Best Bets: A quick guide to La Jolla entertainment and experiences – San Diego Union-Tribune

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

Lectures & learning

• The Peer Learning Collaborative presents “Reframing After Midlife,” featuring marriage and family therapist Gail Braverman discussing “reimagining personal narratives” from 3 to 4 p.m. the first three Thursdays of June at the La Jolla Community Center, 6811 La Jolla Blvd. The schedule is: June 4, “Transitions: To Begin Again”; June 11, “Resiliency: Growing an Unshakeable Core of Strength”; June 18, “The Power of Purpose.” The series is free for Community Center members, $20 for non-members. Register at ljcommunitycenter.org/plc.

• UC San Diego’s School of Biological Sciences presents a conversation with 2025 Nobel Prize-winning immunologist and 1983 UCSD alumnus Fred Ramsdell at 5 p.m. Thursday, June 11, at the Great Hall on the UCSD campus, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla. Free, though registration is required. calendar.ucsd.edu/event/a-deep-conversation-with-nobel-laureate-fred-ramsdell

• Rabbi Mike Rothbaum and the Lawrence Family Jewish Community Center present the remaining installments of “Fudaism! A Healthy, Just and Jewish Relationship with Food” from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Thursdays, June 4, 11 and 18, at 4126 Executive Drive, La Jolla. The course explores food and history. $36 for the series for JCC members, $50 for non-members. lfjcc.org/about/upcoming_events.aspx

• The Sierra Club Seal Society of San Diego presents a talk about sea lions and a walk to view them at La Jolla Cove beginning at 2 p.m. Saturdays, June 13, 20 and 27, at Mangelsen Images of Nature Gallery, 7916 Girard Ave., La Jolla. Free. (858) 551-9553

• The La Jolla/Riford Library and Friends of the La Jolla Library present “La Jolla Noir: Exposing Crime Fiction” at 6 p.m. Tuesday, June 23, at 7555 Draper Ave. A panel of crime fiction authors will include Caitlin Rother, Matt Coyle and Marc Carlos. Free. sandiego.events.mylibrary.digital/event?id=339327

• Republican Women of California — La Jolla presents historical impressionist Peter Small performing as Thomas Jefferson at 11:30 a.m. Thursday, June 28. The address will be provided upon registration. $50, including lunch. Email [email protected] or call (858) 293-3296.

Art & film

• 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, through Sunday, Aug. 9, at 700 Prospect St., La Jolla.

A “Reflections” series inspired by the exhibit will take place Fridays, June 12, 19 and 26. Each program will include a gallery discussion, coffee and an art-making activity. $125 for the series for museum members, $175 for non-members.

Also taking place this month is a free “play day” inspired by the exhibition from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday, June 14. mcasd.org/exhibitions/giants

• The Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego hosts a public tour titled “Focused Narratives” from 5 to 6 p.m. Thursday, June 18, starting in the Browar Lobby at 700 Prospect St., La Jolla. The conversational tour will explore the museum’s permanent collection and special exhibitions such as “Giants.” Free. mcasd.org/events/focused-narratives-6-18

• The Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego welcomes couples who recently got engaged to “The Engaged Party: A Wedding Showcase” from 12:30 to 5 p.m. Sunday, June 21, at 700 Prospect St., La Jolla. The party will feature wedding planners and creative partners, a VIP couples photo session, a VIP lunch at 1 p.m., general admission at 2 p.m. and a wedding fashion show at 3 p.m. $17.85 for general admission tickets, $33.85 for VIP. mcasd.org/events/the-engagement-party

• The La Jolla Historical Society presents a new exhibition, “Stories in Cloth: Communicating Through Textiles,” in partnership with Visions Museum of Textile Art from Saturday, June 27, to Sunday, Sept. 6, at 780 Prospect St. The exhibit’s opening reception will be Friday, June 26, at a time to be determined. lajollahistory.org/events-calendar

• R.B. Stevenson Gallery hosts the exhibition “West Coast Visions” by Los Angeles artists Charles Arnoldi, Jimi Gleason and Astrid Preston through Tuesday, June 30, at 7661 Girard Ave., La Jolla. (858) 459-3917. rbstevensongallery.com

• Quint Gallery presents “Stars and Stripes,” an exhibition by artist Nancy Blum, through Saturday, July 25, at 7722 Girard Ave., La Jolla. quintgallery.com/exhibitions/268-nancy-blum

• The Athenaeum Music & Arts Library presents its 2026 art exhibitions at 1008 Wall St., La Jolla. The remaining schedule is: “Within the Context of Time,” featuring artists Coralys Carter and May-ling Martinez, through Saturday, July 25; 34th annual Juried Exhibition, opening from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Friday, July 31, and continuing through Saturday, Oct. 10; and Sylvia Fernandez, opening from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 16, and continuing through Saturday, Jan. 2. ljathenaeum.org/upcoming-exhibitions

• Joseph Bellows Gallery in La Jolla presents the online exhibition “David Freund: Gas Stop,” featuring prints from Freund’s black-and-white gas station photographs shot in 47 states from 1978 to 1981. josephbellows.com/exhibitions/david-freund-gas-stop2

• 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. (619) 361-1055

• Summers Salon in La Jolla commemorates the 100th birthday June 1 of late film legend Marilyn Monroe by decorating the walls with photos of her. The exhibit will be on display through the end of the year at 7946 Ivanhoe Ave. facebook.com/asummerssalon

Music & dance

• Patrick Page and Perla Batalla perform “Looking for Leonard,” a homage to Leonard Cohen’s music, at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, June 11, at the Baker-Baum Concert Hall, 7600 Fay Ave., La Jolla. $43-$83. theconrad.org/events/jfest-looking-for-leonard

• Pointeworks presents “Nocturnes: Five Ballets” at 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, June 13, at the Baker-Baum Concert Hall, 7600 Fay Ave., La Jolla. $35-$165. theconrad.org/events/25-26-pointeworks

• Le Salon de Musiques finishes its 2025-26 concert season with music by Beethoven, Chopin and Goldmark at 4 p.m. Sunday, June 14, at the La Jolla Woman’s Club, 7791 Draper Ave. The performance will be introduced by musicologist Adam Gilbert and followed by discussions between the musicians and the audience, along with a buffet featuring French champagne. $69-$120. lesalondemusiques.com/product/season-finale-2025-2026

• The Athenaeum Music & Arts Library in La Jolla presents its Jazz Summer Series with a trio of performances at the library’s Joan & Irwin Jacobs Music Room, 1008 Wall St. The schedule is: 7:30 p.m. Sunday, June 14, Rodriguez Brothers Quintet performing “Miles 100: A Celebration in Afro-Cuban Jazz”; 7:30 p.m. Sunday, June 21, Emilio Solla and Antonio Lizana; 7:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 21, Sean Jones, Billy Childs and Ben Williams. The full series is $150 for Athenaeum members, $165 for non-members. ljathenaeum.org/events/jazz-26-farrell-series

• The 38th annual Mainly Mozart All-Star Orchestra Festival takes place June 17-27, with the first five events at La Jolla’s Conrad Prebys Performing Arts Center and the final one at UC San Diego’s Epstein Family Amphitheater. The schedule is: 7 p.m. Wednesday, June 17, “Mozart & Prokofiev”; 7 p.m. Saturday, June 20, “Mozart & Beethoven: Heroic Visions”; 3 p.m. Sunday, June 21, “Dances & Sunlight”; 7 p.m. Tuesday, June 23, “Lully & Strauss: A Tale Retold”; 7 p.m. Thursday, June 25, “Reflection & Radiance”; 7 p.m. Saturday, June 27, Beethoven’s Fifth. Ticket packages for six, four or two shows are available at mainlymozart.org/2026-fest-sales or by phone at (619) 239-0100. Tickets for single shows are $68-$155 at The Conrad and $25-$250 for the amphitheater concert. theconrad.org/events/mainly-mozart

Books

• Warwick’s bookstore presents a launch for Richard Louv’s book “Noticing” at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, June 23, at 7812 Girard Ave., La Jolla. Louv, co-founder and chairman emeritus of the Children & Nature Network, will discuss the book in conversation with Ron Swaisgood. Free, or $30 for a reserved seat and book copy. warwicks.com/event/2026-06-23/richard-louv-book-launch-ron-swaisgood-noticing

• Author Madhushree Ghosh discusses her book “Safar: Finding Home, History and Culture Through Punjabi Food in the American West” in conversation with chef Claudia Sandoval at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, June 24, at Warwick’s bookstore, 7812 Girard Ave., La Jolla. Free, or $35 for a reserved seat and book copy. warwicks.com/event/ghosh-2026

• Author Bob Spitz and San Diego Union-Tribune music staff writer George Varga discuss Spitz’s newest book, “The Rolling Stones: The Biography,” at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, June 25, at Warwick’s Bookstore, 7812 Girard Ave., La Jolla. Free, or $38 for a reserved seat and book copy. warwicks.com/event/2026-06-25/bob-spitz-george-varga-rolling-stones

Theater

• “The Monsters” runs through Sunday, June 28, at La Jolla Playhouse’s Mandell Weiss Forum, 2910 La Jolla Village Drive. The show, about a mixed martial arts fighter and his sister, is written by UC San Diego graduate Ngozi Anyanwu and directed by Tamilla Woodard. $30-$74. lajollaplayhouse.org/show/the-monsters

Galas & events

• The La Jolla/Riford Library hosts “America at 250: San Diego 1776-2026,” a pop-up from the San Diego History Center, from noon to 4 p.m. Thursday, June 18, at 7555 Draper Ave. The event will feature real and replica artifacts, historic photographs and stories that connect local milestones to broader U.S. history. sandiego.events.mylibrary.digital/event?id=355642

• La Jolla’s Mutt Strut and scavenger hunt return from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, June 20, starting at Sotheby’s Plaza, 1111 Prospect St. Free. Register at lajollabythesea.com/event/la-jolla-mutt-strut-scavenger-hunt.

• The La Jolla Community Center presents a trip to the San Diego County Fair in Del Mar from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Wednesday, June 24. The event will begin at 6811 La Jolla Blvd. $25 for Community Center members, $35 for non-members. ljcommunitycenter.org/specialevents

• The Estancia La Jolla Hotel & Spa invites guests to its Tea in the Garden series from noon to 3 p.m. one Sunday a month through Oct. 18 at 9700 N. Torrey Pines Road. The remaining events are: June 28, “Solstice Garden Tea”; July 19, “Mediterranean Daydream”; Aug. 23, “A Gilded Garden Tea”; Sept. 27, “Harvest & Herb Tea”; Oct. 18, “A Curious Mad Hatter Tea Party.” $75 per person per event. eventbrite.com/e/tea-in-the-garden-series-tickets-1982386840404?aff=erellivmlt

• 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.

• Shark Summer returns to Birch Aquarium at UC San Diego’s Scripps Institution of Oceanography in July at 2300 Expedition Way, La Jolla. This year’s activities will include shark exploration stations, shark feedings, themed dive presentations, “Sharks and Rays 101” talks and more. Activities are included with aquarium admission except for “Oceans at Night: Sharks” events. aquarium.ucsd.edu

• The La Jolla Community Center hosts a Sip Into Summer Happy Hour from 3 to 5 p.m. Thursday, July 2, at 6811 La Jolla Blvd. Free for Community Center members, $15 for non-members. ljcommunitycenter.org/specialevents

• UC San Diego’s “Decoding DaVinci,” an interactive theatrical venture from the makers of “Clue: A Walking Mystery,” runs Thursdays through Sundays through July 12 at 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla. “Decoding DaVinci” takes players on an espionage-fueled caper across the campus in which they must solve puzzles, interact with clandestine operatives and untangle a centuries-old mystery. $30-$40. artpower.ucsd.edu/decoding-davinci

Do you have an event — online or in person — that you’d like to see here? Email your leads to Noah Lyons at [email protected] by noon Friday for publication in the following week’s edition. ♦