(1,2,3) Broadway Legend Barbara Cook performs American songbook classics during  Eli and Edythe Broad Stage's  Inaugural Gala on Saturday, September 20, 2008. 4,5) String Theory court dancers perform during the Inaugural Gala. 6) Actor Dustin Hoffman welcomes guest during the Gala. The Eli and Edythe Broad Stage was built at a cost of $45 million, financed with a $35 million bond measure passed by the cities of Santa Monica and Malibu in 2004; $5 million from other government agencies and from private donors; and a bond measure for Santa Monica College improvements passed in 2002.

Enock Cuxeva, 26, from ElectricCustomCars.com, sands the fiberglass body of the Lola-EV Highway speed custom built prototype on Wednesday, September 17, 2008, at its Pico Blvd. garage. The Lola-EV is an eclectic vehicle that can drive 70 miles per hour with a 100 mile range and  will be debut at the AltCar Expo next week at the Santa Monica Civic.  AltCar Expo, One of Nation’s Largest Displays of Alternative Fuel Vehicles, will showcase more than 100 alt-fuel and ultra-efficient vehicles including zero-emission electric cars and trucks, hybrids, Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicles rated in excess of 100 miles per gallon, and those running on hydrogen fuel cells, natural gas, propane, biodiesel and ethanol. Scooters, Segways, electric motorcycles, bicycles and more will also be on hand. Low-speed and freeway-capable vehicles will be available for public “ride-and-drives” and for immediate purchase. AltCar Expo is known for its uncommon mix of vehicles by major auto manufacturers and smaller companies. Its seminar speakers, addressing the latest global transportation and energy trends, will include industry executives, grass roots advocates and nationally recognized experts in public policy, mass transit, sustainability, engineering and automotive technology. Attendees will learn when they can expect to purchase the hottest eco-friendly vehicles in development and about mass transit options, charging infrastructure, new battery technologies, maximizing gas mileage and other issues. The expo's purpose is to give consumers the chance to test drive alt-fuel cars, many of which will be for sale on site, and find out about earning tax credits by going green.  The two-day expo will be held for the third consecutive year in Santa Monica, CA, on Sept. 26 & 27.

(Right to Left) Actor Martin Sheen , Actor Mark Ruffalo  and Academy Award-winning director Paul Haggis, sit in a life-size Guantanamo prison cell replica at the Third Street Promenade on Thursday, September 18, 2008 during Los Angeles–Amnesty International USA (AIUSA) press conference calling on the Bush administration to shut down Guantanamo Bay Detention Facility. The cell is a replica of a Camp 5 cell. It brings to life the harsh realities of illegal detention to concerned citizens and highlights the human rights violations that Guantanamo symbolizes. The cell includes a steel toilet, florescent lights and a sliding metal door. Detainees reported being held in isolation in similar cells for as long as 23 hours daily. The Guantanamo prison cell replica will be at the Third Street Promenade through Saturday, Sept. 20.

Artist John Cornejo, 19, (top) and Franky Vasquez, 19, (center) paint a mural titled, 'Hanuman' on Sunset Avenue in Venice on Friday, September 13, 2008. The Mural of Hanuman - The Monkey God, was inspired by Santa Monica Ploce Officer and Yoga instructor Erik Milosovich. This Monkey-like God is a central character in one of the most revered books of the ancient Vedic literature of India. In the story of the Ramayana, Hanuman becomes a supernatural hero and uses his powers to battle evil armies of the demonic Ravana. In a classic drama of good versus evil, Hanuman acts not only as a hero but is always empowered by unselfish service and love towards all beings. And It is in the spirit of service that officer Milosovich has been volunteering to work with local youth to promote service to the community. Through film classes, martial arts training, and Yoga he has lured local youth to turn away from at-risk behavior and channel their talents into art. The air brush and spray paint mural can be viewed at Sunset Av. and Rose Av. , east of Lincoln Blvd. in Venice 90291.