Enjoy the week long festival that celebrates the Japanese community of Los Angeles.  Nisei Week officially starts on Aug. 14th and ends Aug. 22nd however there are events starting this weekend.  Check out the website to find karate demonstrations, arts and crafts, sumo wrestling, and a gyoza eating contest.

The free opening event of the  Tanabata Fesival is Friday evening on August 13 at the JANM Plaza Los Angeles, CA 90012.  The most common Tanabata decorations are colorful streamers seen here. The Grand Parade is on Sunday, August 15, at 5:30pm with a rout throughout Little Tokyo. Sunday August 22nd from 11:30am-4:00pm JACCC Plaza 244 S San Pedro St Los Angeles, CA 90012 there will be a free taiko drum gathering.

Visit the Japanese American Museum on Thursday evening from 5 to 8 PM for free. The current exhibit is the experiences of early Issei in Hawaii  seen through examples of kimono adapted for life and labor on Hawai‘i’s plantations.

Getting out to try a new neighborhood or event is a great change of routine. And doing it for free is even better. Once again art comes to the rescue.

The Downtown Los Angeles Art Walk is held every second Thursday in and around the Historic Core’s Gallery Row neighborhood for one night each month. Downtown LA returns to its historic pedestrian-based culture, a vibrant scene that is itself a draw for locals and tourists seeking an authentic urban experience.  Enjoy art, performances,  food trucks, and socialize.

Venture to Long Beach for their Art Walk  every Second Saturday of the month. Their Art Walk takes place around the streets of Ocean Blvd, Linden Ave, 1st Street, Broadway and Elm.  Local art galleries and retail business such as gift shops, boutiques, restaurants and coffe shops stay open until late evening. Linden Ave is closed to traffic and transformed into a street fair by local artist. Two stages are dedicated to street performance and live music.

June 5th is Art Walk Culver City  and on July 24th, Glendale has a self guided open studio tour of artists in the area.

In Santa Monica, you can tour Bergamot Station during regular gallery hours weekdays and Saturdays. Parking is free and there is a very nice cafe where you order great sandwiches and soups at the counter. Check out the individual galleries for their opening receptions and specific exhibits.

And First Fridays on Abbott Kinney are fun with all the food trucks and open galleries. Main Street in Santa Monica is joining the list by staying open late on Last Fridays.

It’s so much fun to mix and mingle while discussing art in a casual and friendly atmosphere. More art walks and events coming soon. 

The Frugal Diva loves LA. There are so many things to do and so many of them are free. This site has turned me on to areas that let you take a day vacation in the city.  Want to know all the museum free days, just click here  ExperienceLA . Want to wander through some interesting neighborhoods, just click on their adventures page. You’ll be eating at the Thai Town food court, roaming through the Broadway Corridor, and strolling  the Ports of Call village in San Pedro.

This site is so useful when you have guests who have been here multiple times.  First trip is great – the beaches, Olvera Street, LACMA, Beverly Hills. The second trip is good – Malibu, MOCA, Chinatown, Hollywood and Vine. The third trip and they start getting fussy.  Those entrance fees start adding up.  With this site, you can enjoy finding new areas to explore or maybe just buy them an all day metro pass for $5. 

Who knew there were so many beautiful Arts and Crafts houses in Pasadena or that  California Science Center with over 100 exhibits is free everyday?  Pretend you are seeing LA for the first time and rediscover your city.