Free Flight! © Nasa
LAUNCH HAS BEEN SCRUBBED FOR AT LEAST 48 HOURS DUE TO A TECHNICAL GLITCH
It’s a go for a FREE public showing of the U.S. Space Shuttle Endeavour’s last flight into space, at Griffith Observatory on Friday, April 29.
The launch will be televised live and Observatory staff members will be on hand, providing commentary and answering questions. This marks the 25th launch of Endeavour, the last orbiter constructed in the Space Shuttle fleet.
The free watch party will be at the Observatory’s Leonard Nimoy Event Horizon theater, 12:30 to 1:15pm, provided that the launch stays on schedule. Please check www.nasa.gov for updated status reports on the launch.
Parking is free but limited; available only in the south end of the parking lot and along East Observatory Road. Access is via Vermont Avenue, past the Greek Theatre and LEFT before the tunnel.
Get there early for parking so you don’t miss the lift-off!
The Saints are Marching in!
The dogs go rolling in!
Celebrate free fun at the largest and longest Mardi Gras party in Los Angeles at the L.A. Farmers Market.
For three days: Saturday March 5, Sunday March 6 and Fat Tuesday March 8, the Farmers Market bursts with Mardi Gras free fun from parades to bands to kids crafts PLUS periodic bead tossing New Orleans style at the East Patio.
Highlighting Saturday’s events is the Mutti Gras parade and costume contest, featuring a pageant of pooches in three size categories. The off-beat event takes place at 1pm; contestants need to sign up earlier at the Three Dog Bakery.
Among the eight bands at the Mardi Gras fest is the 2nd Line Saviour’s Parade Band (top picture), who will lead revelers in a series of kerchief waving, umbrella festooned parades through the Market’s aisles and sidewalks.
The free party continues on Fat Tuesday with a performance by the Baytos band, 6:30 to 9:30pm on the West Patio.
Looking for some traditional New Orleans eats and drinks to go with the free fun? Check out the Cajun/Creole cuisine at The Gumbo Pot (love their red beans & rice and killer cornbread!). Order some Kings Cakes at Thee’s Continental Pastries. The Market’s bars will also have plenty of Dixie Beer on hand. (*Food/drinks are not free).
Validate your parking ticket with a Market merchant and get two hours of free parking, with a third hour costing only $3.
Hail the Queen for Free!
Queue up for free fireworks, free fanfare and free fun when two queens meet in Long Beach, Thursday March 3. Queen Victoria, the third largest Cunard ocean liner ever built, will sail into Long Beach Harbor to meet the historic Queen Mary, docked in the harbor.
Board the Queen Mary, a popular SoCal maritime attraction, for FREE on March 3 to witness the 30-minute royal rendezvous from the Promenade Deck. At about 6pm the Queen Victoria and Queen Mary exchange whistle salutes amid fabulous fireworks. After the half-hour meet-and-greet the Queen Victoria continues on her Panama Canal Adventure to Ft. Lauderdale.
While aboard the Queen Mary be sure to pay a visit to the 75-year-old ocean liner’s Observation Bar, the ship’s original first class cocktail lounge. Drinks aren’t free but the stunning views of the harbor are!
*Parking rates in the Queen Mary lot will still apply.
Join thousands of others at the 23rd annual Martin Luther King Jr. Peace & Unity Parade, Saturday, Jan. 15 in Long Beach. The theme, “We Cannot Walk Alone,” a line from King’s “I Have A Dream” speech, is a call to move forward together.
The parade, featuring 100 entries, steps off at 10:30am at Martin Luther King Jr. Ave. and Anaheim St. From there it heads north on MLK Jr. Ave., east onto 19th St., then north on Lemon Ave.
A free peace & unity festival follows at Martin Luther King Jr. Park, 1950 Lemon Ave. noon to 5pm. Highlights of the fest include a carnival with FREE rides for kids and The Lowrider Band, famous for their hits “Lowrider,” “Cisco Kid” and “Why Can’t We Be Friends.” They play at 4:30pm on the main stage.
Sugar Skulls are Sweet!
Celebrate the traditional Mexican holiday, Dia de Los Muertos (Day of the Dead) with a FREE fun family event at Mama’s Hot Tamales in MacArthur Park Sat. 3 – 4 pm.
Part of the California Folk Art Museum’s Folk Art Everywhere program, stop by and decorate your own sugar skull to remember loved ones that have died as part of the holiday that merges Aztec and Catholic traditions. Stay for a tamale-making demonstration and watch a performance by Aztec Dancers!
Party with amateur astronomers at Griffith Observatory’s
Triple Domed Wonder
Wear your sweater because these parties are outdoors on the Observatory front lawn. Thanks to the Los Angeles Astronomical Society and the Los Angeles Sidewalk Astronomers the public star parties are held from 2pm to 9:45 pm on the 2nd or 3rd Saturday of the month.
Saturn Shines
Gaze at the moon, see Saturn’s rings and view other objects in the universe!
The knowledgeable amateur astronomers show you how to use a a variety of telescopes and answers celestial questions.
The star parties are popular so don’t be surprised when lines have to be cut off so the viewing can end at 9:45pm. The Observatory exhibit areas stay open until 10pm however.
Star Party Dates for 2010: Sept. 18, Oct. 16, Nov. 13, Dec. 11.
Get your Jazz on!
Come out the Friday, June 11th at Almansor Park in Alhambra for a fun night of free 1920′s style jazz. It’s a 1920′s themed dance party so period dress is encouraged but not required.
Food and drink are not provided but there are tables you are welcome to bring your own refreshments. The event goes from 8 P.M. – 12 A.M. and is located in the middle of the park. There is no live band but music is played by portable amp. It’s sure to be a great time so come check it out!
Almansor Park is located at 800 S. Almansor St. Alhambra, CA. 91801. This is a monthly event held every second Friday, so be sure to come back if you have a good time!
Check out Jazz Craze across the web:
The glorious three-domed Griffith Observatory atop Mount Hollywood celebrates its 75th birthday, and you’re invited to several free public events this year starting Friday, May 14!
Get to the observatory by 11:30 am Friday to watch the unveiling of the 75th birthday banner. Even though you can’t miss L.A.’s iconic hood ornament, a birthday balloon display from the telescope domes signals you’ve found the right place! Look for the astronomical presentation of cupcakes, too!
Afterward, look skyward for a special event at 12:49 p.m. with Observatory Director E. C. Krupp. The projection of the Sun’s image across the Gottlieb Transit Corridor’s engraved meridian arc will align with the inlaid equinox line on the Observatory’s West Observation terrace. When sunlight strikes the photoelectric sensors on the arc, LEDs embedded in the ecliptic chart light up the stars of the constellation through which the Sun is passing. These are stars that are always present in the sky but are unseen because the Sun is so bright.
Can’t make the afternoon event? Stop by for Friday evening’s free sunset ceremony with Dr. Krupp at 7:47 p.m.. Griffith Observatory hosts a second public birthday celebration at 8:35 p.m. when the Observatory will capture light from the star Gemma to illuminate 75 lights on the architectural model of the Observatory. The light from Gemma left the star in 1935, the year the Observatory opened on May 14.
Who says, “Nobody walks in LA”? This Earth Day you can see a team of eco-friendly pack lllamas for FREE as they walk from Hollywood to the Santa Monica Pier.
New Mexico Wilderness Guide and Outdoor Educator, Stuart Wilde, aka Sandbox Life.
Gung Hay Fat Choy! or Happy New Year! Celebrate the Year of the Tiger at the Free 2010 Golden Dragon Parade and Chinese New Year Festival in Los Angeles, Feb. 20 – 21.
Scare off evil spirits at one of oldest Lunar New Year parades in the U.S. The Golden Dragon Parade at 1pm Saturday is festival’s major highlight, populated with the colorful Chinese dragons that weave through the parade route. Sometimes manned by up to 20 performers, the dragons keep bad karma away.
Listen for the pop, pop, pop of 10,000 Chinese firecrackers! Also stepping off for the parade down Broadway are marching bands, Chinese acrobats, Miss LA Chinatown Queen and her court, elaborate floats and civic groups. Entertaining LA spectators for 111+ years, the parade attracts about 110,000 onlookers.
Parking is tough. Best bet is to park elsewhere and take the Metro Gold Line to Chinatown.
