Los Angeles Greater Area
New drive-in cinema in the heart of Hollywood
The Hollywood Legion Theater is nice and close, open seven nights a week, and the car admission comes with unlimited popcorn plus a soda and a candy for each guest. Note: the 30-car capacity makes reservations a must.
Together: musicians from LA and away
Skirball Stages unites LA talents with musical acts from around the world for free streaming concerts in a range of genres. Each show includes a look behind the scenes. February 27: Joachim Cooder (with special guest Ry Cooder) and Amythyst Kiah.
Palm Springs Modernism Week streaming now
No in-person touring this year, but the online experience is jam-packed with greats, including the reconstruction of the 1931 Aluminaire House at the PS Art Museum, the quirky Best of Mod with a Twist, and a virtual tour of Tony Duquette’s Dawnridge Estate.
Descanso Gardens Bloom Calendar
Camellias, magnolias, cherry trees and daffodils—oh my. They’re all in bloom at Descanso this month. Use this handy calendar to track when your favorites are onstage, all year long. Tip: call before you go to make sure they’re showing on schedule.
San Francisco Bay Area
Eat here now
COVID or no, the Bay Area restaurant scene marches on. Here are seven intriguing new restaurants to put on your must-dine list, including a pedigreed Peruvian rotisserie in S.F., an upscale comfort food concept in Alameda, and a Jordanian-style shawarma joint in Oakland.
Celebrate Sonoma’s restaurants
Similarly in the North Bay, the dining scene is taking small, determined steps to get back to normal. The annual Sonoma County Restaurant Week is on. Spanning Feb. 19-28, the event is more vital than ever in helping preserve the region’s wonderfully rich restaurant heritage. Depending on your comfort level, you can take advantage of special meal deals at your favorite spots by dining outdoors, grabbing food or cocktails to-go, or by simply purchasing a gift card.
Spreading the love of art
You’re likely familiar with the mini free libraries that seemingly have popped up on every other block over the last few years. The Concord Art Association has come up with a cool spin on that same concept with its Art Cottage, a free art gallery in the East Bay city in which anyone is welcome to take home a small piece of art—and leave behind one of your own if so inclined.
Too good to be zoo
Did you know that San Francisco’s Glen Park was once nearly home to hyenas, black bears, badgers, and kangaroos? Turn-of-the-19th Century real estate developer Archibald Baldwin never did realize his plans for a full-fledged zoo in what is now Glen Park Canyon. But the story of how it nearly came to be is a fascinating one and chronicled in this recent SFGate story.
