Awesome Day Three: Free Things

There was a lot going on in LA on Awesome Day Three.  A lot of Awesome options to choose from, that would probably all promise an Awesome day.  Most notably, in my mind, was the Real Madrid vs. Everton soccer game scheduled to be played at Dodger Stadium--the first ever soccer game played at the iconic stadium (a stadium which happens to be right in my neighborhood).

But, unfortunately, those tickets were running $100 for the cheapest seats, and I don't have that kind of money.

So, my boyfriend, Cesar, and I decided to find something free instead.  Free will probably be a theme to this month (and my life), because free things are inevitably Awesome.  Especially free things in L.A. because this city is so full of talent and music and culture (yes, culture) and diverse neighborhoods and creativity.  If you're bored, you're not paying attention.

We settled on a free ongoing outdoor summer concert series in Downtown LA (a neighborhood that I love, and that doesn't get enough credit in the minds of many Angelinos--which is fine with me because I don't have to deal with any of those Hollywood lines) called Grand Performances.  This series has an impressively diverse lineup of shows, meant to promote global consciousness in the Los Angeles community.  Can't hate that.

(Side note:  Friday night's concert with LA band Ozomotli even had a surprise performance by none other than Stevie Wonder.  See?  LA has seriously Awesome free stuff.)

These concerts are also a huge community picnic, and the thousands of people that attend all bring blankets and picnic baskets and wine--yes, wine, because this is a rare public space in America where the consumption of alcohol is not limited to a beer garden tucked away in an uncomfortably cramped back corner.  Not only that, but the concert attendees have proven themselves worthy of such a blessing by enjoying themselves responsibly.  It's like a little slice of Europe--culture and all--was implanted into the DTLA skyline.  I totally dig it.

So, armed with two buck chuck and five dollar footlongs (seriously, the budget is tight right now), we settled in for a night of musical Awesomeness by LA's Palenke Soultribe and Peru's Novalima.

Oh, and there was also a free photo booth (sponsored by a wine company, hence the wine bottles).  With a bubble machine.  Kind of my definition of Awesome: