The Brief

Summer’s just around the corner. The sun is setting later, the temperatures are starting to rise, and people are itching to get outside. In Los Angeles, that opens up even more weekend entertainment options — including film.

Sure, there are a lot of options for watching a movie under the stars in L.A., from the Rooftop Movie Club to museums like the Skirball, but few spots are as iconic as Hollywood Forever Cemetery.

The L.A.-based group Cinespia programs outdoor movie screenings in a lot of great places around the city, but more than 20 years ago Hollywood Forever was their first location.

And post-pandemic, with theaters closing nationwide and younger and younger audiences flocking to repertory screenings like those held by Cinespia, the movies at Hollywood Forever are a must-do for any Angeleno.

An oasis off Santa Monica Boulevard

Let’s start with the cemetery itself. Tucked between the Hollywood sign and the Paramount Pictures water tower, Hollywood Forever is a peaceful, inviting space alongside the bustle of Santa Monica Boulevard. Rolling green lawns surround the mausoleums with a beautiful water feature in the middle where you can often spot swans or turtles.

General view at Hollywood Forever on May 5, 2018 in Hollywood.

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There’s a strong sense of life in the cemetery — a now infamous feral cat colony and numerous peafowl roam the grounds. And as one of the only cemeteries in Southern California that allows for grave markers to be upright or customized, there’s a strong sense of personality among the burial plots, from graves with markers that include gardening space, to markers shaped like sofas, rocket ships, or vinyl records.

On Saturday mornings, the in-house tour guide, Karie Bible, takes visitors through the grounds while bestowing a wealth of knowledge on the cemetery itself, and on the Old Hollywood legends interred within.

“As a little girl, I fell in love with classic Hollywood. My gateway drug was the Universal horror films of the 1930s,” says Bible. “I didn't like Barbie, but I loved Bela Lugosi and Boris Karloff as every little girl should.”

Cemetery tour guide Karie Bible tells tour-goers about the life and death of silent film actor Rudolph Valentino, whose remains are in a mausoleum at Hollywood Forever.

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Victoria Alejandro

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Her tour includes the graves of character actors like Peter Lorre, cinematographers, screenwriters, cenotaphs like those of Jayne Mansfield and Hattie McDaniel, directors like Cecil B. DeMille, and of course, stars like Judy Garland.

Bible has been giving tours since 2002, just a few years after current owner Tyler Cassity purchased the cemetery. She describes Cassity as “a visionary in the cemetery world.”

Cemetery history

Hollywood Forever was founded in 1899, and in 1931, a man named Jules Roth purchased a majority share of the cemetery. A convicted felon and white collar criminal who did time in San Quentin, Roth kept the cemetery segregated, not allowing Hattie McDaniel to be buried there, and used funds from the cemetery for personal use, leading to a state of disrepair in the 1980s. Roth died in 1998 and the cemetery was on the verge of closure in bankruptcy proceedings when Tyler Cassity and his brother bought the property.

Cassity’s tenure as owner led to renovations and restorations, community events, outdoor concerts, yoga classes, and of course — Cinespia screenings.

John Wyatt started screening films under the stars at Hollywood Forever the same year Bible started giving tours: 2002.

Wyatt, the founder of Cinespia, was looking for a place to screen classic and cult films, and something about being so close to Old Hollywood history was appealing. The cemetery signed off and it was an immediate success. The first screening was Strangers on a Train and it delighted audiences, cementing the partnership for more than two decades now.

Movies under, and among, the stars

The screening space is on the Fairbanks Lawn, near the grave of silent film star and United Artists founder Douglas Fairbanks Sr.

The rectangular reflecting pool and raised tomb of Douglas Fairbanks, Sr. at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery.

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Don’t worry, no one is sitting on an actual grave to watch a movie. The lawn is a huge green space that can seat 4,000 picnicking moviegoers.

Cinespia screenings always feel like major events. People line up at the gates to get their favorite spots, bringing blankets, food, and wearing outfits for taking pictures in Cinespia’s film-of-the-week themed photo booth. People often get dressed up with costumes that reflect the movie that’s showing that night.

John C. Reilly attends Cinespia's screening of "Boogie Nights" held at Hollywood Forever on Sept. 4, 2021 in Hollywood.

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And when the sun goes down, the film starts.

“Being together in real life, being with your best friends, being with your partner, and just enjoying the greatest art that Hollywood made under the stars … it's really a beautiful experience,” says Wyatt.

During the pandemic lockdowns in 2020, Hollywood Forever closed to the public, deferred memorial services and turned to Zoom. Cinespia needed to find alternative, workable spaces for the screenings and started doing drive-in pop-ups at L.A. State Historic Park and Griffith Park near The Greek.

Those parks still host Cinespia screenings throughout the year. But there’s something about watching a movie in Hollywood Forever, so when Cinespia was allowed back in during 2021, Wyatt was thrilled with the response.

“It sold out almost immediately … and it was cathartic,” says Wyatt, recalling the long lines of people in front of the cemetery gates, waiting to return to their favorite spots on the lawn.

The 'Sunset Boulevard' connection

After showing films for 22 years, Wyatt does have a favorite to screen on the Fairbanks Lawn: the black and white Billy Wilder-directed classic, Sunset Boulevard.

“And the reason is it becomes this incredible meta experience because …. so many of the people in the film are buried at the cemetery. And when the main character starts yelling their names, it's echoing through the cemetery,” he says with delight.

In Sunset Boulevard, Gloria Swanson plays Norma Desmond, a famous silent film star who’s been left behind by the switch to sound. Her desire for stardom eclipses reality, and the film ends with one of the most iconic lines in film history, addressed to famed director Cecil B. DeMille, Swanson’s real-life mentor, who happens to be buried at Hollywood Forever.

The raised tombs of Constance Adams DeMille (left) and Cecil Blount DeMille, located in the Garden of Legends at Hollywood Forever Cemetery. The remains of other DeMille family members surround those of Constance and Cecil. (1996)

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“And then at the end, she addresses the crowd in her famous speech. And the thrill that runs through the audience when she says, ‘And to you, all you wonderful people in the dark,’” Wyatt recalls. “I have to control myself to not just show it all the time because it's such a cool experience.”

It’s all about the audience reaction for Wyatt, and that first hook when a moviegoer sees something great. “It's very satisfying if I can have one person be like, ‘Who's Billy Wilder? I got to see more movies.’”

Cinespia screenings at Hollywood Forever are starting up again on May 26 with the David Fincher thriller, Se7en, and movies will be running Saturday nights through the summer. Karie Bible’s cemetery tours are every Saturday morning at 10 a.m.

California Attorney General Rob Bonta provided guidance this week to childcare providers on new legal requirements to protect children and their families from immigration enforcement activities.

Under a new law that went into effect this year, childcare providers are not allowed to collect information about a child's or family member’s immigration status, unless necessary under state or federal law. Bonta’s office says there currently is no such requirement, though that could change with federal programs like Head Start.

“Childcare and preschool facilities should be safe and secure spaces so children can grow, learn and simply be children,” Bonta said in a statement.

His office says daycare centers also should not keep information about a formerly enrolled child longer than is required by state law.

The new law also requires facilities to inform the attorney general’s office and the state’s licensing agency if they get any requests for information from law enforcement related to immigration enforcement.

Facilities also must ask families to regularly update a child’s emergency contact information to make sure someone can be reached in case a parent is detained by federal immigration officials.

The Santa Ana winds are here to welcome us into the weekend, bringing warmer temperatures.

The winds will reach Point Mugu to the Santa Clarita Valley, down to Orange County and parts of the Inland Empire valleys and foothills east of the 5 Freeway.

Peak gusts are expected to reach 35 to 55 mph. The western San Gabriel Mountains, Highway 14 corridor, Santa Susana Mountains and the western Santa Monica Mountains are under a high wind warning until 6 p.m., when gusts could reach 65 mph.

As for temperatures, highs for L.A. County beaches will reach the upper 70s and up to the low 80s for inland areas.

Parts of Orange County and Coachella Valley will see temperatures in the mid- to upper 80s, with the warmest areas expected to reach 88 degrees.

Getting together with friends at a bar or pub tends to get a lot harder when children and needy pets enter the mix. One solution — Breweries! Beer gardens! Brewpubs!

Because parents (of kids and pets) want to go out, too — and not necessarily to a fast food restaurant with an indoor playground and no beer.

Thankfully, the Orange County suburbs where I live have gotten on board with my family- and pet-friendly craft brewery dreams. The key ingredients for me are spacious patios, a water bowl for the pooch, and food — either made onsite or, at the least, easy and quick to order and get delivered from somewhere else. Board and pub games are an added bonus.

Plus, of course, great beer from small, independent, local breweries. On the beer front, I was pleasantly surprised by the variety of beer I encountered on my self-arranged tour of breweries in the Costa Mesa-Huntington Beach area.

Gone are the dark, dank days of nothing but IPA (IYKYK); now, you can find everything from pickle-tinged blondes, to mild sours, to rich and creamy stouts. If you’re not a big beer fan, every place I visited also had their own craft-made hard seltzers on the menu, as well as some non-alcoholic beverages.

Here are some of my favorites:

Riip (Huntington Beach)

Riip in Huntington Beach has two spots with full kitchens specializing in pizza and a wide variety of IPAs and other beer styles.

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Riip has been a family favorite since the company opened its first tasting room in Sunset Beach in 2015, with board games and tables the kids could write on. They have since expanded a lot, with a pizzeria next door and another location near Fountain Valley, which also serves excellent pizza, and has a small arcade to keep the kiddos busy.

One thing they do especially well: For serious IPA drinkers, Riip is your place. They usually have at least half a dozen different IPAs on tap, along with a decent variety of other beers, lighter and darker.

This place is great for … dinner after the kids’ [insert sport] game. Also for date night.

At Flashpoint Brewing Company in Huntington Beach, you can check out the brewing vats and other machinery up close while enjoying the results.

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Flashpoint Brewing Co. (Huntington Beach)

I only recently discovered Flashpoint, which opened in 2020 on an industrial street near Huntington Beach Central Park. I actually love this aspect of craft brewery taprooms: they’re often located outside of trendy food and retail areas because they need to be able to actually brew beer there as well as serve it.

Flashpoint has a big patio lit with fairy lights. The tall doors of their brewing area, and an adjacent room with the taps and more tables are rolled up during opening hours, giving it a spacious, indoor-outdoor feel.

One thing they do especially well: All the beers I tried were highly drinkable. In other words, not crazy hoppy or overly heavy on flavors. The nectarine sour was especially good, refreshing with just the right amount of tartness.

This place is great for … An early evening toast, watching the clouds turn pink.

Green Cheek Beer Co. in Costa Mesa serves great beer and food, including shareable, snackable items like pad thai cauliflower.

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Green Cheek Beer Co. (Costa Mesa)

Green Cheek Beer Co. now has three locations in Orange County and one in Oceanside. Their Costa Mesa spot is conveniently located not far from the city’s Bark Park. So, naturally, after my pooch has fun, I deserve a cold one.

Green Cheek has a huge covered patio filled with long picnic tables. My dog, Ace, was very happy to find a bowl of water set out for their canine visitors, and lots of pets from the humans.

One thing they do especially well: Green Cheek makes great beer. But what I love most about their Costa Mesa spot is that you can soak up the alcohol with food, including smash burgers, tots, and pad thai cauliflower, from their good and reliably fast kitchen.

This place is great for … reading a book, or making a new friend! Their long picnic tables make it easy to opt in or out of the surrounding social scene.

Bootlegger's Brewery outside the LAB Anti-Mall in Costa Mesa has a quiet patio for day drinking, and a lively trivia night scene.

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Bootlegger’s Brewery (Costa Mesa)

Within walking distance of Green Cheek is Bootlegger’s Brewery. Bootlegger’s started in Fullerton, and now also has tasting rooms in Costa Mesa and Redlands.

Their Costa Mesa spot is on the outskirts of the LAB Anti-Mall, a collection of small businesses and restaurants, at least one of which will deliver food to your table. A section of the parking lot has been turned into a nice outdoor patio with sun shades for daytime and heat lamps for chillier evening hours.

One thing they do especially well: Their Kosher Crusher pickle blonde ale. They debuted it last fall and it is seriously good — light, refreshing, and just a little bit zesty.

This place is great for … “working” on a Friday afternoon (I was not the only one there typing one-handed on my laptop with a beer in the other), and then inviting friends to join you for happy hour.

There's an ambiance for everyone at Salty Bear Brewing Co. in Costa Mesa.

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Salty Bear Brewing Company

Salty Bear is part of The Camp, an uber-cool retail and restaurant complex also within walking distance of Green Cheek and Bootlegger’s (you can do a tasting tour!).

Salty Bear is worth a visit for the aesthetics alone. It has a great bar with midcentury tiling and dimpled red leather. The sprawling, leafy outdoor patio provides plenty of room for the kids to wander.

One thing they do especially well: Their Coastline Strawberry Blonde made me nostalgic for the fruity beers that got me hooked on craft beer in my 20s — but so much better.

This place is great for … Kickin’ it on the patio with friends, either listening to live music, or letting your kids practice performing on the teepee-themed outdoor stage.

Other options in OC south of the 405:

Steady Kitchen and Taps, 18055 Magnolia St, Fountain Valley

Synth Beer Company, 2960 Randolph Av, Costa Mesa

Brewing Reserve of California, 2930 College Ave D, Costa Mesa

Some government funding streams for L.A. County’s public health system are drying up, and officials are turning to private philanthropy to fill the gap.

A new privately funded foundation launched Thursday to strengthen public health services after $50 million in federal, state and local funding cuts to the county’s Department of Public Health since early last year.

“It is really a hard day for our community when we have to ask for private donations to fund a public good, but unfortunately, we've lost too much money to not take this important step,” said Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer.

In February, the county’s Public Health Department closed seven clinics, with six remaining open. About half of the patients seen in those clinics are uninsured, according to county officials. The department also cut hundreds of staff positions.

Ferrer is on the board of the new foundation, The Fund for Advancing Public Health LA, which held its first meeting Thursday.

She said the fund will help the county maintain its basic public health infrastructure, including disease prevention, health promotion, environmental health, and emergency response efforts.

Other board members include several health insurance executives, as well as actors Sean Penn and Danny Trejo. Board member Saree Kayne of the R&S Kayne Foundation pledged $150,000 to the fund Thursday. Kayne said she hopes the donation encourages others to give.

The foundation aims to raise $2 million this year.

More cuts expected

L.A. County Supervisor Holly Mitchell said it’s crucial to have an alternative funding stream to protect services for the county's most vulnerable residents.

“We are saving public health,” Mitchell said. “This fund represents a new approach, one that brings together government philanthropy in the private sector to invest in community-based solutions, protect vulnerable populations, and strengthen our public health infrastructure.”

Officials say more public health cuts are coming, through the federal budget law known as the "Big Beautiful Bill," which slashes funding for Medi-Cal.

The county Department of Public Health anticipates losing up to $300 million in revenue over the next three years because of the federal budget bill and other potential funding freezes. Federal funding accounts for almost 50% of the public health budget, according to county officials.

Mitchell also led an effort to put a half-percent county sales tax increase to fund public health on the June ballot.

If approved by voters, that proposal, known as Measure ER, is expected to raise about $1 billion a year for county safety net health services, including about $100 million for the public health department.

Board members

The Fund for Advancing Public Health LA announced its founding board of directors, which includes:

• Dr. Barbara Ferrer, LA County Department of Public Health director
• Debbie I. Chang, Blue Shield of California Foundation CEO
• Sean Penn, actor and co-founder of Community Organized Relief Effort (CORE)
• Martha Santana-Chin, LA Care Health Plan CEO
• Saree Kayne, R&S Kayne Foundation CEO
• Danny Trejo, actor and restaurateur
• Jarrett Barrios, an executive at the American Red Cross
• Dr. Deborah Prothrow-Stith, Charles R. Drew University College of Medicine Dean
• Kristin McCowan, an executive at the Los Angeles Dodgers