Cheap & Cheerful Movie History -Hollywood

To come to Los Angeles and not see the Forecourt of Grauman's Chinese Theater (6801 Hollywood Blvd) is unthinkable.

No where else in the world can you find a collection of film luminaries hand and shoe/footprints. What started as an accident, has evolved into one of the most prestigious traditions in show business. To be invited to lay your hands a feet at the Chinese is a announcement to the world's of one's true celebrity.

There is no charge to view the forecourt, and while you are at it take in the Hollywood Walk of Fame: a collection more than 2,000 five-pointed stars embedded into Hollywood's sidewalk . It features the names of celebritiies and characters honored by the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce for their contributions to the entertainment industry.


Best bet for parking is the $2.00 for 4 hours charged at the Hollywood and Highland complex.

http://www.manntheatres.com/chinese/

(323) 464-6266

Cheap & Cheerful Festivals - Greater Los Angeles

Friends have asked why I don't list festivals on Cheap and Cheerful. No argument festivals and fairs are a great, inexpensive way to enjoy LA. But there are SO MANY, it would be a job in itself. So I located two websites that provide this info.

laokay.com lists festivals by hosting city. Which is great if you know how willing you are to travel to a given event. Hotlinks to the festival websites are provided.

http://www.laokay.com/EventsFestivals.htm

eventful.com organizes listings by date, offering list for this week, weekend or month.
Performances and other events are also included in the listings.

http://eventful.com/losangeles/events/categories/festivals_parades?page_number=1

Between the two, I think you will be able to find what you are looking for. Enjoy!

Cheap & Cheerful Global Culture - Fowler Museum/UCLA

Situated on UCLA's beautiful Westwood campus, The Fowler Museum (308 Charles E Young Drive North) explores global arts and cultures with an emphasis on works from Africa, Asia, the Pacific, and the Americas, past and present. The Fowler seeks to enhance understanding and appreciation of the diverse peoples, cultures, and religions of the world exhibitions, publications, and public programming.

Admission is Free

Pay by Space parking lots are located throughout the UCLA Campus. Maximum charge is $10.00.


The Fowler Museum is open Wednesday through Sunday, noon to 5 p.m.
Thursday until 8 p.m. Closed: Monday and Tuesday, and major holidays.

http://www.fowler.ucla.edu

310-825-4361

Cheap & Cheerful Slice of Germany - Torrance

Renowned for its annual Oktoberfest, Alpine Village (833 Torrance Blvd.) is fun place to go anytime of the year. Open 7 days a week from 11 am for lunch and dinner, the village also has 22 specialty shops an an open air market.(which opens at 10am) While a Champagne Sunday Buffet Brunch is available for $17.95, there are many ways to to sample a taste of the Alps.

The authentic Omm Pa Pah brass band is a kick, visitors can also enjoy Latin/Salsa, Big Band and 50/60's rock on roll on various evenings.

And parking is free!

http://www.alpinevillage.net/about
310-327-4384

Cheap & Cheerful Towers - Watts

An "Only in Los Angeles" experience the Watts Towers, (1727 E 107th Street) is a testament to a single man's dedication to a project. An Italian immigrant construction worker, Sabato (aka Sam or Simon) Rodia built The Towers in his spare time over a period of 33 years, from 1921 to 1954.

The Towers are constructed from steel pipes and rods, wrapped with wire mesh, coated with mortar that were embedded with pieces tile and glass. They were then decorated with found objects including bed frames, bottles, ceramics, scrap metal and sea shells. Rodia built them with no special equipment or (so far as is known) predetermined design, working alone with hand tools and window-washer's equipment. Neighborhood children brought pieces of broken glass and pottery to Rodia in hopes they would be added to the project.

Rodia called the towers Nuestro Pueblo, or "our town."

Admission is $7.00 for Adults, $3.00 for 13-17 year olds, 12 and younger get in free

for a complete schedule of hours and tours visit

http://www.wattstowers.us/admission_opening_hours_tours.htm


(213) 847-4646

Cheap & Cheerful Cultural Treasure -Northridge

For those of you who think the only thing that ever happened in Northridge was a major earthquake, I've got news for you.

The Mike Curb College of Arts Media and Communication (1811 Nordoff Street) at California State University Northridge boasts world class performance spaces and an impressive schedule of dance, drama and musical performances. While tickets can run as high as $70.00 there are many offerings with tickets available at $5, $7 and $10.00.

To download a current calendar of performances and exhibitions visit
http://www.csun.edu.amc

and look at the first right column under Calendar

818-677-2246

Cheap & Cheerful Day by the Sea -Santa Monica

Pacific Park (380 Santa Monica Pier) is a charming, manageable amusement park right on the pier. While you can spend crazy money at any amusement park between rides, games and food, a great way to go is the unlimited ride wristband that starts at $15.97 for kids 7 and younger, $21.95 for those of us 8 years at older. (Check for online discounts)

Yes you can buy ticket packets, if you are on a date and just want to check out the ferris wheel, but you really come out ahead with the wristbands if you are coming with kids.That gives you a sampling of what the pier is really about. Now if you think you can win one of those huge stuffed animals by throwing a baseball at a pyramid of wooden bottles...you are on you own.

Parking at adjacent lots runs from $5.00 - $10.00

Hours Sunday -Thursday 11a-11pm Friday -Saturday 11am - Midnight.

https://shop.accesso.com/pacificpark/shopland/index.php

(310) 260-8744

Cheap & Cheerful Exhibits/Events --Downtown

In the internet-driven world we live in, far less people visit the library then they used to. If the only knew what they were missing!

The Los Angeles Central Library ( 650 5th Street) in addition to being a world-class resource of printed and online research has a dynamic schedule of exhibits, speakers and events. It's beautiful place with gardens and patios to enjoy as well as a nice little cafe. Trust me, hanging out at the Central Library beats the hell out of rush hour traffic.

Library hours are: Mon. 10-8, Tue. 10-8, Wed. 10-8, Thu. 10-8, Fri. 10-6, Sat. 10-6, Sun. 1-5

Check it out.

http://www.lapl.org/events
(213) 228-7000