It’s “SummerTini” time tomatoes, with a tasting you don’t want to miss in charming downtown Culver City. Tasting abounds in LA and “All Fired Up” is how you should feel with the return of “Taste of the Market” at our iconic Farmers Market. Looking for a free summer screening? Well, Old Pasadena is also in the summer screening game and they are hosting just what you are looking for ladies. Not only is there a fabulous new exhibit at The Getty that will transport you to China’s Silk Road many moons ago but there is an event coming up that will complement this exhibition.  A two-fer ladies!

July 17. Silk Road Caves

The exhibition at The Getty, “Cave Temples of Dunhuang; Buddhist Art on China’s Silk Road” really sounds incredible especially since the paintings of the Magao caves date as far back as the 4^th century, a little older than us…teehee. What sounds even more incredible, tomatoes, is combining the experience of this mind blowing exhibition with “An Evening with Tan Dun”. The world renowned composer and musician will speak and present a mini-concert reflective of the exhibition.  Me thinks, ladies, this will make for a totally immersive museum experience.

With their exquisite wall paintings and sculptures, the Mogao caves bear witness to the intense religious, artistic, and cultural exchanges along the Silk Road, the trade route linking East and West. Three full-size cave replicas, hand painted by artists at the Dunhuang Academy, will be installed on the Getty Center’s plaza.

“This exhibition is the product of years of hard work and cooperation between the Getty Conservation Institute and their partners in Dunhuang to conserve the extraordinary legacy of the Mogao caves, arguably the most important and beautiful pictorial evidence of the transmission of Buddhism along the Silk Road,” says Jim Cuno, President and CEO of the J. Paul Getty Trust. Can’t make it Sunday? Well, only 55 days left to see the exhibition ladies.  Time’s a wastin’.

 July 19. Taste of Farmers Market 

“Taste of Farmers Market” returns to the original FM for their 8th year with this one-day event presenting more than 50 restaurants, grocers, and eateries. There’s even more reason to be fired up about this event, you hot tomatoes you, because this year’s theme “All Fired Up” means the proceeds will benefit the “First-In Fire Foundation” and local amazing firefighter chefs will be preparing samplings and tastings just for you. Yum Yum gals.

And for the first time ever there will be a kid’s ticket for those 10 years or younger for just 10 bucks!  Can’t beat that or the chance to get a photo with a fire truck, all the while helping First in Fire Foundation. Their mission is devoted to friend-raising and fund-raising for the Fire Service and the Fire Department, its firefighters, services, and programs including the Fire Department’s Adopt a Fire Station Program, Fire Safety Education, CERT and Emergency Preparedness, including Pet Preparedness. No fire station is left behind tomatoes.

July 20. SummerTini 

Downtown Culver City has started up it’s “Taste of Summer” events again (every 3^rd Wednesday) and next up is  “SummerTini Time” from 5 to 9pm. While you’re there, enjoy treats, tours, ticket giveaways and live music throughout the downtown area along the beautiful tree-lined neighborhoods. What a wonderful way to wind down after a hot and busy summer work day tomatoes.

It’s also a great chance for tomatoes to explore this area’s rich history with one-of-a-kind restaurants, boutiques, bars, theatres and galleries.   As Eric Sims, operations manager of the Kirk Douglas Theatre and President of the Culver City Downtown Business Association states, “We always joke that this area is one of Southern California’s ‘best kept secrets’. It’s a secret we’re ready to let out of the bag.” That’s your cue tomatoes.

Till July 30. Old Pasadena Summer Cinema 

Formerly known as the Old Pasadena Film Festival, the newly named Old Pasadena Summer Cinema is indeed the largest open-air film festival in California with…drum roll…20 screenings tomatoes! And they are all FREE.  Four of my all-time favs are showing tonight and tomorrow night; “Two for the Road”, “Cool Hand Luke”, “American Graffiti” and “Raising Arizona”.  Quite a selection, ladies.  Albert Finney was delicious in “Two for the Road”.

All the screenings take place in a variety of outdoor spaces in Old Town and a few unique indoor locations.  Chairs are provided but it’s first come first serve ladies so you might want to tote a chair and of course a blanket just in case.