Phantogram, seen here in 2016 in New York City, inaugurates the new music venue The Bellwether in downtown L.A.
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Neilson Barnard
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Getty Images
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This week
Enjoy the sounds of Ellington and Gershwin with Dudamel at the Hollywood Bowl. Take in a story about “sweat.” Learn about the early Central Avenue jazz scene.
Our picks:
Ellington and Gershwin with Dudamel, Hollywood Bowl, 2301 N. Highland Ave., Hollywood -Gustavo Dudamel leads the LA Phil in this celebration of two great American musicians and composers who blended orchestral sounds and jazz.
Los Angeles StorySLAM: Sweat, Los Globos, 3040 W. Sunset Blvd., Silver Lake-Listen to a night of five-minute true and surprising stories about perspiration, sweat, nerves, knees week and other things that leave your palms sweaty.
Central Ave: Open House, The Beehive, 1000 E. 60th St., Florence-The MUSE/IQUE organization with The New 9th and the Central Avenue Jazz Festival present Central Avenue: An Extraordinary Story of the South LA Music Legends Who Changed the World.
Enjoy the sounds of Ellington and Gershwin with Dudamel at the Hollywood Bowl. Take in a story about “sweat.” Learn about the early Central Avenue jazz scene.
Monday, July 10 - Saturday, July 15
West Edge Mural Fest 12101 W Olympic Blvd., Sawtelle West Edge, a new mixed-use development at Olympic and Bundy, holds a Mural Fest that will run from July 10-15. Catch global artists and muralists, including Aaron Martin, Anna Charney and ER (Efren Rebugio Jr.) as they create works across 4,000 square feet. On Saturday, July 15 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., celebrate the murals in The Plaza with art, face painting, henna and live music. COST: FREE; MORE INFO
Mondays through Aug. 7
Movie Mondays: The Lion King Julianne and George Argyros Plaza Segerstrom Center for the Arts 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa Watch movies inspired by the upcoming season at the Segerstrom Center, starting with The Lion King (1994 version). Additonal features include Clue (July 17), How the Grinch Stole Christmas (July 24), Peter Pan (July 31) and Aladdin (Aug. 7). Arrive early for pre-show activities fun at 6 p.m., with the screenings starting around dusk. Bring your own snacks or purchase food from George’s Café. Outside alcohol is not permitted. COST: FREE; MORE INFO
Tuesday, July 11; 8 p.m.
Phantogram The Bellwether 333 Boylston St., downtown L.A. L.A.'s new music venue officially opens on Tuesday with a sold-out show with Phantogram with opener Ill Peach. (Other artists performing within its opening weeks include Tycho, Panda Bear & Sonic Boom, Haim, Andrew Bird and Porter Robinson.) COST: $55; MORE INFO
Alleviating the Housing Crisis: Where’s the Money? Hammer Museum 10899 Wilshire Blvd., Westwood The museum’s series, Hammer Forum: L.A.’s Housing Crisis, continues with a panel discussion and exploration of the monies involved in housing. In 2016, L.A. voters lent their support to Proposition HHH, a bond measure designed to generate more than $1 billion over 10 years to create affordable housing for unhoused people. Nearly all the funds have been allocated, but where is the housing? Join journalist Anna Scott, creator of the KCRW podcasts Samaritans and City of Tents, who speaks with Dr. Heidi Behforouz, medical director of Housing for Health at L.A. County Department of Health Services; Stephanie Klasky-Gamer, president and CEO of LA Family Housing; and Miguel A. Santana, president of the Weingart Foundation and former city administrative officer for the city of L.A., where he oversaw a $9 billion budget and designed LA's first comprehensive homelessness strategy. COST: FREE; MORE INFO
Tuesday, July 11 - Sunday, July 16
Simon Miller Sample Sale 950 S. Broadway, downtown L.A. The L.A.-based fashion and accessories brand Simon Miller holds a sample sale this week. COST: FREE admission; MORE INFO
Central Ave: Open House The Beehive 1000 E. 60th St., Florence The MUSE/IQUE organization with The New 9th and the Central Avenue Jazz Festival present Central Avenue: An Extraordinary Story of the South LA Music Legends Who Changed the World. The open house is open to the community, remounting a concert program that traces jazz that began on Central Avenue, the West Coast’s answer to the Harlem Renaissance. Additional performances take place on Saturday, July 15 and Sunday, July 16 at Memorial Park in Pasadena. COST: FREE with RSVP; MORE INFO
One for the Books Crawford Family Forum 474 S. Raymond Ave., Pasadena In this special edition of One for the Books, host Traci Thomas talks about food, culture, cookbooks and the politics of food. She’s joined by guests Bricia Lopez, chef and partner at her family’s restaurant Guelaguetza, who released a cookbook Asada: The Art of Mexican-Style Grilling in April; J avier Cabral, cookbook co-author and editor of L.A. Taco; and Keith Corbin, chef and owner of the acclaimed Alta Adams restaurant. They’ll talk about books and food and play some games. At this LAist event, guests won’t leave hungry — there will be food on-site for everyone to enjoy and cookbooks will be available for purchase. COST: FREE - $40; MORE INFO
Gustavo Dudamel and the Los Angeles Philharmonic, seen here at the 91st Annual Academy Awards in 2019, perform works by Ellington and Gershwin.
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Kevin Winter
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Getty Images
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Thursday, July 13; 8 p.m.
Ellington and Gershwin with Dudamel Hollywood Bowl 2301 N. Highland Ave., Hollywood Gustavo Dudamel leads the LA Phil in this celebration of two great American musicians and composers who blended orchestral sounds and jazz. Gustavo Dudamel. Tony- and Grammy Award-winning singer Patina Miller performs selections by Ellington, Gershwin and others from the Great American Songbook. COST: FREE; MORE INFO
KCRW Summer Nights: Steady Holiday Hammer Museum 10899 Wilshire Blvd., Westwood Steady Holiday — the solo project from L.A.-based singer-songwriter Dre Babinski — performs in the Hammer Courtyard with KCRW DJs Nassir Nassirzadeh and Novena Carmel spinning tunes. The happy hour with cash bar starts at 6:30 p.m., and the galleries featuring Together in Time: Selections from the Hammer Contemporary Collectionwill be open until 9 p.m. COST: FREE; MORE INFO
Thursday, July 13; 5 - 8 p.m.
Ozomatli Irvine Regional Park 1 Irvine Park Rd., Orange Bring your blankets and chairs to the park to picnic and enjoy live music under the summer sky. This week, the OC Parks Summer Concert Series welcomes L.A.’s own Ozomatli with opener KYNG. Food and beverages are available for purchase. COST: FREE; MORE INFO
Storytellers return to The Moth this week.
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Courtesy of The Moth
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Thursday, July 13; 7:30 p.m.
Los Angeles StorySLAM: Sweat Los Globos 3040 W. Sunset Blvd., Silver Lake Listen to a night of 5-minute true and surprising stories about perspiration, sweat, nerves, knees weak and other things that leave your palms damp. Melanie Maras hosts. Seating is first-come-first-serve. Los Globos is a 21+ venue. COST: $15; MORE INFO
Thursday, July 13; 10 p.m.
Hotel with Joel Kim Booster, Girl God + More! Dynasty Typewriter 2511 Wilshire Blvd., Westlake Take a one-night trip with Hotel, showcasing standup/character performers in L.A. as they test out new bits and crazy ideas. The lineup includes Joel Kim Booster, Girl God (Grace Freud & April Clark), Julie Greiner, Max Hawksford and Andres Parada. Ages 18+. COST: $20 - $25; MORE INFO
Viewing Pick
The Afterparty: Season 2 The mystery-comedy series The Afterparty from Christopher Miller returns with a new case and a few new characters. This time, a groom was murdered at a wedding, and Tiffany Haddish's Detective Danner returns to solve the case. Other returning cast members include Sam Richardson (Aniq) and Zoë Chao (Zoë). The first two (of 10 episodes) premiere on July 12 on Apple TV, followed by one new episode every Wednesday through Sept. 6.
Esters hosts chef Jorge Serrano on Wednesday, July 12 from 5 to 9:30 p.m. for The Serrano Experience, featuring Spanish dishes including Basque cheesecake.
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Courtesy of Rustic Canyon family.
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Dine and Drink Deals
Here are a few dine and drink options to indulge in this week.
The 1917 Wine Bar + Bistro at the historic San Antonio Winery in downtown L.A. launched a new summer and happy hour menu, including ziti tagliati made with bone marrow, wild mushroom, 24-month-aged parmigiano-reggiano dop, veal jus ($27), crème brûlée French toast made with crème fraîche, berries, maple syrup, maple sage sausage and scrambled eggs (Saturday and Sunday brunch, $18), and Italian Spritz, sangria and Bloody Mary (available for happy hour from Wednesday through Friday from 3 p.m. to close).
On Thursday, July 13, Del Frisco’s Grille in Santa Monica holds a “Hot Grille Summer” patio party from 5 to 6:30 p.m. For $45, guests can indulge in hors d’oeuvres that include Tomato & Burrata Bruschetta, Cheesesteak Eggroll Bites, Herbed Guacamole Bites and Cucumber Gazpacho Bites while sipping on drinks from Dos Hombres and Hampton Water Rosé.
Tallula’s in Santa Monica collaborates with chef Tony Messina’s Surf Clam on Monday nights for the rest of July. Dine on New England classics like lobster rolls, fried clams, crudo, sashimi, small plates and a large-format dish focusing on California produce and fresh seafood.
Also in Santa Monica, Esters hosts chef Jorge Serrano on Wednesday, July 12 from 5 to 9:30 p.m. for The Serrano Experience. Slicing up Iberico ham by hand and cooking authentic Spanish tapas for one night only. Highlights from the à la carte menu include a classic Pan Con Tomate, Cadiz crudo with Spanish bluefin tuna belly and 12-year Pedro Jimenez white vin, gambas al ajillo featuring baby red prawns, pulpo gallego with olive oil-crushed Yukon potatoes, Basque Cheesecake topped with dulce de leche.
Piccalilli in Culver City has a new Monday Night Burger + Sake Bomb special. Pair the sake-bomb style cocktail Float Like A Butterfly with their signature burger.
Frank Stoltze
is a veteran reporter who covers local politics and examines how democracy is and, at times, is not working.
Published October 14, 2026 2:53 PM
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass (left) and L.A. City Councilmember Nithya Raman.
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Myung J. Chun (left) and Genaro Molina (right)
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Los Angeles Times via Getty Images
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Topline
The Downtown Los Angeles Residents Association will host a mayoral forum Thursday night. It's open to the public.
The details: Incumbent L.A. Mayor Karen Bass and her challenger, City Councilmember Nithya Raman, will appear separately. Each will have 40 minutes to answer questions “directly sourced from downtown residents about the future of our neighborhood,” according to an announcement.
The backstory: Bass is seeking a second four-year term leading the nation’s second largest city. Raman, a one-time Bass ally, is looking to topple her.
Bass has said Raman is too extreme for L.A. — a “risky choice” for voters. Raman has countered that Bass has mismanaged the city and should be ousted.
The event: Organizers say this is a nonpartisan community civic engagement event with a goal of helping downtown voters make informed decisions at the polls. It's also designed to “ensure the Mayor of LA is developing and executing a resident-centered vision for a vibrant, thriving DTLA.”
The forum will be held at Clifton’s at 648 S. Broadway in Los Angeles. It starts at 6 p.m.
Netflix is laying off 6% of its workforce, in biggest round of job cuts at streaming giant in years
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Richard Drew
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Associated Press
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Topline:
Netflix plans to lay off about 6% of its workforce, amounting to nearly 1,000 positions, as the streaming giant makes wider “organizational changes.” Co-CEOs Greg Peters and Ted Sarandos announced the job cuts in a memo to employees Wednesday. They said the company’s product, tech, legal and human resources teams would be the most impacted.
The backstory: Between membership signups and price increases, Netflix’s profit has grown this year. In its second financial quarter, the company earned $3.4 billion and racked up revenue of $12.56 billion — up 9% and 13%, respectively, from the same period last year. Still, Netflix’s forecast for the third quarter fell below Wall Street’s expectations. The company plans to report those earnings next week.
Netflix plans to lay off about 6% of its workforce, amounting to nearly 1,000 positions, as the streaming giant makes wider “organizational changes.”
Co-CEOs Greg Peters and Ted Sarandos announced the job cuts in a memo to employees Wednesday. They said the company’s product, tech, legal and human resources teams would be the most impacted.
“Decisions like these are never easy, and we don’t take them lightly,” Peters and Sarandos wrote in the memo, which was obtained by The Associated Press. They maintained business was strong — but that Netflix needed to be “disciplined about where we prioritize our people and resources” as it invests in future growth and “high impact areas to improve our service.”
Beyond the memo from its chief executives, Netflix declined to comment further about Wednesday’s cuts.
Between membership signups and price increases, Netflix’s profit has grown this year. In its second financial quarter, the company earned $3.4 billion and racked up revenue of $12.56 billion — up 9% and 13%, respectively, from the same period last year.
Still, Netflix’s forecast for the third quarter fell below Wall Street’s expectations. The company plans to report those earnings next week.
Competition in the streaming space is growing more crowded overall. Netflix continues to be a dominant player (accounting for 19% of the market per the latest data from streaming guide JustWatch), but rivals like Amazon’s Prime Video and Disney+ are close behind.
HBO Max and Paramount+ are also now under the same roof — Skydance — after Paramount’s $81 billion buyout of Warner Bros. Discovery closed last week. The new Hollywood giant plans to unify its streaming products “into a single service over time.” Netflix initially inked a deal to buy Warner’s studio and streaming business late last year, but walked away from that offer back in February.
At the end of 2025, per regulatory filings, Netflix had about 16,000 full-time employees worldwide. The layoffs announced Wednesday mark the biggest round of cuts the California-based company has rolled out in years.
The Wall Street Journal first reported Wednesday’s news of the layoffs.
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Gab Chabrán
covers what's happening in food and culture for LAist.
Published October 14, 2026 1:40 PM
Crab and pork xiao long bao from Din Tai Fung, just one of the stops along our Torrance dumpling crawl.
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Courtesy Din Tai Fung
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Topline:
Torrance packs quality dumpling spots into a few miles, from a farmers market stand to a sit-down high-end experience, making it an ideal spot for a crawl.
Why it’s important: Dumplings are now a regular part of many Southern Californians’ diets, but many of the best-known spots are clustered in the San Gabriel Valley. Torrance gives South Bay and the Westside eaters a closer option.
Why now? With the fall here, few things hit like a bowl of wonton soup or a basket of soup dumplings.
A craving for dumplings can hit at any moment. If you live near a dumpling stronghold like the San Gabriel Valley, satisfying that urge is pretty easy. But what if that hankering for steamy, soupy goodness strikes miles away from Valley Boulevard?
The answer may surprise you: Torrance.
Sure, the offerings aren’t as deep as the SGV’s. But within a few miles, you’ll find great options at every price point, from an outdoor market stand to a sit-down dining room.
Buckle up. We’re heading out on an old-fashioned dumpling crawl, South Bay style.
Bun Boss
An $8 order of pork dumplings from Bun Boss at the Torrance Farmers Market topped with chili crisp.
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Gab Chabrán
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LAist
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Let’s ease into things at the Torrance Farmers Market, held every Tuesday and Saturday. If you love some of the freshest, hard-to-find seasonal produce in the L.A. area, you probably already know about it.
Enter Bun Boss, the locally beloved small stand near the market’s Oak Street entrance. The tiny stand might not look like much, but it serves a range of dumplings, bao and even a few dim sum items.
Keeping things light, I went with the pork dumplings (small, $8). They’re steamed half-moons, with the wrappers expertly folded around the filling. They’re great on their own, but a small spoonful of chili crisp over each one adds a savory, spicy kick to every bite.
Location: Torrance Farmers Market, Wilson Park, 2200 Crenshaw Blvd., Torrance Hours: Tuesdays and Saturdays, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Instagram:@bun_boss_100
Bafang Dumpling
Bafang's Taiwanese dumplings — the combos offer the most value.
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Gab Chabran
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Moving from ultra-casual to fast-casual, less than 10 minutes away is Bafang Dumpling, a Taiwanese chain founded in Taipei in 1998. It opened its first U.S. location in 2022 and has since spread across SoCal, with 14 locations from L.A. to San Diego.
It sits in a newly remodeled strip mall not far from the Del Amo Fashion Center. The space is bright, and you order at the counter. With plenty of options, the combos offer the best value. I went with the 12 signature potstickers and a mini wonton soup ($14.95).
The potstickers alone are enough to fill you up. They’re slender, with crispy bottoms made for dipping in the sauces on hand, from black vinegar to chili sauce. I kept going back to the garlic sauce, upping the savory factor, just how I like it. My few slurps of the mini wonton soup hit just as hard, with a full-bodied broth and plump wontons.
Crab and pork xiao long bao ($19.50 for 10) at the Din Tai Fung in Del Amo Fashion Center.
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Gab Chabrán
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LAist
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Is it an obvious choice? Sure. But despite its omnipresence on the SoCal dumpling scene, Din Tai Fung still holds its own as the sit-down dumpling experience. Being a five-minute drive from Bafang makes it a no-brainer for our crawl.
The always-busy location is on the second floor of the Del Amo Fashion Center, and you’ll usually need a reservation at peak lunch and dinner hours. That’s no surprise: DTF built its reputation on a lineup of dumplings you can turn into a meal at any time of day.
Once you’ve nabbed a table and gotten the rundown from your headset-wearing server, order the dish that gave the place its name: xiao long bao, or soup dumplings. Start with the crab and pork ($19.50 for 10 pieces), which gets a hint of sweetness from the crab and richness from the pork. To make the most of the broth inside, bite a small hole near the twisted tip and sip some. Then douse the rest with black vinegar and chili oil, and pop the whole thing into your mouth.
Save room for the potstickers, another fan favorite ($13). They’re fried together into a single rectangular sheet, adding another hands-on element to an already fun meal.
Location: Del Amo Fashion Center, 21540 Hawthorne Blvd., Suite 519, Torrance Hours: Monday–Thursday 11 a.m.–9:30 p.m.; Friday 11 a.m.–10 p.m.; Saturday 10 a.m.–10 p.m.; Sunday 10 a.m.–9 p.m. Reservations: Recommended at peak hours
By Safiyah Riddle and Eric Tucker | Associated Press
Published October 14, 2026 1:30 PM
The U.S. Department of Justice logo is seen on a podium before a press conference, May 6, 2025, at the Justice Department in Washington.
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Julia Demaree Nikhinson
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Associated Press
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Topline:
The U.S. Department of Justice has threatened California with possible legal action over what it says are noncitizens believed to have received mail ballots for next month’s midterm elections. A letter sent Tuesday to Secretary of State Shirley Weber from Trent McCotter, the acting deputy U.S. attorney general, says the department has provided officials in Los Angeles County with a password-protected thumb drive with a list of names the federal government believes are likely noncitizens who were sent ballots to participate in the Nov. 3 election.
What's next: The letter obtained by The Associated Press gives the state 48 hours to determine whether any citizens are included on the list. For individuals whose citizenship cannot be independently verified, the state is to instruct local election officials to segregate their mail-in ballots until their status can be determined, and to not provide a ballot to anyone who has not yet received it. The letters warns that legal action may follow if the state does not meet the 48-hour deadline to review the list.
The backstory: The Trump administration has made the hunt for noncitizen voters a priority this year, even though the problem is exceptionally rare. The Justice Department has charged about 90 people for various types of election misconduct so far this year, including 50 who are alleged to have voted as noncitizens. There were more than 227 million registered voters in the United States during the 2024 presidential election.
The U.S. Department of Justice has threatened California with possible legal action over what it says are noncitizens believed to have received mail ballots for next month’s midterm elections.
A letter sent Tuesday to Secretary of State Shirley Weber from Trent McCotter, the acting deputy U.S. attorney general, says the department has provided officials in Los Angeles County with a password-protected thumb drive with a list of names the federal government believes are likely noncitizens who were sent ballots to participate in the Nov. 3 election.
California mails ballots to all registered voters.
The letter obtained by The Associated Press gives the state 48 hours to determine whether any citizens are included on the list. For individuals whose citizenship cannot be independently verified, the state is to instruct local election officials to segregate their mail-in ballots until their status can be determined, and to not provide a ballot to anyone who has not yet received it. The letters warns that legal action may follow if the state does not meet the 48-hour deadline to review the list.
“If you cannot implement this process by then, given the ongoing federal election, the United States will have no choice but to seek emergency relief,” the letter states.
Neither the California secretary of state nor the Los Angeles County registrar immediately responded to requests seeking comment.
The Trump administration has made the hunt for noncitizen voters a priority this year, even though the problem is exceptionally rare. The Justice Department has charged about 90 people for various types of election misconduct so far this year, including 50 who are alleged to have voted as noncitizens. There were more than 227 million registered voters in the United States during the 2024 presidential election.
In July, Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin sent letters to California, Nevada, New Jersey and Pennsylvania, alleging that as many as 250,000 noncitizens were registered in those states. Election officials there were skeptical of the claim, including Weber, the California secretary of state.
“I have serious doubts about the reliability of your data and accuracy of your claims, since my office has not shared our statewide voter registration list with DHS or any other federal agency or official,” Weber said in response.
That same month, the Republican administration claimed Nevada had 1,500 noncitizen voters on its voter rolls. But after the federal government identified them to the state, the number of actual registered noncitizens turned out to be zero.
As part of its project to find noncitizens on the voter rolls, the Justice Department has been seeking detailed voter information — including dates of birth, addresses, driver’s license numbers and partial Social Security numbers — from the states. Some Republican-led states have turned over the information, which has been run through a U.S. Department of Homeland Security database that has been criticized as inaccurately flagging U.S. citizens.
The Justice Department has sued 30 states and the District of Columbia for that information, but so far has lost those cases in court. California is among the states that successfully sued, in part by arguing that turning over the data would violate state privacy laws.
Santa Cruz County Clerk Tricia Webber, who is president of the California Association of Clerks and Election Officials, said she had not seen the letters but said the 48-hour deadline to vet voters flagged by the federal government was “completely unreasonable.”
She said when there is a report of an ineligible voter incorrectly on the rolls, her office does due diligence to investigate. That involves looking at the voter’s registration history, identifying whether that person had voted before and, most importantly, reaching out to the voter, she said.
“It would take more than 48 hours to even begin to get the full picture,” Webber said. She also questioned how the federal government came up with a list of alleged noncitizen voters since it doesn’t have access to the state’s detailed voter information.
Webber added that throughout the course of her decades-long career working for local election agencies, she has “never seen anything that would make me believe that our voter records are filled with fraudulent voters.”
