As the entertainment capital of the world, Los Angeles is overflowing with theatre, art, dance, film and television. The city has a variety of options for every entertainment taste.
Your best bet for current entertainment info is the LA Weekly (www.laweekly.com), a free weekly paper available at sidewalk stands, shops and restaurants. It has all the most up-to-date news on what's happening in Los Angeles's playhouses, cinemas, museums and live-music venues. The Sunday "Calendar" and Thursday "Weekend" sections of the Los Angeles Times (www.calendarlive.com) are also a good source of information on what's going on throughout the city.
Places to Unwind
Theatres
The creative activity in the theatres of Los Angeles proves the naysayers wrong: just because the city's more frivolous side is the most publicised, Los Angeles does indeed have a rich history of culture and soul. The Performing Arts Center of Los Angeles County complex in downtown Los Angeles houses many of the city's major theatre venues, including the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, the Mark Taper Forum, Pantages Theatre, and the Ahmanson Theatre.
Museums
Los Angeles is indeed multi-faceted: with beautiful beaches on one end, trendy clubs on another, and amazing museums spread throughout, it is no wonder people flock here to get a taste of everything it has to offer. The Getty Center is a breathtaking architectural work before you even see the collections inside. The Los Angeles County Museum of Art has impressive permanent collections as well as top-billed shows. If contemporary art is more your cup of tea, then pay a visit to the Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) which has featured extremely innovative art exhibitions. LA is also home to many smaller, private galleries, concentrated especially in Venice and the Melrose area of Hollywood. If nature and science excite you more than a rare Van Gogh, the California Science Center is a hands-on educational facility that takes science to the extreme while the Natural History Museum has 35 galleries of environmental science displays to explore. For a more serious-minded museum visit, the Los Angeles Museum of Tolerance is a stop for the humanitarian-minded tourist. The museum offers classes in racial diversity and acceptance, and offers tours for school children and interested adults. It is a powerful, moving and informative institution.
For those who have eclectic or more specialised tastes, be sure to check out the Museum of Neon Art, the Vintage Animation Gallery and the Museum In Black.
Cinema
Mann's Chinese Theater on Hollywood Boulevard stands out as one of the most famous cinema houses ever built. Crowds descend upon the faux-Asian theatre every day to measure the famous feet and hands imprinted on the sidewalk outside. Across the street from the Mann's Chinese, the Egyptian Theater stands in its Vegas-style glory.
Comedy
With countless small theatres and clubs in Los Angeles, open mic nights for struggling comedians are everywhere. For a more polished performance check out the famous Groundlings. This well-known "training camp" for television shows like Saturday Night Live has an ever-changing lineup of up-and-comers with an occasional star headliner. The Improv and the Comedy Store consistently feature well-known, professional headliners as well as budding new talent.