Michael Juliano

Okay, L.A., we can all collectively exhale. 2025 is (almost) over—and what a year it’s been. Between the wildfires and ICE raids, Downtown curfews and downpours, everyone in Los Angeles deserves an award just for making it through the year. But that being said, it certainly wasn’t all bad. There were many moments of heartwarming solidarity, rallying around community, hard-won victories and even some lighthearted fun this year that reminded us just how much we love Los Angeles. As your tireless Time Out editors, we spent countless hours in 2025 scoping out excellent art exhibitions at the city’s best museums, tracking the best events to share in our calendars, making sense of the ever-changing Metro and LAX expansion plans and keeping an eye on the most anticipated openings on the horizon, from the upcoming Lucas Museum to LACMA’s David Geffen Galleries. Amid all of that and then some—trying out immersive dinners and a controversial diner, sniffing corpse flowers, laughing with the city’s up-and-coming comedians, finding joy with local luminaries and keeping you up to date on Olympics news—these are the 11 events, artworks and timely oddities that have stuck in our minds all year long. On the dining front, though the year was marked by a number of notable closures, it did boast quite a few standout new restaurants and bars, including a select few that our former food and drink editor Patricia Kelly Yeo awarded five stars: Restaurant Ki, Somni, Broken Spanish Comedor and Kojima

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

Photograph: Michael Juliano for Time OutValerie Gordon “Dessert is truly the frosting of life.” Valerie Gordon is discussing the appeal of sweet treats—something she knows better than most. The chocolatier, baker, chef and entrepreneur behind Valerie Confections has been keeping L.A.’s sweet tooth satisfied for over 20 years now with her signature toffees, caramels and petit fours—plus her re-creation of the iconic Blum’s coffee crunch cake. And there’s just something about dessert—more so than other food groups—that’s joyful by nature. “The glorious thing about dessert is that it’s entirely unnecessary,” Gordon explains. “It’s generally tied to celebration. And so we have a lot of emotional ties to dessert. ‘This cake reminds me of the one I used to get with my mom.’ It’s extremely tied to moments that are memorable. So, you think about when you always have dessert: It’s birthdays. It’s graduations. It’s anniversaries. It’s a special dinner. It’s that treat that you got with your new girlfriend who’s now your wife.” There are lots of things about the holiday season that bring joy, but seasonal desserts are up there. After all, what’s Thanksgiving without pumpkin pie? And Gordon’s holiday treats are legendary in L.A., from her famous peppermint bark to evergreen- and menorah-printed truffles to an eggnog version of her petit fours that taste like a sip of the boozy beverage. Even if you haven’t visited Gordon’s Echo Park cafe—where you can also get brunch—or her newer Glenda

Photograph: Gracie Hammond for Time Out We eat with our eyes first—but that’s not feasible for all folks. So when you step inside Maya-Camille Broussard’s midcentury-inspired pie shop on the South Side of Chicago, you’ll first be greeted by her mother, who’s happy to verbally run down the entire menu for those straining to see it. Counters and coat racks come in multiple heights to accommodate wheelchair users and little people, and braille signage and penny tile flooring benefit customers with limited sight. Broussard, herself a member of the deaf and hard of hearing community, set out to make sure Justice of the Pies could offer a bit of joy to everyone—particularly her neighbors. The James Beard finalist baker (who you may recognize from Netflix’s Bake Squad) opened her brick-and-mortar pie and quiche shop along 87th Street, considered to be a blighted corridor due to its lack of food options. For Broussard, food insecurity is personal. Her father, the son of an alcoholic, grew up hungry in the projects on the West Side of Chicago. That trauma stuck—and inadvertently passed down to Maya-Camille. She remembers back in the fourth grade when her father, a lawyer, was stuck in court all day. She opened the fridge to nothing but condiments and a fresh jar of olives, while she cracked open the freezer to find some frozen chicken. But Broussard didn’t know what to do with that chicken and instead downed the full jar of olives, only to break out in a hideous rash from the intense

Make the city your winter wonderland and add ice skating in Los Angeles to your list of must-do Christmas events this season. These family-friendly rinks offer more than just skates—from wintry food and drinks to Christmas lights and visits with Santa, there’s something for everyone. RECOMMENDED: See more things to do for Christmas in Los Angeles Updated December 2025: After taking 2020 off, some of L.A.’s most notable outdoor ice rinks (notably Burbank’s and Glendale’s) never returned. But not to worry: We’ve filled their void by looking beyond the county borders to supplement this year’s picks with some festive OC options. Last year, West Hollywood joined the icy offerings on this list, and Arcadia has welcomed a brand-new option this year: the charming skating trail at Enchant LA.

Whether you enjoy the fresh smell of pine in your living room or prefer the convenience of a well-dressed, pre-lit fake tree, Los Angeles has a bounty of lots, shops and farms filled with Christmas trees of all sizes and shapes to suit your fancy—and picking one out is practically a Christmas event on its own. As the Thanksgiving food coma starts to wear off, you’re inevitably faced with figuring out where to buy Christmas trees in Los Angeles. Even if you only have space for a little tabletop tree, there are plenty of options: real or fake? Pre-cut or cut-your-own? Tinsel or tons of tinsel? Whether you prefer a real, fake or living tree—or even an evergreen you cut down on your own on a Christmas-tree farm—we’ve got you covered. Scope out some Christmas lights and holiday markets for inspiration, then decorate your own tree to your heart’s delight. RECOMMENDED: See more ways to celebrate Christmas in Los Angeles.

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.

When you’re putting together your Halloween outfit, raiding a costume store for supplies is the most expensive part of the process and actually assembling it is the most time consuming aspect. But the most difficult part? Coming up with a clever idea. Fear not: I’ve tapped the expertise of Time Out editors across the country to come up with nine Halloween costume ideas that are sure to impress at any party. Whether you’re chronically online or clueless about why the kids keep saying “six seven,” you should find a perfect option among these very-2025 ideas—including costumes that pull from film and TV and meme culture. Quick Picks: Best Halloween Costume Ideas For a group costume: The Ratliff family from The White Lotus For an easy off-the-shelf look: Anything from Wicked For a clever but low-effort idea: Your innie from Severance For a couple: The Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce engagement photo For the most popular look: Rumi from KPop Demon Hunters RECOMMENDED:🛏️ The 11 most haunted Airbnbs in the U.S.🏚️ The 18 most eerie haunted houses in the U.S.🎃 The best halloween events in the U.S.👻 The most haunted places in America for a creepy ghost hunt🍸 The most haunted bars and restaurants in America

As the nights draw in and the chill sets through the air, there’s no denying it: spooky season has officially arrived. The pumpkins are carved, the costume’s nailed and now there’s just one thing left to summon… a Halloween playlist wicked enough to get even the undead on their feet. Sure, the classic Halloween songs still reign supreme – we’re talking ‘Thriller’, ‘Ghostbusters’ and all the usual heavy-hitters. But lately, a new wave of pop phantoms has emerged to soundtrack your October nights. From Olivia Rodrigo’s ex-boyfriend bleeding her dry, to the enchanting spellwork of Lady Gaga a.k.a Mother Monster herself, with a detour through the slick, otherworldly beats of K-Pop’s most stylish demons – Halloween playlists have, quite literally, come back to life. Our favourite Halloween playlist songs for 2025 at a glance: Most iconic Halloween track: ‘Thriller’ by Michael Jackson Best new Halloween anthem: ‘Abracadabra’ by Lady Gaga Most dramatic Halloween song: ‘There Will Be Blood’ by Kim Petras Best Halloween anthem with a K-Pop twist: ‘Your Idol’ by Saja Boys Best Halloween track to dance to: ‘Monster Mash’ by Bobby ‘Boris’ Pickett & the Crypt-Kickers RECOMMENDED: 👻 The best Halloween movies of all time 🎤 The best karaoke songs 🎵 The best songs of 2025 so far 🕺 The best albums of 2025 so far

If you really want to experience local life at its most authentic when exploring a new city, the best thing you can do is take to the streets. And no, not that one major thoroughfare with the samey high street megastores and generic coffee shops. We’re talking about the neighbourhood backstreets and lively avenues that locals love; the places packed with independent shops and creative people, where a brand-new hi-fi listening bar will share the space with an old-school grocer or a centuries-old pub.  This year, to create our annual ranking of the world’s coolest streets, we asked our global network of local editors and experts to nominate the street that epitomises the very best of their city. Time Out’s global travel team then narrowed down the list and ranked each street against criteria including food, drink, culture, fun and community spirit.  From Saturday samba sessions in Rio de Janeiro to a shapeshifting shopping street in Osaka, every avenue, alleyway and side street on this year’s ranking is unique to its hometown. Walking their length is like taking a stroll through the city in miniature, getting a taste of what makes life there brilliant – from food and culture to shopping and nightlife.  Did your favourite street make the list? Read on to find out. RECOMMENDED: 🏘️ The world’s coolest neighbourhoods in 2025🌆 The world’s best cities in 2025 Stay in the loop: sign up to our free Time Out Travel newsletter for the latest travel news and the best stuff happening a

This list is from 2024. Our latest ranking for 2025 is live here. Ticking off the main tourist attractions on a city break is all well and good, but it’s only when you veer off down a side street or stumble across a leafy avenue that you really get a glimpse of a city’s true character. Streets are the heart of local life; they’re where communities come together, where new local businesses become go-to staples and where urbanites go out, hang out and have fun.  So what are the world’s coolest streets worth a stroll right now? To find the answer, we reached out to our global team of local expert editors and contributors, who each made a case for the coolest street in their city. We then narrowed down the selection to create a definitive ranking of the best avenues, thoroughfares, backstreets and boulevards on the planet. And so you have it: the coolest streets in the world’s best cities. Over the last few years, street life has gone through something of an evolution. Outdoor drinking and dining, at one point a temporary measure, has become a staple on many of the streets on our hotlist; only bolstered by green initiatives like pedestrianisation and low-traffic avenues. In other words, these streets have become much more walkable and pleasant places to spend our time. On every street on this list, there are bold, creative new ventures in food, drink, nightlife and culture: from listening bars to repurposed heritage buildings, these streets are where you’ll find a city’s most ex

If you’re sticking around for the holiday, it helps to know what’s open on Thanksgiving day (aside from these restaurants serving Thanksgiving dinner, of course). Whether you’re looking for somewhere to spend the day solo or just need something to do with your family that’s not in your living room, there are a surprising amount of options available to fill your day. In addition to a few of the Christmas lights displays that kick off around Thanksgiving, you’ll find that some of the most notable L.A. attractions also keep their doors open. The list below offers a variety of options—kid-friendly, daytime and nighttime, near and far—to either help celebrate Thanksgiving or feel miles away from it all. RECOMMENDED: See more of Thanksgiving in L.A.

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 you’ll follow wherever Gilmore Girls leads, then you’re going to need to embark on the Warner Bros. Studio Tour this holiday season. For the final couple weeks of the year, the Burbank backlot is again supplementing its regular tour with the “Holidays Made Here” addition, which decks out the Stars Hollow section in festive decor, including the gazebo and Luke’s Diner, where you can sip coffee or cocoa from “Luke” actor Scott Patterson’s own brand—oh, and did we mention Patterson himself will be appearing in person each afternoon? In honor of the show’s 25th anniversary this year, the studio has further kicked things up a notch with new re-created sets, merch, a food passport add-on option and a nightly holiday light show. Holidays Made Here runs as part of all studio tours from December 18, 2025, to January 4, 2026. There’s also an event-only ticket option this year; while it’s the same price ($76), it means you can hang out in Stars Hollow all day.  

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

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

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

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

Chances are, you either see AI as an indispensable tool or a fundamental threat—it’s the type of technology that doesn’t seem to inspire many middle-of-the-road takes right now. But set aside your love or hate for ChatGPT for a few minutes to consider a very different sort of AI application. DATALAND, which has dubbed itself the world’s first museum of AI arts, announced that it’ll debut in Downtown L.A. in spring 2026 (a bit later than its initial 2025 goal). The Refik Anadol Studio–helmed space will set up at the Grand L.A., the Frank Gehry–designed mixed-use complex across the street from the Walt Disney Concert Hall (which Anadol blanketed in projections back in 2018). Turkish-born, L.A.-based artist Refik Anadol and his wife and studio cofounder Efsun Erkılıç have been translating troves of data into morphing images and rippling particles for about a decade. And DATALAND will house an installation inspired by one of Anadol’s very first pieces, an Infinity Room that he designed in 2014 at UCLA and debuted the following year as a piece of floor-to-ceiling projection. This latest iteration of his Infinity Room will incorporate AI-generated scents into the fold, pulled from the studio’s Large Nature Model—an open-source repository trained on audio, visual and environmental data from 16 rainforests across the planet. The Infinity Room will anchor one of the five galleries within DATALAND’s 25,000-square-foot venue. While we don’t know much about the rest of the space qui

It’s 2022. Life in Los Angeles feels a little on the gloomy side of normal, but you at least remember that, yes, I’ll finally be able to take a train right into the center of LAX for that revenge travel trip you’re taking in 2023. So the new year arrives, but the airport’s Automated People Mover doesn’t, and you think, alright, I’ll just have to wait a little bit longer until it opens in 2024. But when 2024 comes, this time you think, I’m smart, I won’t hold my breath for 2025. And that’s a good call because it turns out the APM won’t actually start service until 2026. So here we are again: After once eyeing a January 2026 opening—which then got pushed to “early” 2026—the 2.25-mile elevated train has been delayed yet again. According to a report in the L.A. Times, the airport connection should hopefully be ready by the World Cup in June of 2026. But even that doesn’t seem like a sure thing, as Los Angeles World Airports says it’s working on contingency plans for shuttle buses in case there’s a further delay. The problems stem from a dispute between LAWA and LAX Integrated Express Solutions, the project’s contractor. Drive into LAX right now and you’ll see the white automated cars sitting at the stations, just waiting to whisk you over traffic. But the project has been crawling toward completion (it’s currently hovering around 95%) due to disagreements over compensation and the timeline. Photograph: Michael Juliano for Time OutThe LAX Automated People Mover (March 2025) When

At Time Out, we’re always focused on telling Angelenos how to keep up with the best things to do and L.A.’s best restaurants. But we know that an essential ingredient in any strong relationship is listening, so we want to hear what you think about L.A. Channel your inner out-of-towner and be brutally honest about Los Angeles: Do you actually take Metro or do you really just drive everywhere? Does the local dating scene deserve its reputation? What about making friends? Which neighborhoods would you rate a 10 and which ones should go get lost on the 10? Just how much do you love the city’s parks and beaches? We want to know your opinion on all things nightlife, live music, art, theater, restaurants and shopping in L.A.—and whether you’re satisfied with the city’s offerings and affordability. You’ll be asked to rate all these and more on a scale from one to five—one is “awful” and five is “amazing”—as well as which aspects of L.A. bring you the most joy. The whole survey takes just 10 minutes, and as a thank you, we’ll give you the chance to enter into a raffle for a $500 Amazon gift card. Act fast, though: The raffle closes on October 12.   You’ll need to be 18 years or above to take part in the survey. Find the terms and conditions here.  Take the survey here.