The Annenberg Space for Photography is a great destination for those interested in the art of the photo. They have set up an intimate space at 2000 Avenue of the Stars in Century City.  With a design inspired by the photo lens, the space allows viewing each photo without crowding.  This is a very user friendly space with areas for watching videos related to the exhibit and reading photography books.

And this resource is free. How much better could this be? You can also park at the Century City shopping mall for three hours for free or validated self-parking is $3.50 for three hours in the garage directly beneath the building, Monday through Friday 8:30am to 4:30pm. Weekdays after 4:30PM and on Saturday and Sunday, parking is a flat rate of $1.00 with validation.

And even better, they have a free lecture series on Thursdays (reservations are required).

Even though the Frugal Diva is not a sports aficionado, the current exhibit of iconic sports photography by Iooss and Liefer (which has been extended to March 14th) is fabulous.  Along with the photos isa  digital presentation about the featured photographers that gives you insight into their process.  The next show will feature National Geographic photos around the theme of water. And don’t forget about the lectures that illuminate the exhibits.

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.

Los Angeles’ Downtown is back!

You can museum hop to the Japanese American National Museum at 369 East First Street, Los Angeles, California 90012 (213) 625.0414. They are free on Thursday evenings from five to eight PM. Afterwards enjoy one of the many great casual places in the Little Tokyo Historic District. Not only is the food great, there are fun shops for gift buying and home furnishings.

On another Thursday you might like to try MOCA. Not only are they free that evening, during the summer they encourage visitors on Thursdays with festivities and music. Meet other art lovers and enjoy the exhibits.

No one can go downtown without going to Phillipes. This is a Los Angeles institution that serves fantastic beef, lamb, pork, and ham double dip sandwiches for less then $6. Do not be afraid of the line, the servers are so adept that you will be paying and digging in before you know it. And they have free parking across the street.

While there you can tour the renovated railroad station, feel transported back to the days when train travel was the way to go. Particularly while traveling through out California, this is a great option. Think about it - no security, no endless lines, no limit on shampoo, read a book, listen to music while the beautiful scenery goes by.

You may start out in Downtown and end up in Monterrey.

The Frugal Diva loves culture and she loves the word free. By combining these two concepts, the divas of the world can soak up culture without getting soaked.

Most museums have a free day. It may be once a week, once a month, a late night but they believe that everyone should have the opportunity to enjoy great works of art. And you can either pack a lunch or get a snack at one of the reasonably priced cafes.

The Getty museums are the most generous - free all the time and everyday of the week. They ask only that you pay to park. That means when you bring a carload of guests from out of town, you can take them to see the beautiful Getty, the collections, and the smashing view all for $15 (as of the last time I went). The more guests, the cheaper the visit, so carpool with four and enter for less then  $4 apiece.  They will be impressed and amazed. Another great trick is to drop them off, enjoy a few hours of peace at home, wait for the phone call, and pick them up - with no charge at all. They have a fabulous day and you can run errands guilt free.

On Thursdays you can go for free to the UCLA Hammer Museum in Westwood all day and they are open from 11 AM to 9 PM.  Instead of staying in your routine on a week night, take the opportunity to visit this gem. They always have something unique in their exhibitions and a lovely permanent collection. You can leisurely enjoy the art and sit in the courtyard to reflect on what you’ve seen.

Tuesday is the free day at LACMA and they stay open until 8 PM. If you’re going after work maybe just take it a gallery at a time. Savor don’t gulp.

The world of culture is yours - just learn that timing is everything.