The best things in life are free. It’s “summertime, and the livin’ is easy” even if you are on a budget. The key is to know where to go. Here’s a sampling.
COMPILED BY RICK GALIHER
LOS ANGELES COUNTY MUSEUM OF ART
On Friday nights, chill with “Jazz at LACMA,” on Saturday afternoons, spice up your weekends with “Latin Sounds” and enjoy a relaxing evening with “Sundays Live.” Friday, Saturday and Sunday concerts in and around LACMA are FREE.
Also 2nd Tuesdays of each month, general admission to the galleries and non-ticketed exhibitions is FREE.
LACMA, 5905 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles CA 90036. Tel: (323) 857-6000. For more info: www.lacma.org/music
THE HAMMER ART MUSEUM
Now on exhibit is The Hammer’s biennial exhibition “Made in L.A. 2014” featuring works by 35 Los Angeles artists with an emphasis on emerging and under-recognized artists. It debuts recent work and new painting, installation, video, sculpture, photography, and performances created specifically for the exhibition. Admission to the museum is always FREE.
Hammer Museum, 10899 Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90024. Tel: (310) 443-7000. For more info: hammer.ucla.edu/visit
CULVER CITY’S BOULEVARD MUSIC SUMMER FESTIVAL
Escape to Culver City for the 2014 Culver City’s Boulevard Music Summer Festival. Boulevard Music presents 6 free concerts on Thursday evenings at 7pm from July 10 through August 14 in the lovely palm-lined courtyard of Culver City City Hall.
Culver City’s Boulevard Music Summer Festival offers something for everyone’s music tastes. Thursday nights starting at 7pm and it is FREE.
Culver City City Hall Courtyard, 9770 Culver Blvd., Culver City, CA 90232. Tel: 310-398-2583. For more info: www.culvercity.org/en/Articles/SummerFestival
TWILIGHT CONCERT SERIES AT THE PIER
LA’s favorite summer tradition and premier outdoor concert series, the 30th Annual “Twilight Concert Series at the Pier” in Santa Monica returns. To top off the experience, the lights of the Pacific Park Ferris wheel are dazzling at night. Thursday performances from 7-10pm are FREE.
The Santa Monica Pier, 200 Santa Monica Pier, Santa Monica, CA 90401. Tel: (310) 458-8901. For more info: santamonicapier.org/twilightconcerts
ABBOT KINNEY FIRST FRIDAYS
Local merchants on or near Abbot Kinney, the thoroughfare that runs diagonally through Venice, come together every month to feature the best artists, gifts, products and music in the area.
1st Friday of every month, 6-10pm, FREE. Along Venice’s Abbot Kinney Boulevard.
For more info: www.abbotkinney1stfridays.com
VENICE BEACH MUSIC FEST
Venice Beach Music Fest returns to Windward Plaza Park in the heart of Venice features a full day of musical and dance entertainment, large art show, food trucks, and more. The festival is free and open to the public.
Saturday, August 23rd from 11am- 7pm, FREE.
Windward Plaza Park, 1 Windward Avenue (between the boardwalk and the bike trail), Venice, CA 90291. For more info: www.venicebeachmusicfest.com
GRAND PERFORMANCES AT CALIFORNIA PLAZA
California Plaza is a downtown oasis that features a breathtaking courtyard water garden surrounding its stage. There is a wide range of grand entertainment offerings for you to take in: Friday noon “Lunchbox Series” July through August. Friday and Saturday nights have concert programming in themed categories.
California Plaza, 350 S Grand Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90071. Tel: (213) 687-2159. For more info: www.grandperformances.org
THE PERSHING SQUARE DOWNTOWN STAGE SUMMER CONCERT SERIES
Six weeks of almost-continuous entertainment awaits you: Wednesday Lunchtime Concerts offers world beat sounds, jazz and country music. The rest of the week offers: Tribute Band Thursdays, Friday Night Flicks, Saturday Night Concert Series and Salsa Sundays.
Wednesday through Sunday concerts and entertainment are FREE.
Pershing Square, 532 South Olive Street, Los Angeles, CA 90013. Tel: (213) 847-4970. For more info: www.laparks.org/pershingsquare/downtown-stage-2014
DOWNTOWN ARTWALK
The Downtown ArtWalk is a free, self-guided, public artwalk. Hours vary by gallery, but can typically range from Noon-10pm. Many of The Downtown Art Walk activities center around the galleries predominantly on Spring and Main streets between 2nd and 9th streets. It also includes both MOCA locations.
The Downtown Artwalk on 2nd Thursdays each month is FREE.
For more information call (213) 617-4929. For an Artwalk map, go to www.downtownartwalk.org
LEVITT PAVILION PASADENA SUMMER CONCERTS
Offering 50 FREE concerts from GRAMMY winners to local favorites, and the hottest dance bands around will make this one sizzling summer at Levitt Pavilion Pasadena! The series includes Latin, Jazz, Americana, and World Concert programming runs Thursday through Sunday and are FREE!
Levitt Pavilion is located in Memorial Park 85 E. Holly Street (Between Walnut and Holly on Raymond Ave.)Pasadena, CA 91030, Tel: (626) 683-3230. For more info: www.levittpavilionpasadena.org
OLD PASADENA FILM FESTIVAL 2014
A month-long, free movie series offers movie lovers an eclectic mix of cinematic treasures, including timeless classics, vintage horror, award-winning documentaries, and more.
From July 5 to July 27 movies are at various outdoor Pasadena locations.
For schedule and locations go to www.oldpasadena.org/filmfestival
HUNTINGTON LIBRARY BOTANICAL GARDENS
On the grounds of The Huntington Library are The Botanical Gardens, an ever-changing exhibition of color and a constant delight. Covering 120 acres, more than a dozen specialized gardens are arranged within a park-like landscape of rolling lawns.
1st Thursday of every month requires advance tickets, but it is FREE.
The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens, 1151 Oxford Road, San Marino, CA 91108. Tel: (626) 405-2100. For more info: www.huntington.org
OC PRIDE
Orange County’s very own LGBT Pride Festival takes place on August 9, 2014, from noon until 10pm, in Downtown Santa Ana. This year’s festival includes comedian Ana Gasteyer, recording artist Bonnie McKee, DJ Richard Vission and others. Admission is FREE.
For more info: PrideOC.com
THE PALM SPRINGS ART MUSEUM
Now showing: “California Dreamin’: Thirty Years of Collecting” which includes several art movements significant to California and to the history of art.
Thursdays 4-8pm Admission is FREE. 2nd Sunday Admission is FREE.
Palm Springs Art Museum, 101 Museum Drive, Palm Springs, CA 92262. Tel: (760) 322-4800. For more info: www.psmuseum.org
THE PALM SPRINGS ART MUSEUM IN PALM DESERT
On view are ongoing and temporary exhibitions of internationally important art in different media, including sculpture, painting, photography, and new media.
Fridays 4-8pm Admission is FREE.
Palm Springs Art Museum in Palm Desert, 72-567 Highway 111, Palm Desert, CA 92260.
Tel: (760) 346-5600. For more info: www.psmuseum.org
PALM SPRINGS VILLAGEFEST
At the VillageFest, you will experience a diverse array of artists, artisans, entertainers. The Palm Springs VillageFest is located in the heart of downtown Palm Springs, off of Palm Canyon Drive. The street fair occupies roughly three blocks of town and is a real hotbed of activities.
Thursdays 7-10pm, FREE.
Palm Springs VillageFest!, Palm Canyon Drive (Between Baristo and Amada), Palm Springs,
CA 92263. Tel: (760) 320-3781. For more info: villagefest.org
For a list of additional FREE museum days around Los Angeles, go to freemuseumday.org/la.html
