Vacations Blog

From guest blogger Marsha Takeda-Morrison of Sweatpantsmom

The end of summer doesn’t mean the end of good times. (Although, if you talk to my kids, the end of summer and the beginning of the school year really does mean the end of good times, and any type of joyful existence, period.)  The next few months are filled with holidays and the celebrations that go along with them, not to mention festivals taking place throughout the city. Here are a few – check back here on the UpTake blog for other events to help you get over summer withdrawal.

Sawdust Art Festival  – The Summer Show is the main part of this Laguna Beach festival and takes place from June through August, but it really consists of several festivals that take place year-round.  Check out the Autumn Art Festival for first rate classes like Glass Blowing, Ceramics and Oil Painting.  Don’t miss the Winter Fantasy, which takes place over four weekends from November 22 through December 14 and features 170 artists and craftspeople creating, demonstrating and selling their original pieces, not to mention outdoor cafes and a visit with Santa!  Kill two birds with one stone and get your holiday shopping done here, too.

(By the time this post publishes, you will have just missed the Nisei Week Japanese Festival that takes place in Little Tokyo every summer.  But it’s worth noting for next year – mark your calendars for next August’s festival.)

The beginning of November brings several festivals celebrating Dia De Los Muertos or The Day of the Dead.  One of the biggest celebrations takes place at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery and features theater performances, arts and crafts exhibitions and authentic Mexican cuisine.  This year’s event takes place on November 1st, from 4-11pm and admission is only $5 per person.  Celebrate the dead without giving up an arm and a leg.

DWP Light Festival – Not so much a festival as a magical celebration of the holiday season. An amazing light and motion display sponsored by the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power that you can view either from your car or via a walking route (which they recommend.)  Part of the festival is the Reindeer Romp at the nearby L.A. Zoo which features live reindeer, hands-on arts and crafts and holiday shopping.  If you’ve never had a chance to see this awesome light show, make it a point to go this year – it’s worth the crush of cars and maddening crowds.  It makes my husband cranky just thinking about going, but once he sees how much the kids love it, he cheers up.  Most of the time.

Photo: Hollywood Forever presents Dia de la Muertos

From guest blogger Marsha Takeda-Morrison of Sweatpantsmom

Just because it’s a sweltering night in L.A. doesn’t mean you have to lock yourself in your air-conditioned house downing pints of Ben and Jerry’s. Sure it’s fun, but sooner or later that freezer of yours will be empty and you’ll have to run out for more ice cream anyways, so why not make a night of it? Here are some ways to enjoy the nightlife in L.A. – don’t stay out too late and you can still stop at 7-Eleven on the way home for another pint of Cherry Garcia.

A movie at a cemetery may not be your idea of a fun (and even romantic) evening but lots of people think this event is anything but dead. Join the crowds at the Cinespia outdoor movie screenings at Hollywood Forever Cemetery where you can enjoy old classics and new hits like “The Thin Man” and “27 Dresses” alongside the final resting places of stars such as Rudolph Valentino and Charlie Chaplin. Bring along a meal, a bottle of wine and party with the festive crowd amongst the crypts. Don’t forget to bring some dessert to share with the ghost of William Randolph Hearst, who is said to frequently visit the crypt of his mistress, Marion Davies.

I can only describe Summer Sessions at the Getty as a sort of highbrow wave. The well-heeled denizens of the art world come together with the pulsating bodies of twenty-somethings looking for a good free outdoor event with strong booze. But it sure is fun! Come dance to high-energy electronica and world music spun by first-rate DJs in the Getty Center courtyard, and then cool off with a drink at one of their outdoor bars. The strangest thing I saw the last time I was there was an elderly museum employee tearing up the dance floor to a techno remix of “I Will Survive.” Really!

Technically not in Los Angeles, but only a short 90-minute drive for the adventurous. The W Hotel in San Diego has a great rooftop bar called the Sand Bar that features a heated sand floor (yes, real sand to get inside your shoes), fire pits, private cabanas and nightly movie screenings. The best part? Unlike a real beach, there’s no sunscreen required, and a waiter delivers your drink on a tray instead of you having to fish it out of your own ice chest.

For a rooftop bar closer to home, there’s the Roof Bar at the Standard Downtown. Order a mai-tai and then lay down on one the vibrating space-pod waterbeds (you may have to wait a while for your turn.) This place is teeming with hipsters, so make sure you have your best Prada bag (or excellent knock-off) slung over your shoulder that night. There’s a live DJ on Sunday afternoons, but the cover is a steep $20 – I guess with a name like Roof Bar you’d have to expect the prices to be sky-high.

Photo: StandardHotels.com