The California African American Museum (CAAM) will present "How We Roll," an exhibition featuring African Americans in skateboarding and surfing. "How We Roll" takes the viewer through an historical step-by-step fantastic voyage of how surfing evolved into skateboarding, the kinship with roller-skating, and how "The Roll" created a cultural revolution that has influenced many parts of popular culture over the past four decades. This exhibition is free to the public, and began its six-month run on July 28 at CAAM, 600 State Drive, Los Angeles. When entering the museum, viewers can see artwork in an 11,000-square-foot enclosed modern courtyard. The 5,100 cubic feet of wall space allows the skateboarders (who are also the artists, photographers, musicians, and much more) to create large-scale installations. Central to the exhibition is a Skater's Gallery featuring action pictures, personal stories, skater bios, magazine covers, decks/boards and artwork from many legendary skateboarders. Other sections of the exhibition expound upon the influence of musical genres such as punk rock, hip-hop, jazz and reggae on the industry and culture, and the importance of the skate shop as the core or hub of the culture.
"Our Love of John T. Scott," currently on exhibit at the California African American Museum, will run through Oct. 31. The late New Orleans African American artist was known for his variety of artwork, including his paintings and sculptures. Attendees will have the opportunity to see much of his work at CAAM. The museum is at 600 State Drive, Los Angeles.
The Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation has started its Parks After Dark (PAD) program at three Los Angeles County parks. PAD will offer surrounding communities and youth extended park hours and activities and will be implemented at three county parks: Ted Watkins Park and Franklin Roosevelt Park in the Florence-Firestone area; and Pamela Park in unincorporated Duarte. Extended park hours will take place Wednesdays through Saturdays until Sept. 4. PAD will provide youth with productive activities to decrease the likelihood of participation in at-risk behavior, including gang activity and is a component of the county's gang initiative intended to reduce gangs and gang violence. The goal of PAD is to strengthen individuals in communities and influence them to see their communities and neighbors in a better light.
Mummies of the World, the largest traveling exhibition of mummies ever assembled, has opened at the California Science Center. It's a collection of more than 100 mummies, both intentionally preserved and accidentally made by nature. The mummies come from Egypt, Asia, Oceania, South America and Europe. The exhibition also demonstrates how mummification is often a natural process, one that occurs in the hot, dry desert sands of Peru or as a result of extreme acts of nature, as in the eternal ice of the Italian Alps.
The Museum of African American Art will showcase new photography by Camilo Cruz in the exhibit "Inside White Space: Portraits of Black and Brown Power in the Institution" through Aug. 29. The museum is on the third floor of the Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza, 4005 Crenshaw Blvd., Los Angeles. Exhibit hours will be Thursday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sunday, noon to 5 p.m. Admission to the museum is free.
Shriner's Hospitals for Children will present the 2010 Rhythm on the Vine concert series, May through December, at South Coast Winery in Temecula. Proceeds benefit medical care for kids, 18 years and younger, at no cost to the patient or family. On May 14, Shriner's will present Stephanie Mills, featuring Najee in concert. Mills is a Grammy- and American Music Award-winning R&B performer and Broadway star who will be complemented by Najee's NAACP Image Award-winning contemporary jazz instrumentals.
The University of Manners, where kids learn how to behave properly, takes place Wednesdays, 6 to 7:30 p.m., at 6560 S. Western Ave., Los Angeles. Admission is $20.
Afro-Caribbean dance classes with dance ethnologist Kimberly Miguel Mullen are held on Wednesdays, 7 to 8:30 p.m., at Crenshaw Yoga and Dance, 5426 S. Crenshaw Blvd., Los Angeles, and on Saturdays, 10:30 a.m. to noon, at the Electric Lodge, 1416 Electric Ave., Venice. There is live drumming, and the class is for all levels.
The Inglewood Improv features sketch improvisation shows, stand-up comedians and improv performer open-mic showcases with audience participation Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. The Improv also provides weekly acting classes for youths ages 12 through 17, as well as adults. The Improv is at 2519 Manchester Blvd., Inglewood.
Registration is under way for the 2010 season of weekend excursions to Camp Seely in the San Bernardino mountains. The trips give families and other residents an opportunity to experience two days of outdoor activities, including hiking and other exploring, spending time with nature, or just relaxing. Indoor activities will also be available. Outings will be offered in 2010 on the weekends of March 13 to 14; April 17 to 18; May 15 to 16; June 5 to 6; Sept. 11 to 12; and Oct. 16 to 17. There are fees involved that cover the cost of meals as well as a heated sleeping cabin for each group and many activities.
"Master Your Mind for Success in 2010" is the theme of the Goal Achiever's Workshops that will be held Wednesdays, 7 to 9 p.m., and Saturdays, 8:30 to 10 a.m., at the House of RA, 7823 S. Western Ave., Los Angeles.
KRST Unity Center of Spirituality will sponsor African-centered activities and programs including empowerment sessions, black gnostic studies, and more, Sundays at 10:30 a.m. The center is at 7825 S. Western Ave., Los Angeles.
Singers and wanna-be singers are invited to "Step Up to the Mic" at open Karaoke Saturdays taking place June 26, July 17 and Aug. 28, 3 to 7 p.m., in the Fellowship Hall of Grace United Methodist Church, 4112 W. Slauson Ave., Los Angeles. Refreshments are available for purchase at each event and entry donations are $3 per person or $5 for a family of four. Children under 5 years old get free admission.
On the third Wednesday of each month from 5 to 9 p.m., summer celebrations will take place in downtown Culver City. Angelenos will be able to taste food from the area's restaurants, sip wine and cocktails as the sun goes down, hear live music under the stars, shop and sample from one-of-a-kind boutiques and view art at gallery openings. The summer block parties will feature special offers and free goodies from more than 25 participating businesses throughout the downtown area, as well as outdoor entertainment and activities ranging from wine and food tastings to free pole-dancing lessons. Valet and free two-hour parking are available. Dates for the parties will be July 21, Aug. 18, Sept. 15 and Oct. 20.
Falcon Theatre will present The Troubadour Theater Co.'s "A Wither's Tale," directed by Matt Walker. Previews will take place Aug. 11 through 19 for the seven-week engagement, which opens Aug. 20 at 8 p.m., at the Falcon Theatre, 4252 Riverside Drive, Burbank. In "A Wither's Tale," Shakespeare's somber saga is brought to the stage, serenaded by the soulful songs of Mr. "Ain't No Sunshine" Bill Withers. Jealous King Leontes asks "Who Is He?" and "What is He to You?" of wife Hermione, who professes, it's "Just the Two of Us." But Leontes is convinced, "They're Trying to Use Me Up!" and banishes her, only to realize there "Ain't No Sunshine When She's Gone." But with the help of "Grandma's Hands," he regains his lost Hermione, who says, " 'Lean On Me,' and we'll have a 'Lovely Day.' " Admission for preview shows is $29.50 to $32. Admission for opening night is $52 to $57. Weekday admission is $34.50 to $37. Weekend admission is $39.50 to $42. Student admission is $27. Group rates are available on selected weeknights.
Free N One (Free from drug and Alcohol and One In Christ) will provide training Aug. 23, 24 and 25, 6 to 9 p.m. This training will train individuals from your local church who will have the opportunity to take this information and start a Christ-centered meeting in your church. Church representatives from all over the city will meet at 5838 S. Overhill Drive, Los Angeles. Topics that will be covered are: understanding the process of Christian recovery, 12 spiritual steps to recovery, conducting a successful Christ-centered support group and more.
Lou Gossett Jr. will sign copies of his book, "An Actor And A Gentleman," at the Museum of African American Art on Aug. 24, 4 to 6 p.m. The Los Angeles Sentinel Book Club will host the event. Admission and parking are free. The museum is at 4005 Crenshaw Blvd., Los Angeles.
Imago Dei Music Group recording artist and BET's "Sunday Best" second season winner Y'Anna (EE-AH-NAH) Crawley is set to release her first solo CD project, "The Promise," on Aug. 24. The title track and current single, "The Promise," reminds listeners that Jesus is the Way and the Promise, and that if you keep trusting in His Word and keep persevering, you will attain your goals. This mid-tempo, contemporary gospel performance is a hit in the making. The CD also includes her first single, Y'Anna's rendition of the Bill Withers' classic hit "Grandma's Hands," which she sang on "Sunday Best."
The 16th Anniversary Breakfast Gala of Women Who Dared: Our Legacy & Our Future will take place Aug. 24, 7:30 to 9:30 a.m. At the event, singer Nancy Wilson, clinical psychologist Gloria Morrow and Watts Healthcare Corp. Director of Nursing Ann Everett will be honored. The gala will take place at City Club on Bunker Hill, 333 S. Grand Ave., 54th floor, Wells Fargo Center, Los Angeles.
Everything Accounted For: QuickBooks Accounting for Small Businesses," a seminar which includes a paper-based QuickBooks tutorial, will take place Aug. 25, 6 to 8 p.m., at the Vermont Slauson Business Enterprise Center, 6109 S. Western Ave., Los Angeles. Attendees will have the opportunity to learn how to establish a sound financial record-keeping system to aid in financial planning and tax reporting. The seminar will be presented by certified QuickBooks trainer Dante Layton.
A roundtable about "answers to your business problems" will take place Aug. 25, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., at the PACE Business Development Center. Attendees will have the opportunity to discuss many issues that face businesses on a day-to-day basis: profitability, promoting business, increasing sales and lower overheads. The moderator will be Victor Green, an entrepreneur who has numerous businesses in different industries and has knowledge about what is needed to achieve success. The event is free. The center is at 1055 Wilshire Blvd., suite 900B, Los Angeles.
Free backpacks will be given to the first 500 students between ages 5 to 17 on Aug. 28 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. There will be food, games and community and health information at the event. The event will take place at St. John's United Methodist Church, 1715 Santa Ana Blvd., Los Angeles. The site is across the street from the Watts Towers.
Great Beginnings for Black Babies' Fatherhood Initiative, in conjunction with Inglewood City Councilmember Daniel K. Tabor, will host a "Fathers of the Community Back to School Walk" kick off on Aug. 28, noon, in the Darby Park gymnasium, 3400 W. Arbor Vitae St., Inglewood. The kick off will be held to enlist 300 men to commit to walking a child to the first day of school on Aug. 30. During the event, children, parents and mentors can have free food and participate in a free basketball clinic, among other things.
A launch party for the book "The Underbelly" will take place Aug. 29, 1 to 3 p.m., at the Reserve Loft Building, 409 W. Olympic Blvd., third floor patio, Los Angeles. "The Underbelly" is a mystery novella by Gary Phillips in which a semi-homeless black Vietnam veteran named Magrady searches for a disabled friend who has disappeared from L.A.'s Skid Row. Refreshments will be served.
Adilah Barnes, an award-winning actress and Essence magazine bestselling author, will be at this year's 4th Annual NAACP Theatre Festival Aug. 29 and 31 at the Los Angeles Theatre Center on 514 S. Spring St. Barnes wrote the book "On My Own Terms: One Actor's Journey." Her website is www.adilahbarnes.com. The festival will hold diverse workshops, panel discussions and performances.
Songstress Goapele will perform at the Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza as part of the BHCP Live! Summer Concert series on Aug. 29, 6:30 to 8 p.m. The concert s free, and the mall is located at 3650 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Los Angeles.
Walking With Dinosaurs will play its final engagements at Honda Center in Anaheim Sept. 1 to 5, followed by seven performances at Staples Center in downtown Los Angeles, Sept. 9 to 12. Walking With Dinosaurs — The Arena Spectacular is based on the BBC television series. Tickets are now on sale.
Mothers in Action will present the Health & Family Festival Sept. 4, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., at the L.A. Sports Arena. This health fair and festival is designed, in part, to give information to attendees about going back to school. Services will be provided, including examinations for students' eyes and ears. The arena is at 3939 S. Figueroa St., Los Angeles.
An All Black Affair-LA will take place Sept. 5, 8 p.m. to 1:30 a.m., at Disney Concert Hall, 111 S. Grand Ave., Los Angeles. Proceeds from this event will benefit the Brother II Brother mentoring organization. There are a limited number of presale tickets. The presale price is $25. The dress code is "all black." Event organizers reserve the right to refuse admittance to anyone. Information: (888) 501-4448. TRAINING The Business Entrepreneur Training Institute, a 12-week training program that will teach new and veteran entrepreneurs the "nuts & bolts" of operating a highly successful business, will start soon. The institute, launched by the Black Business Association, will begin Sept. 15, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., and will take place every Wednesday. BBA has launched the institute in partnership with West Los Angeles College. Training cost is $75.
The Robey Theatre Co. will present the world premiere of "The Reckoning" at the Los Angeles Theatre Center Sept. 25. Written by Kimba Henderson, the play is about one plantation, two families and so many secrets. Rubaiyat, a Louisiana crawfish farm owned by the Robillards, an affluent African-American family, was once a sugar plantation worked by slaves, and is consequently filled with all manner of secrets and treacheries. As LJ, the family's fiery but aging patriarch, prepares to hand over control of his estate to his devoted yet defiant daughter, secrets long buried gradually come to light, and the resurgence of an age-old betrayal will bring the Robillards face-to-face with the family whose long-held claims to Rubaiyat and bitter desperation have made them a dangerous force with which to be reckoned. The Los Angeles Theatre Center is at 514 S. Spring St., Los Angeles. There will be previews Sept. 22 to 24 at 8 p.m. Admission cost $30, but students can get in for $20. Preview show admission cost $15. A limited number of tickets will be available for each Thursday performance for $10.
The Jackie Robinson Foundation (JRF) will host the 5th Anniversary JAZZ on the Grass benefit concert Oct. 2, 2 p.m., at the estate of Lynne and Oz Scott, renowned director and producer, in Sherman Oaks. Rooted in the Robinson legacy of promoting social causes through art, JAZZ on the Grass has four hours of live musical performances, cuisine and a silent auction featuring vacation packages, sport and music memorabilia. Hosted by comedian and actor Chris Spencer, JAZZ raises funds for JRF's comprehensive program including financial support, mentoring and professional development. Some of the guest artists will include musicians Boney James, Sheila E., Marcus Miller and many more. Tickets are on sale online and via phone until Aug. 20 for the "early bird" price of $300.
