The Brief

The best thing to do this week? Take a hike! Will Rogers State Park just reopened this weekend for the first time since the Palisades Fire, so take advantage of the warm weather and get outside. It’s now open daily, 8 a.m. to sunset.

Licorice Pizza has your weekly music picks, including pop star PinkPantheress at the Wiltern on Monday, singer-songwriter Neko Case at the Bellwether (also on Monday), and Lifehouse is hanging by a moment at the El Rey on Monday and Tuesday. Queens of the Stone Age are at the Dolby Theatre, Tame Impala play the Forum on Wednesday, and The Darkness play the Wiltern on Wednesday. Thursday has prog rock faves Steve Hackett playing the Orpheum and Yes at YouTube Theater. Plus, the “modern-day Bob Dylan” — Jesse Welles — is at the Belasco, also on Thursday.

Explore more from LAist: You can check out the new baby orangutan at the L.A. Zoo (awww!), follow the latest on the air traffic delays, and find local restaurants offering free or discounted meals to SNAP recipients.

Events

Tuesday, November 11, 11 a.m.
Veterans Day 
Forest Lawn 
6300 Forest Lawn Drive, Hollywood Hills
COST: FREE; MORE INFO

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Courtesy Forest Lawn

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Honor our nation’s veterans with a celebration at Forest Lawn. There will be speakers, patriotic music, performances and more. The annual event is free and family-friendly.

Tuesday, November 11, 7 p.m.
An Evening with Annie Leibovitz
The Wiltern 
3790 Wilshire Blvd., Koreatown
COST: FROM $59.50; MORE INFO 

Annie Leibovitz during her intake ceremony into the Académie des Beaux-Arts on March 20, 2024 in Paris, France.

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Pierre Suu

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Getty Images Europe

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Photographer Annie Leibovitz comes out from behind the camera to talk about her new book, Women. Leibovitz’s photographs have graced the pages of Vogue, Vanity Fair and many more; she’ll talk about her portraits of powerful female icons like Lady Gaga, Hillary Clinton, Louise Bourgeois, Joan Didion, Serena Williams, and others across dozens of disciplines.

Thursday, November 13, 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Rodeo Drive Holiday Lighting Celebration 
Rodeo Drive, Beverly Hills
COST: FREE; MORE INFO

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Courtesy BH Rodeo Drive

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It’s officially Christmas in L.A. when the lights come on down Rodeo. You can get a special little hit of holiday joy driving through Beverly Hills at night through Jan. 5, so get ready to get festive. This year’s theme is “Enchanted Holiday Dreams,” inspired by Tchaikovsky’s classic, The Nutcracker. The evening kick-off event features live performances from Chris Mann, Hugh Sheridan, James Tormé and more. Then, Santa shows up, and the night culminates with a fireworks display.

Tuesday, November 10, 8 p.m.
El Canto de las Manos 
Walt Disney Concert Hall
111 S. Grand Ave., Downtown L.A.
COST: FREE WITH RSVP; MORE INFO

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Courtesy L.A. Philharmonic

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As we all mentally prepare ourselves for the end of Gustavo Dudamel’s incredible run at the L.A. Phil, many events are coming up that honor his time in the city. This one is special. The documentary film El Canto de las Manos is the directorial debut of actress and filmmaker (and Dudamel’s wife) María Valverde. The story centers on the unique 2022 production of Beethoven’s opera Fidelio, conducted by Dudamel, which featured the L.A. Phil alongside Venezuelan ensemble Coro de Manos Blancas. The group includes deaf and hard-of-hearing performers, as well as performers with visual and cognitive impairments, and the collaboration resulted in a production staged for both deaf and hearing audiences. "This is a story of justice — of how art transcends the visible and transforms its protagonists into guides who illuminate a new way of experiencing music, one that comes from a deeper level of awareness; a declaration of freedom and dignity," Valverdes said. At the screening, which is the film’s West Coast premiere, Ava DuVernay (Selma) will moderate a discussion with Dudamel, Valverde, and Deaf West Theater Artistic Director DJ Kurs.

Through Sunday, November 23
Bluebeard’s Castle
Odyssey Theatre
2055 S. Sepulveda Blvd., West L.A. 
COST: $40; MORE INFO

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Cooper Bates

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Lucy Pollak Public Relations

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The days are getting shorter, so it’s the perfect time of year for a cozy, Gothic musical thriller. Am I right? Bluebeard's Castle, inspired by a medieval French fairytale, makes its L.A. premiere at the Odyssey through November 23. With a story that mixes fairy tale and fiction from Russian-born writer-director Sofia Streisand, the show had sold-out runs in Russia, Serbia, and France. The L.A. version is its English-language debut as well. Plus, it’s my favorite kind of show – 80 minutes straight through.

Through Saturday, December 20  
East of Western: Close Ups of Charles Bukowski by Joan Ganny 
Beyond Baroque 
681 Venice Blvd., Venice 
COST: FREE; MORE INFO

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Joan Ganny

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Beyond Baroque

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A fun fact about me — in San Francisco’s halcyon early internet days, I used to belong to a group called the Charles Bukowski Memorial Drinking Club. So perhaps this show is more of a personal pick. Still, this exhibit at Beyond Baroque is interesting for any poetry fan who wants a glimpse into the soul of wayward poet Charles Bukowski. Photographer Joan Ganny’s close-up portraits of the bard are on display here for the first time stateside.

Tuesday, November 11 to Sunday, November 16 
Ojai Playhouse Film Festival
145 E. Ojai Ave., Ojai
COST: FROM $20; MORE INFO

The Ojai Playhouse hosts its first film festival this November.

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Courtesy Ojai Playhouse

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Head up to Ojai to catch new and indie films at the Ojai Playhouse Film Fest. Screen the biggest new films, like Richard Linklater’s Nouvelle Vague and the Brazilian film Secret Agent, the latter of which won best director at Cannes this year. It’s a great excuse to check out the newly refurbished Ojai Playhouse, drink some excellent local wine, and get out of town for a day.

Viewing Pick

Thursday, November 13, 6 p.m.
Breaking the Cycle: Documentary Premiere + Live Q&A
Los Angeles Mission
316 Winston St., Downtown L.A.
COST: FREE; MORE INFO

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Courtesy Los Angeles Mission

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Homelessness is an issue that touches all aspects of Los Angeles life, and many of us feel helpless to combat the problems facing our neighbors. To be inspired and learn about two folks who took up the cause and made a difference, check out this upcoming screening of Breaking the Cycle, a film about two friends on a cross-country ride to raise awareness about homelessness. The filmmakers will be in person for Q&A with local community leaders following the event.

Dine & Drink Deals

Thursday, November 13
Food Sessions 
Bombay’s Bar & Grill 
143 S. California St., Ventura
COST: $21.05; MORE INFO

Take a ride up to Ventura for some holiday cooking instruction with Chef Christine Honey Lapointe of Honey Pies. She’ll lead a course on making a savory bacon-wrapped stuffing appetizer and a cranberry-and-cream-cheese pull-apart tree. Yum!

Thursday, November 13, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.  
Shakey’s reopening 
5604 Sepulveda Blvd., Culver City 
COST: FREE; MORE INFO

The first 50 customers to the newly redone Shakey’s Pizza Parlor in Culver City will receive free merch from the new Shakey’s flagship location. And, of course, there’s never a bad time for pizza.

Wednesdays, 5 p.m. 
Holy Ground Artisanal Bread Share
Holy Ground 
4874 W. Adams Blvd., West Adams
COST: FREE; MORE INFO

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Jens Meyers

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Unsplash

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The generous folks at Holy Ground have launched an artisanal bread share for the community, aimed at folks struggling due to the loss of SNAP benefits. Come by between 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. for wholesome bread baked locally.

This story first appeared on The LA Local.

Since 1977, Richard Santillan has been to every Opening Day game at Dodger Stadium. 

“The tradition goes from my father, to me, to my children and grandchildren. Some of my best memories are with my father and children here at Dodger Stadium,” Santillan told The LA Local, smiling under the shade of palm trees near the entrance to the ballpark Wednesday morning. He was there to protest the team less than 24 hours before Opening Day.

Santillan, like countless other loyal Dodgers fans, is grappling with his fan identity over the team’s decision to accept an invitation to the White House and owner Mark Walter’s ties to ICE detention facilities.

More than 30 people joined Santillan on Wednesday morning for a press conference held near 1000 Vin Scully Drive to convey a message directly to the team. 

“We are demanding the Dodgers stop participating in funding of inhumane treatment of families and do not go to the White House to celebrate with the criminal in chief,” Evelyn Escatiola told the crowd. “Together, we have the power to make a change.”

Escatiola, a former dean of East Los Angeles College and longtime community organizer, urged fans to flex their economic power by “letting the Dodgers know that we do not support repression.”

Jorge “Coqui” Rodriguez, a lifelong Dodgers fan, spoke to the crowd and called on Dodgers ownership to divest from immigration detention centers owned and operated by GEO Group and CoreCivic.

Jorge Coqui H Rodriguez speaks at a press conference outside Dodger Stadium on March 25, 2026, to demand the Dodgers not to visit the White House following their 2025 World Series win.

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J.W. Hendricks

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The LA Local

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In a phone interview a day before the protest, Rodriguez told The LA Local he did not want the Dodgers using his “cheve” or beer money to fund detention centers. 

“They can’t take our parking money, our cacahuate money, our cheve money, our Dodger Dog money and invest those funds into corporations that are imprisoning people. It’s wrong,” Rodriguez said. 

Rodriguez considers the Dodgers one of the most racially diverse teams and said the players need to support fans at a time when heightened immigration enforcement has become more common across L.A.

The team’s 2025’s visit to the White House drew ire from the largely Latino fan base, citing the Trump administration’s ongoing attacks on immigrants. 

In June, the team came under further scrutiny when rumors swirled online that federal immigration agents were using the stadium’s parking, which immigration authorities later denied in statements posted on social media accounts.

The team again came under fire after not releasing a statement on the impacts of ICE raids on its mostly Latino fan base at the height of immigration enforcement last summer. The team later agreed to invest $1 million to support families affected by immigration enforcement.

When he learned the Dodgers were pledging only $1 million to families in need, Rodriguez called the amount a  “slap in the face.” 

“These guys just bought the Lakers for billions of dollars and they give a million dollars to fight for legal services? That’s a joke,” Rodriguez said. “They need to have a moral backbone and not be investing in those companies.”

According to reporting from the Los Angeles Times, former Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershawsaid last week that he is looking forward to the trip.

“I went when President [Joe] Biden was in office. I’m going to go when President [Donald] Trump is in office,” Kershaw said. “To me, it’s just about getting to go to the White House. You don’t get that opportunity every day, so I’m excited to go.”

The Dodgers have yet to announce when their planned visit will take place. 

Santillan sometimes laments his decision to give up his season tickets in protest of the team. His connection to the stadium and the memories he has made there with family and friends will last a lifetime, he said. On Thursday, he will uphold his tradition and be there for the first pitch of the season, but with a heavy heart.

“It’s a family tradition, but the Dodgers have a lot of work to do,” he said.

A local favorite mom-and-pop bookshop in Eagle Rock is facing displacement due to a steep rent hike. The owners say theirs is just one of several small businesses along Eagle Rock Boulevard struggling to keep up with lease increases.

Over the past 19 years, many in the neighborhood have come to love READ Books for its eclectic collection of used titles and shop dog Florence.

Co-owner Jeremy Kaplan said it’s been a delight to grow with the community over the years.

“Like seeing kids come back in, who were in grade school and now they’re in college,” Kaplan said.

But the building where Kaplan and wife Debbie rent was recently sold, and the rent increased by more than 130% to $2,805 a month, Kaplan said. He told LAist it was an increase his small business simply could not absorb.

Kaplan said he originally was given 30 days notice of the rent increase. After some research, assistance from Councilmember Ysabel Jurado’s office and some pro-bono legal help, Kaplan said he pushed back and got the 90-day notice he’s afforded by state law.

California Senate Bill 1103 requires landlords to give businesses with five or less employees 90 days’ notice for rent increases exceeding 10%, among other protections.

Systems Real Estate, the property management company, did not immediately respond to LAist’s request for comment.

What can small businesses do? 

Nadia Segura, directing attorney of the Small Business Program at pro bono legal aid non-profit Bet Tzedek said California law does not currently allow for rent control for commercial tenancies.

Outside of the protections under SB 1103, Segura said small businesses like READ Books don’t have much other recourse. And even then, commercial landlords are not required to inform their tenants of their protections under the law.

“There’s still a lot of people that don’t know about SB 1103. And then it’s very sad that they tell them they have these rent increases and within a month they have to leave,” Segura said.

She said her group is seeing steep rent hikes like this for commercial tenants across the city.

“We are seeing this even more with the World Cup coming up, the Olympics coming up. And I will say it was very sad to see that also after the wildfires,” Segura said.

Part of Bet Tzedek’s ongoing work is to advocate for small businesses, working with landlords who are increasing rents to see if they are willing to give business owners longer leases that lock in rents.

What’s next 

After READ Books posted about their situation on social media, commenters chimed in to express their outrage and love for the little shop.

While he looks for a new spot, Kaplan says he’s forming a coalition of local businesses and activist groups to see what can be done to help other small businesses facing similar displacement. He wants to address the displacement issue for businesses like his, which have made Eagle Rock the distinctive neighborhood that it is today.

Owl Talk, a longtime Eagle Rock staple selling clothing and accessories in a unit in the same building as READ Books, is facing a “more than double” rent increase, according to a post on their Instagram account.

Kaplan said he’s been in touch with the office of state Assemblywoman Jessica Caloza and wants to explore the possibility of introducing legislation to set up protections for small businesses like his, including rent-control measures or a vacancy tax for landlords. Kaplan said he also reached out to the office of state Sen. Maria Durazo.

By his count, Kaplan said there are about a dozen businesses within surrounding blocks that are at risk of closing their doors or have shuttered due to rent increases or other struggles.

When READ Books was founded during the Great Recession, Kaplan said he knew it was a longshot to open a bookstore at the same time so many were struggling to stay in business.

“It was kind of interesting to be doing something that neighborhoods needed. That was important to me growing up, that was important to my children, that was important to my wife growing up,” Kaplan said.

“And then somebody comes in and says, ‘We’re gonna over double your rent.”

Topline:

Frozen budget: Most of the city’s Bureau of Street Lighting budget comes from an assessment that people who own property illuminated by lights pay on their county property tax bill. The amount people pay depends on the kind of property they own and how much they benefit from lighting. A typical single-family home currently pays $53 annually, and in total, the assessments bring in about $45 million annually for the city to repair and maintain streetlights. Changing the amount the Bureau of Street Lighting gets from the assessment requires a vote among property owners who benefit from the lights.

Ballots: L.A. City Council’s vote gives city staff the green light to prepare and send out those ballots. Miguel Sangalang, who oversees the bureau, said at a committee meeting earlier this month that he expects to send out ballots by April 17. Notices about the ballots will be sent out prior to the ballots themselves.

Near unanimous vote: L.A. City Councilmember Monica Rodriguez was the only “No” vote Tuesday, saying she wanted to see a more current strategic plan for the bureau. Sangalang said the bureau developed a plan in 2022 that lays out how money will be spent. Councilmember Imelda Padilla was absent for the vote.

Vote count: Votes will be weighted according to the assessment amount. Basically, the more you’re asked to pay yearly to maintain streetlights, the more your vote will count. Ballots received before June 2 will be tabulated by the L.A. City Clerk.

How much more money: According to a report, the amount needed in assessments from property owners to meet the repair and maintenance needs of the city’s streetlighting in the next fiscal year is nearly $112 million.

Use of the money: Sangalang said at a March 11 committee meeting that the extra funds would be used to double the number of staff to handle repairs and procure solar streetlights, which don’t face the threat of copper wire theft. That would all potentially reduce the time it takes to repair simple fixes down to a week. Currently, city residents wait for months to see broken streetlights repaired. The assessment would come with a three-year auditing mechanism.