Post-COVID lockdowns, everyone is trying to live their best lives this summer. Think best concerts, the best food festivals, the best dance parties and generally the best of the best of times to be had — especially here in Southern California where life is still slow to return to a pre-COVID normal.
Right now, the Hollywood Bowl is the biggest venue with the brightest and most culturally relevant artists of our time at this moment. Some of these shows are included in this edition’s Summer Vibes calendar such as the Los Angeles Philharmonic’s Peter and the Wolf with the Oscar, Emmy, and two-time Tony winning Viola Davis lending her voice as narrator for beloved children’s story. However, this rendition of Sergei Prokofiev’s Peter and the Wolf will be different from the 1930s Soviet-era monument to youth ushering in a new era by including selections from Margaret Bonds’ Montgomery Variations.
The Montgomery Variations was inspired by Bonds’ 15-state southern tour with Eugene Brice and the Manhattan Melodaires (March 12 to April 11, 1964). What the composer saw and experienced during that tour inspired her to pen a series of musical snapshots and commentaries focusing on two other seminal events in the Civil Rights movement: (1) the Montgomery Bus Boycotts from December 1955 to December 1956; and (2) the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church bombing in Birmingham, Ala. in 1963. The bombing’s impact in galvanizing national public opinion on civil rights in the 1960s became a galvanizing force for nonviolent protest that had been underway since the 1950s.
Indeed, this version of Peter and the Wolf could just as well be an ode to today’s youth movement that has forced change to happen during a moment that has a few too many similarities to the battles that had to be fought 60 years ago. The inclusion of the Montgomery Variations was also a nod to Bonds making Los Angeles her adopted home. She lived in Los Angeles from 1967 until her death in 1972. Get your tickets while you can. It’s set for July 15.
Details: www.hollywoodbowl.com/peter-and-the-wolf-tickets
Other shows to watch for include: Christina Aguilera, July 16-17; Kamasi Washington with Earl Sweatshirt, July 18; Ledisi Sings Nina Simone, July 24.
The Los Angeles Philharmonic — Mozart and Mendelssohn with Ruth Reinhardt, July 27. Reinhardt is assistant conductor of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, where she recently gave her critically-acclaimed subscription debut, when she had to replace Stanisław Skrowaczewski on short notice in a concert selected by The Dallas Morning News as one of the year’s highlights.
Long Beach is another hot spot for music and all around adulting fun this summer. One of the places you should look to is Harvelles in Long Beach, a place unafraid to say “Burlesque is back.”
Between Harvelle’s Underground Comedy and Burlesque on Tuesday night to get you over the hump to the live shows on the weekends, July in Long Beach may prove to be a hot one indeed.
The month will be kicked off with an already sold out show, American Monster and Burlesque Show, which has been described as an excellent night in debauchery. The show features an array of fiery red-hot burlesque dancers performing to the loud, raucous live blues musicians.
The American Monster Burlesque and Blues Show has it all, everything your depraved little heart could ask for — soulful singing, strip-tease dancing, tassle-twirling and some wild offbeat vaudevillian stuff that will blow your mind. So, don’t fret that the July show is sold out. It will be back on Aug. 7 and Sept. 4. So, get your tickets. https://longbeach.harvelles.com.
Other shows at Harvelles you don’t want to miss include Little Miss Nasty The 2021 Resurrection; The Black Veils and the Circus of Sine. The mentioned shows are the remaining ones that aren’t sold out this month as of this publication. Obviously that can change.
Another Long Beach show blues lovers will want to catch is the free community concert being put on by Long Beach Councilwoman Mary Zendejas and the Long Beach Blues Society featuring The Disciples, Shy But Flyy and the Long Beach Blues Society Allstars. This concert is just one in a series of concerts to be put on during the months of July and August.
Music isn’t all there is to be had this summer. Outdoor theater productions in August in the cool breezes at Point Fermin Park will be the place to be. Featured is the Shakespearian play, Love’s Labour Lost, one of the old bard’s earliest comedies. It is believed to have been written in the mid-1590s for a performance at the Inns of Court before Queen Elizabeth I.
It follows the king of Navarre and his three companions as they attempt to swear off the company of women for three years in order to focus on studying and fasting. Their subsequent infatuation with the princess of France and her ladies makes them forsworn. In an untraditional ending for a comedy, the play closes with the death of the princess’s father, and all weddings are delayed for a year.
MUSIC
July 8
Corday
Corday is an awesome cover band fronted by award-winning singer-guitarist Jennifer Corday featuring top-notch local musicians playing classic rock.
Time: 7 to 8 p.m. July 8
Cost: Free, $5 donation suggested
Details: https://tinyurl.com/eldorado-summer-concerts
Venue: El Dorado Nature Center, 7550 E. Spring St., Long Beach
July 9
Ethio Cali
Ethio Cali pays homage to the Golden Age of Ethiopian jazz and soul, with collaborations with DJs Rani de Leon and Cut Chemist. Ethio Cali is a Los Angeles-based Ethio-Jazz ensemble, its sublime sound is inspired by the golden age of Ethiopian music of the 1960s and ’70s, filtered through a uniquely Los Angeles lens.
Time: 7 p.m. July 9
Cost: Free
Details: www.grandperformances.or
Venue: Grand Performances, 350 S. Grand Ave., Los Angeles
Black Market Trust
Since their 2012 debut album The Black Market Trust, this jazz quintet has gone on to record two more albums and have been keeping a busy touring schedule.
Time: 5:45 p.m., July 9
Cost: $107 Adult, includes a boxed dinner and dessert with the show.
Details: palosverdesperformingarts.com; 310-544-0403 x221
Venue: Norris Theatre, 27570 Norris Center Drive, Rolling Hills Estates
Keith McKelley
Saxophonist and aerophone musician McKelley will be at Harvelles. In his varied career as a producer and songwriter he has collaborated with the biggest names in the music industry, including Jhené Aiko; Kenneth “babyface” Edmonds; Usher; Tyrese; and Earth, Wind & Fire.
Time: 3 p.m., July 11
Cost: $25
Details: https://longbeach.harvelles.com/calendar.cfm
Venue: Harvelle’s Downtown Long Beach, 201 E. Broadway, Long Beach
July 13
Underground Stand-Up Comedy & Burlesque
Long Beach’s best kept secret is comedy Tuesdays with burlesque at Harvelles.
Time: 8:30 p.m. July 13, 20, 27
Cost: $10
Details: https://longbeach.harvelles.com/calendar.cfm
Venue: Harvelle’s Downtown Long Beach, 201 E. Broadway, LongBeach
Vibe
The Vibe is back. Enjoy a new nightlife experience in the heart of downtown Long Beach.
Time: 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. July 15, 22, 29 and Aug. 5
Cost: Free
Venue: The Harbor, 130 Pine Ave., Long Beach
July 16
Burlesque is Back
Come enjoy a night of burlesque with the ladies and gents of Dirty Little Secrets, amazing live music from The Corderman Detail, and all the underground speakeasy vibes that Harvelle’s Long Beach has to offer.
Time: 8:30 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. July 16
Cost: $10 to $65
Details: https://longbeach.harvelles.com/calendar.cfm
Venue: Harvelle’s Downtown Long Beach, 201 E. Broadway, Long Beach
July 17
Shane Parish and Patrick Shiroishi
Acclaimed finger-picking acoustic guitarist Shane Parish is joined by avant-garde saxophonist Patrick Shiroishi for an evening of instrumental fireworks.
Time: 7:30 p.m. July 17
Cost: $15
Details: 310-351-0070;https://www.eventbrite.com/e/concert-shane-parish-patrick-shirioshi-tickets-161331766657
Venue: Collage, 731 S. Pacific Ave., San Pedro
Christina Aguilera
Six-time Grammy Award winner, singer and songwriter Christina Aguilera has long been renowned for the power of her voice.
Time: 8 p.m. July 17
Cost: $17 to $74
Details: www.hollywoodbowl.com/events/christina-aguilera-with-the-la-phil
Venue: Hollywood Bowl, 2301 N. Highland Ave., Los Angeles
July 18
Kamasi Washington
Saxophone virtuoso and widely lauded bandleader Kamasi Washington introduced hip-hop audiences to the lineage of spiritual jazz and hard bop with 2015’s The Epic and 2018’s Heaven and Earth.
Time: 7 p.m. July 18
Cost: $15 to $116
Details: www.hollywoodbowl.com/kamasi-washington-earl-sweatshirt
Venue: Hollywood Bowl, 2301 N. Highland Ave., Los Angeles
July 22
The Salty Suites
Come out and listen to the original songs of traditional music of the world, from bluegrass, Depression era and old country, swing, classical and roots with current edge.
Time: 7 to 8 p.m. July 22
Cost: Free, $5 donation suggested
Details: https://tinyurl.com/eldorado-summer-concerts
Venue: El Dorado Nature Center, 7550 E. Spring St., Long Beach
July 23
The Winehouse Experience
Come see the show everyone has been talking about. The Winehouse Experience, featuring Mia Karter, pays tribute to the late icon Amy Winehouse, known for her distinctive warm vocals, soulful songwriting and signature style.
Time: 9 p.m. July 23
Cost: $15
Details: https://www.ticketweb.com/event/the-winehouse-experience-third-project-music-box-tickets/11099055
Venue: Harvelle’s Downtown LongBeach, 201 E. Broadway, Long Beach
Summer Breeze Concert
Dru Hill, 112, Next, Jon B, Montell Jordan and Adina Howard will be bringing that 90s Summer vibe to Carson. Get your tickets before they are sold out.
Time: 8 p.m., July 23
Cost: $65 to $145
Details: www.dignityhealthsportspark.com
Venue: Dignity Health Sports Park, 18400 S. Avalon Blvd., Carson
July 24
Summer Love Jam
SoCal nightlife returns with a night of classic cars and oldies but goodies music including Rose Roycek, Joe Bataan, The Emotions, Blue Magic, Evelyn Champagne King, The Temprees, Sly Slick & Wicked and Little Willie G.
Time: 6:30 p.m., July 24
Cost: $35 to $145
Details: www.dignityhealthsportspark.com
Venue: Dignity Health Sports Park, 18400 S. Avalon Blvd., Carson
Ledisi Sings Simone
Ledisi will be taking on the powerhouse musician’s emotionally searing and socially direct songs on her PBS special Ledisi Live: A Tribute to Nina Simone. Now she brings that spirit to the same stage where Simone herself sang so many times.
Time: 8 p.m. July 24
Cost: $9 to $114
Details: www.my.hollywoodbowl.com/ledisi-simone
Venue: Hollywood Bowl, 2301 N. Highland Ave., Los Angeles
Little Miss Nasty
Little Miss Nasty is rock ’n’ roll burlesque for the 21st century — good girls gone bad.
Time: 9:30 p.m. July 24
Cost: $15
Details: https://www.littlemissnastyofficial.com/
Venue: Harvelle’s Downtown Long Beach, 201 E. Broadway, Long Beach
July 25
Sunday Sessions
Grand Park’s Sunday Sessions hosts Los Angeles’ finest house music curators on select Sundays during the summer months. This popular free series showcases how house music defines eras and subcultures, Angeleno-style.
Time: 3 to 7 p.m July 25
Cost: Free
Details: 213-972-8080; https://culturela.org
Venue: Grand Park, 200 N. Grand Ave., Los Angeles
July 31
Blues For All
Join Councilwoman Mary Zendejas and the Long Beach Blues Society for a free community concert, featuring The Disciples, Shy But Flyy and the Long Beach Blues Society Allstars.
Time: July 31, Aug. 28
Cost: Free
Details: bit.ly/LBBSFORALL
Venue: Cesar Chavez Park, 401 Golden Ave., Long Beach
Summer Concert in the Park
Enjoy a fun day filled with live music. The event will include inflatable jumpers for the children, food trucks and a beer and wine booth.
Time: 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. July 31, Aug. 28
Cost: Free
Details: rpvca.gov
Venue: Point Vicente Park Civic Center, 30940 Hawthorne Blvd., Rancho Palos Verdes
Aug. 5
Big City Hillbillies
Come be entertained by the Big City Hillbillies, a high energy, boot stomping, swing your partner ‘round dance band.
Time: 7 to 8 p.m. Aug. 5
Cost: Free, $5 donation suggested
Details: https://tinyurl.com/eldorado-summer-concerts
Venue: El Dorado Nature Center, 7550 E. Spring St., Long Beach
Aug. 7
Summer Swing Nights
Celebrate the return of live entertainment with Summer Swing Nights: Drive-In Edition concert series featuring the jazzy vocal stylings of The Swing Tones, accompanied by a live seven-piece big band plus swing dance lessons.
Time: 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. Aug. 7
Cost: $50
Details: 323-365-6650; https://tinyurl.com/summer-swing-elcamino
Venue: El Camino College, 16007 Crenshaw Blvd., Torrance
Aug. 8
South Bay New Orleans Jazz Club Session
Traditional jazz session free to performing musicians with room for dancing.
Time: 1 to 5 p.m. Aug. 8
Cost: $12
Details: 310-377-2441;alvasshowroom.com
Venue: Alvas Showroom, 1417 W. 8th St., San Pedro
Aug. 14
Kasey Lansdale
This small-town Texas girl has recorded with Grammy Award-winning producer John Carter Cash and will be performing music from latest release, Living in the Moment from the EP Leave Her Wild.
Time: 7 p.m. Aug. 14
Cost: $32 to $70
Details: 310-781-7171;www.torrancearts.org
Venue: Torrance Cultural Arts Foundation, 3330 Civic Center Drive, Torrance
Tribute to Neil Diamond
Jack Wright’s Tribute to Neil Diamond is a sophisticated, authentic performance of the hit songs that have kept Neil Diamond in the hearts of his fans for more than five decades.
Time: 2 p.m., Aug. 14
Cost: $35 to $70
Details: www.palosverdesperformingarts.com
Venue: Norris Theatre, 27570 Norris Center Dr., Rolling Hills Estates
Aug. 19
Steel Parade
Steel Parade is a one-man, full time singing steel drummer who plays world music with a SoCal vibe.
Time: 7 to 8 p.m. Aug. 19
Cost: Free, $5 donation suggested
Details: https://tinyurl.com/eldorado-summer-concerts
Venue: El Dorado Nature Center, 7550 E. Spring St. Long Beach
Aug. 20
Tom Rigney and Flambeau
The fiery, electrifying violinist/composer, Tom Rigney, joined forces with the finest musicians on the San Francisco roots music scene to form Tom Rigney and Flambeau.
Time: Aug. 20
Cost: $107 Adult, includes a buffet dinner and dessert with the show.
Details: palosverdesperformingarts.com
Venue: Norris Theatre, 27570 Norris Center Dr., Rolling Hills Estates
Aug. 21
10th Annual Uptown Jazz Festival
Live in the heart of Uptown at Houghton Park. Save the date and get your lawn chairs and festival hats ready for a jazzy and soulful time.
Time: TBA, Aug. 21
Cost: Free
Details: www.facebook.com/rexrichardsonlb
Location: Houghton Park, 6301 Myrtle Ave., Long Beach
Aug. 29
Brian Wilson
See Brian Wilson perform his greatest hits live with Al Jardine and Blondie Chapman
Time: 8 p.m. Aug. 29
Cost: $59.50 to $135.50
Details: https://tinyurl.com/bryan-wilson-terraces
Venue: Terrace Theater, 300 E. Ocean Blvd., Long Beach
Sept. 2
Sligo Rags
Sligo Rags are taking the Southern California Celtic Music scene by storm with a satisfying blend of Celtic, Jazz and bluegrass influences.
Time: 7 to 8 p.m. Sept. 2
Cost: Free, $5 donation suggested
Details: https://tinyurl.com/eldorado-summer-concerts
Venue: El Dorado Nature Center, 7550 E. Spring St., Long Beach
Sept. 3
Cornet Chop Suey
Named after a somewhat obscure Louis Armstrong composition, Cornet Chop Suey is best known for a variety of styles while applying its own exciting style to traditional jazz, swing, blues and “big production” numbers.
Time: 4:30 p.m., Sept. 3
Cost: $107 adult, includes a boxed cinner and cessert with the show.
Details: palosverdesperformingarts.com; 310-544-0403 x221
Venue: Norris Theatre, 27570 Norris Center Drive, Rolling Hills Estates
Sept. 10
Beach Life Festival
A one-of-a-kind boutique music festival located on the shores of Redondo Beach will feature performances by Jane’s Addiction, Counting Crows, Ziggy and Stephen Marley performing their father’s songs, and Cage The Elephant.
Time: Sept. 10 to 12
Cost: $125
Details: www.beachlifefestival.com
Location: 137 N. Harbor Drive, Redondo Beach
THEATER
Aug. 13
Love’s Labour’s Lost
A young king and his companions vow to swear off worldly pleasures and devote themselves to gaining eternal fame through scholastic pursuits. But a princess and her ladies render their oath difficult to keep in this love letter to love.
Time: 8 p.m. Aug. 13, 14, 15, 20, 21 and 22
Cost: Free
Details: 310-217-7596;info@shakespearebythesea.org
Venue: Point Fermin Park, 807 W. Paseo Del Mar, San Pedro
Aug. 25
Closely Related Keys
This Wendy Graf stage-play directed by Saundra McClain is a family drama centered around New York-based African American attorney Julie Dolan. She has a career on the rise which starts to crumble when she finds out she has an Iraqi half-sister, Neyla, who shows up at her door.
Time: 8 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays, and 2 p.m. Sundays Aug. 25 through Sept. 12
Cost: $37 to $55
Details: 562-436-4610;https://ictlongbeach.org
Venue: International City Theatre, 330 E. Seaside Way, Long Beach
DANCE
July 8
Honest Purpose
Honest Purpose features Heidi Duckler Dance dancers accompanied by a live four-piece band led by Dwight Trible. The piece is an exploration of private and public space as well as a celebration of the reopening of the city.
Time: 8 to 9 p.m. July 8 and July 9.
Details: http://honestpurpose.eventbrite.com
Cost: $20 to $40
Venue: The Culver Steps, 9300 Culver Blvd., Culver City
Aug 7, 14, 21
The Ultimate Flamenco Dinner Show Experience
Forget the airport — the quickest way to get from Long Beach to Spain is an evening of authentic Spanish entertainment and cuisine at Alegria Cocina Latina’s “Ultimate Flamenco Dinner Show Experience.”
Time: 7:30 p.m. Aug. 7, 14, 21
Cost: $80
Venue: Alegria Cocina Latina, 115 Pine Ave., Long Beach
FILM
July 15
#BANG4CHANGE Tour Long Beach
Billed as the largest #BANG4CHANGE screening, the Art Theater screening will be the second stop in the historic film screening tour. Immediately after the murder of George Floyd, feeling like he had to do something, activist and filmmaker Ferin Kidd flew to Minneapolis to film a ground’s level documentary of the protests that had erupted there. RSVP.
Time: July 15
Cost: Free
Details: https://tinyurl.com/bang4change
Venue: Art Theatre of Long Beach, 2025 E. 4th St., Long Beach
Long Beach Movies In The Park
Long Beach Parks, Recreation and Marine invites you to participate in Be S.A.F.E. (Summer Activities in a Friendly Environment) and free movies in the park. Movies and activities will take place throughout the summer.
Time: July 15: Scoob!
Cost: Free
Location: Houghton Park, 6301 Myrtle Ave., Long Beach
Time: July 22: Dora and the Lost City of Gold
Cost: Free
Location: Drake Park, 951 Maine Ave., Long Beach
Details: www.longbeach.gov/-free-and-low-cost-recreation-programs-starting-june-21
2021 Universe Multicultural Film Festival
The film has the power to bring history to life, open windows into other cultures, and engage in a way that no other medium can duplicate.
Time: 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. Aug. 27
Cost: $8 to $988
Details: https://tinyurl.com/umc-film-fest
Venue: LOTH RHCC Community Center, 735 Silver Spur Road, Rolling Hills Estates
ART
July 10
Building Meaning from the Multiple Multiples
The artists in Multiples share a strategy of building meaning from an expanded concept of the multiple, as found in iterative series, repetition of mass-produced objects and images in new and site responsive works. Multiples presents the work of Nathan Gulick, Colleen Hargaden, Seth Lower, Megan Mueller, Samuel Scharf, Noah Spindler, Katie Thoma and Katya Usvitsky, with a text by Hannah Sage Kay.
Time: 2 to 4 p.m. July 10, opening reception. On view through Sept. 12
Cost: Free
Details: 310-519-0936;www.angelsgateart.org
Venue: Angels Gate Cultural Center, 3601 S. Gaffey St., San Pedro
Coming Together: An Exhibition of Small Works
Via an open call, local artists were encouraged to submit work. Two jurors then reviewed the submissions — more than 450 were received — and selected 85 to be included in the show.
Time: 1 to 4 p.m, Thursdays through Sundays, July 10 through Aug. 14
Cost: Free
Details: www.LongBeachCreativeGroup.com
Venue: LBCG/Rod Briggs Gallery, 2221 E. Broadway, Long Beach
July 17
Shoebox Projects’ Sculpture Garden at High Beams
A one day drive-through pop-up. Kristine Schomaker of Shoebox Projects has curated a collection of mixed freestanding sculpture that will create its own landscape. On a small scale, it’s texture. On a human scale, it’s a crowd. On a large scale it’s otherworldly, like an alien landscape through the looking glass.
Time: 12 to 3 p.m. July 17
Cost: Free
Details: www.torranceartmuseum.com
Venue: Torrance Art Museum, 3320 Civic Center Drive, Torrance
July 28
MoLAA Zoom Project With Judith Baca
Dr. Judith F. Baca has been creating public art for four decades. In 1974, Baca founded the City of Los Angeles’ first mural program, producing over 400 murals and employing thousands of local participants which evolved into the arts organization Social and Public Art Resource Center (SPARC).
Time: 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. July 28
Cost: Free
Details: https://molaa.org/events/2021/6/23/molaa-zoom-project-with-judy-baca
COMMUNITY
July 10
Beach Cleanup
Join Cabrillo Marine Aquarium educators and volunteers in a beach cleanup, clearing the shore of marine debris. Meet at the steps in front of the auditorium. Open to all ages. Make reservations by the Thursday before the event: Call Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Time: 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. July 10
Cost: Free
Details: 310-548-7562;www.cabrillomarineaquarium.org/beach-cleanup
Venue: Cabrillo Marine Aquarium, 3720 Stephen M. White Drive, San Pedro
July 11
Giant Kelp Micro-habitats
Join Cabrillo Marine Aquarium education staff for a giant kelp holdfast dissection and look into the micro habitats of giant kelp and discover the variety of mollusks, crustaceans and echinoderms that make it their home.
Location: Meet in the lower courtyard, under the coral tree
Time: 1 p.m. July 11
Cost: Free
Details: 310-548-7562, www.cabrillomarineaquarium.org/salt-marsh
Venue: Cabrillo Marine Aquarium, 3720 Stephen M. White Drive, San Pedro
July 15
Queer Zines 2.0
Join in-person or on Zoom with artist Ellie Cota for a fun, easy zine workshop. Taking inspiration from last year’s Queer Zine event, there will be a discussion the history of radical self-publishing and produce a completed zine at the end of the workshop. RSVP.
Time: 6 to 7:30 p.m. July 15
Cost: Free
Details: 424-277-1020; esmoa@artlab21.org
Venue: ESMoA, 208 Main St., El Segundo
July 17
Salt Marsh Open House
Join Cabrillo Marine Aquarium educators and learn about the Salinas de San Pedro wetlands habitat at Cabrillo Beach by using binoculars and microscopes to observe live animals. Visitors can view the birds of the marsh, learn about native plants and observe the changes in the tides.
Time: 11:30 a.m. July 17
Cost: Free
Details: 310-548-7562, www.cabrillomarineaquarium.org/salt-marsh
Venue: Cabrillo Marine Aquarium, 3720 Stephen M. White Drive, San Pedro
Family Art Workshop
Angels Gate will be holding a Family Art Workshop in-person at Angels Gate, as well as Virtually on Zoom. COVID-19 safety protocols will be enforced. Join artist-teacher Iliana Cuellar for this month’s workshop exploring storytelling. This workshop will explore humans’ natural knack for storytelling through writing, acting, drawing, and more. Children must be accompanied by an adult at all times.
Time: 1 to 3 p.m. July 17
Cost: Free
Register: 310-519-0936; www.eventbrite.com/e/family-art-workshop-july-tickets-
Venue: Angels Gate Cultural Center, 3601 S. Gaffey St., San Pedro
July 29
Aquarium of the Pacific
Take a journey of discovery through the world’s largest ocean at the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach, California. Meet 12,000 animals, and see more than 100 exhibits.
Time: July 29
Cost: $26.95 to $36.95
Details: 562-590-3100;www.aquariumofpacific.com
Venue: Aquarium of the Pacific, 100 Aquarium Way, Long Beach
Aug. 15
CicLAvia Open Streets Events are Back
CicLAvia Sundays are back with open streets events for the remainder of 2021. CicLAvia temporarily closes streets to car traffic and opens them to Angelenos to use as a public park. Attendees come from all over LA and beyond, connecting neighborhoods to each other through a spirit of exploration.
Time: Aug. 15: Wilmington, Oct. 10: Heart of LA (CicLAvia’s 11th Anniversary Celebration) and Dec. 5: South LA
Cost: Free
Details: https://www.ciclavia.org/
Sept. 26
Southern California Weaving & Fiber Festival
The Southern California Handweavers’ Guild presents its 2021 Weaving & Fiber Festival.
Time: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sept. 26
Cost: $1
Details: torranceca.gov
Venue: Torrance Cultural Arts Center, 3330 Civic Center Drive, Torrance
Ongoing
Summer Dog Walking Series
South Coast Botanic Garden will welcome your four-legged best friends back to explore its 87 acres on the fourth Sunday of every month through October. Dogs must remain on the leash throughout the garden and aren’t allowed in the Bohannon Rose Garden or Koi Pond area.
Time: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m every fourth Sunday, through October
Details: www.southcoastbotanicgarden.org/dog-walking-hours
LITERATURE
July 13
Conversation Starter: Parable of the Sower by Octavia Butler
Join a book discussion of Octavia Butler’s book Parable of the Sower. Published in 1993, the novel takes place in the LA area during the 2020s. The novel shows a climatically and socially chaotic U.S. in constant upheaval. Protagonist Lauren takes to the road, building a community based on the tenets of a new belief system she calls Earthseed.
Time: 6 p.m. July 13
Cost: Free
Register: www.us02web.zoom.us/parable-of-the-sower