. The remaining schedule is: 4:30 p.m. April 10, Brian Levy Quartet; 4:30 p.m. April 22, Bobby Cressey; 4:30 p.m. May 15, Ali Paris; 4:30 p.m. May 27, Rebecca Jade. Free. theconrad.org
• The Athenaeum Music & Arts Library presents its Acoustic Evenings concert series at 7:30 p.m. Fridays through April 24 at the Joan & Irwin Jacobs Music Room, 1008 Wall St., La Jolla. Remaining performances are: April 10, Evans & Raney, Joel Rafael and Gayle Skidmore; April 17, Croome Brothers, Jefferson Jay with Monette Marino and Les Afriks; April 24, Fred Benedetti, Sue Palmer and Liz Ajuzie and Tim Flannery. $67 for the series for Athenaeum members, $88 for non-members, $19 for students. Individual shows are $19, $24 and $5. ljathenaeum.org/events/acoustics-26-spring
• The La Jolla Symphony & Chorus presents its first “Play- and Sing-a-Thon” beginning at noon Sunday, April 12, at the Conrad Prebys Music Center at UC San Diego, 9410 Russell Lane. The event will feature more than 25 LJS&C musicians, alumni, students and other community members taking turns performing until 7 p.m. as part of a fundraiser for the organization. It will culminate in a group sing-a-long including favorites from the Great American Songbook and a champagne reception from 7 to 8 p.m. Free. ljsc.org/play-and-sing-a-thon
• The La Jolla Music Society presents the Danish String Quartet with the Danish National Girls’ Choir at 3 p.m. Sunday, April 12, at the Baker-Baum Concert Hall, 7600 Fay Ave. $65-$98. A free lecture by Michael Gerdes, director of the San Diego State University Symphony Orchestra, will precede the concert at 2 p.m. theconrad.org/events/danish-string-quartet
• The San Diego Master Chorale presents “Lux,” a program anchored by Leonard Bernstein’s “Chichester Psalms” and Morten Lauridsen’s “Lux Aeterna,” at 4 p.m. Sunday, April 12, at St. James by-the-Sea Episcopal Church, 743 Prospect St., La Jolla. $15-$45.
• Pianist Francois Chouchan and baritone John Buffett perform “Winterreise” by Franz Schubert as part of Le Salon de Musiques’ concert series at 4 p.m. Sunday, April 12, at the La Jolla Woman’s Club, 7791 Draper Ave. $69-$120. lesalondemusiques.com/product/concert-7-2025-2026-2
The Diderot String Quartet will perform Tuesday, April 14, at the Athenaeum Music & Arts Library in La Jolla. (Tatiana Daubek)
• The Athenaeum Music & Arts Library presents the Diderot String Quartet at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 14, at 1008 Wall St., La Jolla. The concert will feature pieces by Haydn, Mozart and Beethoven. $58 for Athenaeum members, $63 for non-members, $16 for students. ljathenaeum.org/events/chamber-2026-0414
• Gautier Capucon and Jean-Yves Thibaudet will perform on cello and piano, respectively, at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 15, at the Baker-Baum Concert Hall, 7600 Fay Ave., La Jolla. $70-$115. Michael Gerdes, director of the San Diego State University Symphony Orchestra, will speak before the show at 6:30 p.m. theconrad.org/events/capucon-thibaudet
• ArtPower presents Grammy-nominated duo Black Violin, consisting of Wil Baptiste and Kev Marcus, at 7:30 p.m. Friday, April 17, at UC San Diego’s Epstein Family Amphitheater, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla. $30-$70. amphitheater.ucsd.edu/event/black-violin
• The La Jolla Music Society presents “The Magic of Manhattan,” featuring trumpeter and vocalist Benny Benack III, at 5:30 and 8 p.m. Saturday, April 18, at The JAI at the Conrad Prebys Performing Arts Center, 7600 Fay Ave. $75-$81. theconrad.org/events/benny-benack-iii
• Aristo Sham, the 2025 gold medalist in the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition, performs at 3 p.m. Sunday, April 19, at the Baker-Baum Concert Hall, 7600 Fay Ave., La Jolla. $53-$80. theconrad.org/events/van-cliburn-gold-medalist
• The La Jolla Symphony & Chorus holds a musical preview in anticipation of its upcoming show “The Heavenly Life” at 2 p.m. Tuesday, April 21, at the La Jolla/Riford Library, 7555 Draper Ave. “The Heavenly Life” will play at 7:30 p.m., Saturday, May 2, and 2 p.m. Sunday, May 3, at UC San Diego’s Mandeville Auditorium, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla. Free. sandiego.librarymarket.com/event/lajollasymphonyandchorus
• Canadian singer-songwriter Patrick Watson performs at 7 p.m. Wednesday, April 22, at UC San Diego’s Epstein Family Amphitheater, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla. $30-$55. amphitheater.ucsd.edu/event/patrick-watson
• The Aaron Diehl Trio plays at 5:30 and 8 p.m. Friday, April 24, at The JAI at the Conrad Prebys Performing Arts Center, 7600 Fay Ave. $75-$81. theconrad.org/events/aaron-diehl-trio
• The Athenaeum Music & Arts Library in La Jolla presents shows in the Athenaeum Jazz Spring Series at 7:30 p.m. Friday, April 24, with Luciana Souza and Marcel Camargo at Scripps Research Auditorium, 10620 John Jay Hopkins Drive, and 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 27, with the Peter Erskine Trio, Alan Pasqua and Scott Colley at the Athenaeum’s Joan & Irwin Jacobs Music Room, 1008 Wall St. Individual shows are $53-$58. ljathenaeum.org/events/jazz-26-spring-series
• 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 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: 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.
• San Diego Baroque concludes its 2025-26 Bach’s Lunch Concert Series at 12:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 6, at St. James by-the-Sea Episcopal Church, 743 Prospect St., La Jolla. The performance will feature works based on Shakespeare and Cervantes. Free. sdbaroque.com
• 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
• Marie Benedict, author of “Daughter of Egypt,” discusses her novel at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, April 9, at Warwick’s bookstore, 7812 Girard Ave., La Jolla. Free, or $29 for a reserved seat and book copy. warwicks.com/event/benedict-2026
• Warwick’s bookstore hosts Emma Straub as she discusses her book “American Fantasy” in conversation with Jason Blitman at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 14, at 7812 Girard Ave., La Jolla. Free, or $30 for a reserved seat and book copy. warwicks.com/event/straub-2026
• Sarah Church Vosburgh holds a book launch for “Who Will Name the Bees?” at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 22, at Warwick’s bookstore, 7812 Girard Ave., La Jolla. Free, or $18 for a reserved seat and book copy. warwicks.com/event/vosburgh-2026
Margaret Cullen, author of “Quiet Strength,” will appear Thursday, April 23, at Warwick’s bookstore in La Jolla. (Warwick’s)
• Warwick’s bookstore and UC San Diego’s Center for Mindfulness present author Margaret Cullen discussing her book “Quiet Strength: Find Peace, Feel Alive and Love Boundlessly Through the Power of Tranquility” in conversation with Cassandra Vieten at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, April 23, at 7812 Girard Ave., La Jolla. Free, or $30 for a reserved seat and book copy. warwicks.com/event/cullen-2026
Theater
• La Jolla Playhouse presents its annual WOW Festival from Thursday to Sunday, April 23-26, at several locations around UC San Diego’s campus in La Jolla. The four-day festival is mostly free. A few shows will be ticketed, with prices ranging from $10 to $29. lajollaplayhouse.org/wowfestival
Galas & events
• The La Jolla Woman’s Club hosts a Spring Renewal Health & Wellness Fair from noon to 3 p.m. Saturday, April 11, at 7791 Draper Ave. Guests can meet local health and wellness practitioners and experience free sessions, samples and self-care. Free admission. Register by email to Michelle Dykstra at mdykstrasells@gmail.com.
• The Estancia La Jolla Hotel & Spa’s annual garden party returns from noon to 4 p.m. Sunday, April 12, at 9700 N. Torrey Pines Road. The event will feature food, garden-inspired cocktails and bubbly from local vendors. $75. estancialajolla.com
• The La Jolla Coastal Conservancy holds a weed-pulling party from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, April 18, outside The Cave Store at 1325 Coast Blvd. Light refreshments will be available afterward. Free. luma.com/qzd8s8a9
• Rady Children’s Hospital Auxiliary La Jolla presents the fourth annual BeWell La Jolla “Dinking for Dollars” Pickleball Tournament from 4 to 8 p.m. Saturday, April 18, at Barnes Tennis Center, 4490 W. Point Loma Blvd., Point Loma. The event will include auctions, food and drinks. Proceeds will support the Copley Psychiatric Emergency Department at Rady Children’s Hospital. $50. RCHALaJolla.com
Marisa Ugarte, executive director of the Bilateral Safety Corridor Coalition, speaks about the group’s efforts to fight human trafficking at last year’s “Be the Light” event, which returns Thursday, April 23, at The Lot in La Jolla. (Noah Lyons)
• The fourth annual “Be the Light” charity event dedicated to combating human trafficking in San Diego County is set for 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday, April 23, at The Lot, 7611 Fay Ave., La Jolla. The event will have a casino-inspired atmosphere including roulette, blackjack, poker, wine tasting and more. $100. Proceeds will benefit the nonprofit Bilateral Safety Corridor Coalition. eventbrite.com/e/4th-bscc-be-the-light-charity-event-tickets-1982702194637
• Birch Aquarium and the Scripps Institution of Oceanography host a Climate Dance Party in honor of ocean science and climate solutions from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday, April 24, at 2300 Expedition Way, La Jolla. Scripps alumna Ayana Elizabeth Johnson will mark the paperback release of her book “What If We Get It Right?: Visions of Climate Futures.” The first 300 guests will receive a copy of the book. $16-$39. aquarium.ucsd.edu/events/climate-dance-party
• The 20th annual La Jolla Concours d’Elegance returns Friday to Sunday, April 24-26. This year’s theme, “Icons of Speed: Historically Significant Super Cars,” highlights innovation, craftsmanship and style. Events will include the VIP opening soirée “Motorvault” on April 24, the Tour d’Elegance and Porsches & Power on Prospect on April 25 and the Concours d’Elegance classic car show on April 26 at Scripps Park. lajollaconcours.com
• Art of Elan, in partnership with the La Jolla Music Society’s ConRad Kids Series, presents “Dancing on Tiptoes: A Musical Exploration of Melody, Movement and Mood” at 10 a.m. Saturday, April 25, at the Conrad Prebys Performing Arts Center, 7600 Fay Ave., La Jolla. The event will feature works from Australian composers, improvised dancing and local student-created visual art and poetry. $25-$38. theconrad.org/events/dancing-on-tiptoes
• 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 Noah Lyons at noah.lyons@lajollalight.com by noon Friday for publication in the following week’s edition. ♦