Free Irish concert at the Getty

Friday Nights at the Getty is a free performance series featuring an eclectic mix of music, dance, theater, and spoken word events. Tonight is the final performance of the 2007-2008 season; the series resumes in September.

From the Getty web site:

Two of Ireland's most celebrated musical ambassadors, soprano Ailish Tynan and pianist Hugh Tinney, perform a recital of songs by Brahms and Faure and arrangements of Irish folksongs by Herbert Hughes from Tynan's recently released CD A Purse of Gold. This concert is part of the Music for Museums series, a collaboration with the National Gallery of Ireland.

Friday, June 13, at 7:00 pm in the Harold M. Williams Auditorium. Free; reservations required. Call (310) 440-7300 or click here to make a reservation.

Amazing art under your feet

This weekend is the 2008 Pasadena Chalk Festival. Billed as the world’s largest street painting festival, it will draw nearly 600 artists from across Southern California who will use pastels to create artwork covering an area equal to two city blocks.

The two-day celebration of sidewalk painting and competition will take place inside Paseo Colorado, June 14-15, from 10 am to 7 pm. Prizes will be awarded in 10 categories, including Best of Show, Best 3D Effect and Most Humorous.

Admission is free. Click the link above for more info.

Free summer Shakespeare

Since 1998, Shakespeare By The Sea has been presenting free performances of the Bard's works in San Pedro and other locations around Los Angeles.

The 2008 season gets underway on Thursday, June 12, at 8:00 pm with "A Midsummer Night's Dream" in Point Fermin Park. They will perform Shakespeare's classic romantic comedy in repertoire with "Antony and Cleopatra" through August 9. Check the schedule for other outdoor venues.

Get there early for the best seats, bring a blanket to sit on and a picnic, and enjoy free theater under the stars. Click here for more information.

Free J.A.M. sessions at the Ford

Get your creative juices flowing at the Ford Amphitheatre’s FREE J.A.M. (Jazzed and Motivated) Sessions. Dance, sing, play your favorite instrument and engage in other activities guided by artists from the Ford season. Beginner, intermediate and advanced participants are all welcome.

The next one is called "The Groove Divine" with Viver Brasil Dance Company and takes place on Tuesday, June 17, at 7:00 pm. Come for an orixá dance movement workshop with live music and get a sneak peek at their upcoming performance.

If you've never been to the Ford Amphitheatre, it's a wonderful outdoor theater in the Hollywood Hills, on the other side of the Cahuenga Pass from the Hollywood Bowl. During the summer, they have a variety of programs and performances for the whole family.

Click this link or call the Ford Box Office at 323 461-3673 for more information and to make a reservation.

Free history tour: Port of Los Angeles

Sorry for the lack of posts all week. I came down with a nasty cold that cut into my Internet time. Still getting over it, but couldn't let the week end with no tips for you!

Tomorrow, The Port of Los Angeles will offer a free narrated bus tour of the harbor area. Shuttle buses will stop at six different sites: the Los Angeles Maritime Museum, Point Fermin Lighthouse, Fort MacArthur Military Museum, Drum Barracks Civil War Museum and the Banning Residence Museum. Buses will make a continuous loop all day, so you can board at any time and visit each site at your own pace.

Food, parking, historical maps and book signings will also be available.

Saturday, June 7, 10 am to 4 pm. For more information, click here.

Cemetery screenings in Hollywood

Every summer, Cinespia screens outdoor movies at Hollywood Forever cemetery. The first one was last weekend, but the weather wasn't great for sitting outside on the grass.

Tomorrow, May 31, they will show "The Party," starring Peter Sellers and directed by Blake Edwards. Bring a picnic dinner and a blanket to sit on. A DJ will be spinning music before and after the screening.

Gates open at 7:30 pm and the movie starts at 9:00. Hollywood Forever is at 6000 Santa Monica Boulevard (at Gower). Parking is $5 and the suggested donation is $10. For more information, click here.

Culver City ARTWALK

Saturday, May 31, is the 3rd Annual ARTWALK Culver City. This free, self-guided tour celebrates the Culver City Art District, a cluster of galleries centered around the intersection of Washington and La Cienega Boulevards exhibiting new and distinguished artists.

Over forty galleries will be open from 12 noon to 6pm and some galleries will remain open until 8pm. There will also be live jazz and neighboring restaurants will be offering special promotions. For more information, call the Culver City Cultural Affairs Hotline at (310) 253-5716 or click here to download a map and flyer.