Explore LA

We've got fireworks, drone shows and more: The LAist guide to celebrating the 4th of July

We also have some ... unconventional ways to celebrate, such as a 5K run in Anaheim and monster truck rallies.

Hundreds of fireworks in white and red light up the night sky.

Los Angeles is the ink I used to write this book

LAist correspondent Adolfo Guzman-Lopez captures the region in poetry and prose in his first collection of writings.

A medium skinned man with a grey goatee, wearing glasses and a blue shirt, is standing on a bridge overseeing a cityscape. He's holding an open book as if about to read from it.

Discover the delicate nature of Northeast LA's Elephant Hill

A guided nature hike on Saturday seeks to connect Angelenos to these 110 acres of open space in El Sereno.

The photo captures a picturesque residential area nestled at the base of lush green hills. In the foreground, you can see houses and streets, while the background features rolling hills covered in grass and dotted with trees. Winding dirt paths meander through the hills, adding a sense of depth and exploration. The sky is clear and blue, suggesting a bright, sunny day. Tall trees on the right side of the image frame the scene beautifully.

In praise of jasmine, the quintessential LA scent

As we say goodbye to it’s oh-so-short season, we celebrate that special time when the city becomes drenched in its perfume.

The entire image is filled with green leaves and white and yellow flowers

100 ‘elephants’ migrate into Beverly Hills with a message of coexistence

An art exhibition celebrating interspecies peace will open July 1 at Beverly Gardens Park. And if you have a lot of space and a lot of cash, you can take one home.

Elephant sculptures are arranged on a lawn, with a palm tree behind them, under blue skies.

There are now two Trader Joe’s right across from one another in Sherman Oaks

A brand new Trader Joe’s opened right across the street from one that has been around for more than 50 years. Overkill or the more-the-merrier?

A picture of the front of the new Trader Joe's on Riverside Drive in Sherman Oaks.

We went looking for a Japanese cola named 'Los Angeles' — and found a story about home

A rabbit hole journey into why not one, but two colas from Japan, pay homage to our great city. We don’t have the definitive answer, but we do have a great story to tell.