Cheap & Cheerful Book Fair - Expostion Park

Enough with the "cultural wasteland" stereotype! This weekend, the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books opens on the USC campus (Exposition Blvd and S Figueroa St)

A Spring tradition since 1996, the Festival of Books brings together the people who create books with the people who love to read them. Now one of the largest and most prestigious book festival in the country, it attracts more than 140,000 book lovers each year.

The festival is a free public event, starting at 10:00am on Saturday April 30th. Visitors can choose from exciting author events, storytelling, cooking demonstrations and poetry readings. The Festival of Books also includes nearly 300 exhibitor booths representing booksellers, publishers, literacy and cultural organizations.

There are panel discussion, many with only a $1.00 ticket charge--but get moving, these sell out.

Parking on campus runs $10.00, metered street parking is also available but keep track of your time.

Need to know more? Read all about it:

http://events.latimes.com/festivalofbooks/general-information/

Cheap & Cheerful Historic Party - Exposition Park

Late breaking news! If you are looking for a fun, inexpensive night out, check out Cinespia's Art in the Streets screening party tonight at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County. (900 Exposition Blvd.).

While the screening of Werner Herzog's "Cave of Forgotten Dreams" is sold out, there are live performances and DJs scattered through the Whale Room, African Hall of Mammals and other spaces in the museum.

The event runs from 5pm - 11:00pm. Admission is Free (usually $9.00) but bring money for parking and drinks. Metered street parking is available or try the Exposition Park Lot 3 which runs $8.00.

All the info is right here:

http://www.cinespia.org/calendar/

And while your at it, sign up for their electronic newsletter so you can get the dates for the screenings in the Hollywood Forever Cemetery film series.

Cheap & Cheerful Earth Day - Topanga Canyon

If you are going to celebrate Earth Day, might as well do it right! Head out to the Topanga Canyon Community House Fairgrounds (1440 N. Topanga Canyon Blvd.) this coming Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 10 am to Sunset. Which for those of us who still utilize a watch should be about 7:30 p.m.

Now in it's 12th year, Topanga Earth Day presents a variety of performers, speakers workshops and exhibits all in a beautiful wooded setting. It's a schelp to get out there, so plan to make at least a day of it. If you have never been to Topanga Canyon, I could not imagine a better time to check it out.

Naturally, there is a free Bio Diesel Shuttle to facilitate park and ride visitors. Ride Amigos.com is another option.


http://www.topangaearthday.org/Welcome.html

Cheap & Cheerful Long Beach Grand Prix

Start your engines... The Long Beach Grand Prix, "America's #1 Street Race" roars into action Friday April 15 - Sunday April 17.

The Formula One track is a combination Seaside Way and Shoreline Drive with additional streets connecting the two main drags. While you can spend crazy money on various packages, if you just want to be part of the scene, my Long Beach friends stress public transportation is a ticket. Parking is tight on a good day, inexpensive parking is non-existent when you have a raceway running through the center of your city.

Long Beach has its own transit system you can map a bus route to and from using http://www.lbtransit.com/ If you are coming from points north, the Metro Rail Blue Line is you best bet. http://www.metro.net/around/maps/ Base fare is $1.50 but check out the site so you know you have the proper money.

And for more than you ever cared to know about all the activities planned at and around the race go to:
http://www.gplb.com/weekend_schedule.html

Cheap & Cheerful Cycling Day -Los Angeles

Have to support anything that gives us a break from traffic.

This Sunday, April 10, from 10:00 am - 3:00pm, CicLAvia secures 7 1/2 miles of city streets from East Hollywood to Downtown. No cars but open to cyclists, skaters and pedestrians. There are numerous activities along the route.

So dust off the bike and dig out the rollerskates, this Sunday, we own the streets.

For more information on routes, parking and other logistics visit:



http://ciclavia.wordpress.com

Cheap & Cheerful Whale Watching -Newport Beach

The time is now! The rain has stopped, the temperature is on the rise and the gray whales are on the move. Newport Landing (309 Palm Street) offers gray whale watching tour from December through April, but this winter has not be conducive to bouncing around a boat in the ocean.

If you are a landlubber at heart, you'll be pleased to know Newport Landing’s primary whale watching ship is 65 feet long and designed just for viewing marine life. Choose from a large upstairs sundeck, wrap around outside seating or indoor seating with large windows. And if you get hungry, there's a snack bar. Cruises leave at 9:00a.m. Noon and 2:30 p.m.

Newport Landing has its own parking structure, which is a wonderful thing when visiting Newport Beach. Their websites states "rates vary depending on the day of the week" so I would call first to confirm what rate will be in place when you make your trip.

If you mention eyespyLA.com (the website I checked for some details on this tour) the usual $30 adult ticket or $25.00 child ticket is just $20.00. That's the best price you will ever find for whale watching.

Bon Voyage!

http://eyespyla.com/www/thebuzz.nsf/612ed0a5a6c07c15882576e400590a30/e0ab21497733dec6852576e30000cf53!OpenDocument

http://www.newportwhales.com/prices.html

949-675-0551