The Brief

Since 1923, the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum has been host to a gallery of historic events — from two Olympics (about to be three) to speeches featuring world-renowned leaders. It also played a central role in the re-integration of the National Football League.

The team from How To LA explored it all. Host Brian De Los Santos spoke with historian Frank Guridy of Columbia University about the Rams move to L.A. and so much more. You can use the player below or listen here.

Listen to the episode

A rich tradition

The L.A. Memorial Coliseum has witnessed a lot of history, which includes the Olympics in 1932 and 1984, the aforementioned re-integration of the NFL in 1946, to speeches by John F. Kennedy Jr. and events like the Wattstax Festival in 1972.

Back in 1923, L.A. was still considered a dusty western town. The city’s elites wanted to put it on the map globally, according to Guridy. Their solution: Build a stadium that would attract the Olympics to L.A.

It worked. Ever since the 1932 Olympics, the Coliseum has served as a multipurpose cultural landmark for the city, attracting notable people and organizations from all over — including the NFL.

A call for change

When the league eyed a westward expansion after World War II, it wanted to bring the Cleveland Rams to L.A. But it hit a roadblock — here was an organization that hadn't had a Black player since the early 1930s that wanted to play in a public stadium located in South L.A., which at that time had become a predominantly Black community.

Black journalists called for change.

The Coliseum “was a public managed facility, and part of the mandate that the city and the county and the state had as public managers is that the facility would be accessible to a broader public,” explains Guridy.

“Black activists understood that and other marginalized communities understood that in subsequent years as well,” Guridy adds. “They're able to sort of leverage that argument to say that well, you know, we can’t have a discriminatory entity performing in this public structure.”

Halley Harding was a baseball player-turned-sportswriter for the Los Angeles Tribune who was passionate about challenging the status quo of the day. Harding and other writers put on the pressure, ultimately leading the Rams to sign Black athletes as a part of their deal to play in the Coliseum.

Kenny Washington and his UCLA teammate Woody Strode were two of the four Black players to break the color barrier and play for the NFL in the modern era. This was a year before Jackie Robinson — another UCLA star — would integrate Major League Baseball.

See for yourself

Go on a 75-minute guided walking tour through the L.A. Memorial Coliseum on Mondays and Tuesdays at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m.

Go deeper

• The Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Is Celebrating Its 100th Anniversary
• LA’s Memorial Coliseum Will Keep Its Name Under A New Deal Between USC And United Airlines 
• Which City Council District Will Get To Claim USC And Expo Park — And The Benefits They Bring?

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

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

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

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

Harold & Belle's: A Creole Thanksgiving

The complete tray-bake treatment from Harold & Belle's: Cajun-smoked turkey, candied yams, cornbread dressing, creamed greens, mac and cheese and cornbread muffins.

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Courtesy Harold & Belle’s

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

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

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

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

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

Lobster rolls, chowder, crudo and plenty of fries — classic East Coast comfort with a sunny L.A. attitude from Connie & Ted's in West Hollywood.

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Courtesy Connie & Ted's

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

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

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

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

Firstborn: Chinese-inspired elegance

Firstborn's chicken ballotine feast, featuring heritage chicken breast stuffed with Chinese sausage, shiitake mushrooms, ginger, chestnut and black truffle.

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Ron De Angelis

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Courtesy Firstborn

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

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

Yi Cha: A Korean American Thanksgiving feast

A Korean-inspired holiday lineup from Chef Debbie Lee's restaurant, Yi Cha in Highland Park, featuring crispy jeon and lacquered pork belly, served with vibrant banchan.

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Stan Lee

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Courtesy Yi Cha

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

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

Bridgetown Roti: Caribbean comfort for the holidays

Jerk turkey legs from Bridgetown Roti in East Hollywood — charred and citrusy — joined by their signature patties, callaloo greens and their mac-and-cheese pie for the win.

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Joseph N. Durate

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Courtesy Bridgetown Roti

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

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

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

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

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

Events

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

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Corita Kent

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Third Eye

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

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

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Museon, CC BY 4.0

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Wikimedia Commons

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

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

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Courtesy of NHMLAC

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

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

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

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

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Courtesy Gal Media Group

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

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

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Joshua White

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

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

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

Viewing Pick

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

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Twentieth Century Studios

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

Dine & Drink Deals

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

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

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

Caribbean grocer Di Mart is opening a new location in Canoga Park. Their first day will be celebrated with discounts for shoppers, a raffle and a ribbon-cutting with the Woodland Hills Chamber of Commerce.

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

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

What's being cut?

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

How's the community responding?

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

How did it get to this point?

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

How you can weigh in

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

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