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Nights on the Town for Less Than $15
Dance
Downtown events, which take place every other Friday night through the
summer, are one of the best free entertainment options around.Photo by Gary Leonard.
| The Lineup for Five of Downtown’s Best Cheap Dates
by Anna Scott
DOWNTOWN
LOS ANGELES - Everyone is watching his or her budget these days, but
that doesn’t have to put a dent in your social life. With a little
planning, you can arrange an entire night out in Downtown for less than
the price of two movie tickets. Here, we get you started with five
dates, by neighborhood, that will cost less than $15 for the two of you.
Little Tokyo:
Thursday evenings are primetime for cheap dates here. Grab a bite at
the popular Kogi Korean barbecue taco truck, which usually parks
outside the Japanese American National Museum at First and Central on
Thursdays from 6-9 p.m. Tacos, with fillings like Korean short ribs and
spicy barbecue chicken or pork, go for $2 each, while burritos are $5.
With your appetite satisfied, check out JANM, which offers free
admission Thursdays from 5-8 p.m. (and all day the third Thursday of
each month). On Aug. 13, take in the 55-minute documentary Crossroads:
Boyle Heights, which chronicles life stories of Boyle Heights
residents. Exhibitions showcasing Japanese folk toys and photography
are on display through the summer. Cap the night with a treat from the
Japanese pastry and gelato shop Mikawaya, open until 10 p.m. at nearby
Japanese Village Plaza. The store’s most popular item, the sugary
pillows of ice cream-filled dough called mochi, are just $1 each. Kogi
truck at kogibbq.com; JANM at 369 E. First St, (213) 625-0414 or janm.org; Mikawaya at 350 E. First St., (213) 624-1681 or mikawayausa.com.
Financial District:
First, think ahead and pack a picnic supper. Then head over to Pershing
Square to check out sculptures and paintings by local artists at the
free, outdoor Art Squared Gallery at Hill and Sixth streets. Next, grab
a table and picnic while people-watching. When you run out of things to
discuss, walk about half a mile to the comfortable Library Bar on Sixth
Street and refuel the conversation over happy hour drinks. The
specials, served weekdays from 5-8 p.m., include $4 Stella Artois and
$5 cocktails. The final part takes planning, or at least using the
Internet. The Central Library has free 7 p.m. lectures thanks to the
Aloud series. Upcoming speakers include Emmy Award-winning writer and
performer Ruben Martinez on July 30 and science journalist Chris Mooney
on Aug. 5 (reservations are recommended, but stand-by tickets are often
available). Back at Pershing Square, meanwhile, there are free concerts
or outdoor films four nights a week through Aug. 23, including The
Motels on Aug. 15. Pershing Square at 532 S. Olive St., (213) 847-4970
or laparks.org/pershingsquare; Library Bar at 630 W. Sixth St., (213) 488-1931 or librarybarla.com; Aloud at Central Library, 630 W. Fifth St., (213) 228-7025 or libraryfoundationla.org/aloud.
Bunker Hill:
Meet on a Friday evening at High Point Coffee at First and Hope
streets, where a cup of organic, fair-trade brew runs about $2. Once
you’re caffeinated, head to the Music Center Plaza on Grand Avenue to
put those jitters to work at Dance Downtown, a series of free shows
(including beginner dance lessons) offered Fridays from 6:30-10 p.m.
throughout the summer. Upcoming dates include disco night on July 24
and Argentine Tango Aug. 21. After working up an appetite, head to
Kendall’s Brasserie and Bar, an elegant French bistro in the Music
Center complex. Take advantage of the late-night happy hour menu,
served from 8-10 p.m., which offers shareable munchies like the $8
plate of fried calamari or grilled pita bread with hummus, olive
tapenade and greens, and $4 desserts. High Point Coffee at 714 W. First
St., (213) 229-0030 or brewhighpoint.com; Dance Downtown at 135 N. Grand Ave., (213) 972-3660 or musiccenter.org; Kendall’s at 135 N. Grand Ave., (213) 972-7322 or patinagroup.com.
Arts District:
Ay Caramba! No, that’s not a commentary on the Arts District. It’s the
Mexican restaurant where you’ll start your cheap date. For dinner, try
dishes like the grilled beef or fish tacos ($2.80 each), the $4.99
quesadilla or the $5.99 breaded beef sirloin steak sandwich. Next, head
to the Southern California Institute of Architecture. Browse discounted
art supplies and reading materials at the school’s bookstore, then
check out a free lecture. Upcoming events include a discussion with
architect and SCI-Arc Director Eric Owen Moss on Wednesday, July 29, at
7 p.m., and two lectures on Aug. 5: a 5 p.m. discussion with Anthony
Vidler, dean of New York’s Cooper Union School of Architecture; and a
6:30 p.m. panel talk with Moss, Thom Mayne, who designed Downtown’s
Caltrans building, and Wolf Prix, lead architect of Downtown’s High
School for the Visual and Performing Arts. Finally, split a $5 toasted
apple pie ice cream sandwich from the sausage-and-beer joint
Wurstküche. The dessert is even worth breaking the budget for you to
each get your own. Ay Caramba at 714 Traction Ave., (213) 620-0274;
SCI-Arc at 960 E. Third St., (213) 613-2200 or sciarc.edu; Wurstküche at 800 E. Third St., (213) 687-4444 or wurstkucherestaurant.com.
South Park:
There are several inexpensive opportunities for fun here, which you can
mix and match as necessary to stay within your budget. Starting with a
cheap beer at the divey Hank’s Bar is never a bad idea — and if you
consider the free popcorn dinner and the rockin’ jukebox entertainment,
you could start and end here. If you need a more substantial bite, try
the expansive, reasonably priced buffet at Ralphs supermarket. Granted,
hitting a grocery store may not scream “awesome date,” but the store
has a nice indoor seating area by the windows and offers prime people
watching. Next, take a short walk to browse discounted clothes,
accessories, fabrics and magazines at the Fashion Institute of Design
and Merchandising Scholarship Store. (If you can’t resist the bargains
and splurge here, at least your purchases will help fund FIDM’s
Scholarship Foundation.) If you want to blow your budget on one truly
choice night out, the Grammy Museum at L.A. Live offers $8 admission
after 6 p.m. on evenings that coincide with public programs. Upcoming
dates include July 21 and July 30. We admit, this deal will put you $1
over budget, but the interactive displays are fun, including one where
you get tips on your rapping skills from Jermaine Dupri. Hank’s Bar at
840 S. Grand Ave., (213) 623-7718; Ralphs Fresh Fare at 645 W. Ninth
St., (213) 452-0840 or ralphs.com; FIDM Scholarship Store at 919 S. Grand Ave., (213) 624-1200 or fidm.edu; Grammy Museum at 800 W. Olympic Blvd., (213) 765-6803 or grammymuseum.org.
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