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Valley Eats: Buying Groceries From Restaurants

Dreading the daunting, winding line at the grocery store? With restaurants forced to shutter their doors, many local eateries are now offering groceries to meet the needs of residents faced with bare store shelves. Additionally, some have partnered with area farmers as one way to both generate revenue and provide people with fresh fruits and vegetables. Note: call ahead or check delivery apps since both inventory and operating hours are subject to change.

Conejo Valley

Nonna

951 S. Westland Boulevard, Suite 2, Westlake Village | 805-497-8482
Hours: From Tuesday to Friday, groceries can be ordered online by 5 p.m. and are then available for pick-up or delivery the next business day.

After a hiatus in March, this Westlake Village eatery has adapted to the times by offering curbside pick-up and delivery for its menu dishes, as well as a grocery service featuring pasta, produce, canned tomatoes, pantry goods, oil, sugar and a grocery kit that includes three pounds of chicken breast, one loaf of ciabatta, eggs, milk, rice, vegetables and toilet paper.

Lemmo’s Grill

4227-A Tierra Rejada Road, Moorpark | 805-530-1555
Hours: Monday to Thursday: 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday: 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday: 11:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday: closed.

This restaurant’s abbreviated menu for curbside pick-up includes a range of appetizers, salads, sandwiches, entrees and pasta – along with a spaghetti-and-meatballs platter featuring garlic bread, salad and a bottle of house cabernet sauvignon. Also on the menu: groceries, including milk, eggs, produce, a selection of meats and water.

San Fernando Valley

Brent’s Delicatessen and Restaurant

19565 Parthenia Street, Northridge | 818-886-5679
Hours: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. for delivery and pick-up.

This iconic deli, established in 1967 and revered for its Rueben sandwich, is open for pick-up and delivery. In addition to regular menu items like the corned beef hash, Brent’s is selling such grocery items as ground beef, sausage links, sugar, bacon, chicken breasts, milk, salmon filets, marinated skirt steaks and eggs. Order through their delivery app.

Tender Greens

325 N San Fernando Boulevard, Burbank  | 818-333-8340

Hours: 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.

This chain, known for its salads and soups, is also offering produce and other grocery items for pick-up and delivery. Their grocery boxes are sourced from local farmers such as Scarborough Farms in Calabasas. Among the boxes, there is the Veggie (including Yukon potatoes, yellow onion, carrot, celery, garlic and asparagus), the Farm Fresh (butter lettuce, romaine hearts, arugula, carrots, beets, red butter lettuce) and the Morning Box (eggs, milk, flour, white and brown sugar).

Santa Clarita Valley

Lazy Dog

24201 Valencia Boulevard, Santa Clarita  | 661-253-9996
Hours: Monday to Friday: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday: 9 a.m. to 9  p.m. Sunday: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

In addition to a limited menu that’s available for curbside pick-up and delivery, Lazy Dog is also offering several DIY meal kits. The Home Essentials package includes three pounds of boneless chicken breasts, 15 eggs, milk, bread, rice, onions, red potatoes, carrots and toilet paper. Other kits are the Backyard Barbeque, which comes with two flat iron steaks, eight hot dogs, buns, coleslaw and potatoes; the Pizza Night kit, which includes enough raw materials to make two 12-inch pizzas; and the Brunch kit with eggs, breakfast potatoes and pancakes.

Italia Panetteria and Deli

27674 Newhall Ranch Road, Valencia | 661-294-9069
Hours: Monday to Saturday: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. 

This family-operated destination for Italian sandwiches, bread and desserts continues to offer its selection of pasta, virgin olive oils, vinegars, meats, tomatoes, sauces and pizzas, along with groceries ranging from frozen meals to fresh bread. Call ahead so your order is ready for pick-up.

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LA Eats: Buying Groceries From Restaurants

Call it the new economics of supply and demand. With restaurants and bars shut down, despite the supplies they have, many local eateries are now offering essential groceries to meet the needs of residents confronting long grocery store lines and shelves stripped bare by hoarders. Additionally, some have partnered with local farmers to sell produce boxes as another way to generate revenue and provide people with fresh fruits and vegetables. Note: always call ahead or check delivery apps since both inventory and operating hours are subject to change.

Kismet

4648 Hollywood Boulevard, Los Angeles  | 323-409-0404
Hours:  Pick-up hours are 12 p.m. to 7 p.m. If you place an order after 6 p.m., your order will be made for the following day.

This Mediterranean-Middle Eastern restaurant in Los Feliz is now offering groceries for pick-up, including rice, beans, olive oil, wines, steaks, salmon and produce sourced daily from Thao Family Farm. For the complete selection and to confirm what items are still available, click the “Goods” tab on their website.

The 101 Coffee Shop

6145 Franklin Avenue, Hollywood  | 323-467-1175
Hours: 9 a.m. to 5.p.m. for to-go service only.

This long-time Hollywood landmark, best-recognized from the film Swingers, is now offering bread, eggs, produce and beer, in addition to menu items. As well, they are partnering with next-door neighbor MiniBar to provide family-sized margaritas and other pre-made cocktails.

Gwen

6600 Sunset Boulevard, Los Angeles  | 323-946-7513
Hours: You can call or go online to order between 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. for next day delivery or curbside pick-up. Delivery window is 2 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Given that Gwen is both a high-end restaurant and a European-style butcher shop, it’s no surprise they are offering select butcher cuts along with produce boxes, prepared meals, pantry items as well as wine and beer. For a morning menu update, you can go to their website and subscribe to their daily newsletter.

The Butcher’s Daughter

1205 Abbot Kinney Boulevard, Venice  | 310-981-3004
Hours: 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. for delivery, take out and curbside pick-up.

In addition to an abbreviated menu including all-day breakfast, sandwiches and pizza, this vegan eatery is offering such groceries as olive oil, coffee, cashew ricotta, house-made veggie burgers, walnut mushroom pate, bread, granola, pancake mix and even vegan collagen.

Rockenwagner Bakery

12835 Washington Boulevard, Los Angeles  | 310-577-0747
Hours: Pick-up is available 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Delivery hours are 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. 

This Westside bakery and cafe has launched a pick-up and delivery service, partnering with County Line Harvest and Lady and the Larder to offer market-fresh produce and artisan cheeses in addition to pasta, pastries, bread and prepared meals. To order, go to their website. They offer same-day delivery for orders within five miles and next-day delivery for orders within five to 10 miles. They do not deliver outside of a 10-mile radius.

Bar Avalon

2112 W. Sunset Boulevard Suite J, Los Angeles  | 213-908-5352
Hours: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday. Delivery is now offered from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday within a five-mile radius.

Calling itself “Bodega Avalon,” this Echo Park spot is now offering wine and provisions ranging from produce and made-to-order hot sandwiches to ready-made meal kits and such pantry items as couscous and rice. Check out their website for pick-up and delivery details.

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Streaming: 6 Documentaries to Binge after Tiger King

Tiger King’s roar is inescapable. The breakout Netflix docuseries about illegal big cat breeders and other eccentric characters has been the streamer’s top title since it debuted last month, inspiring mullet-themed memes and Twitter talk about who should play Joe Exotic in a forthcoming limited series. (If you don’t know who Joe Exotic is, he’s the owner of a private zoo who is currently in prison for trying to hire a hitman to kill the activist who wanted to shut him down.) Whether you’ve already binged Tiger King or have zero interest in its garish world, what can’t be denied is the popularity of documentary filmmaking across platforms. From true crime to family mystery to adorable guide dogs in training, there is a subject for everyone.

Fyre: The Greatest Party that Never Happened and Fyre Fraud

Streaming on: Netflix (Fyre) and Hulu (Fyre Fraud)

The Fyre Festival was such a debacle it produced not one, but two, documentaries exploring how the influencer-touted music festival on the Bahamian island of Great Exuma descended into what has been described as a “millennial Lord of the Flies.” Which one should you watch? The Netflix doc offers a more vivid account of what transpired, but Hulu’s version, which presents the fiasco through a cultural lens, boasts an interview with co-founder Billy McFarland, who went to prison for six years. In other words, why not just watch both? For Ages: 15 and up

The Jinx        

Streaming on: Hulu, Amazon Prime and HBO Now

This masterful six-part series chronicles the bizarre existence of Robert Durst, the disquieting, possibly homicidal heir to the Durst empire in New York City. Just consider how many people close to him either disappeared or wound up brutally murdered: his wife, Kathie, who vanished in 1982; his friend, Susan Berman, who was killed in 2000; or his neighbor Morris Black, who was murdered and dismembered in 2001. Durst is currently on trial for Berman’s murder in Los Angeles thanks to new evidence uncovered by the filmmakers. For Ages: 15 and up

Pick of the Litter

Streaming on: DisneyPlus

This heart-tugging, six-part series follows six pups – Paco, Pacino, Raffi, Amara, Tulane and Tartan – as they endeavor to become guide dogs for the blind. Not surprisingly, their journey is no bag of chew toys as they and their trainers face an intensive process marked by both triumph and disappointment. You’ll find yourself cheering on the dogs – as well as fully appreciating the work done by the Guide Dogs for the Blind organization. For Ages: 6 and up

Cheer

Streaming on: Netflix

Forget the big guys on the field – this six-part docuseries finds as much ferocity and anxiety on the sidelines. Another pop culture mega-hit for Netflix, the filmmakers follow five members of Navarro College’s cheer squad as they journey from Corsicana, Texas, to Daytona, Florida, to compete against other athletes in the National Cheerleading Championship. If you’re expecting something light (a la Bring It On), expect to be surprised – and enthralled. For Ages: 13 and up

Three Identical Strangers

Streaming on: Netflix, Hulu and Amazon Prime

What begins as a wildly-entertaining true story – identical triplets, separated at birth, are reunited by chance as adults only to become talk-show-circuit celebrities – turns into a much more provocative, emotional exploration of fate and self-determination as they and the filmmakers untangle the twisting mystery of why they were separated as newborns. For Ages: 13 and up 

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Rodeo In The News: Shemar Moore Lists in Encino

Rodeo Realty Agent, Milla Pariser, just listed Shemar Moore’s previous Encino Home. Shemar Moore is an award-winning actor known for The Young and the Reckless, Criminal Minds, S.W.A.T. and more.  Shemar is on the hunt for a buyer in Encino, where his home of more than a decade has come on the market at $2.596 million.

The property is in a highly desirable area as it is close enough to the hustle and bustle of Ventura Boulevard, but secluded enough to serve as your own personal sanctuary. Brimming with absolute tranquility, this home is the entertainer’s dream, equipped with the most ideal necessities. From the airy living area to the luxurious backyard with pool, spa, and grass. This sophisticatedly stylish Spanish Abode is ready to welcome its new owners! 

This property received numerous press hits through the Rodeo Realty Public Relations Department. Featured in Variety, LA Times, Realtor.com, and more!

To learn more about the property and Milla’s other listings, see below. 

Address: 3465 Caribeth Drive, Encino, CA 91436 

Listing Agent: Milla Pariser 

Listing Price: $2,596,000

Property Video: HERE

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Home Tips: Making Your Own Mask

As the world tries to contain the COVID-19 pandemic, both the City of Los Angeles and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are urging residents to cover their nose and mouth when leaving home. Specifically, the CDC says people should don cloth home-made masks while in such public spaces as grocery stores. So how do you make a mask? What material should you use? How do you wear it properly? And why are masks necessary now, anyway? Here are some answers.

Why are masks being recommended now?

At the outset of the pandemic, officials told the public they didn’t need to wear masks unless they were exhibiting symptoms or caring for someone who did. There were multiple reasons for this. They didn’t want the public stockpiling medical-grade masks needed by health-care professionals, for one. For another, masks are simply not as effective a method of protection as social distancing combined with hand washing. But officials also hadn’t realized people who have the virus but are asymptomatic are just as contagious as those who are visibly ill. By urging everyone to wear a mask, they hope to stop people from unwittingly spreading it. In other words, they want you to wear a mask, not to protect you, but to protect everyone else from you.

What kind of materials do I need?

Medical-grade masks, including surgical and N95 masks, need to be set aside for healthcare professionals already confronting devastating shortages of protective gear. Instead, the CDC recommends “cloth face coverings fashioned from household items or made at home from common materials at low cost can be used as an additional, voluntary public health measure.” Although there are no guidelines for what material you should use, in general, thicker is better, so try to find something that is 100 percent cotton such as old clothing.

Where can I learn how to make my mask?

Not surprisingly, the Internet has exploded with tutorials showing how you can make a DIY mask. On the official Twitter site for the U.S. Surgeon General, Dr. Jerome Adams demonstrates how to construct one by easily folding a piece of cloth such as a scarf or hand towel and tying an elastic band on either side. This method is similar to one shown by an online Japanese arts and crafts educator, in which a no-sew mask is assembled with a handkerchief and hair ties. For a more elaborate design, John Hopkins Medicine offers these instructions, suggesting to avoid using solid white or blue material so it doesn’t look like you are wearing a medical-grade mask. Likewise, Kaiser Permanente has this how-to-guide for people who prefer to sew one together. Kaiser also suggests you wash your fabric several times before cutting it, so it doesn’t later shrink. The tighter the fit, the more effective the mask.

Is there a right way to remove it?

If you’ve gone to the effort of making a mask, wear it correctly – and just as importantly, remove it correctly, by taking the straps off from behind your ears without touching the front of the mask. Remember, it is now contaminated. After each use, it should be either thrown out and replaced or disinfected with soap and water.

Does a mask mean I can stop social distancing or washing my hands?

Absolutely not. In fact, you should not be leaving your home at all, except to make essential trips to the grocery store or pharmacy. And even then, although your face covering may give you a false sense of security, maintain a space of six feet or more between you and others. This physical distancing, in addition to frequent hand washing, is the most effective way to both protect yourself and stop the spread of COVID-19.

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Valley Eats: Date Night at Home

Date night isn’t what it used to be. With restaurants closed throughout Southern California and residents under shelter-in-place orders, venturing out for an evening away from the kids, or simply as a couple, is impossible. So why not order in from any of the restaurants that remain open for delivery or takeout? You’ll be supporting a business in need while carving out some time for yourselves. Just call ahead as hours and menu choices are naturally subject to change. (Disclaimer: If you are not comfortable ordering take out during this time, please consider purchasing a gift card from your favorite local restaurant to support them).

Conejo Valley

The Cliffdiver

21337 Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu  | 424-235-2595

Takeout and delivery: Monday: closed; Tuesday: 3 p.m. to 10 p.m.; Wednesday: 4 p.m. to 10 p.m.; Thursday: 4 p.m. to 10 p.m.; Friday: 4 p.m. to 12 a.m.; Saturday: 11 a.m. to 12 a.m.; Sunday: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.

You can’t carry the laid-back surf vibe home with you, so you’ll have to get by on eats alone from this Malibu restaurant: tacos, nachos, burritos and quesadillas (the vegetarian quesadilla comes especially recommended). Whatever you dine on, wash it down with a margarita or sangria to go, served in a 32-ounce container (or roughly four to five drinks). Your dining room may not be the beach, granted, but at least you won’t get sand in your shoes.

Lure Fish House

60 California Street, Ventura  |  805-567-4400

Takeout and delivery: 11:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. 

Featuring fresh, locally-sourced seafood, this family-owned restaurant offers plenty of favorites to go: from bowls like the miso-glazed swordfish with organic stir-fried seasonal vegetables and organic brown rice to market salads like the Seafood Louie with Dungeness crab, Pacific white shrimp, avocado and seven-minute egg. Other fare includes the New England clam chowder, salmon burger and grilled salmon tacos.

 

San Fernando Valley

Anajak Thai

14704 Ventura Boulevard, Sherman Oaks |  818-501-4201
Takeout and delivery: Tuesdays to Thursdays: 12 p.m. to 2:30 p.m., 5 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.; Friday: 12 p.m. to 2:30 p.m., 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.; Saturday to Sunday: 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.

This family-owned Thai spot has been a neighborhood staple for nearly 40 years. They have their full menu available for takeout and are offering 20 percent off all bottles of wine. Start off with the papaya salad with dried shrimp and lime or the spicy lemongrass shrimp with roasted chili before moving onto their dinner selection of curries, stir-fries and plates, including a whole fried branzino with apple slaw, chili, lime and jasmine rice.

Din Tai Fung

177 Caruso Avenue, Glendale  |  818-551-5561
Takeout and Delivery: Monday to Thursday: 11 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.; Friday–Saturday: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Sunday: 11 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. 

The full menu of this superb dumpling restaurant in the Americana mall in Glendale is available for takeout and delivery – so enjoy. Whether you’re in the mood for potstickers or wontons in a spicy sauce or a soup dumpling (whether with added pork, truffle or crabmeat), the food here is equal parts delicate and delicious.

Santa Clarita Valley

Royal Tandoor

26532 Bouquet Canyon Road, Santa Clarita  |  661-263-7100
Takeout and delivery: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.

If you’re looking for classic Indian cuisine, including numerous vegetarian options, this relaxed restaurant offers no shortage of samosas, pakoras and kababs as well as tandoori and tikka dishes. Whatever you choose, don’t forget to add an order of flatbread.

Teriyaki Madness

28227 Newhall Ranch Road, Santa Clarita |  661-753-3366

Takeout and delivery: Monday to Friday: 10:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Saturday to Sunday: 12 p.m. to 8 p.m.

The full menu from this Asian fusion restaurant is available online or by phone. After selecting from such appetizers as the potstickers, chicken egg rolls and crab rangoon, roll up your sleeves and dive (virtually) into assembling your own teriyaki bowl with chicken, steak, salmon or tofu as protein options.

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LA Eats: Date Night At Home

Date night isn’t what it used to be. With restaurants closed throughout Southern California and residents under shelter-in-place orders, venturing out for an evening away from the kids, or simply as a couple, is impossible. So why not order in from any of the restaurants that remain open for delivery or takeout? You’ll be supporting a business in need while carving out some time for yourselves. Just call ahead as hours and menu choices are naturally subject to change. (Disclaimer: If you are not comfortable ordering take out during this time, please consider purchasing a gift card from your favorite local restaurant to support them).

Barcito

403 W 12th Street, Los Angeles  | 213-415-1821
Takeout and delivery: 3 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Bring a taste of Buenos Aires home with any of the Argentinian cuisine served at this downtown restaurant – from the empanadas and Jamon serrano sandwiches to the braised short rib and endlessly delectable churros. The standout dishes, however, are the ones that you may not have expected: the seared goat cheese, for one, and the pulpo, which is octopus coiled around a fried egg. Delivery is currently free for the entire downtown area.

Lunetta

2420 Pico Boulevard, Santa Monica  | 310-581-9888
Takeout and delivery: 11:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. 

The modified menu at this Santa Monica restaurant still features plenty of crowd-pleasing fares. Starters and sandwiches range from a grass-fed beef burger with beefsteak tomato and caramelized onions to a wood-grilled salmon sandwich with pickled red onions and cilantro aioli. The main dishes include meatloaf and mashed potatoes with shiitake mushroom gravy and the barbequed salmon with marinated greens.

The Oaks Gourmet Market

1915 North Bronson Avenue, Los Angeles  | 323-871-8894
Takeout and delivery: 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.

This cafe and marketplace’s regular menu of salads, burgers, wraps, sandwiches, and pizzas are all available for takeout or delivery – in addition to grab-and-go dinners and sides which are prepared daily. And we’d be remiss if we didn’t mention their selection of craft beers, wines, and small-batch liquors – all of which are also available to be enjoyed at home.

Nerano

9960 South Santa Monica Boulevard, Beverly Hills | 310-405-0155
Takeout and delivery: 4:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Serving up pasta, pizzas, seafood, and antipasti, this sleek Beverly Hills restaurant also offers pre-batched cocktail jars to go since, for the moment, you can’t enjoy one in their darkly-lit bar. Aside from the Italian cuisine, the menu includes Ora King salmon, filet mignon and half jidori chicken. Special offers include 15 percent off all takeout orders, 50 percent off all wine bottles priced below $399 as well as dinner for two and a family combo that feeds four to six.

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Streaming: Five Children’s Shows Parents Will Enjoy Too

Television has always been a babysitter. But with schools shuttered and adults working remotely, it’s now more like a co-parent. Good news: in this era of Peak TV, the quality of children’s television programming has never been higher. So much so that there is an abundance of shows all members of the families can enjoy beyond such timeless fare as Sesame Street and Winnie the Pooh. Here are five of them:

Forky Asks a Question 

Streaming on: DisneyPlus

The handmade toy from Toy Story 4, Forky stars in this 10-episode series (each installment runs three or four minutes) in which he asks his toy friends for the answers to life’s simple questions. Like, what is money? And, what is time? Okay, maybe not so simple – yet the series manages to break it all down with humor and heart for Forky’s young fans. FOR AGES: 4 and up

Ask the Storybots 

Streaming on: Netflix

Have you ever wondered why you need to brush your teeth? The StoryBots – Beep, Bing, Bang, Boop and Bo – answer this and many more questions children always ask. In addition to the charming characters, the high-energy, award-winning series illuminates with music, videos and celebrities like Whoopi Goldberg, Jay Leno and Snoop Dogg. FOR AGES: 3 and up

Pinky and the Brain

Streaming on: Hulu

A rarity aimed at both grade-school-age children and their skeptical parents, this 1990s-era cartoon fuses lightning-speed slapstick with clear-eyed cultural satire. Brain, if you didn’t know, is the arrogant, scheming lab mouse out to conquer the world. Too bad he’s always being (unintentionally) foiled by his less-than-brilliant sidekick, Pinky. The result probably isn’t as ingenious as Brain would think it is, but for families, it will do just fine. FOR AGES: 6 and up

Beat Bugs

Streaming on: Netflix

Songs by the Beatles – performed by such present-day artists as Pink – embellish the adventures of five young bugs as they forge ahead through life’s problems. Adults will appreciate how Beatles’ lyrics are smartly stitched into the dialogue while their children will relate to themes of friendship, loyalty, and resilience. FOR AGES: 3 and up 

Muppet Babies

Streaming on: DisneyPlus

A reboot of the 1980s animated series, which starred young versions of such classic Muppets like Kermit, Miss Piggy and Gonzo the Great, this series follows the exploits of the titular toddlers. Granted, their misadventures may occur from the safety of their playroom, but when their wild imaginations get the best of them (and they usually do), the gang needs to rely on their problem-solving skills to save the day. FOR AGES: 3 and up 

 

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Virtually Out and About: From Mars to the Great Wall

Just because you’re self-isolating doesn’t mean you can’t leave home. With the travel industry grinding to a once-unthinkable halt, virtual tourism is booming as an alternative, promising to transport travelers around the globe from the safety of their sofas. Aside from the many museums and art galleries online, for those seeking mystery or adventure with their interactive exploration – or simply some spectacular outdoor views – here are a few virtual tours to consider.

Winchester Mystery House

Built in 1884 in San Jose, this Victorian mansion was owned by Sarah Winchester, the widow of firearm tycoon William Wirt Winchester. Having long inspired ghost stories (Harry Houdini himself is said to have believed something was wrong about the place), the house features such spine-tingling oddities as a staircase that leads nowhere. Not surprisingly, the mansion has been a fixture in popular culture for years, including the 2018 horror film, Winchester, and the 100th episode of American Horror Story. Currently closed to the public due to COVID-19, you can still creep around its strange corridors, thanks to this virtual tour and guide.

Mars

If you want to practice social distancing, how about a trip to Mars? Google and NASA have teamed up to create a 3D tour of the surface of the red planet, using footage shot by the Curiosity rover, which landed there in 2012 and continues to operate to this day – almost 2,800 days later. You can start exploring the Martian scenery here. It won’t take you nearly that long.

Stonehenge

Few landmarks have inspired as much mystery as this ancient stone monument in Wiltshire, England. Dating back to 3000 BC, the origins of the stones remain a subject of speculation. Are they supernatural? Or the remnants of an ancient alien close encounter? (Disappointingly, the area was most likely a simple burial ground.) But now you can have a look and judge for yourself, magnifying the giant relics while also learning about them via educational videos.

The Great Wall of China

Visible from space, this 2,000-year-old structure spans more than 3,000 miles across multiple provinces in northern China, making it a must-see whenever you visit the Middle Kingdom. However, since that’s impossible these days, you might want to try embarking on a virtual tour from your living room or bed. You’ll be awed no matter how small your screen is.

Yosemite National Park

It doesn’t compare to hiking the trails and paths found in the L.A. area, but if you’re languishing indoors, why not at least explore Yosemite National Park online? For one thing, you can wander around such breathtaking sights as the Half Dome. And for another, you can get lost without worrying about whether you’re going to run out of sunscreen or water.

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At Home Entertainment: Public Library Edition

What’s Online at the Public Library? Free Movies, Music and Books! 

Don’t close the book on Los Angeles area public libraries. Their doors may be shut due to the coronavirus, but online, their resources remain open. And that includes movies, audiobooks, ebooks, and music – all available for free when you sign up online. Just go to the website and click through for an ecard (at the L.A. Public Library) or 90-day digital library card (at the L.A. County Public Library). Here’s a rundown of some of the materials and apps you’ll discover:

MOVIES

With your card, you’re a member of Kanopy, an on-demand streaming video platform for public libraries and universities, boasting a catalog of more than 30,000 films. As you might expect, the selection should delight documentary-lovers, but they also have plenty of popular Hollywood fare on tap, ranging from Lady Bird and Moonlight to Memento and Donnie Darko. Members can also access Kanopy Kids, which features children’s programming. Hoopla is another service included with your card that allows you to stream entertainment content. Two things set Hoopla apart: you can temporarily download what you want and view it offline, and there are no waitlists as all their content is available 24/7. While their selection includes educational materials and documentaries, they also curate blockbusters like E.T. and Liar Liar.

AUDIOBOOKS AND EBOOKS

With the Overdrive app, you can download everything from bestsellers to graphic novels to YA fiction. One caveat: because copies are limited, you may have to place a hold on what you want and wait for your turn. But in the meantime, the app offers available alternatives to occupy you.

MUSIC

With a collection of more than 15 million songs, Freegal Music lets you download or stream music on any compatible device. They also have curated playlists to suit whatever mood you’re in. And once you download a song, it’s yours to keep and enjoy offline as you please.

HOMEWORK AND ONLINE LEARNING

Online research and homework tools for readers of all ages include searchable databases, live tutors, instructor-led courses and Lynda.com, which provides more than 3,000 courses as well as 150,000 video tutorials.

THE NEW YORK TIMES

A basic digital subscription to the Times costs about $10 a month, but with an L.A.-area library card, it’s free. Just go to the website and follow the instructions. But remember, the number of daily NYT access redemptions are limited, so it may take a little work to snag one. If the Times doesn’t appeal to you, there are dozens of other magazines and newspapers to sample as well.