Cheap Thrills Again

Pacific Park in Santa Monica is pretty much packed in the summer, as expected. The weather is perfect to be out on the pier roller coaster or ferris wheel, so there's no reason to expect a discount, right? We'll, they're offering one. Print out this coupon and you'll get 10% off the cost of an unlimited ride wristband, which normally runs $13.95 to $18.95 depending on your age.

Cheap Thrills

Summer's not summer in LA without the XGames. It all happens downtown in and around Staples Center, and while you can go crazy with tickets costing more than triple digits, you can also find some decent $10 seats for exciting events like BMX. And all tickets allow admittance to the XFest which will fill you with the aroma of unwashed knee and elbow pads mixed with Korean BBQ. Save time and parking taking the Metro line.

Cheap Classic Cars

The Peterson Automotive Museum is great, but there's still a charge. If you want a look at some classic cars as well as some rides from TV and the movies like the Munster's Koach and the Batmobile, check out the Culver City Car Show on Saturday, May 12. It will be from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at Culver & Washington in the downtown area.

Cheap Art

LACMA has been in the news lately as a curious piece of art, Levitated Mass, has made its slow journey at night from the Inland Empire to L.A. The 340-ton boulder will arrive at LACMA on Wilshire very early on the morning of March 10 and it won't be in place to get a closer look until the exhibit opens in the summer. But this weekend you might get a glimpse of this huge rock and what all the fuss is about. For free.

Cheap Disneyland

If you're thinking about a trip down to Disneyland for Spring Break, this deal might tempt you. A family of four can stay 1/2 mile from the park at the well-reviewed Super 8 for just $57/night from April 4-8. And if you forget to buy souvenirs they've got a gift shop with Disney merchandise.

Cheap Hollywood

Seeing stars during awards season doesn't have to be too much of a hassle. Check out the Hollywood Walk of Fame page before your visit to see if there are any ceremonies you'd like to see. Just show up at the location a little early and it's free to watch.

Cheap Golden Globes

With security the way it is you can't get within 500 feet of the Beverly Hilton the weekend of January 14-15 because of the Golden Globes show and the hotel only allows red carpet access to guests who pay a premium for staying that weekend. If you're in town and want to see some stars as they leave for the Hilton, head over to the Montage on North Canon where many of the out-of-towners stay, sip a $7 beer or $12 merlot in the lobby lounge and act cool as they leave for the night.

Cheap Coffee

If you're shopping around Beverly Hills one afternoon and need a pick-me-up, head to Momed, a little coffee house/bistro where from 2:30 to 5:00 every day, coffee drinks are 1/2 off.

Cheap Hollywood

Here's some cheap digs if you're looking to come to Hollywood over Thanksgiving weekend. Arrive Friday and leave Sunday for $112/night through this deal at hotels.com at the Beverly Laurel, which may not be the Four Seasons, but the Four Seasons doesn't include a two passes for Madame Toussaud's when you book.

Cheap Glee

If you're a Gleek in Santa Monica this Sunday the 6th, mean old Jane Lynch will be at the Santa Monica Main Library giving a talk and signing her new autobiography from 2:00 to 4:00. Tickets are free, but it's recommended that you get to the library's MLK auditorium early.

Cheap Halloween

If you want to take the kids for some pre-Halloween fun but you don't want the expense of a theme park, think about EEK! at the Greek on October 30. It's a "scary" symphony at the outdoor venue, but the free part of the event is a Trick or Treat Village outside the theater that will be having a costume contest with prizes. The Village opens at 5:30 and parking is free.

Cheap Beverly Hills

The happy hour from 5-7 Monday through Friday couldn't be any happier at the Mosaic Hotel in Beverly Hills. Enjoy $5 to $7 drink and food specials next to the pool while deciding on what to do next for the evening.

Cheap Art

To celebrate the big Pacific Standard Time promotion, the Geffen Contemporary at MOCA will be Free this Sunday, October 2. See Under the Big Black Sun, which showcases California art from 1974 to 1981.

Cheap Movie Classics

In Santa Monica on Wednesdays, at the new Santa Monica Place mall at the end of the Promenade, they're showing classic movies on the deck at 7:00 through October. American Grafitti is tomorrow night, and on October 5th North by Northwest will be shown with a special appearance by one of the stars, Dyan Cannon.

Cheap Fair

The L.A. County Fair is Fun, getting there is usually not. If you don't leave early enough the 10 is generally jammed and parking is a madhouse. Then you've got to hassle the traffic going home. But for $10 per person, you can avoid that hassle and take the Metrolink train, which will stop at a special station near the Fairlplex and a free shuttle will take you right to the entrance.

Cheap Wheels

This is probably the coolest, cheapest thing to do in L.A. At the Automobile Driving Museum in El Segundo near LAX on Sundays, you not only get to see some great classic cars, you get to ride in them. Experience the road in everything from a DeLorean to Joe Stalin's 1936 Packard. The museum operates on donations only so be as generous as you can.

Cheap Magic

There's been a lot of buzz lately about the Houdini exhibit at the Skirball Center near Mulholland. Go on Sundays through September 4 and they have strolling magicians practicing their art between noon and 2:00. It's $10 general admission, $7 seniors and students and $5 for kids 2-12.

Cheap Eagle Rock

If you're in the Glendale/Pasadena area on Sunday, July 31, you might as well slip down to the hip town of Eagle Rock, which sits between them. The town's historical society is having its annual Ice Cream Social with ice cream for $1, free music and a chance to see exhibits about some famous Eagle Rockians (like President Obama).

Cheap Traffic

If you're just coming to L.A. this weekend, Sorry! This is Carmageddon weekend, where the 405 will be shut down for bridge construction from late Friday night to early Monday morning. Because of all the publicity surrounding it, I'm expecting travel to be tight, but not impossible. Avoid Sepulveda Blvd, which paralells the 405. If you're approaching from the north, you'll have better luck with the 5, or Malibu or Topanga Canyons to PCH.

Cheap Disneyland

I know, there's no such thing as Cheap Disneyland. If you're interested in getting to the Magic Kingdom this summer, the "peak" season, there are few if any price breaks. The best deal to get the Disney experience is to buy the one-day Park Hopper ticket ($105/adults, $99 kids), get up early, slog it out all day and stay for the fireworks to get your money's worth. There are slight price breaks on the multi-day tickets, but if Disney isn't your main destination or time is short, don't hesitate to go for the "cheaper" one-day pass.