(Feb. 24, 2007) -- On Saturday afternoon (Feb. 24), final preparations were underway on downtown Pine Ave. for Saturday night's "Party With A Purpose" benefiting LB area charities...

...while a Saturday afternoon "Art in Motion Festival" featured Councilwoman Suja Lowenthal in a charity tricycle relay race.

She's in the right lane and in the lead on Linden Ave. in the East Village.

The events are all part of the lead-up to what local business and city officials hope will be an attention-getting, crowd-drawing climax to the six-day, statewide Amgen Bicycle Tour which ends in downtown LB on Sunday, Feb. 25.

A sound engineer lashes up this mighty mixer to handle Saturday night's musical acts on this stage at Pine Ave. and Broadway.

Jim Michaelian (President/CEO of Grand Prix Ass'n of LB), left, and Jack Leavitt (President, Another Brilliant Move, pointing to stage lighting) monitor the set-up.

John Morris (Smooth's Sports Grille) wears his "game face" as zero-hour approaches. He serves as the LB Festival Committtee Chair.

Smile, John!

A few blocks away in the East Village, Ryan Smolar oversaw the "Art in Motion Festival."

People gathered near a neighborhood stage to enjoy reggae rhythms.

The Art in Motion Festival was a bicycle themed event with multiple bicycle-oriented booths.