In a world increasingly dominated by sedentary virtual activities, the Los Angeles Natural History…read moreMuseum is the antidote to many of our problems, issues, and ailments. What I mean is, on about 200 acres in the heart of the city is a storied and exquisite tribute to earth's almost infinite wonders and the role of millions of species in making this planet a paradise in a somewhat sterile universe. A visit to the website as well as an in-person trip and tour of the grounds and the vaulted spaces inside can restore the soul. It does that for me each time I go. I have hundreds of photos taken during these visits, but I have selected a few from my Nikon full frame to illustrate the marvel and treasure that this museum represents. Among the best and most curated and cared for archives in the world, the Natural History Museum seeks to inspire and educate visitors, patrons, old and young alike, by showcasing the earth's cultural and natural beauty. These are troubling times all over the globe. This institution can revive our faith in civilization and our terrestrial mother in just a few brief hours. It is not be be missed.

We had a pretty fun experience at the Natural History Museum with our 3 year old toddlers! We only…read morewent through the lower ground and first floor because we didn't think the second floor would be as appealing for them. Overall, it was a fun experience and a nice place to explore with little ones. I'd definitely recommend it if you're looking for something different to do with young kids. I would avoid the dinosaur show at all cost. It was not worth it not one bit! I also don't think a membership is worth it. This was kind of like a one year kind of experience in my opinion.

A free museum! You can get timed entry to Yayoi Kusama's infinity mirrored room if you book an…read moreentry ticket online that includes the infinity room. The infinity room is a room of mirrors and lights that changes colors so it looks like an endless...infinity. If you're not able to get into the infinity room you can still see Kusama's mirrored box, Longing for Eternity. The Broad is a great way to spend a few hours enjoying art.

I would give it a 5/5, but it's very small, so I'm giving it a 4/5…read more That being said, the collection is absolutely outstanding; like, billions of dollars worth of art! There were so many incredible pieces, but the Murakami collection was my favorite. I also loved the Jeff Koons dog, and the huge table was such a fun piece to see! Outside, there are little ice cream and food vendors, which was a cute touch. They also had a fun little "wish on a tree" activity. The gift shop was pretty scarce, but honestly, that's understandable considering how many different artists they have to carry merchandise for. I did find some really cool Calder and Murakami merch, though! Overall, definitely worth visiting if you love art!

Needed a last minute outing to keep the kids busy so naturally, I googled my options. This…read morelocation was pretty convenient so off we went. Tickets were pretty easy to purchase online. I thought it was a timed entry but it is not...or it wasn't when we went. I followed the parking sign on the wall which led me to a lot just a little north of the museum. It was $20 to park there. Had I had more time to plan, I may have parked somewhere else as I felt that was a bit steep. I'm assuming metered parking would be hard to find in that location as it is in the heart of Hollywood. I thought it would be similar to the Museum of Illusions in New York, but rather than a museum feel, this was purely just photo ops. You can rent tripods at the front for $10. They also provide free lockers for your bags and stuff- which I would highly recommend. I didn't take up the offer in the beginning but soon realized that was a better option. I would also like to highly recommend and thank Tim! He showed us the ropes of how to take photos and he took some photos for us. He was friendly, professional and patient with my two young kids. He definitely knows his way around an iPhone camera and showed me some tricks I didn't even know. Tim's photos came out a lot better than mine as you need to find the perfect angle for the pictures to have that illusion effect. The tickets I purchased online also allowed us to go to the giant house next door and the upside down house. Tim came to the rescue again and took some amazing photos for us in the upside down house. It was a fun experience for all of us and I would definitely recommend visiting this location. If you see Tim, ask him for some pointers! Thank you, Tim!

This was just a fun little stop we made while walking Hollywood Blvd…read more The museum of illusions tickets cost $35, and a tripod rental is $10. They also offer many other packages. A good time was had by all!

lovely experience at the Love Museum!!…read more came here with my boyfriend and enjoyed learning more about him and us as a couple. We spent around 3 hours here, there are many activities to explore (around 50+) very interactive and fun. Monica, our host was super nice and helped us with any questions we had and also made sure we parked on the correct spot to avoid getting a ticket. there is metered parking around the area and they offer parking for $6. the entry ticket is $75 for two people, if you want to have a photo booth picture, it's an additional cost. If you love your partner you should definitely come here and experience this museum!! i know i had a great time with my handsome lovely man.

Uhhmmm. What do I say about our experience. I would say it's a good experience for couples who want…read moreto do some activities to see how well you and your mate actually click and know each other. But it started a bit on a sour note. Let me explain. We had a 6:15 appointment and driving in from close to the eastern border of Los Angeles county; we left 1.5 hours early so we would not be late and hold up this establishment. We arrived at 5:50sh and parked in their back alley lot. A guy came out to check if we are there for the museum of love and will let you know that parking is $6 and to pay it when you enter from the main entrance on Melrose. We went in and after being asked by the lady about our appointment time, we were told to come back in a very direct way. Let's say if I didn't already pay the $72 for our experience, we would have went somewhere else on this night. That street feels less than safe, and it was about to get dark... we went back to sit in the car for 20 minutes and returned. The lady was much more friendly this time and explained how she was dealing with a lot of customers today and was a bit overwhelmed. After the unpleasantness at the beginning, the experience was decent. There are quite the number of small activities to make you look deeper into your relationship. We saw quite the number of couples leaving after the experience with a little bit of animosity towards each other and figured some of the exercises must have really tested them. My wife and I didn't run into anything that made us upset, or maybe we just know each other and click that well. In any case, the entire thing is a a bit interesting and something you can do with your special person, but there are some things you have to deal with if you are gonna give it a try.

Jazz at LACMA is a weekly summer must!…read more There's nothing like enjoying the cool evening air with smooth jazz at LACMA. Every Friday from May through September, live jazz fills the Smidt Welcome Plaza, with a new performer each week (check the website for upcoming acts and food truck/vendor lineups). We felt lucky to visit when Betty "Cool Miss B" Brown received the L.A. Jazz Treasure Award from the Los Angeles Jazz Society. Performances start at 6pm, but I highly recommend arriving at least an hour early, Bring your own food and drinks for a perfect picnic. The earlier you get there, the better chance of snagging a seat in the plaza; otherwise, there's plenty of lawn space and additional tables nearby. Food trucks and vendors are set up just behind the plaza. It was so much fun to see everyone relaxing, dancing, and simply enjoying the music. My son and I were vibing the whole time. Seeing him feel the music was a special memory that took me back to when I first discovered jazz. Definitely core memories unlocked. We can't wait for next week's event! (Just be aware parking is $24, but otherwise, we loved every moment of Jazz at LACMA.)

This is a limited review...first visit to LACMA since the opening of Zumthor's building, 5 months…read moreafter opening. We were there for the Fashioning Chinese Women exhibit @ BCAM, so did not enter the Geffen galleries. But we did want to get a drink at Erewhon on this 100+ degree day, visit the store, and also use the restrooms, all on the ground floor. I will defer a more thoughtful judgement on the merits of Zumthor's design, but it appears to me that, sadly, someone or possibly more than someone has ignored the Miesian dictum "God is in the details." There are several specific shortcomings in the new LACMA design and resulting experience, in no particular order: 1. Inadequate wayfinding signage and legible cues. Firstly, the site orientation map handed out at the ticket booth looks like it was drawn by an 8-year old (my apologies to 8-year olds) and is lacking in scale and specificity to be able to find the most direct route to ground floor destinations. There is not enough directional signage, and what there is, is too subtle to be obvious and thus useful. Unlike the pre-Zumthor LACMA, there are several staff stationed around the building to help direct people (not very helpfully), as well as freestanding signs, that are clearly afterthoughts. 2. While the plazas facing Wilshire are better than I expected, the other outdoor spaces are utterly bleak and soulless. They need to hurry up and figure out how to humanize those spaces. 3. Someone was not paying attention to workmanship in the restroom construction. Poorly masked painting, peeling paint at the restroom sink, toilet grab bars coming off the walls, and wobbly coat hook on the door, only 5 months after opening do not bode well for longevity. Was someone cutting corners for budget and or schedule? I can foresee excessive maintenance costs to keep things in a condition that befits such an important civic institution. Does this portend a higher rate of membership fee increases to fund necessary upkeep? Who is accountable to the membership and the taxpayers for such lack of oversight?

we love going to these little pop-up stuff that we see on social media or on Google and everything…read moreand this time we went to bubble world in Montebello. It wasn't that far of a drive for us and parking. There was a lot of parking and it was free and I believe you had to purchase your times to go and you wait in line and then you also have to sign like a waiver or something We love seeing all these high technology and everything. It was so cool so much opportunities for photos and a lot of things to do with your kids and they seem super entertained. I think we went in and it took probably a good hour or so to see everything and do everything so if you were ever in the area, then totally check it out just kidding. The exhibit was closed now LOL

Was not impressed. At all…read more Not worth the price and people are gross. The workers do not do their job either. Of course, the place is already quite dirty as it is, especially since it's closing soon. Some of the rooms were cool. I like the balloon room and the lights, but some people should really read the rules. First off, this family blocked the stairway to get in. And one of the family members was this short, big guy who was just running in the balloon room in circles and popping all the balloons and kicking them around up over the walls. Now that's fine, but then me and boyfriend tried to make our way in and another couple too, were there. He continued to kick up a bunch of balloons, while me and another person was trying to take pictures. He even accidentally knocked down his daughter in the process. He was extremely obnoxious and even joked about it with his family members, who just laughed and took videos. Now most of the interactive stuff was bad. It was gross for the most part due to all the germs, dirt, and hair. The balls and balloons all have random dirty smears of brown and orange on them. The ball pit was very dirty. I assume they're not planning on sanitizing any time soon due to the exhibit closing down. Anyways, we go into the light room and the worker says stay in the path and don't the lights. After two minutes, all of a sudden these three kids run in and start going into the lights and grabbing them, she stares and doesn't say a thing to them. These kids are super rowdy so I say something, and then she says oh, yeah don't do that. Pretty useless in my opinion. Most of this stuff is geared towards kids, but my bar was already super low. Do not spend your money here. Go somewhere else.

Fun stop when visiting Grand Central Market. So many movies have filmed here -- Blade Runner and…read moreLethal Weapon just to name a couple. It's refreshing to see this kind of architecture in Los Angeles among endless mini malls. You can tell real pride went into the design and craftsmanship. A true historic landmark and worth taking a few minutes to appreciate while you're there.

What can you say about the Bradbury Building except that it is not what it once was. Currently, you…read morecan walk in there pretty much seven days a week and see the skeletal remains of what was once a fantastic piece of DTLA architecture. Now, the upstairs offices are generally blocked off and all that is left is the what used to be. Certainly, the Bradbury Building came to fame during the 1982 movie, Blade Runner where it was used as one of their primary sets. This was long before it was renovated showing off it's truly unique interior architecture. Very beautiful! For a lot of years, this building was pretty much closed to the public except for those who used it as a filming location. Being involved in the film industry for a lot of years, I personally have been in this building a number of times throughout its evolution. More recently, somebody got the great idea to renovate it. I guess that's a good thing? But, in its current state, all that you see is a whole lot of tourists coming in there, even tour guides, taking people in there telling them all kinds of lies about the history of the building. They weren't there, so they don't know! Yet, they speak about it. Now, it's a modernized office structure. Yes, much of the interior metallurgy is still there -- reminiscent of the time gone past. But much the vibe of the building is long gone. That's sad, I think. So, if you're in DTLA, and you want to look back to the past, the Bradbury Building is a interesting place to do that. It's right across the street from Grand Central Market, so it's impossible to miss. You can pretty much go in there seven days a week, and though you'll be limited to staying on the first floor, you can take a look and see what once was. I would say it's definitely worth the expedition.

I went to MOCA a couple weeks ago for the first time in almost twenty years. I'd only been once or…read moretwice before, in my student days, when the museum would host free events with live music and late entry into the galleries. I remember going with my cool friend June K. and seeing a Rauschenberg, thinking, "What is that?" This only came back to me on my more recent visit, to catch the end of an exhibit with my (cool for a 41-year-old) friend Sergio P. before lunch at Grand Central Market. It was called "The Expanding Field: MOCA's Collection from the 1940s to 1970s," and I randomly read about it in a newsletter the night before we went. I always hear about stuff at the Broad and LACMA, but I almost missed this MOCA exhibit completely. I guess it's a smaller museum, with a lower marketing budget. I'm really glad we caught it, because the exhibit was fantastic, an impressive showcase of collection highlights from the mid-20th century. First of all, there were eight Rothkos, all on view in one room alongside a couple of Giacomettis. There were works by Miró and Mondrian, Jackson Pollock and Jasper Johns, a fantastic Warhol painting of a telephone. Multiple Rauschenbergs, which I appreciated more this time around. I also loved pieces by Joan Brown, Anne Truitt, and Nicolas de Staël, among many others. MOCA isn't big, and outside of this exhibit, the other gallery space seemed to be closed, possibly in preparation for another show. It took us less than half an hour, at a leisurely pace, to take in the exhibit. We stopped by the store after, which was great, full of art books and fun contemporary museum shop goodies. This was a wonderful way to spend an hour on a random Wednesday, and it cost nothing except for parking (the museum doesn't have its own lot, and I paid over $20 to park across the street at the Music Center; next time, transit). MOCA offers free admission, a bountiful gift to art enthusiasts in L.A. Reservations are recommended, but easy to get without much planning. Now that MOCA is back on my radar, I expect to go again soon, or at least in the next few years. It's a stellar museum with an interesting collection, worthy of regular visits.

What a gem. I can't believe this museum is free…read more Located in Downtown Los Angeles, it's easy to pair with other nearby attractions, making it a great stop if you're spending the day exploring the area. The exhibits were fantastic. MOCA focuses on contemporary art, so you'll find everything from bold abstract paintings and large-scale installations to sculptures, video art, and thought-provoking mixed-media pieces. I love that contemporary art invites you to interpret it for yourself. Some works made me stop and think, while others were simply fun to experience. It was a nice balance of playful, emotional, and thought-provoking. The museum itself is quiet and easy to explore. It never felt crowded, so I could actually spend time with the artwork instead of feeling rushed from room to room. I also really enjoyed the gift shop. They had a fantastic selection of art books and exhibition catalogs that were honestly hard to resist. They also carried plenty of fun collectibles, including lots of reasonably priced Smiskis, which made me smile. Overall, this is an amazing free museum and an easy recommendation if you're in Downtown LA. Whether you're already into contemporary art or just curious to try something different, it's well worth stopping by.

My wife and I visited the California Science Center to see their Mummies of the World exhibition…read more Luckily we managed to make time in our packed schedules to see the exhibit on the last day it was open - talk about a close call! It had been years since either of us had been to the California Science Center so it was like the first time again. Parking is expensive but entrance to the center is free so that's something. Since it's free, there are hoards of families and kids running in every direction so expect crowds galore! Considering the amount of foot traffic the center gets, it's actually pretty clean so shout out to the cleaning staff! The Mummies of the World exhibition was fascinating to see. You had to pay for this exhibit but it was worth it if you're at all interested in mummies and the dead. Crowd control wasn't the greatest as everyone was kind of crammed inside, but it is what it is. Lots of mummies on display with interesting histories/facts to absorb. We also checked out the free exhibits for Goose Bumps! The Science of Fear and Fire! Science & Safety. Both were pretty interactive with lots of informative fun! I can see why the California Science Center is so popular amongst kids/families - apart from being free, it's very hands-on so it's engaging for the little ones. They have a food court that offers a little bit of everything, so if you have picky eaters in your group you'll be able to find something for everyone. Naturally it's museum food, so it's going to be costly for what it is. If you want some cheaper options, they have food vendors out front and out back offering street dogs and Mexican treats. If you really want to save some money, the museum allows you to bring in outside food and drinks, with the only caveat being that you can only eat/drink in the food court or on the patio outside. The Rose Garden out back is a nice change of scenery if you want to stretch your legs and have some free space away from the crowds. The big fountain as well is nice to lounge around to cool off and take pictures. Overall we loved the California Science Center - it's mostly free, the grounds are well-maintained and spacious, it's interactive, and it's a great way to spend the afternoon while exercising the ol' brain with science. If you want to get a souvenir from your trip, there's a gift shop that has numerous options in every nook/cranny.

The new endeavor exhibition is amazing. We went up the escalator and were taken into a room for an…read moreinitial screening... the effects were a surprise and everyone applauded. The shuttle is huge! I almost couldn't walk passed it for the sheer terror that it could fall over Can you believe they built the building around it!! There's also a slide... Go see it.

Always a beautiful space. I love coming here! So many different community events to enjoy on the…read moreweekend and the exhibits are always pristine. I love how you lounge on the lawn or one of their many seating areas to make a day out of it!

What an amazing time today at the Getty Center with my family! We saw so many unique art pieces as…read morewell as sculptures but our favorite was Irises from Vincent Van Gogh! What a great piece, and worth millions of dollars! So interesting to see how both painting and sculpting changed throughout the years and how here at the Getty they are preserved for our viewing pleasure. Although admission is free, everything else isn't lol Parking is 25 before 3pm and after that it's 15 but it drops even more to 10 dollars after 6pm. The cafe and restaurant at the Getty are wild when it comes to pricing, so take snack if you have little ones! They have the audacity to charge 6.45 for an olli pop soda and close to 20 dollars for a prepackaged cold sandwich, but I get it...it's for a good cause haha Overall it was a great time, and now we have to go check out the Getty villas in Malibu!