The Brief

On Wednesday night, I got to witness Harry Potter-mania take over Hollywood Boulevard as Harry Potter and the Cursed Child opened at the Pantages. Stripe-scarved kids and adults alike took wands in hand and made their way to their seats. The show was a great escape, with incredible magic on stage and sleek choreography to bring these now very familiar characters to life on stage. If only we had a magic wand for everything!

Our real-life magic is 80-degree weather in February and the new H&H bagels opening up in Santa Monica. I’ll take it.

For more to explore, visit LAist.com, where we’ve found the best sandwiches under $12 (yes, it is possible!), tasted your local favorite breakfast spots, and are bringing you the latest on when it will be safe to go back to the beach.

Events

Wednesday, Feb. 26, 6 p.m.
Deep Thot: Theories, Hot Takes, Observations, and Tea
Kiso Los Angeles
107 W 4th St.
Downtown L.A.
COST: $10 SUGGESTED DONATION; MORE INFO

LAist’s own Brian de Los Santos leads a conversation about what Los Angeles would look like without immigrants and transplants (spoiler alert: unrecognizable!). Sponsored by the L.A. Public Library and DTLAPround, the happy hour is part of a new guest lecture series at downtown gay bar Kiso. The Library’s Community Engagement and Outreach Department will be on site with relevant literature, LGBTQ+ books, and onsite library card registration.

Through March 9 
East West Players: Cambodian Rock Band
David Henry Hwang Theatre
120 Judge John Aiso St.
Little Tokyo
COST: FROM $15; MORE INFO

The band Dengue Fever provides the soundtrack for Cambodian Rock Band, East West Players’ first show of the season, which follows the story of a Khmer Rouge survivor as he returns to Cambodia after 30 long years.

Wednesday, Feb. 26, 1 p.m. - 3 p.m. 
Music in the Chinese Garden
The Huntington 
1151 Oxford Rd.San Marino
COST: FREE WITH GENERAL ADMISSION ($29); MORE INFO

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Courtesy The Huntington

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Relax to the sounds of classical Chinese instruments while walking through the Garden of Flowing Fragrance at the Huntington. What could be better for stress than admiring one of the area’s most beautiful gardens with a classical accompaniment? Make this your most chill lunch break ever.

Feb. 26 and Feb. 27, 8:30 p.m.
John Cameron Mitchell (featuring Amber Martin)
Catalina Bar and Grill 
6725 W. Sunset Blvd.
Hollywood
COST: FROM $75; MORE INFO

John Cameron Mitchell performs during the 25th Malaga Film Festival in 2022.

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Carlos Alvarez

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Broadway favorites and definitely some cheeky humor are in store when John Cameron Mitchell — creator of Hedwig and the Angry Inch — performs with cabaret great Amber Martin at the intimate Catalina Bar & Grill in Hollywood. The site says these dates are both sold out, but there are tickets for the Palm Springs show on Friday (including a meet-and-greet!), and it’s always worth checking back closer to the date or on third-party sites.

Thursday Feb. 27, 8 p.m. (free pre-concert talk 7 p.m.) 
Mahler Groove Fest: Dudamel conducts Mahler’s Seventh
Walt Disney Concert Hall
111 S. Grand Ave.
Downtown L.A.
COST: FROM $99; MORE INFO

Gustavo Dudamel conducts the LA Phil for 'The Tristan Project' in three acts at Walt Disney Concert Hall. The production is directed by Peter Sellars, with video by acclaimed artist Bill Viola.

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Conductor Gustavo Dudamel describes Mahler’s Seventh Symphony as “a symphony of everything: from chaos to glory, sarcasm to tenderness, from a funeral march to a seductive tango. It is a cosmic symphony of perfect construction and galactic emotional scope.” Dudamel hasn’t conducted this piece here before, so take advantage, as our time with the maestro here in L.A. is waning. Before the concert, classical experts answer your questions and guide you through the event at a free conversation in the BP Hall — well worth getting downtown early to see!

Tuesday, Feb. 25, 7 p.m.
LAFC vs Colorado 
BMO Stadium 
3939 S. Figueroa St. 
University Park 
COST: FROM $44; MORE INFO

LAFC fans during the match between the Los Angeles Galaxy and the Los Angeles FC at Dignity Health Sports Park on April 16, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. Los Angeles FC won the match 3-2.

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These early weeks of LAFC’s new season are a great time to score tickets, enjoy the cool weather, and see some great soccer. LAFC takes on the Colorado Rapids in Tuesday’s match-up.

Tuesday, Feb. 25, 5 p.m.
Rick Springfield Acoustic Mini Set & Album Signing
Amoeba Hollywood
6200 Hollywood Blvd. 
Hollywood 
COST: FREE, MORE INFO

Rick Springfield performs at Ryman Auditorium on February 19, 2025 in Nashville, Tennessee.

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From “Jessie’s Girl” to starring opposite Meryl Streep, '80s heartthrob Rick Springfield has made his mark in Hollywood. He’s celebrating a new hits collection — Big Hits: Rick Springfield's Greatest Hits, Vol. 2 — with a solo acoustic mini-set and album signing at Amoeba. Get there early and dance to the hits; buy the album to attend the meet-and-greet signing.

Through July 13
Fire Kinship: Southern California Native Ecology and ArtFowler UCLA 
308 Charles E. Young Dr N.
Westwood
COST: FREE, MORE INFO

The Fire Kinship show, part of PST: Art and Science Collide, was postponed when the fires hit, but the irony hasn’t been lost on the Fowler Museum. Eons before wildfires ravaged the Los Angeles area this January, native inhabitants of California were learning how to live in symbiosis with our area’s most violent predator. This show looks at native ecology, art, and our ongoing relationship with fire. ArtNews has a great interview with curator Daisy Ocampo Diaz about the exhibit.

Viewing Pick

Through March 1
Oscar shorts selections
Multiple locations 
COST: VARIES, MORE INFO 

An Oscar statue stands as preparations are made along the red carpet ahead of the Academy Awards.

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It’s that time of year again. The Oscars are next Sunday, March 2, and you have just over a week to sneak in all your movie-watching and get that party ballot done. Fortunately, we have access to so many more independent films and shorts with all the streaming services, but I always find it fun (and a great way to support indie filmmakers!) to see the full selection of Oscar short films in the theaters. I’m particularly excited about the Mindy Kaling-produced Anuja, and the New Yorker’s I’m Not a Robot. Several area locations are showing the live-action, animated, and documentary shorts, so head to your closest and check them out!

Dining & Drink Deals

Tuesday, Feb. 25, 4 p.m.
Fishwife Cookbook launch party
Barra Santos 
1215 Cypress Ave.
Highland Park 
COST: VARIES, MORE INFO 

If tinned fish enthusiasts had a cult, Fishwife would be their leader. Check out the new cookbook and some great eats from Fishwife CEO Becca Milstein and illustrator Danny Miller at Portuguese favorite Barra Santos, hosted by Now Serving. The first 75 folks to arrive get a free Fishwife tote bag.

Tuesday, Feb. 25, 7 p.m. 
Mezcal cocktail dinner
Wood & Salt 
4262 Atlantic Ave.
Long Beach 
COST: $95, MORE INFO 

A mezcal cocktail.

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Jakob Layman

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Enjoy four courses at Wood & Salt in Long Beach, paired with mezcals from the Derrumbes Mezcal distillery. Each dish will have a complimentary cocktail alongside it from bar manager Gabriel Ducharme and Executive Chef Jordan Borlaza.

Wednesday, Feb. 26, 11 a.m. - 10 p.m. 
$6 Wine Wednesday
Rodeo Public Market 
3430 E. Ontario Ranch Rd.
Ontario 
COST: $6, MORE INFO 

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Scott Warman

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In a city where the cost of a glass of wine seems to creep up over $15 by the minute, this is a steal. Enjoy $6 wine pours all month long at Brewhaven inside Rodeo X on Wednesday nights till 10 p.m.

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.