Health Fair

Q Pop Shop and Mini Gallery: Pop Art and Design

Cute, funky, and punky are the operative words used to describe Q Pop Shop and Mini Gallery in L.A.'s historic Little Tokyo. If you adore the bright, colorful, oddball spirit of Japanese pop art and design, you’ll love their unique silkscreened t-shirts and other ultra-cool clothing. Ditto for the art, which is worthy of your favorite wall, plus art books, oddball vinyl figures, stuffed animals, and jewelry. They have favorite Japanese brands like Swimmer and Algonquins. Be sure to check out the murals, too, inside and outside the building. Open Monday through Thursday 12 p.m. through 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday until 11 p.m., Sunday 12 p.m. until 9 p.m.

Q Pop Shop and Mini Gallery
128 Astronaut E S Onizuka Street
Los Angeles, CA 90012
(213) 687-7767

Calling Music Lovers!

If you’re looking for someplace to go on the weekends to hear some great music, check out LACMA. The shows are free and there is no need to make reservations!

Are you a Jazz aficionado? Swing by on Friday evenings starting at 6pm to hear from dynamic artists like Ernie Andrews and the Los Angeles Jazz Quartet.

Have a love for Latin music? Then Saturday is the day and 5pm is the time to enjoy the rich and infectious sounds from artists such as Ricardo Lemvo and Opa Opa.

Is the orchestra calling? Sunday is the answer at 6pm, where you can enjoy beautiful music from ensembles like the Young Musicians Foundation Chambers.

Whatever may suit your fancy, LACMA will not disappoint!

Earth Day Concert at Park La Brea!

Alana’s Coffee Roasters

Follow your nose to Alana’s Coffee Roasters. When you smell that sublime, smoky aroma that makes you swoon, you’re definitely at the place where those delectable berries are roasting in preparation for a spectacular cup of coffee. “Awesome, the best, excellent, fantastic and wow,” are some of the words used to describe the java that purveyor Eric Stogsdill lovingly processes in his handmade roaster. Whatever your taste in coffee beans and roasts, you can be assured that Alana's beans will be organic, fresh out of the roaster, and will brew up to a sensational cup that will make you an instant convert. Eric, who named his business after his four-year-old daughter Alana, sells his coffee only at local farmers markets. See his website for locations, times, and dates.

Alana's Coffee Roasters
Los Angeles, CA
(310) 922-9671
 

The Last Bookstore: Made to Last

The name Last Bookstore was intended to be ironic, portending a time when bookstores, due to the advent of the online marketplace, go extinct. But book lovers love to congregate amid stacks of bound paper imprinted with all manner of literary endeavors and The Last Bookstore sticks around to provide the fun of browsing and leaving through pages. The 10,000 square foot location on Spring Street includes new books, used books, plus a vinyl record shop and a coffee bar. The Last Bookstore also hosts literary events and music performances, so check out their website for schedules, or better yet, stop by and peruse their amazing inventory of books and records.

The Last Bookstore
453 S. Spring Street
Los Angeles, CA 90013
Neighborhood: Downtown
(213) 488-0599

CoffeeBar

L.A. coffee lovers unite: at the CoffeeBar, where you’re assured a carefully brewed cup. Located downtown in the old banking district, it’s a great place to relax with a great cup of coffee and a pastry or sandwich. Try the bacon and gruyere croissant, buttery, flakey loveliness replete with flavor. Back it up with the 1906: four (yes, four) shots of espresso, steamed milk, and a dash of vanilla. It's sure to wake you up. Friendly baristas, free Wi-Fi, great sandwiches, delicious pastries, and a clean, modern ambiance make it a spot to hang out for a while… or just to grab a cup to go.

CoffeeBar
600 S. Spring Street
Los Angeles, CA 90014
Neighborhood: Downtown
(213) 327-1157

Los Angeles Conservancy Walking Tour: Historic L.A.

The Los Angeles Conservancy Walking Tour gives you a chance to see the unique and fascinating history of LA through the prism of the city’s distinct architecture. One of the most popular on the roster of eight tours is the Art Deco tour, which lets you explore some of downtown’s most notable buildings constructed in the distinct style that was all the rage in the 1920s and 30s. Other docent-led tours include the Victorian homes of Angelino Heights and the 1939 Union Station train depot. Plan on spending about two and one-half hours on each tour. Check website descriptions for walking difficulty, which ranges from easy to moderate. A bargain at just $10 admission.

Los Angeles Conservancy Walking Tour
Los Angeles, CA 90189

WTTC Live!

Get to The Getty Center

The Getty Center hosts a priceless collection of art, and you haven’t really lived in Los Angeles area if you haven’t made a visit. Entry is free of charge, and if you go on Saturday evenings, you needn’t pay the $15 parking—or you can take public transportation. Either way, you’ll take the tram ride up the mountain to what Frommer’s calls the “city’s cultural acropolis.”

The campus took thirteen years to design and construct, opening to the public in 1997. In addition to sharing world art treasures with the public, the Getty Center also houses the Getty Conservation Institute and Getty Research Institute. The site itself, including the view, architecture, and gardens, takes your breath away. In fact, the drama is so powerful that many visitors must return merely to focus on the spectacular art collection and special exhibitions—concentrating in European paintings, sculpture, drawings, illuminated documents and photographs, and decorative arts. Access and education are among the Getty’s goals. Guided tours, musical and theatrical performances, workshops, and demonstrations are all part of the offerings free of charge.

The Getty Center
1200 Getty Center Drive
Los Angeles, CA  90049
(310) 440-7300
www.getty.edu

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