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The most important stories for you to know today
  • Arts & Entertainment
    Print vending machines
    You get art prints, not chips at these machines
    By Jordan-Marie Smith | NPR
    Published May 14, 2025 7:00 AM
    An arial view of over a dozen linocut illustrations printed on small sheets of paper laid on a green cutting mat.
    Artist Ana Inciardi's vending machine prints feature food items and the tools that are associated with them.
    (
    Ana Inciardi
    )

    Topline:

    Back in 2023, artist Ana Inciardi made an Instagram reel that got over 17 million views showing a bright red box with coin chutes and a colorful sign that reads, "Mini Print Vending Machine." She now has at least 50 vending machines located across the United States.

    Why the vending machines? "There was this sticker and tattoo vending machine at a supermarket near where I grew up in Brooklyn at Key Food on Seventh Avenue and Carroll Street," Inciardi said during a recent visit to one of her machines, at the National Museum of Women in the Arts in Washington, D.C. "All the time as a kid, I would get like a Batman or a Spider-Man tattoo out of that thing. And then I was like, 'I wonder if I could get one of those to sell my little prints in there."

    Where to find these machines? Inciardi's work has sparked joy and a sense of community at the 50 vending machines, from Portland, Maine, to California, Inciardi's machines remain stocked, even with high demand. She says she hopes to expand internationally.

    Read on... for a list of vending machines in Southern California.

    Back in 2023, artist Ana Inciardi made an Instagram reel that got over 17 million views.

    In the short video, you see a bright red box with coin chutes reminiscent of a bubble gum machine. A colorful sign reads, "Mini Print Vending Machine." Underneath art depicting a single fried egg, a strawberry, and other food items reads a promise: "4 quarters = 1 surprise print."

    In the video set to the band Pinegrove's then-viral song "Need 2," a pair of hands puts four quarters into one of the three coin chutes, pushes the slot in, and out pops a randomly assigned print of a jar of pickles.

    Those were Inciardi's hands — and artwork —and she now has at least 50 vending machines located across the United States. Inciardi says her inspiration for swapping out stale potato chips for linocut prints of potato chips came from childhood memories.

    "There was this sticker and tattoo vending machine at a supermarket near where I grew up in Brooklyn at Key Food on Seventh Avenue and Carroll Street," Inciardi said during a recent visit to one of her machines, at the National Museum of Women in the Arts in Washington, D.C. "All the time as a kid, I would get like a Batman or a Spider-Man tattoo out of that thing. And then I was like, 'I wonder if I could get one of those to sell my little prints in there."

    A female presenting person wearing a red and blue striped collared shirt leans on a red coin vending machine with illustrations and text on the front that read "Mini print vending machine."
    Ana Inciardi with her mini print vending machine.
    (
    Dana Valletti
    )

    Vending machines in SoCal

    Annabelle's Book Club LA

    • 12200 Ventura Blvd, Studio City, CA 91604

    Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA)

    • Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90036

    Block Shop Textiles

    • 3215 Glendale Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90039, United States

    Grand Central Market

    • 317 S Broadway, Los Angeles, CA 90013

    Lady & Larder

    • 828 Pico Blvd, Suite 2, Los Angeles, CA 90405

    For the full list of vending machines:

    Inciardi's linocut prints are made from carved linoleum. Each layer of color is stamped onto the linocut one by one. But the most exciting thing for her is watching people appreciate her prints in real life.

    "This is my first time at this museum. It's the first time seeing this vending machine," Inciardi said about the location. "It's always really sweet watching people. I always, like, shed a little tear the first time I see it. It's really cute."

    Inciardi's work primarily focuses on food and the items used to make that food. She showcases yellow slickers or overalls worn while picking vegetables, as well as blue tins of sardines. There may even be a pink prawn in the mix. Just like a bubble gum machine, you don't know which print you'll end up with — you may get a completely different print each time, or end up with doubles. Some of Inciardi's fans even trade her mini prints.

    "My friend got me the strawberry a couple of weeks ago and I just had to get one for myself," said D.C. resident Arianne Motte. "This is talk of the town."

    Motte said she and her group of girlfriends often trade the small art prints within their circle. The vending machine has been at the museum since August 2024. There's another one at the United States Botanic Garden across town.

    "People have been calling them Pokemon cards for women," Inciardi said to Motte and her sister at the D.C. museum vending machine.

    Inciardi's work has sparked joy and a sense of community at the 50 vending machines, from Portland, Maine, to California, Inciardi's machines remain stocked, even with high demand. She says she hopes to expand internationally.

    There is a subReddit page dedicated to Inciardi's work. A group of 300 people or so post there about their love for her mini prints.

    One post features a framed trio of mini prints featuring carrots, a watering can and a bunny rabbit eating carrots while wearing a blue jacket. It's undeniably cute and shows off how fans curate their own traded prints, thematically.

    The origin story behind Inciardi's vending machine prints began out of necessity in 2020.

    "I'd just become a full-time artist and I was, like, covered in ink every day and I was just filthy," Inciardi told fan Arianne Mott at the National Museum of Women in the Arts in D.C. "And my wife is a farmer. And we have coin-operated laundry in our basement. And we couldn't find quarters anywhere. I was like, 'What if we had like a little vending machine where I could collect quarters for my laundry. And that was literally how I came up with it."

    Inciardi and her wife still do their laundry with quarters from the vending machines.
    Copyright 2025 NPR

  • Arts & Entertainment
    Macaulay Culkin
    Holiday classic 'Home Alone' turns 35
    Austin Cross
    Austin Cross helps Angelenos make sense of news, politics and more as host of Morning Edition, AirTalk Fridays and The L.A. Report.
    Published November 20, 2025 5:00 AM
    A light-skinned man sits in a director's chair holding a microphone. He's wearing a light pink suit and a white collared shirt with glasses.
    Macaulay Culkin speaks onstage during an event for the documentary "John Candy: I Like Me" on Oct. 2 in Hollywood.
    (
    Monica Schipper
    /
    Getty Images
    )

    Topline:

    Actor Macaulay Culkin is celebrating the 35th anniversary of the cultural touchstone and holiday classic “Home Alone” with a tour stop at Terrace Theatre in Long Beach this Saturday. The nostalgic event includes a screening of the feature film and an audience Q&A.

    Celebrating 35 years: The Home Alone franchise launched Culkin into stardom and became a cultural phenomenon, remaining an iconic holiday films decades after its release. He joked that the film does feel like three-quarters of his life ago during an interview with Morning Edition host Austin Cross. Culkin was just 9 years old during the filming of Home Alone.

    Reflecting on the decades after: Culkin said he did receive different treatment from adults after Home Alone.

    “Next thing you know, they're asking me to hold up movies, as opposed to just be in movies,” he said.

    Culkin described how he experienced burnout and hadn't completed a full year of school during that time.

    “People kept on saying, ‘Hey, you know, you're 11 going on 30.’ And I go, ‘Can I just be 11 going on 12?’” Culkin said.

    Want to go? Doors open for “A Nostalgic Night with Macaulay Culkin: Home Alone 35th Anniversary” at 6:30 p.m. Saturday at the Terrace Theater at 300 E. Ocean Blvd. in Long Beach. Tickets start at $68.35 through Ticketmaster.

    Listen 4:52
    Our conversation with Macaulay Culkin - Part 1
    Listen 4:09
    Our conversation with Macaulay Culkin - Part 2
  • Sponsored message
  • Food
    Reimagining Thanksgiving
    LA restaurants offering bold, unexpected flavors
    Gab Chabrán
    Gab Chabrán covers what's happening in food and culture for LAist.
    Published November 20, 2025 5:00 AM
    Overhead shot of a Korean-inspired feast with sliced grilled meat, lettuce wraps, jeon pancakes, brussels sprouts, mashed potatoes, green beans, small rolls, fried veggies, and a molded dessert on a wooden table.
    A Korean-style Thanksgiving spread: grilled meats, crispy jeon and all the fixin's from Yi Cha in Highland Park.
    (
    Stan Lee
    /
    Courtesy Yi Cha
    )

    Topline:

    Five L.A. restaurants that are reimagining Thanksgiving: Creole soul food, coastal seafood, Korean American fusion, Caribbean jerk turkey and Chinese-inspired elegance. These chef-driven menus let diners skip the stress while celebrating the city's diverse flavors.

    Why it's important: LA's multicultural dining scene is redefining the holiday, offering families ways to honor their heritage or try something completely new — without spending hours in the kitchen. It's a Thanksgiving that reflects how the city actually eats.

    Why now: Most pre-order deadlines close between Friday and Monday, and some spots (like Harold & Belle's) are opening for Thanksgiving for the first time in 50-plus years.

    READ MORE: Creole, Caribbean, Chinese, Korean and seafood flavors: 5 LA restaurants reimagining Thanksgiving

    This year, skip the dry turkey anxiety and discover what Thanksgiving can actually look like in a city as culturally diverse as Los Angeles.

    From Cajun turkey to a Korean fried chicken, from Caribbean jerk-spiced turkey legs to Chinese-inspired chicken ballotines with black truffle, some of L.A.'s most celebrated restaurants are proving that Thanksgiving doesn't have to mean the same old bird and sides.

    These menus honor heritage, invite experimentation and celebrate the city's rich tapestry of cultures, one delicious plate at a time.

    Most pre-order deadlines close between Friday and Monday, so place your orders now while availability lasts — waiting until next week could mean settling for whatever's left at the grocery store instead of these fabulous chef-driven feasts.

    Harold & Belle's: A Creole Thanksgiving

    Overhead photo of large aluminum catering trays filled with Thanksgiving dishes, including smoked sliced turkey, cornbread muffins, candied yams, creamed spinach, cornbread dressing, mac and cheese, and a baked casserole.
    The complete tray-bake treatment from Harold & Belle's: Cajun-smoked turkey, candied yams, cornbread dressing, creamed greens, mac and cheese and cornbread muffins.
    (
    Courtesy Harold & Belle’s
    )

    For the first time in over 50 years, the legendary Harold & Belle's is breaking with tradition by opening its doors on Thanksgiving Day. Guests can choose between dining in for a $45 prix-fixe menu featuring either Cajun turkey or beef pot roast (both served with cornbread dressing, candied yams and Louisiana bread pudding) or ordering their complete Thanksgiving spread to go.

    The family-owned institution, which has been serving New Orleans-inspired soul food since 1969, will be welcoming diners throughout the day, from 11:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Reservations are available now on Resy.

    For those celebrating at home, their extensive catering menu offers everything from individual holiday meals to family combos serving up to 50 guests, complete with specialty sides like oyster dressing, macaroni and cheese, jambalaya and their signature filé gumbo.

    An ideal option for anyone looking to swap the traditional turkey routine for something with a little more Louisiana flair.

    Order info: Place orders by Monday. Call (323) 735-9023 or email catering@haroldandbelles.com, with pickup available through Thanksgiving Eve.
    Location: 2920 W. Jefferson Blvd, Los Angeles

    Connie & Ted's: An East Coast-inspired seafood spread

    Bright overhead shot of a seafood meal including lobster rolls, a salad, fries, three small dips on a wooden board, crackers, a bowl of coleslaw, and a plate of light pink crudo arranged on nautical-themed plates.
    Lobster rolls, chowder, crudo and plenty of fries — classic East Coast comfort with a sunny L.A. attitude from Connie & Ted's in West Hollywood.
    (
    Courtesy Connie & Ted's
    )

    If turkey isn't your thing, West Hollywood's beloved Connie & Ted's is offering a completely different take with their seafood-centric takeout menu.

    There's a variety of à la carte options, including wild shrimp with lemon and cocktail sauce ($28 for a half-pound), house-smoked fish dip ($14), chilled lobster and rock crab ($104 for 1 1/4-pound lobster and one rock crab), Dutch apple crumb pie ($55), pumpkin pie ($55) and chocolate whoopie pies ($14 for two).

    Additionally, there is a $325 prix-fixe feast for four that features chilled lobster (2 1/2 pounds), two rock crabs, 1 pound of wild shrimp, house-smoked fish dip, market salad, dinner rolls and your choice of Dutch apple crumb pie or pumpkin pie with toasted oat streusel.

    A fresh, elegant alternative for anyone ready to trade in the turkey and stuffing for butter-poached lobster and saffron aioli — no apron required.

    Order info: Place orders by Sunday. Call (323) 848-2722, with pickup available Wednesday from 3 to 9:30 p.m.
    Location: 8171 Santa Monica Blvd., West Hollywood

    Firstborn: Chinese-inspired elegance

    Top-down photo of a sliced Chicken Ballotine — heritage chicken breast stuffed with chicken, Chinese sausage, shiitakes, ginger, chestnut, and black truffle—covered in gravy on a white plate. Surrounding it on a wood table are trays of roasted cabbage, sweet potatoes, a crumb-topped casserole, baked stuffing and dark glazed prunes.
    Firstborn's chicken ballotine feast, featuring heritage chicken breast stuffed with Chinese sausage, shiitake mushrooms, ginger, chestnut and black truffle.
    (
    Ron De Angelis
    /
    Courtesy Firstborn
    )

    Firstborn in Chinatown is offering a Chinese-inspired Thanksgiving feast ($290, serves four) that centers on a showstopping heritage chicken ballotine stuffed with Chinese sausage, shiitake, ginger, chestnut and black truffle, all finished with a luxurious truffle jus gras. It's comfort food elevated to celebration-worthy status, accompanied by sides that seamlessly blend Eastern and Western flavors: brown butter-roasted honeynut squash with poached pears and black vinegar caramel; steamed bun stuffing with truffled sausage; sweet soy-braised eggplant casserole; BBQ cabbage; and Chinese stewed prunes.

    Optional add-ons include a green cardamom apple tarte tatin, a fall Manhattan cocktail for two or pear and white tea kombucha to round out the meal.

    Order info: Preorder via OpenTable and schedule your pickup between 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day.
    Location: 978 N. Broadway, Los Angeles

    Yi Cha: A Korean American Thanksgiving feast

    Overhead photo of a Korean-style feast featuring sliced glazed pork belly with lettuces and banchan on a wooden board, surrounded by plates of jeon pancakes, vegetables for wraps, brussels sprouts, mashed potatoes, green beans, small bread rolls, and a bowl of mixed rice and mushrooms on a wooden table.
    A Korean-inspired holiday lineup from Chef Debbie Lee's restaurant, Yi Cha in Highland Park, featuring crispy jeon and lacquered pork belly, served with vibrant banchan.
    (
    Stan Lee
    /
    Courtesy Yi Cha
    )

    Highland Park's Yi Cha, headed by Chef Debbie Lee, brings a Seoul-ful twist to Thanksgiving with a Korean American fusion feast that reimagines holiday classics. Forget the traditional fried chicken — here it's "The OG KFC" (Korean Fried Chicken) with eight drums, served with your choice of Halmuni garlic or pimento chile sauce and pickled daikon ($28). The menu also features Joseon bossam — crispy pork belly with seasonal ssamjang, crispy garlic, perilla, Coleman Farms lettuce and jangajji ($39, serves four to six) — alongside inventive sides by the quart, including kimchee smashed potatoes ($20), emperor-style japchae ($25), tutti frutti green beans ($20) and Asian coleslaw ($18).

    For dessert, swap the pumpkin pie for goguma (Asian sweet potato) pie with shortbread crust, Asian pear crème fraîche and spicy peanut brittle ($48, serves six to eight) or persimmon bread pudding with doenjang caramel and ginger mascarpone ($40, serves four to six). A great choice for anyone looking to honor both their Korean heritage and American traditions — or simply anyone ready to shake up their Thanksgiving table with bold, unexpected flavors.

    Order info: Orders must be placed by Friday through their website. Pickup available Wednesday from noon to 6 p.m.
    Location: 5715 N. Figueroa St., Suite 101, Los Angeles

    Bridgetown Roti: Caribbean comfort for the holidays

    Tabletop shot of a platter of large charred jerk turkey legs garnished with orange slices, surrounded by small plates of braised greens, empanada-style pastries, a dish of mashed root vegetables, and drinks on a light wooden table with yellow chairs.
    Jerk turkey legs from Bridgetown Roti in East Hollywood — charred and citrusy — joined by their signature patties, callaloo greens and their mac-and-cheese pie for the win.
    (
    Joseph N. Durate
    /
    Courtesy Bridgetown Roti
    )

    For those craving island flavors this Thanksgiving, Bridgetown Roti is serving up Caribbean comfort with their specially curated holiday menu. À la carte offerings include jerk turkey legs (1 1/2-2 pounds with jerk sauce on the side, $20), 10-piece mini-patty boxes with your choice of up to two protein flavors like oxtail and peppers, jerk chicken or green curry shrimp ($60) or veggie options, including curried yam and mango or garlic Trini eggplant and scallion ($60). For sides, there's a whole macaroni and cheese pie made with sharp cheddar, jack, parmesan and house curry that feeds eight to 10 ($30), callaloo greens by the quart with coconut and pepper ($22) and channa and sweet potato curry, also by the quart ($22).

    All items come ready to bake or warm with instructions included. Bring bold Caribbean spices and soul-warming comfort to your holiday table — no bland, dry turkey in sight.

    Order info: Place orders through their website by Sunday at 8 p.m., with pickup available Tuesday.
    Location: 858 N. Vermont Ave., Los Angeles

  • Arts & Entertainment
    Weekend events
    Here's what not to miss in L.A. and SoCal.
    Laura Hertzfeld
    Laura Hertzfeld
    Published November 20, 2025 5:00 AM
    A puppet with no head sits on a bed. In the background an image of a puppet girl with dark hair and large eyes projects on a screen.
    Head to Hollywood Forever Cemetery for Lauren Tsai's haunting 'The Dying World.'
    (
    Joshua White
    )

    In this edition:

    Macaulay Culkin himself will share memories of Home Alone. Plus, bike or blade for L.A. on Wheels Day and more of the best things to do this weekend.

    Highlights:

    • The sixth annual Corita Day will be celebrated at Marciano Arts Foundation this Saturday, with some help from KCRW and other community organizations, including a performance from Bob Baker’s marionettes. You can explore the new Corita Kent: Sorcery of Images exhibit at the all-ages, free event. 
    • Ahoy! It’s already time for the annual reading of Herman Melville’s Moby Dick on the beach. It’s one of the events that mark the start of the California gray whale migration.
    • No matter what wheels you prefer — roller skates, skateboard, car, bike or even unicycle — L.A. on Wheels Day celebrates all forms of zippy transport at the Natural History Museum. The event includes live skate demos from pro skaters as well as — wait for it — Rowdy the Skate Dog, plus the LA Derby Dolls and LA Skate Hunnies.
    • Calling all horse people: The Split Rock Jumping Tour culminates after two weeks of horse show jumping at Santa Anita Park, which was recently named the official equestrian venue for the LA28 Olympic Games. Check out elite riders and horses, then head down to the racecourse for the big event — the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup — happening on Saturday.
    • Halloween may be long over, but you still have a last chance to take an evening wander through Lauren Tsai’s haunting installation in Hollywood Forever Cemetery. Tsai uses drawing, painting, sculpture, stop-motion animation and puppets (created in collaboration with Andy Gent) to take visitors through a character — Astrid’s — world.

    Happy Wicked: For Good opening weekend to all who celebrate. You know where I’ll be. If you have been singing along since the trailer came out, head to Licorice Pizza for a Wicked: For Good soundtrack listening party on Saturday at 5 p.m. — there will even be giveaways!

    Licorice Pizza also has music picks around town for the weekend, including Lucius at the Wiltern on Friday, Robert Plant at the United on Saturday, Goapele at the Blue Note and Brian Jonestown Massacre at the Teragram. Cerritos Center has a killer lineup of Todd Rundgren on Saturday and Al Jardine from the Beach Boys on Sunday, and the Dreamstate SoCal trance festival is happening in Long Beach all weekend long.

    Elsewhere on LAist.com, you can check out our latest gift guides for local good fans, Larry Mantle superfans and plant parents.

    Events

    Saturday, November 22, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
    Corita Day 
    Marciano Art Foundation 
    4357 Wilshire Blvd., Koreatown 
    COST: FREE, RESERVATION REQUIRED; MORE INFO

    Three trays of oranges, apples, pears and bananas sit on green astroturf. in front of them lies a pink banner with blue circles on it.
    (
    Corita Kent
    /
    Third Eye
    )

    Pop artist and photographer Corita Kent died in 1986, but her powerful messages of social justice have perhaps never been clearer in Los Angeles history. An artist, nun and educator who later left the Catholic Church, Kent’s colorful prints gained attention during challenging moments in our past, from the 1960s civil rights movement to apartheid. This year marks the sixth annual Corita Day, which will be celebrated at Marciano Arts Foundation this Saturday, with some help from KCRW and other community organizations, including a performance from Bob Baker’s marionettes. You can explore the new Corita Kent: Sorcery of Images exhibit at the all-ages, free event, and also bring along your creativity for button making, screen printing and more ways to make inspiring, colorful art like Kent’s.

    Saturday, November 22, 6:30 a.m. to Sunday, November 23, 5 p.m.
    Annual Moby Dick Reading 
    Venice Beach 
    COST: FREE; MORE INFO

    Moby Dick book cover with a sperm whale jumping out of the water carrying a small wooden boat with men falling out of it. In front of the whale is another boat with four men in it.
    (
    Museon, CC BY 4.0
    /
    Wikimedia Commons
    )

    Ahoy! It’s already time for the annual reading of Herman Melville’s Moby Dick on the beach. I know I put this in every year, but it’s one of my favorite — and so uniquely Venice — events that mark the start of the California gray whale migration. After the rain this week, it should be brisk but sunny on the beach, so bring a blanket and sign up for your favorite chapter to read aloud.

    Saturday, November 22, 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. 
    L.A. On Wheels Day 
    Natural History Museum 
    900 Exposition Blvd., Expo Park 
    COST: FREE WITH MUSEUM ADMISSION; MORE INFO

    A stylized collage of many different people on wheeled objects, like bicycles, skateboards, roller blades and more.
    (
    Courtesy of NHMLAC
    )

    No matter what wheels you prefer — roller skates, skateboard, car, bike or even unicycle, L.A. on Wheels Day celebrates all forms of zippy transport at the Natural History Museum. The event includes live skate demos from pro skaters as well as — wait for it — Rowdy the Skate Dog, plus the LA Derby Dolls and LA Skate Hunnies. There’s also a chance to make art, listen to stories from the Drag Arts Lab and check out wheel-themed museum presentations. 

    Through Sunday, November 23
    Split Rock Jumping Tour
    Santa Anita Park 
    285 W Huntington Drive, Arcadia
    COST: FROM $30; MORE INFO

    Calling all horse people: The Split Rock Jumping Tour culminates after two weeks of horse show jumping at Santa Anita Park, which was recently named the official equestrian venue for the LA28 Olympic Games. Check out elite riders and horses, then head down to the racecourse for the big event — the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup — happening on Saturday.

    Saturday, November 22, 10 a.m.
    Venice Winter Fest 
    Venice Blvd., Mar Vista 
    COST: FREE; MORE INFO

    An illustrated poster for Venice Winterfest featuring a woman in a red bathing suit on skies on the beach.
    (
    Courtesy Gal Media Group
    )

    Get your holiday shopping on the fun (and local!) way with 300+ local creators, designers and artists selling their wares You can also listen to live music curated by Breaking Sound, refuel with restaurants and food trucks, then work it all off at free classes from The Gym Venice. Take a stroll up Venice Blvd. and soak up the beachy holiday vibes.

    Through November 22, 6 p.m. 10 p.m.
    Lauren Tsai: The Dying World
    Hollywood Forever 
    6000 Santa Monica Blvd., Hollywood
    COST: FREE; MORE INFO 

    The head of a light-skinned woman character sits on a stool in front of a window. In front of the head is a broken bedframe on a landscape of ruins.
    (
    Joshua White
    )

    Halloween may be long over, but you still have a last chance to take an evening wander through Lauren Tsai’s haunting installation in Hollywood Forever Cemetery. Tsai uses drawing, painting, sculpture, stop-motion animation and puppets (created in collaboration with Andy Gent) to take visitors through a character — Astrid’s — world.

    Through Sunday, November 23
    Perspectives
    Zena and Pauline Gatov Gallery
    Alpert Jewish Community Center
    3801 E. Willow Street, Long Beach
    COST: FREE; MORE INFO

    The Long Beach Modern Quilting Guild is putting on this exhibit at the Alpert JCC, featuring 32 modern quilts and fiber arts from members of the community. Quilting is an old tradition, but this group is committed to modern patterns from minimalist to intricate, and is preserving quilting as an art form. These aren’t your grandma’s quilts!

    Viewing Pick

    Saturday, November 22, 7:30 p.m. 
    Home Alone: A Nostalgic Night with Macaulay Culkin
    Terrace Theater
    300 E. Ocean Blvd #300, Long Beach
    COST: FROM $68.35, MORE INFO

    Home Alone DVD cover with a light-skinned boy holding his hands to his cheeks, screaming. Behind him are two light-skinned men glaring at the boy.
    (
    Twentieth Century Studios
    )

    Kevin McCallister himself will be on hand for this special screening of holiday favorite Home Alone. The John Hughes classic is celebrating 35 years of being a fixture on our holiday screens big and small (which makes me want to do the classic scream). Following the film screening, Macaulay Culkin will share stories and memories from the making of the film.

    Dine & Drink Deals

    Sunday, November 23, 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. 
    Jikoni at Offhand
    3008 Santa Monica Blvd., Santa Monica
    COST: VARIES; MORE INFO 

    “Afri-Cali” dining concept Jikoni L.A. is popping up at Westside favorite Offhand Wine Bar for a special one-night-only event. The menu features previous bestsellers like short rib biryani, shrimp jollof arancini and karakara pie.

    Saturday, November 22, 1 p.m. 
    Di Mart Grand Opening 
    21355 Sherman Way, Canoga Park 
    COST: FREE; MORE INFO 

    Caribbean grocer Di Mart is opening a new location in Canoga Park. Their first day will be celebrated with discounts for shoppers, a raffle and a ribbon-cutting with the Woodland Hills Chamber of Commerce.
  • Education
    PUSD budget cuts
    Layoffs centered on school sites
    Mariana Dale
    Mariana Dale has reported on Pasadena Unified’s fire recovery and budget process over the last year.
    Published November 20, 2025 5:00 AM
    Several teachers in red shirts walk past stairs to an auditorium. The building is beige with red details. A large sign in black and red reads "Pasadena" with a cartoon bulldog.
    Among the proposed high school cuts are teachers, counselors, custodial staff and athletics funding.
    (
    Elly Yu
    /
    LAist
    )

    Topline:

    The Pasadena Unified School District Board will vote tonight on $24.3 million in recommended budget cuts made largely through the elimination of school-based staff and programs.

    Why it matters:  The vote determines the lion’s share of the district’s planned $30.5 million reduction and represents about 16% of the district's $189 million projected general fund budget next school year. Among the proposed cuts are librarians, teachers, gardeners and school office staff. The board also will weigh layoffs in district administration and canceling contracted services such as professional development.

    Community pushback: Parents and educators say the cuts will decimate programs — including arts, science and athletics — that attract families to the district and benefit students. As of Wednesday afternoon, 700 people had signed an online petition urging district leadership to reconsider the cuts.

    The backstory: For the past several years, PUSD has spent more money than it brings in and is projected to have a $29 million budget deficit next school year. One factor is that PUSD, like many districts in the region, is enrolling fewer students, which equates to less funding. The Los Angeles County Office of Education has warned that without significant reductions in spending, the district will not be able to meet its financial obligations and risks losing the ability to govern itself.

    Weigh in: On Thursday, the board could approve the cuts as presented or propose changes. Identify the board member who represents your school and contact them by phone or email. People also can speak up in person during the board meeting’s public comment period at 7:15 p.m. or submit thoughts early to publiccomment@pusd.us.

    The Pasadena Unified School District Board will vote tonight on $24.3 million in recommended budget cuts made largely through the elimination of school-based staff and programs.

    The vote determines the lion’s share of the district’s planned $30.5 million reduction and represents about 16% of the district's $189 million projected general fund budget next school year.

    What's being cut?

    Among the proposed cuts are librarians, teachers, gardeners and school office staff. The board also will weigh layoffs in district administration and canceling contracted services such as professional development.

    How's the community responding?

    Parents and educators say the cuts will decimate programs — including arts, science and athletics — that attract families to the district and benefit students. As of Wednesday afternoon, 700 people had signed an online petition urging district leadership to reconsider the cuts.

    How did it get to this point?

    For the past several years, PUSD has spent more money than it brings in and is projected to have a $29 million budget deficit next school year. One factor is that PUSD, like many districts in the region, is enrolling fewer students, which equates to less funding. The Los Angeles County Office of Education has warned that without significant reductions in spending, the district will not be able to meet its financial obligations and risks losing the ability to govern itself.

    How you can weigh in

    On Thursday, the board could approve the cuts as presented or propose changes. Identify the board member who represents your school and contact them by phone or email. People can also speak up in person during the board meeting’s public comment period at 7:15 p.m. or submit thoughts early to publiccomment@pusd.us.

    You can also tell us how you feel using this form: