Town Crier: Week of July 28

Boller, Salvo, and Worden Join Platter Painting Party at Festival of Arts     

Art lovers are invited to a Platter Painting Party on Saturday, July 29, from 8:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. in the Art Center at Festival of Arts. Visitors will watch as 17 festival exhibitors try their hand at painting personal designs on platters and tiles using ceramic glazes. “We will be seeing all styles that matter, from traditional to graphic splatters on these platters,” said Mike Tauber, program coordinator.

Visitors may mingle, watch the progress and interact with the artists at work.

The nearby wine bar and food concession will be open or visitors may bring their own. All exhibitor booths will be available for visiting throughout the festival grounds. 

The finished fired platters and tiles will be available for viewing and bidding during the Art-To-Go auction on Sunday, Aug. 27, from 6 to 8 p.m. Closing of bid sheets starts at 7:15 p.m., so early bidding is encouraged. 

All events are free with regular festival admission. Proceeds from sales support the Enrichment Grant Fund of The Artists Fund at Festival of Arts. Laguna Clay Company sponsors the event. More information is available by visiting TheArtistsFund-FoA.org or by calling (949) 612-1949. 

Be Well OC Mobile Mental Health Service Kick-Off and Ribbon Cutting Aug. 1 

The City of Laguna Beach will host a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Tuesday, Aug. 1, at 5 p.m. to celebrate the start of new Be Well OC mobile mental health services in Laguna Beach. 

In April, the Laguna Beach City Council approved a partnership with Be Well OC to establish a Mobile Response Team providing community mental health and wellness. The program was approved for a two-year pilot and will officially launch on Aug. 1. 

The program incorporates Be Well staff into a city’s network of first responders and enables 911 dispatchers to route mental health and substance use crisis calls to the Be Well Mobile Crisis Response Team.  

Bob Margolis Golf Tournament – Boys & Girls Club of Laguna Beach

The Boys & Girls Club of Laguna Beach will host its 23rd annual Bob Margolis Golf Tournament on Monday, Aug. 7, at Aliso Viejo Country Club.

Golfers can look forward to a fun day on the course while supporting our communities youth. Proceeds from the tournament directly impact the lives of youth at the Boys & Girls Club by promoting their socio-emotional health and well-being.

The tournament will feature a chopper ball drop, silent auction, lunch on the course, kegs of beer and games in the course, contests and awards afterparty. 

The tournament is named in memory of Bob Margolis, whose character is honored by the community’s contributions towards the Boys & Girls Club.

More information is available by visiting www.bgclagunabeach.org/bob-margolis-golf-tournament. 

Laguna Community Concert Band to Perform at The Festival of Arts

The Laguna Community Concert Band will play a mix of smash hits from musicals, film, television and patriotic classics on Sunday, Aug. 6, from 1 to 2:30 p.m. at the Festival of Arts, located at 650 Laguna Canyon Road.

The concert lineup includes medleys from “West Side Story” and “The Music Man;” film score favorites from “The Pink Panther,” “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” and James Bond and Indiana Jones movies, plus patriotic gems such as John Philip Sousa’s “Stars and Stripes Forever.”

As with all of the band’s performances, this concert is free, as is admission to the Festival of Arts for Laguna Beach residents. The Laguna Community Concert Band rehearses at the Laguna Beach High School band room on Tuesday nights at 6 p.m. For the latest news about the band and a calendar of concerts, go to the website at www.lagunaconcertband.com.

Spots still available for Hortense Miller Garden Bird Tour

A few spots are still available for the next Hortense Miller Garden birding tour with Janine Robinson on Saturday, July 29, at 9 a.m. Those interested in the bird walk can book via the city at www.lagunabeachcity.net or by calling (949) 464-6645.

Twelfth Annual Laguna Bluebelt Photo Exhibition at the LCAD Gallery Opening Reception

Laguna College of Art + Design’s Gallery presents original photography from the Laguna Bluebelt’s 12th annual photo contest winners, celebrating Laguna’s Marine Protected Areas (MPA) and their diversity.

This exhibition is comprised of professional and amateur photos that capture the natural beauty of the Laguna Bluebelt’s beaches, marine life, and recreation from above and below while bringing attention to the importance of conserving and protecting this invaluable resource.

The photography can be viewed for free at LCAD Gallery, 374 Ocean Ave., Laguna Beach, from Aug. 3 to Aug. 20, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Wednesday through Sunday. 

Chabad Hebrew School Accepting New Students

Chabad Hebrew School is now accepting new students for the 2023/2024 academic year, beginning Sept. 12. 

New this year is the Nosh Masters Culinary adventure, “noshing through the Jewish calendar!”

The Chabad Hebrew School is an interactive, hands-on program that allows children ages 5 to 12 to explore their heritage in an engaging and exciting manner. The school believes that children learn by experience. Its curriculum allows students to bake a challah, make menorahs, and participate in a Passover Seder. Hebrew reading is taught using the highly acclaimed Aleph Champ program, modeled after the karate/martial arts motivational system. Holidays are explored throughout the year with exciting CKids clubs, open to all community children, and Torah stories come alive through hands-on lessons. Above all, morals and values take the front row with a focus on mitzvah opportunities. 

Curriculum highlight this year – Nosh Masters! Monthly culinary adventure noshing through the Jewish calendar, with mouthwatering recipes such as high holiday pomegranate salsa, Passover matzah pizza, choco-chip challah in a bag and more!  

Classes meet on Tuesday afternoons from 4:30 to 6 p.m. Bar/Bat Mitzvah lessons are available. More info is available by calling the Chabad office at (949) 499- 0770 or visiting the website at www.chabadoflaguna.com. Chabad is located at 30804 S.Coast Hwy. in Laguna Beach. 

Music in the Park in Full Swing at Bluebird Park 

The City of Laguna Beach Arts Commission presents the 40th annual Music in the Park concert series, with musical performances every Sunday until Aug. 20 at 5 p.m. at Bluebird Park. Low-seating beach chairs are encouraged. Alcohol is permitted for guests 21 and older but must be accompanied by a full meal. Solicitation of any kind is not permitted at city events.

Performance Schedule:

July 30 – Scot Bruce

Aug. 6 – Lao Tizer Band

Aug. 13 – Always, Adele

Aug. 20 – TBA

Laguna Art Museum Programs

July 28 at 7 p.m. – Teen Night: Y2K

LAM invites teenagers to a Y2K-themed Teen Night, where they can enjoy a night full of music, media and art experiences that celebrate the nostalgia of the 2000s. Themed outfits are encouraged, so grab those butterfly clips and bucket hats and bring your BFFs to LAM. Food and light refreshments will be provided.

July 29 at 6 p.m. – LAM Game Night

Join LAM for a fun-filled evening with games, music and refreshments. From classic board games to oversized games, this event has something for the whole family. Children must be accompanied by at least one paying adult. 

Aug. 6 at 10 a.m. – Jean Stern Presents: Connoisseurship

In this lecture, art historian and LAM Curatorial Fellow Jean Stern will discuss connoisseurship and what to look for when collecting art. This thoughtful and engaging introduction to the art of collecting will include looking at, examining and assessing art from a collector’s point of view. Mr. Stern will share his experience as well as the basics of art collecting that can turn an art aficionado into a Connoisseur. More information for all Laguna Art Museum events can be found at www.lagunaartmuseum.org/events.