The County Fairs

And they are also a good bargain: these concert shows are free with paid admission to the Fairs.

Since our megalopolis is actually made up of two counties, we are lucky enough to have two different county Fairs held annually right in our own back yard: the Los Angeles County Fair in Pomona (held each September) and the Orange County Fair in Costa Mesa (held each July).

In addition to music and star-gazing, these county Fairs provide a good lesson about the true cultural diversity of Southern California. For anyone who thinks that Melrose Avenue, the Venice Boardwalk and South Central sum up life here in the Big Orange, a trip to the Fair will provide more than an ample dose of culture shock. With their livestock barns, milking parlors, blue-ribbon judging, jams & jellies, flower & garden shows, carnival zones, rodeos, farm exhibits, and healthy family fun, the local Fairs provide a glimpse into an equally valid (and surprisingly wholesome) segment of Southern California life.

Hollywood may be in the business of movie-making, but Los Angeles is also gaining a reputation as a top-notch location for live theatre. A number of Tony-winning musicals, including "Sunset Blvd" and "Ragtime," opened first in L.A. before going on to dazzle Broadway.

And that provides us with yet another opportunity for star-gazing. You can often see a number of big-name Hollywood stars in person, on stages throughout L.A./Orange in Broadway-style musicals and dramas. The following is a guide to the most popular sites for legitimate theatre in L.A. and Orange Counties.