Laser Light Show

MOVIES In lieu of the French duo Daft Punk playing live during "Tron: Legacy" with a 100-piece orchestra, Hollywood's legendary El Capitan Theatre will give us the next best thing: a laser light show before each screening. OK, so it's not vocoders or spacesuits from the band that scored the Jeff Bridges vehicle, but we have a feeling that lasers shooting around the theater will delight even the most steely of robot hearts. To further entice your electronic soul: One person will win a pair of tickets to Disney California Adventure Park before every showing.

FAMILY Elephants of Asia The animal habitat is finally open, featuring three pachyderm transplants from the San Diego Zoo: Tina, Jewel and 25-year-old Billy. The six-acre exhibit features bathing pools, sandy hills and varied topography, all devoted to exploring the connection between elephants and the cultures of Thailand, India, China and Cambodia. L.A. Zoo, 5333 Zoo Drive, Griffith Park. Open daily 10 a.m.-5 p.m. except Dec. 25. Adults, $14; seniors, $11; children 2-12, $9; children younger than 2, free.

"Symphony of the Stars," laser light shows for children set to the music of Broadway show tunes and classic movies, will be at 1 and 3 p.m. Sunday at the Curtis Theater, 1 Civic Center Circle. The show pairs digital images and lasers with familiar songs from "Phantom of the Opera," "The Lion King," "The Wizard of Oz" and other popular shows. Tickets are $6 each. Information: (714) 990-7722.

FAMILY Las Posadas The merchants of Olvera Street in downtown L.A. commemorate the nine nights leading up to Christmas with Las Posadas, a reenactment of Mary and Joseph's journey into Bethlehem to find shelter. The annual tradition features a procession, hymns sung in Spanish and English, entertainment, the breaking of a piñata, and complimentary pan dulce and hot chocolate. Avila Adobe, 10 Olvera St., L.A. Activities begin at 6 p.m., procession at 7 p.m. Ends Dec. 24. Free.

The city of Los Angeles Board of Recreation and Parks Commissioners on Monday unanimously approved a 50-cent increase in ticket prices for admission to the laser light show at the Griffith Park Observatory. Under the new prices, adults will pay $6.50, while admission for children and adults over 50 years of age will be $5.50. The new prices go into effect Sept. 1. Laser Images Inc., the operator of the computerized light show that is set to music, requested the price increase.

FOR better or for worse, downtown's Caltrans Building seems married to Hollywood. Even before employees moved into the Thom Mayne-designed structure at 1st and Main streets in fall 2004, a disparaging Times letter writer dubbed the 716,200-square-foot edifice the "Death Star," a reference to an enemy space station in the "Star Wars" films. And for sheer size, it redefines the term "blockbuster."

9pm Pop Music The Lone Star State's always unpredictable Butthole Surfers are headed forward into the past for a rare L.A.-area appearance. Ditching the elaborate light show and films that usually accompany its performances, the band is stripping things down and focusing on its early punk songs at a show tonight at the Viper Room. Butthole Surfers, Viper Room, 8852 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood. With Thelonious Monster, the Extreme Elvis. 9 p.m. $15. (310) 358-1880.

FAMILY Las Posadas The merchants of Olvera Street in downtown L.A. commemorate the nine nights leading up to Christmas with Las Posadas, a reenactment of Mary and Joseph's journey into Bethlehem to find shelter. The annual tradition features a procession, hymns sung in Spanish and English, entertainment, the breaking of a piñata, and complimentary pan dulce and hot chocolate. Avila Adobe, 10 Olvera St., L.A. Activities begin at 6 p.m., procession at 7 p.m. Ends Dec. 24. Free.

SANTA BARBARA: Step back a few centuries at the Renaissance Festival, when Live Oak Camp, off California 154 at Lake Cachuma, substitutes for the 16th century English town of Coventry. Queen Elizabeth I and her court will be among 1,000 costumed performers, including Irish step dancers, madrigal singers, soldiers re-creating battles and Lady Godiva on horseback. $7, $5 children 5-12, under 5 free. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday and Sept. 14. (805) 682-0310.

Events ranging from a children's parade to a laser light show will accompany the traditional dazzle of fireworks displays across Ventura County this weekend as residents celebrate the nation's 217th year of independence. Fireworks shows will illuminate Sunday night skies in Simi Valley, Thousand Oaks, Camarillo, Fillmore, Oxnard and Santa Paula.

MOVIES In lieu of the French duo Daft Punk playing live during "Tron: Legacy" with a 100-piece orchestra, Hollywood's legendary El Capitan Theatre will give us the next best thing: a laser light show before each screening. OK, so it's not vocoders or spacesuits from the band that scored the Jeff Bridges vehicle, but we have a feeling that lasers shooting around the theater will delight even the most steely of robot hearts. To further entice your electronic soul: One person will win a pair of tickets to Disney California Adventure Park before every showing.

Not all Los Angeles Film Festival activities involve watching movies. Here are some of the festival's more offbeat highlights: * Party! "The Transformers" premieres in multiple theaters in Westwood Village on Wednesday, followed by an outdoor block party. Tickets, $25. * Show up and sing. One of the most popular episodes of Joss Whedon's cult favorite show, "Buffy: The Vampire Slayer," was a musical episode titled "Once More With Feeling."

FOR better or for worse, downtown's Caltrans Building seems married to Hollywood. Even before employees moved into the Thom Mayne-designed structure at 1st and Main streets in fall 2004, a disparaging Times letter writer dubbed the 716,200-square-foot edifice the "Death Star," a reference to an enemy space station in the "Star Wars" films. And for sheer size, it redefines the term "blockbuster."

How the night stays young Las Palmas was the site of some wee-hours revelry Monday, when such bands as Sum 41 and Pennywise decided to have a last-minute post-KROQ Almost Acoustic Christmas bash. Las Palmas owner Loyal Pennings was awakened by a 2:45 a.m. phone call from Pennywise drummer Byron McMackin, who told him various post-show bands were getting kicked out of their hotel rooms at the Renaissance Hotel in Hollywood and needed a place to party down. Sure enough, by 3 a.m.

9pm Pop Music The Lone Star State's always unpredictable Butthole Surfers are headed forward into the past for a rare L.A.-area appearance. Ditching the elaborate light show and films that usually accompany its performances, the band is stripping things down and focusing on its early punk songs at a show tonight at the Viper Room. Butthole Surfers, Viper Room, 8852 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood. With Thelonious Monster, the Extreme Elvis. 9 p.m. $15. (310) 358-1880.

Ahideous backup of cars jamming the road to Griffith Park usually signifies a sold-out show at the Greek Theatre, but on this particular Saturday night, the draw is higher up the hill. It's the final performance of Laserium, the music-accompanied laser light show phenomenon that began here at the Observatory 28 years ago. And while the astronomy-teaching function of this grand 1935 structure is scheduled to return in 2005 after a multimillion-dollar renovation, Laserium will not.

Ahideous backup of cars jamming the road to Griffith Park usually signifies a sold-out show at the Greek Theatre, but on this particular Saturday night, the draw is higher up the hill. It's the final performance of Laserium, the music-accompanied laser light show phenomenon that began here at the Observatory 28 years ago. And while the astronomy-teaching function of this grand 1935 structure is scheduled to return in 2005 after a multimillion-dollar renovation, Laserium will not.

Not all Los Angeles Film Festival activities involve watching movies. Here are some of the festival's more offbeat highlights: * Party! "The Transformers" premieres in multiple theaters in Westwood Village on Wednesday, followed by an outdoor block party. Tickets, $25. * Show up and sing. One of the most popular episodes of Joss Whedon's cult favorite show, "Buffy: The Vampire Slayer," was a musical episode titled "Once More With Feeling."

SANTA BARBARA: Step back a few centuries at the Renaissance Festival, when Live Oak Camp, off California 154 at Lake Cachuma, substitutes for the 16th century English town of Coventry. Queen Elizabeth I and her court will be among 1,000 costumed performers, including Irish step dancers, madrigal singers, soldiers re-creating battles and Lady Godiva on horseback. $7, $5 children 5-12, under 5 free. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday and Sept. 14. (805) 682-0310.

"Symphony of the Stars," laser light shows for children set to the music of Broadway show tunes and classic movies, will be at 1 and 3 p.m. Sunday at the Curtis Theater, 1 Civic Center Circle. The show pairs digital images and lasers with familiar songs from "Phantom of the Opera," "The Lion King," "The Wizard of Oz" and other popular shows. Tickets are $6 each. Information: (714) 990-7722.