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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.
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The Lineup for Five of Downtown’s Best Cheap Dates
by Anna ScottDOWNTOWN 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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