Once a year, NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory opens it doors to the public. This year, JPL, located in Pasadena, will be open on Saturday and Sunday, May 2-3, from 9 am to 5 pm.
Take part in interactive spacecraft exhibits, watch science and engineering demonstrations, and talk to many of JPL's scientists and engineers about how spacecraft are sent to other planets, how space technologies are used explore Earth and how researchers are searching for planets beyond our solar system.
Models of several of JPL's Mars rovers, including the Mars Exploration Rovers and the Mars Science Laboratory, will also be exhibited. The annual open house is a fun and educational experience, with special hands-on activities designed for children.
Admission and parking are free. For more information, click here.
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Festival of Books this weekend
This weekend is the annual Los Angeles Times Festival of Books, held on the campus of UCLA. According to the official web site, it's the largest and most prestigious book festival in the country. How about that?!
The festival consists of seemingly endless rows of publishers' booths showcases their wares, multiple stages with author panels and entertainment, book signings, and various book-oriented activities for adults and kids. Celebrity authors will be in attendance, as well as celebrities who have written books, including David Baldacci, T.C. Boyle, Michael J. Fox, Arianna Huffington, Alyssa Milano--hundreds of authors in all.
Saturday April 25, from 10 am to 6 pm and Sunday, April 26, 10 am to 5 pm. Admission is free, but parking at one of the UCLA lots is $9. For more information including directions, click here.
The festival consists of seemingly endless rows of publishers' booths showcases their wares, multiple stages with author panels and entertainment, book signings, and various book-oriented activities for adults and kids. Celebrity authors will be in attendance, as well as celebrities who have written books, including David Baldacci, T.C. Boyle, Michael J. Fox, Arianna Huffington, Alyssa Milano--hundreds of authors in all.
Saturday April 25, from 10 am to 6 pm and Sunday, April 26, 10 am to 5 pm. Admission is free, but parking at one of the UCLA lots is $9. For more information including directions, click here.
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Earth Day at Wilshire Center
Tomorrow is Earth Day! Founded on April 22, 1970, Earth Day marks the beginning of the modern environmental movement and is commemorated annually as a day to learn about and focus on efforts to protect the natural world.
Here in Los Angeles, tomorrow is also the 2nd Annual Wilshire Center Earth Day festival.
The full title of the event is the Wilshire Center Earth Day/Car Free Day, but I'm not sure what the "Car Free" part entails. There are no road closures planned, and I can't find any information about what, if anything, is being done to encourage people to go car-free. I guess if you can do without your car for a day, then go for it!
You'd think they'd at least put some info about how to get to the event using public transportation on the official web site. As it turns out, the Metro Red Line stops about a block away. Get off at the Wilshire/Western stop.
The event itself takes place from 11 am to 2 pm in Wilshire Center, at 3700 Wilshire Blvd. There will be live music, drumming, ethnic dance performances, a farmer's market, a fruit tree giveaway, and electronic waste recycling. Everything is free and open to the public. For more information, click the link above.
Here in Los Angeles, tomorrow is also the 2nd Annual Wilshire Center Earth Day festival.
The full title of the event is the Wilshire Center Earth Day/Car Free Day, but I'm not sure what the "Car Free" part entails. There are no road closures planned, and I can't find any information about what, if anything, is being done to encourage people to go car-free. I guess if you can do without your car for a day, then go for it!
You'd think they'd at least put some info about how to get to the event using public transportation on the official web site. As it turns out, the Metro Red Line stops about a block away. Get off at the Wilshire/Western stop.
The event itself takes place from 11 am to 2 pm in Wilshire Center, at 3700 Wilshire Blvd. There will be live music, drumming, ethnic dance performances, a farmer's market, a fruit tree giveaway, and electronic waste recycling. Everything is free and open to the public. For more information, click the link above.
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Two free art walks this month
Tomorrow is the monthly Downtown Art Walk, which happens on the second Thursday of every month. It's a free, self-guided tour of various arts venues including private galleries, nonprofit arts organizations and many of Los Angeles' major museums.
Park at Athena Parking, a garage at 415 S. Main Street, for only $5 (flat rate, no in and out). Then hop on the Hippodrome, the free shuttle sponsored by Esotouric, those wacky folks who do the crime bus tours. It's a retrofitted 1940's school bus that doubles as a performance venue, entertaining art walk patrons.
Hours are noon to 9 pm. Click here for a map.
The weekend of April 18-19 is the semi-annual Brewery ArtWalk. The Brewery, located in downtown Los Angeles, is the world's largest art colony. Over 100 resident artists participate in the event, opening their homes and studios to the public.
Hours are 11 am to 6 pm, Saturday and Sunday. Admission and parking are free. Click the link above for more information and directions.
Park at Athena Parking, a garage at 415 S. Main Street, for only $5 (flat rate, no in and out). Then hop on the Hippodrome, the free shuttle sponsored by Esotouric, those wacky folks who do the crime bus tours. It's a retrofitted 1940's school bus that doubles as a performance venue, entertaining art walk patrons.
Hours are noon to 9 pm. Click here for a map.
The weekend of April 18-19 is the semi-annual Brewery ArtWalk. The Brewery, located in downtown Los Angeles, is the world's largest art colony. Over 100 resident artists participate in the event, opening their homes and studios to the public.
Hours are 11 am to 6 pm, Saturday and Sunday. Admission and parking are free. Click the link above for more information and directions.
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Free tribute to Forrest J. Ackerman
Continuing with the movie theme (this is Los Angeles, after all)... The American Cinematheque will host a 2-hour tribute this Sunday to one of movie fandom's greatest personalities, Forrest J. Ackerman, who passed away last December.
"Forry," as his friends knew him, was perhaps the most influential fan of science fiction for decades. He was the founding editor of Famous Monsters of Filmland, a magazine that helped promote and influence the genre film and generations of filmmakers. He was also an avid collector of movie memorabilia, and gave tours of his collection at his private home in Los Feliz.
The event will include testimonials from those who knew and loved Forry, plus film clips, slides, performances and more! Profiles in History will display a few of the Forrest J. Ackerman auction items they are handling, including some Bela Lugosi Dracula costumes and the robot from METROPOLIS.
Sunday, March 8, 4:00 pm. The Egyptian Theater is at 6712 Hollywood Blvd. A reception preceding the tribute starts at 3:00 pm. For more info, click here. FREE.
"Forry," as his friends knew him, was perhaps the most influential fan of science fiction for decades. He was the founding editor of Famous Monsters of Filmland, a magazine that helped promote and influence the genre film and generations of filmmakers. He was also an avid collector of movie memorabilia, and gave tours of his collection at his private home in Los Feliz.
The event will include testimonials from those who knew and loved Forry, plus film clips, slides, performances and more! Profiles in History will display a few of the Forrest J. Ackerman auction items they are handling, including some Bela Lugosi Dracula costumes and the robot from METROPOLIS.
Sunday, March 8, 4:00 pm. The Egyptian Theater is at 6712 Hollywood Blvd. A reception preceding the tribute starts at 3:00 pm. For more info, click here. FREE.
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Catching up on the Oscar nominees
So now that the Academy Awards are over, maybe you're thinking about seeing some of the nominated movies you missed. This is what's known in the movie biz as the post-Oscars box office bump, when ticket sales spike right after the awards ceremony.
The problem is, at $10 or more per ticket, seeing a bunch of movies can add up quickly... so you think, I'll just wait for the DVD. But who wants to wait? And sometimes, watching a DVD at home just can't compare to the experience of seeing a movie on the big screen.
What if you could see movies on the big screen for less than the cost of a movie rental? I happen to love the Academy Cinemas in Pasadena, run by Regency Theaters. It's what's known as a second-run theater, showing movies that have already disappeared from the major movie-plexes. Tickets are only $2 before 6:00 pm and $3 after 6:00.
This week, the Academy (not the one that puts on the Oscars) is showing "Revolutionary Road," "Frozen River," "Waltz with Bashir," "Frost/Nixon" and "Rachel Getting Married." All of which were nominated for Oscars. Regency also operates the Fairfax Cinemas on Beverly, which is currently showing "Doubt," "Milk" and "Revolutionary Road."
Go to the Regency Theaters website for more information on these and other theaters and for showtimes.
The problem is, at $10 or more per ticket, seeing a bunch of movies can add up quickly... so you think, I'll just wait for the DVD. But who wants to wait? And sometimes, watching a DVD at home just can't compare to the experience of seeing a movie on the big screen.
What if you could see movies on the big screen for less than the cost of a movie rental? I happen to love the Academy Cinemas in Pasadena, run by Regency Theaters. It's what's known as a second-run theater, showing movies that have already disappeared from the major movie-plexes. Tickets are only $2 before 6:00 pm and $3 after 6:00.
This week, the Academy (not the one that puts on the Oscars) is showing "Revolutionary Road," "Frozen River," "Waltz with Bashir," "Frost/Nixon" and "Rachel Getting Married." All of which were nominated for Oscars. Regency also operates the Fairfax Cinemas on Beverly, which is currently showing "Doubt," "Milk" and "Revolutionary Road."
Go to the Regency Theaters website for more information on these and other theaters and for showtimes.
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
AMC Best Picture Showcase
It's not an Oscar freebie, but it's still a great deal.
If you're free this Saturday and want to see the Best Picture nominees before the awards ceremony, you can head to select AMC theaters and see them all at once for $30. That's only $6 a movie if you see all five!
But you're free to come and go throughout the day if you want to skip one (or two). Showtimes are as follows:
Milk 10:30 a.m.
The Reader 1:05 p.m.
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button 3:45 p.m.
Slumdog Millionaire 7:15 p.m.
Frost/Nixon 9:45 p.m.
The $30 also gets you a large popcorn with free refills throughout the day.
Click here for more information, to find a theater near you, or to buy tickets.
If you're free this Saturday and want to see the Best Picture nominees before the awards ceremony, you can head to select AMC theaters and see them all at once for $30. That's only $6 a movie if you see all five!
But you're free to come and go throughout the day if you want to skip one (or two). Showtimes are as follows:
Milk 10:30 a.m.
The Reader 1:05 p.m.
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button 3:45 p.m.
Slumdog Millionaire 7:15 p.m.
Frost/Nixon 9:45 p.m.
The $30 also gets you a large popcorn with free refills throughout the day.
Click here for more information, to find a theater near you, or to buy tickets.
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