The New Beverly Cinema has had many, many lives. It’s been an ice cream factory, a nightclub and a porn theater. Today it’s the home of director Quentin Tarantino’s personal film collection — a place where you can always catch a classic double feature, or a marathon of, say, all the Twilight movies, on 35mm.
Why it matters: It isn't just about the classics. There's something for everyone, including kids.
“Quentin has a vast collection. Cartoons, trailers, 35 features, 16 features,” says the theater’s longtime programmer, Jules McLean. “We have a warehouse full of film.”
Plus, watching movies on film is not an experience you can get everywhere.
“I think there's a tendency to think film is precious, which it is, and we should be preserving it. But I think it's more important to be screening the prints,” says New Beverly projectionist Danielle Wakin.
Why now: Theaters like the New Bev are featured as part of a new How to LA series, "Revival House."
Listen:
Listen
16:54
Revival House: The New Beverly Cinema, Always On Film
The New Beverly Cinema has had many, many lives. It’s been an ice cream factory, a nightclub and a porn theater. Today it’s the home of director Quentin Tarantino’s personal film collection — a place where you can always catch a classic double feature, or a marathon of, say, all the Twilight movies, on 35mm.
“Quentin has a vast collection. Cartoons, trailers, 35 features, 16 features,” says the theater’s operations manager Jules McLean. “We have a warehouse full of film.”
The importance of film
At the New Beverly, the projection booth is where the magic happens. Everything at this revival house is always on film, which means specialty and rare prints, vivid colors and sound, and that inimitable warmth and grain that appears on screen.
(And don’t worry if you don’t know the difference between 16mm, 35mm, and 70mm. To put it simply, that’s the difference in the width of the film strip. The bigger the number, the higher quality the image.)
Listen
16:54
Revival House: The New Beverly Cinema, Always On Film
“I think there's a tendency to think film is precious, which it is, and we should be preserving it. But I think it's more important to be screening the prints,” says New Beverly projectionist Danielle Wakin.
Projecting film isn’t just hitting play on a movie — there’s a whole show going on up in the booth that audience members never get to see. Before the movie starts, the projectionist checks the film reel for dust and debris. They measure the reel and mark out “changeover cues” — that’s where they’ll literally load and change reels. Most feature films take upbetween five and nine reels.
“There's an art to it, there's timing … but yeah, there's nothing better than whenever you hit every changeover and it's a perfect show,” Wakin explains. “Or watching my coworker have a perfect show is also a very, very good feeling.”
Given the effort that goes into projecting film, this isn’t an experience you can get at any movie house (and it’s the center of a contentious debate in the moviegoing world). But it should be noted that the additional effort of a movie house and projectionist to screen a print that might be decades old, does turn a screening into something special.
Danielle Wakin, New Beverly Cinema's projectionist, splices film building up the pre-shows for the following showing on Monday, Feb. 12, 2024.
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Julie Leopo
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LAist
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Danielle Wakin, New Beverly Cinema's projectionist, splices film building up the pre-shows for the following showing on Monday, Feb. 12, 2024.
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Julie Leopo
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LAist
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With the emphasis on film — and the Tarantino connection — it’s easy to assume that The New Bev might be intimidating, or full of “film bros” ready to judge. But the programming is accessible and diverse.
“I think that is what makes the New Bev cool is [the movies] we show isn't just, you know, like Jeanne Dielman, which like a bunch of film school people show up. But then we had like a Twilight marathon for Twilight fans,” says Wakin. “It's like we kind of show something for everyone.”
The New Bev welcomes kids too — weekend screenings always include family matinees, where you can catch films like A Goofy Movie, The Muppet Movie, or E.T.
But one of Wakin’s favorite moments was the screening of the cult classic Phantom of the Paradise.
Phantom of the Paradise is a 70s rock musical directed by Brian De Palma with music by Paul Williams. It’s a blend of Faust, Phantom of the Opera, and a critique of the music industry, with fabulous costumes, musical numbers, and a dash of horror. While it didn’t get rave reviews upon its release, it found a dedicated fanbase, even inspiring the French duo who would become Daft Punk.
“I remember sitting there in the theater, and when Beef came on screen the whole audience roared and I was just smiling and I was like, 'this is why I work here,'” she says.
From candy to porn to 'respectable movies'
So, how exactly did Quentin Tarantino end up owning the New Bev?
Well, it’s kind of a long story.
The building’s been around since 1929, and in the '30s it was occupied by a candymaker, and then an ice cream manufacturer.
“Then it became Slapsy Maxie's Nightclub in 1937, starring the once famous Maxie Rosenblum,” says theater historian Ross Melnick.
Slapsy Maxie's was a Mid-City nightclub that is now the home of the New Beverly Cinema.
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Courtesy of the Huntington Gardens Digital Library
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Slapsy Maxie’s was a celebrity hotspot run by actor and former boxer Maxie Rosenbloom, nicknamed “Slapsie” for how he liked to throw a punch with an open glove.
Slapsy Maxie’s moved locations and other nightclubs moved in and out of the space throughout the 1940s. In the '50s, the space became a venue for live theater — The New Globe. The demographics of the Fairfax area were shifting and the neighborhood was starting to become primarily Jewish.
“The New Globe became a venue for actually Yiddish and other theater … it was actually in part because of the location, the Jewish community was leaving Boyle Heights and coming to Fairfax,” says Melnick. “And so this was a place where Yiddish theater could actually survive for a time.”
But by 1958, live theater was no longer drawing crowds. A film producer purchased the space and divided it into two cinemas, named the Riviera-Capri.
When the 1960s hit, almost every theater in the city had to make the decision — pivot to porn, or no?
The theater was renamed again in 1970 to “the very appropriate Eros Theater, which had not only films, but also live nude dancing,” says Melnick. “The Beverly name was inaugurated in 72, and adult films continued until about 1977.”
At the end of the 1970s, local publishers started banning ads for adult films. Business started to dip for the Bev, creating an opportunity for yet another buyer.
How Tarantino got involved
In 1978, Sherman Torgan, a location scout described by the Los Angeles Times as a 33-year-old “mild mannered UCLA graduate in sociology,” took over the theater. He’s quoted as saying he “wanted to get in a business that really had sort of a positive vibe. Movies put a smile on people’s faces.”
Early double features at the now “NEW” Beverly that summer included Cabaret and Sweet Charity, and Robert Altman’s 3 Women paired with Ingmar Bergman’s Face to Face.
It was during this time that a young Quentin Tarantino started going to the movies here. It was his childhood movie house, so his love for the place started early.
When Sherman Torgan died in 2007, it was a tough time for movie theaters. DVD sales were booming and services like Netflix started streaming.
Tarantino had already been subsidizing the theater for $5,000 a month, so he decided to purchase the theater outright in 2010, and took over operations in 2014. He’s quoted as saying: “As long as I’m alive, and as long as I’m rich, the New Beverly will be there, showing double features in 35mm.”
Torgan's son Michael continues to help operate and program the theater.
Jules McLean, director of operations, in the auditorium of the New Beverly Cinema on Monday, Feb. 12, 2024.
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Julie Leopo
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LAist
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Jules McLean has now been running the New Beverly for 10 years. And her history with Tarantino goes back even further.
“I knew Quentin because we worked at Video Archives together. So we have a long history and friendship,” says McLean.
She worked as his personal assistant for years, saying “one of the things you do for a film director is try to facilitate his dream.” That’s the attitude she brings to the New Beverly.
“I'm facilitating Quentin's dream, which was part of, you know, Sherman's dream.”
Tarantino's house, a community hub
There is a LOT of film here.
According to McLean, “probably 60, 65% of the stuff we show is Quentin's collection.”
The New Bev often screens Tarantino’s films as midnight movies every few weeks — titles like Kill Bill, Pulp Fiction, Django Unchained — the whole filmography, really.
The projection room at the New Beverly Cinema only projects film.
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Julie Leopo
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LAist
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McLean says even the weekday matinees sell out. It’s a relief. After the pandemic shut theaters down, there was a question about whether places like the New Bev could bounce back. But it has indeed come back, and McLean says it's attracting new audiences.
For her, it’s all about passing on that communal moviegoing experience to the next generation.
“I cannot stress how important it is to see films with an audience. That communal feeling, you can't replicate that,” she says. “I think you get something emotionally and even though you might not know the 200 people you're sitting with, you just had a collective experience.”
And she’s seen those collective experiences turn into relationships: “I know so many people that have met their husband, wife, partner here, you know, friendships just because they came to the New Beverly.”
“I know it sounds antithetical because you're just sitting passively,” adds Melnick. "But in fact, you're connecting with the filmmaker and the actors and everyone else who put that film together. And then you're connecting with everyone else around you.”
Whether you bring a date, make a friend or go solo and find a friend in the movies, you won’t be alone catching a movie on film at the New Bev.
Thanks for joining us at the movies. It’s all part of a new series from How to LA called Revival House. Check it out wherever you get your podcasts.
Austin Cross
helps Angelenos make sense of news, politics and more as host of Morning Edition, AirTalk Fridays and The L.A. Report.
Published November 20, 2025 5:00 AM
Macaulay Culkin speaks onstage during an event for the documentary "John Candy: I Like Me" on Oct. 2 in Hollywood.
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Monica Schipper
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Getty Images
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Topline:
Actor Macaulay Culkin is celebrating the 35th anniversary of the cultural touchstone and holiday classic “Home Alone” with a tour stop at Terrace Theatre in Long Beach this Saturday. The nostalgic event includes a screening of the feature film and an audience Q&A.
Celebrating 35 years: The Home Alone franchise launched Culkin into stardom and became a cultural phenomenon, remaining an iconic holiday films decades after its release. He joked that the film does feel like three-quarters of his life ago during an interview with Morning Edition host Austin Cross. Culkin was just 9 years old during the filming of Home Alone.
Reflecting on the decades after: Culkin said he did receive different treatment from adults after Home Alone.
“Next thing you know, they're asking me to hold up movies, as opposed to just be in movies,” he said.
Culkin described how he experienced burnout and hadn't completed a full year of school during that time.
“People kept on saying, ‘Hey, you know, you're 11 going on 30.’ And I go, ‘Can I just be 11 going on 12?’” Culkin said.
Want to go? Doors open for “A Nostalgic Night with Macaulay Culkin: Home Alone 35th Anniversary” at 6:30 p.m. Saturday at the Terrace Theater at 300 E. Ocean Blvd. in Long Beach. Tickets start at $68.35 through Ticketmaster.
Gab Chabrán
covers what's happening in food and culture for LAist.
Published November 20, 2025 5:00 AM
A Korean-style Thanksgiving spread: grilled meats, crispy jeon and all the fixin's from Yi Cha in Highland Park.
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Stan Lee
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Courtesy Yi Cha
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Topline:
Five L.A. restaurants that are reimagining Thanksgiving: Creole soul food, coastal seafood, Korean American fusion, Caribbean jerk turkey and Chinese-inspired elegance. These chef-driven menus let diners skip the stress while celebrating the city's diverse flavors.
Why it's important: LA's multicultural dining scene is redefining the holiday, offering families ways to honor their heritage or try something completely new — without spending hours in the kitchen. It's a Thanksgiving that reflects how the city actually eats.
Why now: Most pre-order deadlines close between Friday and Monday, and some spots (like Harold & Belle's) are opening for Thanksgiving for the first time in 50-plus years.
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.
Order info: Place orders by Monday. Call (323) 735-9023 or email catering@haroldandbelles.com, with pickup available through Thanksgiving Eve. Location: 2920 W. Jefferson Blvd, Los Angeles
Connie & Ted's: An East Coast-inspired seafood spread
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.
Order info: Place orders by Sunday. Call (323) 848-2722, with pickup available Wednesday from 3 to 9:30 p.m. Location: 8171 Santa Monica Blvd., West Hollywood
Firstborn: Chinese-inspired elegance
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.
Order info: Preorder via OpenTable and schedule your pickup between 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day. Location: 978 N. Broadway, Los Angeles
Yi Cha: A Korean American Thanksgiving feast
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.
Order info: Orders must be placed by Friday through their website. Pickup available Wednesday from noon to 6 p.m. Location: 5715 N. Figueroa St., Suite 101, Los Angeles
Bridgetown Roti: Caribbean comfort for the holidays
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.
Order info: Place orders through their website by Sunday at 8 p.m., with pickup available Tuesday. Location: 858 N. Vermont Ave., Los Angeles
Head to Hollywood Forever Cemetery for Lauren Tsai's haunting 'The Dying World.'
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Joshua White
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In this edition:
Macaulay Culkin himself will share memories of Home Alone. Plus, bike or blade for L.A. on Wheels Day and more of the best things to do this weekend.
Highlights:
The sixth annual Corita Day will be celebrated at Marciano Arts Foundation this Saturday, with some help from KCRW and other community organizations, including a performance from Bob Baker’s marionettes. You can explore the new Corita Kent: Sorcery of Images exhibit at the all-ages, free event.
Ahoy! It’s already time for the annual reading of Herman Melville’s Moby Dick on the beach. It’s one of the events that mark the start of the California gray whale migration.
No matter what wheels you prefer — roller skates, skateboard, car, bike or even unicycle — L.A. on Wheels Day celebrates all forms of zippy transport at the Natural History Museum. The event includes live skate demos from pro skaters as well as — wait for it — Rowdy the Skate Dog, plus the LA Derby Dolls and LA Skate Hunnies.
Calling all horse people: The Split Rock Jumping Tour culminates after two weeks of horse show jumping at Santa Anita Park, which was recently named the official equestrian venue for the LA28 Olympic Games. Check out elite riders and horses, then head down to the racecourse for the big event — the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup — happening on Saturday.
Halloween may be long over, but you still have a last chance to take an evening wander through Lauren Tsai’s haunting installation in Hollywood Forever Cemetery. Tsai uses drawing, painting, sculpture, stop-motion animation and puppets (created in collaboration with Andy Gent) to take visitors through a character — Astrid’s — world.
Happy Wicked: For Good opening weekend to all who celebrate. You know where I’ll be. If you have been singing along since the trailer came out, head to Licorice Pizza for a Wicked: For Good soundtrack listening party on Saturday at 5 p.m. — there will even be giveaways!
Licorice Pizza also has music picks around town for the weekend, including Lucius at the Wiltern on Friday, Robert Plant at the United on Saturday, Goapele at the Blue Note and Brian Jonestown Massacre at the Teragram. Cerritos Center has a killer lineup of Todd Rundgren on Saturday and Al Jardine from the Beach Boys on Sunday, and the Dreamstate SoCal trance festival is happening in Long Beach all weekend long.
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.
Mariana Dale
has reported on Pasadena Unified’s fire recovery and budget process over the last year.
Published November 20, 2025 5:00 AM
Among the proposed high school cuts are teachers, counselors, custodial staff and athletics funding.
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Elly Yu
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LAist
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Topline:
The Pasadena Unified School District Board will vote tonight on $24.3 million in recommended budget cuts made largely through the elimination of school-based staff and programs.
Why it matters: The vote determines the lion’s share of the district’s planned $30.5 million reduction and represents about 16% of the district's $189 million projected general fund budget next school year. Among the proposed cuts are librarians, teachers, gardeners and school office staff. The board also will weigh layoffs in district administration and canceling contracted services such as professional development.
Community pushback: Parents and educators say the cuts will decimate programs — including arts, science and athletics — that attract families to the district and benefit students. As of Wednesday afternoon, 700 people had signed an online petition urging district leadership to reconsider the cuts.
The backstory: For the past several years, PUSD has spent more money than it brings in and is projected to have a $29 million budget deficit next school year. One factor is that PUSD, like many districts in the region, is enrolling fewer students, which equates to less funding. The Los Angeles County Office of Education has warned that without significant reductions in spending, the district will not be able to meet its financial obligations and risks losing the ability to govern itself.
Weigh in: On Thursday, the board could approve the cuts as presented or propose changes. Identify the board member who represents your school and contact them by phone or email. People also can speak up in person during the board meeting’s public comment period at 7:15 p.m. or submit thoughts early to publiccomment@pusd.us.
The Pasadena Unified School District Board will vote tonight on $24.3 million in recommended budget cuts made largely through the elimination of school-based staff and programs.
The vote determines the lion’s share of the district’s planned $30.5 million reduction and represents about 16% of the district's $189 million projected general fund budget next school year.
What's being cut?
Among the proposed cuts are librarians, teachers, gardeners and school office staff. The board also will weigh layoffs in district administration and canceling contracted services such as professional development.
How's the community responding?
Parents and educators say the cuts will decimate programs — including arts, science and athletics — that attract families to the district and benefit students. As of Wednesday afternoon, 700 people had signed an online petition urging district leadership to reconsider the cuts.
How did it get to this point?
For the past several years, PUSD has spent more money than it brings in and is projected to have a $29 million budget deficit next school year. One factor is that PUSD, like many districts in the region, is enrolling fewer students, which equates to less funding. The Los Angeles County Office of Education has warned that without significant reductions in spending, the district will not be able to meet its financial obligations and risks losing the ability to govern itself.
How you can weigh in
On Thursday, the board could approve the cuts as presented or propose changes. Identify the board member who represents your school and contact them by phone or email. People can also speak up in person during the board meeting’s public comment period at 7:15 p.m. or submit thoughts early to publiccomment@pusd.us.
You can also tell us how you feel using this form:
