How the eff did it get to be August already?!? Somehow, we here at Broke Girl's Guide have found ourselves in the last month of summer with no evidence of a tan, having worn more bridesmaid dresses than bikinis. Sigh. While we're trying not to dwell on the passing of July, we hereby vow to make the remains of summer worthwhile so that we don't find ourselves suddenly decorating pumpkins and hanging holly with no sandy stories to tide us through the brutal L.A. winter months. Here are some thoughts on how to seize the (75 and sunny) day(s) this weekend:
Friday
We can think of few things more summery than First Fridays in Venice, and the monthly event is only made sweeter this week by the inclusion of a 50 percent off summer sale at Kolu on Abbot Kinney. We suggest you start your weekend by perusing the boutique's racks for something with which to adorn yourself in summer's waning weeks.
If hippies and hip parents aren't your scene, snag discount tickets to Memphis at the Pantages Friday evening instead. Stop by the Beverly Hills Hotel's Cointreau Poolside Soiree Series before the show for cocktails, light bites, and free entertainment benefiting Project Angel Food. For post-theater dinner and craft beer, it's just a quick jaunt over to Franklin & Company, where you can compare notes on your respective shows with guys from the post-show UCB crowd.
Or, if you're saving your entire weekend budget for sample sales or a Labor Day getaway later this month, catch a free concert from Susie Hansen and the Latin Band at the Farmers Market at the Grove instead -- and don't worry, we're pretty sure the revival of neon means that hanging out at the mall on a Friday is cool again.
Saturday
Since swimsuit season isn't quite over yet, it's lucky for us that broke-girl-friendly fitness classes abound on Saturday! Lululemon is in the midst of its YOGALYMPICS, with free yoga classes at the Brentwood location every day from now through the closing ceremonies. They are also hosting free yoga on the rooftop of L'Ermitage this Saturday morning, followed by treats and mingling. Meanwhile, free Zumba continues on the roof deck of Santa Monica Place, as does donation yoga at Mary Hotchiss State Park and Runyon. Later in the day, YAS is celebrating its 11th anniversary by offering a free yoga class at both the Silver Lake and Venice locations. The classes start at 6 p.m., but we suggest you get there early to snag a spot.
If you're a Bank of America cardholder, you might already know that they offer free admission to a handful of SoCal museums the first weekend of every month, so take advantage. Make sure to stop by C+M, which opened this week at LACMA, for a boozy milkshake. Drinking counts as a cultural activity when it's done at a museum, right? If Wells Fargo is your plastic of choice, grab a plus-one and head to the Hammer Museum for the Made in LA exhibit, which is free to debit-cardholders now through September 2. After, take your newly-honed artistic eye to the A-List Sample Sale to sort through new and vintage designer duds for the perfect find. If at any point throughout the day you get hungry, pop into the LA Taco Festival, which pretty much sounds like the best idea of all time and runs from noon to 8 p.m.
Saturday night's outdoor movie screenings range from laugh-out-loud comedies to classic flicks. Bridesmaids is playing at Street Food Cinema, and we have to say that it just keeps getting funnier with every bridesmaid dress we wear. Before the screening, the Leftover Cuties are performing, and FREE Ben & Jerry's will be available on top of the regular selection of food truck fare. In Hollywood, you have your choice of Steamboat Bill, Jr., the Oscars Outdoors feature, or Sunset Blvd., which is playing at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery. You can also catch an outdoor screening of Purple Rain if Long Beach happens to be your jam.
For those in search of a more musical evening, Pixar in Concert at The Hollywood Bowl is an option -- just beware your heavily-beating biological clock, as small children are sure to abound. For more of an adult-swim situation, head downtown to the Niyaz concert, which is taking place as part of the Grand Performances series. Beforehand, make sure you've snagged something hipster-y enough for a KCRW concert at the American Apparel LA Factory Flea Market, which continues downtown this weekend.
Sunday
While you could certainly round out your weekend by hitting up donation yoga again, we like to think of Sunday as a day to relax... and stuff yourself silly. Take your man-of-the-moment or your best gal pal downtown to the KTCHN DTLA pop-up in The Gorbals. Treat him or her to a $35 prix-fixe brunch for two, which includes a mimosa or bloody mary for both of you.
Since you'll already be downtown, head to MOCA afterward to exercise your creative side at their Sunday Studio. Tour the post-Warhol modern art exhibit, and get inspired to create your own painting. Next, if you don't have too much paint on your hands from your adventures in art, stop by the Rachel Pally sample sale in its final weekend. Make it a full downtown day with a free showing of Hamlet outdoors at the Downtown Repertory Theater Sunday evening.
For those who'll want to stay west as the weekend winds down, we suggest you take in the 36th Annual Festival of the Chariots in Venice on Sunday morning. While watching four-story chariots lead the parade between Santa Monica and Venice (traffic advisory!), you can enjoy free food, entertainment, and Indian culture exhibits at Venice Beach. After, venture over to the Viceroy in Santa Monica for Social Sundays, where you can listen to live music and play board games while enjoying specialty cocktails and a $25 Sunday supper.
If you're up for it, end your weekend in Hollywood with something sexy at L.A.'s first R-rated storytelling series, Sunday Night Sex Talks. Mention Broke Girl's Guide at the door for $1 off admission to this girls-only event. The theme is "How I would finish my unfinished relationship business, if I could...," so don't be surprised if you catch us drunkenly ambling up on stage, knocking aside the "professional," and blathering into the microphone (like the sad, soon-to-be cat ladies we are) until being politely escorted out by security. Now that's living.
Written by Caila Ball
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