First Thursday is a great evening event. It’s always fun running into old friends and meeting new ones.
Restaurants: You’re in for a real treat visiting San Pedro’s restaurants. We’re looking forward to sampling another one of the Downtown’s unique restaurants. The cuisine ranges from English Pub to Mexican Cafes, Mediterranean to Italian, Japanese to California Cuisine, Thai, Organic Raw Vegan Cuisine, Cuban and others. Plan on visiting a new or favorite restaurant.
Shops: Take a walk down memory lane visiting art galleries and shops along 6th and 7th Streets. The “Tivoli Lights” crisscrossing the streets makes it feel like you’re going to a special party and set the mood for a fun evening. Live music and food trucks add to the festive atmosphere. It is a wonderful free event with new experiences every month.
The First Thursday Artwalk Tour: is different every month – new artists in town, galleries with rotating exhibits, and artists that have been part of the Arts District for years. Each month the tour lasts about one hour and visits different artists and galleries, providing an overview and introduction to San Pedro’s lively Arts District. Visitors enjoy interacting with the artists and curators, learning about the artists’ techniques and inspiration. The free guided tour provides a focus on a few stops for a one hour introduction, and there is a different itinerary each month. The tour begins at 6:30 in the Chamber of Commerce Board Room Gallery, where the work of James Harter is featured. His original work includes oil painting and photography.
Angel’s Gate Cultural Center’s Pop-Up Gallery has moved to Pacific Ave. “Faint Floaters“, the installation, is curated by Dulce Soledad Ibarra from Angels Gate. Featured artists are Beth Elliott and Vanessa Madrid. Using softness in material and softness as a verb perpetuates a balance of strength and fragility. Soft is not broken, but it can be pushed to an extreme. Waves crash in softness and vitality, and water in theory is gentle sentiment that can overwhelm. These works play off the duality of theme and material intersected within their landscapes.
The National Watercolor Society’s 2017 Member Exhibition features 89 contemporary watermedia paintings curated by nationally known artist Robert Burridge. The artwork ranges from realistic to non-objective and features 89 paintings.
After the tour, you have plenty of time to enjoy a meal or glass of wine with entertainment at one of the many of the popular independent restaurants in San Pedro, and explore other art venues on your own.
Each month the Artwalk tour starts at 6:30, meeting at the San Pedro Chamber of Commerce, 390 W. 7th Street. Contact FirstthursdaySPtour@gmail.com to receive monthly Artwalk Tour information by email.
New this August “3rd Saturday Art Walk” starts on July 15th, continues to August 19th and September 16 from 2:00-6:00pm