Gallery Visits Los Angeles

Yoko Ono: Music of the Mind (Guided Tour + Brunch)

​Spend a vibrant Saturday afternoon with Women of Culture exploring **[Yoko Ono: Music of the Mind](https://www.thebroad.org/art/special-exhibitions/yoko-ono-music-mind?utm_source=luma)** at The Broad — an immersive journey through the ideas, imagination, and boundary-pushing work of one of the most influential artists of our time. **[Advance Purchase Required here](https://luma.com/9fq2h46k)** ​We’ll kick things off with an **optional brunch at [Massilia](https://www.massilia.com/?utm_source=luma)**, where you can meet and mingle with fellow art lovers, before heading to The Broad for an intimate **private guided tour** of the exhibition. ​Spanning more than seven decades of **[Yoko Ono’s](https://www.thebroad.org/art/special-exhibitions/yoko-ono-music-mind?utm_source=luma)** practice, *Music of the Mind* invites us to experience art differently — not simply by looking, but through participation, imagination, humor, and reflection. Together, we’ll uncover the stories and ideas behind the work and experience this landmark exhibition in a more meaningful way. ​And there’s more: our museum experience will also include entrance to **Yayoi Kusama’s iconic Infinity Mirrored Room** — a dazzling finale to our art-filled afternoon! ​Come for the art, stay for the conversation and connection, and leave with a fresh perspective on an artist who has spent decades asking us to imagine the world differently. ​**Space on our private tour is limited — reserve your spot and join us for an unforgettable afternoon at The Broad!** ​**Why Join Us?** * ​🎨 **Go beyond simply seeing the exhibition** with a private guide who will bring greater context and insight to Yoko Ono’s groundbreaking work. * ​✨ **Experience two must-see moments at The Broad** with the Yoko Ono exhibition plus entrance to Yayoi Kusama’s Infinity Mirrored Room. * ​🥂 **Make new connections through art** with a welcoming community of culturally curious women — and the option to start the afternoon together over brunch. *** ​**Full schedule:** ​**12pm** \| Optional Brunch at **[Massilia](https://www.massilia.com/?utm_source=luma)** 100 S. Grand Ave. *(Guests receive **complimentary parking** at the Broad's garage, and the restaurant is just across the street, so there's no need to re-park)* ​**2-3pm** \| Private guided tour of **[Yoko Ono](https://www.thebroad.org/art/special-exhibitions/yoko-ono-music-mind?utm_source=luma)** exhibition 221 S. Grand Avenue ​**3pm** \| Option to continue exploring the permanent collection or gather for drinks & dessert *** **[Advance Purchase Required here](https://luma.com/9fq2h46k)** ​ **Tickets for non-members:** * **Tour only tickets:** $60 first release; $65 full price * **Full experience** (includes 1 entree at brunch + tax/tip): $85 first release; $90 full price ​**Tickets for Art-full members:\*** * **Tour only tickets:** $55 first release; $60 full price * **Full experience** (includes 1 entree at brunch + tax/tip): $80 first release; $85 full price ​\*\*Art-full Premier members get an additional 10% off. Learn more about membership & [join here](https://womenofculture.org/artfull-membership?utm_source=luma).\* ​**Inclusions:** * ​All tickets include admission to the museum & exhibition tour and **complimentary parking** in the musuem's garage. * ​Full experience tickets also include an entree at **[Massilia](https://www.massilia.com/?utm_source=luma)** before the tour. Any additional food or drink will need to be ordered & paid separately. *** ​**The Art-Full Membership** ​If you are not yet an [Art-full member](https://womenofculture.org/artfull-membership-nyc?utm_source=luma), we would love to have you join us for as little as $45/month for the basic membership, or $65/month for the upgraded premier membership. You can[ learn more about all membership levels and join here](https://womenofculture.org/artfull-membership?utm_source=luma) or reach out to alex@womenofculture.org with any questions. ​**The membership provides:** * ​Access to *member exclusive* events * ​Complimentary tickets to all online events, and select in-person events * ​Priority access to & discounts on ALL events * ​**Premier** members *also* get priority access to 'culture-tunities' including free VIP passes to exclusive after-hours events at cultural institutions all over the city ​All designed to help you live your best, most art-full and socially connected life! **Note about tickets/ RSVP's:** * RSVPs on Meetup do NOT count as official registrations for this event, and the RSVP count on Meetup may not reflect the actual number of attendees. To attend, you must purchase a ticket, which guarantees your spot, regardless of whether you RSVP here. * All paid and confirmed attendees will receive an email from [[alex@womenofculture.org](mailto:alex@womenofculture.org)]([mailto:alex@womenofculture.org](http://mailto:alex@womenofculture.org/))] 1–2 days before the event with further details, including a link to a WhatsApp group for important updates. If you do not receive this email (make sure to check your spam as well), it likely means you did not complete registration or payment.

Los Feliz Chess Club at the LACMA

**Back by Popular Demand:** **2nd Special Event at the LACMA** Join us for another event at the Los Angeles County Museum of the Arts! We are especially excited to host an afternoon of chess at the newly built David Geffen Gallary! Join us for chess, art, and to make some new friends! We will be doing this event alongside multiple of our lovely sister chess clubs and socials! This one will be hosted by our friends at the Los Feliz Chess Club September 19th, 2026 12pm-3pm Free & All Ages More information to come!

🌐 Explore & Connect: California Science Center Community Visit

**🌐 Explore & Connect: California Science Center Community Visit** Discover the wonders of science, from the ecosystem of a giant kelp forest to the innovations of human flight, at one of Los Angeles’ most iconic educational destinations. The California Science Center offers four major exhibit areas—World of Life, Creative World, Ecosystems, and Air & Space—featuring hundreds of interactive exhibits perfect for minds of all ages. This is a relaxed, community-led way to spend a Saturday afternoon exploring, learning, and connecting with others. **Questions?** 📞 888-283-2595 TEXT/VOICE **Time:** 2:00 PM **Location:** 700 Exposition Park Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90037 **Meeting Point:** We gather at the giant **Rose Garden Fountain** 🌹 right outside the main museum entrance. It’s a beautiful, central landmark where it’s easy to spot others. **What’s Free & What Costs Money** The main museum is free, but there are optional experiences you might want to try. **Free Things (No Ticket Required)** * **Permanent Galleries:** All four main exhibit areas are free. * **Ecosystems:** A 188,000-gallon kelp tank with live sharks and fish, a desert flash flood simulation, and an icy poles exhibit. * **Creative World:** Hands-on exhibits exploring technology and transportation. * **World of Life:** Examine the biological processes common to all living things. * **Air & Space Galleries:** See historic aircraft and space artifacts (like the Apollo Command Module). **Paid Stuff (Optional)** * **IMAX Theater:** $10–$13 per ticket (prices vary by age/film). * **Special Exhibitions:** Prices vary widely based on the specific touring exhibit (usually $15–$25+). * **Attractions & Simulators:** $5–$10 each (e.g., Motion Simulator, High-Wire Bicycle, Climbing Wall). **Discounts for Group Donors** Do you plan on visiting often or want to support the museum? Annual Group Donors can **save money on paid attractions**, including IMAX, special exhibits, and simulators, and enjoy other benefits. **Pro-Tip for Members/Donors:** Reach out to **Luis** for assistance with discounts via text: **619-761-1219**. **Parking & Logistics** * **Exposition Park Parking Lot:** Usually $20 (prices can increase during major park events). * **Pro-Tip (Metro):** To save money and avoid the parking hassle, park at a Metro station (like La Cienega/Jefferson) and take the **E Line**. It costs only $1.75 and drops you off right at Exposition Park! 🚃 **How to Find the Group (No-Host Disclaimer** This is a community-led, no-host event. There is no designated check-in person, so we use the **"Self-Start"** method to help everyone connect: 1. **Check the Comments:** At 2:00 PM, check the Meetup thread to see who has arrived (e.g., "I'm by the fountain in a blue cap!"). 2. **Say Hello:** Don't be shy—if you see someone looking for a group, just ask, "Are you here for the Meetup?" 3. **Head Inside:** Around 2:15 PM, the group will move from the fountain into the museum, starting with the main Ecosystems gallery. 🚗 **Carpooling** Want to save on travel costs and meet friends early? Post in the discussion section with your **general area**, if you are **driving or riding**, and how many **seats you have available**. 🌐 **[TheSocialMovieGroup.com](TheSocialMovieGroup.com)** Your ultimate hub to stay connected! Head to our website to: * 📅 Check upcoming events & ticket giveaways. * 📱 Join our Discord, socials, & mailing list. * 🎟️ Order your custom name-tag. 💖 **Support Our Community:** Help sustain our group’s mission and operations with a donation today! 🔗 **Join or Donate at:** **[JoinTSMG.com](JoinTSMG.com)** * ☕ **One-Time Support:** Pure love for the community (no perks). * 💎 **Annual Donor ($40+/Year):** Unlocks all the year-round perks below! **YOUR ANNUAL DONOR PERKS:** * 💸 Exclusive member discounts & perks (posted to event details when available). * 🎟️ Priority access to extra tickets and giveaways. 🔒 **Community & Safety Guidelines** By attending, you agree to treat everyone with respect and take full responsibility for your own safety; organizers are not liable for any incidents. Disruptive, unsafe, or inappropriate behavior will not be tolerated and may result in a permanent ban.

LACMA Museum get-together

Meet at LACMA, Los Angeles County Museum of Art. 5905 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles. This is the first day I will be in LA, and am looking for like-minded art-inspired people to tour the museum with me! IMPORTANT: GO TO LACMA ONLINE TO GET ADVANCE TIMED TICKETS. The meetup organizer for this event (me) will not do that for you.

FREE! PIANO SPHERES - CHARLEMAGNE PALESTINE

**FREE CONCERT, BUT YOU MUST RSVP. READ INSTRUCTIONS BELOW. SUGGEST YOU RSVP ASAP!** **Date**: October 7 @ 8:00 pm - 10:00 pm Possible dinner before TBD **Venue**: The Brick temporary annex 619 N. Western Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90004 [+ Google Map](https://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=619+N.+Western+Ave+Los+Angeles+CA+90004 "Click to view a Google Map") Phone (323) 848-4140 Tickets: Free, but you must RSVP here: [https://pianospheres.org/tickets/](https://pianospheres.org/tickets/) I suggest you do this ASAP! “GRADUALLY MY ARPEGGIOS BEGAN TO BECOME STRUMMMMMSSSSS AND STRUMMMMINGGGGSSSS” Charlemagne Palestine returns to Los Angeles for a rare performance of his monumental Strumming Music, which he has been developing since the early 1970s and describes as an approach and technique that is always different. “It is not a ‘composition’ as such” he says, “it is an evolutionary liquid sound continuum process that I have presented hundredsss of versions that I have performed over the last 50+ years.” NOTE: Piano Spheres is pleased to partner with The Brick to offer this season kickoff as a free concert. Tickets required, limit 2 per patron. **Ticket holders must be present 30 minutes** before start time, or seating is not guaranteed. Please make careful note of venue address: The Brick temporary annex – 619 N. Western Ave, LA CA 90004 Born in 1947, Chaim Moshe Tzadik Palestine, known as Charlemagne Palestine, came from a Russian Jewish family who left Odessa and Minsk at the dawn of the twentieth century to settle in Brooklyn, New York. He began his musical training singing traditional synagogue musics. From the age of 7 until 14, he was a member of the Stanley Sapir traditional chassidic music choir singing in synagogues all over the east coast of America. Later he enrolled at the High School of Music and Arts in upper Manhattan and studied voice, accordion, piano, drawing, painting and sculpture, and immediately developed an interest in the composers who were creating sounds using recording tape techniques and generating sounds by electronic music machines as well as non-western musics from all over the world that he discovered listening to disks from the Folkways label founded by Moses Asch. In 1963, he became the bell ringer at St. Thomas Episcopal Church in New York City, located next to the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA). Every day for six years, he played traditional Protestant hymns as well as inventing an experimental sound approach using the large resonant church bells as his sound source and devised a soap opera sequence of hundreds of variations of complex bell sonorities every day at 5pm for several years. His performances resonated throughout the church’s surroundings and attracted the attention of thousands passersby each afternoon, including artists, choreographers and composers like Alwin Nikolais, Len Lye, Moondog, John Cage, Tony Conrad, and Ingram Marshall. He took advantage of the geographical proximity to MoMA to become a regular visitor of the museum and explore all the museum’s collections, where he discovered French Impressionists and American Abstract Expressionist painters who were a revelation and inspiration to him. The color explorations of Monet, Seurat, Rothko, Albers, Still and others became one of the catalysts for his own aesthetic quest. He imagined inventing a continuous sound form that paralleled the visual artists canvases and structures and imagined created sound canvases and structures that continued to exist nonstop and always present as visual art works were. During this period, he associated with numerous figures of the artistic avant-garde and counterculture: Allen Ginsberg, Kenneth Anger, Richard Serra, Tony Conrad, Steve Reich, Gordon Matta Clark, Philip Glass, Jean Dupuy, La Monte Young, Sol LeWitt, Terry Riley, and many others. Following a meeting with electronic music composer Morton Subotnick at his New York University electronic music studio in 1967 he began to compose numerous electronic sound works using continuous synthesized sounds made with a Buchla 2000 electronic music synthesizer that was the sound source for Subotnick’s electronic music studio. In 1968-69, he deepened his knowledge of electronic synthesizers and especially the changing timbre spectrum possible with multiple sound oscillators and electronic filters at night at this NYU music studio. There he met other experimenters, Eliane Radigue, Rhys Chatham, Serge Tcherepnin, Maryanne Amacher, Ingram Marshall, and many others. In 1969, at Subotnick’s invitation, he and Ingram Marshall moved to Los Angeles, California, and began experimenting and teaching at CalArts, where he discovered large pipe organs in downtown Los Angeles and a Bösendorfer Imperial Grand Piano with an extra lower octave in the enormous concrete ultra resonant cube of the new Cal Arts building in Valencia that he named The Temple but that would eventually become the celebrated Modular Theatre of Cal Arts Valencia. From 1971 he began creating long continuous works for piano and organ that he named “Spectral Continuums,” often lasting as long as five hours for the piano and 48 hour works for church organs. Simultaneously, he worked on a synthesizer prototype with Don Buchla and Serge Tcherepnin and developed with them a synthesizer he called The Spectral Continuum Drone Machine. Around this time, he met the dancer Simone Forti, with whom he began a sound and movement ritualistic collaboration that they called Illuminations. Their first performance in Los Angeles at the Pasadena Art Museum in 1971 was greatly appreciated by the then large avant-garde group of artists, dancers, and musicians from Los Angeles and the many who had now been imported from all over the art world as members of the faculty of the new California Institute of the Arts and especially Alan Kaprow the dean of arts then and convinced them to continue and develop this Illuminations ritual performance form. From then on for nearly 50 years Simone and Charlemagne were invited worldwide to present Illuminations. Charlemagne Palestine was also interested in Javanese and Balinese gamelan. He traveled to Indonesia in 1971 with Ingram Marshall to study this music. He was also introduced to Hindustani music by Pandit Pran Nath. A champion of sonic continuum, drone, and trance, Charlemagne Palestine is particularly renowned for his strumming technique, a term that can be translated as “struck music.” Derived from flamenco and the chime technique, strumming is based on repetition and the physicality of playing, but also on the idea that the instrument has its own voice and can, depending on how it is played, produce a series of harmonics that seem to emerge spontaneously. Thus, in his works (primarily improvised), Palestine plays on resonance and the layering of sounds to sculpt sonic masses in a perpetual quest for the “golden sound.” By extension, during his concerts, he seeks to engage in a dialogue with the performance space by saturating the available sonic space in such a way as to make it vibrate. Marked by spirituality, tradition and shamanism, his performances are ritualized: he drinks cognac, smokes Indonesian clove cigarettes, and places a multitude of teddy bears (his “deities”), scarves and other fabrics on the concert venue and on the instrument. Although associated with the minimalist music movement, he rejects this label in favor of “maximalist,” a term which, according to him, allows one to set no limits. Charlemagne Palestine was also a video artist pioneer (Body Music series, 1973-74, Island Song, 1976, and Ritual in the Emptiness, 2004) creating an audio visual form that became classics of early video art performance works and also invented and developed a multimedia form of installations merging his sounds, rituals and the inclusion of the stuffed animal toy as a modern shamanic divinity totem and created Gesamtkunstwerks (total art works) for MoMA NYC, 356 Mission in LA, The Kunsthalle Vienna, The Museum of Art and History in Paris, Documenta Kassel Germany and many other installation venues all over Europe and the US.. He deploys his teeming universe of stuffed animals and sacredly charged rags in site-specific installations, often monumental in scale. He began as an artist of the Sonnabend Gallery in NYC in the early seventies and then became represented by the Toselli Gallery Milano, Oppenheim Gallery Cologne, Lara Vincy Gallery Paris, and most recently by the Meredith Rosen Gallery in New York City. Though born in Brooklyn, for years he lived in Soho, Tribeca, and Dumbo in NYC while settling from time to time in Paris, Lyon, Rotterdam, Geneva, and now has lived in Brussels, Belgium since 1999.

The Dark Gallery: heARTbreak

A spooky immersive theatre from Force of Nature. Dee introduces us to the art of Arthur Collins. Dark and foreboding canvases with uncanny blank spaces, where twisted creatures once were. Arthur Collins left art behind AND his DNA is at numerous murder scenes, but who or what is the killer? **[only $20](https://fonprods.thundertix.com/events/269599)**

Bronson Cave to the Hollywood Sign Hikeabout

**Please Read All Event Details :) Life Happens but please as a Courtesy to All Update/Edit RSVP as needed:)** \*\*\*Any Cost of FOOD/DRINK and/or other is Guest Responsibility. \*\*\* This is approx. a 7-mile roundtrip Hikeabout from the Bronson Canyon Cave Trailhead to the Hollywood Sign and back for optional Pot Luck Lunch after. Important: We will Meetup at the trailhead back to the Bat Cave but not at the bat cave [https://goo.gl/maps/CKVEpgPapJKu5cXB6](https://goo.gl/maps/CKVEpgPapJKu5cXB6?fbclid=IwAR2wdt0zSnVcn2BO5wG-zRPcL6tK1lIuuRTbiMU86P-hbYmYYN0QpHFZsLc) made famous in the 1960s Batman & Robin TV Series at [https://www.hikespeak.com/trails/bronson-cave/](https://www.hikespeak.com/trails/bronson-cave/?fbclid=IwAR18JE1s-p9GVmNJbtggGaCypi44RXW1S0ms0LNNMn_xxj56w-Lu-uGbod4). We will visit the Bat Cave after we all meetup at the trailhead. Difficulty 1-5 is 2+/-. \*\*\*Picnic Lunch Option after Hikeabout 2:30P-3:30P. [https://californiathroughmylens.com/hollywood-sign...](https://californiathroughmylens.com/hollywood-sign-batcave-hike?fbclid=IwAR2RUmydypwvzQUFEN0p4HLrDxlQpOv0lm7jNbg3A5VbJJiXaYikCIfocFU) [https://socalhiker.net/hiking-to-the-hollywood-sign-and.../](https://socalhiker.net/hiking-to-the-hollywood-sign-and-bronson-caves/?fbclid=IwAR1pBegyL9A2Sml5JbngKIISdrIvrUeuXvgWeJ5pYOQkh0ImSyAygEy1Rv0) [https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g32655...](https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g32655-d560748-Reviews-Bronson_Caves-Los_Angeles_California.html?fbclid=IwAR0YhVHxYfXzgB8_i2yHaq_Scbt1MZ_Eq5CW-vUK5TEOETggdUd4BS-5AhY) [https://www.yelp.com/.../bronson-canyon-griffith-park...](https://www.yelp.com/biz/bronson-canyon-griffith-park-hollywood?fbclid=IwAR0S12mIEIawTX1dxOc-TyV6myw5OZoBnIfosUIusvsfqejUwb2XHOfG6Ro) \*\*\*Look for the Guide/Host Steven Caliridion wearing an Orange Goodwill Ambassadors Travel/Caliridion T-Shirt with a Purple Hat and Hiking Stick at the entrance to the Trail to the Bat Cave used in the Batman & Robin 1960s TV Series. \*\*\*Host/Guide is/are not liable for Injury and/or Loss from attending this event. ZELLO Instant 2Way Walkie Talkie Communication w [FREE Download](https://zello.com/downloads/) . Talk w me and the group via the [Goodwill Ambassadors Travel ](https://zello.com/GoodwillAmbassadorsTravel)channel. This is the easiest way to communicate w Host/Guide and Group starting 1.5hrs. before events. TRY it!!! **\*\*\*Please identify Event in Message via Meetup Chat/Msg &/or Phone Text you are corresponding about. Thank You!!!** **Make sure you start checking the comments and your messages starting 3Days Prior to Events. I require ALL RSVP Going to Re-Confirm in Good Faith Going via REPLY to Message sent by 48hrs prior to event if there is a waitlist to release spots or 24hrs. prior to event if no waitlist. Re-Confirming via Message vs Comment section prevents clogging up emails notifications for comments. Thanks!!!:)**

Costume Model Drawing with 2 GIRLS in NOHO & ONLINE

Long Pose Nude Model Painting - live at Kline in LA or ONLINE

Day Trip to Huntington Library, Art Museum, Gardens & Tea Room

Important: Please don't sign up for this event until you have [purchased your ticket here.](https://tickets.huntington.org/events/8d090371-b424-ca86-1c65-f9b4526009ff) Admission is $29 and for seniors $24. Once I get a firm count of people, I have made reservations for exactly 20 people to have afternoon tea in the [historic Rose Garden Tea Room. ](https://www.huntington.org/plan-your-visit/dining/rose-garden-tea-room)Traditional afternoon tea will be $65. We will be taking the first 20 ladies who sign up and will allow a waitlist. Here is a rough schedule that we will follow: * **8:45 AM – 9:00 AM:** Meet at the OC carpool location, organize into vehicles, and head north. * **10:00 AM:** Arrive at The Huntington, gather near the main entrance, and check in as a group. Everyone has already purchased their ticket online. * **10:15 AM – 11:00 AM:** Morning exploration starting with the **Chinese Garden (Liu Fang Yuan)** and neighboring **Japanese Garden**, which offer accessible walking paths, picturesque bridges, and shaded pavilions. * **11:00 AM – 12:15 PM:** Group lunch (sit-down tea service at the [Rose Garden Tea Room](https://www.huntington.org/plan-your-visit/dining/rose-garden-tea-room). Reservations already made for 20 people. * **12:15 PM – 3:30 PM:** Finish walking through the Chinese and Japanese Gardens (if not finished before the tea). Then do an afternoon walk through the **Huntington Art Gallery** (featuring *Blue Boy*) and the **Rose Garden** and **Desert Garden** near the central estate buildings. * **3:30 PM – 4:00 PM:** Optional stop at [The Huntington Store](https://www.huntington.org/plan-your-visit/dining) for gift shopping, then head back to Orange County to miss the worst of evening rush-hour traffic. **Day Trip Overview & Logistics** * **Target Location:** [The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens](https://www.huntington.org/plan-your-visit) in San Marino, CA. * **Drive & Transit:** Plan for a \~45–60 minute drive each way from central Orange County via I-5 N to I-605 N or I-710 N. * **Carpooling Strategy:** You may drive on your own (free parking at the Huntington Library) or arrange your own carpooling by using the chat section on this event. * Several free, official Caltrans/OCTA commuter Park & Ride lots along or immediately adjacent to the Interstate 5 corridor in Orange County offer safe, all-day parking for carpooling: **Fullerton & North OC (Closest to I-5 & SR-91 Direct Routes)** * **[Fullerton Park & Ride](https://maps.google.com/?cid=9596600612172013201&g_mp=Cidnb29nbGUubWFwcy5wbGFjZXMudjEuUGxhY2VzLlNlYXJjaFRleHQ):** Located at **3000 W Orangethorpe Ave, Fullerton**. Situated directly off the I-5 / SR-91 junction, this major OCTA hub offers a large, dedicated, well-lit commuter lot with free parking up to 72 hours. **Central Orange County (Near I-5 / SR-55 Junction)** * **[Tustin St Park & Ride](https://maps.google.com/?cid=9787992884535623868&g_mp=Cidnb29nbGUubWFwcy5wbGFjZXMudjEuUGxhY2VzLlNlYXJjaFRleHQ):** Located at **2555 N Tustin St, Orange**. Offers free commuter parking right at the interchange of SR-55 and SR-91, just minutes from I-5. * **[Lincoln East Park & Ride](https://maps.google.com/?cid=10389056078343542444&g_mp=Cidnb29nbGUubWFwcy5wbGFjZXMudjEuUGxhY2VzLlNlYXJjaFRleHQ):** Located at **2896-3072 N Santiago Blvd, Orange**. Free 24/7 commuter lot situated off SR-55 near Nohl Ranch Rd. **South Orange County (I-5 Corridor)** * **[Jeffrey Rd Park & Ride](https://maps.google.com/?cid=15390543588936000085&g_mp=Cidnb29nbGUubWFwcy5wbGFjZXMudjEuUGxhY2VzLlNlYXJjaFRleHQ):** Located at **5595 Walnut Ave, Irvine**. Situated immediately off I-5 at Jeffrey Rd, this Caltrans lot features free parking for up to 72 hours for commuters and carpoolers around 8:45 AM. Aim to depart by 9:00 AM to arrive in San Marino right around opening time. Free parking is available on-site at The Huntington. Description: The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens in San Marino is a world-class cultural sanctuary offering an unforgettable blend of natural beauty, historic art, and serene outdoor living. * **Stunning Botanical Gardens:** Stroll through 130 acres of exquisitely landscaped grounds featuring breathtaking themed areas, including the Japanese Garden, the serene Chinese Garden (*Liu Fang Yuan*), and an unmatched Rose Garden. * **Iconic Art & History:** Explore legendary European and American art collections, featuring masterpieces like Gainsborough’s *The Blue Boy*, alongside rare literary treasures including a Gutenberg Bible and Shakespeare first folios. * **Refined Afternoon Tea:** Enjoy an elegant high tea experience surrounded by vibrant blooms in the historic Rose Garden Tea Room—the ultimate setting to unwind, chat, and indulge. * **Effortless Discovery:** Paved, accessible pathways make taking in the magnificent scenery at a comfortable, leisurely pace simple and enjoyable. Whether you're looking to spark your curiosity, snap stunning photos, or simply enjoy a relaxing day out in great company, it offers the perfect backdrop for a memorable getaway.

FREE EVENT: 31ST ANNUAL CENTRAL AVENUE JAZZ FESTIVAL 2026

Join me at the 31st Annual **Central Avenue Jazz Festival**. It's a great day listening to music, eating, checking out arts and crafts, and people watching. I've been going since 2004 and it's always a great vibe. **AND IT'S FREE!** **Date:** Saturday, September 19 11:00 AM to 7:00 PM **Price: $0.00!** No tickets required! Just show up! (They threaten to double the price every year) **Location:** Central Avenue between MLK Blvd. & Vernon Ave. , centered around Central Avenue Jazz Park on E. 42nd St., Los Angeles Google Maps: *https://goo.gl/maps/hE9n6L4hdUWNEwcr6.* Give yourself lots of time to park I will post my location when I get there! 3 Stages of music, lots of food, arts and craft, and a very cool vibe **Festival FAQ page, including parking info:** *[https://centralavejazzfest.com/know-before-you-go/](https://centralavejazzfest.com/know-before-you-go/)* The best place for **updated information** is their **Instagram page**: *[https://www.instagram.com/centralavenuejazz/](https://www.instagram.com/centralavenuejazz/)* **Festival Website:** [https://centralavejazzfest.com/](https://centralavejazzfest.com/) **From Wikipedia:** *[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_Avenue_Jazz_Festival](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_Avenue_Jazz_Festival)* **1996 documentary video:** *[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HA8NcUgLtgI](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HA8NcUgLtgI)* **PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE HERE:** *[https://centralavejazzfest.com/performances/](https://centralavejazzfest.com/performances/)* **Set times will be posted when/if available** **Performers:** \- Sheila E \(headliner\) [https://centralavejazzfest.com/sheila-e/](https://centralavejazzfest.com/sheila-e/) \- Jazzamerica [https://centralavejazzfest.com/jazzamerica-2/](https://centralavejazzfest.com/jazzamerica-2/) \- Jason Marsalis Quartet [https://centralavejazzfest.com/jason-marsalis-quartet-ft-vanisha-gould/](https://centralavejazzfest.com/jason-marsalis-quartet-ft-vanisha-gould/) \- Fresha [https://centralavejazzfest.com/fresha/](https://centralavejazzfest.com/fresha/) \- Endea Owens & Cookout [https://centralavejazzfest.com/endea-owens-the-cookout/](https://centralavejazzfest.com/endea-owens-the-cookout/) \- Isaah Collier Plays Coltrane [https://centralavejazzfest.com/collier-plays-coltrane/](https://centralavejazzfest.com/collier-plays-coltrane/) \- World Stage Big Band [https://centralavejazzfest.com/the-world-stage-big-band-featuring-almita-delone-dwight-trible/](https://centralavejazzfest.com/the-world-stage-big-band-featuring-almita-delone-dwight-trible/) \- Fernando Pullum [https://centralavejazzfest.com/fernando-pullum-community-arts-center-jazz-band/](https://centralavejazzfest.com/fernando-pullum-community-arts-center-jazz-band/) \- Tatiana Tate [https://centralavejazzfest.com/tatiana-tate/](https://centralavejazzfest.com/tatiana-tate/) **A look back at the 28th annual Central Avenue Jazz Festival:** *[https://youtu.be/0cmBQZ2Hbdo?si=BT44QcNfZ9qFOcan](https://youtu.be/0cmBQZ2Hbdo?si=BT44QcNfZ9qFOcan)* **Central Avenue**, after which the area is named, was in the 1930s and 1940s a vibrant center for jazz. At this time the infamous covenant line along Washington Boulevard demarcated the areas where African Americans were allowed to live. Even the giants of jazz music, such as Duke Ellington were allowed to play in Hollywood and other areas, but they could not stay there. They often stayed at the now-historic **Dunbar Hotel**. The Dunbar Hotel featured a nightclub called the **Club Alabam**, where the jazz greats would play after hours. All around the hotel there were numerous other clubs featuring jazz and blues, which were the launching point for the careers of many well-known musicians. One of the aims of the festival is to raise funds for the preservation of the Dunbar Hotel. The festival takes place on several blocks of Central Avenue, south of Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, which includes the Dunbar Hotel. There are many booths with food, arts and crafts, as well as community outreach programs. The festival is free of charge, and in previous years has included free secure parking at a local school. Street parking is available, but sometimes hard to find. The festival was started in 1996 and has regularly featured a number of prominent jazz, blues, and Latin Jazz musicians who got their start in the area, such as **Teddy Edwards, Gerald Wilson, Arthur Blythe** and **Ernie Andrews**. A strong component of the festival's format has been to spotlight young Los Angeles musicians, such as **Kamasi Washington**, and **Kalil Wilson**, as well as talent from the neighborhood's high school bands and choirs.

DAY TRIP TO LUCAS MUSEUM & DINNER @ SKYWALKER GRILL A TOUGH RES TO GET!!