OK, summer "fun" might be a bit of a stretch, but since it's a slow week in the world of real estate (not a ton of great inventory yesterday to showcase nor much by way as market news) I thought I would share some things to do and places to grab a bite while you are saving for that 20% deposit to put down on the purchase of your new home. Let's face it, when you are a rich kid on a bud-jay (as in Tar-jay) for whatever the reason (maybe you are saving for your new home, just bought it, or are simply a flat broke rich kid in the making but love reading my blog), summer fun in the City of Angels can seem a little bleak when funds are tight. Don't start selling your clothing to Wasteland just yet in order to afford that 1 drink at Trousdale - there is still hope for a good time!
1. Cheap Ice Cream In Beverly Hills- Rite Aid (formally known as Thrifty's in the mid 90's) on North Canon has some of the best/cheapest ice cream around. It's rare that I've seen a pharmacy that has an ice cream parlor, but this particular one does and has been a BH staple forever. You can grab a huge double scoop cone for $1.75 and then walk past everyone as they head into sumptuous meals at Spago or Mastros - haha! It's a cheap, fun way to cool off on a summer afternoon or a cute way to end a date night. Grab a cone and take a stroll along Via Rodeo - it will give you the low budge feeling of eating gelato while ambling along the piazzas of Rome. There is a fountain that lies at the bottom of the steps of Via Rodeo and Wilshire that I have deemed the magical wishing fountain. Whenever I have had stressful times, I'll throw a dime in (doesn't that give you ten wishes - a quarter would be just plain greedy) and things seem to always work out for the best! Give it a shot - you may not need this guide the day after!
2. Pizza Specials at Mulberry Street Pizza- I am starting to think that food really is a source of entertainment for me as everything that pops into my mind is food related. Mulberry Street Pizza is the best in all of LA in my humble opinion with 2 locations in Beverly Hills (North Canon and South Beverly) as well as one in the Valley (Encino). Most times during the week, Mulberry is on the pricier side as compared to Domino's or Pizza Hut, but it is so worth the few extra dollars. However, on Monday and Tuesdays they have a special that includes two slices, a side salad, and a drink for $8.50. What's fun about dropping into the parlor is that they have daily copies of the New York Post just sitting at each spot on the counter for diners to read while they devour the huge slices.
3. Paradise Cove Malibu - Paradise Cove is the perfect way to spend a warm summer day. Located in the northern part of Malibu off PCH, past the Ralph's shopping center adjacent to the Colony and just past Geoffrey's (there is a huge sign that says Paradise Cove), it's about a 30 minute drive from the Westside without traffic. What's awesome about Paradise Cove is that they have beds and loungers on the beach that you can rent for about $10 for the day. Before Memorial Day they are free to use. The key is to get there very early to reserve your spot. Another cool thing about Paradise Cove is that not only can you order food and cocktails from the restaurant while you lounge on the beds, you can also go into this little convenient store they have right on the sand to buy $10 bottles of cheap champagne or whatever your poison is. If you are really trying to save some cash, have the girls in the group carry big beach totes and load them with booze you brought from home. My friend Y was able to smuggle in 4 bottles of champagne (don't ask me where she put them as her tote wasn't THAT large), but we managed to have a virtually free day of fun in the sun!
4. The Hollywood Forever Cemetery Movies - I have to say that this is not so much of a hot tip as it was a few years back. Once something cool gets discovered in LA, it can become a major mission to attend such as the case with this. The cemetery movies take place at the legendary Hollywood Forever Cemetery (I think Marilyn Monroe is buried here, but I'm not a 100% on this). It may sound creepy, but they have tiki torches all over the place and the movie is shown in a big open grassy field on the back of a large building wall. The movies run the gamete from old horror films, to classic love stories, to 80's camp and everything in between. Back when it was still fairly underground, it was about $10 for an entire car, you got there an hour or so before the movie started to chill on the lawn and enjoy a Trader Joe's picnic while listening to a DJ spin ambient/trip hop music. Things have changed since then. The traffic can be grid lock if trying to park within the cemetery and you need to arrive about 3 hours before the film starts to even stand a chance of getting in. They now charge by the person, roughly $10 dollar "donations". Even though it takes a bit of planning and thinking ahead (you can also drink while in line), it's still worth doing. Now what once was something my friends and I would attend a few times throughout the summer months has boiled down to one time per year. I still love it and if you haven't experienced it, I highly recommend it! Check out the calendar here - the next showing is "Midnight Cowboy" on the 26th at 9pm.
5. Happy Hour at Oliver Followed By Happy Hour at Fiesta Cantina - Oliver, located adjacent to The Sports Club/LA Beverly Hills has one of the best happy hours in town. During the month of June, from 5pm to close (10pm) they have $5.00 cocktails, $3.00 beers, and $5.00 appetizers. The environment is chic and mod with a fantastic patio overlooking Wilshire Blvd. I love starting my night here after a work out. You don't need to be a member of the gym to enjoy the restaurant. The extended happy hour special is for this month only and the traditional hours are from 5pm-7pm. Once happy hour ends at Oliver, you can throw yourself into a can (typo staying but meant cab) and head to boy's down for two for ones at Fiesta Cantina. This is gay happy hour at it's finest (meaning everyone is wasted by 8pm). If the chicken satay didn't sustain you at Oliver, you'll be buzzed enough at this point to order the cheddar fries and chicken quesadillas. It's a fun, non pretentious atmosphere, with inexpensive well drinks even post happy hour.
I hope these suggestions add some affordable enjoyment to your summer. From having an ice cream cone to becoming a hot mess post happy hour, there is plenty to do and this is just the tip of the iceberg! Go for a hike on Runyan Canyon to check out the hot eye candy of both sexes, take a bike ride from Venice to Malibu on the flat bike paths that line the sand, or simply lay out naked on your patio to give your neighbors a thrill. The possibilities are endless 
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