LA Decostified » Activities

Giving Back on Christmas Day

Danit — Fri, 24 Dec 2010 08:20:47 +0000

If you’re in LA for Christmas and you don’t have any plans (or I suppose, if you’re in LA and Jewish? ha)…you may want to consider signing up to volunteer at the Culver City Senior Center!

The center is looking for people to help out on Christmas Day between 10am and 1pm. Volunteers will help with serving the 225 seniors lunch and entertaining them! You don’t have to be there the whole time, and any assistance would be nice. If you’d like to stop by, make sure you RSVP by emailing Sean, the event’s awesome organizer! More info…

Prefer to chill with the homeless instead of the elderly? Lucky you! There’s an opportunity to volunteer with the “Homeless Showers Program” on Christmas Day through LA Works! More info…

This is a sure-fire way to secure your spot on the "nice" list for next year...

LA Shopping Parties!

Danit — Mon, 06 Dec 2010 09:05:24 +0000

Holiday shopping is in full swing and every mall in LA is getting more and more slammed by the day. So I took the liberty of compiling a list of some holiday shopping events that could be fun to hit up and also save you some money! You can thank me later.

W.3rd St. Holiday Street Party: December 9th: The shops of West 3rd St. in West Hollywood will be offering great bargains & refreshments to create a holiday party atmosphere to shop in! Plan to find some pretty unique gifts in the many small shops, or just go to browse and dine at some of the yummy restaurants on 3rd (yes, they will have specials too)!

Holiday Walk on the Avenues: December 10th & 11th: Similar to the W. 3rd shopping party, the Melrose Village area of West Hollywood will also be throwing a party of their own! Even if you’re not looking to do much shopping, this sounds like a fun event to check out to get in the holiday spirit. There will be food trucks (duh), carolers, live entertainment, and refreshments for all!

Stila Warehouse Sale: December 11th: I’m a big fan of Stila Cosmetics but their stuff is just WAY too pricey for me. Luckily, the annual Stila warehouse sale is a great opportunity to stock up on some of your favorite quality make-up at crazy discounts (up to 80% off)! Sale starts at 8am but the line was a couple blocks long last year so get there early if you want the good stuff!

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Unique LA: December 11th & 12th: Check out LA’s ultimate independent design & gift show for a guaranteed way to get all your holiday shopping done in one swoop! And what’s more guaranteed is that your gifts will truly be one of a kind and you’ll be supporting local independent designers. There will be hundreds of independent vendors to choose from! Admission is $10 but that includes free drinks (cocktails & soft drinks).

Renegade Craft Fair: December 11th & 12th: This free craft fair takes place at the LA State Historic Park and features indie-craft artists selling their goods. There will also be fun holiday themed craft workshops running throughout the day… from make your own mistletoe and ornaments to DIY shopping bags. Let’s hope the weather looks good for next weekend, because this outdoorsy event sounds like a great time!!

A Taste of Dance + Fitness

Danit — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 17:14:18 +0000

This Saturday (3/27), The Music Center downtown is running A Taste of Dance, a program that gives you the chance to try out a number of different dance classes for only $1 a piece. This specific round of Taste of Dance (yep, they do it pretty often!) focuses on a variety of dance fitness styles. Time to whip you’re booty into shape for summer…

Tone and sweat to the following classes:

11:00AM – Warm-up (FREE)

11:30AM, 12:00PM, 12:30PM, 1:00PM – 20 Minute Lessons ($1 each)
Cardio Samba
Hip Hop Aerobics
Hula Workout
Jazzercise
Zumba

1:30PM, 2:00PM, 2:30PM, 3:00PM – 20 Minute Lessons
Bellydance Burn
Cardio Ballroom
Pure Barre
Salsa Workout
Step Dance Aerobics

3:30 to 4:15PM – Bollywood Blast (FREE)

Tickets go on sale at 10:30am and the fun starts at 11am. Make sure you get their fairly early because the class size is limited. For more information, check out the official page!

Weekend Fun 2/5-2/7

Paul — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 07:32:48 +0000

Welcome back to the Weekend Fun Guide! I know it’s been a long time since we put one of these up but the first weekend in February’s as a good a time as any to jump back in, right? Now I’m not sure whether it’s because the Super Bowl is this weekend or because I’m a little rusty at researching but I had a rough time finding cheap and interesting things for Friday and Sunday so this Weekend Guide is a little thinner than I’d like it to be.

Saturday, 2/6
Echo Park PDA (Public displays of ART) – This is kind of like an art walk but instead of bouncing from gallery to gallery the art will be on on display in driveways and hanging from fences. Instead of bringing the public to the art, they’re bringing the art out into public! From 12pm-6pm starting at the corner of Echo Park Ave. and Sunset Blvd. (where you can pick up a map) you can explore the neighborhood all the while enjoying driveway drive-ins, garage band concerts in garages, Chain link fence galleries, and many other creative public displays of art.
Cost: FREE

Hawaii at the Grove – Every Saturday in February from 12pm-7pm The Grove is going to be turned into a Hawaiian paradise with food, drinks, music, and lots of activities to keep you busy! (Hula lessons, anyone?) Each weekend they’ll be focusing on a different Island and this weekend they kick it off with Kaua’i! Relax to Hawaiian music performed by Kaua’i's own Nick Castillo and the graceful hula of one of the island’s top talents, Noelani Kau’i. Enjoy delicious Kaua’i Coffee and explore the variety of Kaua’i Made products on display.
Cost: FREE

Sunday, 2/7
Super Bowl Sunday Round-up – Our friend EstarLA put together this great list of things to do on Super Bowl Sunday so if you don’t already have plans you should really check this out!

All Weekend
Bank of America Free Museum Admission – Enjoy Free admission to select museums just for flashing your BoA card!
Cost: FREE

Harvesting fruit trees is very dangerous work...

Fallen Fruit’s Tree Giveaway - Fallen Fruit is celebrating their upcoming EATLACMA exhibit by giving away fruit trees. Their whole deal is the belief that fruit should be communal so they’re sharing fruit trees with people in the hopes that they’ll plant them in a place where everyone can enjoy them! They’ll be handing out saplings Saturday at the Watts Towers Arts Center & Charles Mingus Youth Arts Center and on Sunday at LACMA both starting at 12pm. Get there early to make sure you get a tree!
Cost: FREE

Down and Derby Roller Disco

Paul — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 20:39:48 +0000

This Thursday (1/21) Join Down and Derby at the Echoplex in Echo Park for a night of Drinking, Dancing, and Disco! This is a classic Roller Disco so dress up in your best BeeGee’s approved attire and skate the night away to the tunes of Thee Mike Bee and Steve 1Der.

It’s $10 at the door or $5 if you RSVP
Skate rentals are $5 or save the cash and bring your own!

Get in the Holiday Spirit!

Paul — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 05:00:27 +0000

Welcome to December! Tis the season of giving, spending time with family, and getting drunk on egg nog and mulled cider! If you’re having trouble getting into the spirit, here are a few hot holiday happenings around town this weekend!

Friday 12/4
Santa Monica Holiday Open House – Go down to Montana Ave. between 7th and 17th from 5pm-9pm for ten blocks of holiday fun including special deals from restaurants and stores, free food and drinks, and a chance to hang out with St. Nick himself!

Toluca Lake Holiday Open House – For all you valley dwellers, hit up Riverside between Cahuenga and Pass ave. from 6pm-9pm for Toluca Lake’s holiday open house! Enjoy free food and drink, store specials, strolling carolers and street performers!

Saturday 12/5
Studio City Holiday Open House – Didn’t get enough hot holiday open house action Friday night? Well here’s your chance to live it up all over again! This time stores on Tujunga Ave. in studio city are opening their doors from 5pm-9pm for a fun filled night of freebies, rides for kids, live music, and an appearance by the king and queen of Christmas; Mr. and Mrs. Claus!

Holiday Boat Parade – If nautical nonsense be something you wish head down to The Port of Los Angeles at 6pm to watch the Habor Holiday Afloat Parade! Sit back and enjoy the show as more than 50 boats all decorated and lit up just for the holidays parade along the channels!

Sunday 12/6
Studio City Holiday Parade – Finally, round out your big holiday weekend with a good old fashioned Christmas parade! Starting at 5:30pm Ventura blvd. between Whitsett and Laurel canyon will be host to a bevy of holiday floats and festive marchers!

Griffith Park Holiday Light Festival

Paul — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 02:29:57 +0000

All December (well, the 3rd through the 30th) LADWP will be covering a one mile stretch of Crystal Springs Drive in Griffith Park with holiday lights! This year they’re kicking off the festival with a special bike night on the 3rd, followed by vehicle free nights from the 4-17th where you can walk through the exhibit, and finally the traditional drive-thru version from the 18th-30th. They also have special times where you can ride your horse through the exhibit! Finally, I can give Butterscotch some exercise! The event is completely FREE and open to everyone so grab your friends and prepare to get your holiday on!

Check the event website for times and additional information.

A Taste of Dance

Paul — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 10:01:46 +0000

There are so many different forms of dance, each with their own music, attire, and even body types. But how do you know which dance style is right for you? The only way to really find out is to try it and this weekend (10/10) The Music Center is giving you the chance to try a number of different dance classes for only $1 a piece. You can learn everything from Irish Step to the moonwalk!

Starting at 10:30am the morning of you can buy tickets to whichever classes you want. There are multiple classes starting with a free stretch/ warm-up class at 11am and each class is 20 minutes long. They encourage you to take as many classes as you can fit in between 11am-4pm. But remember class sizes are limited so get in and buy your tickets early.

Check out the event page for more info and to see all the classes being offered.

The Great Pumpkin Giveaway

Danit — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 07:51:12 +0000

The LA Farmer’s Market is hosting The Great Pumpkin Giveaway this Sunday, October 11th from 12pm-2pm. Hopefully the weather stays this beautiful for Sunday. The pumpkin giveaway is a prelude to next weekend’s Fall Festival! Radio Disney’s Road Crew will be on-site hosting with music, games, and arts & crafts.

But lets not forget the main purpose of the event…they will be giving away over 4,000 pounds of free pumpkins!!

Salsa Under the Stars

Danit — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 20:57:39 +0000

Take a FREE salsa class this Thursday (9/10) night from Liz Lira! Lira has won 5 world championships in salsa, so this lady knows her stuff! There will be two classes at the Ford Theater running simultaneously (I’m still trying to figure out how she’s going to make that work) – one for beginners and one for intermediate/advanced students. The classes are from 7pm-8pm, followed by a chance to practice and show off what you’ve learned on the stage from 8pm-10pm. More details about Liz Lira and the classes…

Make sure to RSVP with the Ford Amphitheater Box Office by phone if you plan to attend: (323) 461-3673. You can also do so online but there is a $1.50 service fee.