IN THE ARTS

Latin jazz in Rose Garden Aug. 6

Laguna Beach Live will present the Latin Jazz Syndicate featuring Bijon Watson at the Hotel Laguna Rose Garden from 6 to 8 p.m. Aug. 6.

The group infuses authentic Latin grooves with classic standards, as well as performing original arrangements.

The musicians are Bijon Watson, trumpet, fluegelhorn; Carlos Ordiano, keyboards; Ruben Ordiano, drums; Oscar Cartaya, bass; and Angel Rodriguez, percussion.

Bijon Watson is lead trumpet for the critically-acclaimed Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra, and recently toured with Harry Connick, Jr.

Cover charge is $10.

For more information, visit www.lagunabeachlive.org.

Youth theater workshops offered

The Laguna Beach Playhouse will offer two workshops for youth this summer.

?Kids on Broadway (ages 9 to 12) will be from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Kathy Harris and Rachel Green will teach an in-depth study of songs, scenes and monologues.

The workshop includes skill building and the creation of a showcase performance on the final day.

The cost is $500.

?The Teen Acting Workshop (ages 13 to 18) will be from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, a crash course on acting, improvisation, and how to audition.

This 10-day program focuses on scenes, monologues and ensembles, and culminates with a final performance on July 18.

The instructor is Jane Hillary, and the cost is $300.

Both programs run July 7-18 at The Laguna Playhouse Production Center in Laguna Hills.

No experience is required for participants. Registration deadline is Tuesday.

For more information, call Kelly Herman (949) 497-2787 x230.

Sawdust Art Festival opens with ‘Aloha’

The Sawdust Art Festival is opening this weekend with entertainment throughout the day from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Opening Weekend entertainment highlights:

?Friday: Opening Day “Aloha” luau, 10 a.m. Ribbon cutting ceremony; 11 a.m. Balloon Diva “” balloon artistry (roving); noon, Jerome Gray Trio “” Hawaiian music with Polynesian dancers (main deck); 12:30 p.m., Anthony the Magic “” magic show for the whole family (main deck); 5:30 p.m.; World Anthem “” Reggae music (main deck).

?Saturday: 11 a.m. Balloon Diva “” balloon artistry (roving); noon, Porterhouse Bob “” Cajun-zydeco music (main deck); 5:30 p.m. Red Elvises “” electric rock (main deck).

?Sunday: 10:30 a.m. Francisco Ruano “” Flamenco guitar (roving); noon, The Kid & Nic Show “” Swing (main deck); 5:30 p.m. Vertigo Road “” Folk rock (main deck); 6 p.m., JJ & the Habibis “” Belly dancers (main deck).

The festival is located at 935 Laguna Canyon Road. For more information, visit sawdustartfestival.org

Pure Light shows how to make candles

Pure Light is celebrating summer with creative, summer-themed candlemaking demonstrations. The nature-inspired candle studio will host daily a different type of candle making each week so customers can experience a new candle making technique. All will have the opportunity to participate in their own candle making experience and leave with their wax wonders. Demonstrations will be held each day at 11:30 a.m. and 3 p.m.

“With the Sawdust festival on and right next door, our demonstrations are a perfect way to let people embrace their spirit of creativity, have hands-on fun if they choose to and leave with festive works of art they can enjoy this summer,” said Pure Light owner Judy Kelly.

The first in the series, how to make barbecue torch candles, begins on Saturday and will run daily through Thursday.

Vacationers won’t want to miss the “Vacation Memories” candle workshop on alternate weeks throughout the summer. Visitors can fill their candles with mementos from their trip to Laguna Beach. They’re invited to bring a hotel key, sea glass, golf tees, photos that Pure Light will laminate and anything else that sparks a memory. There’s no end to the ideas and creativity.

Price varies with the size of candle selected.

Sand Candles are the class focus July 14 to 20. Pure Light will supply the shapes, sand and shells to decorate these organic creations. Similar sand candles sell in stores for $75 to $125, but customers can create their own originals starting at just $25.

Charming, floating waterglass candles make for creative elegance July 28 to Aug. 3. These luminaries make for sophisticated centerpieces and eye-catching accent décor on dinner party tables.

The final candlemaking class of the summer is Shells and Coconuts, Aug. 18 to 24.

Attendees will fill giant scallop shells and hollowed-out coconuts with wax.

These creations burn bright and beautifully light a garden path or favorite spot.

At any time during the summer, visitors can make their own candles for any occasion at their custom candle studio. Customers can choose from more than 30 molds, an array of scents, colors that run the spectrum and then chunk away at blocks of wax and decorate their candle with fun embellishments and metal tokens.

For more information on candlemaking visit PureLightCelebrations.com or call (949) 376-7200. Pure Light is located at 821 Laguna Canyon Road, near the Sawdust Festival.