Datebook

OCT. 31

Goblins in the Garden:

The Los Angeles County Arboretum & Botanic Garden hosts nature-related art and craft projects, storytelling, games, music, face painting and more. Surprises for children 10 and younger dressed in costume. 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. $10 per child plus regular arboretum admission of $3 to $8. 301 N. Baldwin Ave., Arcadia. (626) 821-3222; www.arboretum.org.

NOV. 4

Neurath show:

"Otto Neurath: Gypsy Urbanism," the first exhibition of works by the early 20th century Austrian designer-philosopher-urbanist in the United States, opens at the MAK Center for Art and Architecture. 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesdays through Sundays, through Jan. 31. $7; on Nov. 7, admission will be free from noon to 5 p.m. 835 N. Kings Road, West Hollywood. (323) 651-1510; www.makcenter.org.

NOV. 5

Garden fundamentals:

The Thursday Garden Talks With Lili Singer series continues with "Gardening in the Shadow." Singer will share common and unusual shade-loving plants and discuss watering, pest management and other practices. 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. $20. Los Angeles County Arboretum & Botanic Garden, 301 N. Baldwin Ave., Arcadia. Registration: (626) 821-4623; www.arboretum.org.

Dreamscape installation:

L.A. Mart Design Center and Look Gallery showroom opens installations by designers Jaime Rummerfield, Steven Pappas and Franklin Studios, among others. Through Dec. 3. 1933 S. Broadway, Space 111, Los Angeles. (213) 748-1113; www.lamartdesign.com.

Alma Allen:

Heath Ceramics hosts an opening reception for a show of sculpture, salvaged-wood furniture and ironwood bowls by designer Alma Allen. Also presented: a limited-edition series of hand-thrown lidded canisters created by Heath Ceramics, the design firm Commune and Allen. 5 to 8 p.m. 7525 Beverly Blvd., Los Angeles. (323) 965-0800, www.allenpearce.com; www.heathceramics.com/go/heath/los-angeles

Design lecture:

Architect Richard Landry, AIA, will discuss the role of design and discuss some of Landry Design Group's local and international projects. 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Pacific Design Center, Blue Conference Room (B259), 8687 Melrose Ave., West Hollywood, CA. Free. www.pacificdesigncenter.com.

NOV. 6

Crafts market:

The Contemporary Crafts Market's 24th season will feature distinctive works by more than 250 artists, including glassware, ceramics, hand-painted textiles and custom furniture. 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday through Nov. 8. Santa Monica Civic Auditorium, 1855 Main St., Santa Monica. $8. (310) 285-3655 or visit www.craftsource.org.

NOV. 7

Handmade books:

Jeannine Stein will speak on her book "Re-Bound: Creating Handmade Books From Recycled and Repurposed Materials," whose projects including making a notebook with a potato chip bag and turning a hot water bottle into a journal. Stein, a Times staff writer, will demonstrate how to make a planner using a file folder. 2 p.m. Free. Barnes & Noble, 1201 3rd St., Santa Monica. (310) 260-9110; www.jeanninestein.typepad.com.

Basketry:

"The Art of Native American Basketry" opens in conjunction with "The California Native Basketry Landscape," an outdoor exhibition of native plants important to the practice of basket weaving and the ecology of California. The opening weekend will include the Intertribal Arts Marketplace Nov. 7 and 8, featuring artisans from around the country, music and dance. Museum admission is $3 to $9. Autry National Center for the American West, 4700 Western Heritage Way, Griffith Park. (323) 667-2000 www.autrynationalcenter.org.

Propagation class:

Louise Gonzalez and Brendan Galipeau will illustrate the basics of native plant propagation in this hands-on session. 9 a.m. to noon. $35 to $45. Theodore Payne Foundation for Wildflowers and Native Plants, 10459 Tuxford St., Sun Valley. (818) 768-1802; www.theodorepayne.org.

Japanese gardens:

Festival celebrates Japanese arts, crafts and culture with an ikebana display, chrysanthemum show and sale and a taiko drum performance. Festival runs 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Nov. 7 and 8. Taiko performance at 1 p.m. Nov. 7. Included in regular admission of $3 to $8. Descanso Gardens, 1418 Descanso Drive, La Cañada Flintridge. (818) 949-4200; www.descansogardens.org.

Cactus show:

The San Gabriel Valley Cactus & Succulent Society presents its 16th annual Winter Show & Sale. 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Nov. 7 and 8. Included in regular admission of $3 to $8. Los Angeles County Arboretum, 301 N. Baldwin Ave., Arcadia. (323) 423-4034; www.arboretum.org.

Seed exchange:

The Los Angeles Seed Exchange hosts the workshop "Collecting for the Future: Saving Seeds." Participants will learn when, where and how to collect seeds and how to join a network of community gardeners dedicated to sharing and preserving local seeds. $10 suggested donation. 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. Darling's Flowers and Nursery, 1217 W. Temple St., Los Angeles. (213) 481-7100.

Home tour:

The Old Towne Preservation Assn. hosts a self-guided historic tour of five homes and one commercial building in Orange. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Nov. 7 and 8. Tour begins at the Woman's Club of Orange, 121 S. Orange St., where tour booklets will be handed out. $16 in advance; $20 on the day of the event. (714) 639-6840; www.otpa.org.

CONTINUING

Ackermans

:

"Masters of Mid-Century California Modernism -- Evelyn and Jerome Ackerman" includes more than 200 examples of ceramics, tile mosaics, wood carvings, textiles and other crafts from the Culver City couple. Through Jan. 10. $4 to $7. Mingei International Museum, Balboa Park, San Diego. (619) 239-0003; www.mingei.org.

Design House:

Orange County and Los Angeles designers will be featured in Casa California, a design house presented by California Homes Magazine and benefiting the Philharmonic Society of Orange County. Public tours 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesdays through Sundays, through Nov. 8. Extended hours to 9 p.m. on Thursdays. $35. Free parking with complimentary shuttle service from the upper lot of Quail Hill Community Park, 35 Shady Canyon Drive (entrance off Interstate 405 at Shady Canyon exit). For tickets and information: (714) 840-7542 or www.philharmonicsociety.org.

Furniture show:

"Second Life," an exhibition of sustainably designed furniture and objects made by L.A.-based designer William Stranger, features works made from the lanes of a bowling alley. Through Nov. 14. Fifth floor, 502 Chung King Court, Chinatown. (213) 687-8443; www.fifthfloorgallery.com.

McIntosh exhibition:

"Harrison McIntosh: A Timeless Legacy." American Museum of Ceramic Art presents this retrospective on Harrison's beautifully crafted pottery and sculpture. Noon to 5 p.m. Wednesdays through Saturdays, through Jan. 9. $2 to $3. 340 S. Garey Ave., Pomona. (909) 865-3146; www.ceramicmuseum.org.

Neutra tour : Richard and Dion Neutra's VDL Research House II, managed by Cal Poly Pomona's College of Environmental Design, will be open to the public 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays. $10. 2300 Silver Lake Blvd., Los Angeles. www.neutravdl.org .

Spider Pavilion

:

Visitors can get up close with nonvenomous spiders in this outdoor, walk-through exhibit on the Natural History Museum's South Lawn. Reservations are required. Tickets are sold in half-hour intervals throughout the day. $1 to $3. Through Nov. 8. 900 Exposition Blvd., Los Angeles. (213) 763-DINO; www.nhm.org.

-- Lisa Boone Please send listings at least three weeks in advance to home@latimes.comor to the Home section, L.A. Times, 202 W. 1st St., L.A., CA 90012.