The Brief

Another week, another downtown L.A. icon shuttering. I was so bummed to read about The Mayan theater planning to close this fall. Let’s make sure to get out and dance the night away at the historic venue while we still can. They have several jazz and Latin nights coming up throughout the summer.

In better news, the Getty Villa is back to its regular hours as of July 16, so book all your summer visits now.

LAist has even more for you to explore this week. Get the full list of Emmy nominees for all your summer binge-watching needs, learn about the history of small airports in L.A. (planes once landed in Fairfax, Glendale, and Griffith Park!), and don’t miss Nicole Rucker’s tips for making the best brownies for your summer BBQs.

Events

Thursdays to Sundays through August 10 
Gaslight
Pacific Resident Theatre
705 1/2 Venice Blvd., Venice
COST: $45;  MORE INFO

Tania Getty and Jaxon Duff Gwillim on stage in 'Gaslight.'

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Pacific Resident Theatre

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“Gaslighting” made its winding path into our modern lexicon thanks to the 1938 thriller Gas Light by Patrick Hamilton, which takes place in 1880s London and follows the story of a man slowly driving his wife insane through lies and deceit. The Pacific Resident Theatre's version, directed by Michael Rothhaar, is getting raves for its skillful lighting and sound design that remain true to the historic roots of the show.

Through Saturday, July 26
L.A. Louver Celebrates 50 Years
L.A. Louver
45 N. Venice Blvd., Venice 
COST: FREE; MORE INFO

L.A. Louver has a big exhibit on through next weekend, celebrating 50 years of the iconic Venice space. Among the many artists exhibited in the show, which is well worth checking out, are Rebecca Campbell, Teamlab, Nick Cave and David Hockney. Hockney, who recently turned 88, has two works on paper in the show.

Saturday, July 19, 3 to 11 p.m. 
Free '80s concert with Starship, The English Beat,  Missing Persons and more
Pershing Square
532 S. Olive St., Downtown L.A.
COST: FREE; MORE INFO

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Say Cheeze

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Missing Persons may have written the ultimate L.A. song with "Walking in L.A.," which includes the iconic “nobody walks in L.A.” refrain. But you can prove them wrong by taking Metro down to Pershing Square in your best legwarmers and high ponytail for this free concert with major '80s stars The English Beat, Starship, Men Without Hats, Missing Persons and more. Did we mention it’s free?

Wednesdays to Sundays through August 31
Griffith Park Free Shakespeare Festival
Old Zoo
4801 Griffith Park Drive, Griffith Park 
COST: FREE; MORE INFO

Kick off Shakespeare in the Park season with Love’s Labour’s Lost through July 27, and follow it up with Doctor Faustus August 6 to 31 at the Dell at the top of the Old Zoo in Griffith Park. Next summer, the new Griffith Park Performing Arts Stage should be ready for the 2026 season, but the Zoo is an idyllic in-between spot for this season. Bring your picnic, a blanket, and a jacket for when the sun goes down.

July 18-19  
Plumeria Festival 
L.A. County Arboretum and Botanic Garden
301 N. Baldwin Ave., Arcadia
COST: INCLUDED IN PAID GENERAL ADMISSION; MORE INFO

Get lei’d at the L.A. Arboretum’s annual Plumeria Festival! Enjoy Tahitian drumming, Polynesian dance, signature cocktails, and learn all about how to grow plumeria. The Arboretum’s Plumeria Grove is the largest public collection of the pretty flower in the continental western United States, and the event features a huge plant sale of plumeria and other exotic plants to get you started on your own garden. Plus, there will be tours, talks by experts, food trucks and more. And it makes a good pun, but there’s more to plumeria than Hawaiian leis — they are also native to the Caribbean, Mexico, and Central and northern South America.

Friday, July 18, 6 to 7:30 p.m.
Flamenco Friday 
Dominguez Rancho Adobe Museum 
18127 S. Alameda St., Rancho Dominguez
COST: $35; MORE INFO

Summer Nights are on fire at the Dominguez Rancho Adobe Museum with Flamenco Friday, where you can drink sangria, watch and learn about flamenco, and enjoy the museum space outside at sunset. The museum is the first Spanish land grant in California. There’s also a rose-pruning class there on Saturday in the garden if you want to make it a double!

Opening Saturday, July 19 
Loteria XI
Cactus Gallery, Eagle Rock
COST: FREE; MORE INFO

The annual Loteria group show at Cactus Gallery is always a unique collection of artists’ interpretations of the classical 54-card Loteria deck. This year, featured artists will reimagine the images and present the show. You can see last year’s iteration online here.

Outdoor Pick

Sunday, July 20, 7 a.m. to 1 p.m.
WalkUnited L.A. 
Rose Bowl 
1001 Rose Bowl Drive, Pasadena 
COST: FROM $25; MORE INFO

Support recovery efforts for the Eaton and Palisades wildfires and the United Way’s work with low-income students, families and communities at the annual WalkUnited run/walk. Rams Quarterback Matthew Stafford and his wife, Kelly, are the honorary chairs, plus there will be early morning food trucks, live music and more.

Viewing Pick

Through Sunday, July 20 
Do The Right Thing 
Cinépolis
1233 District Drive, Inglewood
COST: $5; MORE INFO

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Universal Pictures

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Spike Lee’s 1989 masterpiece Do The Right Thing is back on the big screen at the comfy and luxe Cinépolis theater in Inglewood. The fashion, the music, the story — it's always worth a rewatch, or you can catch this joint for the first time!

Dine & Drink Deals

Sunday, July 20
National Ice Cream Day: Free Fudge Sauce at Jeni’s 
All locations
COST: FREE WITH SCOOP PURCHASE; MORE INFO 

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Jeni's

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Nothing makes Jeni’s Ice Cream better than free fudge sauce on top, so head to your local scoop shop on National Ice Cream Day for this deal. Their Sundae Fudge Sauce is a rich chocolate sauce with a hint of sea salt. Try it with Popcorn Brittle, Toasted S’mores or the drumstick-inspired Bomastix Sundae.

July 19-20, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
HexClad Serves Up: Mr. Beef at Uncle Paulie’s Deli 
Uncle Paulie’s Deli 
8053 W. Third St., Mid-City 
COST: VARIES; MORE INFO

Calling all fans of The Bear! Get your own Italian beef sandwich without going to Chicago. Uncle Paulie’s Deli is hosting the two-day event with sandwiches, limited-edition merch, Coco’s to Go-Go Italian Ice by The Bear culinary producer Courtney Storer, a complimentary pickle cart from HexClad and more. There’s sure to be a line, so get there early.

Friday, July 18, 5 p.m. to 12 a.m.
National Caviar Day Tasting Salon
Fairmont Miramar Lobby Lounge 
101 Wilshire Blvd., Santa Monica
COST: VARIES; MORE INFO

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Fairmont Miramar Hotel & Bungalows

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Take your Friday night up a notch (or a caviar bump) at Fairmont Miramar’s caviar tasting salon experience. You’ll try flights of Beluga’s Noble and Gold vodkas served in frosted glasses, paired with a caviar tasting of kettle chips, crème fraiche, caviar pearls, and a chive brush.

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.