7 pm: Concert

Cantor Jonathan Grant isn’t just any old cantor. He’s also an operatic singer. Since joining Temple Bat Yahm five years ago, he’s staged a concert each year. This time around, he’ll share the bill for “To Life! Songs of Celebration” with Tony-winner Nell Carter and Rabbi Jay Levy, who produced and performed on Carter’s “To Life! Songs of Chanukah and Other Jewish Celebrations” recording.

“To Life! Songs of Celebration,” Temple Bat Yahm, 1011 Camelback St., Newport Beach. 7 p.m. $36, reserved seating; $18, general admission; $12, students and seniors. (949) 644-1999.

all day: Pets

Guide Dogs of America presents “Paws-a-tively Fun L.A. Dog Jog and Walk,” a two-mile run and a one-mile walk for people and their dogs. At 10 a.m., following the jog and walk, there will be a festival featuring silly pet tricks; a pet expo; a demonstration of service dogs such as guide dogs, search-and-rescue dogs, and arson dogs; live music; and food and drink for both two- and four-legged attendees.

* “Paws-a-tively Fun L.A. Dog Jog and Walk,” Brentwood Village at San Vicente Boulevard and Darlington Avenue, Brentwood. 8 a.m. (jog and walk), 10 a.m. (dog festival). $25 registration fee per dog. (818) 346-1847.

11 am: Music

Pianist Jeffrey Kahane and the five members of the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra Winds play a concert of French music--works by Dutilleux, Saint-Saens, Poulenc and Francaix--opening the summer season at the John Anson Ford Amphitheatre. This concert is also the first of four Sunday Brunch Classics events. The Ford’s outdoor summer season continues, for a total of 38 performances, through Sept. 5.

* The L.A. Chamber Orchestra Winds, with pianist Jeffrey Kahane, John Anson Ford Amphitheatre, 2580 Cahuenga Blvd. E., Hollywood. 11 a.m. $20. (323) 461-3673.

1 pm: Fiction

Susan Lee is the next Los Angeles-based writer to get the full treatment from the New Short Fiction Series, a sort of live literary magazine. Actors Sally Shore, Manny Kleimuntz, Emily Kuroda and Iona Morris will perform four of Lee’s stories that explore the culture--and culture clashes--in contemporary California, including “The Great Wall,” “The Mall,” “The Waiting Room” and “The Audition.”

* New Short Fiction Series, at the Beverly Hills Library, 444 N. Rexford Drive, Beverly Hills. 1 p.m. $5. (310) 288-2201.

2:30 pm: Conversation

It may be hard to tell who interviewed whom when all is said at this Writers Bloc event. But in theory, Julia Sweeney (who wrote the play-turned-film “And God Said Ha!”) will be “in conversation with” Sandra Tsing Loh (who wrote “If You Lived Here You’d Be Home by Now” and reads “The Loh Life” on KCRW-FM (89.9)). In reality, you may laugh too much to care.

* Sandra Tsing Loh and Julia Sweeney at Writers Bloc, at the Writers Guild Theater, 135 S. Doheny Drive, Beverly Hills. 2:30 p.m. $15. (310) 335-0917.

4 pm: Music

The second and final offering of the 1999 Long Beach Opera season is Bela Bartok’s masterpiece “Duke Bluebeard’s Castle,” staged by L.B. Opera veteran Roy Rallo, conducted by Andreas Mitisek and designed by Marsha Ginsberg, with lighting by Geoff Korf. The two-character opera of 1911 will be sung by Kathleen Broderick and Pavlo Hunka.

* “Duke Bluebeard’s Castle,” presented by the Long Beach Opera, Carpenter Center for the Performing Arts, Cal State Long Beach, 6200 Atherton St., 4 p.m. The opera will be repeated June 19 at 8 p.m. $40-$75. (562) 439-2580.

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FREEBIES:

An artist teaches kids how to make paper wall hangings inspired by aboriginal designs, Junior Arts Center, Barndsall Art Park, 4800 Hollywood Blvd., L.A. (213) 485-4474.

26th Annual Student Academy Awards ceremony, Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, 8949 Wilshire Blvd., Beverly Hills. 6 p.m. Reservations required, (310) 247-3000, Ext. 129.