Los Angeles Official Visitor Guide 2008 - (Page 44) 08 In a city where parties and festivals never cease, filling your calendar with things to do is a simple task. Here are just a few of the many activities that LA has to offer. As with the diverse population, you’ll find no shortage of colorful, cultural and educational activities that will satisfy your schedule and your mind. Photos (top to bottom): LA Philharmonic; STAPLES Center; Chinese New Year celebration; MOCA ©LA INC, STAPLES Center, Ambient Images, LA INC./ Robert Landau calendar of Events WHALE FIESTA Cabrillo Marine Aquarium www.cabrilloaq.org This event is perfect for families and kids of all ages. Hear talks from whale experts, witness the famous Duct Tape Whale Sculpture Contest, listen to great music and watch the Great Cetacean Creation Sand Sculpture Contest. Late January. January LA VIDA LOWRIDER: CRUISING THE CITY OF ANGELS Petersen Automotive Museum www.petersen.org Celebrating all things lowrider, this exhibit at the Petersen Automotive Museum tells the fascinating history of lowrider culture with more than 20 exquisite cars. Through June 8. FESTIVAL OF HUMAN ABILITIES Aquarium of the Pacific www.aquariumofpacific.org Highlighting the special skills and talents of people with disabilities, this festival includes a wheelchair dance, live music, storytelling, service dog demonstrations and other entertainment. January 26–27. WICKED AT PANTAGES THEATRE Pantages Theatre www.wickedthemusical.com Long before Dorothy dropped in, there’s the story beyond Munchkin Land of two unlikely friends, and how they become the Wicked Witch of the West and the Good Witch of the North. Open-ended engagement. R.B. KITAJ: PASSION AND MEMORY — JEWISH WORKS FROM HIS PERSONAL COLLECTION Skirball Cultural Center www.skirball.org An exhibition of R.B. Kitaj’s paintings and drawings presents the artist’s unique perspective on Jewish subject matter and issues, including the memorialization of the Holocaust and the relationship between Arabs and Jews. All works are from Kitaj’s private collection, rarely seen by the public. Through March 30. February BROAD CONTEMPORARY ART MUSEUM OPENS AT LACMA Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) www.lacma.org The newest addition to the LACMA campus debuts in early February, making a huge splash in the LA art scene and bringing thousands of visitors to this renowned museum campus. Early February. HOLLYWOOD PERFORMANCE MARATHON Theatre of Note www.theatreofnote.com Guests attending this diverse performance marathon will enjoy a host of musical and dramatic performances. Tap dance and tango, sketch comedy and puppet operas — you name it and you’ll see it here. Late January. CHINESE GARDEN OPENS AT THE HUNTINGTON The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens www.huntington.org A classical Chinese garden surrounding a 1.5-acre lake will be unveiled in February. Features include hand-carved stone bridges, waterfalls, plants native to China and other elements with symbolic and botanical significance. LOS ANGELES KINGS STAPLES Center www.staplescenter.com Cheer on the Kings as they take on their opponents at STAPLES Center. Through April. LOS ANGELES LAKERS STAPLES Center www.staplescenter.com Watch your favorite players compete on the LA Lakers’ home court at STAPLES Center. Through April. GOLDEN DRAGON PARADE Chinatown www.lagoldendragonparade.com Celebrate the Chinese New Year in LA at the Golden Dragon Parade. Witness the spectacular procession of ornately painted dragons on North Broadway. February 9. VOTE FOR AUTRY: GENE AUTRY MOVIE MARATHON Autry National Center www.autrynationalcenter.org An all-day affair, this event features the most popular TV shows and movies from the Gene Autry canon selected by voting fans. Cast your vote at geneautry.com and then visit the Autry National Center on January 13 from 9 a.m.– 5 p.m. to enjoy the selections. NHRA WINTERNATIONALS Pomona Raceway www.nhra.com Start your engines — it’s time for the annual drag racing season to begin. NHRA Winternationals is held at the Pomona Raceway in Los Angeles with more than $2 million in prize money. February 8–11. MARTIN LUTHER KING “KINGDOM DAY” PARADE This LA favorite has been celebrated for 20 years, attracting hundreds of thousands of people. The parade commences on Martin Luther King Blvd. at Crenshaw and ends its two-mile journey at Western. January 21. VINTAGE FASHION EXPO Santa Monica Civic Auditorium www.vintageexpo.com The Vintage Fashion Expo is an increasingly popular event with those who have a passion for fashion. It’s also one of the nation’s largest and most varied vintage fashion shows. February 2–3. 44
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