This past weekend I attended the D23 Expo in Anaheim, CA to see what all of the hullabaloo was regarding the event. Turns out, said hullabaloo is well-founded.

D23 is the official fan club of all things Disney, and while the event offered a number of perks and benefits to its members, expo tickets were available to the general public (now at Disney prices!).  All were welcome to enter.

The expo featured panels, sessions and meet and greet opportunities with Disney brass, legends and stars. For instance, in a two hour period I was a few feet away from John Lasseter, Kermit the Frog (the REAL Kermit the Frog), Miss Piggy (the REAL Miss Piggy), Jason Segel, Robert Downey, Jr. (actually, all of the Avengers minus Captain America and the Hulk, yes that means the beefcake from Thor and Scarlett Johansson were also there), Billy Crystal, and the cast and artists behind a number of Disney favorites, be they parks, movies, Marvel, Muppet or Pixar. It was really impressive. Also, churros. Read More »

The J. Paul Getty Museum, according to its own website, “seeks to further knowledge of the visual arts and to nurture critical seeing by collecting, preserving, exhibiting and interpreting works of art of the highest quality.”

That means it has neat stuff for you to look at.

The museum is located in Los Angeles at the Getty Center, atop a hill overlooking the parking lot that is the 405 freeway (museum access is via Sepulveda Blvd). Drive by during rush hour and you’ll have plenty of time to stare at its wonder and watch the tram shuttle people up its steep hill.

Inside the museum you will find paintings, drawings, sculpture, illuminated manuscripts, decorative arts, and photographs from Europe and America.

There is a smaller J. Paul Getty Museum at the Getty Villa in Malibu, just off the Pacific Coast Highway and directly across from the beach. This one wins the battle of location.

However, the real winner is you, the art-loving public, because admission to both Getty Museums is free (however, the Getty Villa requires an advance, timed ticket for occupancy reasons).

Visit L.A., and add a free day of culture to your vacation. Sounds nice, doesn’t it?

This post is part of the UpTake Monday Museums & Monuments Series.

Photo: Allan Ferguson via Flickr

I know, the X Games started yesterday, but this is L.A., and if you aren’t late you aren’t fashionable. It’s kind of a thing out here. That said, if you and yours are visiting SoCal this weekend there is one more must-do to add to your overflowing itinerary. That must-do is the X Games that I opened with. Pay attention.

The X Games are ESPN’s creation, a gift to the world of extreme sports competition. The Summer X Games started in 1995 and feature some of the best extreme athletes in the world. You know, the crazy kids.

All of the events are held in downtown Los Angeles. They are spread between Staples Center, the Nokia Theatre L.A. LIVE, Lot 7 (the actual parking lot), Event Deck at L.A. LIVE and Gilbert Lindsay Plaza. What could be more extreme than that?

Tickets start at $5 and include admission to the X Fest at L.A. LIVE, which features live music, sponsor tents, an interactive skate park, demonstrations and opportunities to meet the athletes. X Fest opens an hour before the events start and closes an hour before the events end.

If you plan to attend X Games 17 please consider public transportation as traffic will be congested (i.e., it will be ugly) due to street closures. For those of you that are up to the challenge, there is paid parking along Figueroa St. for $25.

X Games 17
Staples Center
1111 S Figueroa St.
Los Angeles, CA
(213) 742-7100
More Information
Tickets

Lakers vs. Bobcats, 2008

A few years ago, a relative was visiting and said he might as well catch a Dodgers game while he was in town.  I was surprised, because it had never occurred to me that living in a big city carries with it the advantage of professional sports teams in residence. I’m not sure how I missed that – every other car, grown man, or child is festooned with Lakers purple and gold around here.  Maybe it’s because I’m more into college sports.  But thanks to that relative, now I have officially accepted professional sports as a Thing To Do in Los Angeles.

Now home to two NBA teams (the Lakers and Clippers), a WBNA team (the Sparks), and a hockey team (the Kings) as well as the Dodgers, Los Angeles has five times the opportunity to experience a professional game.  Read More »