BGG Weekender: Le French, Some Ghosts and a Bit of Grease

We here at Broke Girl's Guide just got back from a (work-related) trip to London, and after a week spent feeling like a pauper in a city that makes NYC seem cheap, we're happy to have returned to sunny LA. Suddenly, we feel flush! However, we know better than to spend it all in one weekend, so as per usual we've put together some broke-girl-friendly ways to spend the upcoming two-day sabbatical.

Friday

Despite the drive, you're going to want to head to Venice directly after work on Friday (traffic is never that bad going west...promise!) to hit up the Venice Beach Biennial. We listed it as one of the five things we're most looking forward to this month, so you know it's not to be missed (although we also listed National Fried Chicken Day... but hey, our opinions are totally legit). After, grab a quick bite and/or some drinks at Larry's or Dry Tour and then head off to a Ghostbusters screening on the Promenade.

If you just can't bear the thought of driving all the way west of the 405, however, you may want to opt instead for a screening of Ghost in Hollywood as a part of the Oscars Outdoors series. There will be food trucks to grub from on-site, but afterward we suggest you pop into Off Vine for their famous Chocolate Soufflé or Wood & Vine for a few bits of their Butterscotch Pot De Creme.

Saturday

July 14th is Bastille Day, so we suggest celebrating with a Parisian Day Out on the town. If you don't feel like totally immersing yourself in la vie à la française, however, or if you're just one of those annoying people who is motivated to drive to Pasadena before 8 a.m. on a Saturday, instead start your day at the Free Fitness Expo at the Rose Bowl. Then, head back to Hollywood for a game of Capture the Flag near Runyon Canyon, because you don't have kids yet and are therefore allowed (nay, encouraged!) to act like a child yourself whenever possible. After, pick up a bite or two to eat at "A Gathering of Food Trucks" on La Brea. Or, if you're feeling a bit more posh than usual this weekend, opt instead to partake in Taste Culver City, where for $50 you'll sample snacks from a host of CC eateries. If you'd rather save your money for important things, like the rumored Topshop pop-up coming soon to the Grove, make your way instead to a Bastille Day celebration in WeHo. Around this time, you may also want to pop into newbie eatery Laurel Hardware for a bite and/or a cocktail. Then, head to the Hollywood Bowl for a Grease Sing-A-Long and yes... this is why you're single.

Sunday

If you were pretty controlled with your finances this week/weekend (read: did not spend $1 million on black cabs in London), reward yourself on Sunday with a ticket to the Bon Appetit Grub Crawl. The event is $89 and includes indulgences at Father's Office, Sotto, Picca and Lukshon, all of which are must-trys if you haven't sampled their menus yet. Don't despair if the event is too rich for your blood, however, as you can instead partake in another Bastille Day Festival, this time located a bit south of Culver City. Later, pop into Your Neighborhood Studio, one of our favorite spots for fun (and fit) dance classes in all of L.A., for a free open house from 2-6 p.m., which will include classes on Zumba, Samba, Burlesque and more. After, reward your hard work with a cold one at The Craft of Homebrewing event at the Craft & Folk Art Museum located in Miracle Mile. Then, pop into rookie restaurant Duplex on 3rd for a bite to eat -- the menu isn't exactly broke-girl-friendly, but you can easily split a pasta and a flatbread for around $10 per person (aka, the price of a stick of gum in London).

Here's a photo preview of your weekend.