Gillian Glover

As the Lunar New Year approaches, celebrate Chinese New Year 2025 in Los Angeles with these events and things to do. Need to feed your belly for an auspicious year ahead? Slurp some of the city’s best noodle dishes and cheap eats or check out our dim sum guide below. Whether you’re celebrating a long-running family tradition or experiencing the holiday for the first time, join the Chinese New Year festivities for a year of good luck and fortune. When is Chinese New Year 2025? Chinese New Year—and the Year of the Snake—begins on Wednesday, January 29, 2025.

Start the year off right with the city’s best activities and things to do in our January events calendar. Typically, L.A.’s mild January weather makes it a great time to tackle most of our favorite things to do outside, but as a result of the recent fires, you won’t find us recommending things like the best hikes or the best beaches in L.A. as the city starts the process of recovery. But Los Angeles is vibrant and resilient, and there are still plenty of things to do this month to lift your spirits. Most of the city’s best museums have reopened—with many offering free admission. January also brings with it Lunar New Year celebrations where you can welcome the Year of the Snake, as well as wildfire benefits like FireAid that offer a memorable night out for a great cause.  Note: Before you visit anywhere we mention below, please consult our list of landmark closures and double-check whether it’s currently open to visitors. To help with wildfire relief efforts, see our story on volunteering and donation opportunities here. RECOMMENDED: Full events calendar for 2025

L.A. covers a mindbogglingly massive volume of land (and for that matter, ocean too). So it’s no surprise that Los Angeles packs in an enormous number of world-class attractions. If you’re a tourist looking out for things to do, you’ll have no problem finding vacation inspiration, from Hollywood tours to a day at one of the city’s best beaches. And locals might very well find ways to fall in love with the city all over again in our extensive list of the best Los Angeles attractions. RECOMMENDED:📽️ The best studio tours in Los Angeles This article includes affiliate links. These links have no influence on our editorial content. For more information, click here.

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? January 2025: Los Angeles’s devastating wildfires have changed the landscape of things to do in the city for the foreseeable future. We’ve removed (hopefully temporarily) the Self-Realization Fellowship Lake Shrine, Neptune’s Net, Temescal Gateway Park, Malibu Creek State Park, Eaton Canyon Falls and Mount Wilson Observatory from our list, as at press time the beloved L.A. attractions were closed due to the Palisades and Eaton Fires.  But there’s still plenty to look forward to in our vibrant, resilient city as we heal from this tragedy. This month, I’ve added some personal favorites to the list, like comedy at the Largo, shopping at the Last Bookstore and movies at Vidiots, as well as a new mini golf spot and Wicked at the Pantages. January also kicks off the city’s Lunar New Year celebrations. But

We don’t know about you, but our mind is always focused on the weekend. It can never come soon enough—which is why we’re already thinking about what new restaurants we want to try or where we can drive for the day. Whether you’re looking to scope out the latest museum exhibitions or watch a movie outdoors, you’ll find plenty of things to do in L.A. this weekend. We curate an L.A. weekend itinerary of the city’s best concerts, culture and cuisine, every week, just for you. This weekend, Smorgasburg and the Largo are hosting fundraisers for wildfire relief, Bob Baker Marionette Theater revisits a classic show, and Monterey Park’s Lunar New Year Festival shows the city’s resilience.

If we could write the rules of living in Los Angeles this would be our No. 1, always at the top of our list: When you live in this city, there’s no excuse for boredom just because it’s a weeknight. There are hundreds of things to do in Los Angeles each week, whether you hit the beach at sunset or go for a morning bike ride, or catch a concert or a comedy show—and that’s really only scratching the surface. Well, we don’t make the rules, but we will provide you with plenty of ideas for your next free weeknight right here. Now go out and tackle these things to do in L.A. this week. Many events are canceled and venues closed right now due to the ongoing Palisades and Eaton Fires. We encourage you to consult our list of landmark closures and suggest checking with individual venues before making any plans. To help with wildfire relief efforts, see our story on volunteering and donation opportunities here. 

The holidays are behind us, and we’re looking ahead to another exciting year in L.A. If one of your new year’s resolutions is to save money in 2025, we’ve got you covered. January is the perfect time to get outdoors and see the city from a new vantage point on a hike or take a two-wheeled trek on the city’s best bike trails. Between free Lunar New Year festivities and the city’s many free museum days and free attractions, here are some more ways to make the most of your month without breaking into your wallet.  

Though we consistently cover new restaurants with killer cocktail offerings, new bars in L.A. are few and far between—but deserve just as much attention. To keep you up to date on the city’s bar scene, we’ve got a quarterly guide to the city’s best new bars, where you can find the city’s freshest places to drink that are actually worth checking out.  Plenty of newer drinking-oriented establishments straddle the line between bar and restaurant, but on this list we prioritize venues where it’s not strange at all to order a single nightcap or aperitivo—without your server trying to upsell you on bar bites when you aren’t hungry. We also strive to include establishments that stay open past 10pm on weekends, though we of course make exceptions for standout spots.  While these fledgling watering holes and lounges might lack the storied reputations of the city’s best bars and cocktail dens, they make up for it with stylish interiors and unique booze offerings. Some even have delicious bar bites perfect for whenever you’re feeling peckish, but this list focuses on destination-worthy venues with excellent drinks or first-rate atmosphere for going out (ideally, a combination of both).  So just how new are these drinking dens? We limit our list to bars, lounges and breweries that have opened in the past nine months. We check out each bar personally to make sure it’s worth your time and hassle—since there’s only so much booze money to spare. January 2025: Happy new year, everyone! It’s b

’Tis the season for Christmas shows, festive holiday lights and, most of all, shopping, shopping and more shopping. Back to tempt your wallets this winter are a number of holiday markets and craft fairs featuring local, handmade goods for extra special gifting. Find everything from apothecary goods and handwoven handbags to artisan jewelry, candles, prints and more. Even if you’re not sure what to get family and friends on your gift list this season, these Christmas events are a treasure trove of inspiration—you’ll likely walk away with more goodies than you ever knew you needed. Support small businesses and head to the best holiday markets in Los Angeles. RECOMMENDED: See more Christmas in Los Angeles

Sure, you won’t find snow-covered trees and below-zero temperatures in L.A., but there are still plenty of Christmas events and holiday activities to get you in the festive mood—even when it’s 70 and sunny in December. With outdoor movie screenings, illuminated walks in botanical gardens, holiday plays, festive takeovers of theme parks and Christmas lights all over town, our list of the city’s best events and things to do this season will help make L.A. feel like a winter wonderland. RECOMMENDED: Full guide to Christmas in Los Angeles

We all know what it’s like to search for that perfect gift. Your best bet? L.A.’s top gift shops, of course. These shops are full to the brim with giftable goodies and covetable objects you just might want for yourself. Find gift ideas for everyone and any occasion—from your Valentine’s Day sweetheart to all the family members on your Christmas list. Birthday and wedding presents? No problem. We (and these top shops) have you covered. RECOMMENDED: The best shops in Los Angeles

After endless, premature teases from retailers, the holidays are here for real, and they’ve taken over our December events calendar. Dive into the spirit of giving with a stop at one of the best gift shops in L.A., or behold one of the city’s best Christmas lights displays. If you’re sticking around town this year and feeling a little lonely, maybe consider embracing it with some me-time at one of these secluded getaways. Whatever your plans are—even if you’re feeling like a bit of a grinch—you’ll find plenty of activities to take advantage of in our December events calendar. RECOMMENDED: Full events calendar for 2025

Even before the passing of visionary director David Lynch this week, Gold-Diggers was planning this Twin Peaks-themed night, where singers I Can’t Hear Cassandra and the Nightingales will perform songs by Julee Cruise (the series’ roadhouse singer whose song “Falling” also served as Twin Peaks’ theme song) and DJs will supplement the soundtrack with tunes befitting the vibe. Come dressed in your Lynchian best. And we forgot the best part: The night doubles as a benefit for Pasadena Humane, which has been helping pets affected by the fires.

As firefighters continue to work to get the Los Angeles wildfires under control, many of us are wondering: What can we do to help? FireAid, a just-announced benefit concert taking place January 30 at the Kia Forum and Intuit Dome, offers one way. Proceeds from the event will go toward “rebuilding infrastructure, supporting displaced families and advancing fire prevention technologies and strategies to ensure L.A. is better prepared for fire emergencies.” We can’t think of a worthier cause. Billie Eilish and Finneas, Green Day, Joni Mitchell, Lady Gaga, Red Hot Chili Peppers and many, many more top the lineup. Tickets go on sale Wednesday, January 22 at noon via Ticketmaster.

Concerts for wildfire relief keep popping up, and this one is a must for indie-rock fans. All proceeds from For Los Angeles—which spans two nights, at the Troubadour on January 22 and across town at the Lodge Room on January 28—will go directly toward the California Community Foundation Wildfire Recovery and Pasadena Community Foundation’s Eaton Fire Relief & Recovery Fund. Actor Christopher Mintz-Plasse will host the night at the Troubadour, where Phantom Planet, Annika Bennett, Cannons, Local Natives, Lydia Night, Madison Cunningham, Winnetka Bowling League and more will take the stage (get tickets here). At the Lodge Room the following week, you can catch stripped-back sets from Lord Huron, Stephen Sanchez, Magdalena Bay, Madi Diaz, Zinadelphia and more (get tickets here).

The beloved puppet theater’s new show is actually a throwback to its beginnings. Something to Crow About was first created in 1959 for the Laguna Beach Festival of Art and gave Bob Baker Marionette Theater its signature style before the theater officially opened in 1963. The satirical show, which has been revitalized, uses farm animal characters to tell a story about Broadway. Note: Bob Baker is offering comp tickets to fire-affected families throughout opening weekend.

Bob Dylan’s distinctive voice goes hand in hand with his distinctive fashion, which Oscar-nominated costume designer Arianne Phillips re-created in the new biopic A Complete Unknown. Step back into the 1960s at this free immersive exhibition the ASU FIDM Museum, which traces the singer’s style evolution. See handcrafted costumes as worn by Timothée Chalamet—from the Levi’s to the jackets that defined Dylan’s look—as well as several props from the film.

Start the year with some self-care during Beverly Hills’ first-ever Spa Week. It’s running now through January 19, actually giving you two weeks to take advantage of special treatments and offers from both the city’s luxe hotel spas and independent day spas. Tomoko Spa, for example, is offering a New Year Rejuvenation Package that comes with a complimentary candle; the spa at the Peninsula Beverly Hills is offering free add-ons and a $40 food and drink credit with its signature massage ($295); and, for those who really want to splash out, the Red Carpet Ready package at the Beverly Hills Hotel Spa ups the glamour with a facial created by celebrity esthetician Angela Caglia ($540). See here for the full list of participating spas and to book your treatment.

Fans of the Fab Four, rejoice: This concert series, which originated in Argentina 10 years ago, has made its way to Hollywood. This isn't your average Beatles cover band, though. A curated lineup of over 30 performers from the L.A. music scene will pick their favorite Beatles song and perform with a house band made up of the city’s finest session players. Expect both note-for-note re-creations and creative interpretations of Beatles classics and B-sides alike.

Sure, the holidays are over, but that doesn’t mean we want to stop pretending it’s winter in L.A. yet! The city of West Hollywood is throwing its hat into the outdoor ice skating scene by transforming West Hollywood Park into a rink and a Winter Village with photo ops and a general store. A 90-minute skating session will cost you $22. There are also free festivities on offer at the end of the month: On Saturday, January 25, from 1–4pm, the park’s South Lawn will host a Winter Wonderland with activities, crafts, music, games, hot cocoa and festive treats (free entry, no RSVP required). And a free Polar Plunge Pool Party on January 26 (4–6pm) on the fifth floor of the West Hollywood Aquatic and Recreation Center offers a less intimidating take on the New Year’s tradition, with a heated pool, games, giveaways, arts and crafts and apple cider. You can RSVP here.

Did you resolve to read more this year? Enter Reading Rhythms, a happy alternative for the literary-inclined. Billed as a “reading party,” the event series started in NYC and got noticed by The New York Times and Good Morning America for its refreshing spin on book clubs: You bring a book of your own choosing to a central location, then alternate between peaceful reading time and chatting with fellow readers about what you’re reading. Reading Rhythms is popping up for its first 2025 edition at Espresso Cielo this week, so bring your current read and head to the popular coffee shop.

Terranea’s seaside New Year’s Eve party combines cirque vibes and seafood for a classy, spendy celebration. Ticketholders can enjoy an open bar and dining stations including a seafood ice sculpture, taqueria table, pasta pavilion and more. Also on offer are an open bar, casino games and beats by DJ Ricky Rocks. In addition to this soiree in the Palos Verdes Ballroom, the resort will be hosting decadent dinners and celebrations throughout the property—including live music in the lobby bar, where you don’t need a reservation or ticket. 

The h.wood Group and David Arquette’s celebrity-favored nightclub promises its “most intense event yet” inside the chic Sunset Strip space that recalls Frank Sinatra-era Palm Springs. Enjoy a five-hour open bar and a complimentary champagne toast at midnight set to a soundtrack of top 40, hip-hop and house music spun by a live DJ. If you really want to make a night of it, you can snag an LA Ballers VIP All Access Party Pass ($99) to party-hop between Bootsy’s and Poppy Nightclub on La Cienega, where rapper BIA will be performing live.      

Brick-and-mortar toy shops are growing fewer and farther between, making a gem like Leanna Lin’s Wonderland—which appeals to both the young and young at heart—all the more special. The Eagle Rock store, open since 2010, functions as both a gift shop and gallery that features independent artists and designers. Find a playful gift for any age—like Hello Kitty or Unicorno blind boxes for kids, and cute canned candles for grown-ups—inside the cheery space.

Even if you’re not among the thousands of Angelenos who’ve lost their homes or evacuated due to the multiple, ongoing wildfires, you’re not alone for feeling an immense sense of grief—over the unfathomable and swift destruction, the loss of life, property and nature, and the uncertainty over what comes next. That mourning also extends to the mounting number of recognizable, historic and beloved venues that’ve been lost to the Palisades and Eaton Fires: bars we’ve raised glasses at, restaurants we pass by daily, museums we’ve moseyed around, hikes we’ve tackled and even schools we’ve attended. We’re keeping an (unfortunately running) list below of some of the most familiar spots that’ve been destroyed, ones that Angelenos and even folks outside of town are likely to recognize. It’s worth mentioning that an uncountable number of popular hiking trails have also likely been scorched: The Palisades Fire continues to burn through the eastern Santa Monica Mountains, the Eaton Fire started near the popular Eaton Canyon Nature Center and the short-lived Sunset Fire scorched the western edge of Runyon Canyon. But given the active nature of the fires and the still-climbing toll on wilderness spaces, we’ve excluded those spots for now (as well as ones that are threatened but so far still standing). PALISADES FIRE Palisades Charter High School Even if you haven’t heard of Palisades Charter High School before this week, odds are you’ve definitely seen it on TV and in movies like Carrie and

The people and institutions that make up L.A. keep finding new ways to show support and solidarity for one another in this scary and uncertain time. Case in point: LACMA, the adjacent La Brea Tar Pits and Museum and, across town, the Natural History Museum are all waiving ticket fees this week and welcoming Angelenos in with open arms. After most museums temporarily closed their doors last week when the fires were at their worst, several that are not in direct danger from the blaze have now reopened, including the ones mentioned above. In normal times, these three museums offer limited free entry to L.A. County residents on weekday afternoons—LACMA after 3pm, La Brea Tar Pits and the Natural History Museum from 3 to 5pm—so this week’s expansion is a very welcome gesture. An afternoon in a safe space without having to worry about dubious air quality sounds like just what the doctor ordered. It’s also worth noting that the Huntington just announced that upon its reopening tomorrow, it will be offering free admission to its “Southern California neighbors who've been displaced, evacuated or experienced loss during the wildfires.” Those who qualify for the Neighbors in Need initiative can make an online reservation to visit the beautiful gardens, library and art museum for free from 2pm to 5pm, Wednesdays through Mondays, through the end of the month. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Los Angeles County Museum of Art (@lacma) LACMA had recent

As if we needed something else to worry about… Even if you haven’t found yourself in the direct line of L.A.’s unprecedented string of wildfires, there’s an additional, insidious threat we’re all facing: dangerous air quality due to wildfire smoke, which UC research has found is up to 10 times more toxic than regular air pollution. Everyone—including those not in immediate danger from the fires—should take precautions to avoid smoke inhalation, both when outdoors and at home. As soon as the Palisades Fire started on January 7, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health issued a smoke advisory and declared that the air quality in Los Angeles County was unhealthy. And, thanks to those high winds we were dealing with, the wildfire smoke spread much farther than just the sites of the fires themselves. If you’ve been getting your news from the local broadcast stations, you’ve probably seen maps tracking the area’s air quality, labeled by color and number, on the news. The air quality index (or AQI) is the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s way of gauging outdoor air quality and health. The higher the index number climbs, the unhealthier the air. Specifically, anything below 100 is generally considered safe (yellow is fine, green is better). A number from 101–150 (orange) is considered unhealthy for sensitive groups; 151–200 (red) is unhealthy for anyone; 201–300 (purple) is very unhealthy; and, finally, anything 301 or higher (maroon) is hazardous. The agency takes fiv

Though firefighters’ incredible efforts have made real progress in battling Los Angeles’s wildfires, the city is still facing a daunting and difficult path to recovery. With many things out of our control—and with more high winds on the way this week—it’s easy to feel helpless and at the mercy of mother nature. One thing we can control, though, is how we show up for one another. And Angelenos have been showing up for each other in droves—in fact, over the weekend, many relief centers reached their capacity for both donations and volunteers. It’s a much-needed silver lining in the midst of a terrible time, and it makes us even more proud to live in this great city. The work is far from finished, though, and with so many businesses and nonprofits that have stepped up to help, it can be hard to navigate it all or determine where your effort would make the most impact. Luckily, Mutual Aid L.A.—who serves as a “connector and information hub for mutual aid efforts”—has gathered dozens of volunteering opportunities in one incredibly useful resource. Check the spreadsheet to see places that need volunteers and donations, handily organized by day and neighborhood. There are slots for the upcoming weekdays or, if you’re tied up at work all week, you can check the ongoing/future tab for projects to get involved in. No matter what your skills are—organizing, babysitting, cooking, building—you’ll find a way you can help. You’ll need to register in advance for some opportunities, while oth

As the Palisades Fire rages on, we’re sad to report that it’s taken its toll on two of the area’s state parks, destroying structures with significance to L.A.’s history. Pacific Palisades’ Will Rogers State Historic Park, centered around Rogers’s ranch house, is the starting point of many popular hikes, including Inspiration Point, and a cultural destination in its own right. The former home of Rogers—a writer, cowboy philosopher, trick-roper and the first honorary mayor of Beverly Hills—had been maintained as it was in the 1930s; it became a state park in 1944 when his widow donated it after his death. The 31-room ranch house and other historic buildings at Will Rogers State Historic Park, including the beautiful stables, were destroyed. Needless to say, the park remains closed. A view of the historic ranch house at Will Rogers State Historic Park. Photograph: Michael Juliano for Time Out At adjacent Topanga State Park, the bungalow-style Topanga Ranch Motel, built in 1929 by William Randolph Hearst, was also destroyed. Located across from Topanga Beach, the retro motel once housed PCH construction workers and was a popular filming location. Plans had been in the works to restore 20 of its cabins to again rent out to the public. The fire-damaged Topanga Ranch Motel. Photograph: Courtesy California State Parks In all, California State Parks reports more than 30 structural losses at Topanga State Park and Will Rogers State Historic Park. “California State Parks mourns the

It’s 8pm at the club. Robyn’s “Dancing on My Own” blares from the speakers. The crowd goes wild, jumping up and down and scream-singing the lyrics. You toast the people on your left, you high-five the group on your right—and they’re all women. This is Earlybirds, “a dance party for ladies who got shit to do in the morning,” and it’s coming to Los Angeles this week on the heels of nearly a dozen sold-out events in Chicago and two sold-out parties in New York. Earlybirds Club, a dance party for women, trans and nonbinary folks, starts at 6pm and ends at 10pm because, as cofounder Laura Baginski tells Time Out, “people our age need their sleep.” But that doesn’t mean they want to miss the party, and the party’s coming to the South Bay on January 10 at the Sardine in San Pedro and to Silver Lake on January 11 for a (sold-out) second night at the Virgil. A nationwide expansion is in the works.  At age 49, Baginski fondly remembers going dancing in her 20s and staying out late. Now, she has “no interest in leaving my house at 10pm to start my night,” but she missed dancing and missed having fun nights out with her friends.  She wanted to create a new nightlife experience, one that didn’t include being around “a bunch of cis dudes.” Instead, she wanted to create a completely different event that would fit her life and the lives of her peers better. So Baginski brought the idea to her friend Susie Lee, and Earlybirds bloomed in early 2024. The concept went viral and sold out quickly,

If you’ve seen the hit film adaptation, caught the live version currently onstage at the Pantages and you still can’t get enough Wicked, the Rose Parade has you covered this New Year’s Day with a float inspired by the movie musical. Sure to be the most “Popular” parade newcomer, the high-flying effort fittingly entitled “Defying Gravity” depicts Glinda (Ariana Grande) and her bubbles, a mid-flight Elphaba (a better likeness of Cynthia Erivo), a shimmering Emerald City, the Yellow Brick Road and fields of tulips, both real and sculpted. The iconic Rose Parade—now in its 136th year—is a New Year’s Day institution the world over, but especially here in SoCal. And while its floral floats are always imaginative and delightful, they don’t usually directly tie into pop culture or the biggest releases of the past year, making the Wicked float stand out even more. Photograph: Rodin Eckenroth, Universal Pictures Home Entertainment The float—a collaboration between Universal Pictures Home Entertainment and the Pasadena Tournament of Roses—fetes and promotes Wicked’s release on Digital. As of today, you can purchase or rent the hit movie—a four-time Golden Globe nominee and the highest-grossing musical film adaptation ever—from the comfort of home, perfect for kicking off 2025 with a cozy movie night (we recommend the sing-along version). Photograph: Rodin Eckenroth, Universal Pictures Home Entertainment So how did Phoenix Decorating Company bring the frenemy witches and the 55-foot-

Gilmore Girls nostalgia seems to be at an all-time high lately. Creator Amy Sherman-Palladino’s fast-talking show is a mainstay for millennial women—and many men—and with the show available to stream on Netflix and now Hulu, it’s been drawing new Gen Z fans as well. The show premiered in 2000, but two dozen years later, fans still aren’t over its romantic drama, pop culture references and small-town charm. A new Walmart commercial, of all things, actually provided a first glimpse of what Lorelai and Luke are up to eight years after we last saw them in Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life, and fans are clearly hungry for more—as evidenced by the 3,000 who descended upon the Warner Bros. backlot on the opening day of its wintertime ode to Gilmore Girls: Holidays Made Here. Even though I don’t partake in the yearly rewatch ritual like many fans do, whenever I’m asked what my favorite TV show is, Gilmore Girls is my automatic reply—it’s a reflex from back when I discovered it in high school. So I was thrilled to check out the seasonal addition to Warner Bros.’ Studio Tour on opening day. I even got the chance to talk to Luke himself, actor Scott Patterson, and ask his thoughts about the show’s lasting appeal and the possibility of another season. When I walked onto the backlot, where the studio’s Midwest Street has been transformed back into the idyllic small town of Stars Hollow, I instantly felt at home. It’s not the first time Warner Bros. has hosted Holidays Made Here, but this

If there’s one thing I’m passionate about, it’s bookstores. If there are two things I’m passionate about, it’s bookstores and the Valley. So this summer, when I caught wind of the fact that none other than the Last Bookstore was going to open a new location mere minutes away from me, it just about made my year. And this week, I got an early look at the shop before it has its grand opening on Saturday. The Valley outpost came about because the Last Bookstore’s lease was nearly up on its warehouse in Northridge, where over a half a million books were stored, so the team needed a new base of operations. Enter the new space, which serves as both storage and retail. The Last Bookstore in DTLA is one of the best independent bookstores in L.A.—and certainly the largest and highest-profile (check out this bar it inspired all the way in Glasgow, Scotland). After its first iteration in a Downtown loft in 2005, the Last Bookstore made a huge splash when it opened in an old bank building on Spring Street. It’s often credited as part of Downtown’s renaissance, but it led an independent-bookstore renaissance as well. It cleverly drew people in with its eye-catching book installations—who flocked to snap pics in the book tunnel or peekaboo window, leading to its being crowned the world’s most-Instagrammed bookstore. But the Last Bookstore’s magic lies in the way it’s always combined immaculate vibes and aesthetics with real substance and a love of reading—and the result is getting people in

Mini-golf surprisingly doesn’t have much of a presence in L.A. Given its reputation as a quintessential date or birthday-party activity, you’d think the city would be swarming with options. There’s Castle Park in Sherman Oaks—an outdoor classic, windmill and all—and Golf N’ Stuff (of Karate Kid fame) all the way in Ventura or Norwalk and… that’s pretty much it. Until this month, that is. Holey Moley Golf Club is now open in a prime spot on pedestrian destination Third Street Promenade. A project from Australian company Funlab, which transforms familiar activities into “immersive worlds of fun where people can connect in real life,” Santa Monica’s Holey Moley is actually the sixth location in the U.S. and the first in Southern California—another opened in San Francisco over the summer, and a spot in Irvine is coming soon. I went to check it out with our video editor, Danny, and it’s easy to see why the concept has proved a success for Funlab thus far. The retro putt-putt destination is campy fun and lets you cut loose and feel like a kid again—albeit with booze. Photograph: Gillian Glover for Time Out Amid the stores and eateries of Third Street, you’ll find the entrance to Holey Moley. Head up an escalator under a constellation of disco balls to find the first course (there are three courses, and 27 holes in all). Right away, you’ll see a Pacific Park–themed hole where you try to hit your golf ball through a Ferris wheel. Photograph: Stan Lee But before you pick up a club

If you’re one of the millions who tuned in to Squid Game when it dropped in 2021, you might already know that the eagerly awaited second season finally has a release date: December 26—perfect for a little high-stakes post-Christmas viewing. If you just can’t wait till then, though, you’re in luck: Netflix is offering access to an advanced screening of the Season 2 premiere—but there’s a catch. To get into the screening, you’ll have to turn from a fan into a player and make your way through the streets of L.A. during a special themed run—not a 5K but a 4.56K (after Player 456)—being held at an as-yet undisclosed location in East Hollywood on December 12. This isn’t your average foot race. Along the way, there will be various elimination challenges designed to thin out the competition—“tasks of choice, physical challenge and chance,” promises Netflix. The downside: Not everyone who competes will score a seat at the screening (though those eliminated will receive a participation prize—a decidedly gentler fate than the players in the show face). The Squid Game 4.56K Run is free to participate in (you can register here). Keep in mind, though, that even after registering online, your spot in the run isn’t guaranteed. There’s a limit of 2,000 participants, so it’s recommended you arrive early when the line opens at 4pm, as entry is first-come, first-served. Check-in will start at 6pm at the event headquarters, where you’ll get a complimentary tracksuit to wear over your own clothes.

Studio Ghibli fans, rejoice: New to the Academy Collection—the largest film-related collection in the world, which boasts more than 52 million items from across the history of cinema and is housed partially at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures—are 80 pieces of original animation from Hayao Miyazaki’s Ponyo, his family-friendly film inspired by Hans Christian Andersen’s The Little Mermaid. One of the animation studio’s most beloved films, 2008’s Ponyo (it was subsequently released in the U.S. by Walt Disney Pictures in 2009) was notable for its focus on hand-drawn animation, with not only the characters but backgrounds drawn frame-by-frame rather than using animation cels or CGI. That makes the drawings rendered by Miyazaki and conceptual drawings by Noboru Yoshida all the more special.  Rounding out the Academy’s Studio Ghibli animation collection are the studio’s Japanese movie posters and Miyazaki’s own animator’s desk—a gift from Studio Ghibli Inc. Drawing by Noboru Yoshida for “Ponyo” (2008). Photograph: Courtesy of the Margaret Herrick Library Four-time-nominated, two-time Oscar-winning director Miyazaki—who also received an honorary award at the Academy’s Governors Awards in 2014—already has a history with the Academy Museum. When the institution opened in 2021, one of its inaugural exhibitions, “Hayao Miyazaki,” was the first North American museum retrospective dedicated entirely to the internationally celebrated artist and filmmaker’s work, bringing his animate