Being at USC means being
part of one of the world’s most vibrant and exciting cultural
landscapes: Los Angeles! Visions and Voices encourages students
to explore L.A. and take advantage of the fantastic cultural opportunities
available. To make your exploration easier, below you will find
information on several websites filled with diverse cultural and
art events in Los Angeles. We are also happy to share a few best
bets—some of our favorite goings-on about town that are either
free or low-cost. So check them out and find something fabulous
to do in L.A.!
Websites
Downtown LA Scene
www.downtownlascene.com
The Downtown
News, a weekly newspaper focusing on downtown Los Angeles,
hosts an exciting website called Downtown LA Scene, which describes
a variety of goings-on in downtown Los Angeles, including significant
cultural events, such as plays, concerts, museum exhibitions,
art gallery openings and festivals. It also has a comprehensive
listing of places to eat and drink.
Experience LA
www.experiencela.com
The
Experience LA website is compiled by a unique partnership of public
and private sponsors and over 1,700 actively contributing arts
and cultural organizations. With information on Los Angeles destinations
and events including maps, itineraries and public transit, Experience
LA is the only comprehensive compilation of cultural opportunities
throughout Los Angeles county with information about how to use
public transportation to get there.
Los Angeles Conservancy Website
www.laconservancy.org
The Los Angeles Conservancy, the largest membership-based local
historic preservation organization in the country, is dedicated
to the recognition, preservation and revitalization of the architectural
and cultural heritage of greater Los Angeles. The LA Conservancy
holds walking tours, usually on Saturdays, of interesting Los Angeles
architectural landmarks and neighborhoods. Tours range from neighborhoods
such as Little Tokyo, USC and Angelino Heights to thematic tours
on art deco architecture or downtown’s skyline. The website
also includes information on a self-guided walking tour of historic
buildings in downtown Los Angeles, with a map and information about
the buildings. Guided tours are $10 for the general public.
Calendar Live
www.calendarlive.com
Produced by the Los Angeles Times, this site pulls together
cultural and entertainment news, reviews and events in the greater
Los Angeles area. There are “critic’s choices” with
recommendations for movies, theater, concerts and art exhibits,
as well as reader reviews. Calendar Live also features restaurant
listings and reviews.
Classical KUSC
www.kusc.org
KUSC is the largest public classical radio station in
the country, offering classical music and Southern California
arts programming. In addition to listening to KUSC at 91.5
FM, the KUSC stream is available online. KUSC features performances
by the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra,
the Los Angeles Opera and the Los Angeles Master Chorale. Performances
produced by the USC Thornton School are highlighted on Thornton
Center Stage Sunday evenings at 8:00 p.m., and Dean Rob Cutietta
of the USC Thornton School answers listener questions on the "Ask
the Dean" segment arts magazine Arts Alive (airing
Saturdays at 8:00 a.m.). Also available online for on-demand
listening or podcasts are interviews with Southern California
arts leaders conducted by Gail Eichenthal, director of arts programming.
Best Bets—Goings-on about Town
The Brewery Artwalk
www.breweryartwalk.com
The
Brewery Art Colony is the world’s largest art colony, encompassing
18 acres and 21 converted warehouses. Located at Moulton Avenue
and Main Street, the artists and residents of the Brewery Art
Colony open their doors twice a year for the Brewery Artwalk,
a two-day event in the spring and fall.
Chinatown Self-Guided Walking Tour
www.chinatownla.com
This
walking tour takes visitors to a number of off beaten track points
of cultural and historical interest, including a temple, the
first modern ethnic shopping mall in America, the oldest bakery,
ethnic bazaars, a five-tiered pagoda, and popular filming sites. This
area is considered the first modern American Chinatown, owned and
planned from the ground up by Chinese. In addition, Chinatown’s
Business Improvement District provides a two and a half hour walking
tour the first Saturday of every month for a small fee. They
can be reached at 213-680-0243.
El Pueblo
www.lasangelitas.org or
(213) 628-1274
There
are free docent-led tours of the El Pueblo de los Angeles Historical
Monument, which is listed on the National Register of Historic
Places and includes 26 historic buildings, at 130 Paseo de la Plaza,
Tuesday through Saturday, at 10 AM, 11 AM, and noon. The
tour includes visiting Olvera Street, a major “Mexican marketplace,” and
touring the oldest building and church in Los Angeles. For
more information, contact the above number.
First Fridays at the Natural History Museum
www.nhm.org
On
the first Friday of each month, January through June, the Natural
History Museum, located in Exposition Park across the street from
USC, is open late for “First Fridays.” Designed to
bring the museum’s exhibitions to life in a dynamic and thought-provoking
manner, these evenings include discussions with leading thinkers
on topics pertaining to our natural and cultural worlds, as well
as access to the museum’s collections, video screenings and
music.
Los Angeles Opera
www.LAOpera.com/OperaU
LA
Opera is the fourth largest opera company in the country and stands
out as a newly important force in American opera under the dynamic
leadership of world renowned General Director Plácido Domingo.
LA Opera provides highly acclaimed, fully staged operas in the
Dorothy Chandler Pavilion at the Performing Arts Center of Los
Angeles County. USC students can become members of LA Opera’s
Opera U program for free at http://www.LAOpera.com/OperaU.
Opera U members receive regular e-mail offers for $20 student tickets,
as well as occasional e-mail offers for free tickets and special
events.
Metro Art Tours
www.mta.net/about_us/metroart/ma_docent.htm
The
Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Agency (MTA) has
commissioned over 250 artists to incorporate art into a wide array
of transportation projects throughout Los Angeles county. This
MTA initiative has been praised as “one of the most imaginative
public art programs in the country” by the New York Times.
The Metro’s Docent Council offers free art tours to exhibit
the broad range of art in the Metro Rail system and provides insights
into the artworks and the artists who created them, as well as
the communities they enhance. Tours are available the first Saturday
and Sunday of every month. They are roundtrip and last approximately
two hours.
Music Center Symphonian
Tour
www.musiccenter.org
This
free tour, whose start times vary daily, takes visitors into portions
of all four Music Center venues and includes architectural highlights,
a historical overview of the Music Center and its resident companies,
and a tour of the lobby of the Walt Disney Concert Hall. For
a daily schedule, call 213-972-7483.
California African American Museum Events
www.caamuseum.org
In
addition to powerful exhibitions, the California African American
Museum (CAAM) located in Exposition Park across the street from
USC, holds a variety of special events, including “Target
Sundays.” Through the eyes and voices of traditional and
contemporary artists, community leaders, cultural historians, activists
and educators, this once-a-month Sunday cultural experience celebrates
the diverse influences and achievements of art and culture from
the African Diaspora. Admission to the California African American
Museum is free.
Grand Avenue Festival
www.downtownla.com/GAF_home.asp
The
Grand Avenue Festival each October showcases the tastes, sights
and sounds of vibrant downtown Los Angeles. Acclaimed restaurants,
theaters, concert halls, museums and other attractions along Grand
Avenue offer an unbeatable day of entertainment, including free
music performances inside Walt Disney Concert Hall and free admission
to the Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA).
Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels
www.olacathedral.org
Considered
one of downtown’s latest crown jewels, this cathedral
is reminiscent of the California missions featuring plazas, staircases
and colonnades. It was designed by Spanish architect Jose Rafael
Moneo. The cathedral features world renowned architecture and art,
including bronze sculpture by Robert Graham and John Nava’s
stunning tapestries. Free guided tours are available Monday through
Friday at 1 p.m.
Walt Disney Concert Hall Urban Garden Tour
www.wdch.com/vtc/gardentour.html
This
free 45-minute Urban Garden Tour explores the nearly one-acre
community garden, its 45 blooming trees, and rose-shaped fountain. For
more information, call 213-972-4399.
We want to hear from you. If you know about other free or low-cost
art and cultural spaces and events in Los Angeles, tell us about
it. Email us now! |