LA ♥ // Hollywood Bowl

It's that time of year! The Hollywood Bowl season begins next weekend and we are looking forward to our outings this summer ... it's one of my favorite things about LA.  Before I lived here or before I went, I think I thought it was hoity-toity and exclusive. But it's not!  It's really a great experience for everyone and sometimes tickets are just $10. The grounds are set in this great little natural amphitheater on a hillside with lots of trees. It's absolutely gorgeous as the sun is usually setting about the time you get there. But then the stage itself is legendary -- both for it's beauty and its sound. Mix that with a picnic, good friends, great music and you have yourself a quintessential LA evening. The past two years we've bought a special package that allows us to get great seats at a discount. We love it because we are able to see my annual favorites -- including the Sound of Music sing-a-long.  You guys, it's just the best! The pre-show is a parade across the stage of people who dress up as things from the movie.  No, not just Captain von Trapp and children dressed in the fabric of old curtains ... really, really creative stuff like brown paper packages tied up with string, and tea with jam and bread. It's jawdroppingly good! They recently added a Grease sing-a-long, too. But I'm sidetracked -- there's a great mix of shows from classical, to current popular music talent, comedians, jazz and such. When you go, definitely make sure to bring a picnic. There are different picnic areas on the grounds but you can eat at your seats, too.  If you get a box seat, you'll even have a little table in your box. You can even have your dinner/picnic delivered there. But I usually opt to bring yummies from Joan's. Just after the sun sets, the show begins. And it get's cold so you should bring stuff to snuggle up. My next big tip? Don't park in the stacked parking! Yes, it's the closest and it looks so convenient but you'll be blocked in until the person parked in front of you and behind you wants to leave. Valet parking is only for season ticket holders so your best option is to take the bus if you live in one of the outlying areas, or pay about $15 off of Highland and walk in. If you want to go but you won't be here during the summer, just look for other concerts that they have there throughout the year (Coldplay was just there when we were in Italy). OK, let me know when you go! And have a blast.