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Picture of Dikla Kadosh

Dikla Kadosh

Back to Boyle Heights

Jews, Mexicans and Japanese celebrate their common heritage in the East L.A. neighborhood.

A musical Steinasty

The Stein family communicates in music. Birthday parties were always marked by jam sessions. Instead of playing geography on family road trips, the Steins would play “repeat that harmony.”

Dinners inevitably turned into a cappella performances. And a severe blackout during a spring storm became the impetus for the formation of a family band, The Rolling Steins.

Picks and Clicks for January 23-29, 2010

Former “Blossom” star Mayim Bialik discusses her involvement in the Holistic Moms Network on an 11 a.m. panel at the Go Green Expo, which features innovations in energy-efficient products, seminars with experts in green living, a career fair, film screenings, free yoga classes, organic food tastings and more. Sat. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. and Sun. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. $5-$10 (weekend pass). Los Angeles Convention Center, South Hall J, 1201 S. Figueroa St., Los Angeles. gogreenexpo.com.

Picks and Clicks for January 9-15, 2010

Archaeologists and biblical scholars examine how monotheism has shaped our current religious landscape in a Whizin Center program, “What Do We Mean When We Say Monotheism?” The panel includes Steven Fine of Yeshiva University New York, Ziony Zevit of American Jewish University, Jeffrey Tigay of University of Pennsylvania and others. Sun. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. $55 (lunch included). AJU Familian Campus, 15600 Mulholland Drive, Bel Air. (310) 440-1246. ajula.edu.

Dec. 26, 2009 – Jan. 8, 2010

David Mamet directs the infamously reclusive magician in a production that offers a rare glimpse into Ricky Jay’s life and career. “Ricky Jay: A Rogue’s Gallery — An Evening of Conversation and Performance” includes Jay’s renowned sleight-of-hand illusions and a fair amount of audience interaction. Tue. 8 p.m. Through Jan. 10. $65-$125. Geffen Playhouse, 10886 Le Conte Ave., Westwood Village. (310) 208-5454

December 12-18, 2009

A giant 15-foot, 1,000-pound menorah will light up Universal CityWalk for the annual Chabad Chanukah festival, with live Israeli and Jewish performances, appearances by Jewish community leaders and menorah lightings from around the world, broadcast on a huge screen. Sat. 7:30-11:30 p.m. Free. CityWalk, 100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City. (818) 758-1818. chabadofthevalley.com.

Israeli Consulate Initiates Cross-Cultural Exchange at L.A. Schools

Sinai Akiba Academy and Hoover Street Elementary School are located about 9 miles apart from one another, but the distance could just as well be 9,000 miles. The children who attend these schools — Sinai is located at Wilshire and Beverly Glen and Hoover at Wilshire and Hoover — come from two distinct communities, different in cultures, socio-economic backgrounds, religions and life experiences.

December 5-11, 2009

Steven Spielberg receives the Anti-Defamation League’s top honor — America’s Democratic Legacy Award — presented by ADL National Director Abraham H. Foxman at the organization’s annual dinner celebration. Spielberg joins the ranks of previous recipients, including former presidents Ronald Reagan, John F. Kennedy and Dwight Eisenhower, Colin Powell, Eleanor Roosevelt, Justice Earl Warren, Cardinal John O’Conner and others. “American Idol” finalist Adam Lambert sings the U.S. national anthem and Israeli singer-songwriter Noa Dori sings the Israeli national anthem. Wed. 6:30 p.m. $500. Beverly Hilton Hotel, 9876 Wilshire Blvd., Beverly Hills. (310) 446-4263. adl.org/spielberg.

Holiday Highlights Calendar

“Mary Poppins.” The world-famous nanny sweeps across the theater stage in this vivacious production that combines P.L. Travers’ stories and the classic 1964 Walt Disney film with the Academy Award-winning music and lyrics of Richard M. Sherman and Robert B. Sherman. Additional new songs, music and lyrics, as well as lighting and special effects adapt this family favorite into a live show. Tue.-Sun. Through Feb. 7, 2010. $25-$150. Ahmanson Theatre at the Music Center, 135 N. Grand Ave., Los Angeles. (213) 628-2772. title=\”centertheatregroup.org\”>centertheatregroup.org.

November 28-December 4, 2009

Leading advocates of Darwinism and intelligent design go head to head in “The Origins of Life Debate,” featuring Michael Shermer, founding publisher of Skeptic magazine and editor of Skeptic.com; Donald Prothero, a geology professor at Occidental College and lecturer in geobiology at CalTech; Stephen Meyer, director of the Center for Science and Culture at the Discovery Institute; and Richard Sternberg, research scientist at the Biologic Institute and a research collaborator at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History. Sponsored by the American Freedom Alliance. Mon. 7:30 p.m. $10 (students), $20 (general). Saban Theatre, 8440 Wilshire Blvd., Beverly Hills. (323) 655-0111. www.americanfreedomalliance.org.

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