Michael Juliano

While Los Angeles’ beaches are still open despite the recent wildfires, Pacific Coast Highway is currently closed from the McClure Tunnel in Santa Monica to Sweetwater Canyon Drive in Malibu, making access to and parking at some beaches temporarily more difficult. With 70-degree-plus days nearly year-round, Angelenos are spoiled with things to do outside. Whether it’s January or July, L.A.’s best hikes (including hikes with waterfalls) are rarely off the table—and the same can even be said for beaches, too. Now, you might not exactly want to actually go in the water (even in late summer, the ocean temperature barely hits 70), but you’ll certainly want to be by the water. And with miles of picturesque coastline from Malibu to the South Bay, the best beaches in Los Angeles are aplenty for outdoor enthusiasts, surfers, families, sun worshippers and beach bunnies (and at a couple of dog beaches, for pups). If you’re new to L.A., there are a few oceanfront weather basics you should know: On hot days, the beach is typically 10 degrees cooler than central parts of L.A. and 20 degrees cooler than the Valley. (The exception: Long Beach tends to be in lockstep with L.A. temps.) Sometimes—particularly toward the beginning of summer—you might have clear blue skies inland but the beach is all fogged in; that marine layer tends to burn off in the afternoon, but sometimes it sticks around all day. From Venice and Santa Monica to Manhattan Beach and Playa Vista, here are the best beaches in

People who don’t live in cities will tell you they’re busy, lonely and expensive places. But there’s a reason so many people choose to live in them: with world-class art and culture, unbeatable food and nightlife, buzzing neighbourhoods and a dizzying amount of stuff to do and see, there’s simply no better place to be.  Every year, we take the pulse of city living by quizzing thousands of locals across the planet about life in their hometowns. This year, more than 18,500 city-dwellers shared their insights on everything from food, nightlife and culture to affordability, happiness and the overall city vibe. When urban living can sometimes feel isolating and costly, this year we wanted to get a sense of what, exactly, makes a city feel like home. Sure, the nightlife is great, but is the city safe and walkable? Is good quality food and art available at a reasonable price? Is it easy to make friends, find love, and access nature?  Livability was a key factor in our ranking this year. But a great city to live in is, naturally, a great city to visit. So, along with the thousands of responses from locals around the world, we asked Time Out’s global network of city experts to vote on the places they think are particularly exciting right now. After crunching all that data, here we are: Time Out’s definitive ranking of the world’s best cities in 2025. Read on to see how your hometown fared… RECOMMENDED:🛍️ The coolest neighbourhoods in the world right now🌎 The best things to do in the

A few museums are still closed right now due to the Palisades and Eaton Fires. We’ve noted any closures and reopening plans below; we also encourage you to consult our list of landmark closures. Skim through the must-visit attractions in Los Angeles and you’ll notice a trend: It’s a lot of outdoorsy fun. So committing to a day inside of a museum might be a tall ask. In fact, choosing anything over a 75-and-sunny day at the beach is a hard ask—especially if you’re visiting from somewhere with a climate that’s not as consistently comfortable as SoCal’s.  But here’s the thing: No matter how good the weather, visiting L.A.’s museums is a must. In fact, not only are they among the city’s best things to do, but Los Angeles museums can increasingly stand toe to toe with ones in cultural capitals like New York, Chicago and Washington, D.C. And, lucky you, a handful of them have stunning outdoor campuses with hilltop views, sculpture gardens and sunny courtyards. I’ve spent the past decade-plus visiting all of L.A.’s museums (and revisiting them as each riveting new exhibition opens, including during this year’s ongoing run of PST ART shows). There are even more institutions in the L.A. area than just the ones on this list (including plenty of quirky, off-the-beaten-path museums), but I think the 21 below are the very best—and I’d say the top five in particular are borderline essential for any trip to L.A. If you’re on a budget, don’t worry: L.A. is flush with free museums. In fact, o

Television used to be considered one of the lowest forms of entertainment. It was derided as ‘the idiot box’ and ‘the boob tube’. Edward R Murrow referred to it as ‘the opiate of the masses’, and the phrase ‘I don’t even own a TV’ was considered a major bragging right. And for a long time, it was hard to say that television’s poor reputation was undeserved.  A lot has changed. Television is now the dominant medium in basically all of entertainment, to the degree that the only thing separating movies and TV is the screen you’re watching on. Now, if you don’t own a television – or a laptop or a tablet or a phone – you’re basically left out of the cultural conversation completely. The shift in perception is widely credited to the arrival of The Sopranos, which completely reinvented the notion of what a TV show could do. But that doesn’t mean everything that came before is primordial slurry. While this list of the greatest TV shows ever is dominated by 21st century programs, there are many shows that deserve credit for laying the groundwork for this current golden age. Chiseling them down to a neat top 100 is difficult, so we elected to leave off talk shows, variety shows and sketch comedy, focusing on scripted, episodic dramas, comedies and miniseries.  So don’t touch that dial – these are the greatest TV shows of all-time.

Note: Some of our favorite hikes—Runyon Canyon, the Sara Wan Trailhead and Echo Mountain—have been impacted by the recent fires. All parks and trails are currently closed in both the Santa Monica Mountains and Angeles National Forest. We’ll be updating this story with new information soon. Los Angeles is blessed with sunny weather nearly year-round and a geographical location that allows you to hit some of the best beaches and mountains in the state in the same day. So yes, there are plenty of things to do outside here, but there’s one thing that tops many Angelenos’ lists: hiking. So next time you’re looking for a beautiful view of the city, don’t head to a rooftop bar; instead, lace up your hiking boots and head out onto the trail for these outdoorsy things to do. Whether you’re more of a cityscape gawker or an ocean gazer, we’ve got the trek for you in this list of the best hikes in L.A.—with picture-perfect views at each.

Note: All of our favorite waterfall hikes—except for Paradise Falls in Thousand Oaks—have been impacted by the Palisades and Eaton Fires. All parks and trails are currently closed in both the Santa Monica Mountains and Angeles National Forest. We’ll be updating this story with new information soon. While Angelenos are blessed with a gorgeous web of hikes with a view, we all too often find ourselves baked by the sun, with the ocean in sight and yet tantalizingly out of reach. So how do you get a little refresher while you’re in the middle of a mountainous trek or camping excursion? With some mist from a waterfall. Here are five hiking trails in L.A. that’ll keep you cool by journey’s end with some of the area’s most impressive waterfalls. L.A. hikes with waterfalls? We can’t think of more perfect things to do to take advantage of the all-too-brief rainy season (they’re technically still visible in the summer, but you’ll find a considerably more meager flow). Just a word of caution: Waterfalls are strongest when winter snow up in the mountains melts in the spring, or after it rains. That’s also when they’re at their most dangerous; we wouldn’t recommend tackling these trails immediately after it’s rained—wait just a couple of days to be safe, particularly if you’re a novice hiker.

Whether hiking or driving, Angelenos are willing to put in the work for a memorable view—and the same goes for eating—though with a little less cardio required. In a city spread between the ocean and the mountains, it’s no surprise that restaurants with spectacular views, whether on the beach or a rooftop, are in no short supply. On the flip side, we can think of dozens of charming patios in canyons and beach communities that are plopped in picturesque areas but without a view of anything but some twinkly string lights. So with all those rules out of the way, we think these 25 restaurants below offer the city’s most picture-perfect vantage points (ranked in order of just how impressive their views are). Sure, many of them aren’t the best restaurants in town, but with views this good, does it even matter? 

Some museums are closed right now due to the Palisades and Eaton Fires. We’ve noted any closures and reopening plans below; we also encourage you to consult our list of landmark closures. Who says L.A. lacks culture? Not only do we boast an impressive array of amazing museums, but almost every single one offers free admission, either on select days or all the time. Aesthetes and culture vultures can get their fix for free at the spots below, which even with their price point removed from the equation would still rank among the best things to do. Whether you prefer the greatest hits at LACMA or off-the-beaten-path museums, it’s easy to plan a free museum visit (especially if you have a library card) as long as you keep some key dates and times in mind. Here are the best free museums in Los Angeles, whether they offer free admission year-round or free museum days.  Psst: Be on the lookout for the annual Museums Free-For-All and Museum Day, which offer free access to some spots that otherwise always charge admission. RECOMMENDED: See the full list of free things to do in L.A.

Some attractions are closed right now due to the Palisades and Eaton Fires. We’ve noted any closures and reopening plans below; we also encourage you to consult our list of landmark closures. If you’re looking to explore the many free attractions in L.A.—including museums, iconic landmarks and lesser-known sites—we’ve listed the best places to visit on a budget. Whether you’re looking to get outdoors and hike or explore a new neighborhood, read on for must-see L.A. attractions (including a few of our favorite free museums). Plus, you can even get some post-eating and drinking ideas for your next wallet-friendly date night or cheap eats outing. RECOMMENDED: More free things to do in L.A.

Los Angeles—and California as a whole—is a pretty amazing place, botanically speaking. Stick practically any plant in the ground and it’ll grow, hence the palm tree-lined streets and the ubiquitous jacaranda tree bloom. Even though some of us can reach out our windows and pluck an avocado from a tree, a trip to one of the region’s many botanical gardens (easily among the best things to do in L.A.) reveals vegetation that simply can’t be found on our city streets. We’ve rounded up some of our favorites—broken up by category, like Japanese gardens or museum grounds—from botanical gardens in the San Gabriel Valley to a hidden oasis in a Hollywood Hills park.

Among the lengthy list of picturesque attractions in this city—who can resist the temptation of a hike through Runyon, an afternoon in a botanical garden or a trip to the beach?—there is a wealth of beautiful parks in Los Angeles. Whether you’re an art aficionado or a devoted dog owner, there’s a slice of nature that fits your lifestyle. For those days when you’re looking for things to do but don’t feel like climbing up all 282 steps at the Baldwin Hills Scenic Overlook, roll out a blanket or take a stroll through 26 of the best (and free) parks in Los Angeles. Looking for the most majestic green spaces imaginable? Consider these national parks near L.A.

Some landmarks in northern Pasadena are currently closed or damaged due to the Eaton Fire. We’ve noted the closures toward the bottom of the list and will update this story as conditions improve. Pasadena will never be as bustling as Hollywood or as trendy as Highland Park, but that’s exactly what makes this city in the San Gabriel Valley so enjoyable. Set against the San Gabriel Mountains, the town packs in enough things to do without veering into territory that’s either too sleepy or too hectic (though a recent influx of celebs and young families seeking a little more serenity have certainly made the already-expensive city a little more in demand). You can go shopping along Colorado Boulevard, tour turn-of-the-century mansions and hike Echo Mountain, all within the space of an afternoon. Whether you’re spending a day or an entire weekend here, you can’t go wrong with these essential things to do in Pasadena. RECOMMENDED: Our guide to full guide to Pasadena

Geek out with fellow TV nerds at PaleyFest, the annual weeklong festival of exclusive episodes, clips and panel discussions with the cast and creators of the hottest TV shows. Now in its 42nd year, the Paley Center for Media-hosted festival is headed back to the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood from March 21 to 29. This year’s lineup includes cast and creator panels for Severance, Cobra Kai, Agatha All Along, Matlock, The Handmaid’s Tale, Hacks and Poker Face, plus one for a trio of Amy Sherman-Palladino shows: Gilmore Girls, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel and the upcoming Étoile. As you might expect, the talent lineup for each is pretty remarkable, including the likes of Adam Scott, Ben Stiller, Ralph Macchio, Kathryn Hahn, Kathy Bates, Elisabeth Moss, Jean Smart, Hannah Einbinder, Natasha Lyonne, Lauren Graham, Rachel Brosnahan and many, many more. Tickets go on sale to the general public on January 31 at 9am, with presales for Paley members earlier in the week.

Pop-punk heavyweights Blink-182 underwent an unlikely renaissance thanks to its 2011 comeback album, Neighborhoods—which would turn out to be the last release with its original trio for more than a decade. Cofrontman Tom DeLonge departed, and though his trademark hyperexaggerated whine was nigh impossible to replicate, Alkaline Trio’s Matt Skiba brought a fresh perspective as his replacement. But in 2022—just as the nostalgia cycle brought aughts-era pop-punk back into popularity—DeLonge rejoined Mark Hoppus and Travis Barker for a world tour and a stop at Coachella. Now, the SoCal natives return again, this time for a wildfire relief show at the Hollywood Palladium, with support—fittingly—from Alkaline Trio. Tickets go on sale Monday, January 27 at 3pm, and all proceeds will be donated to the Pasadena Humane Society, California Fire Department, LAFD Foundation and ARC Firefighter Fund.

Do we wish all of these amazingly-programmed wildfire charity concerts were arriving in L.A. under better circumstances? Absolutely. But it’s hard not to get genuinely excited about the lineup for G*VE A F*UCK LA, a benefit and auction that heads to the Hollywood Palladium on February 5.  John C. Reilly hosts an evening that includes performances from Courtney Barnett, FINNEAS, St. Vincent, Paramore’s Hayley Williams, Jenny Lewis, Lucy Dacus, former Girls singer Christopher Owens, the Linda Lindas, Fred Armisen, Juliette Lewis, Kevin Morby, MUNA, Perfume Genius, Reggie Watts, Rostam & Sasami, Scout Willis, Symone and Phantom Planet (surely they’ll play “California,” right?). Fat Tony and Harmony Tividad open the show with DJ sets, while Rico Nasty and Dylan Brady headline the official afterparty. All proceeds benefit Altadena Girls, Friends in Deed, One Voice and the Pasadena Humane Society, and service fees will be waived for the Live Nation-produced event. Tickets go on sale Tuesday, January 28 at noon; if you’re not able to score tickets, there’ll be a livestream available on Veeps for only $5. And if you are able to attend, you’re encouraged to bring a plant-based canned good with you to donate via Support + Feed. Courtesy Live Nation

Celebrate mankind’s most physical artform at Dance Camera West’s annual film festival, celebrating its 25th anniversary this year. The four-day event takes place at the Barnsdall Gallery Theatre, where you’ll find a mix of shorts and feature-length picks that explore dance on screen. There’s also a special Saturday-evening presentation at the Philosophical Research Society (3910 Los Feliz Blvd) and a five-day Co-Creation Lab, a workshop for filmmakers and dancers. In light of the fires, all tickets this year, including festival passes, are pay-what-you-can. Check the website for the full event schedule.

What better spot to mark the Lunar New Year than “the happiest place on earth”? Disney California Adventure commemorates the Year of the Snake with a month of multicultural celebrations. Kids can look forward to photo ops and parade processions with Mulan, Mushu, and Mickey and Minnie Mouse, while adults will find a tasty reprieve with treats from China, Korea and Vietnam. You’ll find festive lanterns and the bulk of the activity around Paradise Gardens Park, the Bay Area-esque boardwalk that runs past the Little Mermaid ride. It’s there that you’ll find a half-dozen food carts set up just for the occasion, with special menu items offered at even more preexisting restaurants. If you opt for the Sip and Savor pass ($46), you’ll have six vouchers that are valid for a selection of options at all of the spots (though sometimes at a slightly smaller tasting size). It’s a fun option, but you won’t necessarily save money this way; the tasty BBQ pork bun with kimchi mayo and garlic chile crunch ($9) at Prosperity Bao & Buns just barely beats the $8 average to maximize the value of your selections, though the mandarin orange mousse cake ($6.75) at Lucky 8 Lantern falls under that. Regardless, when it comes to the festival carts, find the one with the shortest line and order all of your picks from there: You can pick among the entire menu of festival offerings at any marketplace stall and then just present your receipt to get your food at its respective location. As for entertainment,

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

Each year, the botanical garden’s 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 17 through January 5, adds in the garden’s whimsical new model railroad, which has been all lit of for the season and filled with miniature replicas of Enchanted’s most recognizable installations (and kept me absolutely mesmerized for about 20 minutes). A few changes have carried over from last year’s edition, which shuffled some of the route and opened up a new glowing area around the rose garden. That’s where you’ll find HYBYCOZO’s familiar 3-D light sculptures (including their dizzying, spinnable versions) as well as a an assortment of food and drink options underneath a cozy pavilion. You’ll find a couple of other snacks by the main lawn, where sculptor Tom Fruin’s kaleidoscopic stained-glass–inspired houses sit flanked by smaller ones that let you smash a button to control the lighting. 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 re

Organized by New York’s Museum of Modern Art and presented by the Hammer Museum, “The 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 discussion with some of the creatives involved in the project. This year’s picks include The Piano Lesson (with a post-screening conversation with actor Danielle Deadwyler), Emilia Pérez (with composers Clément Ducol & Camille), Blitz (with writer-director Steve McQueen), Good One (with director India Donaldson) and Late Night with the Devil (with actor David Dastmalchian), plus The Brutalist, Memoir of a Snail, Maria, The Substance and Anora.  “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 films nabbing nominations in recent years. Tickets go on sale November 25 to the general public; they’re already on sale to Hammer members.

This exhibition of 21 soundstage-sized installations has floated its way into L.A. Don’t expect mere bundles of birthday balloons: Instead, these pieces range from room-filling ball pits to reflective LED tunnels to giant grabbable bubbles, all inspired by air in some way. The “museum” part of the name might be a little bit of a stretch (though each photogenic piece is actually credited to a named artist), but the “Let’s Fly” edition of this touring show is a more fun experience than your run-of-the-mill made-for-Instagram attraction: Whether you’re bonking the bouncy “Ginjos,” pushing a charcoal-tipped sphere or getting swept up in a staticky whirlwind of balloons, there are some undeniably entertaining—and yes, very photogenic—hands-on scenes here.

Cirque du Soleil has left behind DTLA for the beach with this staging of KOOZA next to the Santa Monica Pier. The high-flying troupe heads under the big top for its first show in the oceanfront city since 2014—and its first tented show in L.A. in about five years. If you’re only used to arena or theater productions, there’s a palpable shift in the vibe at these performances thanks to more preshow interaction with the performers and across-the-board closer seating. As for KOOZA itself, it’s a remarkably enjoyable program of gravity-defying balancing acts that fuses a bit of Parisian flair with a mix of Indian music and ’70s funk.

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 eye-popping prices)? On November 23 and 24, the Los Angeles Ballet will take excerpts of its Nutcracker show to teatime at the Waldorf Astoria. 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 photo ops with Santa. Meanwhile, grown-ups can get some shopping done, thanks to 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.

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 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 on coffee from “Luke” actor Scott Patterson own brand. Holidays Made Here runs as part of all studio tours (the cheapest one is a three-hour tour) from December 18, 2024, to January 5, 2025.

Fueled by a remarkably destructive windstorm, nearly 50,000 acres of Los Angeles County have so far been burned by multiple fires, most notably the catastrophic Palisades Fire in the Pacific Palisades and the Eaton Fire (as in Eaton Canyon) in Pasadena and Altadena, as well as the more recent Hughes Fire near Santa Clarita. Thousands of Angelenos within the vicinity of those fires have been displaced, so it’s no surprise that any and all museums, restaurants and parks that are still standing within those areas are closed. But as evacuation orders have eased and some much-needed rain has pushed the fires even closer to full containment, most spots have reopened their doors to provide a welcome refuge for Angelenos. Here’s a running list of major L.A. landmarks that are still closed today due to the fallout from the fires—plus which previously-closed places have been able to reopen. What’s still closed? Getty Villa + Getty Center Though the perimeter of the Palisades Fire surrounded the Getty Villa, the museum says that it remains safe; though trees and vegetation on the property have burned, the building and collections have been unaffected (you can read more here about how the museum has kept them secure). The Getty Villa is closed until further notice; nearby, the Getty Center in Brentwood will reopen on Tuesday, January 28. Self-Realization Fellowship Lake Shrine Though the Palisades Fire surrounded the meditation gardens, thankfully the venue shared that all of the legacy

I’m lucky: Though I live in Pasadena, my apartment was never in an Eaton Fire evacuation zone and the 210’s dozen-lane theoretical firebreak left me more appreciative of the freeway than I probably ever will be again. But like thousands of Angelenos, I was downwind of days’ worth of chemical-laden smoke that’s left my neighborhood’s sidewalks coated in soot and my hands raw from scrubbing and rescrubbing every single surface in my home. Taking my dog for a walk has meant protecting his little paws with socks, and when he inevitably tears those off, dunking his paws in water when we get home. So it’s from that perspective that I can say I’m psyched about the rain in the forecast this weekend. Starting Saturday night, through Sunday and possibly into Monday, most areas in L.A. County can expect .5 to 1.5 inches of rain, according to the National Weather Service. Though that won’t be enough to make a dent in this exceptionally dry winter, it will be the first sign of rain since the fires started two-and-a-half weeks ago, and the first notable precipitation in months; there hasn’t been any significant amount of rainfall in Downtown L.A. since May of 2024. Courtesy National Weather Service Of course, post-fire rain also stirs up fears of mudslides—thankfully, the NWS notes that the rain will largely be light and that flooding risks remain mostly low. (That said, the agency has issued a flood watch for the Palisades, Eaton, Bridge and Hughes burn scars.) There’s a slight chance o

There’s an animation you can watch on the Hammer Museum’s website that tracks all of the Westwood institution’s expansions and alterations since it opened in 1990. If you’re just staring at the map, the building’s largely unchanging footprint doesn’t make for a dramatic before and after—at least not compared to, say, a bunch of mid-century boxes that are transforming into an amoeba across town. But a lot has changed—and improved—at the contemporary art museum since its opening. Now, 23 years after its Michael Maltzan-designed master plan was first hatched, all of the courtyard enhancements, restaurant openings, gift shop renovations and theater and gallery conversions have culminated in the Hammer’s most significant (and near-final) transformation yet: the pedestrian-first additions of a 5,600-foot gallery, sculpture terrace and reconfigured lobby entrance—all, as has been the case for the past decade, free to visit. Photograph: Courtesy Eric Staudenmaier Photo: Jeff MclaneHammer Projects: Chiharu Shiota, Installation view, Hammer Museum, Los Angeles, March 26–August 27, 2023. Most visitors will still probably enter the museum from the attached parking garage. But if you do venture in on foot, rather than an unceremonious set of doors on Wilshire Boulevard, you’ll now be met with a proper grand entrance at the corner of Westwood Boulevard. (The clear signposting here should be particularly helpful come 2027—though, let’s be real, probably later than that—when a Metro stat

L.A. restaurants could really use a win right now. The Eaton and Palisades Fires destroyed eateries in Altadena and the Pacific Palisades (here’s how you can support them) and inspired spots around the city to offer free meals to first responders and evacuees. But Angelenos’ understandable survivalist shift has meant that some of your favorite restaurants are struggling right now. Can the “Oscars of food” singlehandedly solve this? Of course not. But consider Wednesday’s announcement of the 2025 James Beard Award semifinalists an incentive to reserve a table. Sixteen restaurants and chefs in L.A. made the esteemed awards’ shortlist; on April 2, those picks will be whittled down to a list of finalists, and on June 16, the winners will be announced during an event in Chicago. Semifinalists include an “outstanding chef” nod for Gilberto Cetina of Mexican seafood stall Holbox, “outstanding restaurant” for French bistro Pasjoli and—a new award this year—“outstanding bar” for Thunderbolt. You’ll find the full list of semifinalists a little farther down this page, though we’ve limited it to nominees within L.A. County; some of our neighbors made the shortlist, too, like Daisy and Greg Ryan of Bell’s in Los Alamos (Outstanding Restaurateur), Anaheim tiki bar Strong Water (Outstanding Wine and Other Beverages Program) and Daniel Castillo of San Juan Capistrano’s Heritage Barbecue (Best Chef: California). The James Beard Foundation’s annual awards “recognize exceptional talent in the c

We could all use a bit of a pick-me-up right now. And a wildfire benefit concert that features a mix of L.A. legends and recent (and upcoming) Coachella headliners? It just might be the first jolt of excitement we’ve felt in days. FireAid, a benefit concert that’ll be staged simultaneously at the Intuit Dome and Kia Forum on January 30, just announced its full lineup, and it’s big. The decades-spanning lineup includes Billie Eilish, Earth, Wind & Fire, Gracie Abrams, Jelly Roll, Katy Perry, Lady Gaga, Lil Baby, Olivia Rodrigo, Peso Pluma, Rod Stewart, Stevie Wonder, Sting and Tate McRae playing at Intuit Dome; and then Alanis Morissette, Anderson. Paak, Dave Matthews and John Mayer, Dawes, Graham Nash, Green Day, John Fogerty, Joni Mitchell, No Doubt, P!nk, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Stephen Stills, Stevie Nicks and the Black Crowes at the Kia Forum. Tickets go on sale Wednesday, January 22 at noon via Ticketmaster (not that there’s no presale). Tickets start at $99 and all proceeds—under the direction of the Annenberg Foundation—will be sent to a to-be-named list of short-term relief efforts for the Palisades and Eaton Fires as well as some long-term initiatives. (And don’t worry about the expenses of the event itself: The Clippers will be covering that cost.) View this post on Instagram A post shared by FireAidLA (@fireaidla) Since the shows only start an hour and a half apart (the Forum at 6pm, Intuit Dome at 7:30pm), you’ll only be able to attend one of them

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

UPDATE (Jan 13): As of Monday afternoon, the museum says that the staff, art collections and buildings remain safe. Some trees and vegetation on the property have burned, but the structures have been unaffected). The Getty Villa will be closed until further notice, and the Getty Center in Brentwood—which is just east of the fire—will also be closed likely until Monday, January 20. The museum also shared a photo of the Getty Villa taken during the afternoon on January 9, which you can see below. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Getty (@gettymuseum) Our original story appears below. The fast-moving Palisades Fire has already burned more than 1,200 acres and forced tens of thousands of Angelenos in the coastal canyon community to evacuate. The wind-fueled wildfire has damaged and destroyed homes, and the state-updated map of the incident area shows it uncomfortably close to a pair of L.A. landmarks, including the Lake Shrine and the Getty Villa. Reports on social media and local news channels circulated that the iconic antiquities museum may have caught fire, but just after 5pm on Tuesday, the Getty Villa released a statement to clarify that “some trees and vegetation on site have burned, but staff and the collection remain safe.” The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) map from right around the same time shows the perimeter of the fire surrounding the northeast end of the property, but the building itself in the clear.

UPDATE (Jan 13): With the first of the two wind events behind us, the National Weather Service has warned that the next one will bring extreme fire danger to areas that are most typically impacted by the Santa Ana winds. Since it’s expected to follow more typical Santa Ana wind behaviors compared to last week’s wind event, the National Weather Service forecasts an extreme risk of fire conditions in much of the San Fernando Valley, the western Santa Monica Mountains, the 5 corridor north of Santa Clarita and nearly all of Ventura County. Between 4am on Tuesday and noon on Wednesday, winds in those areas will thankfully be weaker than last week, but are still expected to bring gusts between 45 and 70mph. Extreme fire danger will continue thru Wed. PDS Red Flag Warnings are for the extreme of the extreme fire weather scenarios. In other words, this setup is about as bad as it gets. Stay aware of your surroundings. Be prepared to evacuate. Avoid anything that can spark a fire.#cawx pic.twitter.com/JedMNHvygB — NWS Los Angeles (@NWSLosAngeles) January 13, 2025 The NWS has issued a “particularly dangerous situation” alert for those areas, but a red flag warning will be in place for a much wider region, including the Palisades and Eaton Fire burn areas. Map of SW California and the current Red Flag Warnings in effect. All areas in red have a high risk for rapid fire growth if a fire starts. Areas outlined in purple are of most concern and are in a Particularly Dangerous Situation

We’re not ones for fear mongering, but when the National Weather service says that it has high confidence that a “life-threatening, destructive, widespread” windstorm is headed for Los Angeles with the potential for “extreme fire behavior,” well that kind of gets your attention. The NWS has issued both a high wind warning and a red flag warning, with the most damaging conditions due to impact the northern portion of the L.A. Basin as well as both the San Fernando and San Gabriel Valleys. From 4pm on Tuesday until 6pm on Wednesday, those areas (and even others outside of them) could see winds between 25 and 50mph, with gusts between 60 and 80mph—and even as high as 100mph in some mountainous areas. While L.A. is no stranger to Santa Ana Winds, a slight shift in typical wind direction will bring the most damaging gusts farther east and therefore cover more of L.A. County than usual (most Santa Ana events focus on the Ventura County coastline). As a result, the NWS predicts that the storm will likely be as destructive as the 2011 one that brought trees down in Pasadena and the San Gabriel Valley foothills. HEADS UP!!! A LIFE-THREATENING, DESTRUCTIVE, Widespread Windstorm is expected Tue afternoon-Weds morning across much of Ventura/LA Co. Areas not typically windy will be impacted. See graphic for areas of greatest concern. Stay indoors, away from windows, expect poweroutages. #LA pic.twitter.com/yl83LxeMEc — NWS Los Angeles (@NWSLosAngeles) January 6, 2025 The agency says to

For all the joys of revisiting this past year’s standouts, looking ahead is just as—if not more—exciting. City-transforming museum and transit projects loom on the horizon, as do some tremendous sporting events and much-anticipated theme park additions. Yes, 2026 is going to be huge—oh wait, sorry, we’re talking about 2025? Well, that’ll be alright too, we guess. For the types of leisure-focused topics we cover at Time Out, some years are undoubtedly bigger than others. And 2025? It has some excitement on tap, for sure. But it’s also just as notable for the things that only a year or so ago would’ve made it onto this list: The LAX People Mover, LACMA’s brand-new building, the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art and the Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing were all slated for 2025 at one point but have since been pushed back to 2026. We’re all about optimism, though, and we think there’s still plenty in 2025 that’ll make you glad you live in Los Angeles. (We’re also about realistic expectations, so while we’d love to see Dreamstar’s L.A.-to-SF night train or the Cinerama Dome’s revival on this list, we haven’t seen quite enough recent concrete info to merit their inclusion.) We’ve combed through everything announced for 2025 so far—from Disneyland’s 70th anniversary and Oasis’s Rose Bowl reunion to the arrival of Bojangles and an Erewhon in Glendale—and narrowed things down to these eight standouts that we’re most looking forward to. Two new major Metro extensions will let you ditch y

Most people outside of L.A. don’t think of it as a winter wonderland—but I sure do. Once the first winter storm of the season rolls through, the eastern peaks of the San Gabriel Mountains become blanketed in snow, and you might even be lucky enough to spot some powder from the first few miles of Angeles Crest Highway. But those snowstorms have yet to arrive, and it was literally 80 degrees earlier this week. So how are you supposed to feel the holiday spirit? With some fake snow. Just like the real stuff, these manufactured flakes are water-based and dissolve pretty much on contact (and one Crenshaw-area company, MagicSnow, is behind most of the displays you’ll find in the region). If you can’t be bothered to drive hours to a ski resort but just want to see some festive flurries—regardless of whether they came from a cloud or a machine—then head to these malls and theme parks over the next couple of weeks before they wrap up their annual Christmas events. Westfield Century City Through December 26, you’ll find some surprisingly thick snowfall at the open-air Westside mall’s holiday village. Flurries fall Monday through Wednesday at noon, 2, 4, 6 and 8pm, and that pace picks up Thursday through Sunday, when you’ll find it at noon, 2pm and then every half hour between 4 and 8pm, with a finale at 9pm. Photograph: Courtesy the Grove The Grove If you can get past the packed parking lot during the holidays, L.A.’s most iconic open-air mall feels downright magical around Christmas

There are undoubtedly dozens of festive neighborhoods in the U.S. that dub themselves “Candy Cane Lane” this time of year—and there are at least two in L.A. alone, including one in Woodland Hills. But it’s Candy Cane Lane in El Segundo, a cul-de-sac at the end of East Acacia Avenue, that most deserves your attention. For three quarters of a century, roughly two dozen homes just south of LAX deck out their lawns, roofs, trees and just about any other exposed surface with Christmas lights and inflatables. The homeowners at Candy Cane Lane go all out—so much so that the neighborhood inspired last year’s Eddie Murphy-starring film of the same name. As you might expect, there are plenty of Angelenos who want to partake in the illuminated revelry, so the City of El Segundo has taken some steps to manage the crowds. For starters, from December 14 to December 23 between 5 and 11pm, Acacia Avenue is closed to car traffic nightly east of Center Street, and the intersecting stretch of California Street is closed too. Photograph: Danny Carranza for Time Out Photograph: Danny Carranza for Time Out During that same time span, you’ll find shuttle service on the weekend to help alleviate the parking situation. The free shuttle runs Friday through Sunday from 4:30 to 10pm, with service between Recreation Park (401 Sheldon St) and Sycamore Park. Technically, the city says that the event only runs through December 23, with nightly viewing opportunities until 10pm. You may find that individu