Month: November 2024

The 27 best yoga studios in L.A. for every type of person

The 27 best yoga studios in L.A. for every type of person

Published by Sam Flores

In L.A., searching for a great yoga studio is a little like looking for a delicious taco, a well-stocked weed dispensary or a distractingly hot barista. No matter where you are in the city, chances are there’s one down the street from you — if not right next door. Yoga studios in particular have proliferated in the past few post-COVID years, offering up a dizzying array of styles, classes and vibes. So much so that the challenge of choosing the right one is sifting through an embarrassment of riches to find the space that fits you the best. Los Angeles is the exercise capital of the world. Plan your workout with our reporter-tested roundups of the best fitness facilities, studios and gyms the city has to offer. We’ve created this guide to help you with just that, regardless of where you might be on your yoga journey. If you’re brand new and looking for your first studio, we’ve got plenty of spaces that offer beginner and all-level classes. And if you’re a seasoned vet with …

Notable Los Angeles chefs share their favorite local restaurants

Notable Los Angeles chefs share their favorite local restaurants

Published by Sam Flores

Where do L.A.’s best chefs eat on their nights off? We caught up with a few at L.A. Times Food Bowl — including the famed Nancy Silverton, Sara Kramer and Sarah Hymanson of Kismet, “Stacked” cookbook author Owen Han and others — to ask about the local restaurants that continue to impress them. Their answers are as diverse as the city itself, spanning long-standing taquerias, fine-dining establishments and mom-and-pop spots from Chatsworth to Garden Grove. It shouldn’t come as a surprise that many of the restaurants they mention also appear in the 2023 101 Best Restaurants guide. As we count down the days to the 2024 101 Best Restaurants reveal party at the Hollywood Palladium on Dec. 3, we’re also revisiting the restaurants that stand out to our local culinary community, including a vibrant Caribbean restaurant in East Hollywood, a California-inflected izakaya that sits next door to a sibling sake bar, and a modern chophouse. Source link

72 awesome things to do with kids in L.A. before they grow up

72 awesome things to do with kids in L.A. before they grow up

Published by Sam Flores

Even in a place like Los Angeles, which is chock-full of activities, history and everyday wonders, parents and other guardians of children are still struck with anxiety when they hear the words: “What are we dooooing todaaaaay?” (The question is usually asked in a tone that says, “And do not tell me we’re going to the same playground we’ve already been to six times this week.”) We get it. Ideas can run dry, especially for busy moms, dads and caregivers. But L.A. is brimming with engaging and totally fun family-friendly spaces — and exploring them all through the bright eyes of a kid can help you fall in love with the city in entirely new ways. In this guide, we share 72 things to do with children in and around Los Angeles — memorable activities to fit every age, interest, energy level and attention span (and for grownups, every budget). Your youngster can scale a make-believe skyscraper at a rock-climbing gym, construct a sculpture out of wood scraps at a maker space, watch a sea …

Xolo Maridueña of “Cobra Kai” shares favorite Latino-owned L.A. spots

Xolo Maridueña of “Cobra Kai” shares favorite Latino-owned L.A. spots

Published by Sam Flores

Xolo Maridueña’s heart has never left the east side of Los Angeles. Though the 23-year-old actor has spent much of his time outside of his hometown of El Sereno, being on sets in Atlanta for Netflix’s “Cobra Kai” and Puerto Rico for “Blue Beetle,” Maridueña remains tethered to his Angeleno roots. His appreciation extends beyond the colorful storefronts, historic boulevards and street food delicacies. Growing up in a predominantly Latino area has gifted him the ability to flourish as his authentic self, a juggernaut creative with interests in hip-hop, podcasting and photography. “I can’t help but feel like the community that I was fostered in, El Sereno, Los Angeles, my family, my friends, Casa 0101, everyone that helped raise me and made me feel so comfortable in my skin — I was allowed to be myself,” he said. We asked Maridueña to share his five favorite Latino-owned businesses in L.A. Here are his picks. Mi Los Angeles In ‘Mi Los Angeles’ we ask influential L.A. Latinos to share their favorite Latino-owned businesses. Find ideas and …

5 safe Palos Verdes Peninsula trails that avoid the landslides

5 safe Palos Verdes Peninsula trails that avoid the landslides

Published by Sam Flores

• About 13.5 miles of trails in the Portuguese Bend, Abalone Cove, Filiorum and Forrestal reserves are currently closed due to landslides. • But you can still get your hike in: Here are five alternative trails in the area that remain open and safe — and offer opportunities for great workouts, ocean views and new adventures. With its wide network of challenging trails and uninhibited views of the Pacific Ocean, the Palos Verdes Peninsula has long been a favorite hiking and mountain biking destination in Los Angeles County. But this year’s unprecedented landslide activity, which has damaged homes and left hundreds without power and gas service, has also impacted the most popular trails on the peninsula. About 13.5 miles of trails in the Portuguese Bend, Abalone Cove, Filiorum and Forrestal reserves are temporarily closed “for public safety due to land movement,” says Rancho Palos Verdes spokeswoman Megan Barnes. There are no plans to reopen them anytime soon. The good news is, there are plenty of trails on the peninsula that remain open and safe for …

Tap into your inner artist at 8 ‘paint and sip’ events in L.A.

Tap into your inner artist at 8 ‘paint and sip’ events in L.A.

Published by Sam Flores

These Hands Maker’s Collective feels more like someone’s well-equipped home studio than a storefront. Denise Ambrosi, who started the collective about six years ago, opened the current space — a sunny, open workshop on Washington Boulevard — in 2022. With craft supplies for sale, co-working stations for artists-in-residence and large tables for classes, These Hands draws neighbors and crafty friends from around the city. It’s also home to Moving Thread, which hosts sewing workshops for all different skill levels. “I want it to be a creative community,” Ambrosi said. “I want people to be able to come here and feel like it’s a place where they can come and relax, and just kind of get out of their heads and get off their phones.” Ambrosi hosts an occasional “paint and sip” event using elevated easels where guests are guided through simple steps to create their own works of art. While suggested templates are provided as a guideline, painters are encouraged to bring their own reference photos, which Ambrosi will help trace onto canvas. Additionally, monthly …

A guide to San Juan Capistrano, a historic Orange County town

A guide to San Juan Capistrano, a historic Orange County town

Published by Sam Flores

The little train station in San Juan Capistrano sits right in the heart of town. To get from the historic Los Rios Street district to the mission and the rest of town, you must cross its tracks on foot. When the bells ring, signaling the train’s arrival, you’ll see children with parents and grandparents, young couples walking their dogs and locals and tourists alike, all gathering to watch. It’s a rarity in our fast-paced world to take a few minutes for something so simple as marveling at a train making a stop. Located less than 60 miles south of Los Angeles (just an 80-minute ride on Amtrak’s Pacific Surfliner), San Juan Capistrano may come across as small and sleepy enough that watching trains is a pastime. But its proximity to the ocean — it’s just four miles inland — and its long, fascinating history give the city of 34,000 an enthralling, vibrant feel. San Juan Capistrano, named for the Italian saint John of Capistrano, is a microcosm for the history of California and much of …

This cozy enclave near Santa Barbara offers up a dash of star power

This cozy enclave near Santa Barbara offers up a dash of star power

Published by Sam Flores

• This tiny SoCal neighborhood offers up quaint, low-key vibes, and it’s easy to access off the 101 North.• The new Godmothers Bookstore and Cafe in downtown Summerland is attracting celebs and book lovers alike for thoughtful gatherings and culinary delicacies.• A plethora of home decor shops, a winery, a cozy inn and even a bird sanctuary also make their home in Summerland. Like me, you may associate Summerland with the Big Yellow House restaurant, where the chunky 1970s-styled lettering and quaint illustration was the we’re-almost-in-Santa-Barbara landmark on our family road trips from L.A. Though the restaurant closed during the aughts, the sign remains, a nudge to Southern Californians to give Summerland — more than just a little sibling to its better-known neighbor Montecito — a fresh look. Take the new bookstore/cafe Godmothers, which opened in early September with a three-day-long series of events that attracted celebs ranging from Oprah to Ellen DeGeneres, Portia de Rossi, and Harry and Meghan. On a recent Friday, co-owner Jennifer Rudolph Walsh, former global head of literature, lectures and …

Best new restaurants and bars in Long Beach to try right now

Best new restaurants and bars in Long Beach to try right now

Published by Sam Flores

Tucked between Orange County’s theme parks and Los Angeles’ star spotlight, Long Beach can be overlooked when there’s not a Grand Prix in town. That’s a boon for locals who can enjoy easy access to metropolitan amenities without sacrificing the friendly, know-your-neighbor attitude that Long Beach is known for. Of course, Long Beach has always been a worthy Southern California destination. Parked in the city’s bustling port is the Queen Mary, a nearly century-old ocean liner that’s since transformed into a tourist attraction with restaurants, shopping and overnight suites. Just across the bay sits the largest aquarium in the state, where you can eat a sustainably sourced fish taco with a view of the seal and sea lion exhibit. Yet too many visitors stick to the port city’s shoreline attractions, leaving whole neighborhoods unexplored. On the Eastside, for instance, a thriving enclave is home to the largest Cambodian community outside of Cambodia. Recently, it’s the local culinary scene that’s attracting outside interest. Take Gusto Bread, an artisanal panadería that opened on Retro Row in 2020 …

6 of the coolest listening bars and experiences in L.A.

6 of the coolest listening bars and experiences in L.A.

Published by Sam Flores

On a recent Thursday night in Hollywood, I walked into Grandmaster Recorders, a storied former recording studio — where artists like Stevie Wonder, Chaka Khan and the Red Hot Chili Peppers once laid down tracks — now transformed into a rooftop bar and restaurant. After grabbing a drink, I found a seat in the dimmed room, which was filled with more than 100 other music aficionados all there to do one thing: Listen to Frank Ocean’s critically acclaimed album, “Channel Orange,” on vinyl. The hosts played the record over a high fidelity (hi-fi for short) audio system — a term used to describe the high-quality reproduction of sound — that sounded so crisp that it felt like Ocean was singing live in front of us. I’d listened to the album at least 300 times before and have seen Ocean perform live, but I’d never experienced the record in this way before. “I think listening to [music] on your own is amazing,” says Free Oribhabor, founder of the Record Club, an album listening event that he’s …