20 Secret Bargains of Los Angeles

Canvass some of the city's enclaves to discover hidden treasures, trendy boutiques, and consignment shops: earthy Los Feliz at the base of the Hollywood Hills; soulful Silver Lake; Beverly Hills' posh Rodeo Drive; and the touristy Third Street Promenade in Santa Monica. The L.A. Fashion District is located downtown on and around Los Angeles Street and generally opens to the public for designer sample sales (50 to 80 percent off retail) on the last Friday of the month from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. (cash only; 213/630-3600, fashiondistrict.org/shoppinginformation.html). Bring your own shopping bag, arrive early, and park in the lot on Main Street.

7. The city's a stage

In L.A., theater lives in film's shadow, but unfairly so. There's always a slew of small stage productions for no charge or for as little as $5 listed in the free LA Weekly (laweekly.com). Major venues offer last-minute tickets, including the Geffen Playhouse (10886 Le Conte Ave., 310/208-5454, geffenplayhouse.com), with $15 seats one hour before curtain; and the Mark Taper Forum and Ahmanson Theatre (at the Music Center, 135 N. Grand Ave., 213/628-2772, taperahmanson.com), both with $12 tickets available two hours before showtime (limited nights, cash only, two tickets per customer). Both also offer one "pay what you can" day for each run; call ahead to determine dates.

8. Life's a bowl

The venerable Hollywood Bowl (2301 N. Highland Ave., 323/850-2000, hollywoodbowl.com), nestled in the hills, has been an L.A. staple for more than 80 years. Every summer, thousands of locals bring picnic dinners into this outdoor amphitheater, but few visitors realize that seats can be had for as little as $1 during the week and $3 on weekends for big-name entertainment.

9. Deals for the fans

Grab a seat in the outfield pavilion at Dodger Stadium for just $6 (1000 Elysian Park Ave., 323/224-1448, dodgers.com). Meanwhile, the new Staples Center charges as little as $10 for the Clippers and $22.50 for Kings hockey (1111 S. Figueroa St., 213/742-7340, staplescenter.com).

10. Free TV tapings

Sitcoms, talk shows, and game shows want you! This is Hollywood, after all, home of the largest concentration of TV broadcasts in the world. Tapings provide a rare peek into the inner workings of "the industry," as showbiz is called out here. Even for top-rated shows, seats are completely free, but tickets don't guarantee entry: it's first come, first seated (818/753-3470, tvtickets.com).

11. Dead but not forgotten

For the celeb macabre, check out the real Hollywood haunts, where the stars rest in peace. Burbank's Forest Lawn Hollywood Hills (6300 Forest Lawn Dr.) hosts Lucille Ball, Bette Davis, and Liberace; Marilyn Monroe, Natalie Wood, and Burt Lancaster are interred at Westwood Village Memorial Park (1218 Glendon Ave.); and the remains of Jayne Mansfield, Rudolph Valentino, and the notorious "Bugsy" Siegel are at Hollywood Forever Memorial Park (6000 Santa Monica Blvd.).

12. Discount Disney