THURSDAY, JULY 31 – THURSDAY, AUGUST 7

THURSDAY, JULY 31 Family Fun Night, 7 p.m. at the new Rubell Meadow in Temescal Gateway Park (follow the signs inside park). The free program includes nature stories, songs and a campfire (weather permitting) with marshmallows. Open to all.   Cartoonist Jose Cabrera discusses and signs ‘You So Loco,’ his second collection of ‘Crying Macho Man’ comic strips, 7:30 p.m. at Village Books on Swarthmore. Cabrera posts weekly Web strips at cryingmachoman.com. FRIDAY, AUGUST 1   Family Olympics Night, 6 to 8 p.m., hosted free of charge by the Palisades-Malibu YMCA at Simon Meadow, corner of Temescal and Sunset. Parking: $5.   Opening night of ‘Dainty Mabel & the Spiteful Child from Saskatoon,’ the Theatre Palisades Youth summer production, 7:30 p.m. at Pierson Playhouse on Haverford. Ticket reservations: (310) 454-1970. Additional performances are Saturday (7:30 p.m.) and Sunday (2 p.m.), plus August 7, 8, 9 and 10. The show is appropriate for children from about age 4 to 14. (See story, page 1.)   An easy night hike in Temescal Gateway Park, hosted by the Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority. Meet at 7:30 p.m. in the front parking lot just north of Sunset. The two-hour program is free; parking is $5. MONDAY, AUGUST 4   Pajama Storytime, for children of all ages (parents and teddy bears welcome, too), 7 p.m., Palisades Branch Library community room, 861 Alma Real. TUESDAY, AUGUST 5   Story-Craft Time, suggested for ages 4 and up, 4 p.m., Palisades Branch Library community room, 861 Alma Real.   The Temescal Canyon Association hiking group will seek out the secret stairways of Pacific Palisades and Santa Monica Canyon. Meet for carpooling at 6 p.m. in the Temescal Gateway parking lot just north of Sunset. No dogs. Expect to be back close to 9 p.m. Contacts: visit temcanyon.org or call (310) 459-5931. THURSDAY, AUGUST 7   Pacific Palisades resident Gene Harrison Starbuck discusses and signs ‘Cutler’s Gate,’ his Colorado-based novel about the 1918 flu epidemic that killed more Americans than all the wars of the 20th century combined, 7:30 p.m. at Village Books on Swarthmore. (See story, page 12.)