California Southland Cultural Events
Where else but SoCal can you go to India, time travel to Spanish California, see classic cars, and enjoy a clam chowder festival by the beach all in one weekend? Check out the full event listings in the SoCalCulture Events page.
In some parts of the world, August 1 is called “Lammas” or “loaf mass” day, an event dating back to the Anglo Saxon times to celebrate the first harvests and a time to bake that nice first loaf of bread. It’s a handy day in between the summer solstice and fall equinox. There is an ancient Celtic variation: “Lughnasadh” which similarly celebrates the beginning of the harvest season. So enjoy some fresh baked bread, pick a pretty flower or strawberry, and celebrate a beautiful day.
Santa Barbara “Old Spanish Days” Fiesta kicks July 31 and runs through August 4. See the Camarillo white horses on parade. Autry Museum Salsa Thursday is August 1 with Yari Moré Latin Band. Descanso Garden in La Canada starts extended hour Thursdays throughout August.. August 3 & 4 brings the best of classical Indian music at Festival of Tabla in Norwalk (Little India). August 3 is the Downtown Burbank Car Classic with blocks and blocks of classic cars. Details for all events and more on the Events page.
The annoying Mercury retrograde is over this week and the summer car rally season begins! In California, we have car rallies throughout the year, but it is peak summer that that brings out the classic Mustangs, VW’s, Lowriders and those unique cars that define our culture. The Ford Mustang launched in 1965. Six generations and over 10 million cars later, it is still in production. How visionary for a car coming out of Detroit to define the Southern Californian so well: blonde, suntanned, gleaming white smile and sunglasses. There will surely be some Ponies coming out to play at the Burbank Classic Car Show this weekend August 3 in beautiful downtown Burbank.
Two events this week remind me of the greatness of the Dutch: the passing of actor Rutger Hauer and the Southland’s celebration of Rembrandt in 5 of our major museums
“Keeping it real” is what the Dutch do best in art, film, music, words. To celebrate Hauer, see the film “Soldier of Orange” and by all means, visit and see the Rembrandt collections in person at our museums: Norton Simon, Getty, LACMA, Hammer and San Diego museum the Timkin. Here is the fantastic Virtual Exhibition: https://rembrandtinsocal.org/virtual-exhibition/
In Indian dance, the “Mudra” refers to hand gestures. These graceful movements are associated with body’s energy flow and the elements of nature. A good go-to on Mudras can be found here: https://chopra.com/articles/10-powerful-mudras-and-how-to-use-them. At Descanso Gardens “Dance India,” Sharanaya Mukhopadhyay and her dancers performed Odissi (classical Indian dance originated in the Hindu Temples of Odisha) and Joya Kazi Unlimited dancers brought the glitter of Bollywood to the evening. Ancient dance, side by side with the modern, all in the perfect setting of a botanical garden. Check out the photo slide show on FB @socalcultural
Classical Indian music duo Absolute Focus performed this past weekend at the Norton Simon Museum in the lead up to the Festival of Tabla (Aug 3 & 4 in Norwalk’). Kamaljeet Ahluwalia plays the Santoor, a hammered dulcimer from Kashmir. Her husband Jas Ahluwalia plays the Tabla, North Indian drums. They performed “Raga Yaman” and “Raga Mishra Pahad.” “Raga” is a Sanskrit word meaning to dye or color. In musical terms, a “Raga” colors the mind. Improvisation is part of the performance which makes this a unique experience with every single performer and performance. The Santoor has 100 strings and is played with light wooden mallets called “mezrab.” The Tabla keeps the mesmerizing beat and the Santoor takes you on the colorful journey.
