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The most important stories for you to know today
  • Pasadena nonprofit makes milestone purchase
    A house in ruins with a burnt tree in front.
    The property acquired by Greenline Housing Foundation in Altadena.

    Topline:

    A Pasadena-based nonprofit is believed to be the first community organization to close on an Eaton Fire lot in Altadena. Greenline Housing Foundation plans to rebuild on the lot and sell at a below market price to a first-time home buyer.

    The backstory: Greenline, founded five years ago to help undo decades of racial housing discrimination, is trying to purchase destroyed properties in Altadena to keep them off the speculative real estate market.

    What's at stake: Residents and community organizations are concerned that developers will re-sell properties or new homes at top dollar, changing Altadena's character and the course of its history as a hub of Black homeownership.

    What's next: Greenline is looking for partners and more capital as it looks to acquire more properties and rebuild on them.

    Many who lost homes in the Eaton and Palisades fires have been asking themselves whether they should rebuild or if it’s time to pull up stakes.

    For some, rebuilding may be too costly, too time-consuming, too heartbreaking.

    But if they sell — to whom? No shortage of developers are swooping in to buy properties. In Altadena, that’s stirred up concerns over whether the community will retain its socioeconomic diversity or a Black homeownership rate that at 81% was nearly double the national average.

    Listen 4:41
    Amid push to preserve Altadena's diversity, nonprofit purchases first Eaton fire lot

    Sell to a nonprofit

    One nonprofit says sellers have other options.

    This month, Greenline Housing Foundation in Pasadena made what’s believed to be the first Eaton Fire lot purchase by a community organization: a 6,800-plus sq. foot parcel on West Altadena Drive.

    “We bought the property at $520,000, completely demolished and with a lot of debris on it,” said Greenline’s founder and president Jasmin Shupper.

    Shupper said after seeing the listing, she had reached out to the seller’s agent, expressing interest in submitting an offer.

    Shupper made her case to the agent: “Here's our mission. We're trying to keep land off the speculative market. We're trying to avoid mass purchases by developers who might not be community- minded.”

    “And so we just started the conversation from there,” Shupper said. “And then he said, ‘Let me talk to my seller.’”

    It was a smooth transaction that Shupper hopes to be a forerunner to future purchases in Greenline's bid to do more land banking for the social good.

    Greenline’s start

    Shupper founded Greenline five years ago to help remedy decades of racial housing discrimination by offering financial education and down payment grants.

    A Black woman with braids wears hoops and a yellow blazer.
    Jasmin Shupper founded Greenline Housing Foundation in Pasadena.
    (
    Courtesy Greenline Housing Foundation
    )

    “It would only follow that we would show up consistent with our same mission in the Eaton fire recovery," Shupper said. “Specifically, that means home ownership preservation and wealth restoration to the Black and Brown communities.”

    Greenline wants to rebuild on the burned-out property and sell it at a below-market price to a first-time homebuyer. Shupper said its mission seemed to resonate with the seller who had already been thinking about selling their house before the fires.

    In February, the property was listed at $425,000 — covered in rubble. Still, Greenline came in nearly $100,000 over asking.

    “We wanted to come in a little bit higher, to be competitive, and also to ensure that it wasn't a lowball offer and that people were compensated fairly,” Shupper said.

    A partnership

    Greenline was able to make the purchase because of a half million dollar grant from the Pasadena Community Foundation.

    “We all want to keep Altadena in friendly hands,” said Sarah Hilbert, a spokesperson for the Pasadena foundation and an Altadena resident. “I think that's a paramount goal for all of us who are connected to the community.”

    There’s a sense of urgency to act. Dozens of parcels have already been sold since the Eaton Fire. And dozens more are on the market.

    A red sign posted in a burned-out yeard reads "Developers Go Home."
    The arrival of developers has sparked anxiety about real estate speculation.
    (
    Mario Tama
    /
    Getty Images
    )

    “Lots of those housing parcels are being sold for cash only, and we know that a lot of them are being sold to speculative developers,” Hilbert said. “When that happens, we know that erodes the ability of people who have roots in the community to have a say and a role in that recovery, in that rebuild.”

    Hilbert noted that in recent years gentrification has sped up in Altadena.

    “It's a desirable place because it is so creative and so diverse and [there's] the beautiful natural setting,” Hilbert said. “So we know that those are the forces that we're kind of racing against the clock.”

    Hilbert says the Pasadena foundation recognizes what Greenline wants to do by "land banking" is an important way to keep Altadena in community control and continues to be in conversation with Shupper about future partnerships. In the meantime, the Pasadena foundation is helping fund another Greenline initiative to get Altadena homeowners into interim housing until they can start to rebuild.

    All hands on deck 

    When time is of the essence, how can a nonprofit like Greenline bank more land while competing with all-cash buyers?

    “You're kind of swimming against a flood, you know?” said Jon Christensen, who teaches and conducts research at UCLA’s Institute of the Environment and Sustainability.

    Christensen says it will take multiple approaches – and more than philanthropy to protect Altadena from speculative developers.

    “There are also investors who are not looking for the biggest profit [who say] 'I want investments to have some positive social impact,” Christensen said.

    Christensen says these types of investors could help those who lost their homes stay in Altadena — by putting in, say, 20% of the capital needed to rebuild "with the expectation that [the investor] could get [their] capital out with some reasonable return that wouldn't be burdening the homeowner."

    Next step: the build

    Christensen says as outsiders come into Altadena to help, gaining the community’s trust will be key. That’s where a local organization like Greenline has an advantage.

    And because of its work in the area, founder Jasmin Shupper knows of many potential buyers for its newly-acquired parcel.

    “We already have a Rolodex of people that would be interested in purchasing this lot,” Shupper said. “Identifying people is not the problem.”

    The more pressing issue at hand is what can Greenline afford to have built on the lot. That will depend on yet another round of funding the group is trying to raise.

  • The bill has origins in Long Beach
    California Assemblymember Josh Lowenthal, a man with light skin tone, wearing a light gray suit, speaks outside in front of a set of microphones from news stations.
    California Assemblymember Josh Lowenthal speaks at a news conference outside the Ronald V. Dellums Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse on Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2026, in Oakland, Calif.

    Topline:

    Long Beach may soon be leading the charge to regulate social media. A watershed bill proposed by the city’s state assemblymember is expected to soon become law in California, prohibiting social media platforms from providing addictive features to kids under age 16.

    Why now: The California legislature on Monday unanimously passed the bill, which will now head to the desk of Gov. Gavin Newsom, who has previously expressed support. “I’m very optimistic that this bill will get signed into law,” said Democratic Assemblymember Josh Lowenthal, the bill’s author.

    Why it matters: If passed, the legislation would go into effect in January 2027 and prohibit young users from accessing social media platforms that include addictive features — including infinite scroll, autoplay, algorithms and notifications — and authorize the state attorney general to implement and enforce the restrictions. It represents a massive step for the nation’s most populous state, which has led the charge on tech policy, experts say, and where concerns about the harms of youth screen time have mounted.

    Read on... for more on the bill.

    This story first appeared on Long Beach Post.

    Long Beach may soon be leading the charge to regulate social media. A watershed bill proposed by the city’s state assemblymember is expected to soon become law in California, prohibiting social media platforms from providing addictive features to kids under age 16.

    The California legislature on Monday unanimously passed the bill, which will now head to the desk of Gov. Gavin Newsom, who has previously expressed support. “I’m very optimistic that this bill will get signed into law,” said Democratic Assemblymember Josh Lowenthal, the bill’s author.

    If passed, the legislation would go into effect in January 2027 and prohibit young users from accessing social media platforms that include addictive features — including infinite scroll, autoplay, algorithms and notifications — and authorize the state attorney general to implement and enforce the restrictions. It represents a massive step for the nation’s most populous state, which has led the charge on tech policy, experts say, and where concerns about the harms of youth screen time have mounted.

    The ban would apply to social platforms heavily used by young people, including Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat and YouTube. Platforms can become “good actors” and continue offering services to young people if they remove addictive features, Lowenthal said.

    Yet because these and other platforms continue to evolve, the bill establishes an independent advisory commission to continue monitoring platforms and the features they offer to children.

    Age-gating has raised privacy concerns because it could require the collection of sensitive information that may lead to the loss of anonymity on the internet, yet Lowenthal said the bill would leverage existing law that allows for verification on the device level, meaning in most cases, users won’t have to present government-issued identification.

    The bill has also elicited fears about infringement on First Amendment rights, given that young people are constitutionally entitled to speak and access speech on social media. But Lowenthal said “this is a public health crisis” that must take precedence. That priority is bolstered by the American Academy of Pediatrics’ support of the bill, he said.

    “Young people are allowed to ride bicycles and skateboards just like adults, but they’re required to wear helmets because of the unique developmental concerns,” he said. “This is no different.”

    Previous court rulings in New Mexico and Los Angeles, as well as a recent settlement that required Meta to pay $17.1 billion, were a start but don’t go far enough, Lowenthal said. State Attorney General Rob Bonta, who co-led the case against Meta, referred to the settlement as “a floor conceptually, not a ceiling,” CNBC reported.

    Lowenthal aims to go further, and his bill has elicited widespread bipartisan support, which he attributed to leading as parents before policymakers.

    Since the bill was first introduced, Lowenthal said he’s observed a sea change throughout California, the country and world. “Families want relief” from the platforms that many children report using for nearly five hours a day, he said. “They’re unwilling to tolerate the status quo, and AB 1709 gets to the heart of the matter.”

  • Sponsored message
  • See if you qualify in an expanded eligibility map
    An ariel view of a large warehouse with vehicles parked around it inside a fenced off area next to a residential area.
    The Lineage warehouse in Boyle Heights on August 31, 2026.

    Topline:

    A recently expanded eligibility map determines who can get recovery assistance after the Lineage warehouse fire — from free air purifiers and masks to grocery vouchers and utility assistance.

    Why it matters: Not everyone qualifies for the same support, and help depends on where you live. The map is used by Lineage, as well as by some outside agencies, and was recently expanded to cover a larger part of unincorporated East L.A.

    What are the boundaries? The map covers households located between Union Pacific Avenue and the 5 Freeway, Los Palos Street and Herbert Avenue; all less than one mile from the Lineage warehouse.

    Read on... for more on the expanded eligibility map.

    This story first appeared on The LA Local.

    A recently expanded eligibility map determines who can get recovery assistance after the Lineage warehouse fire — from free air purifiers and masks to grocery vouchers and utility assistance. 

    But not everyone qualifies for the same support, and help depends on where you live. 

    The map is used by Lineage, as well as by some outside agencies, and was recently expanded to cover a larger part of unincorporated East L.A.

    Here’s a breakdown of the boundaries and what is available in each zone. 

    What are the boundaries? 

    The map covers households located between Union Pacific Avenue and the 5 Freeway, Los Palos Street and Herbert Avenue; all less than one mile from the Lineage warehouse.

    Lineage says there are 797 households located within this area. 

    What support do people living within the boundary qualify for? 

    Here’s a list of resources offered by Lineage, as well as what the city, county and other agencies are doing for residents living in these areas. 

    Zone 1 (Between Los Palos and Indiana Streets):

    • Housing vouchers for short-term hotel rentals through Airbnb
    • Grocery vouchers redeemable at Food4Less and Kroger
    • Air purifiers, air conditioning units and N95 masks
    • Bottled water
    • Fly traps
    • $200 utility credit through the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power
    • Cash assistance 

    Zone 2 (Between Indiana Street and Hicks Avenue):

    • Housing vouchers for short-term hotel rentals through Airbnb
    • Grocery vouchers redeemable at Food4Less and Kroger
    • Air purifiers, air conditioning units and N95 masks
    • Bottled water
    • Fly traps
    • $200 utility credit through Southern California Edison (SCE)
    • Cash assistance 

    Zone 3 (Between Hicks and Herbert Avenues): 

    • Housing vouchers for short-term hotel rentals through Airbnb
    • Grocery vouchers redeemable at Food4Less and Kroger
    • Air purifiers, air conditioning units and N95 masks
    • Bottled water
    • Fly traps
    • $200 utility credit through SCE

    Who created the map? 

    A map with three sections of a map along with descriptions of each area.
    The map with the outlined resources was presented by Lineage at an AQMD Hearing on Aug. 6.
    (
    Courtesy of Lineage
    )

    The map’s origin dates back to the first few weeks of the fire. On July 9, Lineage announced a new wave of support at a community town hall held at Stevenson Middle School that included temporary housing, grocery vouchers and cash assistance. 

    The next day, L.A. Mayor Karen Bass announced that 211LA and Airbnb had partnered up to provide temporary housing for residents and shared the map of qualifying households, which Lineage later designated Zone 1 and 2. 

    The map was extended last month to cover a larger part of East L.A. after L.A. County Supervisor Hilda Solis pushed for more support, according to her office.

    Solis advocated for more support for East L.A. after the unincorporated community was initially left out of utility assistance credits that were provided to Boyle Heights customers in July. 

    Officials have given conflicting answers when asked by Boyle Heights Beat about who created the map and determined which households would receive assistance. 

    According to Lineage, the area was designated by the city and county. However, supervisor Solis’ office told The Beat that they had no say in the original map but advocated for the area to be extended. 

    Both 211LA and the city’s Community Investment Department said they did not create the map. Abigail Marquez, general manager of the Community Investment Department, said her office used existing maps developed by the city’s Emergency Management Department. The Emergency Management Department did not respond to an inquiry about the map’s origin. 

    How has support been provided? 

    Lineage says it has conducted five rounds of door-to-door outreach to the 797 households identified within the boundary since the fire began. As of Aug. 25, Lineage said it had successfully made contact with 718 households to provide the support outlined.

    “For households where residents were not home, teams left information on how to access available assistance through Lineage’s community support line and made repeated attempts to reach them,” a Lineage spokesperson told The Beat. 

    According to Lineage, community assistance provided as of last week includes 613 air purifiers, 669 portable air-conditioning units, 599 N95 masks, 638 cases of bottled water, 1,223 grocery vouchers and 1,989 fly traps.

    Residents living near the warehouse can request direct support from Lineage using their online form. The form notes that Lineage support is only available for households located between Los Palos Street and South Herbert Avenue and between the I-5 and Union Pacific Avenue.  

    Lineage can also be reached by emailing boyleheights@onelineage.com or calling (866) 317-1115 for bilingual assistance. 

    I live outside of the boundary. Where can I get support?

    While not all residents impacted by the fire qualify for direct support from Lineage, there are still opportunities to receive resources and information, including: 

    Community Resource Center at Boyle Heights City Hall

    Residents of Boyle Heights and nearby communities can access recovery resources and information on various city and county programs related to Lineage recovery.

    Hours: Wednesday, Sept. 2 from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.; Friday, Sept. 4 from 2 to 7 p.m.; Closed on Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday

    Location: Boyle Heights City Hall, 2130 E. 1st St.

    Free Community Mobile Health Clinics

    The free clinics offer respiratory health screenings, eye and skin irritation evaluations, health education on smoke exposure, mental-health support and more. No appointments are required. 

    L.A. County Department of Health Services

    Hours: Wednesday, Sept. 2 from 3 to 7 p.m. and Friday, Sept. 4 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

    Location: Salazar Park, 3864 Whittier Blvd.

    St. John’s Mobile Clinic

    Hours: Friday, Sept. 4 from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

    Location: Food 4 Less, 1203 Calada St.

      For more information about available resources, mobile clinic schedules and announcements, visit emergency.lacity.gov/BoyleHeightsRecovery.

    • A look inside an Inglewood parent co-op
      A group of adults and children pose together on picnic blankets under trees in a park, with houses in the background.
      Families gathered at Blair Hills Park in Culver City for their Friday programming, which included a dance class for both children and adults.

      Topline:

      As the cost of child care is outpacing inflation, at times running higher than college tuition, these Southern California families have found an alternative way to look at childcare — forming a parent co-op.

      The backstory: The saying goes, "It takes a village to raise a child," and parents in Inglewood and South LA took that seriously. About 30 families banded together to create a parent co-op to support one another through the ebbs and flows of parenthood, while also creating an enriching space to raise their children together. In just one year, the group has nearly tripled — and officially became a non-profit organization, Earthseed Village.

      What the parent co-op's like: Earthseed Village stops short of traditional childcare. However, this tight-knit community has also naturally led to help with childcare and a network of support beyond that. The co-op is a combination of parent-led enrichment classes for children and adults, a homeschool collective that includes families with older school-age children and a built-in network for shared parenting.

      Read on... to learn why families have joined the co-op — despite how "crunchy" it may sound.

      On a sunny Friday afternoon at Blair Hills Park in Culver City, toddlers darted across a basketball court, waving colorful bold scarves and dancing to a children’s song.

      They ended the activity with a resounding chant: “My feelings matter! Yes, they do!”

      For these children, it’s a typical Friday. For the parents, it’s the village they created — a parent co-op where families take care of their kids together.

      “ I'm gonna be quite honest, I thought it was the crunchiest thing ever,” said dad Cy Merriex-Isaacs. When he and his wife, Justice Isaacs, heard about the co-op, they were at a crossroads. The father of a 3-year-old daughter had been laid off from his job and became a stay-at-home dad while Isaacs continued working. The cost of childcare was a major part of that decision.

      So, they wanted to build a parent community that they could find support in. “ ... That's when we realized there are a bunch of Black and brown folks who are looking for the same thing,” Merriex-Isaacs said.

      Jade Smith was one of those parents. As a single mom raising a toddler, she was desperately craving support.

      She put a callout to a WhatsApp group, made up of those she met at the local library and Mommy and Me yoga classes she taught, inviting families to essentially start a parent co-op.

      Twelve families immediately said yes, and it has has nearly tripled since last year — officially becoming Earthseed Village, an Inglewood-based non-profit organization.

      It was important for Smith to create a space where families like hers could access childcare without breaking the bank — and above all, where their children could be around trusted adults.

      TBD
      Children are dancing at Blair Hills Park as part of Earthseed Village's enrichment program.
      (
      (Sabrina Sanchez / LAist)
      )

      Earthseed Village stops short of traditional childcare. However, this tight-knit community has also naturally led to help with childcare and a network of support beyond that. The co-op is a combination of parent-led enrichment classes for children and adults, a homeschool collective that includes families with older school-age children and a built-in network for shared parenting.

      Smith said she’s been able to rely on other parents in the group to take care of her son when she needs help. “Before this, I was exhausted all the time, I was in survival mode, and now my son has other adults that he can rely on, that I can rely on,” said Smith.

      As the cost of child care is outpacing inflation, at times running higher than college tuition, these Southern California families have found an alternative way to look at childcare.

      "We're really having to reimagine what childcare looks like because it's so expensive. It's becoming really inaccessible,” said Smith.

      Parents build a program that works for them

      Parent co-ops aren’t new — there are approximately 300 in California, according to E. Kim Coontz, the executive director of the California Center for Cooperative Development. Their hallmark attribute is giving parents and caregivers full autonomy to operate and design a program that fits their needs and share responsibility, Coontz said.

      They all look different. Some are more informal babysitting arrangements between families, while others are fully structured educational programs that families run together, down to the administration, curriculum and policies. Most of them are generally lower cost than traditional private child care.

      Earthseed Village’s weekly programming doesn’t exactly emulate traditional drop-off childcare. Parents must stay with their children during the gatherings, although sometimes extended family or nannies will accompany the children. (It recently opened a tuition-based nature school that does allow parents to drop off their children, but it’s separate from the co-op.)

      Families who come to the program might be single parents, stay-at-home parents, or those who work remotely or hybrid.

      Above all, Smith said it aims to be a “holistic learning community” where children and parents can explore, learn and grow together. She stressed that the goal is to prioritize the well-being of the entire family. In practice, it’s most evident during their outing at Blair Hills Park.

      People dance on outdoor basketball court, one on a yoga mat near a sun umbrella, others nearby.
      Koquis Moore leads the parents in the adult dance session, also known as the "hot mama dance."
      (
      (Sabrina Sanchez / LAist)
      )

      Koquis Moore, also known as Mama Koquis, leads the empowerment dances. After the children finished their program, she taught the mothers a dance class that Ekene Anene, mom to three daughters under the age of 7, dubbed the “Hot Mama Dance.”

      The kids gallivanted around the playground supervised while the moms laughed and memorized their moves under the afternoon sun to Kanye West’s high-tempo song, “The New Workout Plan.”

      As much as the co-op provides a safe space for kids to have fun, it tries to do the same for their parents.

      How their parent co-op works

      Earthseed Village has an expectation that everyone chips in one way or another and that families attend at least one weekly event.

      Each family fills out a survey indicating how they’d like to contribute to the collective. Parents can host an activity for both the kids and adults, provide administrative support, or donate materials.

      Their contributions shape the weekly programming, including yoga and sound baths on Mondays, math and movement on Tuesdays, and empowerment dances on Fridays. Past events included sewing, photography, and cooking classes. Most sessions take place at parks and public spaces.

      There's a membership fee, ranging from $35-$55 per month, which pays for administrative support.

      Black moms are walking in a circle holding a parachute while children are dancing underneath it.
      Parents and children are participating at Earthseed Village's dance session.
      (
      (Sabrina Sanchez / LAist)
      )

      Coontz of the California Center for Cooperative Development emphasized the high quality of care that parent co-ops can also provide within the childcare ecosystem. “I think a lot of times we discount what parents are capable of doing,” she said.

      The co-op is made up of diverse families mainly based in Inglewood and South L.A., although some come from as far as the Valley, Silver Lake, Torrance and Compton.

      “I've seen a lot of co-ops and alternative learning educational models, but they don't tend to reflect diversity or multicultural backgrounds,” Smith said. “That was a big driving force of why I wanted to create [this] group, 'cause I just wasn't seeing it ... I want my son to be in spaces that he sees himself in.”

      The 'hidden' support the group offers

      A man crouches near painting supplies at a park playground while a toddler stands nearby; a close-up portrait of him is shown at right.
      Cy Merriex and his wife were one of the original members of Earthseed Village. They became friends with Jade Smith after meeting her at the local library.
      (
      (Sabrina Sanchez / LAist)
      )

      Merriex-Isaacs, Earthseed Village’s “kid wrangler,” never expected to be part of a parent co-op.

      He said it's the “hidden” support they provide one another — families picking each other up from the airport, giving someone soup when their family is sick or something as simple as sharing a loaf of bread.

      It’s a “We got you” mentality that makes it a village, he said.

      An adult holds a child on a watermelon-print picnic blanket under a tree, with cars and buildings in the background.
      Allison Williams leads the Earthseed Village's storytimes on Wednesdays.
      (
      (Sabrina Sanchez / LAist)
      )

      Alison Williams, a teacher by trade, struggled to balance work and home life as a new parent. She decided to become a stay-at-home mom while her husband worked.

      She heard about Earthseed Village through parent friends.

      Williams grew up in a co-op, and her mom often talked to her about the importance of parent involvement and community.

      Since joining in January, Williams said she’s appreciated being surrounded by parents who are in the same chapter as her, from potty training and sleep struggles to getting their children to eat their vegetables.

      “It's definitely a partnership, and it allows you to have both some autonomy and voice but also don't have to take on all of the responsibility. It's a way of finding like-minded folks and then trusting that together you can figure out and create the kind of village that you want for your kids," said Williams.

      Founder Jade Smith said she hopes the collective helps make the day-to-day of raising a family a little bit easier.

      “As a single mom, creating community has been literally a lifeline for me,” Smith said. But she believes it’s bigger than her own family. “It just feels like we're creating a legacy.”

      We want to hear from you!

    • Dolly Parton skating, 'Lord of the Rings' and more
      Two armored fighters in helmets clash with swords, one bearing a Texas flag patch, backlit by bright light.
      The Armored League features real-life combat at the Ukrainian Cultural Center.

      In this edition:

      A Dolly Parton skate night, Charlatans UK at the Palladium, all of the Lord of the Rings movies and more of the best things to do this week.

      Highlights:

      • Secret Movie Club is screening the complete The Lord of The Rings trilogy — all three films on 35mm film prints — at Los Angeles Theatre on Sunday. There will be hour-long intermissions to explore the space, stretch your legs and grab a snack, too.
      • The L.A. Jazz Fest may have been a bust, but the Rebel Jazz Fest is celebrating its fifth year in Venice and is picking up where the city left off. Windward Plaza is where the jams are at, curated by the Nonsemble collective.
      • We couldn’t let the week go by without a pick for the best Dolly Parton tribute of the weekend. Strap on your skates and some sparkles and get ready to roll away the pain to Dolly’s tunes at the Midnight Rollerway.

      How is it already Labor Day weekend? I’m not sure where the summer went, but looking at my camera roll, it was mostly spent at the Hollywood Bowl, at the beach and in the longest movies I could find (thank you, Christopher Nolan, for all the air conditioning).

      I hope your summer was filled with fun explorations, whether they were close to home or further afield. The fall is filling up fast — we have tons to look forward to here, with new museum openings, big movies coming out and some great theater coming our way, too. Plus, the Dodgers are looking strong as baseball season closes in on the playoffs, and you have a few more chances to catch the Sparks in action.

      Elsewhere on LAist, you can learn about the history of the Yamaava' casino, check out the new Melrose restaurant Pawn Shop and get your questions about the predicted upcoming El Niño season answered.

      Music

      A musician plays an electric guitar on stage, hair blowing, surrounded by purple stage lighting and haze.
      Zia McCabe of The Dandy Warhols performs at The Regency Ballroom on October 08, 2025.
      (
      Miikka Skaffari
      /
      Getty Images
      )

      Licorice Pizza has your music picks this week — and attention, BTS Army, the city has officially named this week “BTS Week” as the K-Pop band takes over SoFi for four nights.

      Wednesday

      Thursday

      Friday

      Saturday

      Sunday 

      Monday 

      Tuesday

      Events

      The Armored League

      Friday, Sept. 4, 7 p.m.  
      Ukrainian Cultural Center
      4315 Melrose Ave., East Hollywood
      COST: FROM $76; MORE INFO 

      Two armored fighters clash with swords in close combat, one holding a blade near the other's helmet visor.
      (
      Courtesy @laurengalluzzi
      )

      Do you wish Medieval Times was more … interactive? Does your favorite museum have a great collection of armored knights? The Armored League might be for you. Already a hit in New York, the “full-contact armored combat organization” stages battles before your eyes, using real steel armor, swords and axes. It’s for real, and you can check it out Friday night as the tournament comes to L.A. for the first time.


      “Once More, With Feeling”: Buffy the Vampire Slayer Musical Episode singalong

      Tuesday, Sept. 8, 7 p.m.
      Three Clubs 
      1123 Vine St., Hollywood
      COST: $25; MORE INFO

      A poster for 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Once More, With Feeling' shows a full moon and a woman holding a stake, with stars reading 'A Parody,' 'A Tribute,' and 'Sing Along.'
      (
      Courtesy Three Clubs
      )

      We all know the musical episode of Buffy is the best there ever was. Wear your best Buffy, Angel or Willow costume and walk through the fire straight to Three Clubs for this live musical theater parody reenactment.


      Rebel Jazz Fest

      Saturday, Sept. 5, 12 p.m. to 6 p.m.
      1 Windward Ave., Venice
      COST: FREE; MORE INFO 

      The L.A. Jazz Fest may have been a bust, but the Rebel Jazz Fest is celebrating its fifth year in Venice and is picking up where the city left off. Windward Plaza is where the jams are at, curated by the Nonsemble collective. The day also includes DJs, roller skating, vinyl sales and more.


      Echoes of Our Ancestors II: Heroes and Saints

      Thursday, Sept. 3, 8 p.m.
      The Greek 
      2700 N. Vermont Ave., Los Feliz
      COST: FROM $100; MORE INFO

      Poster for 'Echoes of Our Ancestors 2: Heroes and Saints' at The Greek Theatre, Sep 3, featuring headliner Serj Tankian and other performers in circular photo grid.
      (
      Courtesy Alexis Halejian
      )

      For the second year running, Echoes of Our Ancestors will celebrate Armenian Heritage with a live concert at the Greek. Featuring headliner Serj Tankian of System of a Down, the night honors Armenian culture and history with award-winning musicians and performers, taking the audience through 7,000 years of Armenian history.


      Newport Dunes Labor Day 

      Friday to Monday, Sept. 4 to Sept. 7
      101 N. Bayside Drive, Newport Beach 
      COST: FREE; MORE INFO

      Inflatable water park with slides, climbing structures, and obstacle courses floats on a lake near a sandy beach.
      (
      Courtesy Newport Dunes Waterfront Resort
      )

      Take a staycation at Newport’s Newport Dunes marina, where there will be all kinds of fun, family-friendly activities all weekend long. The weekend features free live music, movies on the beach, an inflatable water park, water sports, food trucks and more.


      Shitty Movie Club screening: Megalopolis 

      Saturday, Sept. 5, 7:30 p.m.
      Club Fais Do Do 
      5257 West Adams Blvd., West Adams 
      COST: FREE/$10 suggested donation; MORE INFO 

      A blonde person in a black hooded coat with a jeweled belt stands in an ornate hallway.
      Aubrey Plaza as Wow Platinum in Megalopolis.
      (
      Courtesy Lionsgate
      )

      Francis Ford Coppola’s Megalopolis is maybe not the acclaimed director’s most revered film (ahem), but it is the perfect pick for the very on-the-nose-named Shitty Movie Club. Only in L.A., folks. Luckily for us, Cinema Saloon is screening this labor of love (Coppola sold his winery to finance it) at Club Fais Do Do, which has a 100-year-old ballroom. Plus, it’s free with RSVP, and there will be movie bingo, “weird clips” and chef-driven concessions.


      Lord of the Rings trilogy in 35mm 

      Sunday, Sept. 6, 10 a.m. to late
      Los Angeles Theatre 
      615 S. Broadway, Downtown L.A. 
      COST: FROM $17; MORE INFO

      A person in a wide-brimmed hat smokes a long pipe beside a younger person on a wooden bench, trees and stone walls behind them.
      (
      Courtesy New Line Cinema
      )

      It’s still pretty hot out, so spending all nine hours of the Lord of the Rings trilogy in the sweet, sweet air conditioning of the historic Los Angeles Theatre sounds like a good way to spend your Labor Day Sunday. Secret Movie Club is screening the complete trilogy — all three films on 35mm film prints — at the theater, which opened in 1931 and premiered Chaplin's City Lights. Fellowship of the Ring kicks things off at 10 a.m., followed by Two Towers at 2 p.m. and Return of the King at 6 p.m., with hour-long intermissions to explore the space, stretch your legs and grab a snack. There’s also an after-hours party at 10 p.m.


      Charlatans UK, Dandy Warhols and Mercury Rev 

      Thursday and Friday, Sept. 3 and 4
      Santa Ana Observatory, 3503 S. Harbor Blvd., Santa Ana (Sept. 3)
      Hollywood Palladium, 6215 Sunset Blvd., Hollywood (Sept. 4)
      COST: FROM $46; MORE INFO (Hollywood); MORE INFO (Santa Ana)

      A singer with sunglasses and blond hair performs into a microphone on stage, with a drummer and guitarist nearby.
      Tim Burgess from The Charlatans performs at Victorious Festival 2023 at Southsea Common on August 25, 2023 in Portsmouth, England.
      (
      Rob Ball
      /
      Getty Images
      )

      Be still, my Brit-pop-loving heart. Charlatans UK headline a triple bill with the Dandy Warhols (rewatch Dig! and thank me later) and Mercury Rev at the Santa Ana Observatory on Thursday and the Palladium in Hollywood on Friday. Charlatans UK’s latest album We Are Love — their 14th — came out last year. If you’re heading to the Hollywood show, it’s also a great opportunity to check out the new Vinyl Room that just opened for a cocktail before or after.


      Dolly Parton Tribute Skate Night

      Sunday, Sept. 6, 8 p.m. to 11 p.m.
      Moonlight Rollerway
      5110 San Fernando Road, Glendale
      COST: $23, skate rental $8; MORE INFO

      Flyer for a Dolly Parton tribute skate night on September 6 at Moonlight Rollerway, featuring a pink cowboy hat and stars.
      (
      Courtesy Mato Events
      )

      We couldn’t let the week go by without a pick for the best Dolly Parton tribute of the weekend. Strap on your skates and some sparkles and get ready to roll away the pain to Dolly’s tunes at the Midnight Rollerway. It’s the perfect way to honor the legend.


      L.A. Mayoral Environmental Forum

      Thursday, Sept. 3, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
      L.A. Trade Technical-College
      400 W. Washington Blvd., South L.A.
      COST: FREE with RSVP; MORE INFO

      A poster for the City of Los Angeles Environmental Educational Forum Mayoral Race.
      (
      Los Angeles League of Conservation Voters
      /
      Eventbrite
      )

      Join environmental justice, environmental, climate, labor, public health, and community organizations from across Los Angeles for a nonpartisan mayoral forum focused on the key issues shaping the future of our city. This forum will bring mayoral candidates together to discuss environmental justice, climate, affordability, and the everyday challenges facing Los Angeles communities. And LAist's own Erin Stone will moderate the event!