🔦 Tacos, Star Wars, and Dating

Welcome to your weekly San Fernando Valley update: April 30–May 6, 2026.

In this week’s NoHo Nick:

• 🌮 Tacos

• ❤️ Dating

• 🪩 Cabaret

• 🚶 Walks

Fun fact about me?

I’ve never seen the Star Wars movies.

I’ve watched a few episodes of The Mandalorian and probably seen some lightsaber battles on late-night TV.

But I’ve never sat down to watch the movies from beginning to end.

This weekend, I’m going to try to catch up to the rest of humanity by watching Episode IV - A New Hope.

This week’s newsletter is sponsored by Pitch & Pair:

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21+. $30–$60. Tuesday, May 12, doors at 7:15 PM at The Comedy Store.

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Here’s what’s happening:

Ongoing

🍣 Dear Neighbor Handrolls (Studio City): A handroll pop-up outside Licorice Pizza Records serving fresh handrolls and matcha. Tuesdays and Wednesdays, from 12 to 5 PM at Licorice Pizza Records (12230 Ventura Blvd.).

Thursday, April 30

🎭 Millennials Are Killing Musicals (Burbank): An original musical comedy about a millennial mom and her very pregnant influencer sister. $70. Thursday, April 30 through Sunday, May 17 at The Colony Theatre (555 N. Third St.).

Friday, May 1

🍺 Shadow Grove Brewing Grand Opening (North Hollywood): A new mythical-themed brewery with small-batch beers and immersive world-building décor. Friday, May 1, from 4 to 11 PM at Shadow Grove Brewing (5249 Lankershim Blvd.).

🪩 Curious Cabaret (North Hollywood): An hour-long immersive, provocative dance show performed in pitch darkness. Provocative, eerie, and hilariously unhinged. $34. Friday, May 1, through Saturday, May 2, starting at 8 PM at the Whitmore Lindley Theatre (11006 Magnolia Blvd.).

🎶 Techno Rave in a Thrift Shop (Canoga Park): A high-production techno rave taking over a Canoga Park thrift shop with lights and beats until 2 AM. From $10. Friday, May 1, from 8 PM to 2 AM at Playoffs Collective (22023 Sherman Way).

🥃 Rare Scotch Whisky Tasting (Lake Balboa): Sample a curated lineup of rare single-cask Scotch whiskies from independent bottler Saltire. $15. Friday, May 1, from 11 AM to 2 PM at Vintage Wine & Spirits (16938 Saticoy St.).

🤘 Nu Metal Karaoke (Sherman Oaks): Belt out 90s and 2000s alt-rock and metal hits from Linkin Park, System of a Down, Deftones, and more. 21+. Free. Friday, May 1, from 9 PM to 2 AM at The Blue Dog Beer Tavern (14553 Ventura Blvd.).

👗 Spring Fashion Show (Sylmar): LA Mission College presents their Spring Couture Collective, showcasing designs from emerging talent. A pop-up thrift shop, too. $7. Friday, May 1, from 4 to 7 PM at Los Angeles Mission College (13356 Eldridge Ave.).

Saturday, May 2

🎷 Studio City Summer Sounds (Studio City): A free outdoor jazz concert. Food trucks, artisan vendors, and a kids' activity zone. Free. Saturday, May 2, from 11 AM to 3 PM at Woodbridge Park (11240 Moorpark St.).

🏋️ Free Group Workout (Woodland Hills): A one-hour outdoor workout combining strength, cardio, and balance exercises with modifications for all fitness levels. Free. Saturday, May 2, from 9 to 10 AM at Warner Center (20920 Warner Center Ln.).

🐉 Valley Asian Cultural Fest (Woodland Hills): The 5th annual cultural fest at Pierce College. Food vendors, local exhibitors, raffles, and kids' activities. Free. Saturday, May 2, from 10 AM to 3 PM at Los Angeles Pierce College (6201 Winnetka Ave.).

🐴 Pony Rides and Petting Zoo (Woodland Hills): The weekly Woodland Hills Farmers Market adds pony rides and a petting zoo for kids. Free. Saturday, May 2, from 9 AM to 1:30 PM at Woodland Hills Farmers Market (5650 Shoup Ave.).

🎨 Art Therapy Workshop (Valley Village): A guided art therapy session. Create a letter to your younger self through collage, color, and reflection. $65. Saturday, May 2, from 11:30 AM to 2 PM at The Magnolia Art Space (12445 Magnolia Blvd.).

😂 Three 30's Comedy Show (Burbank): Three comedians each do 30-minute sets at Three Sisters Coffee and Tea. $10. Saturday, May 2, starting at 7 PM at Three Sisters Coffee and Tea (1706 W. Magnolia Blvd.).

Sunday, May 3

🐕 Toluca Lake Community Dog Walk (Toluca Lake): The 4th annual community dog walk brings neighbors and pups together. Supports local animal rescues. Free. $10 suggested donation. Sunday, May 3, from 9 to 11 AM. Meet at Logix Bank (10064 Riverside Dr.).

🥾 Spring Stroll (Woodland Hills): Soul Verge hosts a women's wellness walk along a flat trail at Victory Trailhead. Arrive at 11 for icebreakers; walking starts at 11:15. Free. Sunday, May 3, from 11 AM to 12 PM at Victory Trailhead (Victory Blvd.).

🧠 Valley Refresh Mental Health Day (San Fernando): Second annual free wellness event with crafts workshops, a roundtable discussion, tea, and music. Free. Sunday, May 3, from 1 to 4 PM at Midnight Hour Records (1101 San Fernando Rd.).

🦇 Batman: The Animated Series Art Expo (Burbank): An art expo featuring original production drawings and animation cels from the Warner Bros. archive. Meet directors and writers. Free. Sunday, May 3, from 11 AM to 2 PM at Choice Fine Art (2100 Empire Ave.).

🍳 Market-to-Table Cooking Class (Valley Glen): A hands-on vegetarian cooking class. Start at the farmer's market for fresh produce, then head to the kitchen. $95. Sunday, May 3 and 17, from 10 AM to 1 PM at LA Valley College (5800 Fulton Ave.).

🇲🇽 Jardin Del Cielo (Reseda): A Cinco de Mayo weekend community celebration featuring live poetry, music, healthy Mexican food from Magica Herbolaria, and coffee and matcha from Un Pedacito Del Cielo. Free. Sunday, May 3, from 11 AM to 5 PM (7625 Wilbur Ave.).

Happening Soon

🍺 May the 4th Star Wars Celebration (North Hollywood): Star Wars-themed beers and light and dark beer flights. Free. Monday, May 4, from 2 to 11 PM at Hop Merchants (5013 Lankershim Blvd.).

🔦 Star Wars Trivia (North Hollywood): Star Wars trivia. Come in costume. Free. Monday, May 4, from 8 to 11 PM at Idle Hour (4824 Vineland Ave.).

⚔️ Star Wars Trivia (Sherman Oaks): May the 4th themed trivia night covering the Original, Prequel, and Sequel trilogies. Possible prizes for best costume. Free. Monday, May 4, from 8 to 10 PM at Pineapple Hill (4454 Van Nuys Blvd.).

🎮 Super Smash Bros Tournament (North Hollywood): A casual doubles Smash Bros Ultimate tournament with drinking rules and prizes. Free. Wednesday, May 6, starting at 7:30 PM at Brews Brothers (5140 Lankershim Blvd.).

Not the Valley

🧘 Gathered: Sunday in the Park (Alhambra): A moms-only outdoor reflection circle led by a somatic coach, with journaling and meaningful conversation in a low-key park setting. Free. Sunday, May 3, from 10 to 11 AM (500 N. Palm Ave.).

🌮 LA Taco Madness Festival (Downtown LA): LA Taco's annual taco competition takes over Grand Park with a stacked lineup of taquerias, local DJs and collectives, shaved ice, live art, and craft beer. Free. Saturday, May 2, from 3 to 9 PM at Grand Park (200 N. Grand Ave.).

LOQUI, a casual restaurant serving “bold Mexican flavors for everyone,” began in 2013 as a weekly pop-up at Tartine in San Francisco.

This year marks 10 years in LA.

Try their Cinco de Mayo-only tuna tostada made with wild yellowfin, guacamole salsa verde, spicy crema, crispy onions, and jalapeños.

A new guava quesadilla is also on the menu.

Tuesday, May 5, at LOQUI:

• LOQUI Studio City (12048 Ventura Blvd.)

• LOQUI Woodland Hills (20929 Ventura Blvd.)

🌮 Cinco de Mayo is next week.

Last week, dozens of you told me about your favorite hidden-gem taco spots in the Valley.

Here are a few of them:

• La Fogata (Sherman Oaks)

• Salsa and Beer (North Hollywood)

• Tacos El Gorrión (Pacoima/Arleta)

• Angel's Tijuana Tacos (Van Nuys)

• Guanatos Tacos (Sylmar)

• Tacos Yahualica (Canoga Park)

• Morales Tacos (Winnetka)

Did people miss your favorite taco spot? Tell me about it →

❓️ What is considered to be the most haunted place in Los Angeles?

Last week’s question: Who popularized the Valley Girl slang, “Gag me with a spoon?”

Answer: The phrase was popularized by Frank Zappa and his teenage daughter Moon Unit with their 1982 hit song "Valley Girl." Moon Unit delivered a spoken-word monologue over the track mimicking the slang from the San Fernando Valley, including the phrase “gag me with a spoon.”

Thanks for reading! See you next week.

PS Nearly 70 people on Instagram shared their favorite date night spots.

PS LA college kids are ditching Uber for the Metro.

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