Staycation Weekend

Sometimes the best vacations are the ones where you don't go anywhere and you just lounge around your home and neighborhood. These are the vacations that you don't require a recovery week to recalibrate yourself. There's no jet lag, no budget bending spending (at least for those with will power), and the benefit of enjoying things you might never take note of otherwise. That said, let me tell you about some fun events for the final days of July and the start of August. Perhaps you could use a few tips about how to enjoy time right here in the LA/LGB/OC areas.




My Picks this week:

• Thu, Jul 29 - Sun, Aug 1 - L.A. Live: X Games 16 - $9 and up
• Fri, Jul 30 - Sun, Aug 1: South Bay Beaches: International Surf Festival
• Sat, Jul 31 - Sun, Aug 1 - Marine Stadium: Long Beach Dragon Boat Festival
• Sat, Jul 31 - El Dorado Nature Center : Artisan Craft Fair
  
• Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays: Long Beach Area Farmers Markets
• Finally going to see Inception at the AMC Marina Pacifica or AMC Pine Square
  

Other Events this weekend:

• Sat, Jul 31, 12 - 4 pm - Venice: Westside Food Fest
• Sat, Jul 31 - Sun, Aug 8 - Huntington Beach Pier: Hurley U.S. Open of Surfing

Free in August

• Tue, Aug 3 - Page Museum at the La Brea Tar Pits - Free First Tuesday
  
• August 7: 2nd Annual Long Beach FunkFest in Downtown Long Beach
• August 14-15: Fee-free days at more than 100 U.S. National Parks
• Through Aug 15 (Wed - Sun) - Costa Mesa: Orange County Fair - FREE and up
• Multiple Dates: Target-Sponsored Free events in LA and Orange County
• Multiple Dates: Free Concerts in LA and Orange County
  

Spend-a-little August

• Aug 3 - Aug 15 - OC Performing Arts Center: In the Heights - $20 and up
  
• Sat, Aug 7 - Sun, Aug 8 : Marine Stadium: Powerboat Sprint Races - $15/day
  
• Sat, Aug 7 - Sun, Aug 8: Rainbow Lagoon: Long Beach Crawfish Festival - $13 to $25
• Sat, Aug 7, 8 pm - The Grove of Anaheim: International Dance Festival - $20 and up
  
• Sun, Aug 8 - Queen Mary: California Boricua Festival- A Puerto Rican Celebration - $20
• Runs through Fri, Aug 13: Discounted Late Nights @ Aquarium of the Pacific - $11.95

Film-related Events:

• Sat, Aug 7 - Manhattan Beach - Free Movies @ the Beach: E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial

• Visit my other blog for more film-related fun: Confessions of a Netflix Addict

My Wishlist for upcoming events:

• July 30 - tickets on sale for October show - Born to Run Tour: K-OS with Shad and Astronautalis. $18

K-OS


SHAD


ASTRONAUTALIS (feat. POD)


Money Already Spent

• Les Nubians @ The Conga Room - Thursday, September 16 @ 8 PM

Lovin' Long Beach

Typically I try to post a balance of events across LA and OC counties, but I'm feeling lots of love for Long Beach this week. Considering I both live and work in Long Beach, it's where I spend most of my time. Check out the events below and you can see why I love living in the LGB.

JULY 2010

• Wednesday, July 21 & Thursday, July 22 - Belmont Shore Stroll and Savor, 5:30 - 9:00 p.m. $10

• Saturday, July 24 - Gourmet Food Trucks meet up for Long Beach Street Food Festival - Long Beach’s first street food festival will be held from 10:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. $6 in advance, $8 at the door.
  

• Saturday, July 24, 2010 - Les Jolis Trésors Gallery Presents French Accent, French Touch, 6 p.m. - 9 p.m. The artists’ Opening Reception takes place on Saturday, July 24, 2010 from 6 p.m. - 9 p.m. at Les Jolis Trésors, 3226 East Broadway in Long Beach. Free.

• Saturday, July 24, 2010 - Summer and Music Festival - Jump Up - 5:00 to 9:00 p.m. - Worldly rhythms meet at the Harbor for an evening of Funk and Soul at the Waterfront Amphitheatre: Rainbow Harbor.

• Saturday & Sunday, July 24 to 25, Association of Volleyball Professionals (AVP) Tournament - General seating will be free in the stadium.
  

• Saturday, July 31, 2010 - Summer and Music Festival - Release Me - 5:00 to 9:00 p.m. - Four local bands with new album releases perform at the Waterfront Amphitheatre: Rainbow Harbor.

• Saturday & Sunday, July 31 to August 1, 2010 - Long Beach Dragon Boat Festival

AUGUST 2010

• Every Sunday in August at MoLAA - Colombian Cinema Showcase - $10

• Saturday, August 7, 2010 - Summer and Music Festival - 2nd Annual FunkFest - Free

• Saturday & Sunday, August 7 - 8, 2010 - Long Beach Crawfish Festival
  

• Saturday, August 14, 2010 - 4th Street Summer Sidewalk Sale
  

• Friday - Sunday, August 27 - 29 - Hula Mau Polynesian Festival - $20
  

There is much, much more going on around town so I'll try to update the list as I hear about things. check out earlier posts for possible options as well.


Need wheels for a quick errand or to visit a local attraction?
Check out ZipCar and get a car rental only for as long as you need it. (I average about 2 hours per rental.) CSULB students and employees get a discount. See the section via the link "Are there other ways to join?"

Free Fun this Weekend, Plus More!

Too much fun this weekend and most of it for free!!! Here's what I'll be trying to check out, aside from lawn bowling, bon voyage parties, and cleaning my apartment.

LONG BEACH

Free Summer and Music (SAM) Double-Dose Weekend!

• July 1oth: Swing Saturday ::: 5 - 9 p.m. ::: East Village Arts District : MAP
  Jump, Jive, & Wail with Eddie Nichols and other members of Royal Crown Revue. Located on the future site of the new Art Exchange, this swinging night of music will also feature free swing dance lessons and a dance contest!
  

• July 11th: Battle of the Tribute Bands at Waterfront ::: 1 – 6 p.m. ::: Rainbow Harbor
  One of last year's SAM highlights returns! Five of So Cal's best tribute bands face off, head to head, for cash & and bragging rights. Includes bands paying tribute to Van Halen, Depeche Mode, INXS, Def Leppard, & Blondie.

• Later in the week: July 15th - En la Noche - Peru

• Saving the Date: TARGET ARTS & WONDER FREE FAMILY EVENT in San Pedr0 (July 17 & 18)

LOS ANGELES

LA is famous for film and the film festival circuit is alive and well in July.

• Outfest 2010 (July 8 - 18) features 143 films and videos from 25 countries (including for the first time, Nepal) in 6 different venues across Los Angeles over 11 days. 81 separate public programs, 4 galas, 64 features, 12 short film programs and 12 panels and special events and countless parties and receptions! 3 Free screenings listed in digital program. Most others are $13.

Explore one of the best views in LA.

• Griffith Observatory - Get ride via Long Beach Transit's Museum Express. Alternate LA transport options: Bus 180, 181, 380, then a long walk/I-5, exit Los Feliz Boulevard west. Observatory Admission is free. Planetarium $7. Parking free.

Keep up fun suggestions from the last blog post here.

More free fun with a complete focus on films: http://www.askinemovies.blogspot.com

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Need wheels for a quick errand or to visit a local attraction? Check out ZipCar and get a car rental only for as long as you need it. (I average about 2 hours per rental.) CSULB students and employees get a discount. See the section via the link "Are there other ways to join?"