Griffith Observatory: Take a picnic, take a pal. Just remember, we are all stardust

Griffith Observatory at sunset. A playful scion of scandal and great wealth and growing more stately over time, Griffith Observatory is a must-do activity for out-of-town guests. They get swept up in the main entrance — where the Tesla coil lightning show draws gasps and the elegant Foucault pendulum demonstrates how Earth twirls, confusing dozens of onlookers at a time. 1: Park near the Greek Theatre and take the 50-cent Dash shuttle to the observatory, avoiding congestion and the $10 per hour parking at the top. The best is “Centered in the Universe,” but the observatory is adding “Signs of Life” in June, its first new show in 10 years.