A child-friendly tour of L.A.’s cultural treasures

Has your neighborhood ever had a block party? Usually someone asks their city for permission to close a street to traffic and the people who live there get together for a really good time.

On Oct. 17, there is going to be a gigantic block party in downtown Los Angeles.

And guess what? You’re invited! It’s all happening on Grand Avenue between Temple and 5th streets from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

At the block party you’ll be able to ponder paintings, listen to music, chomp on delicious food and more. Explore Walt Disney Concert Hall, the Music Center, the Museum of Contemporary Art, the Central Library and other sites, all within walking distance.

At the Museum of Contemporary Art you can see if your creations measure up to the works of great artists.

On the Music Center Plaza, kids can learn how to make puppets, instruments, books, sand paintings, spiral sculptures and ceramics.

Scattered throughout there’ll be performers from Grand Performances, the Center Theatre Group, the Music Center of Los Angeles County, the Los Angeles Opera, the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the REDCAT theater and the Colburn School of Performing Arts.

And don’t miss “Westward Ho, Carlotta,” a funny story about a world-famous opera singer who travels to the Old West, taming wolves and ruffians with her powerful voice. Storyteller Peter Kors, soprano Heather Calvete and pianist Dan Bridston will present the story at 2 and 3 p.m. at the Central Library as part of its Performing Books series.

If you feel as if you’ve missed something, you can take a tour given by the Los Angeles Conservancy.

So come to the best block party of the year and discover the greatness of Los Angeles. It’s fun and it’s free.

For more information about the block party, contact the Grand Avenue Festival at (213) 624-2146 or go to downtown la.com.

This Learning Link was written by Ilene Abramson, director of children’s services for the Los Angeles Public Library, iabrams@lapl.org. For information on the library’s Performing Books series, call (213) 228-7481.