Cheap & Cheerful Academy Screenings -Hollywood

How about a world-class experience for $5.00?

The Linwood Dunn Theater (1313 Vine Street) is the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences newest theater. Completed in 2003, the Linwood Dunn Theater a state-of-the-art screening facility with 286 seats honoring visual effects pioneer, Linwood Dunn.

While home to many "members only" events, the theater also offers programming for the general public. A Current series "Out of This World: The Science of Space Movies" series presents a screening of the 1929 Fritz Lang film "Woman in the Moon." Not your average night at the movies...

Now, the trade off in being in such a fabulous facility is no popcorn,snacks or drinks of any kind. But that's a good thing.


Complimentary parking is provided in the Academy’s lot adjacent to the Pickford Center, Please be aware that the parking facilities close 30 minutes after the conclusion of an event.



http://www.oscars.org/events-exhibitions/venues-ticketing/dunn.html


The Academy's General phone number is (310) 247-3000. Ask about programming and the Linwood Dunn Theater.

Cheap and Cheerful Drive-In -Downtown

Okay, this looks like serious fun. Once a month, the Devil's Night Drive-in (240 W. 4th St) screens a movie on a 2nd story rooftop parking lot in Downtown Los Angeles. Not for picture and fidelity freaks as the "picture" has to compete with the lights and sounds of downtown. Speakers are placed on the astroturf picnic area in front of the screen as well as through an FM TRANSMITTER that will put the sound into your car speakers.

Angel City Derby Girls provide Hot Dogs, Hamburgers, Nachos, Popcorn, Candy, Drinks, and other Goodies. They also car hop so just flash your lights to get their attention:) If having a BBQ-ed hotdog on a picnic blanket on some astroturf in front of a 24ft by 18ft movie screen on top of a building in the middle of the city is appealing, I say check it out.

Next Screening: Grease 2, Saturday August 14.


$10.00 a person --pre-sale tickets guarantee a parking spot but get there early for best location. $10.00 is a good price for just your a parking spot downtown.Parking AND a movie, pretty Cheap & Cheerful.

http://www.devilsnight.com/store.htm

Cheap & Cheerful Silent Movie - Fairfax District

It warms my heart that there is still a place to catch a Silent Movie in Hollywood, especially since the Last Remaining Seats series, although still wonderful, is straying from its silent movie roots.

Built in 1942, The Silent Movie Theatre (611 N. Fairfax Avenue) was the only fully functioning silent movie theatre in the country for decades. It is now home to Cinefamily "an organization of movie lovers devoted to finding and presenting interesting and unusual programs of exceptional, distinctive, weird and wonderful films." Happy to report that Silent Movie Theatre is not a dusty relic, on the contrary, the interior's original, vintage 1940s art deco design has been fully restored complete with a brand new screen and sound system.

Silent movies are screened every Wednesday at 8:00pm and once a month on a floating, Sunday afternoon. Tickets are $12.00.

Metered parking is available on Fairfax and a small lot on the southwest corner of Fairfax High School campus.

To get a listing of the scheduled silent films as well as learn of Cinefamily's other programming, visit.

http://www.cinefamily.org/calendar/index.html

323.655.2510

Cheap & Cheerful Walking Tour - Venice

While many know of the crazy scene that is the Venice strand, a quiet, beautiful alternative is just blocks away at the Venice canals.

Although only 1.5 miles of the original 16 miles of canals currently exist, it's worth checking out. Thanks to a dredging effort in the 1980's, the surviving canals are not only back to their original splendor, but the homes on the canals are some the the priciest on the west side.

There are several guided tours that are pretty expensive, but I came upon a local blog with a mapquest map outlining a self guided walk. The big trick is getting a parking spot. I would recommend getting to Venice about 9am look for a metered spot or street spot on Venice or Washington and then pick up the tour from where you parked. And bring a little something for the ducks that reside in the canals.

Once done, there are many places in walking distance to grab a cup of coffee or a quick bite to eat.



http://www.travelinlocal.com/a-guide-to-walking-the-venice-canals-in-los-angeles/

Cheap & Cheerful Shopping/Star Gazing - Hollywood

The Hollywood Farmer's Market (1600 Ivar) takes place every Sunday 8:00am - 1:00pm offering an impressive selection of produce, baked goods and artisan books. Even if you are not the farmer's market type, the people watching is world class. All kinds of characters and a handful of famous folk trying to do their shopping on the down low.

There is validated parking available at market at the Cinerama Dome and Los Angeles Film School. You may luck out at get a metered spot that is free till 11am but keep an eye on your watch, as they are strict about enforcement.



http://www.farmernet.com/events/one-cfm?venue_id=587
323-463-3171

Cheap & Cheerful Art Walk - Downtown

Okay, I admit it --I am on a bit of a downtown jag for the moment. The reason being with longer and warmer days, downtown LA has a lot to offer.

On the second Thursday of every month a free, self guided tours including MOCA, L.A. Artcore Center and and the Los Angeles Center for Digital Arts. (107 W. Fifth Street) When I last went on this tour there were also a lot of small galleries that stayed open late to capture the foot traffic. Did I understand it all? no. But I did enjoy talking to the artists and gallery owners on what they were working on and the changing face of downtown ABSOLUTELY. We parked in a lot after 5pm so it was less than $10.00.

We snuck over to Pete's Cafe (4th & Main) for a light bite afterwards.

http://www.downtownartwalk.org/


213-624-6212

Cheap & Cheerful Midnight Screening - West LA

35 years young, The Rocky Horror Pictures Show is STILL screened at midnight every Saturday at the NuArt Theatre (11272 Wilshire Blvd.) All midnight screenings feature live casts who perform scenes during the movie, and the audience is always welcome to respond to the on-screen action. Armed with some slices of toast and a copy of the Cleveland Plain Dealer, The Rocky Horror Picture was the first—and is still the best—interactive movie experience!

Tickets are $10.50. Metered, lot and street parking is available.



310-478-9379

http://www.landmarktheatres.com/films/films_frameset.asp?id=17329


p.s, For those who aren't into midnight screenings, The NuArt charges $8.00 for all screenings before 6p.m. and first show of the day Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Cheap & Cheerful Neon - MONA - Downtown

I am a long time fan of The Museum of Neon Art/MONA (136 W. 4th Street). Only in Los Angeles would you have a museum celebrating a rare gaseous element obtained by liquefaction of air. The exhibits sometimes feature a neon artist, other times display wonderful old signs refurbished to their former glory. MONA has changed location a couple of times since its start in 1981, but loyal followers have stayed the course. Now located in the heart of Los Angeles, MONA is a great stop on a downtown day trip.

MONA is open Thursday through Saturday, 12 noon to 6:00pm, Sunday Noon to 5:00pm, closed Monday through Wednesday.

Admission is Adults $7.00, Students/Seniors $5.00 Children 5-12 $3.00, under 5,FREE

For the truly intrigued, neon classes and the MONA Neon Cruise is also available (not cheap, but plenty cheerful.)

For current exhibition info, visit:

http://www.neonmona.org/flash/index.html

213-489-9918

Cheap & Cheerful Braintrust - Downtown

Although I love relaxing in front of the TV, a constant diet of reruns and reality TV shows can get to me.

Enter the ALOUD series presented by the Los Angeles Central Public (630 W. Fifth Street).The award-winning ALOUD at Central Library series is an amazing source of lectures, readings, performances, and conversations featuring key figures in the arts and humanities, business, politics, and science.

ALOUD programs take place at the Los Angeles Central Library's Mark Taper Auditorium. If you make reservations, show up EARLY. Here's why: even with a reservation system, it is the Library's policy to overbook. (guess they have learned about flaky Angelenos who make plans and don't show.) In the case of a FULL program, your reservation may not guarantee admission. Unclaimed reservations are released at the start of each program. So again, get there early!

Most programs are free, but check admission costs online.
Parking --Best bet is the Westlawn garage located under the central library. Cars entering after 3pm can park for a flat rate of $1.00 (with library validation)

Making the trip downtown too daunting? Good news: they archive the series on their website, so although you can't see the current programming there is P L E N T Y to choose from. Now that is truly Cheap & Cheerful!

http://www.lfla.org/aloud
(213) 228-7472.

Cheap & Cheerful Perfume History - Downtown

Who knew?! The Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising (919 S. Grand) is home to the Annette Green Perfume Museum.

Formerly of New York, the entire 2,000 fragrance collection (some dating back to the 1800s) was moved to the west coast in 2005. The only museum of its kind in the United States presents 150 fragrances at a time in ever evolving exhibits. The current presentation, "High Style: Perfume and the Haute Couture," showcases a selection of fragrance bottles and packaging that reflect the many ways that fame inspires design.

One of America's leading fragrance authorities and authors, Annette Green has been a visionary in the fragrance industry since the early 1960s. Green is created with originating the "FiFi" awards in 1972 to increase industry and public appreciation of scent.

Visitors walk away with a new understanding of perfumery as well as bottle and package design.

The Annette Green Perfume Museum is located in the second floor lobby at FIDM. The gallery is open Monday through Saturday 10:00 a.m. to 4:00pm

Admission is FREE

Parking is available underneath the FIDM building for $5.00, but word is it fills up fast. Local metered parking at lots will run you about $3.00 - $8.00


http://fidm.edu/resources/museum+galleries/exhibits/fashion-makes-scents

213-623-5821

Cheap & Cheerful Déja Vu - Downtown

If these walls could talk! The Bradbury Building (304 South Broadway) is the oldest commercial building in Los Angeles. Commissioned in 1893, it may just look like an well kept older building from the outside, but step inside and you will have the definite feeling that you have been here before.

And you have, as the interior featuring a five-story central court of glazed brick, polished wood, with cage elevators surrounded by wrought-iron grillwork, capped by an immense skylight has been featured in numerous films, television shows and music videos.

While I was introduced to the Bradbury Building by the 1982 film "Blade Runner" it also appeared in final scene of last year's "500 Days of Summer". Or you could have seen it in "Double Indemnity", "77 Sunset Strip" "Wolf" "DOA" "Mission Impossible" Pushing Daisies" or a host of other shows.

Long story short, it is a must see. Even the most jaded tourist walks away impressed. But don't take my word for it.

The Bradbury Building is open Monday through Friday 9:00am-6:00pm; Saturday and Sunday 9:00am-5:00pm

213/626-1893

http://www.laconservancy.org/tours/downtown/bradbury.php4