GOINGS ON

Two art exhibits will be opening today at the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History, and if you like animals, you’ll probably be interested in both of them.

“Animalia Personalities,” a collection of animal engravings from the 1800s, and some 18th-Century primate portraits, will be on display in the museum’s Maximus Gallery. The engravings, published as the “Atlas de Zoologie” in 1846, are based on mammal specimens collected on a French expedition to the West Coast.

The second display, “Images of Africa,” is a compilation of work by Zimbabwe-born artist Lindsay B. Scott. Her paintings and drawings, which will be shown in the Museum Gallery, provide glimpses of the wildlife, the environment, and the people of Africa.

Both exhibits will be on display through Jan. 9. The museum is located at 2559 Puesta del Sol Road. It is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sundays and holidays. For more information call 682-4711.

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Musicians, thespians, clowns, and other entertainers will line the sidewalks of State Street between Figueroa and Sola streets, at tonight’s Downtown Street Faire. Merchants, crafts vendors, and the weekly Farmers’ Market will add to the festivities. Activities will run from 5 to 8 p.m. For more information call 962-2098.

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Celebrate the Labor Day weekend with a festive tribute to composer George Gershwin, as the Santa Barbara Symphony plays some of his most popular tunes Sunday at the Santa Barbara County Bowl.

Under the direction of guest conductor Newton Wayland, the program will feature Gershwin’s “Rhapsody in Blue,” a symphonic arrangement from “Porgy and Bess,” the overture to “Strike Up the Band,” and “Swanee.” Pianist Lincoln Mayorga and soprano soloist Pamela Brooks will be the featured performers.

The “Gershwin Under the Stars” concert will begin at 7:30 p.m. The Bowl is located at 1122 N. Milpas St. Tickets are $10, $15, $25, and $35. They are available at the Bowl or by calling the Arlington Ticket Agency at 963-4408.

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For those traveling north of Santa Barbara, but still in a symphonic frame of mind, the San Luis Obispo County Symphony will present “Pops by the Sea” Sunday at the San Luis Bay Resort in Avila Beach. The program will include Saint-Saens’ “Introduction and Rondo Capricciosa for Violin and Orchestra,” Copland’s “A Lincoln Portrait,” Rimsky-Korsakov’s “Procession of Nobles,” and an eclectic list of other tunes that travels from the Beatles to Broadway. Tickets are $10 (lawn seating) and $16 (reserved, cocktail table seating). Call 543-3533.

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“All About Eve,” starring Bette Davis as an aging stage actress, will be shown Sunday at 11 a.m., in this week’s installment of the “Encore Collection” at Santa Barbara’s Riviera Theatre. The 1950 film, which also features Marilyn Monroe, won six Academy Awards including Best Picture, Best Director (Joseph L. Mankiewicz), Best Supporting Actor (George Sanders) and Best Screenplay.