Urban Lights at LACMA
FRIDAY
Evening
On your first night in Los Angeles, experience one of the city's many resturants with an over-the-top atmosphere (and incredible food). After checking into an affordable hotel like the Beverly Inn or Comfort Inn Motel, head over to amazing Asian cuisine in an elaborately stunning atmosphere at RockSugar Pan Asian Kitchen, in the Century City Shopping Center. Seafood lovers will be in heaven over the spicy ahi rolls, Thai salt-and-pepper calamari and roasted Chilean sea bass. The chicken pho is an untraditional spin on the classic Vietnamese bowl, and cocktails such as the Lychee Blossom and Lemongrass Gimlet complete a meal of fresh Asian flavors.SATURDAY
Morning
If a night of downing creative Asian cocktails didn’t get the best of you, get up early and start discovering LA’s vibrant art scene. Ease into the day with a light breakfast at Literati Café, a quaint coffee shop and bistro filled with framed photography, artwork and portraits of artists. You can sip a frothy latte made with organic, free-trade coffee and enjoy a freshly baked scone or a flaky, buttery croissant while sitting on the outdoor patio, where outstretched ferns, blooming flowers and a fountain provide a serene place to spend the morning.
Afternoon
After breakfast, head over to the Annenberg Space for Photography, where admission is free and validated self-parking costs only $1 on the weekends. This intimate space celebrates photography in its many forms — whether created with 35mm film in a dark room or snapped with a digital camera and perfected with modern technology. After perusing the photography galleries, meander over to nearby Century Park, where you can grab lunch at The Stand, a diner-style eatery serving gourmet burgers, hot dogs and sandwiches. Order a Stand specialty like the Downtown L.A. Dog: a grilled hot dog with topped with bacon, grilled onions, peppers, mustard, ketchup and mayonnaise, and wash it all down with foamy draft root beer or cream soda.After lunch, mosey over to the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, an extensive cultural institution boasting ancient and contemporary art from across the globe. Peruse the impressive collections of artwork from Asian, Latin American and Islamic cultures, which are some of the most significant in the world. If whimsical, contemporary art is more your speed, don’t miss the new Tim Burton exhibition, which showcases more than 700 drawings, paintings, puppets and moving images from this eccentric visionary. Tickets to the Tim Burton exhibit cost $20 each and include entry into the museum’s permanent collections. Download a printable map of the campus to start planning your visit.
Evening
A day of walking and viewing artwork can build up quite an appetite, so make head over to The Farm of Beverly Hills at The Grove for a mouthwatering dinner that will fill up your belly without emptying your wallet. Sit on the patio to people-watch and choose from a menu of gourmet, down-home favorites like dill-pickle fried chicken and meatloaf with bleu cheese mashed potatoes — both made with farm-fresh ingredients for under $20. After dinner, spend the night laughing at the nearby Hollywood Improv Comedy Club, where tickets start around $18 to watch performances by professional and amateur comedians.
Looking for a one-stop venue for entertainment and dining? Make a reservation at Matteo’s Restaurant, where you can take part in a hilarious murder-mystery dinner, which includes a four-course gourmet meal and plenty of entertainment for only $68 per person.
SUNDAY
MorningOn your last day in Los Angeles, start the morning with a 10-minute walk to Third and Fairfax, home of The Original Farmers Market. This busy spot is perfect for people-watching, as bustling crowds gather to sample the region’s freshest fruits, vegetables and edible goods, brought straight from local farms. Eat breakfast at one of the many stands serving up delicious and fresh pastries or crepes, then fill up your shopping bag with snacks for the trip home, such as vibrant seasonal fruit, decadent chocolate cream pie, artisanal cheeses and gourmet candies. The Farmers Market is also filled with tourist shops for visitors looking for a memorable keepsake.
