Party like a Barack-star

Looking for somewhere to go on Tuesday to watch--and celebrate--the Presidential Inauguration? I just found out about this super-cool party happening downtown. Admission is only $10.



Tuesday, January 20. The West Coast "Art of Change" Inaugural Ball, featuring The Mutaytor with extra special guests The Crystal Method, at the Mayan Theater in downtown Los Angeles.

Doors open at 7:00 pm, with a reshowing of the Inauguration on a giant screen at 8:00 pm. At 9:30 The Mutaytor will take the stage, followed by DJs spinning until midnight.

The Mayan Theater is located at 1038 South Hill Street. For more information, click here.

World premiere at the Ford

Sorry for the long absence, folks. I was out of town for a week, without my laptop, and I'm currently preoccupied with trying to find a job! But I wanted to tell you about a new play opening this weekend at the Ford.

"Battle Hymn" is a fantastical epic that follows a young girl's 150-year pregnancy and kaleidoscopic journey through history. This world premiere production runs January 17 through February 21 at the 87-seat [Inside] the Ford at the Ford Amphitheater.

From the press release:

On the eve of the Civil War, sixteen-year-old Martha (Los Angeles newcomer Suzy Jane Hunt) finds herself pregnant and ostracized. As Martha travels through and fights in the Civil War, she settles on one incontrovertible fact: she will not raise her baby in a blood-soaked, violent country. Martha stays pregnant for over a century, until she arrives in San Francisco in 1967. For a moment Martha thinks she's landed in heaven, but before she knows it, half the world is at war once again. From the mud and the blood of Fort Sumter to singing cows and the summer of love, Martha's journey embodies the tragedy, humor and hope that have shaped the last 150 years of U.S. history.

Tickets are $20, but two previews on January 15 and 16 (that's tomorrow and Friday), as well as all Sunday 2:00 pm performances, are pay-what-you-can.

"Battle Hymn" runs Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 8 pm and Sundays at 2 pm and 7 pm, January 17 through February 21. Two previews take place on January 15 and 16 at 8 pm.

[Inside] the Ford is located in the Ford Theatres complex at 2580 Cahuenga Blvd. East, just off the 101 Freeway across from the Hollywood Bowl and south of Universal Studios. On-site parking is free.

For reservations and information, call the Ford Theatres Box Office at (323) 461-3673 or click here.

Disneyland free on your birthday

Sorry, this is late notice if your birthday happens to be January 1. Disneyland is offering free admission on your birthday in 2009!

You have to register on the Disney website here. In other words, you can't just show up on your birthday and expect to get in free--unless you've already registered. You also have to show picture ID at the gate.

For more information, and to register for your free birthday ticket, click on the link above.

And Happy New Year! Best wishes for an affordable 2009!

FREE New Year's Eve at CityWalk

Looking for something to do on New Year's Eve, but reluctant to pay the exorbitant ticket prices for parties held at various clubs, hotels and restaurants on December 31st... and equally reluctant to stay home, watching the ball drop on TV by yourself?

Universal CityWalk is having a free New Year's Eve party from 9:00 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. with live music, giant video screens and fireworks at both ends of the street. The Cinema Plaza Stage will feature the band Fast Times. The Globe Fountain Stage will feature 80s Rewind.

The event is free but general parking at CityWalk is $10.00. For more info, click here.

Magic Mountain season pass on sale

Six Flags theme parks just announced a one-day sale on their Play Pass. Between now and midnight on Thursday, December 25, a 2009 Play Pass is 20% off, which makes it less than the price of a single admission.

If you buy now, you get in free for the rest of 2008 as well, including the Rock 'n' Ride New Year's Eve Party, with a midnight countdown and fireworks. A great way to ring in the New Year with kids!

Even better, the Play Pass gets you into all 15 Six Flags theme parks nationwide, including Hurricane Harbor, the water park next door to Magic Mountain. You also get four free tickets for friends to use on selected dates in 2009.

If you love roller coasters or plan on visiting Magic Mountain at any time next year, this is a great deal. Click here for more info and to purchase a 2009 Play Pass.

Six Flags Magic Mountain is located in Valencia, CA.

Ice skating in downtown L.A.

Yes, that's right! You can actually go ice skating in Los Angeles... on real ice! Who knew?

Well, I guess I didn't, since this post is a little late to the party. Downtown on Ice, sponsored by our professional hockey team, the Los Angeles Kings, has been open since last month. But it's open for another month, until January 19, 2009, so there's still time to get down there and lace up your skates!

Admission is only $6.00 and skate rental is another $2.00. For those who don't skate (maybe your kids or friends do?) there are free lunchtime concerts during the week, on Friday nights, and during the day on Saturday and Sunday. On select Thursday nights in December and January, Spaceland will present the best of L.A.'s alternative, hip hop and world beat music.

Downtown on Ice, located in Pershing Square, 532 South Olive Street in downtown L.A. Open 7 days a week. Check schedule for hours.

Last-minute, green holiday cards

Did you forget to send holiday cards this year? Or maybe you left it until the last minute and don't have time to sit down and stuff envelopes now...

Here's a great way to send your season's greetings, save some money and help the environment all at once. English artist Jacquie Lawson designs beautiful animated e-cards that you can send with the click of a mouse. Instant delivery, in time for Christmas!

In order to send cards from her site, you have to purchase a membership, which is only $12 for one year or $18 for two. A membership allows you to send as many e-cards as you like throughout the year--a great deal when you consider that the average greeting card costs about $3.

Besides holiday e-cards, she also offers cards for every occasion. Sure, there are lots of free e-cards out there, but these are truly lovely and unique. (I'm not getting paid to say that, either!) And because the site is supported by membership fees, there are no annoying ads or pop-ups included in the cards.

Not only are you saving money by sending e-cards, you're also saving the trees that paper cards are made from, and the fossil fuel used to transport them across the globe. Good for your pocketbook, good for the planet.