cheap date: the broad

as part of my art history minor in college, I spent a good chunk of time at the ICA in boston and fell head over heels for the museum. contemporary art had always been my favorite, so museums focusing on it are always on the top of my list. I had heard of the broad when I first moved to LA, but for some reason never made the trek out there. with my newfound fun-employment until I head back to boston in a few short weeks I've made it my mission to cross as many things off my LA bucket list and finally paid it a visit. the first thing I realized (and loved) was that it is a free museum- hello cheap free date! museums can be seriously pricey, so it's nice that this museum is all about educating and engaging over profiting. however, since it is free, you have to reserve tickets in advance or risk heading down there and waiting in line without getting in. one exhibit/instillation in particular (the infinity room) has been an obsession of mine for years, and requires a separate reservation of it's own. the day I happened to go to the museum, the reservations unfortunatley were full for the day. if you go on a day when reservations are full, there is a standby line that you can wait in, but there is no guarantee you'll get in/how long you'll be waiting. luckily for me a whole slew of reservations were no shows, so I only waited maybe 5 minutes before I was able to go in. the infinity room is unlike anything I've ever seen or experienced. the closest thing I could compare it to is standing inside of a galaxy, and since space is my favorite, I was over the moon (pun intended). I was expecting to share the experience with the other museum goers in line, but was seriously pleasantly surprised when I realized it was one on one. best minute in a long time.

the museum releases the tickets in monthly batches the first week of every month, and they fill up fairly quickly. if you can make it work, a week day is easier to visit and you don't have the same weekend crowds that make museum going not as fun (in my opinion). it's a great collection, but not a giant museum- so take that into consideration when planning your day. there are quite a few museums in the vicinity of the broad, so make a museum day of it, or bop around DTLA and explore. I decided to do the latter, and crossed a few more things off my LA bucket list. more on that later :)

have you visited the broad or scored tickets to the infinity room? what's your favorite part?

xx, marissa

cheap date: cinespia

one of my absolute favorite things about living in LA, hands down, is cinespia. I've always loved outdoor movies (growing up with a drive-in movie theatre around the corner totally spoiled me), but cinespia takes it to a whole different level. combine a city with a deep love for films, amazing weather 360 days a year, the combination cool/creepy of an old hollywood cemetery and you have cinespia. I remember reading about it when I was still living in boston, and living vicariously through my favorite LA bloggers who were lucky enough to have it be a typical summer event.

during the summer, every saturday night the hollywood forever cemetery is transformed into a unique party environment complete with a DJ spinning themed music before the movie, an insane photo booth that's basically a scene straight from the set (and more than worth the wait in line), and blanket picnics surrounded by fun people. don't worry- you won't be pissing off any ghosts by partying on their graves- the area is a big open lawn in front of the scene. no bodies buried beneath ya. make sure you're prepared with blankets & pillows (to sit on and cuddle up with), drinks (the boozier the better & try for twist offs incase you forget the bottle opener), and a quality spread (you can go gourmet with a full meal, the lazy route with takeout, or a little bit of this and that with some yummy snacks). if you happen to totally spazz the day of the event, and have no time to stop at trader joes (a favorite of cinespia goers!), order a pizza and have it delivered to the gate- trust me, it works. it get's chilly as the sun goes down so dress accordingly, or if you're feeling extra fun, you can dress as a character from the movie and look even cooler in the photo booth. don't worry about being the only person dressed, you won't be. tickets are a bit more expensive than a traditional movie (around $16), but for the experience, it's totally worth it!

they release the line-up in two parts, the first half of the summer, and then (around the middle/end of august) the second half. tickets definitely sell out for movies, so if you see something you like buy it quick! I've had more than a few movies sell out before I got around to ordering a ticket and while there's always the craigslist route, you'll end up paying more & I'm always weary of it. it's a fun idea for a summer birthday, cute date night, or just a fun thing to do that different from the typical bar scene. if you stop by the photo booth (which trust me, do!) the pictures are available for purchase, and they're posted online after the event so you can grab the digital copy.

the past two summers I've gone the hollywood route, but if you happen to be in LA during the winter or can't wait until next summer, they do offer events at various theaters throughout the city. I can't speak to the level of coolness for these events, but if it's cinespia- I'd bet my bottom dollar that it's going to be pretty damn cool. check here for info on the downtown events and keep your eyes & ears peeled by joining their mailing list. sometimes they even add pop up shows after the summer season is over! fingers crossed there's one more before "LA winter" sets in.

have you ever made it to cinespia?

xx, marissa

ps. a whole SLEW of "secret" shows were added between now and halloween! if you missed to on the regular season, make sure and check out the new additions. my personal favorite? "death becomes her" on october 15th - get your tickets here

cheap date: screening of Good Will Hunting

as a full blooded Bostonian, I love movies that are centered around the amazing city I call home. with so many amazing options to choose from (the Departed, the Town, the Boondock Saints, Mystic River, Fever Pitch), it's tough to pick a favorite, but Good Will Hunting definitely tops the list. it's refreshing to have a movie where crime and the mob aren't the focal point of the story, and it's also the movie that launched the amazing bromance that is Matt & Ben. with the unfortunate death of Robin Williams, this screening is a perfect opportunity to relive not only this amazing movie, but the role that won him an Academy Award.

catch the free screening at the Park at Channel Center in Fort Point (South Boston), starting at 8pm. for more info (including rain date info) check here.

xx, marissa

cheap date: blast from the past

 

i am a huge fan of 90's alt rock- it's right up there with classic hip/hop in my book. and an even bigger fan of FREE music. tonight, to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Hard Rock Cafe Boston (side note- it's the same age as me. weird), spin doctors will be playing a free concert in Government Center at City Hall Plaza. if you're looking for a cheap date/something to get you out of the house/an excuse to hear some classic throw back jams- get there tonight.

are you more of a "little miss can't be wrong" or "two princes" fan? can't choose- i love em both.

xx, marissa

cheap date: outdoor movie night

here in boston, it seems like winter lasts FOREVER. while other places deal with just as much, if not more, snow/ice/cold as we do, being a walking city forces the majority of us to brave the elements on a daily basis. it's no wonder that as soon as the first signs of spring (i.e. sun or temps above 55) show, bostonians have no issue breaking out the sandals and shorts, and start looking for patios. the way I see it, a nice day spent inside it a day wasted! one of my favorite ways to enjoy beautiful summer nights is with an outdoor movie. I was pretty spoiled growing up; one of the only drive-in movie theaters in the area was around the corner from my house. but the city of boston has stepped up their game the past few years to bring the outdoor movie experience to the city. a great date night option, but also a great (and FREE!) option if you have kids, or with a group of friends.

Music & Movie Friday Nights at the Boston Harbor Hotel

Movies start at sundown and feature a mix of classics that change every week.

Free Movie Nights from Friends of Christopher Columbus Park

Hang out in Christopher Columbus Park, grab a seat on the grass, and watch great movies projected on the big screen. Great Sunday Funday activity.

Free Friday Flicks at the Hatch Shell

For more kid friendly options, try the Hatch Shell. Pack a picnic and relax by the Charles.

what are some of your favorite outdoor summer activities?

xx, marissa