What we’re about
Unplug. Unwind. Connect.
Rediscover the joy of real connection through shared experiences and authentic friendships.
So Cal Explorers Meetup is the antidote to a hyper-digital, disconnected world. We gather for fun, relaxed outings to explore the most iconic, historic, quirky, and lesser-known corners of Southern California—together. Whether it's a walking tour, hike, museum visit, or movie night, our adventures are all about learning, exploring, and enjoying each other's company.
We're not a dating group. We're not a networking group. We're simply a welcoming space for adults to connect, laugh, and build friendships—without pressure, expectations, or hidden agendas.
Our crew is mostly progressive, slightly irreverent 40- to 60-somethings with a love for counter-culture and curiosity. But all open-minded adults (18+) are welcome!
Join us for hiking, historic tours, movies, museum visits, kayaking, presentations, live music, good food, great conversation, and spontaneous fun.
So Cal Explorers is where awkward small talk turns into epic friendships. Come along—we’re saving you a seat.
Upcoming events
6
FREE MOVIE: 24 HOUR PARTY PEOPLE
McCormick Screening Room, Humanities Gateway Bldg #1070, UCI, West Peltason Drive & Mesa Rd, Irvine, CA, USFree event by UCI International Film Club. Very limited seating, so don't dilly-dally!
Date: Wednesday, November 12, 7:00
Possible dinner before TBD
Venue: McCormick Screening Room, UCI
1070 Humanities Gateway
611 Humanities Ct, Irvine, CA 92617
https://share.google/MCLkEgk6chGXBF3otFree, but please RSVP here ( very limited seating, so don't wait!): https://zotspot.uci.edu/illuminations/rsvp_boot?id=1942250
Parking information and contact:
https://www.humanities.uci.edu/filmandmediastudies/mccormick-screening-roomTrailer: https://youtu.be/HFiyEegpKUM?si=dhsUE9oEpz3XTeAI
About:
24 Hour Party People is a mockumentary biopic starring Steve Coogan (The Trip) and Paddy Considine (Game of Thrones) following the punk and post-punk club and music scene of a bleak and deindustrializing Manchester. Based loosely on the story of Joy Division and New Order, this tragicomic take on the Manchester sound reflects Winterbottom’s unique ability to draw laughs out of despair.No City Fun, a 12 minute short with a soundtrack by Joy Division shows Manchester in its gritty beauty will also be screened.
Manchester, 1976. Tony Wilson (Steve Coogan) is an ambitious but frustrated local TV news reporter looking for a way to make his mark. After witnessing a life-changing concert by a band known as the Sex Pistols, he persuades his station to televise one of their performances, and soon Manchester's punk groups are clamoring for him to manage them. Riding the wave of a musical revolution, Wilson and his friends create the legendary Factory Records label and The Hacienda club.
7 attendees
CLASSIC SCI-FI: "FORBIDDEN PLANET" (1956)
The Frida Cinema, 305 E 4th St, Santa Ana, CA, USCross-posted with LA & OC Weirdo Music & Art Forum
Date: Saturday, November 15, 7:00
Venue: Frida Cinema
305 E 4th St #100, Santa Ana, CA 92701
Phone: (714) 285-9422Dinner 5:45 TBD
Tickets: $17.00 https://thefridacinema.org/movies/forbidden-planet/
Rotten Tomatoes gives it a 92% positive rating
Trailer here
Director: Fred M. Wilcox Run Time: 98 min. Release Year: 1956
Starring: Anne Francis, Jack Kelly, Leslie Nielsen, Walter Pidgeon, Warren Stevens
Just added: There will be a bonus special short with an on-screen appearance with Robby the Robot and B9 Lost in Space Robot that will play before the film!
Prepare to journey beyond the stars to Altair IV with the groundbreaking classic Forbidden Planet—newly restored in dazzling Cinemascope! A landmark of visual effects, sound, and imagination, this 1956 classic helped ignite the future of the genre setting a new standard for sci-fi influencing Star Wars, Star Trek and beyond!
Experience the stunning visuals and unforgettable special effects that transformed science fiction and fantasy motion pictures from then on. Whether you’re a sci-fi enthusiast or a newcomer, don’t miss your chance to see this timeless adventure on the big screen–including the legendary screen debut of the iconic Robby the Robot!
"Forbidden Planet" had the first entirely electronic soundtrack by electronic music pioneers Louis and Bebe Barron, who worked with John Cage, Morton Feldman, Pauline Oliveros and others. In 2006 I attended a 50th Anniversary concert, and Bebe Barron was in attendance. Liaten here.
As an added bonus, enjoy a rare screening of 2 George Pal Academy Award-nominated stop-motion animated Puppetoon Classics before the show: Dr. Seuss The 500 Hats of Bartholomew Cubbins and Tubby the Tuba, restored from their original Technicolor negatives by producer/director Arnold Leibovit, who will also be show’s MC for the evening!
This program is a venue rental engagement. The views and opinions expressed in this program do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of The Frida Cinema or its staff.
2 attendees
20TH ANNUAL GREAT LOS ANGELES WALK 2025 - WILSHIRE BLVD.
Pershing Square, 532 S Olive Street Los Angeles, California 90013, Los Angeles, CA, USCROSS-POSTED WITH HUMANIST HIKERS, LA & OC WEIRDO MUSIC & ART FORUM
The Great Los Angeles Walk Turns 20 -- And Returns to Where It All Began, Wilshire Blvd., On Nov. 22, 2025!
Date: Saturday Nov. 22, 2025 at 9:00 AM TO WHENEVER THE HECK YOU FINISH!
Join us for the 20th edition of the GLAW, and the 5th one with SCE! It's a different route every year.
Starting Location: Pershing Square, 532 S Olive Street Los Angeles, California 90013 · Los Angeles
End Point: TBD. Presumably the Palisades in Santa Monica
Expect details to trickle in starting in late October. They will be posted here. Presumably the route will be Wilshire Blvd. from Figueroa in downtown to the palisades in Santa Monica.
Event web page:
ROUTE DESCRIPTION:
Here's where it all began, on the Saturday before Thanksgiving in 2006. That's when I decided to walk the length of Wilshire Boulevard to celebrate my 10th year living in Los Angeles. Inspired by the book "Wilshire Boulevard: Grand Concourse of Los Angeles" (by Kevin Roderick and J. Eric Lynxwiler), I asked the readers of my blog Franklin Avenue to come join me for a day-long stroll across the city.A few dozen showed up, and we had a thrilling day exploring Los Angeles on foot (and even sneaking into a few buildings!) For that first year, I called it "The Great Wilshire Walk." But it soon became apparent that this wouldn't be a one-year deal, as attendees quickly asked me where we'd be walking the following year.
And so The Great Los Angeles Walk was born.MAP: A route description and map is usually available sometime in late October
Sign up for their newsletter detailing the walk:
To join in, just EMAIL US at greatlawalk@mail.comThe Great Los Angeles Walk takes place every year the Saturday before Thanksgiving.
- Walk across the city of Los Angeles. See the city from a new perspective.
- Meet fellow walkers along the way.
- This is NOT a race or competition.
- This is NOT a guided tour (but there is a map).
- Walk at your own pace and stop when and where you like.
The journey itself is its own point.
L.A. journalist and blogger Michael Schneider launched the Great Los Angeles Walk in 2006 as a way to celebrate his tenth year in Los Angeles. Inspired by the book “Wilshire Boulevard: Grand Concourse of Los Angeles,” by Kevin Roderick, he decided to walk the street’s entire length.
The Great Los Angeles Walk grew from dozens of participants to hundreds, and continues to expand each year – always the Saturday before Thanksgiving -- as more Angelenos join in to explore their city on foot.
This year, we're going back to where it all started: Wilshire Boulevard. As always, the Walk will take place the Saturday before Thanksgiving, which this year is Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025. Details to come on where we will gather, our food options during the day and more.
If you're not familiar with the Walk, please go read this wonderful feature in the Los Angeles Times, which perfectly encapsulated what we're all about:
L.A. isn’t a walking city? The man behind Great Los Angeles Walk would like a wordAs always, the Walk is completely free. It is up to the participants to decide how much or how little of the walk they want to do. More recently, the Walk was included in the book "The Best Things to Do In Los Angeles: 1001 Ideas" by Joy Yoo
Social media users can follow along all day on the walk's official Twitter feed, https://x.com/greatlawalk , as we continually post our location.
All the details are here: http://greatlawalk.blogspot.com/
Video: Why we walk https://youtu.be/m5DASOc424w
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/greatlawalk /
Join their e-mail list: greatlawalk@mail.com
36 attendees
FREE CONCERT: UP CLOSE & CLASSICAL - HAYDN, SCHUBERT, STRAVINSKY
St. Gregory's Episcopal Church, 6201 E. Willow, Long Beach, CA, USIt is the mission of UP CLOSE AND CLASSICAL to present chamber music that will be transformative to all participants, offering concerts but also a preparation into appreciation. We attended several concerts and really enjoyed them. Join us for their next concert, followed maybe by a dinner.
Date: Sunday, November, 2025, 4:00 pm
Venue: St Gregory’s Episcopal Church – 6201 E Willow St, Long Beach, CA 90815.
possible dinner afterwards, details TBD
Free and open to the public. No tickets needed.
Program:
Haydn: Quartet in D minor, Op. 76 No. 2 “Quinten”
Franz Schubert – String Quartet No.13, D 804 “Rosamunde”
Igor Stravinsky – Concertino for String Quartet.Here are excerpts of the likely program , played by different performers:
Franz Schubert: String Quartet No. 13 in A minor (the Rosamunde Quartet), D. 804, Op. 29
https://youtu.be/JGO_qd4PTh4?si=RIKtivwlMvS7CXVaHaydn: Quartet in D minor, Op. 76 No. 2 "Quinten"
ttps://youtu.be/e9p2RXbEvo4?si=1C799R3_yZftdu3a
https://youtu.be/e9p2RXbEvo4?si=bEmBnLWk5DKcuEpVUP CLOSE AND CLASSICAL activities are informed by the below vision, The purposes for which UP CLOSE AND CLASSICAL is created are to stimulate and support the appreciation and performance of chamber music.
- By presenting chamber music concerts at which the public can hear works deemed worthy of performance and performed by artists selected by UP CLOSE AND CLASSICAL.
- By presenting, sponsoring or providing for programs and activities designed to stimulate and encourage exposure to and understanding, knowledge and appreciation of the literature, history and performance of chamber music.
More info and bios here
16 attendees
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