Starting at 7 p.m. on June 3, 2005, First Fridays will begin with "The Best Laid Plans..." Led by a panel of experts, the discussion will explore how well official plans and policies are serving Southern California and if, in fact, it IS "the infrastructure, stupid" that is responsible for the air, water, and highway pollution we all face everyday. The discussion will be moderated by speaker, writer, and environmentalist Terrence McNally and will include environmentalist / Riverside Mayor Ron Loveridge, Director of the Center for the Study of Los Angeles Dr. Fernando Guerra, and author D.J.Waldie. The panel will examine the relevance of the Jared Diamond book, "Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed" and the choices elected officials and community leaders are making for the region.
Following what we hope will be a spirited discussion, guests and participants will be invited to visit COLLAPSE?*, the Museum's exciting new exhibition inspired by Diamond's latest Best Seller.
At 9 p.m., in the fine tradition of First Fridays past, the Natural History Museum will reverberate with the beat of Latin Reggae. The B-Side Players, a septet led by Karlos Paez, provides a high-energy, multi-genre stew that will have the dinos dancing and move the shyest members of the audience to the center of the Mammal Hall dance floor. Although B-Side music has more social and political substance than most dancers require, their beat and groove will also remind you of Issac Hayes, the Buena Vista Social Club and the Cuban All-Stars. They have it all - Latin jazz with a dash of funk, flamenco rhythms, reggae and rock! Opening up will be Latin Ska upstarts Upground. DJ Anthony Valadez will keep the dancefloor moving between sets and video DJs Mekanix return to provide the evening's visual accompaniment.
Put on your dancin' shoes and join us at the Natural History Museum on June 3!
Wolfgang Puck Catering & Events will provide concessions for sale.
*These are self-guided visits, not the special tours that were last month's First Friday event.
