BEST BETS Saturday 5/5

LAGUNA BEACH

1pm

Lecture

Vicki Tales of Laguna Beach, diagnosed with breast cancer in 1994, “realized that I might not have a lot of time left” and decided to do something with it. What resulted was a passion for photography and a desire to protect seals and sea lions. Her lecture at the Friends of the Sea Lion center in Laguna Canyon details her winter trip to the ice floes off Canada’s east coast to photograph the birth of harp seals. The exhibit of her photographs, also at the center, continues daily through May 12.

* Harp-seal lecture, Friends of the Sea Lion Marine Mammal Center, 20612 Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna Beach. 1 p.m. $5 donation. Reservations: (949) 494-3050. Exhibit at same location daily, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. through May 12. Free.

FULLERTON

All day

Family

Model trains will choo-choo this weekend at the Fullerton Railroad Days 2001 celebration at the train depot in Fullerton. More than 10,000 square feet of operating model trains of all gauges will be featured, including the 3751 Santa Fe, 100-foot steam engine, two privately restored vintage railroad cars, diesel engines and two new Amtrak Surfliner cars. Live demonstrations, vendors, food and drink booths are part of the festivities.

* Fullerton Railroad Days 2001, Metrolink Station at the Fullerton Santa Fe Depot, 124 E. Santa Fe Ave., Fullerton. Saturday, 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Also Sunday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Free. (714) 278-0648.