When you hear or see the acronym, B.Y.O.B, you instantly equate that with the commonly known phrase, “Bring Your Own Bottle.” Where I come from, we have grown to understand that as don’t come empty handed to the party. Just to be a bit technical for a brief second, the term B.Y.O.B was first used in the 1950’s. The last letter “B” has taken on many definitions, but none more popular than the aforementioned meaning. Although the frequently used acronym has become synonymous with the likes of house and college dorm parties, it has now become somewhat of a growing fad in the bar, restaurant, club, and concert businesses. Although no other city does it quite like Las Vegas, where you can BYOB everywhere, Hollywood does the best it can at getting the party started.

There are two Hollywood concert venues in particular that not only share the BYOB policy but they also share the same zip code and virtually the same street. On one side of the 101 Freeway, on the border of Hollywood Hills, you have the world famous Hollywood Bowl. And right across the freeway you have the John Anson Ford Theatre. Just to give you some background, the Hollywood Bowl is a place where Southern Californians gather to picnic and enjoy a variety of music under the stars. Throughout the summer, the LA Phil presents the best in jazz, classical, Broadway, and world music, featuring artists that range from the 80s sounds of the Pet Shop Boys to the soulful sounds of Nancy Wilson. While the Ford Amphitheatre is an outdoor facility that presents music, dance, film, theatre and family events from May to October.

Now that I gave you a little history, let’s talk about what you really want to hear. I have been to both of these venues and I must say that I have had an equally amazing experience at both. Besides the sounds and visuals illuminating the night from the stages, my favorite thing about these places is the picnic culture. The fact that you can bring your own food and most importantly beverages is the thing that really creates the perfect mood. Whether you are enjoying your beverage of choice in one of the various picnic areas or drinking your own liquor right from the comfort of your seat, both of these venues cater to your personal indulgence.

As the Vodka, Wine, Beer, or whatever you drink flows along with the music, so does the sociable harmony of an inebriated bunch all coming together to enjoy the art of sound, sight, and camaraderie that you can find at either venue. Whether the address is 2580 Cahuenga Blvd (Ford Theatre) or 2301 N. Highland Blvd (Hollywood Bowl), you are guaranteed a great show, wonderful company, and a night to remember. On any given night, you could have patrons at both venues enjoying two different shows with different types of people, but the one thing you can bet on is that no matter what side of the freeway they are on, everyone understands the advantage and necessity of “Bringing Your Own Bottle.”