Downtown Culture: The Light Weekend Ahead
By Ed Fuentes
Published: Wednesday, December 22, 2010, at 09:57AM

DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES — Christmas Day is almost here. Hopefully you all have a wrapped umbrella waiting under the tree.

Of course, you know what will happen of you do get one for a gift: Downtown will end up with record highs and clear skies. It always seems to work out that way.

Nonetheless, you can take that said umbrella and use it for shade as you walk around a freshly-washed city and head toward an event or two. The calendar is light and your spirits should be as well.

ICE RINK: The L.A. Live Holiday Ice and Pershing Square’s Downtown On Ice will be open through the week, including on Christmas Day.

MORE PERSHING SQUARE: Offerings in the week’s Winter Concert Series include calypso-reggae-brazilian-jazz with Nassau Steel (Thu Dec 23, noon); smooth jazz with Jelsa Palano (Sun Dec 26, 2pm); and more 80s flashback with Fast Times (Mon Dec 27, noon) . . . weather permitting. Pershing Square / 532 S. Olive

John Tegmeyer Group: Clarinetist John Tegmeyer with Katisse Buckingham on woodwinds, Nick Mancini on vibes, Matt Mayhall on drums and Hamilton Price on bass. Thu Dec 23 9pm / Blue Whale / 123 Astronaut E S Onizuka St. Suite 301

The Rosie Flores Band: Rosie Flores brings her alternative rockabilly punk-tonk-fueled Christmasville Tour, with guest musician Danny B. Harvey. Thu Dec 23 9pm / The Redwood Bar & Grill / 316 W. 2nd

An Nollaig — An Irish Christmas: "Recently, an uncle in Ireland recalled a vision of me 'playing air violin' with a pink plastic guitar and wooden spoon when I was around 3 years old,” recalled Eileen Ivers in a recent interview. The music is in her blood, and she brings Celtic melodies, Christmas traditionals, carols and more, all mixed with an eclectic, jazzy pop beat. Thu Dec 23 / Walt Disney Concert Hall / 111 S. Grand

Las Posadas: The Olvera Street merchants and their families reenact the Christmas Eve journey of Mary and Joseph in Bethlehem searching for shelter. It's a night with pan dulce and pinatas at 6pm. The processions start at 7:30pm. Las Posadas runs on Olvera Street until December 24. Avila Adobe / 10 Olvera Street

51st Annual L.A. County Holiday Celebration: “Childhood Holiday Memories” is the theme of the annual Holiday gift from Los Angeles County, held December 24 at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion. Although smaller than previous years––"only” three hours and just 24 music and dance acts –– the multi-genre, multicultural affair still reflects the diversity performance from the region. Despite the cuts, it is still free. Fri Dec 24 3-6pm/ Dorothy Chandler Pavilion / 135 N. Grand

George Lopez Live, VIVO! Comedian George Lopez joked with FOX 11's 'Good Day L.A." that he plans to run for Mayor of Los Angeles in eight years. His platform: “I won't want change, I will want your change." If that doesn't work out, the first member of the Nokia Theatre Hall of Fame will always be the unofficial statesman of L.A. Live. No New Year's Eve show this year, but he will be appearing on December 26, 27 and 29 (8pm) at Nokia Theatre. 777 Chick Hearn Ct

LAKERS: Being an elite NBA team means one thing for certain––you will be scheduled to play on Christmas Day against another premiere franchise. Once LeBron James signed with Miami, schedules were made and it was announced that the big Christmas Day showdown would be the Lakers hosting the Heat. If you don’t have a ticket in your stocking, game tickets are averaging only $549 each. Sat Dec 25 2pm / Staples Center / 1111 S. Figueroa

Third Annual Riot Grrrl X-mas Carnival: Benefit for The Downtown Women’s Center: With punk groups Las Sangronas y El Cabron; Plus The Outskirts and Toy Attica. Sun Dec 26 9pm / The Smell 247 S. Main

CLIPPER NATION: Some may say finding a Clipper ticket in your stocking amounts to a lump of coal. Not if you are a fan of L.A.’s other team. Potential NBA rookie of the year Blake Griffin has a 16 game streak of double-doubles streak, helping the Clips with a small win streak. On Sunday, the Clippers take on the Phoenix Suns. Sun Dec 26 12pm / Staples Center 1111 S. Figueroa Street