Best things to do this week in Los Angeles and Southern California: January 13 - 16

At LAist, our hearts go out to everyone suffering the fires around Los Angeles – and that’s all of us in big and small ways. If there’s one best thing you can do this week (and I’m sure you already have!), it’s to check in on your friends and neighbors.

It’s going to take a long time for our city to recover and we’re not anywhere close to knowing the full extent of the damage. I wish a lot of things were different about this week, but in poring through emails and social media to see what’s canceled, what’s not, where folks are and what is available, there is one overriding message: "How can we help?" To that end, I’m listing ways to volunteer and ways to donate time and resources that have popped up since the last newsletter.

There are some events and activities that are still on and dozens of restaurants and hotels have expanded their offerings for evacuees and first responders, so you’ll find those linked here, too.

As ever, the fires are an evolving situation, so event times and dates may change; please check with organizers before heading out.

In this week’s edition:

• The library has tons of resources for those impacted by the fires as well as a great online author event with New York Times bestseller T.J. Klune.
• Find a volunteer opportunity through the constantly updated MALAN site. 
• Eat out at one of the many restaurants supporting evacuees and firefighters. 
• And if you’ve been evacuated, many hotels, particularly in O.C., are offering deals.
• Catch the Pippa Garner exhibit at Stars Gallery before it closes next weekend.
• The world premiere of the new restoration of 2004’s Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind is on at the Academy Museum.

As ever, the fires are an evolving situation, so event times and dates may change; please check with organizers before heading out.

Events

Viewing pick

Volunteering and donation opportunities

You can actually help, right now, in a lot of ways. Here are a few suggestions:

Join LAIT911's disaster response and recovery team, including collecting donations and assisting with delivery.

Help pets by fostering a dog or cat from a family displaced by the fires. Email the Pasadena Humane Society or stop by their office for more info. Kitty Bungalow is looking for foster families too, and you can email them here.

Kitty Bungalow is also hosting a donation drive for pet supplies. They need cat and dog food, carriers, leashes, blankets, toys, and beds. Donations are accepted seven days a week from 9 - 6 pm at 2032 W. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd in South L.A., or PETCO’s West Hollywood and Westwood locations.

Mutual Aid Network of L.A. has a constantly crowd-sourced and updated spreadsheet of volunteer and donation needs and opportunities.

Many restaurants are providing meals to firefighters and first responders. Places like Le Great Outdoor are making it easy to donate a meal by providing a link directly on ToastTab. Nalu Vida has a similar link from their Instagram here.

And of course, cash is always a great way to help. One of the spaces I often list events for, Public Display of Altadena, was destroyed and the fundraiser to help them rebuild is here. Given that we’re a city that thrives on the arts, there are also emergency grants and support being made available for artists and musicians that you can contribute to, like MusicCares and the LA Art World Emergency Grant.

Some other organizations that are a great way to contribute include: the California Community Foundation's Wildfire Recovery Fund and the Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation. GoFundMe set up a dedicated page where you can donate to SoCal fire victims, first responders and others through their separate fundraising accounts. And of course, the American Red Cross is providing emergency resources.

Places to go

All L.A. County Library locations have free Wi-Fi, public-use computers, and laptops. You can also get free educational supplies for kids and teens and of course, read a book. They are also a good spot to get some clean indoor air, water fountains and restrooms, and power to charge your devices.

Housing for evacuees:

211LA is partnering with Airbnb to offer free temporary shelter for people displaced from their homes by fire. Start by filling out this form.

The local hotel association is maintaining a list of hotels in and around L.A. (including Orange County) with available space, including what kind of discounts they're offering to fire victims and evacuees.

YMCA of Metropolitan Los Angeles is opening its locations that aren't affected by the fires for temporary shelter, showers, basic amenities, and mental health support. They have also teamed up with L.A. Unified School District to provide childcare services for essential workers and families until schools reopen.

Dining deals for evacuees and first responders

Our friends at Eater have been keeping an up-to-date list of places where evacuees and first responders can get a good meal for free or a discount.

The Surfrider Malibu will be offering cookies and refreshments, and an In-N-Out truck will be onsite at Will Rogers Park as a small token of heartfelt appreciation on Monday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Others are also donating proceeds to the relief effort, including:

L’antica Pizzeria da Michele: Donating 100% of profits from all locations — Long Beach, Hollywood, Santa Barbara, and New York City — to support wildfire relief efforts through the Los Angeles Fire Department, California Fire Foundation, and Southern California Wildfire Relief Fund. L’antica Pizzeria da Michele will also collect new toys at its Southern California locations to bring comfort to families in need.

Florence Osteria & Piano Bar in West Hollywood will be donating 100% of profits from all sales directly to the Los Angeles Fire Department, California Fire Foundation, and Southern California Wildfire Relief Fund. Florence Osteria & Piano Bar will also be collecting new toys at its Southern California locations.