Thursday, October 1 – Thursday, October 8

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 1

Community briefing on the Temescal Canyon Park Stormwater Project, 6 to 8 p.m. in the Palisades Branch Library community room, 861 Alma Real. Palisades Charter High School’s Back to School Night, 6:15 to 9 p.m., including a book fair in the library starting at 5:15 p.m. La Strada International Deli will sell dinner entrees for $5 each and donate $1 from every sale to the PTSA. Information: Debra Meiers at dsm.emailaddress@verizon.net. Two Conscious Parenting experts present ‘Little Soul Productions: Self-Esteem,’ a parent/child DVD with a hearty story, music and animation, 7:30 p.m. at Village Books on Swarthmore.

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 2

Paula La Brot reads her children’s book ‘Ben’s Blimp in China’ 6:30 p.m. at Village Books on Swarthmore. All the baby pandas in China have mysteriously disappeared and children learn geography while rescuing the bears. La Brot, a Topanga resident, received her master’s degree from Pepperdine University. Theatre Palisades presents Larry Shue’s ‘The Nerd,’ 8 p.m. at Pierson Playhouse, 941 Temescal Canyon Rd. The character-driven farce centers on a dinner party interrupted and brought down by the titular houseguest from hell. Performances continue Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m., through October 11.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 3

The Palisades-Malibu YMCA Pumpkin Patch opens at Simon Meadow, corner of Temescal Canyon Road and Sunset Boulevard. The Patch will be open weekdays 3 to 7 p.m., and weekends 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 4

Pacific Palisades attorney Steve Mindel discusses and signs his cookbook, ‘Cooking for Our Friends,’ 4 p.m. at Village Books on Swarthmore. (See story, page 12.)

MONDAY, OCTOBER 5

Catherine Mullally, executive director of the Susan G. Komen Foundation, will talk about breast health in Los Angeles County, 6:30 p.m. at the Palisades Branch Library, 861 Alma Real. The public is invited. ‘The Face in the Mirror: Writers Reflect on Their Dreams of Youth and the Reality of Age’ features reflective essays from 20 celebrated authors who explore the person they wanted to be and the person they are today. Contributors present at 7:30 p.m. at Village Books will include Aviva Layton, Aimee Liu, Leon Whiteson, Jane Ganahl, Barbara Abercromie and Victoria Zackheim. Dr. Jerry Turney, plant pathologist for L. A. County, will address members and guests of the Palisades Garden Club, 7:30 p.m. at the Woman’s Club, 901 Haverford Ave. (See story, page 13.)

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 8

Mark Frost, a novelist, television/film writer, director and executive producer, will sign his latest book, ‘The Game Six: Cincinnati, Boston and the 1975 World Series: The Triumph of America’s Pastime,’ 7:30 p.m. at Village Books on Swarthmore. Frost conducted interviews with nearly all the players involved (as well as fans, sportscasters, and historians) to recreate what many consider to be the most exciting baseball game ever played. Pacific Palisades Community Council meeting, 7 p.m. in the Palisades Branch Library community room, 861 Alma Real. The early agenda includes a discussion of Los Angeles Unified School District’s plans to sell .027 acres of land on Temescal Canyon Road across from where the Maggie Gilbert Aquatic Center is being built at Palisades Charter High School. The public is invited.