Celebrate the New Year in style! If you perfect soiree is the one you plan to have at home we have the guide for you. Read below for a stylish round-up of DIY home decor to ring in 2019!!
For a touch of drama (and whimsy), hang this banner made from leftover holiday tinsel. To make it, choose the numbers you need from our template and print onto card stock.
For a fun twist on the New Year’s Eve countdown, pass Champagne in glasses marked with numbers representing those anticipated last 10 seconds. Self-stick numbers can be found in office- and art-supply stores. On January 2, either peel off numbers (use a cotton ball and adhesive remover to wipe away residue) or save the flutes for next year.
For this savory edition we’re rounding up the best places in the city of LA to dine 2018 away and brunch 2019 in! So if your more excited about five course menus versus full open bars then this is the list for you. But scroll and secure quickly, because NYE is a mere week away and reservations are filling up fast!!
The buffet style menu is $175.00/pp and includes tray passed appetizers, buffet stations (9:00 pm to 11:00 pm), all-inclusive beverages (specialty cocktails, wine, beer and Champagne toast at Midnight).
With the year finally coming to an end, the last great fete is always the most important. Don’t leave your New Year’s planning down to the last minute. Read our guide below of LA’s best celebrations to welcome in 2019!!
Party like Gatsby at Union Station’s NYE celebration! The roaring 20’s inspired soiree will take place in the transportation hubs historic ticket concourse. So don your best digs and enjoy a night of live music, entertainment and a premium open bar. You’ll be ringing in the new year as the 60 foot ball drops. Click here for more info!
What could be better then a NYE celebration that also serves as a good cause? The answer is nothing is better and the place is the NoMad in DTLA. Serving as the stunning hotels first NYE celebration, the entire lobby level will be transformed for the midnight rendezvous. Enjoy open bar, live music, and gourmet food stations from the Chef Daniel Humm run establishment. Ticket proceeds will go to benefit Chrysalis a non-profit that helps the homeless and low-income with job placement. Click here for more info.
Wanting a NYE thats a bit more low-key? Maybe your not the fancy cocktail and champagne type. Well that’s ok because Belgian-style restaurant and Brewpub is offering a all-you-can-drink craft beer extravaganza. Enjoy a cold one along with passed appetizers, a photo booth, and a beer toast at midnight! Beer-lovers click here for more info.
Ring in the new year like it’s 2005! Honeycut in DTLA is known for their NYE Champagne Supernova bash but this year will be dishing out the greatest hits the 2000’s had to offer. With an open bar and free-flowing bubbly, you’ll “Fergie-liciously” dance the night all the way into the new year. Click here for more info.
On any given night this WEHO hot-spot could make one assume every day is NYE. With that party-level in mind, the LA’s most iconic gay bar takes it up a notch with this years Black & White Masquerade Ball. What will not be typical of the event is the dress code, as formal attire is required. So find the most mysterious mask you can find(leftover from Halloween or otherwise) and sip on GH-Mumm while you dance until the morning hours. Click here for more info.
Perhaps you wish to enjoy a dry New Year and for that your in luck! Make your way to N.Y.E.L.A. for this massive alcohol-free party in the park. The shindig is put on by Grand Park and the Music Center and features fun for all ages. Enjoy Food Trucks, photo booths, art, and multiple stages of live entertainment! Click here for more info.
Enjoy the best era that vinyl can offer at this downtown speak-easy style bar behind Cole’s. Dj Max Maxey will be spinning all the Disco hits for you to boogie to. Guest can enjoy table service tickets that include cocktails, beer, wine and midnight champagne along with French Dip Sandwiches and other tasty snacks. Click here for more info.
Looking for family friendly on the Westside? Swoop up the family and head to Burton Chace Park’s Glow Party. The evening festivities will include music, face painting, food trucks, giveaways and more. Can’t make it until midnight with the little ones? No worries, as the event will feature two fireworks displays at 9pm and midnight. Click here for more info.
This NYE Redbird’s in DTLA will open up its private rooms to the general(paying) public. As you celebrate the end of 2018 and the beginning of 2019 in the eateries East and West Rooms, Chef Neal Fraser will be dishing out an array of hors d’oeuvres. Sip on Moet Hennessy featured drinks and their tune spinning DJ until your complimentary midnight toast. If your need a more substantial meal, Redbirds will also be offering a multi-course menu to start off your evening. Click here for more info.
9021-Only in Beverly Hills
Polo Lounge-Beverly Hills Hotel
While each soiree in LA’s most posh zip code is deserving of their own feature, we’ll spare you the scrolling to narrow down which ones. Enjoy not one but two evening options at the Pink Palace as the Beverly Hills Hotel will offer their annual luxe countdown in the Polo Lounge and a reasonably priced option at Bar 1912. Or ring in the new year privately in your own cabana at the Peninsula! While the Belvedere and the Living Room will offer their own fine dining and fun, what could be better for two then a five course menu and your own private space atop this lush hotel rooftop? Other BH celebrations can be found here.
Ring in 2019 to the smooth sounds of latin/jazz/french instrument ensemble Pink Martini. The musical act will be serenading at two times, 7pm and 10pm with special guest appearances. Your sound senses will thank you! Click here for more info.
Rooftop Renegades
Spire 73
The best part of living in LA is enjoying city views without the winter chill. While it is still coat weather, there are a number of rooftops citywide offering NYE celebrations without the sub-zero temps those east-coasters deal with. Hotel Shangri-La in Santa Monica will be hosting High-Rise fun at ONYX Rooftop Lounge or a little down the way in Venice, Hotel Erwin High Rooftop Lounge is quite the bash as well. Prefer the hills over the sea?
L.P. on La Cienega is hosting a masquerade ball on their Hollywood rooftop. For our Downtown destinations, Spire 73 sits upon the Intercontinental’s 73rd floor, serving as the Western Hemispheres tallest open-air bar. Enjoy music, Moet, and bites from high above! Or keep it retro at the Ace Hotel’s Disco Ball Drop that is free for all get-down with cash bar and zero dollars charged at the door.
No matter how you chose to spend your NYE, we at Rodeo Realty wish everyone all the best in the year to come!
With Christmas just a week away, we know there is one thing on your mind! Holiday Cocktails!! Just as true as the spirit of Christmas, the “Spirits” of Christmas are your key to surviving Manic Monday with your in-laws. So check Cranberry Spritz off your list because have rounded up the best seasonal beverages to put you in a holly jolly mood.
The addition of homemade juniper syrup and fresh pine sprigs makes champagne feel even more festive.
INGREDIENTS
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup juniper berries, crushed
1 bottle (750 ml) dry sparkling wine, such as Prosecco
Unsprayed pine sprigs, for serving
DIRECTIONS
Bring sugar, 1 1/2 cups water, and juniper berries to a simmer in a pot, stirring until sugar is dissolved. Remove from heat; let cool completely. Strain through a fine-mesh sieve; discard solids. Refrigerate 1 hour or up to 1 week.
For each cocktail, combine 3 tablespoons juniper syrup with 1/2 cup sparkling wine in a glass. Garnish with a pine sprig; serve immediately.
There’s no substitute for homemade eggnog during the holidays! Our latest, greatest version combines silky custard with three types of booze — bourbon, rum, and cognac.
Freshly grated nutmeg offers a more delicate flavor and aromatic scent than the pre-ground variety. The eggs in both the base and the meringue are cooked, so food safety shouldn’t be a concern.
INGREDIENTS
6 large egg yolks, plus 2 large whites
3/4 cup sugar
3 cups whole milk
Large pinch of coarse salt
1 cup heavy cream
2 ounces bourbon, such as Michter’s or Maker’s Mark
2 ounces dark rum, such as Appleton Estate
1 ounce cognac
Unsweetened freshly whipped cream, for serving
Freshly grated nutmeg, for serving
DIRECTIONS
In a medium heatproof bowl, whisk egg yolks and 1/2 cup sugar until pale yellow and thick, about 2 minutes. In a medium saucepan, bring milk and salt to a bare simmer. Whisking constantly, slowly pour hot milk mixture into yolk mixture.
Pour yolk mixture back into saucepan. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon, until mixture is just thick enough to coat back of spoon and hold a line drawn by your finger, 3 to 5 minutes.
Pour mixture through a fine-mesh sieve into a large bowl; discard solids. Let cool, stirring occasionally, about 20 minutes. Add cream, bourbon, rum, and cognac; cover and refrigerate overnight.
Whisk remaining 1/4 cup sugar and egg whites in a heatproof mixer bowl set over (not in) a pan of simmering water. Whisk until sugar is dissolved and mixture is warm (it should feel smooth between your fingers), 2 to 3 minutes. (For fully cooked eggs, a thermometer inserted into meringue should register 160 degrees.) Remove from heat. With a mixer on high speed, beat until stiff peaks form, about 5 minutes. Fold into eggnog.
Pour into glasses (or a punch bowl); top with a dollop of whipped cream and sprinkle with nutmeg.
Margaritas aren’t just for summer! Cranberry simple syrup makes the frozen cocktail festive enough for the holidays.
Cranberry simple syrup gives this frozen cocktail a festive crimson hue — perfect for the holidays!
INGREDIENTS
For the Whole-Berry Cranberry Simple Syrup
1/2 cup sugar
8 ounces frozen cranberries (2 cups)
1 tablespoon finely grated lime zest
For the cocktail
1 cup tequila
1/4 cup fresh lime juice
DIRECTIONS
Make the Whole-Berry Cranberry Simple Syrup: Stir together sugar, cranberries, lime zest and 2 tablespoons water in a small saucepan. Cook over medium-high, stirring constantly, until cranberries just start to burst, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat; let cool completely. Refrigerate, covered, until cold, at least 1 hour and up to 1 week.
Make the cocktail: In a blender, combine tequila, lime juice, 4 cups ice, and 1 1/2 cups cranberries and syrup from Whole Berry Cranberry Simple Syrup. Blend until smooth. Divide among 4 margarita glasses.
Massachusetts senator David Webster allegedly gave this potent punch recipe to a friend before he died in the mid-nineteenth century. Our iteration combines fruit with black tea, rum, sherry, Bordeaux, and Champagne.
Sherry, Bordeaux, Champagne, rum, and black tea meld with fruit in this knockout punch recipe that’s adapted from “The Steward & Barkeeper’s Manual” (1869). It can easily be doubled to serve a larger crowd.
8 ounces fresh lemon juice (from 2 lemons), plus 2 more lemons, sliced into thin rounds, for serving
1 bottle (750 milliliters) Jamaican black rum, such as Hamilton
1 bottle (750 milliliters) oloroso sherry, such as Lustau
1 bottle (750 milliliters) Bordeaux red wine
1 pineapple, sliced into thin rounds, plus leaves for serving
1 bottle (750 milliliters) Champagne brut or prosecco brut, chilled
1 orange, sliced into thin rounds, for serving
12 star-anise pods, for serving
Freshly grated nutmeg, for serving
DIRECTIONS
Bring 4 cups water to a boil. Remove from heat and add tea bags; let steep 10 minutes. Remove tea bags. Add oleo saccharum, stirring until sugar dissolves and mixture is translucent. Remove lemon peels with a slotted spoon; discard. Stir in lemon juice, rum, sherry, and wine. Refrigerate until cold, at least 1 hour and up to 1 day.
When ready to serve, line the inside of a large punch bowl with pineapple slices (do not overlap). Fill one-third of the way with large ice cubes. Slowly pour tea mixture into punch bowl, making sure not to disrupt pineapple slices. Top with Champagne; gently stir to incorporate. Float lemon and orange slices on surface; sprinkle with star anise and nutmeg. Serve over ice.
Fresh rosemary adds a lovely woodsy aroma to this fruity, bubbly Pinot Noir-based cocktail.
INGREDIENTS
Ice
1 1/3 cups Pinot Noir
1 1/3 cups ginger ale
6 teaspoons cherry-flavored liqueur, such as maraschino or kirsch
Rosemary sprigs (optional)
DIRECTIONS
Fill four glasses with ice; add 1/3 cup Pinot Noir and 1/3 cup ginger ale to each glass. Add 1 1/2 teaspoons cherry-flavored liqueur to each glass. Stir to combine and serve with rosemary sprigs, if desired.
A pinch of cayenne pepper turns up the volume on this refreshing cocktail made of bourbon, lemon juice, maple syrup, and apple cider.
INGREDIENTS
Ice
6 ounces bourbon
4 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
2 teaspoons pure maple syrup
1 cup apple cider
Cayenne pepper
DIRECTIONS
Fill four glasses and a cocktail shaker with ice. To shaker, add bourbon, lemon juice, maple syrup, and apple cider; shake vigorously. Strain into glasses and top each with a pinch of cayenne pepper, if desired.
Never choose between a dessert cocktail and a cup of coffee again! For the best of both worlds, shake up a shot of espresso with chocolate, sugar, vodka, and ice, strain, and finish with whipped cream.
Can’t decide between a post-dinner drink and a hit of caffeine with something sweet? This mocha cocktail should satisfy both cravings.
INGREDIENTS
1 ounce chopped bittersweet chocolate
1 teaspoon sugar
Hot espresso shot (1 1/2 ounces)
2 ounces chilled vodka
Ice cubes
Heavy cream
DIRECTIONS
Combine chocolate and sugar in a cocktail shaker. Pour espresso shot over chocolate mixture; stir until smooth. Add vodka and a few ice cubes. Shake vigorously several times, then strain into a chilled martini glass. Spoon over top a few tablespoons of heavy cream that’s been whipped just until silky and thick; stir with a toothpick to create streaks. Serve immediately.
Serving big-batch drinks like this fruity gin-and-rosé punch at holiday parties is definitely the way to go. Guests can help themselves, and you can focus on hosting!
Float cranberry ice cubes for a more festive punch bowl — drop 1 or 2 cranberries into each ice cube mold before filling with water and freezing. This recipe comes from Sas Stewart of Stonecutter Spirits.
Stir together gin, pomegranate juice and simple syrup in a punch bowl or large pitcher. Add ice cubes and sparkling rose just before serving.
COOK’S NOTES
For a cranberry-infused simple syrup, add 2 cups fresh or thawed frozen cranberries to saucepan with water and sugar before cooking. Strain the syrup once cool, and discard or reserve the cranberries for another use.
Freshly grated nutmeg and aromatic star anise give this creamy gin-based cocktail a flavorful boost.
Spices add a complementary note to most cream-based cocktails — grated nutmeg and aromatic star anise add flavorful dimension while also providing a visual accent in this recipe from Sas Stewart of Stonecutter Spirits.
INGREDIENTS
1/4 cup Stonecutter Spirits Single Barrel Gin (2 ounces)
1 1/2 tablespoons cream (3/4 ounce)
1 tablespoon creme de cacao (1/2 ounce)
3 to 4 dashes Jamaican or Angostura bitters
Freshly grated nutmeg, for sprinkling
1 star anise, for topping
DIRECTIONS
Shake together gin, cream, creme de cacao, and bitters vigorously with ice in a cocktail shaker for 8 to 12 seconds. Strain into a chilled brandy snifter glass. Sprinkle with nutmeg and float star anise.
With as many restaurants as there are Bird scooters, we’ve decided to simplify your options of the week by dishing out the best places to grab a bite from power lunches to elegant fare.
Read below for our nosh worthy eats throughout L.A.
“Breakfast is the most important meal of the day!”
Established in 1931, Canter’s Deli has been a Hollywood Icon since its opening. Beloved for its home style feel and classic diner dishes.”You can almost tell what time it is by the crowd,” says Terri Bloomgarden, co-owner of the landmark Canter’s Delion Fairfax Avenue. The 24-hour deli is a Los Angeles staple, welcoming people from all over the city at all hours of the day.
The Pantry has been an institution downtown, open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, since 1924. You can always stop at the old, relaxed cafe for pancakes and bacon with coffee. The menu is American comfort food: roast beef dinner, tuna salad, coleslaw, country-fried steak, ice cream, pie and more.
Friends & Family is a seasonal restaurant, bakery and marketplace in East Hollywood, CA led by Chef Daniel Mattern and Pastry Chef/Baker Roxana Jullapat. At Friends & Family, they continue their dedication to all things seasonal with a market-driven day-time menu that also offers a variety of artisan breads and pastries made daily with locally-sourced, heirloom grains.
While the eatery is only a weekend lunch spot with weekday hours beginning at 5pm, it is still a go to for your midday burger craving! Father’s Office is the acclaimed gastropub by chef Sang Yoon, as well as the home of much touted ‘Office Burger.’ Serving food that is rooted in the rich bar culture of Europe, they employ the freshest ingredients available in Southern California. Father’s Office also offers a robust beverage program, featuring a seasonally rotating selection of 36 craft beers on tap, along with esoteric small producer wines, micro distilled spirits and classic cocktails.
This quintessential sushi spot is tucked away on the second floor of a nondescript strip mall on Sunset; it’s a good thing since seats (and opening hours) are limited. It’s strictly Omakase at the sushi bar, and well worth it—should you take this option, you’ll have to cross your fingers that the blue crab hand roll (more and more ubiquitous around LA, but still superb) and skipjack sashimi are on the night’s menu.
Echo Park’s Cosa Buona is an eastside staple for a casual menu that goes beyond pizza to include a collection of droolworthy sandwiches. They all stay true to the Italian-American ethos of the place, from those mozzarella sticks to chicken parm or meatball sandwiches to a collection of simple salads.
The Wolves bar and restaurant is now open on Spring Street in Downtown L.A., and lines for a seat at the bar are already routinely an hour and a half long. Food is overseen by Matthew Poley of Heirloom LA. The dishes are classic-ish: an open-faced beef Wellington sandwich;, chitarra pasta with white wine and seafood; garlic-rubbed polenta bread with whipped avocado, labneh, and basil blossoms.
Casey Lane works up a coastal Italian menu at the Le Peer Hotels Viale dei Romani. Cooking up mostly Italian flavors, the food is made with the broader scope of the Mediterranean at hand. That means everything from pasta and pizza to wood-oven seafood, raw fish dishes like crudos, and more, with ingredients spreading from North Africa to France and back to Italy. There is also a full bar, of course.
Cassia is a partnership between husband-and-wife duos Bryant & Kim Ng and Josh Loeb & Zoe Nathan. Taking its roots from Bryant and Kim’s culinary heritage and experiences, Cassia celebrates the fresh, vibrant flavors of Southeast Asia, striking a unique balance of soulful, ancestral cuisine and a California sensibility, utilizing the best quality ingredients from local farmers.
West Hollywood is full of amazing sites, bites, shops and sounds. The style of which depends on your preference. From the Rock History of the Sunset Strip to priceless art hung in Miracle Miles Museum Row. Spend a day on Route 66, and discover one of LA’s most popular neighborhoods!
From AM:
If your an early riser we recommend a morning jog along the city’s most famed hiking trail–Runyon Canyon.
Runyon Canyon
The trail is always buzzing with celebrities and LA locals kicking off their morning fitness routine. Feel free to bring your furry friend too as Runyon Canyon is a pet-friendly jogging trail with amazing city views!
After you have worked up your energy settle down for a quintessential California meal at the neighborhood favorite–BBCM or The Butcher, The Baker, The Cappuccino Maker if you can say that three times fast.
BBCM Cafe
Sit outside under perfectly pruned Olive trees while you enjoy the LA morning sun and their selection of gourmet organic menu options.
Once you’ve finished with breakfast, it is time to venture off to the days next destination. We recommend a quick Uber ride over to the Miracle Mile where LA’s top museums await you.
LACMA
Start off at LACMA to view a range of Modern Contemporary Art and Exhibits. For those that prefer the kind of art that hits the road, the Peterson Automotive Museum is right across the street.
Peterson Automotive Museum
And for our movie buffs, soon enough the Academy will debut their Museum right alongside LACMA where priceless wardrobes and set pieces from famed films will be on view.
Stride a bit further outdoors and you’ll likely smell before you see–the La Brea Tar Pits. Long before Tesla’s roamed the streets of LA, Mastodons called it home.
La Brea Tar Pits
This landmark exhibit is still an excavation site for paleontologists that continuously discover new artifacts preserved in the tar of its former residents.
Needing a bit more culture on the top of your Contemporary Sundae? The MAK Center now serves as an Art & Architecture headquarters of LACMA but is most notably known as R.M. Schindler’s 1920’s abode. The homes current mainstay are the events and exhibitions that take place there throughout the year, as well as the children’s activities available daily.
To Afternoon:
Once you’ve had your fill of Weho’s art scene, make your way to famed Melrose Ave. Predominantly known as the hub for the city’s best in unique and chic apparel.
After your fashion overhaul is complete, it’s time for an afternoon nosh! Don’t stray away from the street your on because Melrose Ave. also serves as a premiere dining destination.
For gourmet Mexican, Gracias Madre rains supreme. So much so you’ll have a hard time believing its a vegan restaurant! Feeling for a bite on the heavier side?
Gracias Madre
Across the way and by way we mean street, is Cecconi’s. From the owners of Soho House, Cecconi’s is a pristine take on southern Italian. Between the modern designed interior to the delectable menu options, you’ll feel molto buona(very good)!
Cecconis
After a filling lunch, we recommend taking part in West Hollywoods Architectural Walk. Created by the West Hollywood Preservation Alliance, Walkable Weho: Architecture & Golden Era Walk is a captivating walk along the city’s premiere living gems.
Villa D’Este- West Hollywood
Begin your journey at Tara, the historic landmark building named after Tara from Gone with the Wind. Gaze upon 15 of Weho’s most famed residences, ending on the historic La Fountaine. Designed by Leland Bryant, the apartments served as a former home to celebrities like Bette Middler and Steve Martin.
To PM:
By the time you’ve walked, shopped and seen yourself out, it’s nightfall in LA and the real fun begins! Depending on your preference, the night in Weho can take you to any number of places. We recommend starting off with dinner at beloved eateries like Lucques or The Tower Bar.
Tower Bar- Sunset Tower Hotel
You’re likely to see a few famous faces along with enjoying award winning meals.
For our funny boned individuals, the Sunset Strip is home to comedian stomping grounds the Laugh Factory and the Comedy Store.
The Comedy Store
Both establishments have welcomed the likes of Eddie Murphy to Chevy Chase and still do the trick to this day.
Needing something on the buzzy side, further down the strip you’ll find the famed Rock N’ Roll Road.
The Roxy
With landmark venues like The Roxy and The Viper Room, you’ll not only be in the presence of Rock legend history, you may also discover a new favorite band.
Inspired to sing your own heart out?
Blind Dragon
Blind Dragon is the areas premiere Karaoke Bar from the h.Wood Group team(The Nice Guy, Delilah, 40 Love) with creative craft cocktails and belt worthy tunes.
For those wishing to dance the night away, 1OAK is never a disappointment if you don’t mind the line to get inside.
The Troubador
Otherwise, the true all-nighters venture over to the city’s Santa Monica Blvd for a truly lively atmosphere. The Troubador is always sure to put on a good show being another landmark musical hub.
Doheny Room
Next door The Doheny Room serves bites and sips downstairs with a NY club like atmosphere upstairs. And with party favorites like Pump, The Abbey, and Revolver throughout the street, you’ll have your pick of places.
No matter how your night ends, you can do no wrong along Route 66
There is nothing that says the Holliday season is here more than a glide around your neighborhood rink. And while for those of us in LA a cool day on the ice is far and few between, the options this December are grand. So grab your winter wear and head to one of the Ice Rinks listed below for a jolly good time!!
LA KINGS HOLIDAY ICE – L.A. LIVE, WESTFIELD TOPANGA, THE PIKE OUTLETS (NOV 10, 2018 – JAN. 6, 2019)
LA Kings Holiday Ice at L.A. LIVE I Photo courtesy of L.A. LIVE
LA Kings Holiday Ice at L.A. LIVE I Photo courtesy of L.A. LIVE
The Los Angeles Kings are hosting their popular holiday outdoor attraction, LA Kings Holiday Iceat three locations: L.A. LIVE (Nov 10, 2018 – Jan. 6, 2019), Westfield Topanga in Woodland Hills (Nov. 17, 2018 – Jan. 6, 2019) and The Pike Outlets in Long Beach (Nov 16, 2018 – Jan. 6, 2019). The Kings and AEG opened the first Holiday Ice Rink at L.A. LIVE in 2009, and it’s since become an annual L.A. holiday tradition. This is the third consecutive year the Kings have hosted an outdoor ice rink in Woodland Hills and Long Beach, both in their same locations.
Dates of operation at each rink is subject to change. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit the LA Kings Holiday Ice website.
Photo courtesy of Holiday Ice Rink Pershing Square, Facebook
Now in its 21st year, Holiday Ice Rink Pershing Square kicks off its 2018-19 season on Nov. 15 and runs daily through Jan. 21, 2019. Framed by skyscrapers and adorned with festive holiday lights, L.A.’s largest outdoor ice skating rink spans 7,200 square feet and welcomes more than 54,000 skaters and 450,000 spectators annually. General admission for each one-hour session is $14, including figure or hockey skate rental.
A portion of proceeds will benefit the City of Los Angeles Department of Recreation & Parks. Go Metro to the Pershing Square Station and receive a $1 skating session discount.
ICE AT SANTA MONICA (NOV. 3, 2018 – JAN. 23, 2019)
Ice at Santa Monica | Photo courtesy of Downtown Santa Monica, Facebook
Every holiday season, Downtown Santa Monica transforms the corner of 5th Street and Arizona Avenue into Ice at Santa Monica. The 8,000 square-foot ice skating rink brings a winter wonderland to the beachside community and has become a beloved annual tradition. Admission is $15 for all-day skating, including skate rental. The Randy Gardner School of Skating provides ice skating lessons with experienced professionals for skaters of all skill levels.
For more information, call the Ice team at 310.260.1199.
QUEEN MARY CHRISTMAS (NOV. 23, 2018 – JAN. 6, 2019)
Queen Mary Christmas
Discover new traditions mingled with old-fashioned holiday cheer at the Queen Mary Christmas. Stroll the beautiful decks of the legendary ship and experience thousands of twinkling lights, carolers and musical performances, meet and greets with Santa, and more. Slip on a pair of skates and glide around the True North Ice Rink located atop the Sports Deck of the Queen Mary – 181 feet off the ground – with a 360-degree view of the Long Beach skyline and harbor. The glittering stars and historic smoke stacks will light your way!
WESTFIELD SANTA ANITA (NOV. 30 – DEC. 16, 2018)
Photo courtesy of Westfield Santa Anita
Enjoy ice skating without the cold at Westfield Santa Anita! Embrace all things winter with Westfield’s free synthetic ice rink on The Promenade. Donations will be accepted and 100% will benefit the Boys & Girls Club of the Foothills. On Saturdays (Dec. 1, 8 & 15), Winter Nights at Westfield Santa Anita presents music, a hot cocoa station, and artificial snow on The Promenade. On December 8, enjoy a special performance from Lythgoe Family Panto featuring Princess Flinda and Elphaba. Winter Nights is free and open to the public!
Olympic champion Kristi Yamaguchi visits The Rink | Photo courtesy of Downtown Burbank, Facebook
Downtown Burbank’s most festive holiday tradition is back for outdoor ice skating, fundraising events, and special performances. The Rink in Downtown Burbank will be open from Thursday, Dec. 13, 2018 through Sunday, Jan. 6, 2019. A great way to celebrate the holidays, The Rink in Downtown Burbank is just steps away from more than 400 shops and restaurants, and the recently renovated Burbank Town Center. Located next to Burbank City Hall at the corner of Third Street and Orange Grove Avenue in Downtown Burbank, hours of operation will be 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily, extended to 11:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday nights.
As we find ourselves in the midst of the holiday season, the bounty of festive events in LA is a plenty. From performances of the Nutcracker to a Winter Wonderland in South LA…
With all the hustle and bustle of our weekday routine we bring you a curated list of the weekends top activities happening throughout the city of stars.
Limited engagements taking place this Dec. 14th-16th
Christmas is coming and so is the one and only Moscow Ballet’s Great Russian Nutcracker: Dove of Peace Tour! Presenting world class Russian artists, hand-painted sets, and a 2 dancer Dove of Peace with a 20 foot wingspan. The Great Russian Nutcracker brings the Christmas spirit to life for all ages, “Kids wide-eyed with delight!” says the New York Times. Experience the Dove of Peace Tour, spreading goodwill in over 100 cities across North America in 2018. Get seats now for the whole family and make memories for a lifetime at Moscow Ballet’s Great Russian Nutcracker! www.nutcracker.com
iHeart Radio’s KOST 103.5 Presents: Barry Manilow – A Very Barry Christmas! Pop culture icon Barry Manilow performs his special holiday concert on Friday, December 14. With worldwide sales of more than 80 million records, Barry Manilow’s success is a benchmark in popular music. His concerts sell out instantly. He is ranked as the top Adult Contemporary chart artist of all time, according to R&R (Radio & Records) and Billboard Magazines. Click here to purchase tickets.
Gear up for the holiday season at this holiday pop-up, boasting over 20 artisanal vendors including makers, crafters and chefs. Local makers and crafters will display one-of-a-kind, festive goods to toast the season of oversized sweaters and hot chocolate (if L.A. weather permits). Find the fair in the lobby of DTLA’s Bank of America Building.
On Saturday, December 15th, Council member Marqueece Harris-Dawson will be hosting the 4th Annual Winter Wonderland at Baldwin Hills Crenshaw from 12 pm-4 pm. Winter Wonderland will be filled with fun holiday activities. Winter Wonderland will have snow sledding, a toy giveaway, food trucks, and music.
Susan Feniger of Border Grill and the Food Network’s Too Hot Tamales will be at The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens in the 1919 Café signing copies of Cooking with Too Hot Tamales, Mesa Mexicana, City Cuisine, and Susan Feniger’s Street Food. Meet the TV personality, restaurateur, cookbook author, and chef known for her eclectic and adventurous globally-inspired cuisine. Purchase one of her cookbooks from the 1919 Café to meet Chef Feniger and receive a personalized message inscribed in your book!
Songbird Dianne Reeves rings in the holidays at The Soraya with timeless jewels from her album Christmas Time is Here. The reigning diva of jazz was recently awarded an Honorary Doctorate from Juilliard, recognized for her “breathtaking virtuosity, improvisational prowess, and unique jazz and R&B style.” Join us for an evening with the four-time Grammy Award-winner for an unmatched holiday treat.
Ralphie wants one thing for Christmas—a Red Ryder BB rifle—mounting a full-scale, hint-dropping, Santa-begging campaign in the face of a nasty bully, an overworked department-store Santa, and other wintry calamities in what the New York Times calls “maybe the best Christmas movie ever.” (1983, dir. Bob Clark, 94 min.) All ages are welcome. This free program is not ticketed.
An Afternoon of Poetry and Performance at The Broad
Location: The Broad Stage
Red Hen Press and the Broad Stage are proud to present An Afternoon of Poetry and Performance. The performance features California Poet Laureate Dana Gioia, contemporary poet Blas Falconer, and award-winning composer Morten Lauridsen with award-winning musicians Rod Gilfry and Carin Gilfry. The spiritual depth of Morten Lauridsen’s music will make for a thrilling venture into the radiant beauty of soul language.
The perennially popular Handel’s Messiah jubilantly conducted by Artistic Director Grant Gershon and sung by the Los Angeles Master Chorale is a Christmastime concert experience not to be missed.
Now that “Festivus” draws near, it is no better time to explore the city’s most joyous events this December. No matter your holiday of choice, there is something for all to enjoy. So throw on your tackiest sweater, take your spiced cider to go and venture out this holiday season!
With all the hustle and bustle of our weekday routine we bring you a curated list of the weekends top activities happening throughout the city of stars.
Limited engagements taking place this Dec. 7th-9th
Friday, Dec. 7th
Yuletide Cinemaland
Location: Heritage Square Museum, Los Angeles
Street Food Cinema bring their signature brand of outdoor-screening magic to L.A.’s Heritage Square Museum with Yuletide Cinemaland. This festive celebration centers around a Charles Dickens-style town square. Celebrate the nostalgia of classic holiday movies with Christmas carolers, food trucks, hot chocolate, mulled wine, craft beer and more. Explore picturesque Victorian-era homes dressed for the holidays, join piano sing-alongs and experience the Instagram-worthy Holiday Light Tunnel. Click here for more info.
American Contemporary Ballet Presents: The Nutcracker Suite
The American Contemporary Ballet Presents: The Nutcracker Suite
Location: California Plaza, DTLA
Experience the wonder of The Nutcracker in this first person perspective showcase performed by the American Contemporary Ballet. Witness this timeless tale as you become the main character. Once the entertainment concludes, The Fairy will guide you to a celebration with champagne, live music and more! Click here for more info.
Holiday Concerts in the Playhouse District
Holiday Concerts in the Playhouse District Presents: Little Brazil
Enjoy the sounds of the season along with the Pasadena Playhouses’ Holiday display this Friday. Little Brazil brings their signature Brazilian flavors with holiday classics to the Vroman’s Courtyard. Complimentary coffee from The Next Chapter will also be served to all patrons. Experience a new kind of seasonal tradition! Click here for more info.
Saturday, Dec. 8th
Santa Monica Pub Crawl
Santa Monica Pub Crawl
Location: Santa Monica
What better way to jumpstart the holidays than jingling all the way to SMPC’s 10th annual holiday event. Ok, maybe no jingling but certainly a fair amount of festive fun. With over 6,000 patrons having crawled until their hearts content last year, this years event is sure to be just as memorable. The fee to take part is $15 and proceeds from the Pub Crawl will go towards the Westside Food Bank to aid those in need during the holiday season. Click here for more info.
Festival of Carols
Festival of Carols-Disney Concert Hall
Location: Disney Hall, DTLA
Whether you love a classic holiday song or just the joy of the season, the Festival of Carols is sure to put you in the Christmas spirit. With over 100 classically trained carolers, this event is sure to warm the heart of even the most Grinch-iest of Grinches in your friend group. Click here for more info.
Snow Wonder
Snow Wonder
Location: Burton Chase Park
Ring in the holidays at Marina Del Rey’s annual Holiday celebration-Snow Wonder. Enjoy art, crafts, music, food and even real snow as Burton Chase Park is transformed into a Winter Wonderland. The event will also feature a fireworks display followed by the Marina’s Boat parade. Whether you chose to sled or sit in on the days fun, Snow Wonder is guaranteed to be a hit for the entire family. Click here for more info.
Sunday, Dec. 9th
Stevie Wonder’s House Full of Toys
Stevie Wonder-House Full of Toys Benefit Concert
Location: Staples Center
Stevie Wonder’s House Full of Toys returns for its 22nd year at the Staples Center in Downtown L.A. The event is hosted by the musician himself along with other special guest in order to raise funds to provide toys for thousands of children in orphanages, hospitals, and shelters. This year the show will also serve as a benefit concert for those affected by the recent California Wildfires. Concert-goers are encouraged to bring an unwrapped gift or toy. Click here for more info.
Big Sunday’s 9th Annual Holiday Party & Sing Along
Big Sunday Annual Holiday Party and Sing Along
Location: 6111 Melrose Ave., Los Angeles 90038
Hosting their 9th annual Holiday party, Big Sunday is inviting all to join them and enjoy singing, food and fun with their guest of honor–the incredible kids from Ability First and other with disabilities large and small. In addition, volunteers are still needed to spread holiday cheer as they deck the halls and light a menorah along with loads of arts, crafts and festive treats. Click here for more info.
KROQ Almost Acoustic Christmas 2018
KROQ Almost Acoustic Christmas
Location: The Forum, Inglewood
Enjoy another year of KROQ’S end-of-year showcase with some of the best musical acts from around the country. Proceeds from the concert will go to benefit Para Los Niños and the Al Wooten Jr. Heritage Center.” Sundays lineup will include Florence + the Machine, Death Cab for Cutie, Billie Eilish, Chvrches and more! Click here for info.
