UnHipLA » Recession Fun

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.

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

Free Malibu Public Beach Safaris!

Sun, 05 Jul 2009 02:23:46 +0000

The Los Angeles Urban Rangers are at it again, offering its free safaris of the secret (but public) Malibu Beaches. If you hit my beaches tab, you’ll see how much fun I had going on this a few years ago. They showed me that the beach could be all mine, mine, mine. Here are the details from its mailing list:

The Los Angeles Urban Rangers announce:

MALIBU PUBLIC BEACHES SAFARIS–SUMMER 2009

Tired of Zuma and Surfrider? Want to find and use the other beaches in Malibu–The twenty miles that are lined with private development? These safaris show you how to find, park, walk, picnic, and sunbathe on a Malibu beach legally and safely. Each safari visits two different beaches. Skills-enhancing activities include sign watching, trailblazing the public-private boundary, a no-kill hunt for accessways, and a public easement potluck.

We are offering three safaris in east Malibu:

SUN Aug 2, 11:00am-2:30pm
SUN Aug 16, 9:00am-12:30pm
SAT Aug 22, 3:00pm-6:30pm

Safaris are free. Spaces are limited. To sign up, e-mail info@laurbanrangers.org w/name, # of people, and preferred date.

A downloadable "Malibu Public Beaches" guide is available at http://www.laurbanrangers.org/.

Hope to see you at the beach!
Los Angeles Urban Rangers
www.laurbanrangers.org

Free 4th of July

Sat, 04 Jul 2009 05:57:06 +0000

Happy 4th of July!

For listing of free things to do for the 4th, go here:

http://www.freefunguides.com/?page_id=4

Sierra Madre’s 4th activities sound pretty happening!

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!!!

The Midwest is nice to its children

Fri, 19 Jun 2009 21:18:58 +0000

We saw Up today at the AMC Barrington 30 in South Barrington, Il. While there, I noticed two flyers for special screenings:

Summer Movie Camp – $1.00 movies, Wednesdays at 10 am for kids. July 1st will be Madagascar Escape 2. The money goes to charity. My sister tells me these movie days are a madhouse because summer camps come to them. Still, it’s a great deal. AMCEntertainment.com/smc I just went to its site and see this deal is nationwide too.

Sensory-Friendly showing of Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs on Saturday, July 11th at 10 am. "With Sensory-Friendly Films, the movie auditoriums will have their lights brought up and and the sound turned down." This screening is for autistic children and is co-sponsored by the Autism Society of America.

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

Make a Coffee Cup

Fri, 29 May 2009 03:29:56 +0000

This sounds intriguing, got it off a listserv. Also, could be a fun cheap date/recession fun outing -

" The Coffee Cup Collective is a project sited at the Center for the Arts, Eagle Rock and Swork for the Intersections 2009 exhibition. The production phase of the project introduces participants to ceramic reproduction methods with the aim of manufacturing coffee cups. Completed cups will be inserted to Swork’s dish inventory and be activated by Swork’s staff to serve beverages to customers.

Participate in the production activities of the Coffee Cup Collective
– Make a 2 Part Plaster Mold
– Slipcast Coffee Cups
– Glaze Bisque Ware
(all materials, tools, and equipment supplied)

Where:
Center for the Arts, Eagle Rock
2225 Colorado Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90041

When: (drop in any time during the sessions)
May 26, 10:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
June 2, 10:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
June 6, 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
June 9, 10:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
June 11, 10:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
June 16, 10:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
June 18, 10:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

For more information:
Edith Abeyta – (323) 906-1978 or edith@edithabeyta.net "