Promo tickets at The Geffen Playhouse

We've not yet gone to check out The Geffen Playhouse in Westwood (on Le Conte beside Ralphs) and this morning I got an email from 100.3FM The Sound with a promo code to go see any performance of the American premiere of "The Gift" starring Kathy Baker & James Van Der Beek for $38. Buy your tickets here with the promo code "TS40GIFT" to save up to 45% off the regular prices $45-70. (You can also enter to win a free pair of tickets for Sunday, February 10th.)

To make the most of your experience, go see the play on a night where they serve up free booze before the show! I'm gonna go ahead and buy mine on "Wine Down Sunday" with complimentary wine tastings courtesy of Echelon Vineyards from 6-7pm in the Geffen's lobby while The Sound plays rock classics live on vinyl -- sounds like date night!

NOTE: There is a $2 facility fee added to every ticket purchase even if you go direct to the box office, but the additional $6 convenience fee when buying online or over the phone is waived with this promo code.

"Museums Free For All" Weekend

I just found out that this upcoming weekend is the "8th Annual Museums Free For All Weekend" in L.A. (This is similar to "Doors Open" days where museums & heritage/architectural sites open their doors to the public for free access.) I am a huge advocate of free arts/cultural things (free anything for that matter, haha) -- one of my favourite things about living in the UK was that the vast majority of their museums/galleries are free of charge (well, technically paid for by the government through taxes, but still) and they have some of the most incredible museums in the world including The British Museum, The National Gallery, The V&A, and both Tates. So I'm very glad to see that a similar initiative exists in L.A.--albeit only for a weekend--and would encourage you all to get out there and wander around a couple of museums!

Keep in mind that a good number of these, such as the Fowler Museum on campus as well as both the Getty museums, are actually free all the time so I would focus on the ones that aren't, like the MOCA, the LACMA, and the Pasadena Museum of California Art. Here is an awesome chart that tells you when many of the museums offer free admission on a regular basis (also in PDF):

Also happening this weekend is the 18th Annual L.A. Art Show at the Convention Center. This is apparently the longest running encyclopedic art exhibit in the country and the largest on the west coast. I'm definitely going to check this out on Saturday and can only hope that the crowds aren't too insane! The regular admission is $20 with a $5 discount if you buy online in advance, or better yet, print your free tickets here, courtesy of Rau Antiques who will be exhibiting at the show! :o)

Zipcar Promotion

For those of you without a car, Zipcar will save the day. Just before the holidays we bought a used Toyota (more on this soon) so we no longer have a Zipcar membership but boy, was it handy when we needed it. For more about Zipcars, read this old post. When you're ready, sign up for Gilt City via this referral link which will give you $15 off your first purchase, then buy this voucher which basically waives the application & annual membership fees ($85). Trust me, this is an excellent deal (better than any promo/referral codes you'll find out there) and I would get right on it before the promotion ends!

dineLA Restaurant Week

From Monday January 21st through to Friday, February 1st, you'll have a chance to try some of the best restaurants in L.A. at a fraction of the regular cost.

The concept is essentially the same as Restaurant Week in NYC & Boston, Dine About Town in San Fran, or Winterlicious in Toronto: Business is slow in January so to bring people in, restaurants offer 3-course prix fixe lunch & dinner menus ranging between $15-$45 (often less than half of what you'd normally pay at these places).

Walk-ins are possible but it's best to make a reservation ahead of time. For a full listing and more information, click on the image below.

Free movie screenings!

The Dashew Center puts on FREE international film screenings throughout the year. Tomorrow night at 7pm they are showing "Departures", an Oscar-winning Japanese dramedy in the DeNeve Auditorium in Bradley Hall. They even provide popcorn and hot cocoa and all you have to do is register so make it a movie night! :)

Next up is "The Motorcycle Diaries" in April so mark your calendars!