UnHipLA » Hangouts for Writers

Summer Reading Programs – Not just for kids!

UnHipLA — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 22:04:41 +0000

This summer, I hope to read more and what better way to motivate me than the local public library’s Summer Reading Program for adults? For every book I read, I will be entered in a weekly drawing to win a $5 Starbucks gift card. And if five books get read, I’ll be able to get even more goodies. Read instructions above (click to enlarge) for the Crowell Public Library in San Marino’s adult program. As you can see by the jar below, the competition does not look too stiff.

Most public libraries hold summer reading programs – just ask at the reference desk. Prizes vary by library.

Dating for the Bookish

UnHipLA — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 22:02:11 +0000

Got this from the Citysearch LA mailing list. Sounds like a fun way to meet the like-minded. Friday, August 7, 2009.

Hot Summer Nights at Skylight Books
Tired of hearing the wind blow through your date’s empty skull? Trade up at this indie bookseller’s super-cool nerd event for the thinking (wo)man. (Hey, books equals brains* right?!) It’s like hipster-ville over here, so you can expect to be in well-read, poetry-versed, tight-jeaned good company while you peruse the shelves after hours. And if all else fails they’ve got live music, free beer and light refreshments for you to blog in earnest about the following day. “The potato chips were yellow like an egg yolk dandelion left to wither beneath the hot summer sun … ”

*Citysearch Los Angeles is not responsible if you’re (yet again) cornered by a dud.

Go: 10pm-12am. Bring: Fake eyeglasses, an outgoing attitude and your copy of “The Catcher in the Rye” (just kidding, leave that at home).

Skylight Books, Los Feliz

This sounds like wacky fun

Fri, 10 Jul 2009 05:54:35 +0000

On Saturday, Beverly Hills hosts a "public art party" to celebrate the work of Yayoi Kusama. I’ve experienced a Kusama installation before at the Mattress Factory in Pittsburgh. It was cool and wacky. This event’s free and the Paley Center for Media will be free as well that day as part of the festivities.

http://www.publicartparty.com/

Combine this day with a visit to the Renegade Craft Fair (also free) and you’ll have a great, creative Saturday.

Renegade Craft Fair – July 11-12

Tue, 07 Jul 2009 07:57:31 +0000

This sounds great!

http://www.renegadecraft.com/los-angeles?site=la

And it’s free!

Learn how to make a linoelum block print and other arts/crafts for free! There will be bands too. And it all takes place on the penthouse level of California Market Center with 360-degree views of downtown L.A.

**** UPDATE***

We went to this. It was very cool to see all the great craft-y stuff people made. Creativity was everywhere. It was nice to see that there were people who weren’t technologically obsessed and still making things by hand. Practically everyone was a hipster there in a craft-y sense and no grandma dollies or doilies were around. Most of the vendors were quite shy and that was cute to see, though that probably doesn’t help their businesses. One of the coolest things I saw was The Weekend Store which made vintage recycled jewelry from old typewriter keys. Pics to come.

These bloggers have nice posts about the event:

http://apatchworkworld.blogspot.com/2009/07/renegade-swap-o-ramarama-recap.html

http://milkandeggsco.com/index.php?_a=viewBlog&blogId=34

Summer starts today! Hollywood Bowl without the Bowl

Wed, 24 Jun 2009 23:03:25 +0000

Tonight kicks off the Levitt Pavilion’s free outdoor concert series in Pasadena. http://www.levittpavilionpasadena.org/summer-calendar-2009.html

And this Friday begins Free Shakespeare in Barnsdall Park. http://www.independentshakespeare.com/box-office/box-office.html

You can picnic at both of these places. When I first started this blog, I was majorly enamored by both these events and wrote about them here and here. The Levitt Pasadena is the Hollywood Bowl without the Bowl. Both series are a great way to have fun on a dime.

Mark your calendar – August 21 is Bollywood Night at the Levitt!!!

A Half Mile of Al Fresco Installations, sculptures and performances

Sun, 07 Jun 2009 02:48:24 +0000

On the trail of
A Half Mile of Al Fresco Installations, sculptures and performances

This sounds great! I love New Town’s installations. June 6 – 7, 2009. Free.

Visit Pompeii for Free!

Tue, 02 Jun 2009 05:48:04 +0000

Ever since I was little, the story of Pompeii intrigued and haunted me

From LACMA’s email newsletter:

Special Offer: Free Admission to Pompeii and the Roman Villa

LACMA is pleased to offer one day of totally free access—June 9—to its blockbuster exhibition Pompeii and the Roman Villa and the entire museum!

KCRW exclaims that you simply can’t afford to miss Pompeii and the Roman Villa’s sculptures, frescoes, and glass vessels that have never been see outside of Italy, and the L.A. Times hails the show as “absorbing, well-considered, and beautifully installed.” Now is your chance to experience it all for free!

This special day at LACMA is likely to sell out early, so be sure to reserve your tickets today.*

_____________________________

*TWO WAYS TO RESERVE YOUR TICKETS
To reserve your free tickets to Pompeii and the Roman Villa, you may visit lacma.org or stop by a LACMA Welcome Center. Tickets are not avaliable by phone. Tickets are limited to four per reservation.

To reserve your tickets at lacma.org:
Select June 9 in the calendar in the upper right hand corner
Select the hour you would like to see the exhibition
Select “Add to Basket” (no cost will be added)
Pick your tickets up at LACMA’s Welcome Center

6 word memoir

Sun, 31 May 2009 17:45:01 +0000

This is fun. Write your memoir in 6 words.

http://www.smithmag.net/sixwords/

Gamble House Free!

Sat, 16 May 2009 20:32:49 +0000

Along with the Police Historical Museum. I went on this day last year – great fun! We took mugshots at the police museum and ate free hot dogs there. :0)

From Pasadena Now:

Free Admission Event:
“Museums of the Arroyo Day”
Six museums in Los Angeles and Pasadena located along the Arroyo Seco in Pasadena will open

free to the public from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, May 17. Participating museums are

Heritage Square Museum, The Gamble House, Los Angeles Police Historical Museum,

the Lummis Home and Garden, the Pasadena Museum of History and

the Autry National Center’s Southwest Museum of the American Indian.

Various Locations
Six Museums along the Arroyo | (213) 740-8687

BBQ for $5 at Whole Foods

Wed, 18 Mar 2009 01:10:48 +0000

Can a cheap meal be had at Whole Foods? As I get to know its second floor eating area better, I think I can say….Yes. The breakfasts, tacos, and Middle Eastern food all seemed reasonably priced. Then I saw this on WF’s (Arroyo Parkway location) calendar:

Saturday March 21st and Sunday 22nd

Whole Lotta BBQ!

12pm-3pm $5 per plate

Join us at the Demo Station both days to get your loaded down plate of BBQ, chips/cookies, salad, and drink for only $5! And all the proceeds go to the Whole Planet Foundation. Help end poverty and end your hunger all at the same time!

____

Get your plate "loaded" with BBQ for only $5? This I have to see and maybe I will see it twice.

Yesterday, I had WF’s Korean spicy chicken bowl and I was pleased with it; the spinach and brown rice with it were great. It’s not that cheap though at a little over $8, but it was good and the health factor makes me like it more than other Korean fare. It’s what I would call Healthy Korean Cuisine.

Whole Foods affordable in a recession? It just may be possible. Plus they have free Wifi.

Whole Foods

465 South Arroyo Parkway
Pasadena, CA 91105 USA
Phone 626.204.2266