Huck Finn Day

We don’t know about you, but the city of Los Angeles reminds us a lot of Hannibal, Mo. Both have rivers. Sure, sure, we agree that the concrete sluice Los Angeles calls a river doesn’t stack up with Big Muddy. And in Los Angeles, sadly, there’s not a lot of opportunity for the young’uns to jump on a raft and go sailing down a river like the Mississippi toward adventure and learning, the way Mark Twain had Huckleberry Finn and his friend Jim do back in the late 1800s. (We hear some parents sighing with relief). What they can do is head on out to the annual Huck Finn Day, which will be held Saturday from 7:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Santa Monica’s Douglas Park, 25th Street and Wilshire Boulevard. The event, sponsored by the Santa Monica Jaycees, is a fishing derby where the kids can catch their own trout. Poles, bait, hooks and fish will be provided, and the kids--in true Hannibal style--can dress up like Becky Thatcher or the Huck himself. Trophies will be awarded for best costumes and biggest fish. The activity is open to small fry between the ages of 3 and 12, and a parent or guardian is required for each child. For information, call (213) 301-9033. We’ll just sit here in the shade, with our corncob pipe, and rest a while.