Solvang, California’s enchanting Danish town, goes full Christmas
p]:text-cms-story-body-color-text clearfix”> If you’re eager to mark the holidays this year with a Danish flair but Copenhagen seems a tad too far away, you might find the answer in Solvang. An answer that includes gnomes and a troll. That city,…
DSRT Surf, a surf park in Palm Desert, is set to open in 2026
Forget Malibu or the North Shore. Next summer, you can catch a wave in Palm Desert, 100 miles from the nearest ocean. After years of delays, DSRT Surf, the Coachella Valley’s second surf destination, is expected to open to the…
Slash, Guns N’ Roses legend, talks about his favorite theme park rides
Guitar ace Slash rose to prominence with an unmistakable look as the anchor of Guns N’ Roses. A true rock ’n’ roll persona, the artist was once rarely seen without a drooping cigarette and a top hat, the latter of…
Ben Uyeda’s Reset Hotel in Joshua Tree is modern, minimal and modular
Dressed in torn cargo pants and beat up Vans, architectural designer and DIY influencer Ben Uyeda was stretched out poolside in a rare moment of repose on a recent Tuesday evening at Reset, his new hotel in 29 Palms. “This…
We Explore Earth has full-moon hikes, yoga, stargazing and community
As the last bit of the afternoon sun beamed down on a patch of grass right outside Elysian Park, hikers unfurled yoga mats and stretched beside a busy street. Dogs tugged at their leashes. William Vazquez moved through the crowd,…
/fi8d3vgy.JPG)
The loneliest phone booth in the world
MOJAVE NATIONAL PRESERVE — With only the lazy Joshua trees and hovering buzzards out here to bear witness, this isolated expanse of high-desert plain could well be among the quietest places on the planet. By day, the summer heat hammers hard and…
How to have the best Sunday in L.A., according to Alex Edelman
In “The Paper,” the much anticipated mockumentary spinoff to “The Office,” Alex Edelman plays intrepid accountant/reporter Adam Cooper, part of the team tasked with reviving local newspaper “The Toledo Truth-Teller.” Edelman was also a writer and consulting producer for the…
What to know about Chuck’s Arcade, the adult-focused Chuck E. Cheese
Chuck E. Cheese is all grown-up. Sort of. Brea Mall is now home to a Chuck’s Arcade, the first location in California and 10th in the U.S. When the company unveiled the concept earlier this year, headlines branded it as…
.jpg)
Tell us: Do you take the exact same vacation year after year?
As September begins, legions of Californians have just wound up their summer travels, which often follow family traditions. Frequently there are lakes involved. Or islands. Or a national park. We’re asking readers to tell us about a place you keep…
Inside the newest hotel in Ojai, which is also the oldest
Downtown Ojai’s newest hotel, which is also its oldest, stands along Ojai Avenue like a rancher in his best string tie and leather vest. This property, now known as Hotel El Roblar, has been a fixture on Ojai’s main street…
How to have the best Sunday in L.A., according to Zack Fox
Long before Zack Fox was making scene-stealing appearances in “Abbott Elementary,” releasing music and amassing millions of views on his sweat-inducing DJ sets, he was best known for his Twitter jokes. Fox, a graphic artist and emcee for Atlanta-based indie…
‘Pirates Wanted’ is an interactive show aboard a Long Beach tall ship
Pirating, as evidenced by centuries of stories and one of the greatest theme park rides, has long fascinated. Seafaring and sword fighting imply adventure. Dice games? Bluffing and strategy. And if you’re really lucky, maybe you’ll find a mermaid. Audience…
Are you over 90 years old and very physically active?
I’ll never forget the moment I met 93-year-old DeLoyce Alcorn. It was last fall and he was in the midst of his weekly workout at the Strength Shoppe in Echo Park. The retired aerospace engineer, then 92, was wearing a…
How to have the best Sunday in L.A., according to Chris Paul
Before Chris Paul was traded to the Los Angeles Clippers in 2011, he had a stereotypical view of the city. “When I came as a visitor, we always stayed at the Ritz-Carlton in the Marina, and every player, all [we]…
A hike into horror and an act of courage
Glacier National Park, Mont. — JOHAN looked up. Jenna was running toward him. She had yelled something, he wasn’t sure what. Then he saw it. The open mouth, the tongue, the teeth, the flattened ears. Jenna ran right past him, and it…
A guide to L.A.’s ‘Spinning Sunset’ vinyl fair on the Sunset Strip
At Whisky a Go Go, the Doors were the house band during the summer of 1966. Bob Marley and the Wailers recorded a live album at the Roxy. Van Halen got their start at shuttered nightclub Gazzarri’s. It’s undeniable that…
How to have the best Sunday in L.A., according to Manny Jacinto
Among the herd of aspiring actors who move to Los Angeles to pursue their Hollywood dreams, Manny Jacinto was sure to set modest expectations for himself. “In my head, I was going to come here a few times,” says Jacinto,…
Ballers, a new pickleball-centric social club, is coming to DTLA
A sprawling social club centering on racquet sports — the ubiquitous pickleball and rising padel, a blend of tennis and squash — is making its way to downtown L.A. next summer. With the cheeky name Ballers, the club will be…
How to have the best Sunday in L.A., according to Alan Tudyk
Even if you’re not sure you’ve seen Alan Tudyk in the numerous films or TV shows he’s appeared in, you’ve definitely heard him. Tudyk has been endearing audiences with his vocal stylings ever since 2002’s “Ice Age” — he voiced…
Halloween every day? Universal Horror Unleashed opens in Las Vegas
p]:text-cms-story-body-color-text clearfix”> Las Vegas — I turn a bend and see a figure in a cornfield. The gray sky is foreboding, a storm clearly on the horizon. When I take a step forward, I’m hit with a gust of wind…
Train workers urge Union Pacific to allow trail to stunning waterfall
About 10 times each day, giant freight trains pass along a narrow section of track along the Sacramento River in far northern California where engineers on the locomotives regularly tense up with stress. “Every single time, it’s a near miss”…
How to have the best Sunday in L.A., according to Melissa Etheridge
Melissa Etheridge has always written what she feels, and what she’s feeling right now, at this moment in her life, is liberated. The folk-rock legend, best known for her raspy ‘90s anthems (cue “Come to my window …”), just finished…
This rundown Hollywood motel gets a new status: L.A. historic monument
The Hollywood Premiere Motel doesn’t get a lot of rave reviews — in fact, it’s among the lowest ranked lodgings in the city. But thanks to its mid-century Googie design, it is the first motel to join the L.A.’s Historic-Cultural…
SoCal’s Museum of Make Believe is a world of handmade wonder
With a playful spirit and a childlike sense of curiosity, it’s perhaps no surprise that the whimsically named Museum of Make Believe appealed instantly to a young audience. The Laguna Beach space, a 1,000-square-foot love letter to fairy tales, is…
For these coveted California campgrounds, a new lottery system launches
State parks officials say they’re unveiling a lottery-style drawing system for select campsites in three of California’s most sought-after state park campgrounds: Malibu Creek, Morro Bay and McArthur-Burney Falls. The new system began this month at Malibu Creek, allowing would-be…
How to have the best Sunday in L.A., according to Jack Quaid
After starring in several back-to-back projects over the past six months, Jack Quaid has been eager to finally settle in for a bit. “It’s amazing that I get to do this job, but I do find myself missing home a…
The Santa Ynez Chumash Museum: What to expect when you visit
p]:text-cms-story-body-color-text clearfix”> For thousands of years, the Chumash people lived along California’s Central Coast and on its Channel Islands. Then the newcomers arrived — Spanish explorers, Catholic missionaries, Mexican rancheros, California settlers — and the Chumash way of life was…
How to have the best Sunday in L.A., according to Marlee Matlin
Growing up in the suburbs of Chicago, Marlee Matlin always looked forward to Sundays. It was her father’s only day off, so her family made a weekly tradition of meeting up with close friends for breakfast at a local deli….
What to know about ‘Walt Disney — A Magical Life’ at Disneyland
p]:text-cms-story-body-color-text clearfix”> By now, many Disney fans have had a chance to see the officially released images by the company as well as close-up pictures taken by park guests. There have been quibbles, to say the least, with many a…
What was the best Disneyland era? Looking back on the past 70 years
p]:text-cms-story-body-color-text clearfix”> It’s all about a California (and high-growth) state of mind. A park photographer, Kristin Wagner, photographs visitors as they enter Disney’s California Adventure, just below a recreation of the Golden Gate Bridge. (Don Kelsen/Los Angeles Times) In a…
Contributor: Uncle Sam wants you … to rat on national parks that reflect true history
Few initiatives of the Trump administration more seriously undermine our understanding of the nation’s past than Executive Order 14253 from March 27, which promises “to restore Federal sites dedicated to history, including parks and museums, to solemn and uplifting public…
Parking in L.A. is complicated. Tell us how you’re coping
Not so long ago, parking at the curb in Southern California was relatively simple: It was either free to park, or you had to feed change into a meter. Boy, times have changed! Now, any given meter might require quarters,…
A photo booth museum is opening in L.A. Here’s how to experience it.
Picture this: A gaggle of 21-year-olds squeeze into a booth, pull the curtain and smile for the camera. After a series of mysterious analog rumblings, the booth expels a tiny strip of prints. The posers crowd in to savor the…
Palm Springs hotels have big summer deals — if you can face the heat
p]:text-cms-story-body-color-text clearfix”> Summer is here, and with it comes the annual desire to pack up and unplug somewhere, anywhere, else. But sandy beaches, far-flung tropical locales and mountain escapes often come with throngs of tourists and inflated pricing. Then there’s…
How to have the best Sunday in L.A., according to Nathan Fillion
Nathan Fillion straddles the line between everyman and hunk — and he’s built a career out of it. He’s a natural in roles that require both charisma and a touch of self-awareness, whether he’s solving crimes, commanding a spaceship or…
Where to watch the ‘Love Island USA’ season finale in L.A.
“Let it go!” one person screamed at a massive TV screen. “Get him out of my villa!” shouted another. “Oh, we’re voting tonight!” declared another as they whipped their index finger in a circular motion as if to say, “We…
How to have the best Sunday in L.A., according to Patrick Ta
Celebrity makeup artist and entrepreneur Patrick Ta admits that he is constantly falling in and out of love with Los Angeles — the place he’s called home for the last 13 years. “[But] right now, I’m obsessed with Los Angeles,”…
VTubers are descending on L.A. with multiple concerts
Kou Mariya hasn’t shown her work to her family. That’s because Mariya, not her real name, is living a dual identity, and to protect her privacy, only the most sacred of confidants — or business partners — can know her…
Griffith Park Pool, dry since 2020, to be replaced
The historic Griffith Park Pool, built in 1927 and once the largest aquatic facility in Los Angeles, has been dry since 2020. Now, as summer heats up, residents are learning that it won’t be filled again. Instead, the city is…
Buffalo Bill’s Resort set to close amid Primm’s struggles
The giant rainbow-colored headdress sitting atop a bison beckoned generations of Angelenos and other drivers heading into Nevada on the 15 Freeway. Sure, Las Vegas was only 40 minutes north, but at Buffalo Bill’s Resort and Casino, patrons could enjoy…
‘Are you from California?’ Political advisor said he was detained at airport after confirming he’s from L.A.
Veteran Los Angeles political consultant Rick Taylor said he was pulled aside by U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents while returning from a trip abroad, asked if he was from California and then separated from his family and put in…
How to have the best Sunday in L.A., according to Victoria Monét
Like most busy working mothers who struggle with work-life balance, three-time Grammy Award winner Victoria Monét cherishes spending time with her 4-year-old daughter, Hazel, who she shares with ex-boyfriend fitness trainer John Gaines. In Sunday Funday, L.A. people give us…
How Erewhon became a Los Angeles tourist destination
When William Rath mapped out his post-law school trip to Los Angeles in May, his itinerary included the city’s quintessential landmarks: gazing up at the Hollywood sign from Beachwood Canyon, taking a celebrity homes tour, scanning the Pacific Ocean for…
Bombing in Iran sparks concern for historic Isfahan architecture
While military strategists scramble to learn the damage done by U.S. bombs and missiles in Iran, many scholars and Iranian Americans are wondering what this means for the people and architectural treasures of Isfahan. The Isfahan area, which includes one…
Silver Lake is now home to L.A.’s first women’s sports bar
When Janie and Stephanie Ellingwood went to a local brewery one night to watch a U.S. Women’s National Team soccer game with some friends, they didn’t think it would be a big deal to ask the staff to turn on…
How to have the best Sunday in L.A., according to Judy Greer
Chances are, you’ve seen (or heard) Judy Greer in one of her many roles over her prolific, multidecade career. She’s played Maggie Lang in “Ant-Man,” voiced Cheryl Tunt in the long-running animated adult sitcom “Archer,” and appeared as Jennifer Garner’s…
The thrill of seeing a rocket launch in this California coastal town
The first time Gene Kozicki drove to Lompoc to see a rocket blast off from Vandenberg Space Force Base, it was night, and the whole scene reminded him of the movie “Close Encounters of the Third Kind.” The road was…
Summer happenings at SoCal theme parks: Disneyland, Knott’s and more
p]:text-cms-story-body-color-text clearfix”> Guests will be asked to pick a side at Six Flags Magic Mountain’s “DC Heroes and Villains” fest. (Six Flags Magic Mountain) The Valencia coaster park this summer is leaning into superhero properties. The likes of Batman, Superman,…
How to have the best Sunday in L.A., according to Bryce Dallas Howard
Third-generation actor and director Bryce Dallas Howard has a lot going on — so much so that when The Times caught up with her recently, she was just getting over laryngitis. “Last week, it was like I would open my…
Samar creates unisex perfumes that make you feel things
p]:text-cms-story-body-color-text clearfix”> As you climb the staircase to Debbie Lin and Na-Moya Lawrence’s second-story Hollywood apartment, a smell begins to materialize. It’s earthy and calming — grounding, even — and by the time you open their door, the scent envelops…
I ran the Nike After Dark Tour in L.A. Here’s what went down.
After running — or more like barely surviving — my first half-marathon about a decade ago in Las Vegas, I had no desire to participate in a long-distance run ever again. That was until I learned that Nike was hosting…
The Trinity Alps Wilderness might be California’s best-kept secret
p]:text-cms-story-body-color-text clearfix”> Trinity Lake, at its fullest, has 145 miles of shoreline and is 2.5 million acre-feet of water. It is an artificial lake formed by the creation of the Trinity Dam, a massive earth-filled dam, in the 1960s. (Jaclyn…
How to have the best Sunday in L.A., according to Taylor Jenkins Reid
There are many factors that led Taylor Jenkins Reid to choose space as the backdrop of her new novel, “Atmosphere,” a thrilling love story set at NASA in the 1980s. One may very well have been her L.A. commute. In…
Want wild wedding photos? Call an elopement adventure photographer
Standing near the ledge of a magnificent canyon in Utah’s Dead Horse Point State Park in the hours before sunset, my fiancée Gia and I looked each other in the eyes as we read our vows. But our officiant was…
How to have the best Sunday in L.A., according to Debbie Allen
When Debbie Allen opened the doors to her dance academy in 2000 inside of a revamped Marie Callender’s restaurant in Culver City, there was no other place in town like it that catered to disenfranchised Black and Latino communities. The…
L.A. venue Cosm turns ‘The Matrix’ into an immersive experience
When you watch “The Matrix” at Cosm, you’re essentially seeing a film within a film. A shot inside an apartment becomes a glimpse into an entire complex. A fight scene on a rooftop is now one small part of a…
Travel disruptions fueled by Trump policies may culminate at peak summer season
WASHINGTON — The Trump administration invited travel industry executives to the White House in May for a meeting on federal plans for the 2026 World Cup, a landmark event that under normal circumstances would draw massive international tourism to the United States….
How to have the best Sunday in L.A., according to Felix Mallard
What Felix Mallard has grown to appreciate about living in L.A. is that there’s a pocket of town to match every vibe — even if that vibe is “Aussie,” which his proudly is, having moved from Melbourne seven years ago….
How to have sex on your family vacation
“Vacation” and “sex” were once my two favorite words. Put them together and you’ve got the mecca of pleasure: a romp in Egyptian cotton sheets followed by a juicy room service cheeseburger. Can you say sex in Italian? I can…
What it’s like to do an enzyme cedar bath at Osmosis Day Spa Sanctuary
p]:text-cms-story-body-color-text clearfix”> Before our appointment at Osmosis Day Spa Sanctuary, a peaceful retreat off the Bodega Highway in West Sonoma county, a friend and I popped into a nearby gift shop. We told the owner that we were destined to…
Inside Bischoff’s, the L.A. taxidermy company that preserves dead pets
In a room inside a North Hollywood warehouse, dozens of pets are ready for their owners to take them home. Boots, a young black-and-white domestic shorthair cat, lies on his back, pawing playfully at the air. A trio of red,…
How to have the best Sunday in L.A. according to Terry Crews
Terry Crews is a man of many talents. In the 1990s, he played for both the Rams and the Chargers before becoming an actor and starring in projects like “White Chicks,” “Everybody Hates Chris,” “Brooklyn Nine-Nine” and “The Expendables” franchise….
In ‘Conan O’Brien Must Go,’ the host is hunting for the unexpected
“Conan O’Brien Must Go” wraps it’s three-episode second season on Thursday with a trip to Austria. (Pamela Littky / Max) If we had planned it better (and had the budget for it), this interview with Conan O’Brien would have been…
With record Memorial Day weekend travel expected, here’s what to know
Along with vacation necessities such as sunblock and a toothbrush, Southern Californians hoping to get away for Memorial Day weekend will also need to bring a hefty supply of patience to freeways and airports. A record-breaking number of people across…
Photos: Motel California, the delight is in the details
I am a photo fellow at the L.A. Times, and recently spent three days photographing for the Motel California project at the Skyview Los Alamos. What immediately struck me was how tucked away in the hills the motel was, even…
Is the late-night teahouse the future of nightlife in L.A.?
Teahouses built for spending extended time in, open until the wee hours of the night, are popping up all over the city. Some are elusive, hidden in plain sight or only accessible via a mysterious membership. Others have gone viral…
5 fascinating facts about motels, from murders to Magic Fingers
Life, death, crime, kitsch, nostalgia, immigrant aspirations and witty design — all of these elements converge in the world of motels, which didn’t exist before 1925. Here are five facts and phenomena from the century of history. The motel turns…
Check out these vintage matchbooks from Route 66, SoCal motels
p]:text-cms-story-body-color-text clearfix”> Denise McKinney says she has probably somewhere close to half a million matchbooks tucked away inside her Riverside home. She’s been collecting for years and will typically pick up whatever strikes her fancy, no pun intended. She has…
The L.A. Times guide to the best motels in California
The motel, a word born in California, turns 100 this year. And for road trip adventurers, there have never been more options. You might stay at the legendary pink palace that is the Madonna Inn. Or Surfrider Malibu, where you…
My epic search for the greatest motels in California
Listen. That’s the low hum of the highway you hear behind me, offset by the rumble of the ice machine down the breezeway. We gather today to celebrate the motel, a uniquely American creature, conceived in California through the unholy…
How to have the best Sunday in L.A., according to Gabby Windey
Spiritually, Gabby Windey is all about Sundays in a hardcore, no-exceptions, day-of-rest sort of way. The “Long Winded” podcast host became the breakout star of “The Traitors” this year after winning the reality TV competition with a series of bold…
4 magical lantern festivals in or near Southern California
Is there anything more like a fairy tale than thousands of glowing lanterns floating heavenward into the night? Long before the luminescent spectacle awed viewers of Disney’s 2010 film “Tangled,” real-life lantern festivals have been taking place around the world….
Take a spring hike to a waterfall with the Los Angeles Times
Howdy! I’m Jaclyn Cosgrove, an outdoors reporter at the L.A. Times. My job is to explore the mountains surrounding Los Angeles to find the best hikes, campgrounds and other adventures for you to tackle. I also write Between a Rock,…
Yosemite National Park won’t be opening its coveted High Sierra Camps this year. Here’s why
The highly coveted High Sierra Camps in Yosemite National Park that have been closed since 2018 will remain closed this summer because potable water and toilets won’t be available, according to park officials. “This decision was made in collaboration with…
‘Inside Out’s’ ‘Be happy’ message irks in new Disneyland water show
The Disneyland Resort’s new “World of Color” show begins with some regal nostalgia. Standing before a lagoon in Disney California Adventure, we hear the voice of Walt Disney, and see a host of Disney’s animated classics — “The Little Mermaid,”…
Early maps show the ‘lost lands’ of Disneyland, new book reveals
There’s an oft-repeated Disneyland creation myth: Artist and animation art director Herb Ryman was given 48 hours to draw an early, heavily detailed and romanticized map of the theme park, which would be used to help sell the project to…
Inside the buzzy closet sale for L.A. fashion ‘it’ girls
Some advice: If you love something, set it free — even the Miu Miu heels. This was the notion that two friends, Quinn Shephard and Francesca Goncalves, were discussing in a sun-kissed setting (a “pool somewhere,” Shephard recalls). They wanted…
Wrestle a luchador? Airbnb to offer 22,000 experiences
Airbnb wants to do your hair, cook your dinner, massage your back and possibly photograph your honeymoon. All these services, and several more, are part of a new bid by the company to further expand beyond its roots as a…
Get away from it all with a serene backpacking trip near L.A.
When vacationing in Los Angeles, you can truly choose your own adventure. Those in search of luxury can stay in a five-star hotel, sleeping on a plush bed, soaking in a deep bath tub and lounging on a balcony with…
L.A.’s ‘Lunar Light’ VR experience takes you to the moon
p]:text-cms-story-body-color-text clearfix”> I’m at peace with the idea that I won’t be visiting space in my lifetime. The cost of space tourism is out of reach for me and the vast majority of Americans. Yet on a recent Saturday afternoon,…
Cercle brings an immersive concert experience to L.A.
p]:text-cms-story-body-color-text clearfix”> While Cercle’s in-person shows over the years have required fans to get on an airplane and travel to historical and remote destinations such as the Sisteron Citadel in France, Barbolla wanted Cercle Odyssey to be more accessible to…
This L.A. ‘floating’ tennis club has a pinch of country club swagger
p]:text-cms-story-body-color-text clearfix”> Across the six players on the tennis court at noon on a Friday in Beverly Hills, I clock two Cartier watches and one Rolex. There’s tennis skirts paired with chunky cable-knit sweaters and white sneakers and tote bags…
Where to find a hidden field of poppies in L.A. County
Nature enthusiasts walked among colorful native flowers growing wild at Elizabeth Lake and Munz Ranch roads. (Raul Roa / Los Angeles Times) For me, springtime means taking road trips to document the wildflower fields through Southern California. But this season…
48 hours to create a 10-minute show: Inside the Immersive Invitational
Throughout the evening on Sunday, I was placed in a foreign jail, joined a folk-rock band for a sing-along uprising that involved a killer bear and ran up multiple times against selfish, greedy taskmasters, once in a comedic production in…
Trump’s call to reopen Alcatraz falls flat with tourists, who ask: Why and how?
ALCATRAZ ISLAND, Calif. — The exhibits on Alcatraz Island, the infamous federal prison that decades ago was shuttered and preserved as a national park site and tourist attraction, invite visitors to imagine what it was like to be a guard or…
How to have the best Sunday in L.A., according to Paul Feig
Onscreen, multihyphenate screenwriter-director-producer Paul Feig is best known for fun and funny films such as “Bridesmaids,” “Last Christmas” and “A Simple Favor.” And offscreen, he’s known for his impeccable sense of style, enthusiastic embrace of cocktail culture (his Artingstall’s gin…
What fans wore to Beyoncé’s ‘Cowboy Carter’ show in L.A.
Beyoncé kicked off her highly anticipated “Cowboy Carter” tour this week in Los Angeles at the SoFi Stadium, where she’ll be gracing the stage five times through May 9. Share Share via Close extra sharing options As expected, the Beyhive…
It ‘keeps Walt alive’: Imagineers defend new Walt Disney robot
“It’s kind of fun to do the impossible.” That’s one of Walt Disney’s most popular quotes, often used in the context of the theme park marvels imagined by the company he created. Over the decades Walt Disney Imagineering, the secretive…
The vintage Japanese car club that’s redefining car culture in L.A.
As Savant Young carefully wipes down his charcoal gray 1973 Mazda RX-3 inside the Vintage Japanese Motor Union clubhouse, he pauses to apologize for being so focused on his car. “It gets so dusty in here,” he explains, gesturing around…
This California town has a breathtaking waterfall — and no legal public access
DUNSMUIR, Calif. — Less than a half a mile from the city limits of this Northern California railroad town is a natural wonder so enchanting that locals compare it to geologic features in Yosemite or Yellowstone. “The most beautiful waterfall I’ve ever…
At 93, legendary Disney imagineer Bob Gurr has stories to tell
Bob Gurr has often joked that if it’s at Disneyland and it moves, he likely had a hand in its design. Gurr first started working for Disney in late 1954, just months before Disneyland would open in July 1955, and…
How to have the best Sunday in L.A., according to Taylor Tomlinson
Taylor Tomlinson, the comedian and writer who has hosted the CBS talk and variety show “After Midnight” for two seasons, has lived in Los Angeles for nine years. But thanks to a robust stand-up schedule (her now-in-progress “The Save Me…
Ask us your questions about L.A. and we’ll share very specific recs
In L.A., there are two types of locals: those who have a Google Maps list filled with recommendations ready to go for every scenario. And those those who panic at the very thought of having to curate an itinerary, whether…
Tickets go on sale for Cinespia’s summer movies at Hollywood Forever
The 24th summer of movies under the stars at Hollywood Forever Cemetery will begin Memorial Day weekend when Cinespia screens “The Big Lebowski” on May 24. The next night comes a 30th anniversary presentation of “Clueless,” followed by a May…
How to tap into Black cowboy culture in L.A. beyond Beyoncé’s concert
Charlie Sampson competes in the National Finals Rodeo in Oklahoma City in December 1982. (Denver Post / Getty Images) Bull rides, rope tricks and a crowd just as focused on history as the thrill — the inaugural Charlie Sampson Rodeo…
Tell us: When did you officially feel like a ‘local’ in L.A.?
Seven years ago, after visiting Los Angeles nearly every summer to spend time with relatives and friends, I took the plunge and finally moved from Las Vegas to L.A. Two weeks later, I got into my first car accident. A…
Lyrid meteor shower: How to best see shooting stars for Earth Day
Shooting stars will usher in Earth Day starting late Monday night as the Lyrid meteor shower reaches its peak — and Californians will have some of the best views in the country. The annual meteor shower event will be most…
Inside RummiKlub, the L.A. club that’s making Rummikub chic
On a Saturday night in Beverly Hills, nearly 150 stylish people filter into a grandiose ballroom for an exclusive event. Martinis are flowing and skinny French fries are arriving on small plates. Upbeat music booms over the speakers, and laughter…
How to have the best Sunday in L.A., according to Jordan Firstman
Making a comedy-music album based on secrets shared by internet strangers might not seem like an obvious step for Jordan Firstman, who stars in FX’s “English Teacher” and Rachel Sennott’s new HBO show that’s being called the “It” pilot of…
Everything you need to know about Disneyland’s 70th celebration
The Disneyland Resort is turning 70 in July, and it has never missed an opportunity to throw a party — especially one rooted in nostalgia. For the year-long event, a number of fan favorites are making their return, in addition…
Contributor: Easy entry into the U.S. from foreign shores? Don’t count on it now
For some, it’s as routine as paying at the checkout counter. For others, it’s as nerve-racking as a root canal. Which experience you have depends largely on one thing: where you were born. We’re talking about international travel. Since President…
What to know about Universal Studio’s new Fan Fest Nights
“Star Trek” is a franchise that’s always seemed ripe for exploration in a theme park. Space travel, aliens, magic-like technology and, perhaps most importantly, an underlying belief in human-centered optimism. Encounter someone who saw “Star Trek: The Experience” in Las…
I’ve been married 13 years. Why is vacation sex suddenly so fleeting?
A funny thing happened almost a decade ago when I told my girlfriends that I was embarking on a two-week anniversary trip with my husband. Eyebrows were raised. One friend shook her head and said, “That would quickly become problematic.”…
How to have the best Sunday in L.A., according to Amanda Gorman
Growing up in Westchester, Amanda Gorman’s Sundays were dedicated to one thing: church. “I went to a historically Black church and I feel like it’s always an occasion to go to church as an African American,” says 27-year-old Gorman, who…
L.A.’s photo booths are going high-tech — and Gen Z is obsessed
On a recent Saturday afternoon in the Arts District, a group of seven friends — plus a tiny dog — contorted and twisted their bodies to fit inside a light brown, 8-foot-tall box that had a mirrored door inscribed with…
Epic Universe gives Disney theme parks a run for their money
Orlando, Fla. — There is no theme park land quite like Dark Universe. Don’t expect warm reassurance as you enter the space, which is tucked inside Universal Studios’ showstopping new Florida park Epic Universe. Coffins, a crypt and a creepy statue of…
Inside the L.A. ranch holding horse sound baths for L.A. fire victims
After telling me to close my eyes, the voice instructs me to notice the sounds around me. I hear the drone of Tibetan bowls mixing with an insect chorus, scattered yawns and what sounds like a flowing brook. Upon opening…
How to explore Sequoia National Park’s Crystal Cave
The stalactites and stalagmites of Sequoia National Park’s Crystal Cave, a sprawling subterranean wonder that’s been closed for four years, will be accessible again this summer. But to get in during the open season of May 23 through Sept. 7,…
How to have the best Sunday in L.A., according to Antony Starr
New Zealand-born actor Antony Starr, best known to American audiences as arch-villain Homelander from the Prime Video superhero parody “The Boys,” says that although he’s lived in Los Angeles for the better part of a decade, his busy shooting schedules…
SoCal vintage motels come back to life with new purposes
There were no vacancies beneath the old neon Farm House Motel sign last Saturday — no guest rooms at all, in fact. But the 1950s Riverside property, now known as the Farm House Collective, was busier than it has been…
Between a Rock: Gripping survival stories from the California wildnerness
In our Between a Rock series, we share thrilling tales from local adventurers about close encounters in California nature, whether it’s a story of being stalked by a mountain lion or getting snowed in on a simple day hike.
She went out for a solo evening trail run. Then she saw a bear
It was May of 2020, in the thick of the pandemic. There was nobody around, literally no one anywhere on any of the trails. I worked as a full-time trauma nurse. People couldn’t even imagine the things we saw every…
How to have the best Sunday in L.A., according to Kat Dennings
To television viewers, Kat Dennings is probably best known for playing down-on-her-luck characters — first in a six-season run as Max Black on the CBS sitcom “Two Broke Girls,” and, more recently, as Tim Allen’s estranged-but-reunited daughter on ABC’s “Shifting…
Long Beach’s VIP Records unveils plans for a museum
In the early 1990s, Kelvin Anderson Sr. built a makeshift recording studio in the back of his Long Beach record store, a vinyl-filled paradise called the World Famous VIP Records on the corner of Pacific Coast Highway and Martin Luther…
Bob Baker Day to bring healing (and SpongeBob) to L.A.’s puppet lovers
The all-things-puppetry extravaganza that is the yearly Bob Baker Day at Chinatown’s Los Angeles State Historic Park has landed on its themes and parade-leading grand marshal for its 2025 edition, set for April 13. Animated characters SpongeBob SquarePants and Patrick…
Padel is the new racquet sport bouncing onto the courts of L.A.
The ball pops up in the air and soars into an arc, drifting against the blue sky, then comes down with a plunk on the glass wall behind Jon Guerra. Out. “Your swing is too hard,” Guerra says to me….
L.A.-China flight diverted, delayed after pilot forgets passport
Possessing valid documentation is the second item on the State Department’s checklist for U.S. tourists traveling internationally. It’s required for pilots, too, as an estimated 257 passengers found out the hard way last weekend. United Airlines Flight 198 left Los…
How to have the best Sunday in L.A., according to Mark Duplass
Mark Duplass offers a warning before he starts talking about his ideal Sunday. “Be prepared,” he says. “There’s not gonna be a lot of leaving the house today.” In Sunday Funday, L.A. people give us a play-by-play of their ideal…
Point Reyes’ historic dairies ousted over environmental concerns
POINT REYES STATION, Calif. — With fog-kissed streets featuring a buttery bakery, an eclectic bookstore and markets peddling artisanal cheeses crafted from the milk of lovingly coddled cows, Point Reyes Station is about as picturesque as tourist towns come in California. It…
L.A.’s Willy Wonka? The ‘father’ of the Xbox has turned to chocolate
There are technological and biological wonders inside the sleek San Gabriel offices of Seamus Blackley, which are evasively named — intentionally so — Pacific Light & Hologram. Best known as the creator of Microsoft’s Xbox video game console, Blackley can’t…
When my mom died, there was only one place to mourn: Disneyland
My mother, Donna, died unexpectedly earlier this month. On a recent Tuesday morning, she got up as normal, and even went to the salon. That evening, she was in the hospital. Thirty-six hours later, she was gone. These have been…
Luxury at LAX? How Delta is going after the high-end market
Tucked away from heavy foot traffic and noisy crowds, the Delta One Lounge at Los Angeles International Airport offers a different kind of travel experience. Customers can enjoy hot towels, zero-gravity massage chairs and caviar-topped ice cream while waiting to…
Adults-only hotels are all over California. Are they legal?
Can hotels legally ban children? With spring breaks starting momentarily and summer vacations not far away, the question is puzzling a wide scope of California travelers — parents booking their next family vacation as well as adults looking for a…
Sunday Funday in L.A. with ‘The Office’ actor Leslie David Baker
Long before Leslie David Baker took on the role of Stanley Hudson — the grumpy pretzel- and crossword-loving salesman on the long-running comedy “The Office” — he was working as an administrator for the health department in his Chicago hometown,…
What is a cacao ceremony and why are they showing up all over L.A.?
Walking barefoot across the cool tile floor, her silver face gems twinkling in the sunlight, sound bath practitioner and energy healer Maya Andreeva distributed paper cups filled with brown liquid to the 20 mostly youngish adults seated on yoga mats…
The Hollywood Premiere Motel may soon become a historic monument
The Hollywood Premiere Motel hasn’t won any prizes lately. It has a 1.5 star rating on Trip Advisor, which ranks it 112th of 118 motels in Los Angeles. “Never again,” writes one reviewer. “I prefer to sleep in my car,”…
Will Trump’s tariffs affect your travel plans to Mexico and Canada?
Is this the moment for a spring break in Mexico or Canada? The idea might seem iffy as the Trump administration confounds its neighbors by toggling tariffs on and off and throwing countless jobs into doubt. Yet for travelers, industry…
How to have the best Sunday in L.A., according to Adam Devine
Adam Devine (“Workaholics,” “Pitch Perfect”), who reprises his role as youth pastor Kelvin Gemstone on the HBO televangelist comedy “The Righteous Gemstones” for a fourth and final season that begins airing (and streaming on Max) Sunday, won’t share many details…
National park visits hit record high last year, agency reports as it endures deep cuts
As the Trump administration continues to slash the federal workforce, the National Park Service — which has lost nearly 10% of its staff to the sweeping cuts — just reported that 2024 set a record high for visits to its…
No getting around it: Britain needs more Americans
To walk through Leicester Square in central London is to endure a pummeling of the senses. Its jostling tourists, the glaring lights of its supersized casino and M&M‘s store, and a backing track of buskers’ out-of-tune guitars put it among…
On Catalina, you can now ride a horse on rolling hills to scenic cliffs
Catalina Island, which has plenty of horses in its history but stopped offering rides to visitors in 2008, is bringing trail rides back. The fledgling, Avalon-based Catalina Horseback Adventures offered its first guided rides Feb. 22. Most rides take 45-90…
Why Pokémon Go is still drawing people out in droves
On the golf course just outside the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, thousands of people stride across the grass, phones in their hands and eyes on their screens. “Who has a shiny Oshawott they can trade? What about a Blitzle? Any…
How to have the best Sunday in L.A., according to Melissa Fumero
Melissa Fumero’s sons, at 5 and 8 years old, are almost at the age that they can prep breakfast for themselves. When the time comes, it will be a help for the busy mom, who also doubles as the queen…
This L.A. stargazing party is ‘more interesting than going to a bar’
When Dylan Anderson was eight years old, he discovered an old telescope of his grandfather’s. The pirate-esque rig was dusty from years in the garage, but Anderson was instantly intrigued. “I was like, ‘Hey, what’s this?’ ” the now-18-year-old member…
The Gallery, L.A.’s new immersive restaurant, feels like a theme park
To set foot inside the Gallery, a new restaurant and bar in downtown, is to be whisked into a world fit for a theme park. Walk in via its bar, and gone are views of Olympic Boulevard. In the place…
Donald Trump, Elon Musk are coming for your summer vacation
According to travel experts, early spring is the ideal time to begin planning your summer vacation. Some of the more anxious among us (OK, me) might even push that to pre-spring, as in late February or early March, if only…
Amid budget chaos, more than 700 national parks employees take buyout
As the Trump administration continues its campaign to slash the federal workforce, more than 700 year-round National Park Service employees have taken buyouts, according to an internal email sent to supervisors late last week. That brings to at least 1,700…
You’ll feel like you’re in Oz at Carlsbad’s magical flower fields
There’s a big bloom coming to the Flower Fields at Carlsbad Ranch, along with many tiny flutters. On March 1, the property alongside I-5 opens for its annual springtime seasonal celebration, with color and scent supplied by 55 acres of…
Frustrated with crowded resorts, more skiers risk backcountry avalanches
MAMMOTH LAKES, Calif. — On a clear, cold day in mid-February, we had spent hours on backcountry skis trudging up and across a remote mountainside in the eastern Sierra when we noticed that the trees directly above us were much smaller…
How to have the best Sunday in L.A., according to Poppy Liu
With a toddler, a Shih Tzu and several chickens, actor Poppy Liu has a full house. “I’m raising so many beings,” said the “Hacks” star, who recently appeared in the Netflix drama series “No Good Deed” and will star alongside…
Trump administration backtracks on eliminating thousands of national parks employees
Following a loud public outcry about job cuts at the National Park Service — and a relentless media campaign from outdoors enthusiasts across the country — it looks like the Trump administration has reconsidered. A plan to eliminate thousands of…
Could building ‘SuperAdobes’ lead to a more fireproof Los Angeles?
At the southern edge of the Mojave Desert on an unusually warm Saturday in February, dozens of people mill throughout the living space of a 2,300-square-foot three-bed, two-bath house with a connected two-car garage. A couple gliding past the open…
‘Love Game’ is an interactive play that unfolds inside an L.A. bar
On a recent weekday evening, I found myself in a romantic position for which I have had zero training for: a dating coach. Yet there I was, at an East Hollywood bar, listening and analyzing a conversation among two prospective…
Disabled Disneyland visitor sues over new, stricter DAS pass
Last July, San Diego resident Trisha Malone applied for a disability exemption at a booth just outside the Disneyland and California Adventure theme parks. The Disability Access Service, or DAS, pass she wanted would have allowed her to avoid waiting…
Hiking and yoga: How to combine the two for a perfect workout
• Yoga adds flexibility and strengthens lower body joints, which makes it a great addition to your hiking routine. • Try these structured events in L.A. and Orange counties that combine the activities. • We’ve also found trail-adjacent yoga classes,…
With a David Hockney show in Palm Springs, we visit the artist’s L.A. haunts
Artist David Hockney was a driver: after visiting and then moving to Los Angeles in 1964, he zipped around the Hollywood Hills in his red 450 SL Mercedes, perhaps to Chateau Marmont, his spot in Malibu or the studio at…
How to have the best Sunday in L.A., according to Meredith Hagner
About five years ago, when Meredith Hagner (whose characters range from clueless to maniacal in “Search Party,” “Vacation Friends” and “Bad Monkey,” to name just a few) fully committed to giving up her rent-controlled Williamsburg apartment in Brooklyn, N.Y., to…
We asked what smells best represent Los Angeles. Our readers answered
Of our five senses, smell might be the most ignored. And yet the role it plays in our lives is inescapable. Smell activates many parts of our brain, including our limbic system, which plays a key role in memory recall….
Yosemite reservations system halted reportedly for Trump ‘blessing’
Summer online reservations for Yosemite National Park have been postponed indefinitely. After the park announced several months ago that a new system was in the works, the online reservation page now reads, “Yosemite National Park anticipates sharing details about this…
These Angeles National Forest trails are closed after the Eaton fire
Much of Angeles National Forest reopened Thursday after a weeks-long closure because of wildfires and red flag warnings, but some beloved trails and campgrounds will remain inaccessible while the land recovers from the blazes. The areas that burned in the…
How to have the best Sunday in L.A., according to Topher Grace
While it’s true that who you know can matter just as much as talent, for Topher Grace, the connection that ultimately launched his career was formed in New Hampshire, not L.A. In Sunday Funday, L.A. people give us a play-by-play…
As Trump cuts federal jobs, even national parks on chopping block
As the Trump administration rushes to cut spending and eliminate federal jobs, even the people who work at the national parks — among the country’s most beloved and least politicized institutions — find themselves directly in the crosshairs. Last week,…
How to have the best Sunday in L.A., according to Bozoma Saint John
The first home Bozoma Saint John bought in L.A. was a condo in Marina del Rey. “It was the first time I bought anything on my own, and it was such a boost to my confidence,” said the entrepreneur, marketing…
Take a shortcut to ‘womb-like’ euphoria at L.A.’s Chromasonic Field
The world inside a downtown L.A. warehouse seemed to come to a halt, and all I saw was a blur of colors, where pinkish-red hues bled into shades of yellow and purple. And I was surprised at what I felt:…
The brands selling Altadena and Palisades gear for fire relief efforts
As historic fires continue to burn across Southern California, a number of Los Angeles brands have started selling limited edition merchandise to raise crucial funds for relief efforts. Pulling from themes of unity and strength, brick-and-mortar stores, as well as…
These 28 hiking trails burned in the Palisades fire
Since the Palisades Fire broke out on Jan. 7, it has burned almost 24,000 acres through Pacific Palisades and several neighborhoods along Pacific Coast Highway. Many of those acres were populated by homes, and others popular hiking trails throughout the…
These are the 26 hiking trails that burned in the Eaton fire
An accounting of the damage of the Eaton fire is still ongoing. Since starting in early January, it has burned more than 14,000 acres, destroyed thousands of homes and businesses in Altadena and, as of Friday, killed 16 people. Now…
Disneyland’s original Haunted Mansion returns this week
When Disneyland’s Haunted Mansion reopens Saturday in its classic, non-holiday form it will essentially mark the completion of a nearly yearlong refurbishment project, one that added significant backstory and lore to one of the resort’s most famed and mysterious attractions….
Amtrak’s Pacific Surfliner offers $10 train fares to aid fire relief
The operators of Amtrak’s Pacific Surfliner are offering one-way $10 fares between any two of the train’s 29 stops from San Diego north to San Luis Obispo. The rare offer is intended “to assist those impacted by the Southern California…
Amid fires, San Diego, Palm Springs resorts see a rush of Angelenos
January is usually an easy month to book a Southern California hotel room. Not this year. Driven by the fires that have uprooted hundreds of thousands of L.A. County residents, legions of displaced families and individuals are grabbing rooms in…
L.A.’s KFM Karaoke Country Revue is a hootenanny with a queer twist
“I’m gay so I can’t do the guitar solo,” quips Sam Buck. A grin plays across his face as the unmistakable jangle of Tim McGraw’s “I Like It, I Love It” wafts through the room. Members of the audience chuckle…
Fire evacuees can find rooms at these L.A. hotels
The Hotel Assn. of Los Angeles reported that its members “are currently taking in thousands of Angelenos who have been displaced by the Palisades, Eaton and Hurst fires,” often at discounted rates. Many of the hotels are also taking in…
Want to get in touch with your senses? Try this cozy ASMR massage
I’ve never felt weird about paying strangers to touch me. Massages, facials, martial arts — it’s all just bodywork to me. That is, until I booked my first professional back scratch with Julie Luther, the founder of Soft Touch ASMR…
You’re the only guest at ‘Undersigned,’ a thrilling show in L.A.
Last summer I had a chance to strike a deal with the devil. I sat, contemplating my choice — what I could live without to acquire the one thing I most desired. This was no arbitrary crossroads. Over the past…
California’s Great America wraps winter season. Could it be the last?
SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Not everyone got the email. But the word spread, along with the dread. California’s Great America — Northern California’s best-known theme park — appears set to scrap its winter run for the 2025 season, according to a…
New adventures are calling. Let us be your guide for fun each month
Jaclyn Cosgrove covers the (great!) outdoors at the Los Angeles Times. They started at The Times in 2017 and have written about wildfires, culture, protests, crime and county government. In 2022, they managed For Your Mind, a yearlong mental health…
12 California experiences and adventures to have in 2025
Has it occurred to you that civilization might be overrated? Me too. So I’ve been thinking about the natural world — actually, the many natural worlds contained within California, and how whole they can make us feel. With that and…
Go phish! Scammers target FasTrak system users with threatening texts
A phishing text message warning of a legal threat and financial penalties has been hitting users and even non-drivers of Los Angeles County’s Metro ExpressLanes. The spam has led to a flood of complaints from Metro ExpressLanes users, who have…
How to have the best Sunday in L.A., according to Justine Lupe
For years, Justine Lupe bopped back and forth between Los Angeles and New York. It wasn’t until the pandemic that she decided it was time to stop living out of her suitcase in hotels and short-term sublet apartments. “The world…
How to have the best Sunday in L.A., according to Kyle Mooney
Now that he has a baby, Kyle Mooney doesn’t leave a certain L.A. radius much if he doesn’t have to. And he’s content with that. The “Saturday Night Live” alum spends most of his time in Pasadena, Glendale, Highland Park…
Southern Californians brace for crowded airports, freeways
Southern Californians can expect to see high wait times at the airports and congested traffic on the freeways during the holidays this year. And because Christmas and New Year’s days both land in the middle of the week, the weekends…
Meet the queer Gen Z women giving billiards a rebrand in L.A.
In the summer of 2023, Alix Max, new to town with a cigarette in their mouth, was shooting pool on the patio of 4100 Bar in Silver Lake. They were pretty good, too — good enough to catch the eye…
On Big Bear’s slopes, a new lift opens. Is a link between resorts next?
Snow has been slow to arrive in Big Bear this year, but the long-term forecast calls for big changes. Bear Mountain resort in Big Bear is adding its first new chair lift in 30 years, a six-seat, high-speed lift that…
Strong at any age: Older adults share their favorite fitness routines
Mark Olson at the gym. (Mark Olsen) “Throughout my life I’ve been a skier, weightlifter, hiker and runner, including many local 10K races. Following open-heart aortic valve replacement surgery in late 2023, I embarked upon a cardio rehabilitation program introduced…
Why travel is worthwhile despite flights and LAX stress
As an L.A. native and a professional traveler, I know getting a ride to LAX is rarely fun. But even I was tested in summer 2023 after an Uber and then a Lyft canceled on me when I needed to…
No plans? This app will match you with a group of strangers for dinner
When David Brown moved from Chicago to Los Angeles this summer, one of the first things he did was download an app that aims to “fight big-city loneliness.” The 35-year-old sales director had seen an Instagram ad for Timeleft, which…
How is PCB Board Fabrication Evolving With Technology?
PCB Board Fabrication Evolving With Technology PCB board fabrication is a vital part of the entire process that goes into creating modern electric devices. It helps ensure that electronic components and circuitry are able to work together in the most…
At the Earlybirds Club, you can dance, sweat and be in bed by 11 p.m.
About a year ago, longtime friends Laura Baginski and Susie Lee reconnected at their 30-year high school reunion. As the two women caught up with each other about their careers, motherhood and everything in between. They vented about how they…
In Coachella Valley, residents seek a park along shrinking Salton Sea
SALTON SEA, Calif. — In a state boasting epic mountain ranges and stunning coastlines, the Salton Sea is not typically considered an outdoor-lover’s paradise. California’s largest inland lake, which straddles Riverside and Imperial counties, is in fact beautiful. The 35-mile-long…
Two Bit Circus is back as a Santa Monica pop-up arcade
Before me stands a glistening silver box — sleek, elegant and with boldly defined protruding vertical lines, giving it an ever-so-slight vintage Art Deco look. A golden vent rests at its top, the figures on its grille appearing like alien…
How to hike among redwoods at Big Basin Redwoods State Park
• Big Basin Redwoods State Park, near Santa Cruz, is recovering after fire scorched almost the entire park in 2020.• Of 115 miles of trails and fire roads in the park, 31.5 are open. More are to reopen soon. •…
Airport facials, anyone? The 7 best luxury lounges at LAX
Best for: Ultra-luxury travelers who want extra privacy What it’s like inside: Though it doesn’t come cheap, PS is the ultimate commercial-yet-feels-private airport experience. Travelers begin their journey at a facility completely separate from the rest of the airport, with…
Disneyland doubles down on diverse live shows for the holidays
One of the Disneyland Resort’s new holiday offerings is a show featuring the young guitar-slinging character of Miguel from “Coco.” But it’s ultimately rooted in a culture and history that long predates the 2017 film. Show director Tobi Longo pulled…
Sunday Funday in Los Angeles with chef and cook book author Molly Baz
Molly Baz ended up in Los Angeles by chance. In March 2020, she was vacationing in L.A. with her family when government officials issued a stay-at-home order due to COVID. She didn’t feel comfortable going back to her crowded apartment…
Everything coming to Disneyland in 2025 — including $67 per day tickets
Disneyland is turning 70 next year, and the theme park has never missed an excuse to throw a nostalgia-fueled party. The coming months will be no different, and arguably the star of the festivities will be Walt Disney himself, albeit…
They planned a day hike in Yosemite. Then they got lost in the snow
On May 20, 2016, my wife and I visited Yosemite National Park. Before we set out on a trail, I talked to a park ranger. I told her that I was looking for a picture of water reflecting the trees….
Los Angeles has many scents. What does L.A. smell like to you?
There’s no single smell that defines Los Angeles. Certain scents are often linked to the bustling streets of downtown or the verdant banks of the L.A. River, while others are tied to the more secluded, quiet corners of places like…
Creepy vibes drives booming business at Tonopah’s Clown Motel.
TONOPAH, Nev. — Business is so good at the Clown Motel, you might expect more of its painted faces to be smiling. But as Vijay Mehar has learned in his years as owner of the creepiest motel in Tonopah, Nev., happy…
How to have the best Sunday in L.A., according to Tiffany Haddish
Tiffany Haddish names her pets after things she wishes she could have more of. Namely, sleep. Her dog Sleeper and cats Sleepy and Catonic (whom she adopted from the set of the cat-themed movie “Keanu”) make her house in L.A.’s…
Partners pitch ‘exclusive’ club at California ski resort, spurring concern
Prospective new owners intend to revitalize the vintage Mt. Waterman ski resort in the Angeles National Forest — in part by selling exclusive access to coveted powder days to well-heeled customers and ferrying them to the mountains in chartered helicopters….
‘I got lonely’: Why a student built an escape room in a UCLA dorm room
“Code Green” has the trappings of a modern escape room. We enter what we are told is a hidden bunker-turned-research lab. It’s dark, but there are clearly challenges that surround us: patterns in the walls, a cork board filled with…
9 L.A. locals share their favorite walks in the city
Los Angeles is teeming with beautiful places to walk, but for many of us, our favorite paths are those that are closest to home. These are the walks we do again and again, when we need to shake out our…
Need an alternative to Black Friday? Look to L.A.’s museum stores
Holiday gift shopping? It’s chaos. The Grove on Black Friday? Good luck finding parking — it’s a two-hour wait just to squeeze into a spot. And big box stores? Just no. If you’re looking for something less stressful and more…
How to have the best Sunday in L.A., according to Manuel García-Rulfo
Manuel García-Rulfo moved to Los Angeles 15 years ago, and now the Guadalajara-born actor says he feels more like an Angeleno than a transplant. “I love this city. It’s cool. It has so much to offer,” he says with a…
Arthur Frommer championed travel for all, not just the wealthy
The president was Eisenhower. The Dodgers belonged to Brooklyn. The cost of a Los Angeles-London round-trip flight was $720 — a staggering amount in 1956. Yet in his off hours, a young Manhattan lawyer named Arthur Frommer pressed ahead with…
How to have the best Sunday in L.A., according to Kaley cuoco
For Kaley Cuoco, Sundays mean one thing: football. Her fiancé Tom Pelphrey first made her a fan. “Because Tom is so obsessed with football, if I wasn’t going to join then I would be an outsider,” she says. “I needed…
Everything you need to know about Disneyland’s Tiana’s Bayou Adventure
Splash Mountain’s eviction is complete. With the opening Friday of Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, Disneyland has formally rid itself of an attraction that came to be seen as problematic. In its place is a ride that serves as a celebration, boasting…
Want to see Yosemite’s famed ‘firefall’? A reservation is now required
For a rare, if not lucky, few days a year, Yosemite National Park’s famed El Capitan granite cliff converts into what looks like an active volcano jutting 3,000 feet above the valley floor. The conditions need to be right, including…
Downtown’s Music Center is turning into an outdoor arcade this weekend
The game started as an experiment. A way to look at emergent behavior — the coordinated and mesmerizing flight of a flock of birds, for instance. For artist and researcher Hillary Leone, the concern was that the world was becoming…
This real life video game takes you across L.A. — literally
“Great Gold Bird,” a theatrical production unfolding across multiple sites in Los Angeles, begins inside my home. It starts with a mystery, introducing itself as a missing persons story. Yet it’s also a puzzle. Henry, we’re told, has disappeared. Only…