These are our favorite 'mental health escapes' within driving distance of L.A.
The L.A. Times Features team shares the places that have helped them amid uncertainty, be it a hot spring, cool desert, calming beach or beloved theme park. Source link
Month: January 2025
“I don’t need this”: John Mulaney cheekily quotes RFK Jr. while promoting new Netflix live talk show
“We will never be relevant,” quipped John Mulaney about his upcoming live talk show at Netflix’s 2025 preview event on Wednesday morning. And yet, the comedian did quote Robert F. Kennedy Jr., President Trump’s pick to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, from the confirmation hearing earlier that morning. In front of gathered journalists at the Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood, Mulaney introduced his upcoming series “Everybody’s Live With John Mulaney,” which is inspired by his limited series “Everybody’s in LA” from 2024. “I will have the most successful talk show in world history.” Mulaney explained, “Netflix and I discussed this summer not being done with the show, and I was thrilled to do that. It was a total blast and it was one of those shows that neither Netflix nor I really needed to do. I never wanted to host a talk show, and they were getting out of the talk show game. So it was the perfect moment to do this. “And I just heard Robert F Kennedy Jr. say during the confirmation …
Where to get the best chicken wings in Los Angeles
With the Kansas City Chiefs facing the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LIX on Sunday, Feb. 9, you might be searching for an easy, crowd-pleasing dish to round out your spread. Enter wings. Wings are the ultimate party food. You can eat them with your hands — no utensils necessary. You can get them grilled, smoked or fried; bone-in or boneless; rubbed with herbs and spices or drenched in an endless amount of sauces. It’s impossible to eat just one and you’re unlikely to have leftovers at the end of your soiree. Here in Los Angeles, hot wings go beyond the usual buffalo-sauced options to reflect our diverse dining scene. On the edge of Koreatown, one spot is serving up craggy, Korean fried chicken wings doused in soy garlic and sweet gochujang sauces. In Inglewood, an unassuming takeout spot has become a destination for Atlanta-style wings rubbed with lemon pepper seasoning. And traditionalists will find plenty of bars and pizzerias slinging wings doused in that fiery orange sauce that’s guaranteed to stain your fingers and …
Doomsday Clock moved closer to midnight than ever: What is it and how does it work? | World News
The Doomsday Clock has been moved closer than ever to midnight by scientists, a change that is said to signify that we are edging closer to the end of the world. The clock, which is a metaphor for the dangers facing humanity, is updated based on perceptions about how close humans are to destroying the world – with midnight symbolising that point. The current time has been moved to 85 seconds to midnight, down from 89, which was the previous record for the closest time to midnight. “Every second counts, and we are running out of time. It is a hard truth, but this is our reality. It is now 85 seconds to midnight,” said Alexandra Bell, CEO of the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, which sets the time. Image: Bulletin members Jon B. Wolfsthal (left), Asha M. George (centre) and Steve Fetter (right) reveal the clock. Pic: AP So why have scientists changed the time, and what does it actually mean? Nuclear threats, war and AI among driving factors Nuclear concerns were top of …
10 dance parties that raise funds for L.A. wildfire victims
For 16 years, A Club Called Rhonda has been one of L.A.’s most vibrant and inclusive disco and house events, a pansexual celebration of joy, liberation and community. When the fires ravaged parts of the region, however, questions arose about whether hosting events so close to such devastation was a good idea. Several members of the Rhonda team, as well as staff from such venues as Los Globos in Silver Lake and Catch One in West Adams, had been directly affected by the fires. Amid the heartbreak, the Rhonda team recognized the importance of providing work for the community and creating a space for those seeking a brief escape from their troubles. “We had people reaching out who had lost homes, saying, ‘I know this is weird, but I hope you don’t cancel. I appreciate everyone’s support, but what I really need right now is a place where I can go out and smile,’” Rhonda co-founder Loren Granich, who goes by DJ Goddollars, shares. It was in those words that the true purpose of Rhonda …
The best places to celebrate Lunar New Year in Los Angeles 2025
Lunar New Year is a time of vibrant celebrations, cherished traditions and joyful reunions. Across China, Vietnam, Indonesia, Korea and beyond — including here in the U.S. — families travel great distances to gather, homes are cleaned to sweep away the past year’s misfortune, and dragon and lion dances fill the streets, inviting good luck for the year ahead. Naturally, food is at the heart of the festivities, with dishes carefully chosen for their symbolism and shared with loved ones. Here in Los Angeles, a diverse Asian community weaves its own rich customs into the holiday, such as ringing in the holiday with afternoon tea or reimagining classic dishes with a modern twist. Although Lunar New Year celebrations herald the start of a new year on the lunar calendar, they also reflect hope, unity and resilience — values that resonate more deeply than ever after the recent wildfires that devastated parts of L.A. County. Starting Jan. 29, the Year of the Snake feels particularly poignant. After all, the snake symbolizes wisdom, transformation and renewal, shedding …
Food fundraisers in Los Angeles for wildfire relief efforts
In the days and weeks since wildfires broke out across L.A. County, destroying thousands of homes, businesses and other structures and claiming 27 lives, the local food industry has rallied to provide immediate relief to those most affected. L.A.-based publicist Christina Gilmour tapped into her network of restaurateurs and chefs to launch Community Meals, an initiative that makes it easy for diners to donate to restaurants providing free meals to first responders, displaced residents and organizations offering direct wildfire relief. The list is updated daily, making it easy for diners to spread out their support to restaurants that are also deeply affected by the wildfires. DineLA kicks off on Jan. 24 and runs through Feb. 7, offering prix fixe meals at restaurants across L.A. County to encourage Angelenos to explore beyond their usual haunts and support the local food industry. It also can be an opportunity to try a fine-dining spot that might typically be reserved for special occasions, such as Josiah Citrin’s Citrin restaurant in Santa Monica, which has crafted a $99 three-course menu …
What to do in 29 Palms, a desert city 20 minutes from Joshua Tree
As someone who has spent a lot of time in the high desert towns of Joshua Tree and Yucca Valley, I’ve long been skeptical of anyone who predicted that Twentynine Palms was about to become the new desert hot spot. In theory, it makes sense. Located just 20 minutes from downtown Joshua Tree, the town of 29,000 boasts its own, less crowded entrance to the national park and a brand new visitors center that opened in 2023. It also has the luxuriously rustic Twentynine Palms Inn, which opened in 1928, and a few culinary gems like Rib Co. for barbecue and the Jelly Donut for pho. But Twentynine Palms is both a few degrees warmer than Joshua Tree and a longer drive from L.A. It also lies outside the natural range of the spiky Joshua trees that lend its better-known neighbors so much of its otherworldly ambience (not to mention their Instagram appeal). And then there’s Twentynine Palms’ noticeably high concentration of barbershops, fast food restaurants and tattoo parlors, which makes sense for the 20,000 …
Mapping the damage in Los Angeles from the Eaton and Palisades fires
Since Los Angeles’ unprecedented January firestorms, the Eaton and Palisades fires have consumed nearly 40,000 acres of homes, businesses and landmarks in Altadena and Pacific Palisades and have killed more than two dozen people. Although final numbers have yet to be released, on-the-ground inspectors have completed their inspections of both blazes. The Eaton and Palisades fires now rank as the second- and third-most-destructive wildfires in California history, with an estimated economic loss of $250 billion. Check your home’s status on Cal Fire’s damage maps Impacted residents can find damage level, inspection reports and images of their homes on the state’s official damage maps. According to preliminary assessments, the Eaton fire destroyed more than 9,400 structures in an area of nearly 22 square miles. An additional 6,800 buildings were lost to the Palisades fire, which burned 36.5 square miles of the Santa Monica Mountains. Most of the buildings affected were single-family residences. In Altadena, community fixtures such as the Pasadena Jewish Temple and Center and Saint Mark’s Episcopal Church burned to the ground. Coastal landmarks in …
L.A.’s ‘free shops’ where fire victims can pick up new clothes
Los Angeles-based furniture designers Kalon Studios have transformed their Atwater Village showroom into a free store for those affected by the fires. Founded in 2007 by Michaele Simmering and Johannes Pauwen, the showroom is a beautifully staged space for their small-scale production furniture pieces. Simmering says a friend with a small brand on the East Coast, moved by the unfolding news, sent products for them to distribute as needed. Realizing their furniture wouldn’t be of immediate help to displaced individuals, Kalon pivoted to create a free shop. “We’re a furniture design studio, and while that is necessary, it’s not necessary for people with nowhere to live,” says Simmering. “What we do have is this space. We just started to mobilize.” Kalon’s sales lead, Rene Petersson, organized a team of volunteers, while Simmering and Pauwen reached out to brands offering carefully curated products designed to last, ensuring dignity for those affected by the fires. “Dignity is really important — it’s a primary focus for us,” says Simmering. “We’re not a retail space, but we’ve tried to …