Eric Richardson [Flickr]

Pershing Square's still-dry fountain, with the Biltmore Hotel in the background.

DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES — Wednesday's the night for free things to do on Olive, as a pair of event series kick off on opposite sides of the street. The Downtown Film Festival's "Shorts & Sweets" lunchtime screening series opens at noon in the Biltmore Hotel, and then just a few hours later Pershing Square kicks off its Wednesday Evening Concert Series at 8pm.

The Downtown Film Festival opens August 13th, and the "Shorts & Sweets" series is intended to give a preview of some of the fare that'll be screening during the five-day event. Lunchtime screenings will take place from noon to 1:30pm, but viewers aren't expected to take an hour and a half lunch: shorts will run continuously throughout that time.

Wednesday's kick off screening features Broken English, directed by Oscar Alvarez (10 minutes), Starlight Mints, by Anne Walls (12 minutes) and Bookie, by Bao Tran (18 minutes).

Complimentary sweets, coffee and tea will be provided by the Biltmore. Additional screenings take place on August 6th and 13th.

In the evening, Pershing Square kicks off a four-week Wednesday Night Concert series. The free series starts with headliner Ambrosia, with an opening performance by Jim Bianco (whom we've previously mentioned). Concerts run through August 20th.