Christmas and New Year's in L.A. On a Budget

So it's getting to be the middle of December, you're living in Alhambra or San Gabriel or Pasadena, waiting tables or working at Starbucks, and the warm weather and decorated palm trees aren't exactly putting you in the Christmas spirit. Maybe you're lonesome for your family, or you're stressing over bills and how you're going to buy gifts for loved ones, or maybe you're just burnt out after another year of trying to make ends meet in this crazy town. Relax: I feel your pain, I've been there, and I'm here to offer some friendly advice about how to not only make it through the holidays, but really enjoy them.

Descanso Gardens Holiday Festival

Around the middle of December, Descanso Gardens holds a holiday festival that will get the Scroogiest of Scrooges into full-blown holiday mode. There's a craft sale and exhibit at the Boddy House, along with a Santa Claus you can take pictures with, tons of yummy (and complimentary) food, a free tram ride around the grounds, live music, musicians, and the best part of all: the gorgeous Descanso Gardens decorated and illuminated for Christmas. There's a cafe if you want to splurge on some heavier fare, and the "Enchanted Railroad" - a magical ride for children of all ages through the beautiful surroundings.

Parking: Free
Admission: $7 Adults
$5 Seniors and Students
$2 Children 5 - 12
Free - Children under 5
The tram is $3 except for the night of the actual festival, when it's free.
The Enchanted Railroad is $2.

Rose Bowl Flea Market

Held pretty much year-round on the second Sunday of the month, the Rose Bowl Flea Market is a total blast whether you have money or not. Named "the world's biggest flea market", you can rub elbows with celebrities and discover rare finds and trendy trinkets. During the December flea market, holiday decorations abound, there's plenty of cider and live music, and you might be able to find gifts for those hard-to-buy-for people on your list without breaking the bank. The Rose Bowl Flea Market is hard to describe and words don't do it justice. We frequented it almost every month during my six-year stint in Los Angeles, and you have to see it to believe it. It's a holiday must-do.

Special Preview VIP Admission - 5am to 7am: $20
Early Admission - 7am to 8am: $15
Express Admission - 8am to 9am: $10
Regular Ticket Hours - 9am to 3pm: $7

http://www.rosebowlstadium.com/RoseBowl_flea-market.htm

[Window] Shopping in Old Town Pasadena

My favorite part of Christmas in Los Angeles was hanging out in Old Town Pasadena. I never had the money to go to the fancy restaurants or walk out of shops with actual merchandise, but the mood and ambiance filled me with such joy that it didn't even matter. It's great on the weekend, because the streets are full of people, there are street musicians on every corner, and the shops stay open late. But during the week it's great too, because you can walk around with more freedom and really enjoy the lights and the decorations without worrying about standing in line or finding parking. As far as parking is concerned, however, Pasadena has the best parking in all of Los Angeles. There are several parking structures a block off the main drag (Colorado Blvd.) and as far as I can recall, they're free for the first few hours. Pretty much everything is within walking distance, and the best stuff is in the area of Colorado Blvd. between Fair Oaks and Arroyo, an area commonly called One Colorado. Walk around Crate & Barrel, browse Barnes & Noble, get a healthy drink at Jamba Juice, catch a movie at Laemmle's, or just browse the holiday window displays along Colorado Blvd.

And this year, on November 24th, they're having the big tree-lighting ceremony with celebrities, holiday sing-a-longs and the official start of the Charles Cherniss Tournament of Toys. I think it's good they're having it kind of early this year because it helps the more poverty-stricken of us to get into the holiday mood early. We need more time than those rich folks.

http://www.onecolorado.com/

The Tournament of Roses Parade

I'll be perfectly honest: I've never actually attended any of the parades, because it's early on January 1st and I'm still passed out from New Year's Eve. But I heard it's a blast and my older, more sober friends have nothing but great things to say about it. The parade folks start setting up bleachers along the whole length of Colorado Blvd. about a month in advance and that thousands of people come from all over the world each year to attend it. I always catch the end of it on TV when I finally wake up around 11AM, and it looks like fun. According to their website, their theme this year is "Our Good Nature" and the parade will feature "spirited marching bands from throughout the nation, majestic floral floats, and high-stepping equestrian units". Sounds pretty good to me, especially considering it's 100% free. You can reserve a seat in the grandstand for anywhere from $40 to $85, depending on the location, but I think that's a little ridiculous. It's more fun to be able to walk around, see the sights, go in the shops, and besides, who wants to freeze their butt off on a cold metal seat for three hours?

General Information
Parade begins on S. Orange Grove at 8 a.m.
Parade length - approximately 5.5 miles.
Parade duration - approximately 2.5 hours.

http://www.tournamentofroses.com/roseparade/
http://www.sharpseating.com/roseparade.htm

In conclusion, I'd like to say that no matter where your family and friends live, or how much money you make, there are things to do and places to go in Los Angeles, specifically in Pasadena, to get you in the holiday spirit and make home seem not so far away. You just have to know where to look, and hopefully this article will help a little.

Happy Holidays!