Lula Washington's Santa Monica Debut

Artful Shopping on Pico

Environmentally (and Artistically) Friendly Holiday Shopping

I Brake for Museums

Lula Washington Dance Theatre
Eli and Edythe Broad Stage
Saturday Afternoon and Evening 

The Lula Washington Dance Theatre will be the first dance company to perform on the new Eli and Edythe Broad Stage this Saturday. The dynamic Lula Washington Dancers will enthrall audiences while performing to live jazz, African drumming and the music of the 60's including the Beatles, James Brown and Jimi Hendrix. You'll never forgive yourself if you miss the world premiere of Harambee Suite, a colorful high-energy compilation of dances set to live drumming. This is a Kwanzaa celebration dance that will definitely knock your socks off!

There's a free afternoon performance at 2:00 and a ticketed performance Saturday night at 7:30. To reserve seats for the free performance send an e-mail to box office manager by clicking here.  Include your name, address, phone number, e-mail address and the number of tickets requested. 

Tickets for the evening show can be purchased from the box office at Santa Monica City College: 310-434-3200, or on line by clicking here.

Venga Mi Corazòn is just one of the many Oaxacan artworks to be found at the Oaxaca Folk Art and Gallery

Pico Boulevard Holiday Sale
Saturday from 5 pm - 9 pm

Take a drive (or the bus) down Pico Boulevard on Saturday where you'll find terrific holiday sales along with hot chocolate and cookies. There are hot artistic bargains to be found at the Pico Gallery (3107 Pico), Blue 7 Gallery and Artistic Picture Frames (3129 Pico), Oaxaca Folk Art and Gallery (2919 Pico), and La Foto (806 Pico).  

For more information on this and other special holiday events sponsored by Santa Monica merchants and business groups, click here and then open the document in MS Word.  And remember by shopping local you're also helping to support our local environment!

Environmentally Friendly Holiday Shopping
Eco Gift Festival
Santa Monica Civic Auditorium

From Friday through Sunday, this groundbreaking event will feature a plethora of environmentally friendly gifts - many hand crafted by artists and artisans. There will also be a terrific line up of live music, a children's stage and speakers who will address issues of vital concern to us all. Check their website for ticket prices and a schedule of musicians and other performers.

War as a Way of Life is currently on view at the 18th Street Arts Center

Take a break from the frenetic frenzy that seems to be inextricably linked to holiday shopping by visiting one of Santa Monica's primo museums and galleries. The 18th Street Arts Center's main gallery is currently exhibiting a group show War as a Way of Life including works by Catherine Opie, Mark Spencer and local architect/artist Larry Scarpa. Click on this link for information about the 18th Street Arts Center, its address and hours.

Santa Monica Museum of Art will be closing their exhibitions this weekend so here's your last chance to get a look at Bruce Pollock: Circling West, Henry Taylor: Girrrrrl! and in the main exhibition hall Martin Kersels: Heavyweight Champion. Gracie, the museum's ever fascinating gift shop will be open through the holidays, though. Click on this link for more information about the Santa Monica Museum of Art.

Check out the brilliant watercolors by Milford Zornes at the California Heritage Museum. This amazing collection of paintings portrays some of California and Nevada's most spectacular scenery and also includes beach scenes that depict an era simplicity along the California shoreline that will never come again. They're also still showing the Mexican Calendar Girls exhibition, a collection of commercial art that you can't help but find charming and delightful.  And they have a terrific gift shop!  Click here for more information on the California Heritage Museum.

And finally, with all those galleries at Bergamot Station there's got to be something there you'll enjoy. Remember, visiting the gallery and looking at the artwork is completely free! Check out the Bergamot calendar by clicking here.