South Pasadena-based artist Roberto Benavidez has established himself as a re-imaginer of the piñata, morphing paper into objects instilled with meaning, impermanence, beauty, humor and subversive undertones.
Why it matters: In his first solo gallery show in Los Angeles (at Perrotin through Oct. 18), Benavidez creates piñatas that explore his fascination with the medieval Dutch painter Hieronymus Bosch, through the traditional Mexican artform.
The backstory: Benavidez got his start in the art world after moving to Los Angeles and taking painting and drawing classes at Pasadena Community College while working full time. He experimented across different materials, focusing on bronze casting and sculpture, before turning his focus to piñatas.
Read on ... to read about these wonderful pieces and see photos.
Call them ethereal, call them joyful, call them creepy, call them “Pikachu” — but don’t call them anything other than piñatas. South Pasadena-based artist Roberto Benavidez has established himself as a re-imaginer of the traditional Mexican craft, morphing paper into objects instilled with meaning, impermanence, beauty, humor and subversive undertones.
In his first solo gallery show in Los Angeles (at Perrotin through Oct. 18), Benavidez creates piñatas that explore his fascination with medieval Dutch painter Hieronymus Bosch and evoke the “Garden of Earthly Delights” artist’s imaginary world. At the Mid-City space, Benavidez’s works are suspended in mid-air, bringing piñatas of birds, mythical creatures and human-like forms to the skylit gallery.
“There was this feeling of disrespect towards Mexican culture. Even though it's consumed heavily, there's still this feeling of inferiority imposed upon it, so my thought was to take the piñata into these realms where it's been historically excluded,” Benavidez told LAist. “I hope when people see these pieces that it just expands the breadth of what Mexican culture is, what Mexican culture can be.”
Exhibition view of "Bosch Beasts"
(
Paul Salveson
/
Courtesy Roberto Benavidez and Perrotin
)
Exhibition view of "Bosch Beasts"
(
Paul Salveson
/
Courtesy Roberto Benavidez and Perrotin
)
It’s hard not to smile when you’re surrounded by the brightly colored, whimsical world that has taken over the gallery. But there’s a darkness underneath these creatures, as well, which speaks to the artist’s own struggles growing up as a self-described “half-breed, South Texan queer.”
“I like creatures that are kind of cute but eerie,” he said. “I grew up Catholic and gay, so there was this ever-present idea of sin.”
The piñata became the medium where Benavidez brought together these two worlds — handcrafting each stage of these sculptures using traditional piñata processes.
"Bosch Beast No. 14," 2025
(
Paul Salveson
/
Courtesy Roberto Benavidez and Perrotin
)
Benavidez got his start in the art world after moving to Los Angeles and taking painting and drawing classes at Pasadena Community College while working full time. He experimented across different materials, focusing on bronze casting and sculpture before turning his focus to piñatas. They were the perfect medium for Bosch’s creatures to come to life — and his connection to Bosch is deep-seated. “When I grew up, there was no internet, I grew up in the sticks, but we had a set of encyclopedias. The imagery of the 'Garden of Earthly Delights' has always been in my head.”
Traditionally, piñatas feature seven stars, symbolizing the seven deadly sins, a motif the artist often brings into his work. In the case of “Bosch Beast Number 14” — the nod is more subtle.
“In the past I wanted it to be obvious, whereas this one, I just liked the idea of incorporating those seven spikes,” he said. “My goal for all of these is to captivate viewers with beauty. I don’t necessarily need them to see these underlying concepts. It’s just more for me.”
He doesn’t give his works clever names, but some — like "Bosch Beast Number 14" — have been given their own monikers by his fans.
“I think people started calling [this one] ‘Pikachu” because it reminded them of Pokemon.”
There is a lot of humor in Benavidez’s work — and he is in on the laugh.
“I think it's kind of funny that that's a part of the history of the piñata that nobody ever thinks about. Nobody ever thinks about it as a religious symbol. I'm not making fun of religion or sin. I think mainly it's absurd to me, and I just like the visual aspect of it. It can seem like a little punk creature.”
"Bosch Bird No. 12," 2025
(
Paul Salveson
/
Courtesy Roberto Benavidez and Perrotin
)
There’s also a little secret hidden inside each of the works — a nod to the tradition of bursting of a piñata — a treat left by the artist only for the future to find.
The accessibility of the materials Benavidez works with means that it’s a craft he believes anyone can do; he’s taught numerous piñata-making workshops around the area and has seen his students achieve incredible results. Perrotin Gallery director Jennie King said that’s part of what she’s enjoyed seeing as people visit the exhibit.
“Anyone can get glue, paperboard, crepe paper — and yet they have a real jewel-like feel," she said. "And they really do inspire a kind of wonder, I think, in the viewers for that combination.”
Details
Perrotin Gallery 5036 W. Pico Blvd., Los Angeles Show on display now through Oct. 18; the gallery is also showing Danielle Orchard’s show, "Firstborn."
Since a massive 1969 oil spill, very little oil has been drilled off the California coast, though some rigs remain, such as this one about a mile and a half away from the Seal Beach pier.
(
Mario Tama
/
Getty Images
)
Topline:
The Trump administration on Thursday released its plan to open up federal waters off the coast of California to oil drilling, taking a momentous step that state leaders and environmentalists had long expected.
What is the plan? The Interior Department’s proposal, which sets up a direct confrontation with Sacramento on energy and climate change, would also allow drilling in federal waters off the coast of Alaska and the Southeastern U.S. It would rip up a ban on new offshore drilling in most of these places that President Joe Biden signed a few weeks before he left office. President Donald Trump signed an executive order repealing that ban on his first day in office in January.
California officials' response: Gov. Gavin Newsom blasted the proposal as “idiotic” and “reckless.” A senator and congressperson also came out against the proposal.
Read on ... to hear more from state officials.
The Trump administration on Thursday released its plan to open up federal waters off the coast of California to oil drilling, taking a momentous step that state leaders and environmentalists had long expected.
The Interior Department’s proposal, which sets up a direct confrontation with Sacramento on energy and climate change, would also allow drilling in federal waters off the coast of Alaska and the Southeastern U.S. It would rip up a ban on new offshore drilling in most of these places that President Joe Biden signed a few weeks before he left office.
President Donald Trump signed an executive order repealing that ban on his first day in office in January, and last month, a federal judge in Louisiana ruled Biden had overstepped his authority.
Administration officials argued that the move to open federal waters to new oil and gas leases will help restore energy security and protect American jobs.
“By moving forward with the development of a robust, forward-thinking leasing plan, we are ensuring that America’s offshore industry stays strong, our workers stay employed, and our nation remains energy dominant for decades to come,” Interior Secretary Doug Burgum said in a press release.
On Thursday, his office quickly blasted the proposal as “idiotic” and “reckless.” He added that it “endangers our coastal economy and communities and hurts the well-being of Californians.”
Companies have drilled very little oil off the coast of California since the 1969 Union Oil platform blowout spilled 4.2 million barrels of crude into the waters 6 miles off the coast of Santa Barbara, catalyzing an environmental movement.
Newsom’s press release included a photo of a bird covered in crude oil, with a caption that said, “If Trump gets his way, coming to a beach near you soon!”
Numerous California lawmakers, including Sen. Alex Padilla and Rep. Jared Huffman, hastily convened a media call to push back on the plan.
Padilla called it “another outrageous announcement” from an “out of control administration.”
Rep. Jimmy Panetta compared the proposal to Trump’s controversial renovation of the White House.
“The California coastline is not the East Wing of the White House,” he said.
The Democratic lawmakers are supporting legislation that would prohibit new oil and gas leases off the West Coast.
The public will have a 60-day window to comment on the plan when it appears in the Federal Register on Monday.
Gab Chabrán
covers what's happening in food and culture for LAist.
Published November 20, 2025 5:00 PM
RISE Bagel's maximalist spread game: egg salad with jammy yolks, juicy heirloom tomatoes and a fully loaded poke-inspired number
(
Ron De Angelis
/
RISE Bagels
)
Topline:
Three bagel shops in Orange County are reinventing the New York bagel with California ingredients, sourdough fermentation and cultural fusion — signaling a shift from replication to innovation in Southern California's breakfast scene.
Why now: A new generation of bagel makers is opening shops in Orange County, moving beyond the chains and conventional East Coast replications that have dominated the market. RISE Bagels just opened this month in Irvine, while Boil and Bake (opened in 2023) and Deli Seoul (operating since 2008 but recently gaining attention) are building momentum in Costa Mesa.
Why it’s important: This shift shows that innovative food isn’t limited to urban centers like Los Angeles; suburbs like Orange County are also fostering culinary talent. Korean-American and Guatemalan-American chefs are reimagining Jewish deli staples, creating California-style bagels that blend tradition with new perspectives, reflecting how immigrant communities are shaping American cuisine today.
Orange County isn't where you'd expect to find your next great bagel. But that's exactly what's happening in Irvine and Costa Mesa, where bakeries are proving that the future of bagels isn't about replicating New York — it's about reinventing it with California's best ingredients.
Three shops have quietly been reinvigorating an old formula, taking inspiration from traditional East Coast-style bagel shops while using farm-sourced ingredients to create something unlike anything else in Southern California (or the country).
Read on and enjoy these maximalist offerings.
RISE Bagels (Irvine)
The One Fish from RISE Bagels in Irvine, featuring a bright, silky lox bagel layered with sweet yellow tomatoes, pickled onions, and plenty of dill.
(
Ron De Angelis
/
Courtesy RISE Bagels
)
Chef John Park's bagel philosophy stemmed from his desire for something lighter than traditional, heavy New York bagels. Park and his team opened RISE Bagels earlier this month in an upscale Irvine business park, tucked away like an oasis among pristine high-rise buildings.
Park aims for bagels with a crispy crust and more air pockets. These aren't special sourdough or crazy fermentation projects — just a focus on achieving lighter crust and crumb.
RISE offers signature open-face options like the One Fish ($20), featuring smoked salmon with citrus notes (orange, lime, lemon, dill, coriander, fennel, black pepper), a balanced sweet-salty ratio, and pickled onions with yuzu kosho, a fermented paste containing chili peppers, yuzu peel and salt. The Two Fish ($23) adds dashi-marinated salmon roe for a touch of sweetness and smokiness.
Closed sandwich options include Get Jjigae With It ($18), with beef bulgogi, kimchi jjigae, scrambled eggs, American cheese, sesame leaf, soy-pickled radish, cucumber, and ssam jang schmear made from fermented soybeans and chili paste. The Jersey Boy features Taylor ham, soft scrambled egg, American cheese, ketchup, and Tokyo Negi schmear — a Japanese long onion spread sourced from Girl and Dough farm in San Diego.
On my recent visit, the One Fish delivered a level of freshness that nearly knocked me off my feet — a touch of salty brine as if it had just been harvested from nearby San Clemente beaches. The Jersey Boy brought me back to land with sweet, gooey flavors from soft scrambled egg, melty American cheese, and ketchup, with just the right amount of salty notes in between.
Location: 2010 Main St., Suite 180, Irvine Hours: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Closed Saturday and Sunday.
Boil & Bake (Costa Mesa)
Boil & Bake in Costa Mesa features fresh figs over cream cheese with a heavy drizzle of hot honey and a scatter of sesame seeds on their black and white sesame bagel.
(
Gab Chabrán
/
LAist
)
Carlos Perez's bagel education began at 8, working under his father, also named Carlos, when the family took over Shirley’s Bagels, an Orange County staple. But the son of Guatemalan immigrants wanted to move beyond Restaurant Depot products and machine-made dough. After working his way from dishwasher to manager at local restaurants, he felt ready to open his own place. He connected with Chef Luke Bramm, who'd trained in fine dining kitchens and specialized in curing meats, through a mutual chef friend. Together, they opened Boil & Bake in Costa Mesa, developing a three-day sourdough process and strict farm-sourcing philosophy, seasonally editing the menu — removing items entirely when local ingredients aren't available.
The menu splits between open-face bagels and sandwiches, emphasizing California ingredients and house-made products. The O.G. features Guatemalan-style longaniza sausage with cilantro aji crema (a nod to Perez's heritage), while The Dodger pairs Native Cure smoked salmon with pickled onions instead of traditional capers. The Fully Loaded Lox ($20) goes maximalist with house-cured fish, cucumber, radish, and sprouts. The M.F. takes a more inventive route with maple-fennel sausage and sweet-onion Aleppo aioli. Valdivia Farms heirloom tomatoes and La Bahn Ranch eggs appear throughout, reinforcing the local-sourcing philosophy. Most items range from $14 to $17.
On my visit, I ordered a black-and-white sesame bagel topped with black figs and hot honey, that day's special. Quartered black figs with their deep purple-red flesh glistened under a drizzle of hot honey. It feels more California farmers market than traditional East Coast bagel shop, with fresh-tasting, light flavors that work well together.
Location: 270 Bristol St., #114, Costa Mesa Hours: Open daily, 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Deli Seoul Bagels (Costa Mesa)
A beautifully chaotic egg, tofu, and cheese combination — runny, melty, and nestled inside an egg bagel, made with Irene's chili mayo from Deli Seoul.
(
Gab Chabrán
/
LAist
)
Also in Costa Mesa is Deli Seoul, a mother-and-son operation run by Jun and Irene Wang. Irene opened Deli Seoul in 2008 in a busy shopping center off Harbor Boulevard as a traditional bagel shop. Jun joined later after leaving the tech industry. It was only in the last year that the family decided to lean into their Korean heritage in bagel form.
The breakfast menu operates on a build-your-own model: customers start with a bagel or bread ($7.50 base, $9.85 with protein), then add cheese and protein. Korean options set it apart: Seoul steak with a sweet sauce, spicy pork, sweet-glazed Spam and marinated organic tofu sit alongside traditional bacon and sausage. Specialty bagels include coconut, pineapple, and Asiago. Sauces range from standard mayo to Irene's Korean chili mayo and chipotle mayo. It's customization that appeals to both traditionalists and adventurous eaters.
Jun Wang and his mother Irene pose together in the kitchen area of Deli Seoul in Costa Mesa.
(
Gab Chabrán
/
LAist
)
By my third stop that day, I was experiencing a bit of bagel burnout, despite my love for them. So I ordered something different: a bagel sandwich with scrambled egg and marinated tofu, with Irene's Korean chili mayo on an egg bagel. The combination was surprisingly light and flavorful, perfectly summing up what Deli Seoul offers — a delightfully diverse array of flavors from an approachable perspective that still represents what's happening with bagels in Orange County.
Location: 1510 Adams Ave., Suite B, Costa Mesa Hours: Open daily, 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Infant formula linked to a botulism outbreak that has sickened dozens of babies across 15 states may still be on store shelves even after being recalled, federal health officials say.
The latest: As of Wednesday, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said, 31 cases of suspected or confirmed infant botulism have been reported in babies who consumed ByHeart Whole Nutrition formula and got sick between August and mid-November. In its Wednesday update, the agency said it had "received reports that recalled formula is still being found on store shelves in multiple states." NPR has reached out to the FDA for more information but did not hear back by publication time.
Advice for parents: The CDC says parents should stay vigilant for several weeks after their baby last consumed ByHeart formula. They are advised to wash contaminated surfaces and label any leftover powder "DO NOT USE" and store it safely for a month, in case their infant develops symptoms and the state health department wants to test it. The CDC says parents should seek immediate medical care if they see any concerning symptoms, and also directs them to an infant botulism outbreak hotline from the California Department of Public Health set up specifically to respond to this outbreak.
Infant formula linked to a botulism outbreak that has sickened dozens of babies across 15 states may still be on store shelves even after being recalled, federal health officials say.
As of Wednesday, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said, 31 cases of suspected or confirmed infant botulism have been reported in babies who consumed ByHeart Whole Nutrition formula and got sick between August and mid-November.
No deaths have been reported. But all 31 babies were hospitalized with the illness, which can cause a potentially life-threatening form of gradual paralysis in infants less than a year old.
"Epidemiologic and laboratory data show that ByHeart Whole Nutrition infant formula might be contaminated with Clostridium botulinum, which is causing infant illness in multiple regions of the country," the FDA said.
ByHeart Whole Nutrition recalled two batches of its infant formula earlier this month before expanding the recall to all of its products — which include cans and single-serve packets — last week. They are sold at major retailers — including Target, Publix, Walmart and Whole Foods — and online nationwide, with some products shipped to customers outside the U.S.
ByHeart, which describes itself as a "next-generation baby nutrition company," first hit the market in 2022. The FDA says its products make up "approximately 1%" of all infant formula sold in the U.S., so it does not have concerns about a potential shortage.
In an apology note to parents, ByHeart says it is cooperating with the FDA and "investigating every facet of our process" to identify the cause of the outbreak.
In the meantime, the company — along with the FDA — is urging adults to stop using the formula and monitor their babies for symptoms of botulism. The FDA is also asking stores to stop selling the product.
But in its Wednesday update, the agency said it had "received reports that recalled formula is still being found on store shelves in multiple states." NPR has reached out to the FDA for more information but did not hear back by publication time.
The FDA says it is working with state partners and retailers "to ensure an effective recall" as its investigation into the outbreak continues.
ByHeart infant formula was removed from shelves at a Walmart store in Temecula, Calif..
(
JoNel Aleccia
/
AP
)
What we know about the outbreak
As of Wednesday, the FDA said the 31 cases had been reported in 15 states: Arizona, California, Idaho, Illinois, Kentucky, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, North Carolina, New Jersey, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Texas and Washington.
The outbreak has grown since the FDA first announced its investigation on Nov. 8. At that point, it said that out of an estimated 83 cases of infant botulism reported nationwide since August, 13 of the infants had consumed ByHeart formula at some point.
That raised red flags because botulism is uncommon in dairy products and "there is no historical precedent of infant formula causing infant botulism," the FDA said.
In response, ByHeart promptly recalled two batches of its products. The next day, it announced that the California Department of Public Health had tested a sample from one of those batches, and the result came back positive for Clostridium botulinum, the bacteria that causes infant botulism.
That sample came from an opened can, which ByHeart originally said did not prove that its product was to blame (as the bacteria can occur naturally in places like soil and dust). But in an FAQ on its website, it now says further testing by a third-party group identified the bacteria in some samples of unopened formula, too.
ByHeart says the FDA informed it in a "late-night call" on Nov. 10 that it had found two more cases of infant botulism in babies that had consumed its formula. The next day, ByHeart, citing "too many unanswered questions," recalled all of its products and released information for parents about how to switch to a different formula brand.
What to know about infant botulism
Botulism is a rare but serious illness caused by Clostridium botulinum. When a baby swallows the spores, "they grow in the gut and make toxin," according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Symptoms can appear three to 30 days after consuming the bacteria, and generally start with constipation, poor feeding, difficulty swallowing and loss of head control.
"If untreated, infants with infant botulism experience a progressive, flaccid paralysis that can lead to breathing difficulties and require weeks of hospitalization," the CDC says.
Treatment for infant botulism involves an antitoxin known as BabyBIG, which is administered through an IV.
The CDC says parents should stay vigilant for several weeks after their baby last consumed ByHeart formula. They are advised to wash contaminated surfaces and label any leftover powder "DO NOT USE" and store it safely for a month, in case their infant develops symptoms and the state health department wants to test it.
The CDC says parents should seek immediate medical care if they see any concerning symptoms, and also directs them to an infant botulism outbreak hotline from the California Department of Public Health set up specifically to respond to this outbreak.
What the company is doing
ByHeart says it is conducting its own "extensive testing" and giving the FDA "complete and unrestricted access to all of our facilities and products for their investigation."
The company has released more resources for customers in the days since the recall, like a 24/7 support hotline and refunds for purchases since October.
It has also pledged to implement stronger safeguards and testing in the future, saying that Clostridium botulinum was "not among the pathogens routinely tested for across the industry" — until now.
In the meantime, several affected family members have taken legal action.
The parents of two four-month-olds who were hospitalized with infant botulism — in Arizona and Kentucky — filed separate federal lawsuits last week. They accused ByHeart of negligence and are seeking compensation for medical bills and emotional distress after both their daughters required hospitalization. A separate class-action suit filed in New York alleges deceptive marketing.
ByHeart told NPR over email that it cannot comment on litigation, but reiterated its commitment to supporting families and the FDA's investigation.
Copyright 2025 NPR
Destiny Torres
is LAist's general assignment and digital equity reporter.
Published November 20, 2025 4:35 PM
Metro’s Mobility Wallet riders can now catch Waymo rides throughout L.A.’s 120-mile service area.
(
Eric Thayer
/
Getty Images
)
Topline:
Metro’s Mobility Wallet riders can catch Waymo rides through L.A.’s 120-mile service area for a discount, starting today. The offer is only for two rides.
How it works: Riders get either a digital or physical “debit” card. They can access the funds digitally or by swiping and tapping. Mobility Wallet riders can get 20% off two Waymo rides.
What is the Mobility Wallet? The program was launched by Metro and the L.A. Department of Transportation in 2022. In the latest enrollment period, 2,000 people received $1,800 to spend on rail, bus rides, bike sharing and other modes of transportation. The Waymo rides now add to those options.
Officials say: “We believe that shared mobility is a team effort and are excited to partner with transit agencies like LA Metro to participate in an ecosystem in which shared, autonomous transportation is an accessible and affordable option," Arielle Fleisher, policy research and development manager at Waymo, said in a statement.
What if you don’t have a cell phone? It’s unclear how many Mobility Wallet riders don’t have smartphone access and how they can catch Waymo rides.
