ART / SNEAK PEEK : TRAVEL THROUGH ARTSY AURA ON L.A.'S DISCOVERY TOUR.

Could be it's the view, or the historic architecture, or the close proximity (15 minutes) to downtown.

For various reasons, artists have long been drawn to the hilly Los Angeles neighborhoods of Highland Park, Mount Washington and Eagle Rock. For many years, painters, graphic designers, ceramicists, photographers, neon artists and computer artists have congregated there, enhancing the area's mystique to outsiders while preserving its unique character for themselves.

At the end of November, for the fourth straight year, the community will throw open its doors to give visitors an intimate look. More than 40 artists are participating in the two-day event called the Discovery Tour, which is being sponsored by the Arroyo Arts Collective and the Southern California Historical Society.

On Nov. 23, docents will take visitors on a bus tour to five artists' studio/homes, with a catered lunch at Judson Stained Glass Studios. Advance tickets, at $45 apiece, must be purchased by Nov. 16. A self-guided auto tour follows on Nov. 24 ($7.50 advance, $10 on the day of the tour).

For information or to purchase tickets, call [phone].

Cheap date: Brother, can you spare a dime? If the answer is affirmative, bring your spare change this month to the Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) between 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Tuesdays throug Fridays. During October, you can view all museum exhibitions at those times for only 10 cents if you make a $5 minimum purchase the same day in the MOCA store. The offer applies both to MOCA at California Plaza, 250 S. Grand Ave., and to the Geffen Contemporary, 152 N. Central Ave. If the price still isn't right, visit MOCA free every Thursday from 5 to 8 p.m. For information, call [phone].

Stardust memories: Each of us maintains a private stash of Hollywood images in our heads. A few lucky mortals get to share that stash with the world.

Two of these are Patrick Morrison and Rex Hardy. Growing up in Cork, Ireland, Morrison spent a lot of time hanging out in the Savoy movie house, where he soaked up ``Metropolis,'' ``Vertigo,'' ``The Creature From the Black Lagoon'' and hundreds more hours' worth of celluloid dreams. His boyhood impressions later worked their way into a series of large-scale oil paintings, 15 of which are being shown at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences building in Beverly Hills.

A companion exhibition is ``On Assignment for Life: Rex Hardy's Hollywood Photographs, 1936-37.'' Using a hand-held Leica, Hardy caught Hollywood's starlets and leading men as the public rarely saw them: relaxing at home, romping with their kids or playing the ponies down at the race track. Sixty of his prints, offering candid glimpses of Joan Crawford, Spencer Tracy, Jimmy Stewart and their peers, are on display.

Located at 8949 Wilshire Blvd., the Academy is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays, noon to 6 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. Both exhibitions are free. For information, call [phone].

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2 Photos

Photo: (1) This shot of James Stewart at home is one of60 images on display in ``On Assignment for Life: Rex Hardy's Hollywood Photographs, 1936-37,'' at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

(2) Patrick Morrison's ``The Kiss,'' at the academy through Dec. 8.