Welcome to the Santa Monica Art Palette for the weekend of June 30. The goal of the Art Palette, created by City Hall’s cultural affairs division, is to showcase the many eclectic arts and cultural opportunities available in Santa Monica every week, highlighting one or more of the many happenings within our borders. Enjoy your stay.
The Fourth of July is here again, bringing with it two of Santa Monica’s most treasured events — the annual Twilight Dance Series on the pier and Celebrate America at Santa Monica College. It really is summer and what better place could you hope to start the hottest season of the year? Once again, the line up of artists for the Santa Monica Pier’s Twilight Dance Series is outstanding. On Thursday, the series got off to a start with Pancho Sanchez, one of the top Latin band leaders around, a true champion of the conga. Plan your Thursdays all the way through Aug. 31 so that you don’t miss a single evening of free concerts. It’s Fourth of July Weekend and everyone we know is looking for fireworks, hotdogs, and red, white and blue bunting. Here in Santa Monica, we’re lucky enough to have one of the 10 best Independence Day celebrations in the southland taking place at Santa Monica College. Festivities are held a bit early, July 1 this year, but the spirit is as jubilant as you’ll find anywhere. Festivities kick off Saturday at 5 p.m. at SMC’s Corsair Field at 16th Street and Pico Boulevard. Parking is $5 but the event is free. You can bring your own picnic or purchase dinner from one of the vendors and enjoy the rock and roll rhythms of the Tom Nolan Band and the jazz sounds of Anthony Long.
We’d like to make a special mention of the new Art Trek Map created by the cultural affairs division in partnership with the Santa Monica Convention and Visitors Bureau. This comprehensive listing of every gallery, theatre, museum, public artworks and other art venues in Santa Monica can be found at key tourist destinations throughout Santa Monica. If you would like to subscribe to the Santa Monica Arts Palette, send a blank e-mail with the word “Subscribe” in the subject line to:
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on June 30, 2006. Read the original PDF.