Gillian Glover

Shed that sweatshirt—spring is here. Fill your lungs with the sweet, less-smoggy air on one of the best hikes in L.A., or set out in search of some (fingers crossed) wildflower blooms and cherry blossoms. Whether you’re looking for things to do around town or a weekend getaway, there are plenty of springtime happenings and fun festivals to find in our March events calendar. RECOMMENDED: Full events calendar for 2025

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, the art world takes over L.A. with Frieze Los Angeles, the L.A. Art Show, the Other Art Fair and Felix Art Fair, all in different corners of the city. And there are lots of free activities to enjoy without breaking the bank: The first CicLAvia of the year turns West Adams into a car-free park, the Culver City Book Festival brings local authors and presses to the Wende Museum, Westwood hosts the grand opening of pedestrian-friendly Broxton Plaza, and the Sunday Lobby Series offers free jazz at the United Theater on Broadway.

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 Lunar New Year 2025? Lunar New Year—and the Year of the Snake—begins on Wednesday, January 29, 2025. Note: Two of the city’s most historic Lunar New Year events—the Firecracker Run and Golden Dragon Parade in Chinatown—have been rescheduled from February to March this year.

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. We curate an itinerary of the city’s best concerts, culture and cuisine, every week, just for you. This week, it’s all about art, as L.A. hosts Frieze Los Angeles, the L.A. Art Show, the Other Art Fair and Felix Art Fair, all in different corners of the city. Meanwhile, Slamdance Film Festival makes L.A. its new home, showcasing independent filmmakers, and Tyler, the Creator finishes up a run of six shows at Crypto.com Arena.

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? February 2025: I’ve never been so happy to turn the calendar page on a new month. Los Angeles’s January was full of tragedy and trials, with the wildfires leaving so much devastation in their wake. We’ve temporarily removed the Self-Realization Fellowship Lake Shrine, Temescal Gateway 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 impact of the Palisades and Eaton Fires. But there’s still plenty to enjoy and be thankful for in our vibrant, sprawling city as we continue to heal and look forward. It’s February, and that means one thing to many: Valentine’s Day. We've got you covered with the best dinners to book and dates to plan. And the city’s Lunar New Year celebrations are still in full swing. L.A. will also

Hoping to impress your honey on V-Day? Our guide to Valentine’s Day ideas for couples has a bevy of romantic things to do to help you get closer. With romantic meals and spa days on the table just about any night, it can be a little overwhelming to sort out a standard date night plan from a Valentine’s-worthy one. But not to worry: These are the best (and, in most cases, relatively budget-friendly) ways to turn L.A. into a romantic city this February. RECOMMENDED: More L.A. Valentine’s Day ideas

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.

You’ve scoured Los Angeles, from Tinder and Bumble to the city’s best singles bars, and have finally found someone worth going out with. But now comes the even harder part: planning the first date. Sure, you could head to one of L.A.’s many romantic restaurants or plan a casual meet-up at a coffee shop, but if you want to really blow your crush out of the water, we recommend moving forward with one of these best first date ideas in L.A. (all of which are in public, relaxed environments). Good luck! RECOMMENDED: The best date ideas in L.A.

Let’s get this out of the way: February is the time for everyone’s favorite love-hate holiday, Valentine’s Day. But there’s a lot more to the mini month than chocolates and roses (though you can literally stop and smell them at a botanical garden). There are still plenty of things to do in Los Angeles in winter before spring arrives. The month is also full of Lunar New Year celebrations and art shows, as well as concerts and comedy shows with stellar lineups benefiting wildfire relief. No matter your plans—or love-life status—you’ll find plenty of things to do in our February events calendar. RECOMMENDED: Full events calendar for 2025

Ah, February. It may only be four weeks long, but the shortest month of the year is still jam-packed with things to do in Los Angeles. And while Valentine’s Day can mean exorbitant dinners and nights out, believe it or not, some of the most romantic things to do in L.A. won’t cost you a thing. On top of that, the first half of the month is filled with Lunar New Year festivals where you can welcome the Year of the Snake for free. Between holiday celebrations and the city’s many free museum days and free attractions, there are plenty of ways to make the most of your month without breaking into your wallet. 

With the holidays behind us, January sparks images of a long plod through gray skies and chilly temperatures for most of the country—but not so here in L.A. Sure, it’s chilly, relatively speaking, but the weather is still perfect enough to tackle most of our favorite things to do outside, even with a slight uptick in precipitation. In fact, take advantage of those clear, post-rain days with one of the best hikes in L.A. Or head to one of the city’s best beaches while it’s still deserted for the season. Start the year off right with the city’s best activities and things to do in our January events calendar. RECOMMENDED: Full events calendar for 2025 and 2026

Flying solo this Valentine’s Day? Whether you’re happily single, just dumped or dating long-distance, check out our list of V-Day events and things to do where it’s all right to be a party of one (or a party of many, if you round up your untethered pals for a friend date) on February 14. So step away from that singles bar, and check out these things to do for singles instead. RECOMMENDED: See more Valentine’s Day ideas in Los Angeles

Westwood is now home to the largest pedestrian-only plaza in the city of Los Angeles, and it’s hosting a grand opening this Saturday to celebrate. Head to Broxton Avenue between Weyburn and Kinross Avenues (where you’ll find Broxton Brewery & Public House) for a ribbon-cutting ceremony. All afternoon, attendees can take advantage of perks: The first 100 people will receive free boba from ShareTea; the Skate Hunnies are offering free roller skating and rentals; and Mighty Pilates will host free mat pilates classes. Meanwhile, kids can enjoy free activities from Splatterz Studio and Let’s Be Creative.  

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 again at Espresso Cielo, so bring your current read and head to the popular coffee shop.

For the Record, a live production company known for transforming the soundtracks of favorite filmmakers into immersive musicals, is back with its most impressive display yet: CineVita, the world’s largest Spiegeltent, will be FTR’s new home in Hollywood Park, next to SoFi Stadium. And it’s kicking things off with Tarantino: Pulp Rock, which celebrates 30 years of Pulp Fiction and re-creates memorable musical moments from the director’s Reservoir Dogs, Kill Bill, Inglourious Basterds and Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.  

The Hammer Museum is celebrating the opening of its newest exhibition, “Alice Coltrane, Monument Eternal,” with quite the party. Get a first look at the show—which looks at the life and legacy the late jazz musician, spiritual leader and widow of John Coltrane through an artistic lens—and enjoy a DJ set by Coltrane’s grand-nephew, none other than Flying Lotus. Admission is free but first-come, first-served, as the museum is expecting a packed house.

The iconic Hollywood Roosevelt hotel is honoring the spirit of L.A. with poolside screenings of some favorite films featuring the city. Tickets are super reasonable ($12), and all proceeds from sales will go toward wildfire relief efforts, specifically Baby2Baby, which provides essential resources to families in need. And don’t worry if it’s a chilly night: Towels, blankets and heaters are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Find the series running every Thursday night through the end of June.

This immersive, one-night-only installation at Dorothy Chandler Pavilion uses contemporary astrophysics research to explore the themes of grief, loss and human connection. There’s an air of mystery around the “transformative experience,” but it sounds like something that we as a city could definitely benefit from right now, so color us intrigued. Ponder your place in the cosmos at the installation, which is part of PST ART. Of special interest to millennials will be a an afternoon event featuring LeVar Burton (4:30–6:30pm)—the conversation with the Reading Rainbow host is already at capacity, but there will be a standby line in case seats open up.

Middle Aged Dad Jam Band’s David Wain and Ken Marino are gathering their friends for a star-studded night of music and comedy at the Lodge Room. Joining them on the musical lineup are “Weird Al” Yankovic, Rachel Bloom, Joe Lo Truglio, Lisa Gilroy, Thomas Lennon, Jackie Tohn, Taran Killam and Michaela Watkins, while Jeff Ross and Moshe Kasher will perform comedy sets. All proceeds from the night will benefit United Way of Greater Los Angeles Wildfire Response Fund, Pasadena Community Foundation and Eaton Fire Relief and Recovery Fund.

Bob Baker Marionette Theater is celebrating love in all its forms this Valentine’s Day. Head to the Highland Park theater for a performance of the troupe’s new, throwback show, Something to Crow About, a showbiz satire set on a farm. Afterward, learn line dancing in a lesson led by both human and puppet instructors (farmcore costumes encouraged). LA Burg will be popping up with patties, grilled cheese and esquites.

Catch some comedy and learn at the same time at this educational and interactive game show hosted by creator Chris Duffy. The set-up: A panel of comedians (Karen Chee and Lisa Gilroy) play games and quiz a scientific expert (attraction and relationships expert Dr. Paul Eastwick) on their work. For this Valentine’s Day edition, the topic is the inner workings of romantic relationships and attachment. If you can’t make it to Dynasty Typewriter for the show, you can opt for a $7 livestream option.

For a more macabre way to celebrate this mushy holiday, the Queen Mary has you covered with a paranormal tour—a chilling VIP experience limited to only 20 guests. Officer Paul Jacek will lead you through the storied ocean liner’s most haunted locations, including restricted areas of the ship, where you’ll hear about ghostly encounters and unexplained phenomena. If you still have an appetite afterward, enjoy a prix-fixe dinner with your fellow ghost hunters. Looking for a more traditional celebration? Then check out “Love Is in the Air,” a four-course dinner with dancing, on February 14 ($265 per couple, tickets here).

As love continues to pour in for the inimitable David Lynch, some of the city’s movie theaters are paying tribute, filling their schedules with special screenings of the director’s films. American Cinematheque is leading the charge this week with screenings of Lost Highway and Mulholland Drive at the Los Feliz 3 (Vidiots is also showing the Naomi Watts starrer), as well as Eraserhead, Dune and Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me at the Egyptian.

After shutting its doors for weeks due to the fires, the Skirball—which was in the evacuation zone for the Palisades Fire—is triumphantly reopening its doors with this free community day centered around gratitude, healing, learning and love for the natural world. Celebrate Tu B’Shevat, or Jewish New Year of the Trees, with artist-led talks, guided campus walks, panel discussions, art making, music and a TreePeople workshop where you can plant your own tree to take home. Admission to all exhibitions (except the separately ticket Noah’s Ark) is also free, so be sure to check out Diane von Furstenberg: Woman Before Fashion while you’re there.

Each winter, similar to the announcement of Oscar nominations, I await the unveiling of the summer Hollywood Bowl lineup with just as much—if not more—excitement. As an L.A. native, the Bowl has been a centerpiece of my summers since I was a kid. So hearing who’s going to be performing each year sets the stage for the season and gets me excited for warm nights with unparalleled music and picnicking. Several lease events have already been announced in recent weeks (they’re still Bowl shows—the only difference for you as a concertgoer is that you can’t BYOB or wine to these shows). But for over 100 years, the Hollywood Bowl has been the summer home of the LA Phil, and it just unveiled its full schedule of shows yesterday. The lineup doesn’t disappoint. As ever, there’s truly something for everyone. The 2025 lineup boasts Hollywood and Broadway A-listers, classical music, pop, rock, blues, hip-hop, jazz, soundtracks and more. Let me take you through some highlights. Off the bat, one intriguing entry that’s particularly exciting is We ❤️ LA, a free concert for “wildfire first responders and impacted community members.” The night’s lineup has yet to be announced, but expect an uplifting evening of love for Angelenos and the city, with Gustavo Dudamel conducting. Speaking of Dudamel, you’re going to want to make it a priority to catch at least one of his shows this year. The beloved LA Phil music and artistic director is decamping for New York at the end of the 2025/26 season, so t

Westwood Village already has a lot to brag about. It’s home to the country’s No. 1 rated public university, UCLA, as well as the widely respected Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center, the Geffen Playhouse, art destination the Hammer Museum and beloved local mainstays like Diddy Riese. And now it has a new feather in its cap: It will also be home to the largest pedestrian plaza in the City of L.A. (If your mind skeptically jumped to Third Street Promenade when you read that, note that the new plaza is the largest in the city of L.A., and Santa Monica is its own city.) Broxton Avenue, between Weyburn and Kinross Avenues, will be permanently closed to car traffic beginning this Saturday, February 22, thanks to the Los Angeles Department of Transportation’s People St program, which transforms city streets into accessible spaces for people. The alfresco plaza—sure to soon be swarming with college students—will stretch from the historic, currently shuttered Fox Westwood Village and Bruin theaters at Weyburn to the two-story Broxton Brewery & Public House at Kinross. Also situated along that section of Broxton are a Barney’s Beanery, Chipotle, Cava and the still-operational Landmark Westwood movie theater. In all, that’s 14,000 square feet of space, which will now be home to outdoor dining, music, events and activities. You’ll find tables and chairs where you can sit with food from the surrounding restaurants (or your own outside food and drink—just not alcohol), as well as games like

Those with deep enough pockets can get their hands on one-of-a-kind pieces while supporting Angelenos in need this month during Give a Frock L.A. Celebrity stylist Lindsey Hartman has joined forces with Julien’s Auctions to auction off iconic onstage, onscreen and red-carpet styles—as well as designer fashion and signed memorabilia—all to benefit Los Angeles wildfire aid. All proceeds will be shared between Altadena Girls, Friends in Deed, One Voice and Pasadena Humane Society. The auction, which launched in conjunction with last week’s G*VE A F*CK L.A. benefit, includes items from many of those artists (Hayley Williams, Juliette Lewis, Phantom Planet), as well as many looks worn by both performers and winners at the recent Grammy Awards. Some standouts: Chappell Roan’s costume from her “HOT TO GO!” music video, a separate stage-worn ensemble and a pair of Marc Jacobs platform boots the singer wore in Rolling Stone. All three items worn by the “best new artist” Grammy winner are going for significantly higher than predicted—in particular the music video getup, which is valued at $1,000 to $2,000 but has a current bid of $10,000. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Julien's Auctions (@juliens_auctions) Currently the most in-demand item seems to be a beautiful guitar owned by none other than Dave Grohl—an Epiphone DG-335 in Pelham Blue whose face is covered with the Foo Fighters frontman’s handwritten lyrics to “Rescued” and “These Days,” as well

As L.A. starts to pick up the pieces after the wildfires—which are finally almost at 100% containment, thanks to the tireless efforts of the city’s firefighters and the weekend rainfall—our collective focus has shifted to helping those who were directly impacted and rebuilding what was lost. To that end, benefits with truly amazing lineups have been popping up left and right in recent weeks. And while we wish they were happening under better circumstances, they’re nevertheless a bright spot after the bleakness of the past few weeks, offering a way to support a great cause while still having a great time. Here are eight ways to get out and give back this week, from an indie-rock showcase tonight and heavy hitter FireAid to shopping and dining options that are doing their part to give back. (Note: Many of these shows have been selling out right away, but we’ll keep you posted as more are announced.) Benefit Concerts  Lord Huron. Photograph: Graeme Flegenheimer For Los Angeles: A Benefit For Those Impacted by the WildfiresTuesday, January 28 This concert for wildfire relief is a must for indie-rock fans. All proceeds from For Los Angeles—which popped up at the Troubadour last week and is coming to the Lodge Room tonight—will go directly toward the California Community Foundation Wildfire Recovery and Pasadena Community Foundation’s Eaton Fire Relief & Recovery Fund. Catch stripped-back sets from Lord Huron, Stephen Sanchez, Magdalena Bay, Madi Diaz, Zinadelphia and more. (Tick

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

The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority—a.k.a. Metro—is extending its support of those affected by the area’s recent string of wildfires. “Metro is here to support Los Angeles County as we navigate the road to recovery together and will continue to do everything in our power to help our region rebuild stronger than ever,” the agency states on its website. Metro previously had suspended all fares in the height of the crisis. That remains in effect through this Sunday, January 26. But on January 27, fare collection is scheduled to resume, which is where this new action comes in. Yesterday, the Metro Board unanimously voted to expand the eligibility requirements for its LIFE (Low Income Fare is Easy) program to include fire victims. If you’ve been directly impacted by the fires—whether you lost your home, job or other economic opportunity—you can apply for the program, which will give you a pass that’s good for unlimited free rides on any participating transit system for 90 days. In addition to Metro, this includes options like LADOT, Pasadena Transit and Santa Monica Big Blue Bus. After the 90 days, you’ll still get 20 free regional rides added to your TAP card every month for the next three months. In total, the benefits are good for six months from the date of enrollment. You can enroll online by going here. If you qualify, you’ll receive a 30-day digital pass automatically and be sent a pre-loaded TAP card in the mail. You can also apply in person at sel

The Oscar nominations were finally announced early this morning, after being delayed twice due to L.A.’s wildfires. Netflix’s Emilia Pérez leads the pack with 13 nods, followed by The Brutalist and Wicked with 10 each. And Los Angeles is at the epicenter of Oscar season—not only because the city will host the 97th installment of the Academy Awards at the Dolby Theatre—but also because we’re blessed with the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures, which is kicking off two months of special Oscar-themed programming. At the beginning of today’s announcement, Academy president Janet Yang referenced the recent fires, adding that “the last several weeks have proven what we already know to be true: Our film industry and Los Angeles are resilient.” Academy CEO Bill Kramer echoed that sentiment and promised the awards ceremony will “pay tribute to our brave first responders and celebrate the enduring spirit of Los Angeles and the film industry.” We wholeheartedly agree: The city—not to mention the local film industry—definitely needs a win right now. To that end, we’re going all in on Oscars season, and the Academy Museum is the perfect place to do just that. From now through March 30, you’ll find a variety of special programs both honoring this year’s Oscar nominees and delving into the history of the Academy Awards. In the galleries, you’ll find new items on display including the Gucci suit Ryan Gosling wore for his show-stopping “I’m Just Ken” performance at last year’s show and Ke Huy

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