First and foremost a city of cinema, L.A. exists both in the movies that are made here and in the image of the place on film. Mark Shiel explores this alluring locale in his new book, Hollywood Cinema and the Real Los Angeles, depicting the ever-changing cinematic image of the city and revealing how its celluloid identity has been reflected and manipulated by its physical geography. Shiel traces the history of L.A. from the invention of motion pictures in the 1890s to the decline of the studio system in the 1950s. Shiel teaches in the Department of Film Studies at King’s College London. He is the author of Italian Neorealism: Rebuilding the Cinematic City and the editor of Cinema and the City and Screening the City.

Join a group of Baker Street Irregulars for an irreverent discussion on the contribution of Sherlock Holmes to contemporary culture, from criminology to fiction to film. Holmes scholar Leslie Klinger, writer/director Nicholas Meyer (The Seven-Per-Cent Solution), crime novelist Denise Hamilton, and real-life private detective Sarah Alcorn contribute their expertise to deducing why Conan Doyle’s character has inspired such enduring intrigue and devotion. Costumes welcome. Budding mystery writers especially encouraged. Complimentary coffee and tea served.

The 2012 FILManthropy Festival Showcasing Films that Inspire and Raise Awareness to Create a Better World. Open your eyes and your heart at the FILManthropy Society’s 3rd annual FILManthropy Festival. This unique event is a canvas for instigating and inspiring change by showcasing films that inspire, educate, raise awareness and motivate, so that audiences may open their minds and their hearts to creating a better world. The FILManthropy Festival encourages patrons to not only watch these inspiring films, but to do something – to work for change. Each filmmaker attaches a charity to his/her film and 100% of the Festival’s net proceeds are distributed between the winning filmmakers’ charities.

Green Hollow Square is an opportunity to bring a beautifully landscaped, neighborhood serving gathering place to Brentwood. The concept for Green Hollow Square is to have ample parking, open spaces for socializing and walking, smaller unique retail establishments, casual dining options and a one-stop shopping experience that maintains the quality and atmosphere that our community treasures. Brentwood deserves the best. Help us make Green Hollow Square a reality by becoming a supporter today!

Summer at Brentwood is a day program that provides a safe and nurturing environment where students entering Kindergarten-12th Grade can engage in a broad range of classes, sports, and activities within a vibrant and diverse community. We offer Day Camp,Sport Camp, Middle Division Academic and Service Camps, Upper Division Credit Courses. Programs begin at 8am and we offer extended care until 5pm. Registration and detailed information online: www.summeratbrentwood.com 310-873-1045

Join Marymount High School for a fun-filled summer taking classes such Theatrical Performance, Creative Writing, Mathematics, Modern Languages, Digital Photography, InDesign, Writing, Public Speaking, Engineering & Robotics and more! Marymount SUMMER runs from June 25- July 27 and is geared toward students entering grades 6-9. Come for a week, come for the SUMMER!!

Byuti salon’s motto is to GIVE GOODNESS from the services we provide to the products that we recommend. Education is a priority at Byu-ti and it goes deeper than simply giving great services. Give your hair the therapy it deserves, visit Byuti. READ MORE for Special Offers.

Toddler & Baby Storytimes are held every Wednesday at 11 am at the Westwood Branch Library. They are held every other week for different age groups. View link below to see what group is meeting this week

The Amgen Tour of California, one of the world’s most prestigious cycling road races, takes 16 elite U.S. and international cycling teams on a scenic, albeit rigorous 800-mile course through much of California from May 13 – 20. Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills serves as the starting point for the all-important last leg of the race on May 20.

Everyone is invited to explore our exotic and adventurous English sea port town! We have over 1500 costumed performers, 150 booths with crafts, hand-powered rides, games, hearty English ales, fine wines and gourmet foods. For more info call 626-969-4750 or go online at www.renfair.com/socal…

Strawberry pizza anyone? A delicious destination for family fun, the 29th Annual CALIFORNIA STRAWBERRY FESTIVAL gets underway May 19 and 20. Among the nation’s top outdoor events, the Festival serves up a menu of delectable strawberry delights, along with concerts on two stages, Strawberryland For Kids with free rides and attractions, gooey contests, 200+ Fine Arts & Crafts booths, the Strawberry Promenade with cooking demonstrations, the Green Scene, and more…

A celebration of bicycles and the cyclists that love them, the evening will include free museum admission, screenings of the 1986 BMX cult classic Rad, free vegan snacks, a cash bar, bicycle portraits, music, cycle-centric activities, and free and secure bike parking. Artist and cyclist Lisa Anne Auerbach hosts.

Ellen, the wife of a successful author, has herself just written a sizzling tell-all autobiography and assembles four of her closest East Coast friends to her Malibu beach house to read it. Imagine their surprise as they read their own secrets exposed…then step back and watch the sparks fly! A sharply funny play that pokes fun at both the Malibu Colony and New York sensibilities. The Supporting Cast runs the gamut from slapstick to satire-a hilarious play not to be missed!

The Friends of Robinson Gardens will welcome the public to their twenty-fourth annual “…into the garden” Tour. This year’s theme is “California Dreamin’.” As usual, there will be five extraordinary private gardens on view, all of them exemplifying excellence in landscape architecture and varying horticultural styles. In addition to viewing these private gardens, guests are welcomed at the historic Virginia Robinson Estate and Gardens in Beverly Hills, to revel in what many consider the garden party of the year. There is truly nothing else like this event in Los Angeles.

Netball America President, Sonya Ottaway is hosting this event to help the public become aware of how Netball is helping American youth as well as introduce the first ever collegiate Team USA Netball heading to the world championships in South Africa. Tickets are only $20 and includes dinner, drinks (including the new range of drinks from Mike’s Hard Lemonade), entertainment featuring Troy MacCubbin (guitarist for Wilson Phillips) with special guest Stephen Rowe. Great silent auction items. A GOLFTEC professional will be there so you can get a golf swing analysis.

Featuring author Susan Orlean, animal trainers Sarah Clifford and Omar von Muller and a screening of “Clash of the Wolves” (1925) starring Rin Tin Tin, with live musical accompaniment by Michael Mortilla. Tickets: $5

What is experimental accordion? For Amy Denio, it has included playing accordion and saxophone and accompanying herself using extended vocal techniques since the late 80′s, making music that dips and swings through world and folk music traditions and avant-garde jazz.

The Santa Monica Festival offers an eclectic mix of live music and dance, DIY art workshops with recycled and repurposed materials, guilt-free shopping featuring earth friendly artistic wares and local services offered by a variety of City, environmental and local non-profit organizations.

Making his highly anticipated Broad Stage debut, Brad Mehldau is “universally admired as one of the most adventurous pianists to arrive on the jazz scene in years” (LA Times). Internationally celebrated for explorations of formal musical architecture that inspire expressive improvisations, Mehldau also brilliantly reworks popular songs by The Beatles, Cole Porter, Nick Drake, and Radiohead into the jazz idiom.

Mangos are starting to roll into the markets, cheap and delicious! Modernize a classic Caprese salad by adding ripe mango chunks to your fresh mozzarella, tomatoes and basil. You can dust with a touch of truffle salt, or a splash of your insanely expensive balsamic, or eat it naked. It’s all good.

Photography’s remarkable propensity to shape visual identities has made it the leading vehicle for representing the famous. Soon after photography was invented in the 1830s, it was used to capture the likenesses and accomplishments of great men and women, gradually supplanting other forms of commemoration. In the twentieth century, the proliferation of photography and the transformative power of fame have helped to accelerate the desire for photographs of celebrities in magazines, newspapers, advertisements, and on the Internet. (Andy Warhol, New York City, Marie Cosindas, American, 1966. © Marie Cosindas)

DIGITAL DARKROOM features the work of 17 artists from around the world that explore the intersection of art and technology. The artists come from a range of backgrounds, each specializing in fine art, commercial art, portraiture, still life, fashion, architectural or other types of photographic and illustrative expression.

Experience a groundbreaking new exhibition inspired by the critically acclaimed book Half the Sky: Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide, by Nicholas D. Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn.

The free show features art by 250 exhibitors from around the nation, who showcase their work in painting, sculpture, watercolor, photography, mixed media, ceramics, jewelry, drawings and printmaking.

Hamilton Galleries and Tony Shalhoub present One-Night only 100cameras, Exhibition Fundraiser: Through the Lens of a Child. 100cameras Gives Cameras to Marginalized Children and teaches them how to them how to tell their story through photography. Come see their perspective. Come celebrate their voice. It will be an evening to enjoy good wine, honor stories of children and purchase their photography to raise funds to better their communities.

Walk for Warriors is a fun, community-oriented 5K run/walk to take place on Memorial Day, May 28, 2012 at the West LA Veterans Affairs Campus. Proceeds from Walk for Warriors will help New Directions provide transitional services for returning veterans. By participating in Walk for Warriors, you will help support our nation’s veterans and the thousands of men and women who are currently serving our country.

Make the most of your OUTDOORS experience in the Santa Monica Mountains. Read More to link to the events calendar and search for National Park Service programs in the recreation area near you.

A good photograph uses technique, composition, and being in the right place at the right time. We can provide a stunning setting, while Volunteer Naturalist Renata can help with the rest. Bring your camera.

Easily find local Westside area movies & show times from Google…

Now you can find more events beyond our Home Page. Just follow the links below to find more Westside area events, and also check out ThisWeekInSoCal.com for larger events happening around Southern Califormia.

LINKS: More Westside Events / ThisWeekInSoCal.com