Hot Dates

Veterans’ Memorial Auditorium, Culver City, 9770 Culver Blvd.; July 10, 10 a.m.–6 p.m.; July 11, 10 a.m.–5 p.m.; (310) 472-6490; free.

The Culver City Rock and Mineral Club returns with its annual summer celebration of all things gemological. Attractions include a mix of exhibits, dealers and demonstrations of lapidary, beading, carving, minerals and jewelry design. A special display of fluorescent minerals — including amber, calcite and zircon — under ultraviolet light will be featured this year, and kids can get in on a variety of educational games.

Echo Park Lake, Glendale Blvd. & Echo Park Ave.; July 10, noon–9 p.m.; July 11, noon–8 p.m.; (213) 485-1310; free. â

Come one, come all to see the largest lotus bed outside of China at this festival of Eastern culture, and while you’re there, stick around for delectable Asian cuisine, flower shows, dragon-boat races and tons of children’s activities.

Hollywood Bowl; July 16–17, 8:30 p.m.; (323) 850-2000; $30–$3.

Celebrate Bastille Day at the Bowl in a Gallic-themed evening, with the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra and a special appearance by a true legend, world-renowned mime Marcel Marceau. The program’s rousing fireworks spectacle will be set to Ravel’s Bolero.

The Rose Bowl, 1001 Rose Bowl Dr., Pasadena; July 29, 5–10 p.m.; July 30, 5–11 p.m.; July 31, noon–11 p.m.; Aug. 1, noon–11 p.m.; (562) 495-5959; free.

This four-day event features a full carnival with rides, games, food vendors, and arts and crafts, plus live entertainment. All-day wristbands are available; proceeds from sales will benefit the DayOne Youth Organization and various other programs for youth.

Central Avenue between 42nd and 43rd streets; July 31–Aug. 1, 11 a.m.–6 p.m.; (213) 485-2437; free.

Just outside the Dunbar Hotel on historic Central Avenue, the best jazz and blues in the Southland is the centerpiece of this 4-year-old street scene. Food booths, arts & crafts, lots of children’s activities, and of course plenty of live jazz entertainment will be featured.

The Elegant Manor, 3115 W. Adams Blvd.; Aug. 14–16, 10 a.m.–dusk; (323) 735-9642; free.

The life and philosophy of Jamaican icon Marcus Moziah Garvey are the touchstones for this grand festival, which will include an African marketplace, a black-business expo and a holistic health fair on top of a parade, traditional dance perform-ances and live music.

Point Fermin Park, 807 W. Paseo del Mar, San Pedro; Aug. 14–15, 11 a.m.–7 p.m.; (310) 832-1357; $6, $4 seniors & military, $3 children 18–11, $1 children under 11.

The culinary craftspeople of the Harbor area’s many diverse restaurants will converge at scenic Point Fermin for a day of noshin’ of the highest order. Kids can whet their appetites by taking part in such activities as face painting.

Little Tokyo; Aug. 14–22, 10 a.m.–6 p.m.; (213) 687-7193; http://members. aol.com/niseiweek//niseiweek.htm for detailed program info; most events free.

The heritage of Japanese-Americans is the focus of this nine-day extravaganza. Events planned include a 5K run, parade, carnival, fashion show, tofu festival, street arts fair, and demonstrations in martial arts and taiko drumming.

3600–4600 blocks of Sunset Blvd., Silver Lake; Aug. 21, 10 a.m.–11 p.m.; Aug. 22, 10 a.m.–10 p.m.; (323) 661-7771; $3.

You’ll be hard-pressed to find a cooler lineup of acts this summer than at this summit of the unspeakably hip Silver Lake/Los Feliz scenes. On top of the carnival rides, arts, crafts and cornucopia of ethnic foods, confirmed acts for this year include Mary Wilson, Sam Moore, Blues Experiment, Bobby Matos, Mickey Champion and others.

Rancho Cienega Park, 5001 Rodeo Blvd.; Aug. 21–22, 28–29 and Sept. 4–6, 10 a.m.–7 p.m.; (323) 734-1164 or (213) 237-1540; $3.50, seniors and children under 10 free.

An eminently popular summer fest, this affair celebrates the African diaspora; a soccer tournament, Celebrity Village Games, Village Gourd Festival and the African Business Expo are among the headline attractions. Live entertainment, pan-African food, and a variety of arts and crafts are featured.

Cal State Long Beach, 1250 Bellflower Blvd.; Sept. 4–6, 11 a.m.–6 p.m.; (562) 985-5566; $27.50 in advance, $30 at the entrance.

KLON 88.1 FM is once again the sponsor of this, billed as "the biggest blues festival west of Chicago." Numerous record merchants and food vendors will be on hand, and then of course there is the stellar lineup: John Lee Hooker, Bobby Rush, Little Milton, Ruth Brown,â Coco Taylor, the Fabulous Thunderbirds, Charlie Musselwhite and more to be announced.

Los Angeles County Museum of Art, 5905 Wilshire Blvd. Family Days all summer long, (323) 857-6512; free with museum admission. Summer Art session through July and August; (323) 857-6139; various enrollment fees.

Kids rule at LACMA this year, with instructional programs toward cultivating the artists of the future. Family Days offer fun and learning geared toward children ages 5 to 12, including "Paint the Park" (July 25) and the architecture-driven "Make Your Mark" (Aug. 29). A number of one-week class sessions for 6- to 12-year-olds will offer topics ranging from mixed media to Modernism, and there is a teen series featuring courses in sketching and figure drawing.

The Watercourt at California Plaza, 350 S. Grand Ave., dwntwn.; May 28–Oct. 30, performances at noon and 8 p.m.; (213) 687-2159, or e-mail events@grandperformances.org for detailed program info; free.