As long as there are stars in the California night sky, the Griffith Observatory throws a star party every night. The venue offers these free get-togethers with a little help from the Los Angeles Astronomical Society. Also with the facility is the Samuel Oschin Planetarium; this planetarium gets in on the fun by offering $7 tickets to three exciting shows that spotlight the wonders of the universe, of the sea, and of the ocean. The observatory is also the home of the new Leonard Nimoy Event Horizon presentation theater, so there is much to do here between the time you are peering heavenward.
Her voice was unmistakable. The musical legacy of Karen Carpenter will never be forgotten. And, to remember her immeasurable contribution to popular music, the Carpenter Performing Arts Center in Long Beach bears her name as well as continues her tradition of excellence. This 1,074-seat entertainment venue presents a steady schedule of both large and small performing ensembles, film screenings, concerts, conferences and other special events. So from comedy to drama, from rock to ballet and everything in between, see it come to life on stage at the Carpenter Performing Arts Center.
Ever wonder how California assimilated the cultures of the Native Americans, the Mexicans and the Spanish? Connect all of the individual influences and learn about how they helped shape the California that we know today when you visit the Rancho Los Alamitos. This attraction has earned a spot on the National Register of Historic Places not just for its cultural significance, but also for maintaining its historic ranch, ranch house and gardens that date all the way back to 1800.
Art is born out of both inspiration and reflection. A specific geographic area can inspire the creation of some truly amazing art as well as reflect the attitudes and feelings of a particular point in time. Nowhere is that more obvious than at Long Beach's Museum of Latin American Art. These works seem to come alive with both a dimensionality and a spiciness that gives them a personality all their own. The facility was founded in 1996 and holds the distinction of being the only museum of its kind in the United States.