Festival of Sacred Music

First of all, apologies for abandoning this blog for the past two months. (Did anyone notice, I wonder? I suspect my readership is small, if not completely imaginary.) Between working 14-hour days, 6 days a week, not actually being in L.A. during that time, and having spotty Internet access at my hotel, it just became impractical to keep up.

But then, to add insult to injury, my laptop died a month ago. The truth is, it was murdered. I ran over it with a 15-ft. cube truck. Not on purpose, mind you--so it was perhaps more like involuntary machine-slaughter than outright murder.

But now I have a brand-new computer, and I'm slowly getting back to normal in terms of my Internet activity. I realize I have a lot of catching up to do, so I'd better get started!

The Festival of Sacred Music got underway this past weekend. This 16-day extravaganza of performing arts takes place all over the city, and only happens once every three years. Tickets range in price, but many of the events are free and open to the public.

For instance, tomorrow night, there is a concert at the Japanese American National Museum of traditional and contemporary world music by artists from Iran and Greece. Thursday, September 18, 6:30 pm. 369 E. 1st Street (Little Tokyo). Free. For more info, go to janm.org

The festival will close on Sunday, September 28 with a giant ceremony and celebration on Santa Monica Beach. There will be an opening procession of Oaxacan brass and Scottish drums and bagpipes, followed by a performance of traditional Hawaiian chant and hula. And that's just the beginning! Three hundred artists will present sacred traditions from seven world cultures. The event is free.

For more information about the closing ceremonies and other events, click here.

Celebrate historic preservation in Pasadena

Sorry for the long absence! I started a new job in Kansas last week, so it's been a busy 10 days of packing, traveling and working 6 days a week. But I haven't forgotten about you or the need to keep you posted on affordable happenings back in L.A.

This Saturday is the annual Celebration on the Colorado Street Bridge in Pasadena. Sponsored by Pasadena Heritage, which supports historic preservation in Pasadena, this evening event will incorporate live music, dancing, vintage cars, food and drink from local eateries and children's activities.

Saturday, July 19, 6:00 pm to 11:00 pm. Admission is $15 for adults and $7 for children ages 7-12. Children age 6 and under are free. For more information or to purchase discount tickets, call (626) 441-6333 or visit the Pasadena Heritage web site.

A Hawaiian 4th of July

Looking for a different kind of Independence Day celebration? Tonight, there will be a special free concert at Levitt Pavilion in Macarthur Park. One Hawaii is a gathering of top musical acts from the 50th state, including Keali'i Reichel and Na Leo, performing along with guest hula dancers.

Levitt Pavilion will host free concerts throughout the summer, every night of the week except Monday and Tuesday. Wednesday is Musica Latina, Thursday is World Music, Fridays are Night Rhythms, Saturdays are American Roots, and Sunday is Children's Night. Click here for the full schedule.

Fourth of July celebration with One Hawaii. Friday, July 4, 7:00 pm. Macarthur Park. Free. Click here for more info.

Family fun at the Ford

The Ford Amphitheatre's summer series for kids, Big!World!Fun!, starts this Saturday with SPLASH! A Celebration!

Viver Brasíl Dance Company will show kids how to "dance with mermaids, drum with kings and parade with queens" using Afro-Brazilian folklore and music. Subsequent Saturdays will showcase other performance traditions from around the world.

Saturday, July 5, 10:00 am. Free for children, $5 for adults. Visit the Ford website to make reservations or call the Ford box office at 323 461-3673.

Have some bugs with your culture

As if summer weren't already buggy enough, Culture Crawl L.A. aims to increase kids' knowledge of insects and encourages them to bring some home.

Pick up a punch card at any of the 5 participating institutions, get your free bug kit and collect a different bug at each location (plastic, not real bugs). Of course, this also encourages families to visit the California Science Center, the Getty Center, Kidspace Children's Museum, the Los Angeles Zoo, and the Natural History Museum of L.A. County this summer.

Program continues through September 1. Click the link above for more info.

Chinatown Anniversary Party

Los Angeles' Chinatown was founded 70 years ago this week. Back then it was called "New Chinatown" because it replaced the original settlement, which was displaced by the construction of Union Station.

This weekend, Chinatown celebrates the 70th Anniversary of its birth with a free celebration in Central Plaza, located at 951 N. Broadway Street. There will be live 1940's style Big Band music, dancing, a costume contest, vintage cocktails, martial arts demos, lion dances and more.

Saturday, June 28, 7:00-11:00 pm. Chinatown. For more info, visit the Chinatown web site.

Get your groove on at the Getty

This Friday, celebrate the end of the work week with an evening of free music and spectacular city views at the Getty Center's Fridays Off the 405. Art-pop duo No Age will perform outdoors in the museum courtyard, preceded by reggae-infused grooves from DJ King Shade. In addition, the galleries will be open late.

Friday, June 27, 6:00-9:00 pm. Free. Visit the Getty website for directions and parking info.