The Return of the Cheap CD at Rockaway

There are few things I like better than cheap CD sales. Granted, most CDs at those sales are crap. But that's begun to change -- as, sadly, the CD becomes a less sought-after artifact, I'm beginning to find some really great diamonds in the rough at these sales.

That's why I'm excited to see that Rockaway Records' sporadic CHEAP DVD and CD SALE is back, and happening today through Friday, July 5 through July 8. DVDs normally priced $2.99 and less are half off, and CDs priced $1.99 are half off too.

Support your local indie record store while you still can! Rockaway is in Silver Lake, next to the new library.

Rockaway Records
OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK
Regular Hours 11am-7pm
2395 Glendale Blvd., Los Angeles CA 90039

Cheap Date: $3 Movies in North Hollywood

I dare you to come up with a cheaper date than the one Maria and I pulled off on Sunday night: $3 movie ("Bridesmaids," at the Valley Plaza 6 in North Hollywood) and tacos from El Pollo Loco. Total cost of the evening: $10.

OK, so I'm not proud of the El Pollo Loco. But there aren't a lot -- actually, there aren't any -- food options near Regency Theatres' Valley Plaza 6. Located at the north end of North Hollywood, the Valley Plaza 6 is about the only life left in what's otherwise a ghost town of a shopping center.

And then there's the time warp of the Valley Plaza 6 itself, which is like going back in time to experience the movies in a 1983 setting. (I doubt the theatre has been updated since then.)

But the saving grace: $3 movies. That's right, $3 movies. And these aren't moldy-oldie-released-in-January films either. "Bridesmaids" is still in regular, $15 theaters -- which made our $3 ticket even more sweet.

If that doesn't drive you, on Tuesdays the tickets drop to $1.50. And apparently, according to the folks on Yelp, hot dogs are just $1. (I do have my limits to my cheapness, and $1 hot dogs didn't quite cut it.)

Playing right now at the Valley Plaza 6: Bridesmaids, Thor, Rio, Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, Fast Five. (See? Maybe it would actually be worth $1.50 to see "Fast Five." Probably not. But you won't feel as bad.)

"The Strategy of Penetration" and Other Religious Album Covers

After I put out a plea (via Facebook, natch) for something to do on Friday night, Chris Nichols suggested that Maria and I stop by the opening night party for "Within Heaven's Earshot: Religious Album Covers" at the Synchronicity Space gallery in East Hollywood.

Vinyl? Kitsch? Live music? Close proximity to Scoops? Sold.

And we weren't disappointed. Culled from a variety of collectors -- including Nichols himself -- I haven't seen so much kitschy vinyl since my college radio station, WNUR. At WNUR, we had an amazing collection of bizarre vinyl, all of which ended up unclassified in the "Freeform" section. I'm guessing we had some of the albums on display (actually, I know we did!)

Here is a sampling of some covers on display:


Ira North -- "If I Were a Woman"


The Good Twins -- "Have Gospel, Must Travel"


Connie Fry -- "Jesus, Use Me"


"The Battle of the Sexes: Can It Be Avoided?"


"Jack Tells It Like It Is"


Buckner Fanning, "The Strategy of Penetration" (I'll remind you, these are all real.)


"Bill & Dick"



"Within Heaven's Earshot" continues through Easter Sunday, April 12. Between now and then, the gallery plans film screenings, live music, ventriloquists and a religious collectibles auction.

Synchronicity Space
4306 Melrose Ave.
Los Angeles 90029

Trader Joe's Bargain of the Week: More Cheap Coffee

Following up on last week's post on cheap-o Trader Joe's coffee: That deal (small 25 cent canisters) may be gone, but here's another great one: $1.99 for a 14-oz can of coffee.

Yup, TJ's is closing out its Winter Blend coffee (which promises some spices on top of the beans). These cans are normally in the $8.99 range... so it's a pretty good bargain. We bought two. Who cares if winter is almost over; I'm a huge fan of buying seasonal stuff out of season at a huge discount.

Bargain of the Week: 25-Cent Coffee at Trader Joe's

During the holidays, Trader Joe's was selling sets of four miniature coffee containers as gift options. TJ's is apparently trying to get rid of the remaining inventory, as Glendale's TJ's is selling the inidividual containers for 25 cents each; Silver Lake TJ's is still selling them as a set, but for 99 cents.
Each of those containers can make about two full carafes of coffee. That's right -- 16 cups of coffee for 25 cents. And that's your bargain of the week.

Bargain Watch: $8.98 Sale At Steve & Barry's

The cheapskate in me has been digging the Steve & Barry's Winter Clearance sale -- everything in the entire store is $8.98. I've already picked up a winter jacket, a pair of shoes, pants and several dress shirts, all at $8.98 each. And they're nice items too.

The Steve & Barry's in Burbank just recently opened, in the former CompUSA location above Barnes & Noble (across the street from IKEA). And like Maria mentioned back in November, the chain (which is known for taking over vacant department store spaces at discounted rents) also moved into the old Robinsons-May space at the Santa Monica Place.

Guilty Pleasure: Super Home Mart

(Flickr pic by marc0047.)

I can't believe we've never extolled the pleasures of Chinatown's Super Home Mart here on Franklin Avenue... but it's one of the bonus reasons to hit Empress Pavilion for dim sum.

Super Home Mart is a mecca for cheap and unique household items -- including some items you never even realized you needed until now. Maria and I particularly dig the stationery aisles (particularly the folders printed with random, nonsensical pairings of English words). Pans? Fountains? Lawn furniture? Rice cookers? Check, check, check and check. Granted, in some cases you get what you pay for, and the quality of some of the cheaper items is questionable.



Yes, I know, I'm posting an ad, and no, I'm not getting any compensation for doing so. But it's a good visual to explain just what the Super Home Mart is all about.

According to Super Home Mart's website, the store opened in November 2005 and specializes in "Houseware, Kitchenware, Ceramics, Stationery, Organization, Furniture, Home Décor, Travel Accessories and General Merchandise. Our store is stocked with products made of high-grade stainless steel, chrome, ceramic, bamboo, rattan, wood, glass, acrylic, plastic and more."

Super Home Mart
988 N Hill Street #101
Los Angeles, CA 90012