First Fridays + Bringing Cultural Celebrations To Long Beach

The City of Long Beach's Art Council is collaborating with Artists in Partnership, Inc., to create bring a new series of cultural events to the City by the Sea. Starting in October, residents will see the debut of First Fridays +, a series of monthly "cultural happy hours" celebrating diversity, music, art, dance, food and the performing arts. First Fridays + is sponsored in part by local businesses and the Billy Crystal Fund.

"First Fridays + will run from October through June, and it will be scheduled in a variety of venues throughout the city," said Elizabeth Connolly, LBNY-Arts director of development. "We are thrilled to be hosting fun events over next several months, featuring live music, visual arts, poetry, drama, dance, and comedy."

Programs will be held on the first Friday of the month, along with some additional dates and locations. Each month will feature a different performance genre with visual arts exhibits that illustrate the theme.

Hispanic Heritage Month is the inspiration for the First Fridays + inaugural event on Friday, Oct. 6 from 6 to 8:30 p.m. at BRIDGEWORKS, located at 780 Long Beach Boulevard.

Traditional Latin music will be performed by GIMAGUA, a popular MTA Music Underground Flamenco and South American Rhumba guitar duo of Colombian-born twin brothers, Guillermo and Gabriel. Additionally, there will be artwork by local visual artists of Hispanic descent on display, along with Hispanic cuisine and beverages. Admission is $20 at the door and $15 for members of LBNY-Arts. Proceeds support future programming for LBNY-Arts events and projects.

Photo: City of Long Beach