Cabrillo Marine Aquarium

Sea critters of all sizes will have more fin and flipper room at the Cabrillo Marine Aquarium when the San Pedro facility unveils its $10-million expanded complex to the public Saturday. Nestled alongside the original Frank Gehry-designed structure on the beachfront, the new two-story wing houses an exploration center, an aquatic nursery, a research library and a spacious courtyard. (The new structure was designed by Barton Phelps and Associates.

Re " Getting shipshape: San Pedro hopes to lure throngs of visitors with new LA Waterfront project ," July 1 What about the Cabrillo Marine Aquarium, the family attraction, and the adjacent coastal park on the edge of San Pedro? The historic center provides recreation for the community and a natural, interactive approach to learning about the local marine environment. Visitors can see the extensive collection of Southern California marine life and the coastal park includes walking trails to tide pools, beaches and a salt marsh.

As the only place in the Los Angeles area to explore California marine life without getting wet, the Cabrillo Marine Aquarium has for years enjoyed a monopoly. Within a couple of years, however, the tiny aquarium will be dwarfed by a new marine life facility under construction in Long Beach. So what's a small San Pedro facility to do? Certainly not panic, said Cabrillo Director Susanne Lawrenz-Miller. "Marine life is a source of endless fascination," Lawrenz-Miller said.

Belmont Veterans Memorial Pier Overview: This 1,620-foot-long T-shaped concrete pier, built in 1968, is ideal for walking night and day. At the far end, Buoy's at the Pier has a downstairs snack bar with a modest menu of chicken strips and nachos ($5-$7); upstairs is the bait and tackle store. Background: Old-time pier denizens occasionally call it Devil's Gate, a reference to the location and name of a pier built in 1915 just east of this one. Notable views: The Long Beach skyline and harbor are to the north; the Seal Beach breakwater and pier are visible to the south.

As the only place in the Los Angeles area to explore California marine life without getting wet, the Cabrillo Marine Aquarium has for years enjoyed a monopoly. Within a couple of years, however, the tiny aquarium will be dwarfed by a new marine life facility under construction in Long Beach. So what's a small San Pedro facility to do? Certainly not panic, said Cabrillo Director Susanne Lawrenz-Miller. "Marine life is a source of endless fascination," Lawrenz-Miller said.

John Olguin spent part of his day, as he often does, watching the children go by, wide-eyed and full of wonder. They hardly noticed the bearded, gray-haired man as they walked past him by the hundreds. They were busy discovering a new world--one displaying its brilliance before their very eyes. Being first- and second-graders, mostly from inland schools, some had never seen the ocean before, much less the critters that live in it.

The Cabrillo Marine Aquarium could be called the halibut of the aquarium world. An unassuming, Average Joe of a fish, the halibut in its ocean habitat is unobtrusive, often lying quietly on the ocean floor, camouflaged by sand, while fish such as the garibaldi and blue-banded goby use their bright, colorful bodies to advertise their presence. The Cabrillo Marine Aquarium in San Pedro has maintained a similarly low-profile, albeit successful, existence for nearly 60 years.

1:30pm Nature Walk off holiday goodies at the Cabrillo Marine Aquarium's tide pool walk. Visitors can see a slide show in the aquarium auditorium, then search for sea urchins, hermit crabs and anemones at the Point Fermin Marine Life Refuge. * Tide pool walk, Cabrillo Marine Aquarium, 3720 Stephen White Drive, San Pedro. 1:30-3 p.m. $1; beach parking, $5.50. Groups of 10 or more, call for reservations. (310) 548-7562.

Mayor James K. Hahn and his sister, Councilwoman Janice Hahn, helped break ground Friday on a $10-million expansion of the Cabrillo Marine Aquarium. The expansion, which will double the aquarium's size, should be complete by fall 2004.

Sea critters of all sizes will have more fin and flipper room at the Cabrillo Marine Aquarium when the San Pedro facility unveils its $10-million expanded complex to the public Saturday. Nestled alongside the original Frank Gehry-designed structure on the beachfront, the new two-story wing houses an exploration center, an aquatic nursery, a research library and a spacious courtyard. (The new structure was designed by Barton Phelps and Associates.

How's a visit to the Pacific Islands this summer sound? At last there's a way to immerse yourself in island culture, song, dance, food, geography, zoology and horticulture that doesn't require dreary hours in flight and a second mortgage on the house.

Mayor James K. Hahn and his sister, Councilwoman Janice Hahn, helped break ground Friday on a $10-million expansion of the Cabrillo Marine Aquarium. The expansion, which will double the aquarium's size, should be complete by fall 2004.

The number of tugboats, cargo ships and other vessels drifting in and out of Los Angeles Harbor could never equal the number of creatures lurking beneath the ocean surface. Soon, the warm waters will turn frigid with the first winter storm. Already squid are turning up in fishermen's nets, although mating season doesn't normally start until winter, and Pacific gray whales are just beginning their migration from Alaskan seas to the milder waters of Baja California.

NEW YEAR'S Nature lovers can count down to 1999 in the Santa Monica Mountains with a "Welcome in the New Year Hike" at 8:30 tonight. (310) 479-5717. WINTER CAMELLIAS The Orange County Camellia Society meets 7 to 9 p.m., Monday at 10 Calle Cabrillo, Foothill Ranch. Call Marty Hammond at (949) 830-3478. VOLUNTEER Docents are needed to lead tours of the Orange County Natural History Museum in Laguna Niguel. Minimum age is 18. (949) 487-9155.

1:30pm Nature Walk off holiday goodies at the Cabrillo Marine Aquarium's tide pool walk. Visitors can see a slide show in the aquarium auditorium, then search for sea urchins, hermit crabs and anemones at the Point Fermin Marine Life Refuge. * Tide pool walk, Cabrillo Marine Aquarium, 3720 Stephen White Drive, San Pedro. 1:30-3 p.m. $1; beach parking, $5.50. Groups of 10 or more, call for reservations. (310) 548-7562.

NEW YEAR'S Nature lovers can count down to 1999 in the Santa Monica Mountains with a "Welcome in the New Year Hike" at 8:30 tonight. (310) 479-5717. WINTER CAMELLIAS The Orange County Camellia Society meets 7 to 9 p.m., Monday at 10 Calle Cabrillo, Foothill Ranch. Call Marty Hammond at (949) 830-3478. VOLUNTEER Docents are needed to lead tours of the Orange County Natural History Museum in Laguna Niguel. Minimum age is 18. (949) 487-9155.

It's San Pedro's own underwater wild kingdom, and now Mutual of Omaha insurance is giving Cabrillo Marine Aquarium $2,500 to help preserve it. The money will be used to upgrade the aquarium's water-monitoring equipment, which will allow researchers and student volunteers to keep a better eye on life in the area's kelp forests and tide pools.

"Ishi," the last survivor of the massacred Yahi Indian tribe, who emerged from the Northern California wilderness in 1911 and became a living museum exhibit, is the subject of a thoughtful new drama for youth at the Victory Theatre. Although not the seamless mix of education and entertainment it tries to be, the show, incorporating masks, Yahi melodies and dance, has a humorous spark and is sensitively staged by playwright Abraham Tetenbaum.

"OK, Mr. Crab," Michael Piastuki warns the elusive animal sitting on the rock just below the surface, "I'm serious." The 7-year-old stands on the Cabrillo Beach dock as he lowers a bamboo fishing pole--about the width of a pencil and the length of a yardstick--into the water. His hook--a twisted paper clip--is baited with a piece of squid. As fast as Mr.