This Friday night, instead of the usual fireworks extravaganza, why not check out Posh’s hubby on the pitch as the Galaxy take on the New England Revolution. A patriotic match for the ages. Think about it…a British sport on American soil with a Brit leading the charge for the Americans facing a militia from Massachusetts. Let’s hope our man Beckham doesn’t change his name to Benedict.

For $100, you and three others can see the fastest game in town (until Baron Davis goes toe to toe with Kobe). Fireworks will light up the night sky and cervezas will be had.

You may think of restaurants like Cut, the Ivy, Providence and Ortolan or hotels like the Beverly Wilshire, the Roosevelt and the Marmont as typical locales where you’ll find a-listers in their element. You’re right, but dropping $100 tabs might not suit your fancy. So if you’re looking for a quick fix, the red carpet isn’t always as unapproachable as you may think.

Standing outside Grauman’s Chinese Theatre is your best shot at spotting a celeb at the best value. Unlike a restaurant or hotel, the Grauman’s scene is 100% free. Not to mention, it’s located right next to the Metro subway station (Hollywood & Highland), and premieres typically take place early in the week (when flights are less expensive, hotel rates are lower and the weekend crowds are not as overwhelming). Hancock premiered on Monday and I saw Will Smith slowly parade down the red carpet with his family. Visitors to LA for their first time were in shock to say the least.

If you’re not the star struck kind of person and just trying to make your way down Hollywood during a premiere — when street closures kill the flow of traffic — I suggest walking/driving down either Franklin or Hawthorn.

The Red Line is usually great. It is on a regular schedule, runs on-time, and takes me about 26 minutes from the Universal Studios Hollywood stop to the Pershing Square stop. But on Tuesday of this week I had a little adventure.

On the return from Downtown to my home we had stopped at the second to last stop on my route- Hollywood & Highland- and started toward the Universal City station. We came to a stop after a few minutes of riding, which is not abnormal; sometimes the trains have to wait until another train clears the tunnel ahead. But we stopped for 2-3 minutes. And then 4. And then 5. Finally, the conductor spoke briefly into the intercom: “Hold on…it’s the brakes”.

She came out of her conductor room and stopped at one of the seats, asking the person seated there to get up. She opened a panel and fiddled with something inside. She then walked to the other end of the car I was in and did the same thing at another seat. She then walked through the door at the end of our car into the adjacent car, likely with the same intention.

She came back a few minutes later- we had been stopped for 10-15 minutes at this point- walked into her room, and informed us that the brakes were completely out and that she had called a technician. People around me rumbled. “I can’t believe this”; “I’ve got to be at work at 6:30pm”; “Do you have snacks for us?” And though I didn’t say anything I was cogitating too because at 5:30pm I was supposed to relieve the nanny who watches over our six month old daughter- and it was now 5:45pm. I would have called but cell reception is not too good when you are 100 feet beneath the ground and surrounded by concrete.

Seated in the last car of the train, I could see down the tunnel and soon enough some reflective orange strips could be seen bobbing and dancing as they got larger and larger- the technicians in their vests were walking up the tunnel toward us. They entered our car and and got to work, repeating some of the actions the conductor had tried earlier. One, a thin older man with a goatee, seemed almost happy as he stated “Total brake failure is rare…but that’s what we got.”

They tinkered for 10 more minutes before finally deeming the job too big for a subway tunnel. They asked all of the passengers to exit their cars and walk down the side of the tracks to the nearest Exit sign. We did so, and I grabbed the railing against the wall as I walked. The walkway was only a couple of feet wide and there was a 10 foot drop to the tracks below, so I figured better safe than sorry. We got to the Exit sign and turned right, went through a room, and appeared on a parallel track where another train was waiting. I entered a door and found a seat, my hand brown and dirty from the walk.

It took 10 minutes or so to get everyone loaded and then we started off toward the next stop- Universal City. After 30 seconds or so of riding I heard people across from me exclaiming that there were people on the walkway in the tunnel ahead. The train stopped and let these people in. We resumed the ride and the same thing happened again. I guess some of the passengers from the first train had gotten fed up and were trying to walk to Universal City?

Anyway, we finally arrived and I emerged from underground. It was now 6:45pm and I was an hour and 15 minutes late relieving the nanny. I called my wife who frantically answered the phone, more relieved at my safety than pissed off at my shirked duty. She had made if home from the gym at 6:30pm and immediately called all of my phone numbers and checked with possible acquaintances when I wasn’t there to greet her.

When all was said and done, our nanny was a little late picking up her own children that night, our daughter was a little fussy having not eaten at her usual time, and my wife and I were a little frazzled at the stress introduced into our evening. But, ultimately, everthing is fine. And I will ride the Red Line again.

July 4th Fireworks Spectacular: A Ball at the Bowl
Where: Hollywood Bowl
When: July 2–4 at 7:30 p.m.
Tickets: $10–$114
Details: Rumor has it that in addition to the LA Philharmonic, Randy Newman will be performing this year, paying tribute to the LA Dodger’s 50th anniversary. Try your hand at getting tickets, pack a picnic and get ready for one of LA’s biggest pyrotechnic displays at the end of the show. Get more info.

Americafest 2008
Where: Rose Bowl Stadium (Pasadena)
When: July 4, 6–9:30 p.m.
Tickets: $13
Details: The Rose Bowl has been celebrating the 4th of July for 82 years, so you better believe that they know how to put on a show. Live performances by marching bands from across the country will get things started, while the evening culminates at 9 p.m. with a fireworks show by Pyrospectaculars, known for their work at past Super Bowls and the Olympics. Get more info.

July 4th Fireworks Extravaganza
Where: Marina del Rey, main channel
When: July 4, 9 p.m.
Tickets: Free
Details: There’s something romantic about fireworks shooting over open water, especially if they’re over the main channel of Marina del Rey. Every year, visitors gather at Burton Chace Park and Fisherman’s Village for front row seats. Get more info.

To read more about what’s going on this July 4, click the link below:

http://www.discoverlosangeles.com/los-angeles-page.php?tid=3326&pageid=1019

Check out the trailer and more info about the movie here: www.journey3dmovie.com

Every Sunday in Hollywood there’s a farmer looking to sell off his best produce. Are you going to be the lucky recipient of a well-groomed crop, or is it going to be Mrs. Spice? Chances are it’s going to be you. Then again, Victoria Beckham appears to be keen on plant inspection. Posh was seen at the Hollywood Farmers Market last Sunday investigating a handful of lavender, and the London publication seen above mentioned our little old market outdates theirs — in a bit of a snobbish tone I might add. For the record, our city’s trendiness does not depend on Posh Spice!

Hollywood Farmers Market
1600 Ivar Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90028
(323) 463-3171
http://www.farmernet.com/events/one-cfm?venue_id=587

Los Angeles Film Festival
When: June 25-29
Where: Westwood Village
What: 80,000 people, 100 feature films, celebrity sightings, outdoor screenings — LA goes all out for the LA Film Festival, one of the biggest events of the year. Visit www.lafilmfest.com for more information.
Scoop: Expect the same thought-provoking indie films and powerful narratives that rocked last year’s festival. Venues range from the Billy Wilder Theater at the Hammer Museum to the W Los Angeles Hotel.

Los Angeles Greek Film Festival (LAGFF)
When: June 25-29
Where: Hollywood (Egyptian Theater, the Linwood Dunn Theater and the Pacific Design Center)
What: Featuring a tribute a tribute to John Cassavetes and Gena Rowlands, this second annual festival will showcase more than 30 works by Greek filmmakers. The festival will also include a script competition and several panel discussions.
Scoop: Bridging the gap between Greek filmmakers and Hollywood, for more info visit www.lagreekfilmfestival.org.

LA Opera Celebrates Puccini’s 150th Anniversary
When: Select dates from June 25–28
Where: Dorothy Chandler Pavilion at the Music Center
What: The LA Opera presents Giacamo Puccini’s La Rondine, with soprano Patricia Racette and tenor Marcus Haddock. Tickets range from $20 to $238. Buy tickets online at www.laopera.com or call 213.972.8001.
Scoop: Hear Puccini’s soaring aria “Il bel sogno di Doretta” in this celebration of the masterful composer’s 150th anniversary. La Rondine is a story of first love with sweeping landscapes from Paris to the French Riviera.

Sunset Strip Music Festival
When: June 26-28
Where: Sunset Boulevard (The Roxy, Whisky A-Go-Go, House of Blues, Viper Room, Key Club and the Cat Club)
What: The inaugural Sunset Strip Music Festival will include performances from such artists as B Real, Slash, Hot Hot Heat, Everclear, Soul Asylum and Dilated Peoples. Tickets are available now through www.ssmf.com.
Scoop: Established to preserve the integrity of this historic LA strip and to call attention to its iconic venues, 9,000 people are expected to fill up the 1.3-mile legendary stretch.

David Sedaris
When: June 28
Where: UCLA Live Royce Hall
What: Literary funny man David Sedaris, author of the acclaimed book of essays, Me Talk Pretty One Day, comes to Royce Hall at UCLA. Click here to buy tickets.
Scoop: Sarcastic, hilarious, smug and charismatic, Sedaris reads new material from his new (and still untitled) book. Limited tickets are available for his “Black Box Readings,” which gives fans the opportunity to “workshop” Sedaris’ material.

Coverage of the visit:

http://video.knbc.com/player/?id=268404