Free College; Medical Advances; NASA Astronaut: Saturday Smiles

CALIFORNIA — The weekend is here. Take a look at a few of the stories that warmed our hearts in Southern California this week —

Top Romantic Fall Getaways: Big Sur, Sonoma & Lake Tahoe On List

• Three must-visit destinations from California caught the attention of Redbook magazine in its latest getaway guide.

Outpatient Pediatric-Care Facility Opens In Murrieta

• Rady Children’s Hospital-San Diego expands its Riverside County presence with the new Medical Plaza.

San Gorgonio Pass Historical Society Receives $5K Grant

• The funding was received from Riverside County Supervisor Marion Ashley.

Weeklong Harry Potter Film Festival Coming To Calif. Theaters

• Cinemark is celebrating “Wizarding World XD Week” from Aug. 31 to Sept. 6. You can watch all nine movies for $25.

Former NASA Astronaut To Speak At The Malibu Library Speaker Series

• Dr. Garrett Reisman will give a talk about his space travels at the Malibu City Hall, but you need to RSVP to attend! (Get Patch real-time email alerts for the latest news from your California neighborhood. Also, download the free Patch iPhone app or free Patch Android app. Also, be sure to follow your local Patch on Facebook!)

Lebron James Jr. To Attend Crossroads In Santa Monica: Reports

• Lebron James' son, "Bronny," will follow in the steps of NBA legend Shaquille O'Neil's son, who also went to Crossroads.

Los Angeles High School Grads Can Get Free Enrollment At SMC

• Recent grads from participating high schools may be eligible for free tuition and up to $400 in textbook vouchers at Santa Monica College.

Polo Cup; Fiesta Music Festival; Jazz In The Pines: SoCal Weekend

• Looking for things to do this weekend in Southern California? Patch has you covered.

Hands Of Peace Brings Together Jewish, Muslim And Christian Teens

• Israeli, Palestinian and American teens came together in Carlsbad this summer for dialogue, conflict resolution and leadership training.

UCSD Researchers Progress Toward Test For Kawasaki Disease

• Kawasaki disease is a serious illness that primarily affects young children and infants.

UC San Diego Researchers Create Spinal Cord Stem Cells

• Spinal cord neural stem cells made from human pluripotent stem cells could eventually advance to human clinical trials, according to UCSD.

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