FREE L.A.: LACMA and the Autry

If you’ve got a Bank of America ATM, debit or credit card, flash it this weekend at either the L.A. County Museum of Art or the Autry National Center of the American West and score free admission.

It’s part of Bank of America’s Museums On Us monthly promotion.

Other area museums participating include Long Beach’s Museum of Latin American Art; the Discovery Science Center in Santa Ana (Saturday only); the Laguna Art Museum in Laguna Beach; and the Riverside Art Museum in Riverside (Saturday only).

FREE L.A.: Knitting Factory Concerts

Things must be slow at Hollywood’s Knitting Factory: the venue is passing out free pairs of tickets to upcoming shows. The catch? You gotta come by the box office on Monday between 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. Each show has a limit of 10 free pairs of tix; first come, first served. The shows:

JAN 16th – 1969 Tour with Myka Nine / Sole / Ceschi Ramos / Factor
JAN 17th – Bad Manners, Chase Long Beach
JAN 18th – Dwarves, The Uprising
JAN 21st – Peachcake / MC Lars / Get Back Loretta
JAN 22nd – Angel City Outcasts / Duane Peters Gunfight / Danko Jones / Prima Donna
JAN 23rd – Adolescents / The Crowd / White Flag / Los Creepers
JAN 23rd – The Lives of Famous Men / Anarbor / Go Crash Audio / The Sequence
JAN 24th – Bluebeat Lounge 6th Anniversary with Joey Altruda’s Classic Riddims / Viernes 13 / Chris Murray Combo / Raskahuele / The Ifficials
JAN 29th – The Reverend Peytons Big Damn Band
JAN 30th – Blood / GPKism / Vamp Star / DJ Sisen
FEB 5th – 16 / Intronaut / Giant Squid / Bastard Noise / Black Math Horsemen
FEB 6th – Mike Park / Jesse Michaels / Kevin Seconds / Andrew Jackson Jihad
FEB 7th – 3 Floors of Ska feat. Ska is Dead & Friends with Voodoo Glow Skulls / The Toasters / Buck-O-Nine / Deals Gone Bad + many more!
FEB 10th – Never Better Tour with P.O.S. and special Doomtree guests: Sims, Mictlan, & Lazerbeak (Hand Over Fist)
FEB 17th – Joey Cape (Lagwagon) / Chris Schifflet (Foo Fighters) / Jon Snodgrass (Drag the River) / Marko 72 (Sugarcult)
FEB 19th – A Wilhelm Scream / Chaser / Syncope Threshold
FEB 19th – Sound of the Blue Heart / Mene
FEB 24th – Dear and the Headlights / Miniature Tigers
FEB 25th – Damiera / The Urgency
FEB 27th – The Angry Samoans / Johnny Madcap & The Distractions / The Crazy Squeeze / Action 45
MAR 6th – Volto!
MAR 6th – Automatic Loveletter / A Cursive Memory / Tickle Me Pink / Kyle & Natalie
MAR 11th – Von Iva / Semi Precious Weapons / The Start / Roxy Epoxy & The Rebound / Killola / The Action Design
MAR 15th – Tim Barry (Avail) / Austin Lucas / Josh Small
MAR 26th – Craig Owens (Chiodos/Cinematic Sunrise) / Ace Enders / The Gay Blades / Versaemerge
APRIL 4th – Left Alone / Viernes 13 / Black Rose Phantoms / Gamblers Mark

More details here.

Free L.A.: Holiday Drinks Tonight at the Coffee Bean

Get yerself to The Coffee Bean this evening between 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. The coffee chain is handing out 12 oz. holiday-themed drinks for free — including their Peppermint ice blended, which I’m all about.

(Thanks to Joe for reminding me!)

Vote… And Then Flash Your "I Voted" Sticker All Day Long

Free stuff? Good. Free stuff after voting in the most important election of our lifetimes? Even better.

Yep, I’ll be in line for a free 12 oz. (“tall”) coffee tomorrow at Starbucks. Perhaps at several locations.

And maybe, I’ll also head to Krispy Kreme for a free star-shaped donut. And Ben & Jerry’s for a free scoop.

Meanwhile, Thrillist has put together a list of other freebies or discounts tomorrow. Just flash your “I Voted” sticker:

“Healthy” Vote: O!Burger (8593 Santa Monica Blvd, West Hollywood; 310.854.0234)
Buy a burger at this all-natural hole-in-the-wall and get a free order of fries or organic cookies — whose organic crumbs will be telltale evidence that you voted for Nader.

Drinky Vote #1: Colorado Wine Co (2114 Colorado Blvd, Pasadena; 323.478.1985)
Take 50% off any of the 6-7 whites and reds this small shop’ll be pouring — perfect if you recently took 50% off your bank account.

Rockin’ Vote: Amoeba Music (6400 Sunset Blvd, Hollywood; 323.245.6400)
The leviathan music store’s handing out coupons good for $2 off anything — a new cd, used vinyl, a poster from the Milli Vanilli show you hit on election night ’88… Use your discount on Orrin Hatch’s How His Glory Shines, and $2 will be taken off your soul.

Dessert Vote: Tart (115 S Fairfax, Mid-Wilshire; 323.556.2608
Tart’s offering a free dessert to compliment discounted drinks and a special election menu that includes the likes of a caramelized onion, roasted red pepper & aioli “Bailout Burger”. No purchase necessary for the dessert, but cheapskates run the risk of the waiter giving them “Bailout Eyes.”

Lookin’ Good Vote: Cristophe Salon (348 N Beverly Dr, Beverly Hills; 310.274.0851)
This Beverly Hills salon’ll give you 50%-off gift certificates, and on-the-spot services you need (haircut), services you don’t (coloring), and services you claim you don’t (waxing).

Drinky Vote #2: Pitfire
At all the Pitfire pizzeria (in Downtown and North Hollywood)
The Downtown and North Hollywood outposts of this pizzeria mini-chain are offering your choice of either Edison Ale or an “Obama/McCain” limited-edition soda — so basically, vote for Edison.

Lunchy Vote: Pink Taco (At Westfield Century City: 10250 Santa Monica Blvd, Century City; 310.789.1000)
Get a shot of well tequila and 3 free pink tacos — a Clintonian deal hearkening back to the freewheeling days of Election ’96.

The Orange County Register’s Fast Food Maven has more Election Day promotions here.

FREE L.A.: Kid-Friendly Halloween Events

We’re big fans of the annual trick-or-treat event in Atwater Village down Glendale Blvd. It’s a great dress rehearsal for the following week’s real Halloween trick-or-treating (plus, we get extra use out of that Target costume), and it’s a great way to see the neighborhood up close.

I’m keeping my fingers crossed that Hugo’s will be passing out tacos to big kids and small.

The event, now celebrating its 5th year, is free. Over 68 businesses are participating — so yeah, that’s a lot of candy.

Event takes place THIS FRIDAY from 4 to 5:30 p.m. More details here.

This weekend, Pasadena’s Kidspace museum holds its annual Pumpkin Festival. As you can read above, the event is completely free, and features a pumpkin patch, carnival games and music from the likes of Peter Himmelman. The festival takes place Saturday and Sunday, from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

FREE L.A.: Black Dog Coffee Celebrates A Decade

As I hit my nine-year mark with Variety this week (nine years!), the independent coffee shop across the street that has fueled me all those years — Black Dog Coffee — is marking its first decade in business.

Brad and the gang at the Black Dog are celebrating by offering free coffee all day Wednesday — plus an anniversary cake in the afternoon.

With so few dining options around Variety (the Koo Koo Roo, Baja Fresh and Johnie’s Pizza get tired quickly), Black Dog has always offered a nice, homemade alternative. And since our part of Wilshire has (surprisingly) so far escaped the chain coffee wars, Black Dog has been our go-to coffee joint through the years.

Get Your Free Theater Tix While You Can

The national Free Night of Theatre campaign has made its way to Los Angeles, and free tix to local shows are still available.

Check here to see what shows are still available for free. Many of the more popular plays are already sold out, but others aren’t. And there are shows going into early November available.

Some details on the promotion:

Free Night of Theater (FNOT) is the annual national audience development program to attract new theatergoers to America’s professional not-for-profit theatres. Since the Theatre Communications Group (TCG) launched the pilot program in 2005, Free Night of Theater has increased in scope and participation each year. This year will be the largest Free Night of Theater celebration since its inception in San Francisco, expanding to over 700 companies and attracting 75,000 new theatergoers from coast to coast.

Brad Erickson, Executive Director of Theatre Bay Area says, “The demand for live theatre—when it’s made accessible to all—is overwhelming. We’re bringing in new audiences—young people, people of color, people from all walks of life—and they are coming back for more. Free Night of Theater has thrown the doors of our theatres open wide.”

The National Free Night of Theater now takes place in 120 cities across the country.

Stock Market Jitters? Er, This Probably Won’t Help the Jitters, But It’s Free

Hey, just a quick reminder: The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf’s anniversary celebration concludes today, as the chain offers up a free espresso shot to anyone who asks for it in their drink.

Hey, in this economy, I’ll take anything that’s free.

Don’t Let the Pigeon Go To LACMA

If you have kids in the 3- to 6-year-old range, surely you’re familiar with the works of Mo Willems.

If not, get thee to a library or book store quickly. Willems’ different book series have become a favorite of the Blogger Preschooler. Evan has delighted to best pals Elephant & Piggie, the mischievous Pigeon, and the relatable Knuffle Bunny (and Knuffle Bunny Too).

Now, bring your tykes to LACMA on Sunday, Oct. 12. Yet another Willems creation, “Leonardo the Terrible Monster,” will be re-created by actors, reciting the parts.

In case you’re not familiar with the book:

Leonardo is truly a terrible monster—terrible at being a monster, that is. Despite his best efforts, he can’t seem to frighten anyone. But when he discovers the perfect nervous little boy, will Leonardo finally scare the tuna salad out of him? Or will he think of something even better?

Event takes place at 3 p.m. on Oct. 12 at LACMA’s North Piazza. Best part: It’s free. So even if it’s not as cool as it sounds, no matter: You took your kid to the museum. Bonus parenting points for you.

Free L.A.: Kid Concerts at the Getty

Our friends Jeff and Jess (along with little Miles) tipped us off to the Getty’s Garden Concerts for Kids series — and we’re glad they did.

The Getty is already one of L.A.’s great bargains — $8 parking, but otherwise free admission. On Saturday afternoon, that included the free concert on the Getty garden.

Last Saturday and Sunday, The Jellydots got the tots moving.

Not a bad spot. Great view of the city, a nice breeze, and shade from the buildings. We could have sat there for hours. The Getty even provides sheets for people who didn’t bring their own blankets. Several families were picnicking — one even had a bottle of wine.

Next up: Guy Davis performs August 16–17, while Elizabeth Mitchell & Family are there August 23–24. The free concerts are at 4 p.m. and 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.

More tips for families visiting the Getty can be found here.