What a fun night!  Abbott Kinney stays open late on the first Friday of each month.  And the next one is this Friday on February 4th.  They have boutiques (special sales for this event), gallery openings, coffee places, street vendors, and food trucks from everywhere.  There was grilled cheese on wheels, two Indian food trucks, and tacos of all varieties.

However after walking one place beckoned me to sit down and enjoy a great dinner. Lemonade is counter service with a choice of market fresh salads (2 selections for $7.50), sandwiches, soups, and pot roasts which include beef, chicken, vegetarian options ($9 for a generous portion with rice pilaf or salad). You can get tastes of any pot roast before you buy. The Frugal Dude went for  lamb tagine which was fantastic with great spices and sauce to pour over the rice pilaf.  The Frugal Diva stayed with the vegetable salads-delicious farro and spaghetti squash plus yummy beets. They are located at 1661 Abbott Kinney, Los Angeles, CA 90291, (310) 452-6200 and have other locations on Beverly Drive, downtown, and at MOCA. And of course the lemonade is divine.

This is an accessible museum. The galleries are just the right size - enough so you enjoy the exhibit however not so big that you are exhausted. They make interesting choices from classical painting Outside the Box, a collection of prints by various artists.  On Thursdays you can see the galleries from 11:00 AM until they close at 9:00 PM for FREE.

They have so many free events it’s difficult to list them all. The Hammer Lecture  Series with topics Wagner in LA: The Opera of the 21st Century on June 1.  The Hammer Forum Series where Digital Culture in the Age of American Unreason is discussed on July 13.  Or a film screening May 26th such The Exiles chronicles one night in the lives of young Native American men and women living in the Bunker Hill district of Los Angeles.  ALL HAMMER PUBLIC PROGRAMS ARE FREE. Tickets are required, and are available at the Billy Wilder Theater Box Office one hour prior to start time. Limit one ticket per person on a first come, first served basis. Hammer members receive priority seating, subject to availability. Reservations not accepted, RSVPs not required. Parking is available under the museum for $3 after 6:00p.m.

Now you do not have to go hungry while viewing, there is a great little Wolfgang Puck take out cafe on the first floor. And if you venture into Westwood, The Palomino bar area just became my favorite place. They are featuring their bar menu for 1/2 price all day everyday along with $4 featured beverages that are available throughout the restaurant.

Pasadena, so near and yet so far in atmosphere. It’s a small town with a lot of culture. Start with Vroman’s Bookstore. Check out their events page and see if they have a reading, then roam this spacious old fashioned bookstore. On the ground floor they have a bargain section – beautiful art books discounted to a quarter of their price along with children’s books, CDs, and odd things that fit that strange person working in the space next to you. They even have a wonderful coffee shop for a much needed caffeine break.

The  Pasadena Museum of California Art, 490 East Union Street, Pasadena, CA 91101 is  $7 for Adults, $5 for Seniors and Students and free the first Friday of the month. However they have a special offer with the Pacific Asia Museum on Colorado and Los Robles: Attend both museums in the same day and receive 50% off admission at the second museum when you present proof of entrance. Two lovely niche museums for the price of a movie. The Norton Simon has a fantastic collection and beautiful out door area. 

Take a walk down Colorado and enjoy the architecture of Old Town Pasadena, stopping at the Pasadena City Hall Location 100 N. Garfield Ave., Pasadena, CA  91109. You will also pass the Paseo Shopping Center at 280 East Colorado.  They have a huge DSW and a Loehmanns. If you keep going down Colorado you will reach an H & M, they are a fantastic place to pick up that trendy item at a low price. There are eateries for every taste and budget.

Besides the Old Towne area for dining there is also Lake Street  Some great choices are the Roma Italian Deli and Grocer, 918 N Lake Ave, Pasadena, CA 91104, (626) 797-7748. Just go to the counter and buy some fantastic cold cuts and freshly baked bread. The Corner Bakery is another great spot at 345 S Lake Ave.Pasadena, CA 91101 , (626) 578-1281. They are part of the Lettuce Entertain You chain and that means great quality, huge portions, and a lot of choice. Step up to the counter and leave satisfied.

Drive around and see the old Huntington Hotel, classic craftsman homes, and the Rose Bowl.  People fly across country to enjoy this pocket of Los Angeles. For the rest of us it’s only a short drive.

What is an hour away from Los Angeles? Has a fabulous beach with free parking? And great food? Farm stands galore? Oxnard is a lovely day trip. Exit the 101 and enjoy beautiful vistas, fresh air, quaint shops, and great restaurants.

Walk along beautiful beaches after parking your car for free – yes really free parking. There are miles of uninterrupted sand and natural beauty.

Whale watching takes place almost year-round in the channel around Oxnard.  From the end of December through mid-April, the coastline is rife with gray whales that are migrating from their breeding grounds in Baja California to the nutrient-rich ocean in Alaska.  There are several boat tours  for prime viewing.

And what is California without a wine tasting. Herzog Winery has several tastings and is known for both their kosher and non kosher labels. Pick up some authentic Mexican bake goods at La Central Bakery. 

The McGrath Family Farm, in operation since 1868, has stands with organic produce, fantastic flowers, and you can take a tour for $7 to learn about sustainable farming.

With 35 miles of bike paths and kayak rentals, there is so much to do here you might want to stay overnight.