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The Brief

The most important stories for you to know today
  • Your guide to getting the right support
    The LA LGBT Center in Hollywood.
    The Los Angeles LGBT Center is one of a places that offer tailored help for LGBTQ+ people.

    Topline:

    If today’s climate around LGBTQ+ people is weighing on you, you’re not the only one. So maybe, you’re thinking it’s time to seek some help. Where do you start? This is your guide to LGBTQ+ therapy.

    When should you go? That’s up to you! Some people seek help for anxiety, while some want help to sort out gender. In any case, treat going to therapy for the first time as starting a new relationship. If you know what you’re looking for then you can ask questions of your counselor to see if they fit.

    Does my therapist's identity matter? Yes and no. There are plenty of counselors who are allies of the community and are specifically trained to work in it. But if you’re looking for a shared experience, that’s possible too. Ultimately, you’ll want someone to talk to who affirms your identity.

    How do I find an affirming therapist? There are tons of places to check, but a good step one is looking at community LGBTQ+ centers. These places are very in-tune with the needs of LGBTQ+ people and have sliding-scale options.

    Sometimes, finding the right therapist can be like searching for a needle in a haystack.

    About Counselor vs. Therapist

    For everyday people, the difference between these titles can be hazy. It can seem like mere semantics that refers to the same type of mental health service, but that’s not always the case. Sometimes, practitioners only use a label because of their license, practice-type or state rules on identification.

    For the sake of this story, we’ll use the terms “counselor” and “therapist” interchangeably to refer to a licensed professional focused on mental health.

    You can spend hours and money in sessions going over the same questions about your life just to feel like you and this person don’t quite mesh.

    If you’re in the LGBTQ+ community, having a therapist that gets it (whatever that ‘it’ means to you) can make a big difference in your experience. You could have things to figure out that are tied to or influenced by your sexuality and gender. This is a guide to aid you in finding an LGBTQ-affirming therapist.

    How and why do I start therapy?

    Everyone’s situation will be different, but in general, therapy can be helpful when there’s something about your feelings or experiences that you’re having trouble navigating.

    “We get a lot of people seeking help at the center because they are questioning gender and they want to talk that out,” said Kel Mathews, director of mental health at the LGBTQ Center Orange County.

    But seeing an affirming therapist doesn’t just have to be about gender or sexuality. She says the center sees people who are experiencing depression, anxiety or are parents of children who just came out. The big idea to remember is that whatever you’re coming to therapy for, getting help and applying it will require effort on your part.

    “There's no magic wand,” Mathews said. “Your expectations shouldn't be that you're coming into therapy for the therapist to fix you.”

    Forming connections in therapy is like starting a new relationship. There are things the counselor wants to know about you, and there are some things you’ll want to know about your counselor. Mary Andres, a professor of clinical education at USC, who specializes in LGBTQ+ treatment, says it’s a good idea to think about what you’re seeking help for. Is it to help you solve something that’s a secret? Is it for substance abuse? You can ask questions about their professional experience.

    “So maybe I have very specific questions about [a] history of sexual trauma,” Andres said. “You might say, do you have a history of working with trauma? They still don't have to talk about it yet. They're just trying to establish the credentials of the person.”

    Ask For Help

    • The Crisis Text Line, Text "HOME" (741-741) to reach a trained crisis counselor.

    If You Need Immediate Help

    More Guidance

    • Find 5 Action Steps for helping someone who may be suicidal, from the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.

    How much does the therapist’s identity matter?

    Whether you’re transgender, bisexual or otherwise part of the LGBTQ+ community, finding a therapist who shares your identity could be a factor for you.

    Mathews often interviews students who are looking to do their counseling hours at the LGBTQ+ center. She’s intentional about finding LGBTQ+ counselors because there are clients who will only want to see a trans person, for example, but that doesn’t always line up.

    “My interview process is very much focused on, even if you’re not a part of the community, I want to make sure that you are affirming,” she said.

    About Queer LA

    Queer LA is your space to get the most out of LGBTQ+ life in Greater Los Angeles. This long-term project helps you figure out things big and small with a focus on joy.

    We chose "Queer LA" to demonstrate that this project includes everyone in LGBTQ+ communities. Find it here, on-air at LAist 89.3, social media and more.

    So if shared identity isn’t important to you, that’s OK! There are plenty of counselors, like ones at the center, who are staunch allies of LGBTQ+ people and are trained in how to affirm the community through therapy.

    Andres describes this nuance through the use of pronouns. For example, someone who uses they/them may have a desire to find a therapist who does too. In that scenario, shared identity is helpful because the person doesn’t want to explain themselves or worry about misgendering.

    “Representation matters in every kind of field, and that’s helpful,” Andres said. “If it’s not somebody who knows what they're doing, pronouns don't mean anything.”

    Affirming is a factor to keep in mind alongside your other needs, Andres says, because this goes beyond acceptance and tolerance. It should mean that the therapist sees that “our world is better because there's queer people in it.”

    What the licenses mean

    There are multiple paths to becoming a counselor. The alphabet soup that follows a person’s name can give you a glimpse into their licensing and training.

    Mathews says the most common licenses you’ll see in California are: licensed professional clinical counselors (LPCCs), licensed marriage and family therapists (LMFTs) and licensed clinical social workers (LCSWs).

    There isn’t much of a difference between LPCCs and LMFTs, Mathews says, so don’t let the “marriage and family” part keep you away if that doesn’t immediately resonate with you. LMFTs commonly work with individual issues that aren’t related to marriage and family. Therapists may also have both licenses to make operating in different states easier.

    The main difference, Mathews says, is about when someone starts working in counseling. For the LPCC and LMFT licenses, students start while they’re in school. But for LCSW licensees, Mathews says their university programs don’t require in-school counseling experience. Instead, the focus is on social work duties, like finding resources and reuniting families, and the counseling work is post-grad. Regardless, everyone must have completed a minimum of 3,000 supervised hours and pass exams in order to be licensed in California.

    Other license acronyms you may see include:

    • Licensed mental health counselors (LMHCs)
    • Psychologists (PhDs or PsyDs)
    • Psychiatrists (MDs or DOs)

    Where to look

    If money is tight, look for therapists that offer their services pro-bono or on a sliding scale. There may be a limited number of sessions for that, depending on the place.

    There are plenty of private practices and other resources that will offer help tailored for LGBTQ+ people but may not advertise it as much. Check out our mental health resource guide to find more.

    Going to community-supported centers can be helpful because these are often more affordable. These will likely have a sliding-scale option. Some places that offer mental health services (e.g. group therapy, one-on-one, telehealth, etc.) include:

    But if you google “LGBTQ+ therapists near me,” no less than millions of results will be at your fingertips. You’ll want to weed through the results to find a site that’s both trusted and can get you what you’re looking for. Keep in mind that some directories are populated by therapists who paid for ad placement.

    Some other online directories, where you can put in your ZIP code, include:

  • What to know about CA's other tax the rich measure
    A teacher speaks with students at a table as students on another table talk amongst themselves in the background.
    Teacher Emily Adams’ eighth-grade science class at Lawson Middle School in Cupertino on Aug. 26, 2025.

    Topline:

    If Proposition 3 looks familiar, it’s because this is the third time the income tax measure has appeared on California ballots. But this time might be the last.

    Why it matters: Prop. 3 would permanently extend an income tax on the wealthy to fund schools, healthcare and other state services. It first appeared on the ballot as a temporary tax in 2012 to help schools through the Great Recession, and voters renewed it in 2016. Now, its supporters are asking voters to make it permanent before it expires in 2031.

    More details: Prop. 3 would extend a tax on individuals who earn more than $371,000 or couples who earn more than $743,000 annually. It generated between $5 billion and $15 billion a year, fluctuating with the stock market, interest rates and other factors that affect the income of the state’s top earners.

    Read on... for more about Prop. 3.

    If Proposition 3 looks familiar, it’s because this is the third time the income tax measure has appeared on California ballots. But this time might be the last.

    Prop. 3 would permanently extend an income tax on the wealthy to fund schools, healthcare and other state services. It first appeared on the ballot as a temporary tax in 2012 to help schools through the Great Recession, and voters renewed it in 2016. Now, its supporters are asking voters to make it permanent before it expires in 2031.

    “I can’t overstate how important this is,” said David Goldberg, president of the California Teachers Association, the state’s largest teachers union and a primary supporter of the measure. “It’s only a tax on the wealthiest Californians, but it’s vital for our schools.”

    Prop. 3 would extend a tax on individuals who earn more than $371,000 or couples who earn more than $743,000 annually. It generated between $5 billion and $15 billion a year, fluctuating with the stock market, interest rates and other factors that affect the income of the state’s top earners.

    Top earners would continue paying an income tax rate of 12.3% if the measure passes. Tack on the state’s additional 1% tax on income over $1 million for mental health services and California’s highest-earners wind up with an income tax rate of 13.3%, the highest in the nation.

    The bulk of the money would be funnelled through the state’s Proposition 98 funding mechanism, which guarantees 40% of the state budget be set aside for K-12 schools and community colleges. If the money surpasses a certain level, the extra would go toward a budget rainy day fund.

    Prop. 3 would also pay for healthcare and other services because it frees up money the state would ordinarily spend on schools for other services, according to the Legislative Analyst’s Office. Of the Prop. 98 money, 89% goes to K-12 schools and 11% goes to community colleges.

    In flush years, the income tax makes up about 15% of the state’s overall K-12 education budget. If it doesn’t pass, school districts will be forced to lay off up to 50,000 teachers and make other cuts, Goldberg said.

    Union’s big push

    The teachers union is aggressively supporting the measure. It collected thousands of signatures to win a spot on the ballot and sent members to knock on more than 200,000 doors throughout the state. Goldberg described the campaign as “one of our biggest, most ambitious efforts yet.”

    The powerful union as well as other groups have raised more than $40 million to pass Prop. 3. Opponents, which include taxpayer associations, have raised $5,500.

    The measure appears to have an edge with voters. According to a Public Policy Institute of California poll conducted in September, 58% of likely voters said they planned to vote yes on the measure. Among Democrats, 82% said they favored it, while 18% of Republicans said they did.

    Prop. 3 is not the only tax-the-rich measure on the Nov. 3 ballot. Proposition 40 would levy a 5% tax on Californians with assets of more than $1 billion, with 90% of the money going toward healthcare and the rest divided between schools, food assistance programs and other services. The teachers union opposes Prop. 40 because it argues schools wouldn’t receive enough of the money, Goldberg said.

    “We’re not campaigning against Prop. 40. We’re just prioritizing Prop. 3,” Goldberg said.

    The union decided to put the measure on the ballot now, more than four years before the current tax expires, because schools typically plan their budgets many years in advance and need plenty of advance warning of significant changes in revenues, Goldberg said.

    ‘Not sustainable’

    Susan Shelley, vice president of the Howard Jarvis Taxpayer Association, questioned whether schools need more money, considering the state’s recent investments and declining enrollment.

    “We have fewer and fewer students. Does this mean we need fewer teachers? Maybe it does,” Shelley said. “It’s time to revisit some of these costs. Some districts have unaffordable labor contracts, fewer students … It’s not sustainable.”

    In addition, she said, California already has the highest personal income tax rate – 13.3% – in the country. Adding more will only drive the wealthiest residents – and their money – from the state, which will have a disproportionate impact on state revenues, she said. According to the Legislative Analyst’s Office, the state’s top 2% of earners pay about half the state’s income taxes.

    California’s K-12 enrollment has declined steadily for at least a decade, with schools losing more than 500,000 students since the mid-2010s. Families are having fewer children, immigration is down and many families have left California because of the high cost of living.

    Still, California has among the country’s highest student-to-teacher ratios. In 2022-23, California had one teacher for every 22 students, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. The national average was 1:15. In New York, it was just over 1:11.

    That’s why California schools need more money, said Rob Manwaring, senior policy and fiscal adviser at the advocacy group Children Now.

    “Those ratios mean that students who need extra help aren’t getting it, which is why we have such a large achievement gap in California,” Manwaring said. “It’s dire.”

    He also noted that federal budget cuts will continue affecting California, including its schools, and the state will need revenue to backfill those costs. The chance of an economic downturn in the next few years will also imperil school funding.

    “No one wants to project out too far, but schools might see some very tight budgets,” Manwaring said.

    This article was originally published on CalMatters and was republished under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives license.

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  • Why workers are mad at Newsom
    A high angle view of a crowd of people wearing purple shirts holding up signs as they walk up a street.
    State workers march along 16th Street during a SEIU Local 1000 picket outside the CalHR building in Sacramento on July 22, 2026.

    Topline:

    California state workers say they're tired of governors balancing the budget "on their backs" and are beginning a statewide strike today.

    Why now: The state workers who are planning the first-ever statewide walkout in 44 years this week once were on much better terms with their boss, Gov. Gavin Newsom. SEIU Local 1000, state government’s largest union, kicked in one of the single biggest checks to Newsom’s 2018 campaign, a $500,000 contribution. It followed up with $1 million more to help Newsom fend off a recall in 2021. That alliance made sense for the union, especially considering that Newsom’s Republican opponents were much less friendly to labor.

    The backstory: Newsom at two key moments pressed public employees to accept pay cuts. The first happened in the panic of the early pandemic when the governor braced for a severe recession. Unions agreed to wage cuts of roughly 9% and in exchange workers received days off that they could save and bank for later. The second wage cut happened in 2025 when the governor sought to close a severe budget deficit. Most unions, including Local 1000, again accepted deals for two years of wage reductions in exchange for days off. They also agreed to defer raises until next year.

    Read on... for more on the statewide strike.

    The state workers who are planning the first-ever statewide walkout in 44 years this week once were on much better terms with their boss, Gov. Gavin Newsom.

    SEIU Local 1000, state government’s largest union, kicked in one of the single biggest checks to Newsom’s 2018 campaign, a $500,000 contribution. It followed up with $1 million more to help Newsom fend off a recall in 2021.

    That alliance made sense for the union, especially considering that Newsom’s Republican opponents were much less friendly to labor.

    But today the two sides are far apart with Local 1000 preparing its first statewide strike since signing its first collective bargaining agreement in 1982 as it accuses Newsom of bad-faith bargaining. Its members are trolling Newsom online with memes likening him to infamous Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes, caricaturing him as a sci-fi villain and mocking his presidential ambitions.

    What happened to the labor love fest?

    At the bottom line, Newsom was stingier with public employees than voters who think of him as a labor-aligned Democrat might assume. He demanded wage reductions from state workers over three years of his tenure and limited raises to 3% in financially flush times. He also took a hard line in calling employees back to the office four days a week after many grew accustomed to working from home during the COVID-19 pandemic.

    “The fact the state has refused to bargain in good faith is what got so many members active,” said Anica Walls, president of Local 1000. The union represents about 100,000 workers. “They’re just kind of tired of always feeling the budget is balanced on state employees’ backs.”

    That feeling goes back more than 20 years for some California public employees. Like many workers, they accepted furloughs and wage reductions during the Great Recession. That period lasted from 2008 to 2013 under former governors Arnold Schwarzenegger and Jerry Brown. But Brown then pressed for more concessions, including an additional paycheck deduction to fund retiree healthcare and higher worker contributions toward pensions.

    Union leaders had high hopes Newsom would end the trend of temporary pay cuts and givebacks, as shown by the campaign contributions he gained in 2018.

    It didn’t work out that way.

    Here’s a look at some of the issues that led the state’s largest public employee union to break with Newsom and put him on the spot with its first statewide strike.

    Money, money, money

    California state government spending surged during the Newsom administration, climbing from $201.4 billion in the 2018-19 financial year to $321 billion in Newsom’s 2025-26 budget. That’s a 59% increase.

    Payroll is up, too, but at a slower rate. Compensation for state workers hit $25.2 billion in 2025, about 32% more than 2019.

    To be sure, Newsom gave bonuses to many public employees — especially prison staff — when the state was flush with money just after the pandemic. But he’s been thriftier with wage increases. They topped out 3% in most contracts.

    Meanwhile, Newsom at two key moments pressed public employees to accept pay cuts. The first happened in the panic of the early pandemic when the governor braced for a severe recession. Unions agreed to wage cuts of roughly 9% and in exchange workers received days off that they could save and bank for later.

    The second wage cut happened in 2025 when the governor sought to close a severe budget deficit. Most unions, including Local 1000, again accepted deals for two years of wage reductions in exchange for days off. They also agreed to defer raises until next year.

    One union did not accept those terms, the California Association of Professional Scientists. The scientist union was the first to strike against Newsom, holding a three-day walkout in 2023. It viewed the contract it negotiated in 2024 as critical, and it didn’t want to give up its raises when Newsom asked.

    But, just before an agreed-upon raise was supposed to take effect last summer, it learned that the state budget didn’t include money for the wage increase.

    The conflict again angered public employees who expected a pay boost. The union appealed to state lawmakers, who funded the raises in a follow-on spending bill.

    “We negotiated that collective bargaining agreement in good faith and believe a deal is a deal,” said the union’s vice president, Justin Garcia.

    Working from home

    California government changed overnight during the pandemic, when Newsom ordered employees to work from home unless the nature of their job required them to report to a prison or state hospital. That was a major cultural adjustment for a bureaucracy known for time cards, rigid schedules and a refusal to pay for workers’ office parking.

    The Newsom administration commended workers for making the change and it publicized a dashboard that showed state employees were just as efficient at home as they were in the office.

    But as time passed Newsom said he grew concerned that remote work stifled the in-person collaboration that he argued was important for a successful organization. He called employees back to the office two days a week in 2024, and four days a week beginning last summer.

    Many state workers want more flexibility. They point to a 2025 state audit that found the state could save $225 million a year by allowing more remote work.

    Retirement plans diverge

    State workers hired before 2013 have a better retirement deal than public employees who joined since then. That issue is not front-and-center in the Local 1000 strike, but it’s bubbling up as newer workers learn about their colleagues’ benefits.

    Former Gov. Brown championed the law that trimmed pension benefits. It came out of the Great Recession, which caused California’s major pension funds to hemorrhage billions of dollars and highlighted a generous pension enhancement that former Gov. Gray Davis had signed into law a dozen years earlier.

    Now, public employees work longer and pay more of their own income toward their pensions. Newsom last month vetoed a bill that would have sweetened retirement formulas for police and firefighters, a proposal that likely will return to Newsom’s successor in the near future.

    “What people thought before was a cush state job because we had good retirement, the ability to retire with a pension, that does not look the same to people who came after 2013,” said Walls, the Local 1000 president.

    Where else can they go?

    Local 1000 and other state government unions might be frustrated with Newsom, but they tend to get a better hearing from Democrats than Republicans. Schwarzenegger, after all, championed four failed ballot measures that would have stripped them of their power and influence.

    “They (unions) have to make converts in the church in which they worship,” said Don Perata, a union-aligned Democrat and former Senate president pro tem who battled with Schwarzenegger.

    He praised Local 1000 members for carrying state government through the pandemic and for taking on difficult jobs to serve Californians. He recognized governors and lawmakers have to pass balanced budgets, and said that means they should be more careful in running up the cost of programs that might eat away at funding that could be used to pay public employees better.

    “It’s past time to show there’s recognition and not just by blowing smoke at them,” Perata said.

    This article was originally published on CalMatters and was republished under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives license.

  • Drive-through giveaways planned ahead of El Niño
    People standing on a pile of sand fill bags as others hold them.
    Long Beach Search and Rescue team fills sandbags at the Claremont Lot for Long Beach residents on Sunday, Oct. 11, 2026.

    Topline:

    Two upcoming events at Long Beach City College will give Long Beach residents the chance to stockpile sandbags in advance of what is expected to be a particularly strong El Niño season.

    When are the giveaways? On Saturday, Oct. 24, residents can pick up sandbags for free at the LBCC Trades, Technology and Community Learning Campus (1305 E Pacific Coast Highway). A second distribution will be held on Saturday, Nov. 7, in Lot M of the Liberal Arts College (4901 E. Carson St.). Each event runs from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., and community members will be able to drive up to the distribution sites, where staff will help them fill their cars with up to 10 sandbags. IDs will not be required to receive sand and sandbags.

    Why now: At a recent press conference amid the waves fueled by Tropical Storm Rachel, Mayor Rex Richardson emphasized that residents all across Long Beach will likely feel the effects of storms and flooding this El Niño season.

    Read on... for more on the distribution events.

    This story first appeared on Long Beach Post.

    Two upcoming events at Long Beach City College will give Long Beach residents the chance to stockpile sandbags in advance of what is expected to be a particularly strong El Niño season.

    On Saturday, Oct. 24, residents can pick up sandbags for free at the LBCC Trades, Technology and Community Learning Campus (1305 E Pacific Coast Highway). A second distribution will be held on Saturday, Nov. 7, in Lot M of the Liberal Arts College (4901 E. Carson St.). Each event runs from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., and community members will be able to drive up to the distribution sites, where staff will help them fill their cars with up to 10 sandbags. IDs will not be required to receive sand and sandbags.

    At a recent press conference amid the waves fueled by Tropical Storm Rachel, Mayor Rex Richardson emphasized that residents all across Long Beach will likely feel the effects of storms and flooding this El Niño season.

    “Do not be caught off guard,” he said. “Prepare right now.”

    The Peninsula has already endured catastrophic damage — a dozen families lost their homes in the punishing waves of the most recent storm. Yet even if residents can’t see the ocean from their windows, experts predict the greater Long Beach area will see bursts of drenching rain carried by atmospheric rivers, large bands of water vapor. In turn, those rainstorms raise the risk of flash flooding, landslides and high tides.

    Some of these effects will not be limited to the coast. Low-lying areas throughout Long Beach are especially susceptible to flooding, according to a city press release.

    Richardson urged city residents to pick up sandbags before they need them — and to keep them throughout the rainy season, which typically lasts from December through March.

    In addition to the upcoming distribution events, residents can also pick up empty sandbags at all neighborhood fire stations. (Station locations are available here.) Sand is available at stations 7, 12, 13 and 14, and residents are encouraged to bring shovels to fill sandbags themselves.

    City officials encouraged community members to stay informed during the rainy season by signing up for Alert Long Beach and checking the city’s landing page for emergency updates. City Manager Tom Modica urged residents to take steps to fortify their properties, gather emergency supplies and develop plans for emergency weather.

    Find additional resources on how to prepare for and navigate El Niño here.

  • LA Times Food Bowl, a free yoga fest and more
    A performer in sunglasses and a sequined red jacket sings into a microphone on stage, raising a fist with flame visuals behind them.
    Kool & the Gang will play Pershing Square's free "I Love Funk" festival this weekend.

    In this edition:

    The L.A. Times Food Bowl, Venice Yoga Festival storytelling grand champions and more of the best things to do this weekend and beyond.

    Highlights:

    • Try bites from the hottest restaurants in L.A. at the annual L.A. Times Food Bowl, this year taking place at the massive Barkar Hangar in Santa Monica. Roy Choi, Chainsaw, Baroo, Rustic Canyon and many, many more will have tastes and treats — all included in your ticket.
    • Get your vinyasa on, or just meditate by the ocean waves with fellow yogis and community members at the free Venice Yoga Festival at Muscle Beach. In addition to free classes with local practitioners, the day also features live music and kirtan, kids’ activities, workshops and talks.
    • Five Moth StorySlam and Grand Slam champs join forces at the Hermosa Beach Playhouse for It’s Funny NOW. True stories, live on stage and only the best — you really can’t go wrong, just don’t forget to bring the tissues.

    While those of us closer to LAX wait around for the People Mover to finally make its much-delayed debut (oh, how I remember fondly taking a video of its virgin run around the terminals when I got off a plane a few months ago … ), those in the Valley and parts north have had the last laugh as the new Burbank terminal makes the area’s best airport even better. Sigh.

    But who needs to go anywhere? We’ve got plenty going on right here. And remember to get your ballot in and use our voter guides as your one-stop-ballot-info stop. Election Day is Nov. 3!

    Music

    In music around the region this week, highlights from Licorice Pizza's recommendations include:

    A performer with dreadlocks and a bandana sings into a microphone, wearing layered chain necklaces and bracelets.
    Chief Keef will be at the Wiltern on Oct. 27
    (
    Erika Goldring
    /
    Getty Images
    )

    Wednesday

    Thursday

    Friday

    Saturday 

    Sunday

    Monday 

    Tuesday

    Events

    Movies Under the Microscope: Real Genius

    Thursday, Oct. 22, 6 p.m.
    Natural History Museum 
    900 Exposition Blvd., Expo Park 
    COST: $25; MORE INFO  

    A person with tousled blond hair sits on the floor against a wall, leaning on one knee, looking up.
    (
    Courtesy TriStar Pictures
    )

    The Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County’s Movies Under the Microscope series is back with an ‘80s sci-fi flair, followed by a discussion about how movie science and real science overlap. This week, Val Kilmer (RIP) leads a pack of teen scientists building a laser for the government in the 1985 classic Real Genius. The screening is followed by a panel featuring Dr. David Saltzberg, professor of physics and astronomy at UCLA and science consultant on The Big Bang Theory and Oppenheimer; Cody Ziglar, comic and writer for Futurama and Rick and Morty; Jason Patrick Galit, lead consultant for InterMyth and pop culture educator; and Beth Werling, the senior collections manager of history (Material Culture) at NHM. NHM’s Joel Quizon will moderate the panel.


    Treasures and Trivia Thrifting Event

    Friday to Sunday, Oct. 23-25
    465 N. Halstead St., Pasadena
    COST: $40; MORE INFO

    Benefiting the Children’s Hospital of LA, Treasures and Trivia is an upscale thrifting event where you can find high-end clothing, furniture, art, housewares, holiday décor and more. Find your next prized possession among rows and rows of unique vintage items.


    Side B: the sounds

    Through Saturday, Oct. 24
    David Zwirner Gallery
    606 N. Western Ave., Melrose Hill
    COST: FREE; MORE INFO 

    A gallery room with sound-dampening wall panels, wooden cube seating, and a black-and-white film projected on a wall.
    (
    Courtesy David Zwirner Gallery
    )

    Did you know there’s a jazz listening room at David Zwirner through this weekend? "Side B: the sounds" is part of the current exhibition at the airy gallery space in Melrose Hill, Roy DeCarava: the sound i saw. There are a few events this weekend at the space, including a screening of the 1984 documentary Conversations with Roy DeCarava (Oct. 22), a reading by Harmony Holiday (Oct. 23) and a live jazz performance organized with the Sam First jazz club (Oct. 24). You can follow the full schedule of events here.


    Grand Ave. Arts: All Access

    Saturday, Oct. 24, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
    Downtown L.A. 
    COST: FREE; MORE INFO

    A person hands a raffle ticket to another person standing beside a prize wheel labeled 'Center Theatre Group' at an outdoor booth.
    (
    Courtesy Grand Ave. Arts
    )

    Grand Ave. is the place to be on Saturday, when 14 leading arts and cultural institutions open their doors for the tenth anniversary of Grand Ave Arts: All Access. From the Ahmanson to Colburn, REDCAT to MOCA, DATALAND and more, all of the institutions along Grand Ave. are planning performances and exhibitions, including a special performance of ¡SÍ SE PUEDE! from Center Theatre Group, an instrument petting zoo at Colburn and Gloria Molina Grand Park’s Downtown Día de los Muertos celebration. Plus, it’s all free!


    Public Spirits: Festival of Performance Art

    Friday, Oct. 23, 9:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.
    Various locations 
    Chinatown
    COST: FREE; MORE INFO

    The Performance Art Museum is hosting an all-day festival of interpretive art, with performances by Jade Guanaro Kuriki-Olivo (Puppies Puppies), Pau S. Pescador, Da Ron Vinson and Ryat Yezbick. Each artist approaches performance “as a form of public speech and a means of intervening in civic life in a spirit of resistance and critical response to the political climate.”


    City of San Fernando Día de los Muertos Festival

    Saturday, Oct. 24, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. 
    San Fernando Recreation Park
    208 Park Ave., San Fernando
    COST: FREE; MORE INFO

    A flyer for San Fernando's Dia de los Muertos event on Oct. 24, featuring a floral sugar skull and marigold border designs.
    (
    Courtesy the City of San Fernando
    )

    Bring the whole family to experience the rich tradition of Día de los Muertos! This lively event honors the memories of loved ones, and the city of San Fernando asks you to join in the sacred tradition by building your own altar.


    L.A. Times Food Bowl 

    Friday and Saturday, Oct. 23-24
    Barkar Hangar
    3021 Airport Ave., Santa Monica
    COST: FROM $170; MORE INFO

    Try bites from the hottest restaurants in L.A. at the annual L.A. Times Food Bowl, this year taking place at the massive Barkar Hangar in Santa Monica. Roy Choi, Chainsaw, Baroo, Rustic Canyon and many, many more will have tastes and treats — all included in your ticket.


    It's Funny NOW: Five Moth Champions Live

    Saturday, October 24, 8 p.m.
    Hermosa Beach Playhouse
    710 Pier Ave., Hermosa Beach
    COST: FROM $21.24; MORE INFO 

    A poster for 'It's Funny Now' comedy event features five Moth StorySLAM champions, including Frank Traynor and Carlos Kotkin, with event details below.
    (
    Courtesy RimoVision
    )

    Five Moth StorySlam and Grand Slam champs join forces at the Hermosa Beach Playhouse for It’s Funny NOW. True stories, live on stage and only the best — you really can’t go wrong, just don’t forget to bring the tissues.


    Venice Yoga Festival and block party

    Saturday, Oct. 24, 12 p.m. to sunset
    Venice Basketball Courts
    1708-1978 Ocean Front Walk, Venice 
    COST: FREE; MORE INFO 

    Get your vinyasa on, or just meditate by the ocean waves with fellow yogis and community members at the free Venice Yoga Festival at Muscle Beach. In addition to free classes with local practitioners, the day also features live music and kirtan, kids’ activities, workshops and talks.


    Blind Runner

    Through Sunday, Nov. 8 
    South Coast Repertory
    655 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa
    COST: FROM $41; MORE INFO

    Two performers stand on a dark stage beside large projected close-up portraits of two faces floating between them.
    ”Blind Runner” will be at South Coast Rep for a few weeks.
    (
    Matt Stasi
    /
    South Coast Repertory
    )

    Mehr Theatre Group’s Blind Runner tells the story of three Iranians in a race against themselves — and time — using projection, immersive imagery and a story performed entirely in Persian with English supertitles. The unique show premiered at New York’s St. Ann's Warehouse in January 2025 as part of the Under the Radar Festival. With text and direction by award-winning Iranian theatre artist Amir Reza Koohestani, Blind Runner runs through Nov. 8 at South Coast Rep. Shows on Oct. 25 and 28 feature artist talkbacks.