Michael Juliano

  Looking for last-minute plans? Figuring out how to stop from slipping into yet another night on the couch? Find out the best things to do today in Los Angeles with picks for our favorite screenings, concerts, museum exhibitions and more. Sometimes, you make plans to go out months in advance. Other times, you’re left scrambling for plans a few hours from now—consider this your social emergency savior for those situations. So stay occupied no matter what day it is with these things to do in Los Angeles today. (On the other hand, if you’re a bit more of a planner, you can also check out our calendars for things to do this week and weekend, as well as our month-by-month overview of events below.) RECOMMENDED: Full Los Angeles events calendar

You’ve probably had to fend off this tired question before from out-of-town friends: How can we get in the holiday spirit here on the West Coast when it’s warm in December? Well, first of all, it’s cold—by L.A. standards, at least. But second, there’s also plenty of holiday cheer if you know where to see Christmas lights in Los Angeles. In between a deluge of Christmas events, festive movie screenings and frantic shopping trips, take the time to check out these twinkling neighborhoods and ticketed events. Just make sure to bring along an extra sweatshirt and some patience: Not even Christmas lights can escape L.A. traffic. RECOMMENDED: Christmas in Los Angeles We’ve updated this story after our staff visited some standout ticketed events last season—including Enchanted, L.A. Zoo Lights and Astra Lumina—and added some photos from recent trips to a trio of neighborhoods, including the Venice Canals, Torrance’s Seaside and El Segundo’s Candy Cane Lane. The entries have been updated with 2025 information, including how some displays were affected by January’s wildfires.

Snow-capped mountains, beginner’s to advanced slopes, ski lifts and a warm hot toddy on a chill winter’s eve are all within reach—it’s just a matter of how far you’re willing to drive. A two-and-a-half-hour venture can bring you to the slopes of Snow Valley (perfect for a day trip), while an eight-hour road trip can bring you to the plush and varied terrain of Lake Tahoe. There are high-altitude wonderlands to be found, filled with well-groomed greens and challenging double-blacks (or cozy cocktails in the lodge if that’s more your speed). Whether you’re looking for a weekend getaway, a luxury hotel stay or are finally attempting the California Double, these are the ski resorts to mark on your map (arranged closest to farthest from L.A. for your planning convenience). Don’t forget to check each resort’s website for the latest snow conditions before you visit.

We’re as excited about the New Year as anyone. But you know what we’re not looking forward to? New Year’s Eve parties that charge triple-digit cover fees at the door. Prix-fixe dinners at restaurants that don’t care if you ever come back again. Sure, we want to send off 2025 in style, but we also don’t want to break the bank. So let’s all take up an early resolution: to take advantage of these amazing, free New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day events in L.A. RECOMMENDED: New Year’s Eve in Los Angeles See more of our favorite free things to do in L.A. for the rest of the year.

Skim through the must-visit attractions in Los Angeles and you’ll notice a trend: It’s a lot of outdoorsy fun. So committing to a day inside of a museum might be a tall ask. In fact, choosing anything over a 75-and-sunny day at the beach is a hard ask—especially if you’re visiting from somewhere with a climate that’s not as consistently comfortable as SoCal’s.  But here’s the thing: No matter how good the weather, visiting L.A.’s museums is a must. In fact, not only are they among the city’s best things to do, but Los Angeles museums can increasingly stand toe to toe with ones in cultural capitals like New York, Chicago and Washington, D.C. And, lucky you, a handful of them have stunning outdoor campuses with hilltop views, sculpture gardens and sunny courtyards. I’ve spent the past decade-plus visiting all of L.A.’s museums (and revisiting them as each riveting new exhibition opens). There are even more institutions in the L.A. area than just the ones on this list (including plenty of quirky, off-the-beaten-path museums), but I think the 21 below are the very best—and I’d say the top five in particular are borderline essential for any trip to L.A. If you’re on a budget, don’t worry: L.A. is flush with free museums. In fact, of the ones on this list, nearly half of them don’t cost a dime, and most of the rest offer regularly scheduled free days. Sure, you might have to pay for parking or trek across town, but that’s nothing a Metro trip or ridesharing service can’t solve. Thi

When the rest of the country starts to lament the cheerless post-Christmas freeze, we Angelenos still have plenty to look forward to in the winter. A lot of that comes down to our relationship with snow: We have the luxury of seeing it on distant mountaintops—drought years aside—while still savoring warm and sunny weather closer to home. Sure, we have our “hardships”: It’s cold at night in our barely insulated homes, and the occasional rain shower disrupts traffic and dominates the news. But that’s nothing cozying up at a fireplace bar or sipping a hot cup of coffee can’t fix. On the whole, there are plenty of terrific things to do during the winter in Los Angeles.

Los Angeles may not have a Times Square ball-drop equivalent when it comes to New Year’s Eve events, but it does have fireworks—lots and lots of ’em. No matter where you live, you’re sure to hear and maybe see them in your neighborhood well into the wee hours of the next morning. But outside of the barrage of illicit pyro, there actually are a few official shows that you can watch come December 31—including a few free ones. If you’re in search of something more substantial than your neighbor’s Roman candles, here are a few places to see some seriously impressive New Year’s Eve fireworks in L.A.—including theme parks and one right by the beach. RECOMMENDED: New Year’s Eve in Los Angeles guide

Photograph: Michael Juliano for Time OutScott Wardlaw A mile-long street lined with towering deodar cedar trees, each dressed up with strings of vintage-inspired light bulbs: It’s a greeting card–worthy scene that seems more synonymous with, say, New England than Southern California. But that’s part of what makes Altadena’s Christmas Tree Lane so magical. For 105 years, this stretch of Santa Rosa Avenue between Woodbury Road and Altadena Drive has beckoned folks from all over Los Angeles County looking for the region’s most majestic Christmas lights display. But these trees don’t light themselves: Each fall, more than 100 volunteers unspool strings of lights and, armed with ropes, pulleys, ladders and hooks, drape them around the lane’s 135 trees. Scott Wardlaw joined the ranks of volunteers about two decades ago, when his son needed to fulfill his high school’s community service requirement. Wardlaw found the experience so welcoming that he decided to stick around and became fast friends with the longtime board members and chairs. “They made everybody feel welcome and useful and wanted here, and I’ve tried to continue that tradition,” he says, now the president of the Altadena Christmas Tree Lane Association.   Photograph: Michael Juliano   The tradition seemed uncertain—if not unfathomable—at the beginning of the year. On the night of January 7, 2025, the Eaton Fire broke out nearby; it would go on to kill 19 people and destroy more than 9,000 homes and businesses. Altad

We love Christmas lights. But we don’t love having to shell out double digits for tickets and parking at some of L.A.’s most popular Christmas events. Thankfully, there are still a handful of free things to do in L.A. this holiday season to make things feel a bit more affordably festive. Stick to these free picks—whether it’s a walk through a Venice neighborhood or a sing-along with one of the city’s finest choruses—and you might even end up with some extra cash for a holiday cocktail. RECOMMENDED: How to celebrate Christmas in Los Angeles

Outdoor movies combine two things we love about L.A.: an appreciation of movie-making and spending as much time as possible outside. Alfresco screenings usually start to surge across the city in the early spring and continue into the fall and holiday season, be it atop rooftop bars, at L.A.’s best parks or even at a Hollywood cemetery. Most of our favorite outdoor series fall into two formats: Alfresco screenings where moviegoers bring their own chair or blanket and can pack together some picnic food, and rooftop ones where you’ll be offered a seat and some on-site snacks as you catch films both old and new. (If you’re looking for a fun date idea, this one takes the cake.) Be sure to check back all year long for updates on the list, as new screenings are always being added. Looking to see a new movie any night of the week? Check out the best movie theaters in L.A. or the few remaining old-school drive-in movie theaters. And for some at-home inspiration, you can always catch up on the best L.A. movies of all time. For screenings with multiple movies on a single night, each film is separately ticketed unless otherwise noted. Also, unannounced schedule changes tend to occur, but we’ll do our best to keep the list below updated on at least a monthly basis.

Stressing over the perfect gift? Whether it’s for a birthday or the holidays, don’t waste that last roll of wrapping paper or splurge on shipping. Instead, skip something material altogether and opt for a one-of-a-kind L.A. experience. Maybe we’re a little biased—after all, trumpeting L.A.’s best things to do is kind of our bread and butter—but we think something you can do is way more memorable than something you can unwrap (and possibly just quickly toss into the bottom of a closet) . So the next time you’re searching for something for that hard-to-shop-for person, consider these museum memberships, outdoorsy activities and boozy tours.

Looking for the best things to do in Los Angeles? We have you covered with the very best that L.A. has to offer. I’m a Los Angeles native and have lived here all my life, and take it from me: There’s always more to discover and explore. Whether you’re a culture vulture, an outdoorsy type or simply a lover of our fine city, you’ll find more than enough here to keep you busy. Even lifelong Angelenos can find something new to add to their to-do list, between the city’s landmark attractions, an ever-changing inventory of the best restaurants in Los Angeles, essential L.A. museums and even some off-the-beaten-path secrets. How many of the best things to do in Los Angeles will you try? Updated December 2025: The forecast is in the 80s as I write this, but nevertheless, L.A. is in the midst of holiday season and all the festivities that accompany it. On that note, you’ll find a bunch of festive fun on the list—think outdoor ice rinks, holiday decor at theme parks, local craft fairs and dazzling light displays aplenty. New to this month’s list are the return of Christmas Tree Lane in Altadena and a full lineup of Christmas plays and concerts, including at Walt Disney Concert Hall—which feels extra meaningful right now given the recent passing of architect Frank Gehry. If you simply must see some snow this month, I’ve also included the best ski resorts closest to the city. After Christmas, finish out the month—and year—with literal fireworks this New Year’s Eve. Quick Picks: Best Thi

Geek out with fellow TV nerds at PaleyFest, the annual weeklong festival of exclusive episodes, clips and panel discussions with the cast and creators of the hottest TV shows. The Paley Center for Media-hosted festival is headed back to the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood from April 4 through 12, 2026. This year’s lineup includes cast and creator panels for The Pitt as well as a pair of beloved L.A.-set shows: Nobody Wants This and Shrinking. Look out for the full lineup to be announced on January 26. Tickets go on sale to the general public on January 30 at 9am, with presales for Paley members earlier in the week.

We’re pretty spoiled when it comes to live scores in Los Angeles, whether it’s orchestra-backed screenings at the Hollywood Bowl or ensemble-accompanied showings at iconic movie palaces. Time to add another very cool entry to that second category: Wordless Music, Sister Midnight and KCRW will host a series of live scores of A24 films at the architecturally-stunning United Theater on Broadway in Downtown L.A. The lineup includes Under the Skin (Feb 20) with the 30-person Worldless Music Orchestra, Pearl (June 12) and Heriditary (Oct 23) with a 40-member variation of the same ensemble, and Eighth Grade (Dec 11) featuring a three-person electronic outfit.

If, like me, you’ve only been barely aware over the past two decades about how the whole Build-A-Bear process works, it turns out it’s kind of a delight—but in the case of this Westfield Century City location, that might have to do with its congregation of Sanrio mascots. Whether you choose Hello Kitty or Badtz-Maru or My Melody, among many others, you can pick your unstuffed plush and assist as they get plumped up. (Don’t forget to make a wish before a little textile heart gets sewn inside of them.) At $38, these Sanrio options are a few dollars more than the chain’s classic teddy bears. And the optional heartbeat, sounds, scents and accessories add up very quickly; my fully outfitted Cinnamoroll was nearly double that price by the time I loaded it up with every possible add-on. But if you skip all that and stick to an unadorned stuffie, I think it’s still a perfectly charming process for kids—and, yes, even adults.

Each year, Descanso Gardens’ nighttime experience masterfully mixes hands-on art installations with atmospheric, luminescent forests, all against a backdrop of uplit trees and shimmery sound effects. This year’s event, which runs from November 16 through January 4, once again includes the garden’s whimsical model railroad, which will be lit up for the season and filled with miniature replicas of Enchanted’s most recognizable installations (last year it kept me absolutely mesmerized for about 20 minutes). A few recent changes have carried over to this year’s edition, including a glowing area around the rose garden where you’ll find HYBYCOZO’s familiar 3-D light sculptures, as well as an assortment of food and drink options underneath a cozy pavilion. You’ll find a couple of other snack options by the main lawn, where sculptor Tom Fruin’s kaleidoscopic stained-glass–inspired houses sit flanked by smaller ones that let you push a button to control the lighting—alongside a hypnotic lighthouse-like water tower. Elsewhere, Enchanted delightedly looks much like it has in the past: A field of faux tulips ripples with waves of twinkling color changes, while the mist-filled “Ancient Forest” still beckons visitors with its straight-out-of-E.T. setting. The event is just as intuitively immersive as ever, and, true to its botanical garden location, the installations’ use of light and shadow emphasize the natural beauty of Descanso’s flora. It’s this sort of refinement that continues to se

Judging by the fussing toddlers we see at just about every performance of The Nutcracker, it might not be quite as magical for kids as parents expect. So why not pair the iconic holiday ballet with something a little more hands-on (assuming you can swing the price)? On November 22 and 23, the Los Angeles Ballet—which is celebrating its 20th anniversary—will take excerpts of its Nutcracker show to teatime at the Waldorf Astoria for its annual fundraiser. The Beverly Hills hotel will host morning and afternoon sessions of high tea that include holiday crafts, dancing with Clara and her doll friends, and new Nutcracker-themed photo ops. Meanwhile, grown-ups can get some shopping done at the on-site boutique and its luxury pop-ups.  Tickets support the ballet company’s outreach and education programs, so you’ll need to pay fundraiser prices to attend. Though with individual tickets priced at $250 this year, it’s a bit more accessible than it has been in the past.

Organized by New York’s Museum of Modern Art and presented by the Hammer Museum, the MoMA Contenders series presents 10 influential, innovative films made in the past year that MoMA’s Department of Film believes are bound for big things (whether that means awards-season glory or cult-classic status). In addition to screenings of all 10 films, most are normally accompanied by a post-screening discussion with some of the creatives involved in the project. This year’s picks include Frankenstein, If I Had Legs I’d Kick You, A House of Dynamite, It Was Just an Accident, Sinners (with special guests writer-director Ryan Coogler and actress Wunmi Moskau), Nouvelle Vague, Jay Kelly, The Mastermind, Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere (with director Scott Cooper) and One Battle After Another, presented in 70mm. More special guests will be announced soon. The Contenders isn’t strictly an awards-season spoiler; MoMA considers its picks as movies that will stand the test of time. But the series has turned out to be a pretty good Oscars predictor, with nearly all its films nabbing nominations in recent years. Tickets go on sale Thursday, November 20, to the general public at 11 a.m.; they’re already on sale to Hammer members.

The Wilco frontman’s freewheeling solo shows balance acoustic takes, deep cut requests and charming banter.

The L.A. Zoo is staying open after dark most nights through January during this delightful take on its light-up holiday tradition. Once again, the “Animals Aglow”–themed event will go all in on oversized animal-shaped lanterns, and—based on last year’s edition—the result is a colorful, charming trail that celebrates the zoo’s natural inhabitants. Plentiful and vibrant, these lantern versions of wildlife, birds, butterflies and insects come to life with playful movements and animation. Flora shares some of the focus, too. New lanterns and light displays this year spotlight the animals of Southeast Asia and Africa. Though Zoo Lights has eschewed most overtly Christmassy elements (a thematically focused upgrade to its original versions, in our opinion), it hasn’t ditched interactive spectacle. You can relax on illuminated swings, dance inside a shell of kaleidoscopic mirrors and more.  Buy your timed tickets (available in two sessions nightly) in advance to avoid the worst of the entry lines, and stick to the “value” nights if you want to save up to $6 on admission. The zoo’s merry-go-round menagerie and photos with Santa are also available for an additional fee, and cozy refreshments like churros and hot cocoa are sold at a few different stands. Note: Wear comfortable shoes; the lights only cover about a third of the zoo grounds, but you’ll be walking slightly uphill for most of the way RECOMMENDED: Christmas lights in Los Angeles: Where to find holiday lights View this

There’s nothing Christmassy nor even wintry about this hour-long Palos Verdes trail, yet its nine stellar installations are the most cosmically mesmerizing of the budding after-dark botanical garden shows that’ve come to blanket L.A. toward the end of the year. Astra Lumina, which debuted in 2022, returns to South Coast Botanic Garden with the same array of celestial-inspired displays. Last year’s edition was basically identical to its debut. But if you loved your first trip to Astra Lumina or haven’t been at all, we still think this is a worthwhile (albeit somewhat expensive) event—perhaps better suited for a date night than a large family affair. While some other year-end light shows seem less focused on moment-to-moment encounters and more on the photogenic snaps you’ll walk away with, Astra Lumina feels truly experiential. You’ll venture through scenes that interpret the arrival and departure of stars in an earthly garden: Archways pulsate with light and mist, perforated lanterns spell out a stargazing journey, shooting stars chase up and down a cylindrical frame, shimmery bulbs blanket a forest floor and tranquil lanterns float among the trees. There’s plenty of wonderfully atmospheric fog along much of the trail, including in a shower of lasers so thick that you’ll swear you can touch them. (It’s also worth mentioning how lovely it is to experience a celebration of the night sky in one of the few locations in L.A. where it’s actually dark enough to see plenty of stars.)

Street Food Cinema has put together a series of outdoor holiday screenings in the closest thing to a Dickensian town square in L.A.: Heritage Square. In between Victorian home tours, piano sing-alongs, strolls through a light tunnel and sips on hot chocolate and mulled wine, you can catch screenings—many of them double features—of flicks like Elf, Home Alone, A Christmas Story, The Muppet Christmas Carol and more. Just make sure to bundle up in your best Christmas sweater.

Walk, run, skate, bike and explore car-free stretches of El Monte and South El Monte during the latest “Corazón-del-Valle” edition of this open streets event series (formerly known as 626 Golden Streets). The Metro-presented Active Streets clears cars off the road in different parts of the San Gabriel Valley for one day only: On Sunday, November 2, you’ll be able to set foot on five miles of streets sans cars—on a new route that runs from Emery Street in El Monte, down Tyler Avenue and along Garvey, Potrero and Klingerman Avenues toward Central and Santa Anita Avenues in South El Monte—and enjoy music, food, art and entertainment along the way.

When I first stepped foot inside of this exhibition of decommissioned Confederate monuments and reflective contemporary art pieces, I was taken aback by the scale of it all. I’d seen the installation photos of the side-by-side statues of Confederate generals Stonewall Jackson and Robert E. Lee on horseback, but as I craned my neck up at these towering tributes, they felt awe-inspiring in the most dreadful meaning of the phrase. Most Angelenos don’t need to be convinced of the immoralities of the Confederacy—but most likely haven’t been forced to come face-to-face with such Civil War iconography either. “Monuments,” displayed almost entirely at MOCA’s Little Tokyo warehouse with a single Kara Walker installation at the Brick in East Hollywood, presents tangible proof that these monuments removed from public view over the past decade were not simple, somber remembrances for the recently deceased, these were larger-than-life celebrations of the Confederacy forged in the Jim Crow era and often financed by folks seeking to twist its history. Works from 19 artists respond either directly or thematically to the many statues on display, or in some cases physically alter them: Bethany Collins’s Love is dangerous chisels pieces of the granite pedestal of a Stonewall Jackson monument into Carolina rose petals. Other graffitied or paint-splattered statues speak for themselves: The Robert E. Lee monument at the center of 2017’s Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville, Virginia resides he

After a year in L.A. like 2025, we could all use something to look forward to. And while there’s no guarantee that 2026 will be good, there are certainly enough major local milestones to provide some much-needed optimism. In a year that’ll see celebrations for the United States’ 250th anniversary and a California law that requires apartments to come with a working stove and fridge (honestly, one of those things is way more exciting than the other), L.A. promises its own slate of museum debuts, major sporting events, transit expansions, restaurant openings and art exhibitions worth looking forward to. Normally I’d be pretty picky in my year-ahead selections, narrowing them down to things that I feel pretty confident will actually happen and excluding projects with wish-washy deadlines. But given the difficult year, I’m feeling charitable about adding a few holdovers that missed their 2025 targets as well as just a couple of maybe-2026-maybe-later projects to this list—so please, please don’t disappoint us, LAX People Mover. Tickets for the 2028 Olympics go on sale The 2028 Olympics are still two-and-a-half years off, but the multi-step process to secure tickets for L.A.’s first Summer Games in four decades starts in mere weeks. On January 14, registration will open on the LA28 site—but don’t expect to walk away that same day with seats for the gymnastics final. That’s merely how you express interest in buying tickets; if you’re then selected in a random drawing, you’ll be assi

If you consider the coolest streets in Los Angeles, an embarrassment of riches comes to mind. We have it all, from beautiful drives with designer stores dripping in luxury to grittier boulevards filled with the hippest brands to legendary thoroughfares immortalized on film and in music, all with a wealth of acclaimed dining options. But this year, Time Out has awarded the honor of coolest street in Los Angeles—and the 25th-coolest street in the world—to Pacific Coast Highway. While it’s part of the 656-mile State Route 1, the name “Pacific Coast Highway” technically only refers to the stretch of SR-1 from Dana Point to Oxnard, which takes you past Santa Monica, Pacific Palisades and Malibu. For the purposes of this list, we’ve chosen the iconic stretch of PCH near the Malibu Pier—which now marks the eastern border of what was spared by the fires. The area is quintessentially Southern California: surfer vibes and high-end shops mingle against postcard-worthy oceanfront hillsides for a singularly “California cool” experience. And months of limited access along PCH only reinforced our affection for PCH—as did the resilience and sense of community its local businesses have shown in the face of such daunting hardships. In January, when the Palisades Fire broke out and destroyed nearly everything in its path, the wildfire made its way from Pacific Palisades to Malibu, burning down hundreds of homes and local restaurants, including neighborhood seafood spot Reel Inn and iconic PCH

First announced back in September—during a week where we thought the Coachella lineup would be the major SoCal event news—organizing committee LA28 has shared even more info about the detail that Angelenos want to know about the 2028 Summer Olympics: how to get tickets. It’ll be a multi-step process to secure LA28 tickets, starting with a registration period that opens on January 14, 2026 for the Olympic Games and then ticket drops that follow that same year. For the Paralympic Games, tickets will go on sale in 2027. According to the organizing committee, single tickets will start at $28 (there’s no mention of any pricing beyond that floor, nor any specific mention of the opening ceremony). In addition, LA28 says that “locals around Games venue cities” will be given an early shot at tickets; as a reminder, in addition to the City of Los Angeles, the 2028 Olympics will have additional venue clusters in Long Beach, Carson, Inglewood, Pasadena, Arcadia, Pomona and San Clemente (…and Oklahoma City, for softball and canoe slalom). With all that in mind, here’s a quick rundown of how things should work. When do tickets for the 2028 Olympics go on sale? A registration period for the Olympic Games will begin on January 14, 2026 on the LA28 site, followed by ticket drops later in 2026. Tickets for the Paralympic Games will go on sale in 2027. LA28 breaks the ticketing process down into four steps: the registration period where you simply express your interest in tickets, with no purch

I don’t know how many times I’ve walked or driven past the unobtrusive brick exterior of Downtown L.A.’s Jonathan Club. And as I sat in traffic on Figueroa Street, I always assumed the members-only social club must be fancy inside, but until I was invited to take a tour this fall, I didn’t realize the degree of architectural treasures that were hiding in there. Now average Angelenos will soon be able to gawk inside the otherwise off-limits clubhouse: To celebrate the centennial of Jonathan Club’s DTLA building, the L.A. Conservancy is hosting two days of intimate tours of the space on January 25 and 31, 2026. Priced at $100 for the general public and $75 for Conservancy members (a fraction of what a Jonathan Club membership would cost you), the 60-to-75-minute guided tour will whisk you through the interior and exterior of the club, and it includes light refreshments, complimentary valet parking and a commemorative keepsake. L.A. is teeming with handsome spaces for the upper crust, but when I step inside the Jonathan Club for the first time, I’m immediately taken aback by how atypically L.A. it looks, like the sort of handsome old-money hideaway you might expect to see in New York City. But its closest architectural cousin turns out to be only a few blocks away: Both the Jonathan Club and the Biltmore Los Angeles were designed by architecture firm Schultze & Weaver within a couple of years of each other. The two Renaissance Revival structures even share the same ceiling paint

No, it doesn’t literally taste like orange chicken. But ubiquitous fast food chain Panda Express has teamed up with boutique chocolatier Compartés for a four-chocolate-bar collection of flavors inspired by the Panda Express menu: the Original Orange Bar, Honey Walnut Bar, Fortune Cookie Bar and Kung Pao Bar. You can order the limited-edition bars now through the Compartés website, either by the bar ($11.95) or as a gift box with one of each flavor ($49.95). But if you head to a Panda Express location on December 5 (happy National Comfort Food Day to all who celebrate), you can pick up a free Panda Express x Compartés Fortune Cookie Chocolate Bar with the purchase of any two-item Panda Express Plate (that’s just over $11 at my closest location). The usual caveats apply: The freebies are available only while supplies last and only at participating locations (basically standalone Panda Expresses, not airport or food court counters). So, you’re probably wondering, do the chocolates actually taste like Panda Express? And, most importantly, are they any good? I was sent a box with each flavor to preview the collab, and while you won’t mistake them for a boxed serving of Panda Express, they are downright delectable—mostly. (Also, if looks count for anything, the playful packaging is a vibrantly adorable celebration of Panda iconography.) Photograph: Michael Juliano for Time Out Since I’m based in the Los Angeles area, I was especially interested in tasting this locally-born team-u

One of my biggest L.A. regrets? Letting the potential for traffic scare me away from seeing Space Shuttle Endeavour paraded across the city’s surface streets. So in the 13 years since, I’ve tried to steep myself in as many space-centric happenings as possible—and I have to say, this latest development should have Angelenos very excited. As the California Science Center nears the completion of construction on the Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center—where you’ll be able to see Endeavour in a vertical, ready-to-launch position—the Exposition Park institution has begun to install the 100 artifacts that’ll fill its air and space museum expansion. Specifically, on Tuesday I was invited for a sneak peek of the first three pieces to be placed in the still-in-progress Kent Kresa Space Gallery: a 59-foot-tall Electron launch vehicle from Rocket Lab, a nearly-complete space shuttle main engine and a solid rocket booster segment—that’s been to space and back—that visitors will be able to walk through. (Oh, and if you’re wondering when? Stay tuned: The California Science Center says that next year it’ll announce an opening date.)   Photograph: Michael Juliano for Time OutKent Kresa Space Gallery at the Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center   If you’ve been by the museum lately, you’ve probably seen the metallic exterior that’s enveloped Endeavour, specifically the pinnacle-like Samuel Oschin Shuttle Gallery that houses the 20-story display. But that’s only part of the museum expansion: On t

You’ve familiarized yourself with the ticketing process and possibly even signed up to volunteer, but now it’s time to start planning your PTO—or considering when to avoid the maybe-not-actually-that-bad traffic—because the competition schedule for the 2028 Olympics is here. On Wednesday, LA28 revealed the day-by-day, hour-by-hour schedule for the Olympic Games in Los Angeles, which will run from July 14 to 30, 2028. Maybe the most important times to jot down? Some already-known events: The opening ceremony will kick off at SoFi Stadium and the L.A. Memorial Coliseum at 5pm on Friday, July 14. And the closing ceremony will commence at 6pm on Sunday, July 30. From there, the very first gold medal to be awarded will be in the women’s triathlon, taking place in Venice Beach on day one (July 15). On the complete opposite end of the Games, the final medals will be awarded in swimming. View this post on Instagram A post shared by The Olympic Games (@olympics) Traditionally swimming competitions are staged during the first half of the Games, but since SoFi—which will need to construct a pool on the field—will host part of the opening ceremony, swimming has been pushed to the second week of the Olympics. That means that instead on day one, track and field will kick off at the Coliseum—and even award a gold medal that very day in the women’s 100m sprint (the three rounds of the race typically span multiple days, but LA28 will condense it into just one). The men’s e

Tickets for the 2028 Summer Olympics start at a clever price tag of $28. But just like $1 tickets to the Hollywood Bowl, we’re sure those will be quickly snatched up when they go on sale next year. So how else can you take part in the Games for cheap? Try volunteering. On Thursday, L.A. Olympic organizers announced that they’ve officially launched the “LA28 Volunteer Program Presented by Delta Air Lines.” If you head on over to the LA28 website, you can sign up now; you’ll need to be 18 or older, and volunteers will receive an email if they’ve been chosen for an available opportunity. Now, there are two separate types of volunteer work, and you can designate on the form which you’re interested in: community volunteering or Games-time volunteering. Let’s start with the latter, since that’s likely the main attraction for most folks. Applications for Games-time roles will officially open in the summer of 2026, but you can register your interest now. If chosen, come the summer of 2028 you may find yourself doing anything from “assisting athletes to guiding guests,” as the LA28 site notes. If you want to get involved in the Olympic cause now, that’s what the community volunteering option is for. These opportunities kick off this fall and “support meaningful causes for the surrounding region,” from wildfire recovery to hunger relief to youth sports. LA28 notes that, since 2017, its own employees have participated in over 100 community events through organizations like YMCA Metro L.

Didn’t have a sick day to burn on Monday morning? Or simple didn’t want to deal with the road closures? Here’s what it was like for the thousands of Angelenos who descended on Downtown L.A. for the Dodgers’ World Series championship parade. A fleet of double-decker buses exited the 101 freeway around 11am, and about 10 minutes and a few blasts of confetti later, the team turned onto Temple Street to properly begin their nearly two-mile route through DTLA, mostly along Grand Avenue. (If you’re reading this early enough, you might still be able to tune into their afternoon rally at Dodger Stadium.) Lest you think the team’s second championship in two years would somehow be less exciting, seemingly every inch of sidewalk was packed with Dodger fans to see manager Dave Roberts hoist the Commissioner’s Trophy and all of the players soak in the atmosphere—and occasionally soak some fans in champagne. Take a look below to see what the experience was like from the many, many Dodgers fans who showed up on Monday. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Suzanne Mari (@suzannemari2013) View this post on Instagram A post shared by Dodger Doggies (@dodger_doggies) View this post on Instagram A post shared by Metrolink (@metrolink) View this post on Instagram A post shared by j Marie 💛 (@jennifermarieakajmarie) View this post on Instagram A post shared by Dr Samantha

Phew. After seven stressful games and a particularly nail-biting extra innings finale, the Los Angeles Dodgers won the World Series—again (the frenzy of fireworks might’ve tipped you off). After taking down the Toronto Blue Jays, it makes the Dodgers the first MLB team in 25 years to win back-to-back championships. Like last year, the team won on the road, which turns their upcoming victory parade into an extra sweet homecoming for Angelenos. Here’s everything you need to know ahead of Monday’s parade through Downtown L.A.—plus some insight from attending last year’s parade. We’ll also continue to update this story as more info is released. When is the Dodgers parade? The parade will be Monday morning, November 3, at 11am. What’s the parade route? The parade route is slightly different from last year’s so pay close attention: It’ll kick off at Temple Street and Broadway, just above the northern edge of Grand Park. From there, it’ll head west on Temple, then south on Grand Avenue until 7th Street, where it’ll again head west, and then finally north for a few blocks along Figueroa Street (it’ll wrap up at 5th Street). Courtesy Los Angeles Dodgers Do I need a ticket? Nope, and it’s free to attend. But there will be a ticketed celebration at Dodger Stadium afterwards, slated for 12:15pm; tickets for that went on sale Sunday at noon (and quickly sold out). The team notes, however, that it won’t be possible to attend both the parade and the stadium celebration based on the timing

Halloween is tomorrow, and while the scariest thing for Dodger fans might be tuning in to Game 6 of the World Series, the largest costume party in Los Angeles is proceeding as planned: That’s right, the West Hollywood Halloween Carnaval is upon us once again. Every year on Halloween night, WeHo welcomes countless costumed attendees—like, up to half a million—to a mile-long street party on Santa Monica Boulevard filled with food trucks, a performance stage and an absolutely electric atmosphere. After taking three years off, the All Hallow’s Eve tradition made its triumphant return in 2023, and it’s been going strong since. Carnaval’s annual appearance also means it’s bringing lots of road closures along with it. Here’s a quick rundown on everything you need to know about this year’s return of the West Hollywood Halloween Carnaval. When is the West Hollywood Halloween Carnaval? The event takes place on Halloween night (Friday, October 31, 2025) from 6 to 11pm, though you can expect to find plenty of after-parties along the route. Where does it take place? Along—and literally on—Santa Monica Boulevard from Doheny Drive to La Cienega Boulevard. What street closures will be in effect? Oct 31 at 12:01am–Nov 1 at 7am N San Vicente Blvd between Santa Monica Blvd and Melrose Ave All alleyways between Santa Monica Blvd and Melrose Ave In addition, West Hollywood Park, including its dog parks, basketball court and parking garage, will be closed during this span. Oct 31 at 10am–Nov 1 a

Whether you feel like you’ve exhausted all of the familiar Christmas lights in L.A. or are planning a ski trip toward the end of the year, you’ll be excited to hear that a new holiday event is bound for L.A.’s closest alpine escape. The Big Bear Alpine Zoo will turn on 1.5 million lights starting November 6 for the debut of Alpine Zoo Wild Lights. The zoo’s first-ever after-hours Christmastime event will sport four themed zones that celebrate the sanctuary’s flora and fauna. Following a ribbon cutting ceremony on November 5, Alpine Zoo Wild Lights will run Wednesday through Sunday from November 6 through January 4 (with expanded hours around Thanksgiving and Christmas). Tickets cost $20 (kids under five are free) and support the zoo’s wildlife rehabilitation and conservation programs, as well as Care For Big Bear, the city’s sustainability initiative.   Photograph: Courtesy Visit Big Bear   The trail starts with the Wilderness Gateway & Great Pine, where you’ll find a 20-foot illuminated archway, a two-story teddy bear and a 100-foot pine blanketed in lights. Next, the Village of Light & Moonridge Coffee Co. Zoo Café will serve cider, cocktails and cocoa alongside a playground. From there, the North Pole Path sports an oversized 20-foot ornament, snowmen and Santa’s sleigh, illuminated and all ready for photo ops. Finally, the Care for Big Bear – Dark Sky Grove features a large illuminated white tree flanked by glowing mushroom lights, with meteor shower–like lights overhea