Get in touch with your Jewish side or learn all about it because students get $100 off membership (that’s $238) at the Jewish Community Center. The Westside JCC welcomes everyone of all backgrounds and ages to take part in their monthly programs, which span from arts and sports to pure cultural experiences that members can receive free or discounted access to.

If you want to deepen your roots and learn a little bit more about Jewish culture, take the weekly Israeli Folk Dancing class (Tuesday nights) at your level, taught by the director of UCLA’s International Folk Dance Club. James Zimmer has been teaching for more than 10 years and his lessons last long into the night once people get the hang of it!

If you’re more into stationary fun, check out the monthly celebrity staged play readings. Stage actors gather to fully premier new plays or re-live classics. Most plays are followed by a question and answer seminar with the playwright. The next one is “Freedom, Texas” on Oct. 18

You can also take a dip in the renovated pools and swim laps or learn to swim by taking adult classes. The complete Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Aquatic Center is one of the first of its kind with “green” and self-sustaining technology via solar and LED lighting and self-salting filtration system that doesn’t use chlorine or chemicals.

After mastering that, you can shock your friends by learning Forrest Gump’s hidden talent of ping pong by stopping by the Gilbert Table Tennis Center equipped with a ping pong playing robot and professional coaches. Besides these ongoing programs, the WJCC has special events like the annual Los Angeles Jewish Film Festival.

For more information, call (323) 938-2531 or visit westsidejcc.org.



It’s too bad you’re not always guaranteed a student discount at the movie theaters anymore, but there are still some places left that haven’t forgotten about broke college kids. The following places may require your student I.D. to get the cheaper rates.



Apple Store (apple.com)

Hopefully you were already aware that the Apple Store gives generous discounts to students. Whether it’s software or hardware, your MacBook or Final Cut Pro could be a lot cheaper, whether you buy it from MAC directly or your school’s student store.



Auto Insurance

Believe it or not insurance companies can lower their prices sometimes. If you ask about all the discounts you qualify for, you may be able to take advantage of some hidden perks. If you have a 3.0 G.P.A., a clean driving record or are a student, your insurance provider might give you at least 10% off your annual premium. Depending on your bill that could save you some spending change.



Griffith Observatory (GriffithObservatory.org)

The Griffith Observatory is located on the top of a mountain overlooking Los Angeles and is a great place to watch the sunset with your date. Free public telescopes are available. It also offers free monthly events, like Public Star Parties (the next one is Sept. 26) and discussions (All Space Considered, Oct. 2), and students only pay $5 for the Planetarium show.



MOCA (MOCA.org)

The Museum Of Contemporary Art on Grand Avenue offers ongoing monthly events that range from unusual gallery exhibits and artist discussion to opportunities to do some of your own art. Currently, MOCA is hosting the artist collective Slanguage for a three-month residency (Oct. 1, Nov. 5; 7 p.m.-10 p.m.). Students get half off admission at MOCA Grand Avenue and everyone gets in free at their MOCA Pacific Design Center in West Hollywood.