It's Your Party, In The Sky If You Want To

       There's been a long standing beef between the two Paparazzi factions in Los Angeles-the ones who crowd LAX and The Grove begging to ask celebrities mundane questions and the other who points their lenses a little higher; beyond our stratosphere. The former definitely gets more television time but so do Pajama Jeans and Latisse. Its a good thing this town is big enough for the two of em. But consider taking a break from your day to day star gazing infatuation and head up to the Griffith Observatory. After a $93 Million dollar renovation it reopened in 2006 as one of the most impressive observatories in the world. Nearly 40,000 sq feet of new public space was added during the 4 year re-construction. My favorite addition is the new state of the art 300 seat Samuel Oschin Planetarium theater. They added a new dome, star projector, digital laser projectors, seats, sound system, and lighting to make it the finest planetarium in the world. They currently have 3 presentations showing that run a few times per day. Another great thing to try is the Star Party(Free). It happens once a month from 2:00pm-9:45pm. It's a chance to look at the sun, moon, visible planets, and other objects, and try out a variety of telescopes. The next one is this Saturday, February 25th, and check their website for upcoming Star Party dates.

      Two other things you shouldn't miss while you're there is the original Zeiss refracting telescope that's been viewed by more than 7 Million people making it the most viewed telescope in the world. It's free and open to the public on clear days/nights. And last but not least is the incredible view of the LA skyline. Take the time to absorb our city skyline from the ocean to East LA, and beyond.

Details:

Website: http://www.griffithobservatory.org/index.html

When: Closed Monday & Tuesday
            Weekdays (Wed-Fri)12 Noon-10pm
            Weekends (Sat & Sun)10am-10pm

Where: 2800 East Observatory Road
             Los Angeles, CA 90027
             (213) 473-0800

Why: Your tax dollars paid for $67.4 Million of the renovation and it goes without saying that any date that includes the term "Celestial" has to end well. And guys, please no Big Dipper jokes. I'm serious!!

Cost: Free; Planetarium shows are $7 for adults and $5 for kids

Tip: Bring comfortable shoes. You'll probably end up parking on the road leading up to the planetarium since their parking lot isn't very big.

The Dark Arts

It's scientifically true that, no matter your ethnic preference, we are all black when the lights go out. Thankfully the same doesn't apply to art. And a happy Black History Month to you too. This Saturday check out the opening reception of In The Dark.Its from 7-10pm at The LA Mart(downtown). In The Dark showcases the work of 17 different artists and displays them in a darkened gallery. All the artists are working with light emitting or reactive materials. ie: LED's, fiber optic cables, luminescent plastics, etc. Some even require viewer participation. In The Dark runs from February 4-March 31, 2012.

Details:

When: The opening reception is this Saturday from 7-10pm, but the exhibit runs through March 31, 2012

Where: LA Mart Bldg., 12th Floor, 1933 S Broadway, Suite #1245, LA, CA 90007

Cost: Free

Why: Most of you were conceived in darkness and look at the art you've become. Bad example. Everything there is better than your best Light Brite creations.