Three-day forecast

EVENT

Give peace a chance at New Year’s Eve party

The Good Riddance 2002 New Year’s Eve Peace Party, sponsored by the L.A. Alliance for Survival and emceed by peace activist Jerry Rubin, features comedy with David Zasloff, Doug Ferrari, Denise Munro Robb and Bill Bronner; “Singer-SongFighter” Ross Altman; performance artist Linda Albertano; and music and dancing with the Gary Gordon Band. Rounding out the evening will be a New Year’s Resolution Contest, buffet dinner, champagne, a Midnight Peace Ceremony and guest speakers.

The Good Riddance 2002 New Year’s Eve Peace Party, Church in Ocean Park, 235 Hill St., Santa Monica. Tuesday only, 7 p.m. $20.03-$30.03. (310) 399-1000.

MUSEUM

Give suiseki a chance

It is rumored that viewing Japanese suiseki, or “viewing stones,” can lift the spirit, stimulate the mind and purify the soul. Not a bad way to start the new year. It beats joining a gym. The Huntington hosts a six-day exhibition of suiseki stones -- meaning stones that have been sculpted by the elements over many years. These water and wind-carved rocks on view may or may not resemble familiar forms such as mountains, waterfalls, islands and animals. See for yourself when the exhibition opens tomorrow.

Suiseki stones, Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens, 1151 Oxford Road, San Marino. Friday-next Thursday, 10:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Closed New Year’s Day. $4-$10. (626) 405-2100.

MOVIES

‘Pianist’ is latest from Polanski

After performing the last live music heard over Polish radio before the Nazi artillery struck, composer Wladyslaw Szpilman remained in the Warsaw ghetto throughout the occupation, surviving even when separated from those he loved. Adrien Brody plays Szpilman in “The Pianist,” Roman Polanski’s drama based on the musician’s autobiography. Thomas Kretschmann, Frank Finlay and Maureen Lipman co-star.

“The Pianist,” rated R for violence and brief strong language, opens Friday in selected theaters.

POP MUSIC

Grooving on Flower

As if the trendy Standard Hotel were spreading its rule northward into the streets, the stretch of Flower Street between Fifth and Sixth will be packed on New Year’s Eve with upwards of 7,000 gyrating aficionados of electronic music and the dancing life. Giant Village, which last year brought the beats to the L.A. Coliseum, is setting up shop with two stages for sets from, among others, the Crystal Method, Jason Bentley, Mark Farina, Paul Van Dyk, Danny Howells and Tall Paul.

Giant Village 2003, 500 block of Flower Street, L.A. 7 p.m. $75. Info: www.giantclub.com.

MOVIES

‘Hours’ with the ladies

Time is not on the side of the women of “The Hours,” it is the enemy. Through the writing of Virginia Woolf (Nicole Kidman), director Stephen Daldry’s multilayered film links the author to a reader (Julianne Moore) in post-World War II Los Angeles, and a contemporary “Mrs. Dalloway” (Meryl Streep) living on the brink in New York City. Playwright David Hare adapted the Michael Cunningham novel. Ed Harris, Toni Collette, Allison Janney, Stephen Dillane, John C. Reilly, Miranda Richardson, Jeff Daniels and Claire Danes also star.

“The Hours,” rated PG-13 for mature thematic elements, some disturbing images and brief language, opens Friday in selected theaters.

JAZZ

The singer, the songs

Jazz singer Karrin Allyson was Grammy-nominated earlier this year for her CD “Ballads -- Remembering John Coltrane.” She didn’t win the statuette, but the nomination has vaulted her to the top ranks of her genre. Now, she’s in

town promoting her

new CD, “In Blue,” her

jazzy take on a collection of blues and blues-related tunes. Starting tonight, she’s performing at

the Catalina Bar & Grill, continuing through New Year’s Eve.

Karrin Allyson, Catalina Bar & Grill, 1640 N. Cahuenga Blvd., Hollywood. Today-Saturday, 8:30 and10:30 p.m.; Sunday, 7:30 and 9:30 p.m.; Monday, 8 p.m.; New Year’s Eve, 7:30 p.m. Thursday to Monday, $20-$25; New Year’s Eve, $65-$135. (323) 466-2210.

THEATER

Aleichem evening

Santa Monica Playhouse jump-starts its New Year’s Eve celebration with a three-night sneak preview of “Because of You -- the Lives and Loves of Sholom Aleichem,” a new musical by Evelyn Rudie and Chris DeCarlo based on the life of the legendary Yiddish writer and playwright. The show includes a buffet supper, champagne and more.

“Because of You -- the Lives and Loves of Sholom Aleichem,” Santa Monica Playhouse, 1211 4th St., Santa Monica. Saturday, 7 p.m.; Sunday, 6 p.m.; Tuesday, 6:30 and 9:30 p.m.; ends Tuesday. $25.50-$47.50. (310) 394-9779, Ext 1.

THEATER

Here’s the pitch

A veteran Little League coach thinks winning is the point, not fun and games. His new assistant, the dad of one of the team’s less gifted players, insists that it’s not whether you win or lose, but whether you have a good time playing. That’s the setup for “Rounding Third,” which writer Richard Dresser based on some of his own experiences coaching kids’ baseball. With it, Dresser continues his batting streak at Laguna Playhouse, which has produced three of his comedies -- “Gun-Shy” and “Wonderful World” were the others -- in just over 2 1/2 years.

“Rounding Third,” Laguna Playhouse, 606 Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna Beach. Previews Wednesday and Jan. 2 at 2 and 8 p.m., Jan. 3 at 8 p.m. Opens Jan. 4. Regular performances Tuesdays-Fridays, 8 p.m., Saturdays, 2 and 8 p.m., and Sundays, 2 and 7 p.m. Ends Feb. 2. $27-$49. (949) 497-2787.

POP MUSIC

Jane’s says happy 2003

Older and wiser, the members of Jane’s Addiction might have a better handle on their demons than they did when the band arose from the L.A. underground with its amazing amalgam of mystery and hedonism, but the core unit of Perry Farrell, Dave Navarro and Stephen Perkins, with new bassist Chris Chaney, still knows how to tap the old Dionysian well, as they’ve shown in their periodic reunions, making them a prime attraction on New Year’s Eve.

Jane’s Addiction, Tuesday at the Wiltern, 3790 Wilshire Blvd., L.A., 10 p.m. Sold out. (213) 380-5005.