Fabulous February!

February brings us the opportunity to celebrate

• Black/African-American History Month
• Chinese New Year, and
  
• Valentine's Day all in one package.

Ine's Picks for February

• Feb 3 @ CSULB - 12:30 to 1:30 PM - Dr. Cornel West: "Does America really want change?"

• Feb 5 from 1 to 4 PM- Belmont Shore Chocolate Festival - Share your love for chocolate!

• Feb 5 & 6 - Golden Dragon Parade and Festival - Celebrating the Chinese New Year in LA!

• Opens Feb 5 - The GRAMMY Museum | Special Programs | Black History Highlights

• Feb 10 @ CSULB - 12 to 1 PM in USU Ballrooms - MLK Celebration

• Feb 12 @ CSULB Soroptimist House - Poet's Lounge

• Feb 14th - Valentine's Day! Events for: The Romantic [ 1| 2| 3 ] or Non-Romantic

• Feb 20th - 12 - 4 PM - Afro-Latino Festival @ the Museum of Latin American Art (MoLAA)
  

• February 26 & 27 - Aquarium of the Pacific | African American Festival

I find many great deals from the sites below every month. Here are my favorites sources:

• Groupon - Discount coupons for everything from fitness campus, foods, shopping & more!

• Goldstar - Want to get out but for less? Huge discounts on popular performances.

• TravelZoo Top 20 - Plus more! Travel deals: flight, hotels, events....

• ZipCar - Share a car and only use it when you need it. Click icon below and save $25!
  

DVDs/Films for February - See my other blog for film suggestions:

• [update in progress] Confessions of a Netflix Addict

Getting in Gear for 2011

I'm back and I've been thinking that I should try something new this year. I'm not sure what it is yet, but I can begin by combing through my resources for a new activity. Don't worry, I'll still have some of the staples, but I need to put myself out there this year and dig deeper into my well of fun, especially in the arts & performance areas & the great outdoors.

TOP DEALS & EVENT DISCOUNTS for January:

• Discover the Arts in L.A. | Jan 5 - Apr 30, 2011 | Save up to 50% off at over 30 LA attractions. Print coupons and save!
  

• Special Discounts for Metro Riders | Ongoing

• National Parks Free Days | Jan 15 - 17, 2011 | alternate dates available | Parks by state
  

• Museums Free-For-All | Jan 29 & 30, 2011 | FREE Entry to select museums

• Discounts via referal: Goldstar.com

• Join Zipcar and get $25 in free driving!
  

OTHER FREE or CHEAP Events

• Sunday, January 16, 2011 | 1 PM– Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration @ CAAM. Museum Opens at 11 AM and the live program begins at 1pm. Doors will also be open for the only Monday of the year for "Cake for King" on Monday, January 17 to remember Dr. King's birthday. This event is FREE! Parking is at 39th and Figueroa Streets and is $8 per vehicle.
  

• Sunday, January 16 | 5:00-8:00 pm | NBC Television (view at home/hotel) | FREE
  

  The 68th Annual Golden Globe Awards - For all of you Movie & TV buffs. Print a ballot.
  

• Monday, January 17 | 12–8 pm | Free, tickets required - Los Angeles Country Free Museum Day - Join LACMA for a free day at the museum (all day!) and enjoy a live performance with the legendary jazz group the Pan Afrikan People's Arkestra. Performances at 12:30 pm and 2:45 pm.

• Thursday, January 20th | 7-9 pm - A BOLD MOVE Artist reception & exhibition opening @ the Long Beach Playhouse Gallery - 5021 E. Anaheim St., Long Beach, CA, 90804, right across from the Long Beach Recreation golf course. Public Transit to Event:

• Thursday, January 20TH | 9 pm - 1:30 am: Salsa Dance Club Grand Opening!! $5 cover, 18 & over @ PCH CLUB THURSDAYS @ 6285 E. Pacific Coast Highway, Long Beach 90803.

• Thursday, January 20th | 6 PM - 10 PM | En La Noche: Los Hollywood's. Enjoy an evening of tours, music, and chocolate tasting! Sample Los Hollywood music: click here.
  

• Sat, Jan 22 | 12 noon| Chen Kuai Le Puppet Theater | Free Tickets - All tickets are free and are distributed on Grand Avenue at 2nd Street. Tickets for 11:00am performance distributed beginning at 10:00am. Tickets for 12:30pm performance distributed beginning at 11:00am. All performances subject to change.

• Sat, Jan 22 | 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM | Long Beach Animal Care Services Open House The animal shelter is located at 7700 E. Spring Street, Long Beach, CA 90815. No RSVP is necessary.

• Mon, Jan 24 | 9 PM - 1 AM| SIGNAL FLOW LIVE | Free
  2nd ST Jazz Club. 366 E 2nd St. Los Angeles, CA 90012

• Fri Jan 28 & Sat Jan 29 | Annual Goodwill Sale: 2 Days for $2 | Doors open at 9 AM Need clothes or other items. Everything is $2! Find a location near you
  

• Sat, Jan 29 | 11 am - 5 pm - Pacific Asia Museum | 46 N Los Robles Ave, Pasadena
  
  The Lunar New Year celebration will be a FREE, fun-filled day for the entire community. Held throughout the Museum including a fully tented parking lot, all the galleries will be open to enjoy along with crafts, demonstrations and hands-on activities, food and gift vendors, plus live music, dance, martial arts' acrobatics, magic and more onstage. A great cance to enjoy China Modern before it closes February 6. Come help welcome in the Year of the Rabbit. Free and fun for all ages!

• Sat, Jan 29 & Sun, Jan 30 | 9 AM - 5 PM | Festival of Human Abilities @ LB Aquarium
  

My January Wishlist:

• Itzhak Perlman in Recital | Tue. Jan 25 @ 8 PM

• Grupo Corpo | Jan 28 - 30 | Dorothy Chandler Pavilion
  

Coming Up in February:

Thu - Sat, Feb 3 - 5, 2011 | Long Beach Coin, Stamp & Collectible Expo

Sat, Feb 5 | 1 - 4 PM | Belmont Shore Chocolate Festival

Happy New Year!!

I haven't been around to enjoy the activities in Long Beach and the LA Area, hence my lack of information on my blog. Shame on me! Time to catch up so I can keep everyone informed for 2011. I celebrated the start of the new year in India, so everything was ahead of schedule a bit. I'm looking forward to sending out new updates over the weekend. As a bonus, I'll add some tips on places to visit in India.