The tale of a young mixed couple with blood-lust problems has been a smash in novel form, and now director Catherine Hardwicke is bringing it to the screen.

There's a serious purpose behind his seemingly farcical 'The Islands of LA Nat'l Park' campaign. He wants people to discuss uses of public spaces.

Scarlett Johansson joins the latest group of actors in taking on musical projects armed with plenty of attitude, if not always vocal chops.

The veteran actress plays a 91-year-old survivor in the play.

The renowned 'orchestra of voices' is taking its dozen male singers on the road -- the state's historic Camino Real that links the mission sites.

Position No. 6002: White to play and win. From the game Pontus Carlsson-Valeri Lilov, European Championship, Plovdiv 2008.

MARC CHERRY, the creator of "Desperate Housewives," was doing the first cut of the two-hour May 18 season finale on Monday. "They always start out dreadfully and I hate everything. A couple days later I start to like them," he said.

Hip-hop moves meld with the understated style of anime.

Previews by Ann Powers (A.P.), Richard Cromelin (R.C.), Casey Dolan (C.D.), Randy Lewis (R.L.) and Don Heckman (D.H.).

Pop & Jazz

Brett Dennen Dennen's voice, incongruous with his Dennis the Menace looks, sounds like Paul Simon with nodes but warmly lingers in the mind. And as a lyricist who is mindful of the scansion of a line, Dennen respects language. (C.D.) Barnum Hall Theater, Santa Monica High School, 601 Pico Blvd., Santa Monica. Tue.-Wed., 7:30 p.m. $25-$29.50. (310) 458-5939.

Website www.librarything.com posts titles from the book collections of the rich and famous.

Reviews by Christopher Knight (C.K.) and Holly Myers (H.M.). Compiled by Grace Krilanovich.

Critics' Choices

Kara Walker: My Complement, My Enemy, My Oppressor, My Love Walker's cheerfully ferocious subject is black experience in a proud nation whose prosperity and might were substantially built on the degrading legacy of black slavery. The first room features a 50-foot-wide diorama in which silhouette figures attached to the curved wall are slightly larger than life-size. The refined, formal elegance of the artist's debonair design sense is put to the rudest ends (C.K.). Hammer Museum, 10899 Wilshire Blvd., Westwood. Tue.-Wed., Fri.-Sat., 11 a.m.-7 p.m.; Thu., 11 a.m.-9 p.m.; Sun., 11 a.m.-5 p.m.; closed Mon.; ends June 8. (310) 443-7000.

Starring Zach Braff, Sarah Chalke and John C. McGinley, it appears the show will go on.

David Bowie, Lou Reed, Debbie Harry are captured in classic portraits.

The French director released the film under a pseudonym to keep the focus on the work, not on him.

Compiled byJames E. Fowler. Pasadena Showcase House of Design A 1922 Spanish Colonial Revival style estate with more than 10,000 square feet has been renovated by leading interior and exterior designers. No children younger than 12 allowed. Not handicapped accessible. See www.pasadenashowcase.org for complete schedule. Free parking and shuttle are available from Rose Bowl Aquatic Center, 360 Arroyo Blvd., Pasadena. Tue.-next Sun. (626) 578-8500.

The director and star Harrison Ford made blockbuster movies what they are today

TV THIS WEEK

Kid Stuff

Compiled by Grace Krilanovich.

THE NEWS that Amy Winehouse would not, in all likelihood, be recording the theme song for the upcoming James Bond film was disappointing in that it again turned the focus away from the British singer's music and onto her personal life.

Aries (March 21-April 19): Getting to know new people is easy when you have something in common, and even easier when you don't. Today you're good at asking the one question that gets someone talking.

When designing the drivers' outfits, she balanced tradition and modernity. But mostly, she didn't want them to look like eggheads.

Randy Newman's "I Love L.A." | 1983

The betting of a hand and the cards that hit the board might tell you one thing, but your instincts might tell you another, and a lot of the top players go with their gut. It is what allows a pro such as Brad Booth to call down an opponent's big bet with only a king-high.

FOREST FORAGING: 'Nature' (8 p.m. KCET) goes in search of red deer and other animals in the Austrian Alps.

Reviews by Holly Myers (H.M.), David Pagel (D.P.) and Leah Ollman (L.O.). Compiled by Grace Krilanovich.

Openings

Dan Nadaner: Recent Work LA Artcore Center at Union Center for the Arts, 120 Judge John Aiso St., L.A. Opens today. Wed.-Sun., noon-5 p.m.; ends June 4. (213) 617-3274.

IHAD the misfortune of taking the time to see Sly Stone at the House of Blues on the Sunset Strip Saturday night (April 26), or should I say Sunday morning ["Sly," April 20]. The show was scheduled to begin at 11 p.m., but Sly didn't show his face until nearly two hours later! And that was after the crowd became restless and began to grumble and boo.

"Maniac Magee"

Classical

Compiled by Sari Heifetz. Los Angeles Philharmonic Esa-Pekka Salonen conducts the orchestra in Hindesmith's "Mathis der Maler Symphony" and Mahler's "Das Lied von der Erde." Featuring mezzo-soprano Lilli Paasikivi and tenor Anthony Dean Griffey. Walt Disney Concert Hall, 111 S. Grand Ave., L.A. Today, 2 p.m. $40-$142. (323) 850-2000.

Just how cozy with the cameras are they?

Heidi and Spencer love the cameras, both on "The Hills" and on the streets. But do they profit from paparazzi pix? Have they struck a deal with an agency, an allegation Perez Hilton has leveled against them? "I wish!" Spencer said. Pacific Coast News, the agency that snaps the most pictures of the couple, didn't return calls -- but we asked our panel to weigh in on the question.

Tribal artists use storytelling techniques borrowed from Marvel and other comics.

You will talk about: Death Cab for Cutie's new album, "Narrow Stairs," which Rolling Stone dubbed "strangely compelling" and MTV pronounced "unquestionably the best thing that the group has ever done." Expect to see more love for Jack Kerouac and even darker shades to the group's signature melancholy. (Tuesday)

Dear Amy: I have a great mom and a great stepmom, both of whom had a hand in raising me.

'All You Need Is Love' and 'Mad Money' also are coming into stores.

FRANKIE VALLI is a phenomenal singer and performer ["Their Hit Parade," May 4]. He's also hilarious. I was deeply honored when, as my career was just beginning, Frankie wanted to record two of my songs, co-written with Jerry Corbetta, "One of Those Days/One of Those Nights" and "If It Really Wasn't Love."

'Chanticleer Travels the Mission Road'

Where: Mission San Luis Obispo

For the record

The Kids Reading Room is holding an art contest for children ages 6 to 12 to illustrate our Aug. 17 story. Send artwork showing pink and blue butterflies and one black butterfly. See "How to Write to Us," below left. First prize is publication in The Times and a $50 gift card to Borders bookstores, which host story readings for children. Submissions must be received by June 22.

'Red Dog Howls'

Where: El Portal Theatre,

What kind of money is used in space?

'Pippin'

Where: David Henry Hwang Theater, 120 Judge John Aiso St., L.A.