Year: 2021

The 70 best hikes in L.A. and Southern California

The 70 best hikes in L.A. and Southern California

Published by Sam Flores

My single favorite sound, if pressed to choose, would be crunching gravel on a hike. Hiking, for me, is a sensual experience. It starts the moment I step out of my car, whether that’s on a mountain road in the Angeles National Forest, in a parking lot at Debs Park or on a residential street in the Hollywood Hills. All of my senses immediately engage — call it “hiking foreplay” — while surveying the open vistas, or dusty switchbacks, or the forested path ahead; while tuning in to the chorus of birds, rustling tree leaves and, as I climb upward, my own rhythmic breathing; while inhaling the commingling scents of, say, wild fennel, sage and sweat. Even the dry air on my dehydrated tongue or my aching glutes on an especially long journey somehow add to the experience. The body responds, unfurling. The effect, no matter how rigorous the trek, is calming. Hiking, more than anything else, is what grounds me. Los Angeles is a mecca for hiking, if just because of the topographical diversity …

The Best KN95 Masks of 2026, Tested and Reviewed

The Best KN95 Masks of 2026, Tested and Reviewed

Published by Sam Flores

Fewer people wear face masks than during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, but they’re still great personal protective equipment to keep at home. They can help prevent illness and protect the people around you, especially if you’re experiencing symptoms like sneezing and coughing. There are many face masks to choose from, but according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, properly fitting respirators offer the most protection. Experts say N95 respirators are the gold standard of face masks, but some people find them uncomfortable. High-quality KN95 masks, which offer similar protection, can be a more comfortable alternative. After speaking with experts for tips on buying KN95 masks, I found a handful of options that meet their criteria. Plus, I bought and tried all of the face masks below to ensure their packaging, features and fit align with what experts say to expect. Want more from NBC Selected? Sign up for our newsletter, The Selection, and shop smarter. The best KN95 masks Best overall These Hotodeal masks were included on the FDA’s EUA list. They come in a packs …

Amber Ruffin’s hilariously horrifying book about everyday racism shows this is indeed who we are

Amber Ruffin’s hilariously horrifying book about everyday racism shows this is indeed who we are

Published by Sam Flores

Last June in the wake of George Floyd’s murder, Amber Ruffin opened four episodes of NBC’s “Late Night with Seth Meyers” by telling stories about her own traumatizing run-ins with racist cops. In one she recalls an officer pulling her over and, for no reason, screaming at her until she burst into tears. At the time of this encounter, she was teenager. In another, the “Late Night” writer and host of “The Amber Ruffin Show” on Peacock recalls the time cops threatened her for joyfully skipping down an alleyway to meet a friend she hadn’t seen in a very long while. In yet another tale an officer tried to bust her for soliciting because she was sitting in a car with a male friend. Yes, that friend was white. No, they weren’t doing anything wrong. She wasn’t breaking the law in any of the other instances, either. I would love to say this goes without saying, but . . . it doesn’t. “Look, I have a thousand stories like this,” Ruffin shared with viewers. “The cops have pulled a gun on me. The cops have followed …