Tour the museum before your cruise Your chariot awaits One stop along the tour From another era

June 13, 2005 City of Lights Does the sight of a neon light make you salivate for a cold brewski? Well, lose the beer sign (and the Greek Week sweatshirt, while you're at it) and see some of the more elevated uses for neon lighting across Los Angeles with the three-hour Museum of Neon Art Saturday night cruise. The ride is festive with fun perks along the way. You'll start with wine and cheese at the museum. (Admission is included with the cost of the cruise.) Then hit the road for a broad overview of neon from downtown to Fairfax — and some general L.A. history as well. Who is this tour for? Well, for an L.A. native riding on a tour bus at all might take some humility. And then there's the shouts from neighborhood transients ("Go Finland!"). But for out-of-towners, it's a must do. In case three hours on a tour bus sounds like a strain, it's actually broken up by stops in two locations. First stop: Chinatown for a wander through the neon-rimmed courtyard and a chance to nip in to Hop Louie or another watering hole. Next stop, Canters on Fairfax with just enough time for a quick bowl of matzoh ball soup. The cruise is a steep $45 per person — but that's nothing compared to how much you'll want to give the museum once you see how much its restoration work has turned the City of Angels back into a City of Lights. The Museum of Neon Art cruise runs Saturday evenings 7:30 - 10:30 through October. $45