Culture on the Cheap

If theme parks make you gag, let's hope you're in town on May 16. That's when there will be five museums open for free in the Pasadena area. These facilities include the majestic Gamble House, Heritage Square, the Lummis Home and Gardens, the Los Angeles Police Historical Society Museum and the Pasadena Museum of History.

Cheap Oscars

If you'd like an Oscar fix but don't have the connections to get into the Academy Awards, stroll over to the Academy Galleries at 8949 Wilshire in Beverly Hills. They have displays of old movie posters, costumes and art from various films. The free exhibition is Tuesday through Sunday.

Cheap Hotels - Disneyland

Some great fall deals are going on now as hotels and motels try to stay occupied during the school year. Here are some deals we found on hotels.com, checking out a family of four staying for a weekend (November 13-15) and desiring a place that's within a mile or two of Disneyland:

Anabella Hotel--On Katella Ave., $87/night and kids eat free at the restaurant.
Cortona Inn & Suites--$79/night, easy walk to Disneyland and free Internet.
Super 8 Motel--$53/night, two blocks from Disneyland, gets great reviews.
Best Western Raffles Inn--$72/night, about a 25% discount over summer, free Internet.
Portofino Inn--$58/night, near the Convention Center, free Internet.
Eden Rock Inn--$41/night, near Convention Center, free morning pastries.

Cheap Thrills

If you haven't gone to a Halloween Horror Night at Universal Studios, you've never been really scared. The Hilton at Universal City is offering a special that gives accommodations for two, parking, breakfast and tickets to the event on Halloween night for $349.

Cheap Drinks

It's not easy finding an affordable drink in Hollywood nowadays. But a number of spots in the Hollywood & Highland complex are offering some attractive Happy Hour specials:

The Grill--$4 draft beers, $5 house wines / well drinks, $7 Absolut Martinis and discounts on food. Monday-Friday 4:00 to 6:00.

Koji’s Sushi & Shabu Shabu-- $2 Bud Light, $3 drafts, $4 house wines/well drinks and sushi from $3-$8. Monday-Friday 5:00-8:00 and during all NFL game.

uWink--$2 lager pints, $4 cocktails and $1 food items. Monday-Friday 4:00-7:00.

The Wine Bar & Cafe--Specials on house champagne/wine and 20% off all tapas plates. Monday-Friday 4:00-7:00

Cheap Eats

If you're around downtown and you've got a taste for something unusual, it may be worth a trip to L.A.'s classic Grand Central Market (317 S. Broadway). Here you can truly find foods and flora from around the world, from Central American pupusas to Vietnamese pho. A group of four can easily get very full for under $40. And in addition, there's a 99 Cent Store in the basement if you've got any change left over.

Legally Cheap

If you're running out of things to do the next few days, think about seeing Legally Blonde at the Pantages Theater in Hollywood. The "Summer Fun Pack" promotion ends on September 6, and with it you get four Mezzanine seats, four gourmet cookies and drinks for just $99. Splurge an extra $100 and they'll give you Orchestra seats.