It happens every quarter. You’ve been putting stuff off ““ dinner with friends, a weekend getaway, seeing a movie the Daily Bruin gave four paws ““ and then you get mired in midterms, more midterms and finally, finals. We know; it’s rough. So this spring break, take the time to do all the little things you keep meaning to do during the year. Whether you’re a graduating senior or a wet-behind-the-ears freshman who doesn’t remember when O’Hara’s was still Maloney’s, college goes quick. Don’t let it pass you by.
““ David Greenwald
See a movie at Grauman’s Chinese Theatre
Who hasn’t driven by the spectacularly out-of-place movie theater on Hollywood Boulevard and wondered what lavish treasures the ornately decorated doors hold within? Built in 1927 with a $2 million budget, Grauman’s Chinese Theatre was built with the consent of the U.S. government in order to import authentic Chinese pagodas, bells and other artifacts directly from China. Film director Moon Quon came to the United States to supervise the construction of the theater’s original front courtyard, now called the Forecourt of the Stars (home to the handprints of stars such as Eddie Murphy and Donald Duck). The Chinese Theatre is one of Los Angeles’ most recognizable landmarks and has hosted many of Hollywood’s most famous and elaborate movie premieres. Catch a movie at the Chinese and be a part of history.
Stake out a Westwood movie premiere
If you haven’t seen Adam Sandler playing basketball in the Wooden Center, Beyoncé grabbing coffee in Lu Valle Commons, or John Lithgow walking his dog across Royce Quad, don’t give up hope celebrity hunting just yet. A block away from campus ““ literally ““ are two of the most popular locations for star-studded gatherings. The Mann Village and the Mann Bruin, along with The Egyptian and Chinese Theatres in Hollywood, host well over half of the red-carpeted, paparazzi-saturated movie premieres in the U.S. Last week, Mark Wahlberg (right) and Danny Glover graced Westwood with their presence for the premiere of “Shooter.” And during past premieres, UCLA students have seen, gotten autographs from, and even touched the likes of Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie, Elijah Wood and Natalie Portman. Though premiere information isn’t usually public until only a few days before the event, check out www.seeing-stars.com for the most up-to-date schedule for premieres all over Los Angeles.
Visit the Watts Towers
People who aren’t from Los Angeles will often try to tell you the city lacks the art and culture of New York or other cities to the east. If anyone makes this argument, simply point them in the direction of the Watts Towers. The towers, located in Watts near the Metro Rail Blue Line, took Italian immigrant Sabato Rodia 33 years to build (from 1921 to 1954). The towers are fascinating not just because of their size (17 interconnected structures, two of which are nearly 100 feet high), but also because of their construction. The towers are one of the greatest examples of “found art” around, being constructed largely out of discarded bed frames, glass bottles, broken pottery and even seashells. Sure, see The Getty this spring break ““ but first, head down to the heart of Los Angeles and see a part of the city that deserves more attention than it gets.
Take the Ferris wheel at Third Street Promenade
C’mon. You know you want to. Ever since seeing Ryan and Marissa take a Ferris wheel and make out in season one of “The OC,” you’ve thought about taking some special guy or lady down to Santa Monica for a romantic evening. Things aren’t cheap down on the Promenade, so bring a few extra bucks so you can share some funnel cake.
Relax at the Getty
The J. Paul Getty Museum is just a hop, skip and a jump ““ or a quick bus ride ““ away from campus. And you can go for the art, then stay for the views. While the Getty’s galleries are certainly impressive, the real attraction is the museum itself. Carved from gorgeous marble and set atop Los Angeles, it’s a perfect place to relax and chill out during (or even better, after) finals. Grab a seat by the garden and watch the sunset while you throw your chemistry books off the cliff.
Order delivery from Enzo’s Pizzeria
Not only is Enzo’s the best pizza in town, at 23 inches it’s also the biggest. Which means that when you’re sitting around watching the NCAA Tournament over the next couple weeks, it might be enough food for you and your buddies. If you head into the restaurant itself, you’ll get the real Enzo’s experience fresh out of the oven ““ hot, greasy and delicious. With photos from “The Godfather” adorning the walls and Frank Sinatra singing in the background, the restaurant has an Italian-American charm that, along with the pizza, makes it worth a trip.