• CORONA - Family Movie Nights at Dos Lagos. Thursdays September 4 - 25. Movies at dusk; bring lawn chairs and blankets. Movies are at the Promenade Shops at Dos Lagos. Information: (951) 277-7601 or www.promenadeshopsatdoslagos.com

• LAGUNA NIGUEL - Fall Flicks at the Crown Valley Park Amphitheater. September 13 is Toy Story, and September 27 is Curious George. Movies begin around dusk (7:30 p.m.) and last until 9 p.m. Information: (949) 425-5100 or www.ci.laguna-niguel.ca.us

• LONG BEACH - Classic Horror Film Series. New series presented by the Long Beach Shakespeare Company begins Sept. 28 and continues through November. Movies are at 7 p.m. at the Richard Goad Theater, 4250 Atlantic. Due to limited seating, reservations are recommended. Information: (562) 997-1494 or www.lbshakespeare.org.

• POMONA - Short Film Festival 2008. Bring a chair or blanket and enjoy an evening under the stars watching a collection of short films, artist videos and animations from around the world. Nineteen films with one 15-minute intermission. Event begins at dusk on Sept. 27 in Thomas Plaza, W. Second Street in the Pomona Arts Colony. Information: (909) 620-5481 or http://www.scagallery.com.

LECTURES/LECTURE SERIES

• "ALOUD" AT THE LOS ANGELES CENTRAL LIBRARY - Lecture series runs September through the end of July. Most programs begin at 7 p.m. in the Central Library's Mark Taper Auditorium. Wide variety of topics. Reservations required. Information: (213) 228-7025 or www.aloudla.org.

• ALTERNATIVE FUELS PANEL/LECTURES AT THE CLAREMONT COLLEGE - September lectures include: "Growing Energy: Biofuels Panel" on September 17 and "To Drill or Not to Drill: Lessons from Brazil on the U.S. Energy Debate" on September 30. Information: www.collegescalendar.org, click dates on September calendar.

• CLAREMONT - SCRIPPS COLLEGE HUMANITIES INSTITUTE "GLOBAL MEDIA" FALL SERIES - Series of lectures and films from September 10 - September 25. See website or call for full schedule. All events are free and open to the public. Information: (909) 621-8326 or www.scrippscollege.edu/dept/humanities/index.html.

• "DISTINCTIVE VOICES AT THE BECKMAN CENTER" AT UC IRVINE - Insights on Science, Technology and Medicine lectures begin in September and continue through the fall semester. Lectures are at 7 p.m. on the UCI campus and open to the public. Tickets available at the venue beginning at 6:30 p.m.; seating on a first-come basis. Information: (949) 721-2266 or www.voicesatbeckman.org.

• USC "VISIONS AND VOICES" - Variety of lectures, performances, tours and exhibits. Some events are open only to USC students, faculty and staff. Others are open to the general public, and some events require reservations. Most events are free. See website for full schedule. Information: (213) 740-6786 or www.usc.edu/visionsandvoices.

• ZOCALO PUBLIC SQUARE LECTURE SERIES - Series of public lectures in a variety of locations. Information: www.zocalo.org or www.lapl.org, click events.

• BOWERS MUSEUM - The Bowers Museum in Santa Ana is offering PIMCO Free Friday Nights to celebrate the Terra Cotta Warriors exhibition. The first 100 visitors every hour at 4, 5, 6, and 7 p.m. will be provided free entry, and the museum is open until 8 p.m. Information: (714) 567-3600 or www.bowers.org

• CALIFORNIA AFRICAN AMERICAN MUSEUM - Target Sundays are every first Sunday of the month. Hours are 11 a.m. - 5 p.m. Live programs generally begin about 1 p.m. Museum address is 600 State Drive in Exposition Park (Los Angeles Coliseum area). Information: (213) 744-2132, (213) 744-7432 or www.caamuseum.org

• THE GETTY CENTER - Free admission; parking is $8. The museum does not require parking reservations. Off the 405 Freeway at Getty Center Drive. Variety of art-related and storytelling activities for children and families as well. Information: (310) 440-7300 or www.getty.edu

• HUNTINGTON LIBRARY, ART COLLECTIONS AND BOTANICAL GARDENS - Free admission the first Thursday of every month. Tickets are required and reservations become available on the first date of the month prior to the visit (i.e. reservations for the first Thursday in August become available starting July 1). Information: (626) 405-2100 or www.huntington.org

• THE IRVINE MUSEUM OF ART - The Irvine Museum of Art is a small OC museum dedicated to the preservation and display of California art of the Impressionist period (1890 - 1930). 18881 Von Karman Street, Irvine, Ground Level. Information: (714) 476-2565 or http://www.irvinemuseum.org/

• LA HABRA CHILDREN'S MUSEUM - The Children's Museum at La Habra offers free admission on the first Saturday of each month for the Target Free Saturdays program. Information: (562) 905-9793 or www.lhcm.org/

• LONG BEACH MUSEUM OF ART - Admission to the Long Beach Museum of Art is free every Friday. Museum address is 2300 East Ocean Boulevard. Information: (562) 439-2119 or http://www.lbma.org

• LOS ANGELES COUNTY MUSEUM OF ART (LACMA) - Admission to the museum's regular exhibits is on a pay-as-you-wish basis after 5 p.m. and free every second Tuesday of the month. 5905 Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles. Information: (323) 857-6000 or http://www.lacma.org/

• MUCKENTHALER CULTURAL CENTER - The Muckenthaler Cultural Center in Fullerton has begin a new series of events taking place the second week of each month. Called "Seconds at the Muck," free events include a Second Sundays family arts festival and Second Tuesdays "Second Thoughts" free poetry reading and open mic night. Information: (714) 738-3134 or www.themuck.org.

• MULTIPLE LOCATIONS - BANK OF AMERICA "MUSEUMS ON US" PROGRAM - Over 70 museums nationwide are now offering free admission on the first weekend of every month for anyone showing a Bank of America check, ATM or credit card. Visit website for list of museums. Information: www.bankofamerica.com/museums.

• THE MUSEUM OF LATIN AMERICAN ART - LONG BEACH Target Sundays include special programs each month with a variety of family-oriented art workshop activities and music. Free Friday admission as well. Address is 628 Alamitos Avenue. Information: (562) 437-1689 or www.molaa.org/

• ONTARIO MUSEUM OF HISTORY AND ART - The Museum is located in the Historic Old City Hall Building, 225 South Euclid. Hours are noon - 4 p.m., Wednesday through Sunday, and admission is free. Also a variety of art and public programs. Information: (909) 983-3198 or www.ci.ontario.ca.us

• UCLA FOWLER MUSEUM - Variety of music, film and art-related programs. The Fowler Museum is located on the UCLA campus. Information: (310) 825-4361 or http://www.fowler.ucla.edu

• UCLA HAMMER MUSEUM Variety of lecture, poetry, music and other programs. See event calendar on museum website. 10899 Wilshire Boulevard at Westwood. Information: (310) 443-7000 or http://www.hammer.ucla.edu