From the Daily News:
See a total lunar eclipse like this one through a telescope on Monday, April 14, 2014, at Griffith Observatory in Los Angeles. (Photo of a 2008 eclipse in Massachusetts by John Buonomo and reproduced under the CC BY-SA 3.0 license)
You might have to buy gas, but here are seven free things to do April 11-14:
Sound artist Chris Kallmyer and Gnarwhallaby: Experimental music that explores the idea of a relationship between musical sounds and specific plants, 1-5 p.m. April 11. Marina del Rey Garden Center, 13198 Mindanao Way. 213-355-8502.www.chriskallmyer.com
CLU Jazz Ensemble concert: 7:30 p.m. April 11. Preus-Brandt Forum, 135 Chapel Lane at California Lutheran University, 60 W. Olsen Road, Thousand Oaks. 805-493-3306. www.callutheran.edu/music
Earth Arbor Day Festival in Santa Clarita: Recycled art exhibit, children’s activities, home ecology information, including water conservation, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. April 12. Central Park, 27150 Bouquet Canyon Road. greensantaclarita.com/earth-arbor-day/
Earth Day Celebration at Tarzana Community and Culture Center: Woodland Hills-Tarzana Chamber of Commerce hosts the event that offers information on household ecology, including Department of Water and Power rebate programs, and water-wise gardening tips from the Theodore Payne Foundation and TreePeople, children’s activities, food tasting from local restaurants and live music, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. April 12. Donate backyard fruit for local food pantries. 19130 Ventura Blvd. 818-347-4737. www.woodlandhillscc.net
Ranching and Riding History in the Santa Monica Mountains: Learn about the King Gillette Ranch and historic ranching at Malibu Creek State Park, meet with the volunteer patrol team and their horses and view restored carriages, noon-4 p.m. April 12. Santa Monica Mountains Interagency Visitor Center at King Gillette Ranch, 26876 Mulholland Highway, Calabasas. 805-370-2302. www.nps.gov/samo
Kite Festival at Santa Monica Pier: Otis College of Art and Design holds the event where kite artists demonstrate and fly their work and children’s kite making workshop, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. April 13. Event will be held north of the pier. www.otis.edu/calendar/3rd-annual-otis-kite-festival
Total lunar eclipse viewing at Griffith Observatory: Telescopes available for viewing. Observatory building opens, 7 p.m.; lecture, 8 p.m.; first portion of moon visibly eclipsed, 10:58 p.m. April 14; totality begins, 12:06 a.m. April 15. A crowd is expected; plan parking accordingly. 2800 E. Observatory Road, Los Angeles. www.griffithobs.org