The Brief

Happy long weekend! In Paris, the remnants of the 2024 Olympics are alive and well. The spectacular spherical flame is still being raised most nights in the Tuileries Garden, and Paris 2024 logos are only just fading from signs. It’s a little glimpse into what we have to look forward to — and all the logistics and planning that we have coming our way — as we head towards the 2028 games here in L.A. LAist this week had a conversation with L.A. County Supervisor Janice Hahn about federal funding for Metro for the Olympics and more.

In the more immediate future, Labor Day weekend is going to be a hot one, made only hotter by all the things going on around town. No need to plan a weekend away when we’ve got Betty Who with the L.A. Phil, The Offspring with Jimmy Eat World and New Found Glory at the Forum, and Osees at the Teragram Ballroom. Plus, get your kinky boots ready for Cyndi Lauper at the Hollywood Bowl. Licorice Pizza’s gig guide has even more to check out.

More from LAist: Learn about what’s driving the hugely popular film K-Pop Demon Hunters, get a look at how voting maps might change with redistricting, and Cheap, Fast Eats heads to North Hollywood for meals under $10.

Events

Through Sunday, September 7 (Performance: Saturday, August 30, 5 p.m.)  
Carlo Maghirang: ANITO
River Station Roundhouse Turntable
L.A. State Historic Park
245 N. Spring St., Chinatown
COST: FREE; MORE INFO

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Carlo Maghirang

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Public art installation ANITO will be live for another week, but get there this weekend to see Carlo Maghirang’s live performance with the work, which “refers to the spirits of ancestors of the indigenous Tagalogs in the Philippines, and the practice of carving figures/idols (called either taotao or likha) to represent them.” He explores queer identity and cultural identity in a series of performances alongside a dance piece by Jobel Medina and sound by Anna Luisa Petrisko. Maghirang created modular versions of hundreds of the figures that “multiply across the circular turntable platform like a congregation of past selves made manifest.”

Saturday, August 30, 12:30 to 8 p.m.
Leimert Park Jazz Festival 
Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza
3650 W. MLK Blvd., Baldwin Hills/Crenshaw
COST: FREE/PAY-WHAT-YOU-WISH WITH RSVP; MORE INFO

The Dee Dee Bridgewater Quartet, from Tony and Grammy-winning artist Dee Dee Bridgewater, headlines this year’s Leimert Park Jazz Festival. Plus, Sasha Berliner, world music bands, poetry and many more take over the stage at the all-day annual festival.

Saturday, August 30, 8 p.m.
Weird Al Yankovic, 'Bigger and Weirder'
Kia Forum 
3900 W. Manchester Blvd., Inglewood 
COST: FROM $89; MORE INFO

Weird Al Yankovic poses during the 'Weird: The Al Yankovic Story' screening at The London Hotel.

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I am here for the Weird Al renaissance. In a major hometown show, everyone’s favorite parodyist will jam through his hits and his originals at the Forum. Since every famous singer has been on the receiving end of his versions over the years (and every comedian has cameoed in his clever videos as well), a surprise guest or two wouldn’t be a shock. Can’t get tickets? Check out the Elysian’s Weird Algorithm (see below) for a fun, cheap alternative.

Friday, August 29, 8 p.m.
'Robot Karaoke'
The Elysian
1944 Riverside Drive, Silver Lake
COST: FROM $10; MORE INFO

You know I love a theme, and since Weird Al Yankovic is playing at the Forum (see above) on Saturday, I would be remiss not to mention the monthly "Robot Karaoke" series at the Elysian. This live music show features the — wait for it — Weird Algorithm, which takes songs you know and gives them lyrics no one has ever heard. Think dating profiles to the tune of “I Will Survive.” If I had any sway, I’d encourage Weird Al himself to swing by.

Through Sunday, September 28 
Just Another Day
Odyssey Theatre 
2055 South Sepulveda Blvd., West L.A.
COST: $40; MORE INFO

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Russ Rowland

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Dan Lauria is most famous for playing Kevin’s grumpy but lovable dad on The Wonder Years, but he’s also written several plays. He stars in and wrote Just Another Day, opening this weekend at West L.A.’s Odyssey Theater. Also starring Patty McCormack (The Bad Seed), the play follows two former comedy writers with dementia who come up with new jokes and fall in love for the first time every day. Think 50 First Dates meets Something’s Gotta Give.

Saturday, August 30, 7 p.m.
Red Kross
Levitt Pavilion Los Angeles
2230 West 6th St., MacArthur Park 
COST: FREE; MORE INFO

I told you to see the Red Kross documentary; now see them live. The SoCal punk natives are playing the Levitt Pavilion free summer show, alongside Juanita & Juan, Kate Clover and DJ Keith Morris. MacArthur Park needs the love, and these local favorites are sure to put on a show to remember.

August 29–30, 8 p.m.
ate9 and Jacob Jonas The Company: FOG
Kirk Douglas Theater
9820 Washington Blvd., Culver City
COST: $57.75; MORE INFO

Two contemporary dance companies take over the Kirk Douglas with work premieres featuring live music. ate9 and Jacob Jonas The Company are on a double bill with music from multi-instrumentalist DJ Yuka Honda and the avant-garde duo Live Footage.

Through March 2026
American Artist | 'Shaper of God: Apple Valley Autonomy'
California African American Museum (CAAM) 
600 State Dr., Expo Park
COST: FREE; MORE INFO

No L.A. author wrote about the near-future in science fiction with more prescience than Octavia Butler. Now, a new exhibit at the California African American Museum takes her work into visual form with the new show, 'Shaper of God: Apple Valley Autonomy' by American Artist, an Altadena-based artist who changed their name officially in 2013. American Artist has been working with the Huntington Library’s massive Butler archive to bring Butler’s work into different forms. This exhibit is focused on sculpture and drawings.

Outdoor Pick

Sunday, August 31 
Dog Walking Hours 
South Coast Botanic Garden
26300 Crenshaw Blvd., Palos Verdes Peninsula
COST: $18, MEMBERS FREE; MORE INFO

Who says pups don’t need a holiday this weekend, too? Grab your best friend and head to the South Coast Botanic Gardens, where dogs on leash get to stroll through 87 acres of flowers, native plants and pathways through the Palos Verdes Peninsula’s idyllic green oasis.

Viewing Pick

August 29-30
Christopher Nolan Non-70mm Series
Fine Arts Theatre
8556 Wilshire Blvd., Beverly Hills
COST: $20; MORE INFO

You could spend Labor Day weekend at the beach, or you could spend it basking in the air-conditioned bliss of five Christopher Nolan classics screening at the Fine Arts Theatre in Beverly Hills. Throughout the weekend, Nolan’s non-70mm films will be playing on the big screen, including Memento, Insomnia and all three of his Batman films.

Dine & Drink Deals

Through Sunday, August 31 
Yogurtland x Laufey 
Multiple locations 
COST: FREE COLLECTABLE SPOON WITH PURCHASE; MORE INFO

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Yogurtland

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Yogurtland has a limited-time collab with the Grammy-winning artist Laufey in the form of a new flavor — “A Berry Laufey Day” — and a free collectible Icy Blue Laufey Giant Spoon in stores with a $15 purchase.

August 30-31
Gelato Festival World Masters
Ovation Hollywood 
6801 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood 
COST: FROM $22; MORE INFO

Continuing on the cold treat theme, what better way to cap off Labor Day weekend than with a gelato competition? The Gelato Festival World Masters is happening at Ovation Hollywood. Come hungry.

Opening Sunday, August 31
New restaurant: darling 
631 N. Robertson Blvd., West Hollywood
COST: VARIES; MORE INFO

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Ron De Angelis

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Just a heads up that Sean Brock of Charleston’s famous Husk restaurant is opening a new West Coast restaurant, darling, in West Hollywood. The space is part California-inspired restaurant (a departure from the Southern cooking the James Beard winner is known for) and part hi-fi listening lounge. Reservations are now live on Resy.

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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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.