Here’s one for those of you near to downtown Los Angeles – or those of you planning a vacation, for that matter.

The Downtown Art Walk is a free event, with more than 40 participating museums and art galleries. It takes place on the second Tuesday of every month, and thousands of people turn out to wander the walkable districts around the Gallery Row on Main and Spring Streets in the Historic Core of Los Angeles.

Whether you’re a local looking to spend the afternoon taking in some culture while enjoying a nice stroll, or a tourist looking to mingle with thousands of Los Angelinos and maybe spot a roaming celebrity in their natural environment, the Art Walk is a phenomenon well worth visiting.

Street musicians, artists and their masterworks, and dozens of sponsoring restaurants, bars, stores and services all on showcase with – it must be said – some of the most engaging and lively people-watching in North America.

An example of the sorts of goodies to be found, apart from the artwork of course, can be seen here: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=345123912816&index=1 ZonePerfect Nutrition Bars, a regular sponsor of the Art Walk, are there offering free samples of their goods – and they are one of many sponsors to browse and sample while you’re there.