The Year of the Tiger began on Sunday with the Chinese New Year. (Did you make it to the Tet Festival in Garden Grove over the weekend?) The lunar New Year is the biggest of the traditional Chinese holidays, lasting 15 days, culminating with the Lantern Festival, this year on March 6. Keeping with tradition, it's time to clean your house or apartment, get some new clothes, and make plans to hang out with the family. Get ready for good food and buy gifts for friends. If you're lucky, you may even get a red envelope with a bunch of cash to blow in the new year. LA's got a whole slew of festivities worth checking out. Here's a rundown.

Most Americans probably haven't heard of Purim, with the exception of those who saw Christopher Guest's has-its-moments-but-is-otherwise-forgettable For Your Consideration. This year falling on Saturday night and Sunday, Purim is the Jewish holiday celebrating the Jews' escape from destruction at the hands of the evil Haman in the ancient Persian Empire. As an American, and moreover as an Angelino, there's really no reason that you too can't celebrate this holiday even if you're not a Member of the Tribe. Because when was the last time you didn't party on Cinco de Mayo/St. Paddy's Day/Oktoberfest/what-have-you?

Although many of us harbor bitterness toward the big 'ol V-Day, there are a few broke romantics still out there. Forgive the bad poetry, but it’s got to be done:

Chocolate and flowers,
cards and gifts,
use your RFB powers,
to make little shifts,
that’ll keep your lovers,
diving under the covers.

In a town where doggy bakeries and designer collars are standard, it can be hard to think of affordable ways to pamper your pet. Luckily, animals don't read price tags and there is plenty of fun to be had for less than $10. The following are a few of my favorite ways to throw my dogs a bone without breaking the bank.

People need to eat. But food costs money. And money is…shall we say tight? Enter the magical miracle of ramen! For under a dollar, you can eat warm goodness packed with noodles, freeze-dried veggies, and something pretending to be a protein. This is not a mockery; this is an ode.

The Wednesday morning farmers' market in Santa Monica is on my short list of favorite things things to do in LA. Feast your eyes and your stomachs while stretching your legs and enjoying the glorious sea breezes and chill atmosphere. Now that you don't have anything better to be doing on a Wednesday at noon, head on over to the Promenade and Arizona and pig out.