Baltimore arts briefs: July 27

Olympic opening celebrations

Club Hippo is having a viewing party for the opening ceremony of the 2012 London Olympics tonight at 7 p.m. The club is at 1 West Eager Street in Baltimore.

The opening ceremonies begin at 7:30 and Club Hippo is offering drink specials all night long: $6 for Absolut Drinks, $3 for Miller Lite Draft and Yuengling Draft and $2.25 for Natty Boh Draft.

Admission is free. For more information, clubhippo.com.

Celebrate Christmas while the weather is warm

Grand Central (1001/1003 N. Charles St.) hosts its “Christmas in July” party Saturday night starting at 10 p.m. Cover is $6 and goes to benefit the Gay and Lesbian Community Center.

The Center is a group that provides numerous services to the LGBT community as well as publishes Gay Life and produces Baltimore Pride. This year, it’s celebrating 35 years of service.

Grand Central offers $2.50 drinks from 10-11 p.m. For more information, visit centralstationpub.com.

Last year’s Otakon. (Photo courtesy Otakon)

The Otaku generation returns to Baltimore

Otakon, a yearly festival that celebrates anime, manga and other elements of Asian pop culture, starts today at 10 a.m and ending Sunday afternoon at 3 p.m at the Baltimore Convention Center (1 West Pratt St.).

Otakon is called the “convention of the otaku generation: by fans, for fans.” Since 1999, the festival has taken over a large area of the Inner Harbor, attracting millions of fans dressed as their favorite characters. Activities include art shows, concerts, film screenings, autograph signings and dancing.

Online registration has closed but tickets can still be bought at the door for $80. Children under 8 have free admission. For more information, visit otakon.com.

A summer evening with sculpture and jazz

Baltimore Museum of Art (10 Art Museum Dr.) hosts “Jazz in the Sculpture Garden” Saturday night at 7 p.m. with the Steven Kroon Latin Jazz Sextet.

Kroon brings to the concert sultry Latin sounds developed from a 35-year career that has included other great jazz musicians. He was requested back to the Sculpture Garden event by popular demand.

The event will also include twilight hour tours starting at 5 p.m., which include a glass of wine. Attendees are encouraged to pack their own picnic or purchase wine, beer and soft drinks at their concessions.

General admission for a concert is $25 and with a tour is $35. Member tickets are $18 and with a tour is $23. For more information, visit artbma.org.