The Brief

Vernon is an almost exclusively industrial city just southeast of downtown Los Angeles. And one of the companies that operates within Vernon has recently become the target of lawsuits over its use of a chemical called ethylene oxide, a colorless, flammable gas used to sterilize medical supplies. It’s also a known carcinogen.

As the lawsuits make their way through court, local air regulators say they are working to protect residents and off-site workers from potentially harmful chemical emissions.

And not just in Vernon — air regulators are monitoring ethylene oxide levels at more than a dozen facilities in Greater L.A.

What is ethylene oxide and who monitors it?

Because it can be used on a wide range of materials, ethylene oxide is well-suited for sterilizing medical equipment. But public health officials say long-term exposure to it can increase one’s risk of developing certain cancers, as well as reproductive issues.

The South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) is responsible for monitoring the air and enforcing regulations in L.A., Orange, Riverside, and San Bernardino counties.

There are currently 15 facilities that use ethylene oxide to sterilize medical equipment under the agency’s jurisdiction, according to Susan Nakamura, SCAQMD’s chief operating officer. There is also one facility devoted to ethylene oxide aeration, which is the process of removing residual gas from items that have been sterilized.

SCAQMD began investigating facilities that use ethylene oxide in March 2022. At the time, the Environmental Protection Agency was revising its regulations on the chemical’s potential toxicity after a ProPublica analysis found that ethylene oxide was the biggest contributor to excess industrial cancer risk from air pollutants nationwide.

Ethylene oxide’s use in Vernon

Community members and workers in Southeast L.A. County have filed separate lawsuits against Sterigenics U.S. LLC, a company that sterilizes medical equipment in Vernon.

Each lawsuit alleges the company knowingly exposed people to unsafe levels of ethylene oxide without warning them of the potential health risks.

Sterigenics has denied any wrongdoing. In an email, spokesperson Kristin Gibbs told LAist that the company “empathizes with anyone battling cancer,” but that it’s “confident that it is not responsible for causing the illnesses.”

“We will vigorously defend our essential and safe operations against these claims,” she added.

What do air regulators do to protect residents?

The agency investigates issues at regional facilities and posts those results as well.

For example: In May 2022, SCAQMD issued a Notice of Violation to the Sterigenics building on 50th Street. According to the agency, the building operators:

• failed to operate its air pollution control system in accordance with its permit and in good condition; and
• failed to include a differential pressure gauge and a pH meter in its control equipment. That violation has since been resolved. 

A few months later, SCAQMD issued additional Notices of Violation to the company for installing control equipment at both of its buildings without permits. Those violations have also been resolved.

Throughout that time, multiple public officials asked the agency to shut down Vernon Sterigenics until it no longer posed a public health risk, including state Assemblymember Miguel Santiago and L.A. County Supervisor Janice Hahn. The latter wrote:

Maywood residents spend time outdoors during a hot afternoon.

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Brian Feinzimer

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Residential buildings in Maywood are in close proximity to industrial facilities in neighboring Vernon.

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The agency can also apply labels to companies that correspond to a level of risk.

In June 2022, for example, SCAQMD designated Vernon Sterigenics as a “Potentially High-Risk Facility.” That designation is used when emissions data show it has the potential to exceed a cancer risk threshold greater than 100 chances in a million, or that it already has. Sterigenics was then required to provide an emissions reduction plan and ordered to make a number of upgrades. Some are still in the process of being fulfilled.

To mitigate the potential impact of the Vernon facility’s emissions, “we used every tool in the tool box,” said Nakamura, SCAQMD’s chief operating officer. “We take the protection of public health very seriously.”

Tell us your experience

Are air regulators confident in their ethylene oxide monitoring results? 

As Hahn noted in her letter to SCAQMD, Southeast L.A. County’s proximity to Vernon has made it especially vulnerable to environmental issues. This includes contamination from Exide, a now-shuttered battery recycler that spewed lead and arsenic into Bell, Boyle Heights, Commerce, East L.A. Huntington Park, and Maywood for decades. Local residents also live close to freeways and other industrial facilities.

To make sure SCAQMD’s ethylene oxide monitoring results are precise, the agency employs a two-step process. Jason Low, deputy executive officer of the agency’s monitoring and analysis division, told LAist that the process requires air quality regulators to take a few seconds of air samples near the facility, then more samples as they move away. Those samples are sent to the agency’s lab for analysis.

SCAQMD also has a mobile platform, which “can detect signals related to ethylene oxide in real time,” Low added.

“So we can drive around the facility, and then we can drive away from the facility and see how the levels of ethylene oxide change,” he said.

Once the agency determines that there are elevated ethylene oxide emissions near a sterilization facility, it puts up canisters near and around it, including in local residential areas. These canisters take samples over a 24-hour period. Then, those canisters are also taken to the lab.

“We're one of the few laboratories in the nation that can do this,” Low said.

Nearby residents are unlikely to see the warning signs on the Sterigenics buildings in Vernon.

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What else is being done to protect local residents?

On the outer walls of Sterigenics in Vernon, there are signs that read: “This facility contains one or more chemicals known to the state of California to cause cancer, birth defects, or reproductive harm.”

These signs are required by state law. Similar ones can be found throughout California, including in parking lots and in the coffee section of grocery stores. The signs are meant to help Californians make informed decisions about their exposure to potentially harmful chemicals. But their utility is unclear, particularly when it comes to those who live around Sterigenics.

Vernon is almost entirely industrial, with only a few hundred residents. People who live in surrounding neighborhoods don’t necessarily enter the city, unless they work there. As a result, they may be unlikely to see those warning signs.

Earlier this summer, LAist knocked on the door of 60 homes in Maywood, just a few blocks from Sterigenics in Vernon. About a dozen residents answered the door. None of them had ever heard of ethylene oxide.

A plan to remove nearly 200 trees from Pasadena Unified School District campuses has angered some local residents.

School district officials say 193 trees across 11 campuses need to be removed to clean up soil contaminated by the Eaton Fire.

Residents say they were not properly notified about the project, and some are pushing for ways to remediate the soil without taking down so many trees.

Pasadena resident Paloma Muñiz Ochoa spent eight hours in an oak tree slated for removal at the district’s headquarters.

“There's been a lot of destruction, and there's no reason to destroy more,” said the 17-year-old as she sat at the base of the tree on Tuesday.

At another side of the district’s administrative building, certified arborist Sabine Höppner stood guard at the base of two huge sycamore trees, also on the chopping block. She estimated them to be more than 100 years old.

Paloma Muñiz Ochoa guards a native oak tree slated for removal at PUSD's headquarters.

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"These are so important to the whole neighborhood," she said. "They're a hub for birds. Raptors land in them, owls perch in them at night. You can find the owl droppings all throughout here.”

More than a dozen trees have been removed already, mostly at San Rafael and Washington elementary schools. Opponents of the plan say they want the soil cleaned without the removal of so many trees.

“We in Altadena lost so much of our tree canopy to the Eaton Fire that the idea of taking additional trees away, especially mature trees, is just so hard to think about,” said Ariane Vielmetter, who lost her home in the Eaton Fire.

Her son lost his school and now attends a PUSD high school, though not one of the ones affected by the tree removal plan.

Certified arborist Sabine Höppner guards two sycamores slated for removal at PUSD's headquarters.

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Officials, however, say they’ve exhausted all other options.

“After months of consultation with [the state’s Department of Toxic Substances Control], PUSD determined that removing the selected trees is the safest and most appropriate course of action for schools to complete remediation and reopen as quickly as possible,” the district wrote in a statement.

PUSD’s superintendent and the Department of Toxic Substances Control declined to be interviewed for this story.

How we got here

Just a few weeks after the fires started, PUSD entered into a “voluntary cleanup agreement” with the Department of Toxic Substances Control, or DTSC, to address potential contamination at 15 campuses. The state agency oversees removal of such contaminants at places like schools.

Pasadena Unified then hired environmental consulting firm Verdantas to test soil at those campuses.

Last May, the school district released the results of those soil tests, which found elevated levels of toxic metals, primarily lead, at 13 campuses.

Multiple trees have already been removed at San Rafael Elementary.

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The district said in a statement Monday that over the last year, it has “met extensively with the DTSC” to address the contamination.

“These detailed discussions encompassed review of the types of toxins identified, and site-by-site and test by test assessments were performed to evaluate various soil removal approaches,” the district wrote.

At a Pasadena City Council meeting Monday, several councilmembers and Mayor Victor Gordo said they planned to look into what the city’s role may be in approving the removal of certain protected trees.

“As far as the trees go, if there's anything that the city can do to stop this process until we have a better understanding, if they need to come through us for approval,” Councilmember Tyron Hampton said.

Pasadena Unified’s goal is to clean up the remaining campuses before students return from summer break. The estimated cost is about $6.6 million.

What’s next 

Some residents and tree advocates are urging the school district to consider other ways to remediate their campuses, without cutting down so many trees. That can include phytoremediation, which uses plants to clean up toxins in the soil.

Chris Shogren, an environmental horticulture advisor with the University of California cooperative extension, said such natural remediation strategies can be effective, but are more complex to design and can take months to years to complete.

“Remediation is just a really tough task,” Shogren said. “If you want something immediate, you really do just have to come in, remove the soil and replace it. Everything else is going to take time for it to actually work.”

Tree advocates put up a banner in front of PUSD's headquarters Tuesday.

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Timing is short. The district said it’s required by the DTSC to carry out the bulk of the removal and remediation when students aren’t on campus “for safety reasons,” wrote the district’s Superintendent Elizabeth Blanco and facilities director Michael Dunning in a recent statement.

Shogren said that some trees currently slated for removal may be able to be saved — for example, there’s less risk of toxic exposure if they’re emerging from concrete rather than bare soil — but that ultimately it depends on testing.

“It really should be based on the soil reports, so you’re going highest exposure risk to lowest exposure risk,” he said.

The removal of so many trees would be “unfortunate,” Shogren said, but he hopes that what comes next can better serve future generations of children and wildlife.

“We’re going to have to rebuild and redo things at some point,” he said, “and the sooner we start, the sooner those trees are going to start maturing and providing all those benefits that we want from them.”

This story first appeared on The LA Local.

Property owners in Boyle Heights’ industrial corridor, near the Sixth Street Bridge, are proposing a plan to fund private security, street cleaning and landscaping, a move that could significantly change how the area is maintained.

The proposed plan would cover an area stretching from 1st to 7th streets and between Mission Road, Clarence and Anderson streets where sound stages, film studios and warehouses sit alongside the public housing complex of Pico Gardens and a residential neighborhood near Dolores Mission Church. Property owners say the city has failed to adequately provide services to keep the area clean and their employees safe. Meanwhile, some community advocates and nearby residents are wary of the area’s growing concentration of entertainment venues, just across the river from the Arts District, which have drawn crowds for electronic music festivals and special events like Olivia Rodrigo’s album release pop-up.

David DaCosta, of the 18-acre Ace*Mission Studios, is among those pushing for what’s known as a Business Improvement District, or BID, in the area that proponents refer to as the Boyle Heights Industrial Flats, which runs adjacent to the Los Angeles River. 

At a meeting at Dolores Mission Church in May, DaCosta touted the effort as a rare private-public partnership that should be cherished. “There’s a natural relationship between us all, a natural path for us all to want to work together,” he said.

Not everyone is convinced. The proposal comes as Boyle Heights continues to grapple with tensions over displacement and who benefits from development. Supporters see privately funded services as a solution to neglect and public safety. Opponents say it could eventually lead to gentrification and over-policing.

To Elizabeth Blaney, with Union De Vecinos, a local branch of the Los Angeles Tenants Union, the BID would “put control of public space in the hands of those businesses who are part of the BID.” 

Property owners in Boyle Heights’ industrial corridor, near the Sixth Street Bridge, are proposing a plan to fund private security, street cleaning and landscaping, a move that could significantly change how the area is maintained.

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What is a BID?

Business Improvement Districts are self-funded associations that collect revenue through property taxes within a geographically defined area. 

In this case, the proposed BID encompasses over 160 parcels that are owned by more than 70 property owners within the so-called “flats” area adjacent to a series of railroad tracks. The proposed tax would only apply to commercial property owners within the industrial district — not residents of nearby apartments and single-family homes.

Property taxes collected through the BID would fund landscaping services, including weed removal throughout the proposed district, as well as sanitation personnel who would sweep up trash and litter from sidewalks and gutters seven days a week.

Security services may also be provided “to ensure that petty crime and vandalism are reduced” within the district, according to the BID plan. Proponents say they will work toward “minimizing the impact of unhoused individuals” within the district by collaborating with social services. 

Funds would also support marketing efforts, website development and public relations campaigns to promote business and activities within the BID.

The Boyle Heights Industrial Flats BID would operate for five years, from January 2027 to December 2031, and is projected to generate $6.9 million over that period, with about $1.2 million in its first year. If approved, the BID would be managed by a nonprofit.

Property owners in Boyle Heights’ industrial corridor, near the Sixth Street Bridge, are proposing a plan to fund private security, street cleaning and landscaping, a move that could significantly change how the area is maintained.

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Residents express concerns

Residents and community members have mixed feelings about the proposal.

On one hand, Boyle Heights residents like Margarita Amador see it as a win “when someone in the community wants to invest to improve our quality of life.” 

Amador grew up in the area at a time when gang violence was at its peak. “No one would want to come into that side of town,” Amador said. Redevelopment and investments have changed the neighborhood for the better, she added. “We’re not in a position to turn away dollars,” she said.

Meanwhile, Ana Hernandez, a Pico Gardens resident, is wary of stakeholders behind the BID proposal. 

Businesses in the industrial area, she said, host late-night events, including raves, that disrupt their quality of life. Residents have complained of loud parties and music late into the night. Their dogs get scared, and they have to shut their windows, one neighbor said. 

“They don’t bring business for the community. What they want are earnings,” she said. “The ones who dominate the streets are people who are not from the community.”

Homeowners like Sylvia Sifuentes aren’t necessarily opposed to the BID. 

Instead, Sifuentes wants residents who live near the proposed district to receive clearer information about how the plan would operate and who it would affect. Sifuentes, 67, has lived near Dolores Mission since she was born and only recently found out about the proposed district.

The meeting in May was her formal introduction to the BID proposal. Initially, Sifuentes incorrectly heard homeowners like her would also be taxed. She also wondered why a tax was necessary. The city, she noted, already provides graffiti removal and trash pick-up services.

Union De Vecinos has organized a petition opposing the BID that organizers said has garnered more than 300 signatures. The petition argues the BID could contribute to rising rents and parking congestion.

Blaney, the organizer with the group, finds the BID problematic because property owners would “get to decide what goes on there” instead of the community as a whole.

“They get to decide the aesthetics of the neighborhood. They get to decide who can hang out and at what hours on the street. They can hire security on bikes and cars that patrol and enforce and harass.”

Property owners in Boyle Heights’ industrial corridor, near the Sixth Street Bridge, are proposing a plan to fund private security, street cleaning and landscaping, a move that could significantly change how the area is maintained.

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Andrew Lopez

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For Boyle Heights Beat

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Proponents respond

Alfred Fraijo, Jr., whose law firm Somos Group is helping with the BID formation process, said proponents are looking at “alternative modes” of creating public safety. Fraijo, who is from Boyle Heights, acknowledged at the May meeting that communities like Boyle Heights have suffered from over-policing.

He said providing better lighting could make the area more inviting and walkable. “Having eyes on the street is a way to do it,” he said. “We want to partner with organizations that are already doing the good work [in] Boyle Heights, creating intersection safety for children crossing the street.”

Proponents like Mark Borman of Bridge & Corner, which hosts film production in the area, said the BID could address environmental concerns impacting the well-being of their tenants.

“We suffer [from] illegal dumping, often of toxic materials,” Borman said at the May meeting. “There are zero actions, zero street services that we received. Our streets are not swept. Our buildings are tagged … on a daily basis. Our cars are broken into regularly.”

Borman said property owners call the city’s 311 system to no avail. “As a property business owner, I have tenants … who tell me that they do not feel safe going to their cars after work,” he said.

For DaCosta, the BID could make all the difference in retaining employees.

“As an employer, if you employ people and they are driving early in the morning or they are working late … and if the area is not safe and secure, it’s difficult to recruit people, and it’s difficult to keep people,” DaCosta said. “Why would anyone want to come and work in an area that’s not safe?”

Property owners in Boyle Heights’ industrial corridor, near the Sixth Street Bridge, are proposing a plan to fund private security, street cleaning and landscaping, a move that could significantly change how the area is maintained.

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Andrew Lopez

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Boyle Heights Beat

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What happens next?

The proposal’s next stop is the city’s Economic Development and Jobs Committee on Tuesday. 

Property owners in Boyle Heights’ industrial corridor, near the Sixth Street Bridge, are proposing a plan to fund private security, street cleaning and landscaping, a move that could significantly change how the area is maintained.

If approved, it would advance to the full City Council for consideration before ballots are sent to property owners within the district. After about 45 days, the city will tally those votes, and the City Council will decide whether to formally establish the district. 

Although Juneteenth has been established as a federal holiday for only five years now, L.A. has been putting on events and embracing the festivities long before. Between celebrations involving a friendly soccer tournament or even a paint and sip, communities continue to come together to acknowledge the historical prominence of June 19.

As we lay out an array of celebrations happening in Orange County and L.A. this weekend, consider how you’ll participate in this vibrant holiday.

Juneteenth (Friday)

Black Folk Juneteenth Freedom Ride

Start the festivities early by joining cyclists for a morning ride that ends in Leimert Park for their Juneteenth Celebration Festival. Participants should be over 18 years of age, although it’s encouraged to bring family, friends and even your own bike group (if you have one), according to their website.

This third annual bike ride is meant to welcome cyclists of all experience levels, with three different planned routes for beginners, intermediate riders and experts.

The City of Buena Park Juneteenth

If you find yourself in the Buena Park area, stop by at the city’s outdoor celebration that features food trucks, a guest speaker, community booths — and even a twilight swim. This community event is family friendly, with activities planned for the kids as well.

Kendrick Lamar Juneteenth Paint & Sip

If you’re looking for more of a laid back vibe and are a fan of Kendrick Lamar’s music, join The Compton Art & History Museum’s paint and sip. Attendees have to be over 21, but parking is free.

Ticket funds will go towards the creation of a new community museum, so if you’re itching to get creative on a Friday night, consider attending this unique Juneteenth event.

Afrobeats Takeover Juneteenth

People who are looking to let loose after a long week can find their way to the Melrose House for an Afrobeats celebration. Soccer fans attending are also encouraged to bring their flags, as the event is described as a “Rep your flag edition” on their website.

“In honor of Juneteenth and the FIFA World Cup season, we're bringing together music lovers from every corner of the world for a night of non-stop vibes, cultural pride and unforgettable energy,” the eventbrite post states.

There’s many more events that L.A. and Orange County residents can participate in on June 19, so be sure to scour your Instagram for flyers and keep note of your local organizations’ plans as you head into the weekend.

Continuing the Celebrations (Saturday and Sunday)

The celebrations don’t just stop there, though. People who want to continue the fun — or even those just getting started — still have plenty of options throughout the weekend.

Santa Ana Juneteenth Festival

Live music, food and family activities — these are all things you can look forward to at the city of Santa Ana’s Juneteenth celebration. The event is brought to attendees by the Orange County Heritage Council and is aimed at honoring “freedom, culture and community,” according to the event’s flyer.

34th Annual Santa Monica Juneteenth Celebration

This event is hosted by Tolliver, a funk singer, journalist and a part of the 2025 Cultural Trailblazer cohort. Visitors can expect to enjoy performances from several artists, including Eleganthippy & Butterfly, ADAAWE with support from Broadstage, the Gumbo Brothers and Kobie Dozier Quintet. Don’t forget to also try John Que’s Smokeout for a bite to eat.

Juneteenth Celebration and 5th Annual Roller Jam

Roll into the Juneteenth festivities at Pasadena’s annual Roller Jam, where attendees can appreciate a live DJ, arts and crafts and food for purchase as well.

The city of Pasadena Parks, Recreation and Community Services Department and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People is hosting the event, with hopes that people can use this day to reflect and celebrate African American culture and history, while “encouraging continuous self-development and honoring a bright future.”

Friendly: A Diaspora Soccer Experience

This “one-day cultural soccer experience” brings forth opportunities to eat, play soccer and mingle with others.

“Between matches, world-class DJs from each region command the stage, while a surrounding Culture Village immerses guests in iconic cuisine and art installations from these different communities,” according to their event website.

Black Rocks Juneteenth

At this Juneteenth event, visitors can immerse themselves in the festivities by receiving henna, tooth gems, flash tattoos and even massages by a curated array of vendors. Local small Black businesses will also be in attendance, as well as an opportunity for beginner-friendly climbing. An RSVP is recommended by clicking the link in their Instagram bio.

Manhattan Beach Juneteenth Celebration and Concert

Bring a blanket and enjoy a nice picnic on the grass while you listen to live performances at the park’s amphitheater. A variety of food vendors will be available, including Creamy Boys and Nay’s Tacos. Don’t forget to bring something to sit on if you plan on staying awhile.

No matter how you plan to celebrate Juneteenth this year, it’s important to remember the complex history of this celebration. For previous coverage on Juneteenth’s history, visit Aaricka Washington’s story on its importance in L.A.

This story first appeared on The LA Local.

With kids out of school, families across the Eastside will be looking for ways to spend longer days and warmer nights.

Whether it’s dancing with family under the stars at an outdoor music event, hitting up a nearby night market instead of cooking or watching the World Cup at a community block party, here are some fun and affordable ways to enjoy the summer.

1. Enjoy a dip at a splash pad or pool

Genesis Espinoza, 7, speaks to her father while in the Roosevelt High School pool.

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Stay cool this summer by visiting a splash pad, water park or public pool near you. Local spots include the splash pad at City Terrace Park and Atlantic Avenue Park, the water park and pool at East L.A.’s Belvedere Aquatic Center, the Pecan pool in Boyle Heights, El Sereno’s indoor Richard Alatorre pool and the recently revamped Lincoln Park pool. Sign up for swim lessons or take advantage of daily open swim hours. 

Hot tip: Most pools accept only cash, so make sure you carry a few bucks for entrance. If swimming is your thing, check out the youth summer swim pass and adult lap pass at city pools. More information here.

2. Eat your way through a neighborhood night market

The El Sereno Night Market offers a variety of food from local vendors.

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Take a break from cooking and support local vendors at night markets on the Eastside.

The El Mercadito Night Market is open Fridays and Saturdays from 6 p.m. to midnight. The market features more than 25 vendors, plus a Michelada and Paloma bar for the adults who partake.

The El Sereno Night Market is open Wednesdays from 5 to 9 p.m. Enjoy a food fest with vegan Japanese hibachi burritos, tacos, birria, micheladas and special events like lucha libre showdowns.

Hot tip: Be strategic; you don’t want to skip out on dessert.

3. Watch a World Cup game at a block party or park

Perla Lopez, center, celebrates Mexico’s 2-0 win over South Africa during a World Cup watch party at Six Heights Bar in Boyle Heights on June 11.

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Gary Coronado

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Even if your kids aren’t soccer fans, it’s hard to escape World Cup fever on the Eastside this summer. Our picks: the free Boyle Heights World Cup Block Party on June 18, featuring music, vendors and a big-screen viewing of the Mexico-South Korea match, or the “Kick It in the Park” watch parties at El Sereno Recreation Center, which will screen 21 matches and offer family-friendly activities. Check out our full Eastside watch party guide here.

Hot tip: Have your kids wear their favorite team’s gear — or let them borrow yours — to get into the World Cup spirit. If you’re planning to get their hair braided by Ponte Your Moños at the Boyle Heights block party, arrive early; the lines can get long.

4. Take a ride down the 6th Street Bridge

Jones Cheng, 5, and his brother Reggie, 4, sit on a barrier on the 6th Street Bridge during CicLAvia on Oct. 15, 2023.

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Bridges can be cool for kids, especially if they are as grand as the 6th Street Bridge. Take them for a walk, jog or bike ride down the three-quarter-mile span connecting Boyle Heights and downtown Los Angeles. The bridge includes wide pedestrian and bicycle pathways separated from car traffic, so it’s safe for kids with adult supervision.

Hot tip: You’ll want to plan a stop or two to take some photos.

5. Pick out fresh produce — and samples — at a farmers market

H&A Farms offers fresh produce at the City Terrace Farmers Market.

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Carol Martinez

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Boyle Heights Beat

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Support your local farmers market this summer by stocking up on fresh produce, homemade bread, honey and other goodies Wednesdays at the Lincoln Heights Farmers Market, Thursdays at The 323 Farmers Market in City Terrace and Saturdays at the East L.A. Civic Center.

Hot tip: Take the kiddos around to try samples and pick their favorite fruits and veggies before enjoying the snacks and hot foods.

6. Sing along at a musical at CASA 0101 Theater

(Left to right) Robert Felix (Papa Ogre), Joaquin Moreno (Baby Ogre) and Katherine Moreno (Mama Ogre) in CASA 0101 Theater’s Shrek Jr.

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Itzel Ocampo

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If your kids love musicals, they’ll enjoy watching other kids take the stage as Join Horton the Elephant, the Cat in the Hat and a cast of colorful characters in Seussical JR. The musical is filled with “catchy songs, heartwarming moments, and Seussian fun,” according to the theater. Shows run from July 17 to July 26. Check for more info and tickets here.

Hot tip: Make it a night and grab tacos before the show at nearby spots like 1st Street Taquería, Guisados or the food trucks at 1st and Breed streets.

7. Catch Eastside musicians under the stars at Grand Performances

From left to right: Jose Cano, Denise Carlos and Hector Flores pose outside the Paramount Theater ahead of their sold-out show.

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While not on the Eastside, Grand Performances is the long-running free summer concert series at California Plaza in downtown L.A. This season includes a special Ritchie Valens 85th birthday tribute featuring Eastside artists Bryan Ponce of The Altons, Denise Carlos and Hector Flores of Las Cafeteras, and Irene Diaz.

The “Ritchie Forever” program on Aug. 22 blends live music, storytelling and archival visuals to honor the Mexican American rock pioneer.

Hot tip: Bring a picnic from home or grab food from Grand Central Market, then get there early to score a spot on the grass or in the amphitheater. We recommend hopping on the Metro E Line from Mariachi Plaza to the Grand Ave Arts/Bunker Hill station and either walking up the hill or taking Angels Flight up to California Plaza. More info here.