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2009 guide to celebrating the 4th of July in Los Angeles
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Celebrate Independence Day in style this year - with a plan!
View evening fireworks from one of these trendy spots:
Spectacular views of the San Fernando Valley make the Castaway a great 4th of July destination. Sit on the outer deck for the best range of view and relatively inexpensive bar menu items.
COST: Cocktails are standard, bountiful appetizers cost upwards of $7
Spectacular views of Los Angeles make the Standard a great Independence Day destination – if you can stomach the crowds and the parking.
COST: Parking costs at least $6 plus pricey drinks.
One of the best views in Marina Del Rey, The Cheesecake Factory is the perfect harbor-side retreat. Enjoy your meal al fresco on the deck, with a perfect view of the Marina Del Rey fireworks show.
COST: Entrées range from $7-$30
Another great restaurant on the waterfront, the Warehouse is known for uber strong mai tai's and delicious seafood dishes. Live music music on Thursdays and some weekends make this plank assembled restaurant totally shabby-chic.
COST: $12-$40 per entree
Shanghai Red's also offers spectacular views of the Marina and her 4th of July fireworks show. The reasonably priced dining fare revolves mostly around surf and turf.
COST: $8-$26 per entree
The sky room is pricey, but with good reason. The cuisine is excellent and the view is spectacular. As you might have guessed from its name, the sky room sits atop the Long Beach Breakers hotel and provides astonishing 360 degree views of the surrounding city.
COST: $20-$45 per entree
One of the many wonderful things about the Hollywood bowl is that you can bring your own picnic items. Chow on bread, cheese and wine while listening to the Los Angeles Philharmonic and John Fogerty (of Creedence Clearwater Revival). The performance includes a theatrical, musically timed fireworks show.
COST: $12- $116 per ticket
Day/Night activities
The Rose Bowl in Pasadena boasts the biggest fireworks show in Southern California. The food court and fair booths open at 2pm, the stadium opens at 6pm, The Drum Corps entertain from 7pm through the spectacular fireworks display that begins at 9pm.
COST: $13 per person
Sink your feet into the sand as you sip on mojitos. Paradise cove is the only beach in southern California where you can drink alcohol.
COST: 3 hours free parking with validation. Meals run between $10-25
Join the circus of Venice Beach to watch the annual Mr. and Mrs. Muscle beach competition. It's fun, it's raucous and it's comedy - least one competitor is guaranteed to wear a tiny speedo resembling the American flag.
COST: Free to watch, $80 to compete
Every year Disneyland puts on an impressive 4th of July fireworks show over Sleeping Beauty's Castle at 9:25pm. It's an exhilerating performance, if you can handle the wall to wall crowds.
COST: $59 for single park ticket
Cool off by heading to the Ventura Street fair in Downtown Ventura. Browse over 250 booths of crafts, trinkets and edibles while listening to live music. This fair draws over 50,000 visitors and is sure to entertain you with 5 stages of continuous entertainment.
WHEN: July 4, 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
COST: Free
Learn a little history of L.A. and learn how to bargain in this two and a half hour tour of Chinatown.
WHEN: July 4, 10:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
COST: $20
*July 4th Celebration and Fireworks Spectacular in Inglewood
Face painting, good food and booths featuring cultural arts and crafts make this fair and excellent family excursion. Listen to live music during the day then watch an elaborate fireworks display in the evening.
WHEN: July 4, 11:00 a.m. – dusk
SITE: Edward Vincent Jr. Park, 700 Warren Lance, Inglewood
COST: Free
INFO: 310-412-5370
Watch demonstrations by the U.S. Coast Guard, Navy frigate, armed forces and military. If you've ever wanted to see a cannon being fired, here is your chance. The Washington Artillery Reenactment group will be firing cannons along the coastline while the Golden State Pops Orchestra plays a variety of music Americana. And of course, there will be fireworks.
WHEN: July 4, 12:00 noon – 10:00 p.m.
SITE: Cabrillo Beach, 3720 Stephen M. White Dr., San Pedro
COST: Free
Bring your swimsuit for a swim in the 1.5 acre lake. Enjoy live entertainment, food and fireworks in this valley-style 4th of July celebration. Attendees are encouraged to bring a picnic, which I assume means that there will not be an extensive variety of foods available for purchase.
WHEN: July 4, 12:00 noon – 10:00 p.m.
SITE: Hansen Dam Recreation Area, 11770 Foothill Blvd.,
Lake View Terrace
COST: Free
There is nothing more American than the Blues. Indulge in free watermelon and get your face painted while listening to the musical notes of American history.
WHEN: July 4, 1:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
SITE: Vision Theatre back lot, 3341 W. 43rd Pl., Los Angeles
COST: Free
CBS Radford studios holds this annual festival on their back lot. There will be music, food, fireworks, kids "fun zone" and a business exposition for grownups.
WHEN: July 4, 4:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.
SITE: CBS Studio Center,4024 RadfordAve., Studio City
COST: $15
True to its name, the Dennis P. Zine Extravaganza features a concert and fireworks show for up to 40,000 people. By legions, this is the most popular 4th of July event in the valley. Don Sweeney and the SRO big band headline this year's concert with a fantastic seventeen-piece ensemble playing Big Band era favorites and pop classics.
WHEN: July 4, 6:00 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.
SITE: Warner Park, 5800 Topanga Canyon Blvd., Woodland Hills
COST: Free entrance. Parking is $15 in any of the area Warner Center structures.
Movies under the stars are once again gaining popularity. If you want to avoid the Cinespia crowds at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery, come to Warner park and watch movies at dusk, with pre-show entertainment beginning at 7pm. Movies are shown every Saturday until September.
WHEN: July 4, 7:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.
SITE: Warner Park, 5800 Topanga Canyon Blvd., Woodland Hills
COST: Free
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