🦒 Comedy Fest, Gelson's, and a Safari

Welcome to your weekly San Fernando Valley update: August 7–13, 2025.

In this week’s NoHo Nick:

• 🦒 Safari

• 🥕 Gelson’s

• 🎤 Comedy festival

• 🤼 Wrestling

Grocery store names are funny.

Trader Joe’s and Gelson’s are possessive nouns because they were founded by Joe Coulombe and Bernard Gelson, respectively.

Ralphs is a last name—George Ralphs.

Vons is a middle name—Charles Von der Ahe.

Jons got confused—John Berberian.

And Smart & Final was founded by J. S. "Jim" Smart and H. D. "Hildane" Final.

If NoHo Nick were a grocery store, what would it be called?

Nick’s? Snackramento? NoHole Foods?

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Here’s what’s happening:

🚧 405 closures begin soon. From Friday, August 22, through Monday, August 25, the 405 will be reduced to three lanes between Santa Monica Blvd. and Wilshire Blvd. This kicks off 25 biweekly weekend closures for a $144M repaving effort. Ramp closures and detours via Sepulveda. (NBC LA)

🛒 Gelson’s Toluca Lake is finally under construction. The long-delayed market at 10067 Riverside Dr is now moving forward. Projected opening by the end of 2025. 10,000 sq. ft. store featuring a coffee window, wine cellar, poke bar, service kitchen, and more. (What Now)

These are my favorite upcoming events:

Ongoing

🎤 Burbank Comedy Festival (Burbank): Celebrating its 12th year, the Burbank Comedy Festival features local and national comedians at Flappers in Burbank. Jay Leno, Craig Robinson, Jeff Garlin, Jerry Garcia, and more. Also, panels for comedians looking to increase their bookings. Check out the calendar. August 9 to 16th.

FYI — Use my link to get up to 4 free tickets for the “Wittiest Women” show on Sunday, August 10 at 5 PM. 😉 

Thursday, August 7

🍻 National IPA Day at 818 Brewing (Canoga Park): Celebrate with $2 off IPAs, plus happy hour from 3–5 PM ($5 beers & pizzas). $5 beers all night. Thursday, August 7. Music starts at 8 PM.

Friday, August 8

🎨 Makers Market: DIY Night (North Hollywood): Try ceramics, cyanotype, jewelry making, and more with hands-on workshops and 25+ small businesses. Free. Friday, August 8, from 5 PM to 10 PM at Lawless Brewing.

🦁 Manifesting Workshop (Burbank): A guided meditation and intention-setting workshop hosted by Fantasma Witch. Candles, journaling prompts, and a welcoming community vibe. $15. Friday, August 8, 7 PM at Three Sisters Coffee & Tea.

🤼 Pro Wrestling Championship (Chatsworth): 20 wrestlers enter, only one will win! See Chuck Mercer, Hydie, and Draven Silvera battle it out at high-energy Millennium Pro Wrestling. $15. Friday, August 8 at 7:30 PM.

🎬 Moana 2 Poolside Screening (Lake View Terrace): Catch a sunset screening of Moana 2 under the stars at the Hansen Dam Aquatic Center. Bring your swimsuits, blankets, and lawn chairs. Pre-movie activities for kids start at 6 PM. Friday, August 8, from 8 PM to 10 PM.

Saturday, August 9

🥾 Sherman Oaks Community Walk (Van Nuys): Celebrate Black Business Month with a free morning neighborhood walk to support Coley’s Jamaican Restaurant, which just opened in Sherman Oaks. Giveaways, good vibes, and dog treats along the way. Free. Friday, August 9 at 10:30 AM at the Van Nuys-Sherman Oaks Recreation Center.

🦒 Sunset Safari Tour (Sylmar): Take a guided evening stroll through a wildlife center, meet a porcupine and reptile, and enjoy complimentary refreshments while the sun goes down. Tours run every half hour. $21 for adults and $19 for kids. Friday, August 9, from 5 PM to 7:30 PM.

🎒 Back to School Drive (Pacoima): Family-friendly bash with bounce houses, face painting, free haircuts, and backpack giveaways for kids in need. Plus BBQ, shaved ice, and a prayer booth. Free. August 9 from 11 AM to 5 PM at New Life AWC.

Sunday, August 10

🎶 Pink Floyd Tribute Concert (Woodland Hills): Free summer shows every Saturday in August. Which One’s Pink will be live in Warner Park, honoring Pink Floyd’s greatest hits. Free. August 10 at 7 PM.

Happening Soon

☕ Kavat Coffee with Serj Tankian (Calabasas, Pasadena): Meet the System of a Down vocalist and founder of Kavat Coffee during two signing events with free coffee tastings and signed bags. Monday, August 11.

💎 Jewelry Making Tour & Party (North Hollywood): A “summer soirée” celebrating craftsmanship and community. Drinks, bites, and jewelry raffles. Get a behind-the-scenes tour of how fine jewelry and demi-fine jewelry is made by hand. Ceci Greco is a woman-owned and staffed local jewelry shop opening its doors to the neighborhood. Free. August 15, from 6 PM to 9 PM.

🤠 Country Line Dancing Night (Burbank): Grab your boots and hit the floor. High-energy night of line dancing. No experience needed. A live country DJ will spin dance tracks and take requests after lessons wrap. $10. Friday, August 15, from 8 PM to 12 AM at the Burbank VFW.

💿 Record Store Meetup (Burbank): Meet fellow music lovers, flip through vinyl, and support local shops at this two-stop record store crawl through Magnolia Park at Atomic Records and Run Out Groove Records. Lunch afterward. Free. Sunday, August 17, from 11 AM to 2 PM.

👽 DIY Necklace Bar (Burbank): Craft your own jewelry. Pendants and chains range from $1–$50. RSVP for your spot and get 20% off all clothing during the event. Free. August 19 at 6 PM at Yes Baby! Vintage

🎨 Toluca Lake Art Fair (Toluca Lake): Toluca Lake transforms into a vibrant outdoor gallery with local artists, vendors, and small businesses celebrating the creative spirit of the community. Free. Saturday, August 23, from 11 AM to 3 PM.

🍣 Kahuna Tiki NoHo is closing in August (North Hollywood): After years of tiki vibes and sushi platters, Kahuna Tiki NoHo is officially closing. The owners announced they’re shifting focus to their other location at 12600 Riverside Dr. Stop by this month if you want one last tropical meal.

🍑 Whata Peach (Studio City): Vibrant, health-forward menu with açaí bowls, toasts, smoothies, and specialty coffees. Nutrient-dense ingredients like dragon fruit, hemp hearts, and matcha. This café caters to early risers and wellness enthusiasts. Reader recommendation.

🥖 Hoagie Sandwiches (North Hollywood): Philly-inspired sandwiches on fresh-baked bread return to Haley’s Wines. Big flavor, soft rolls. These hoagies go fast. Sunday, August 10, starting at 12:30 PM until sold out at Haley’s Wines.

🎤 Malibu Comedy Night (Malibu): Enjoy stand-up under the stars at this outdoor show featuring headlining comedians from Netflix and Comedy Central, with wine, snacks, and sweeping Malibu views. $30. Thursday, August 7, at 8 PM at The Barn at Cielo Farms.

🪄 Puppets, Donuts, and Coffee at the Magic Castle (Hollywood): The Puppetry Guild returns for a gathering with donuts, plenty of coffee, and magical company inside one of LA’s most whimsical venues. Free. RSVP required. Sunday, August 10, from 10 AM to 12 PM at The Magic Castle.

🎸 Echo Park Rising (Echo Park): Free music festival in Echo Park. Celebrating its 15th year. Dozens of bands, artists, and creatives are performing at pop-up events around Echo Park. August 16.

The Wildlife Learning Center is a zoological park nestled in an old olive grove in the San Fernando Valley.

Appreciate and learn about animals from around the world, like eagles, bobcats, and parrots.

WLC provides life-long care to more than 100 displaced, rescued, and zoo-born wild animals.

🎃 I’ve seen lots of Spirit Halloween stores popping up around town. Check out Phantom Halloween in Northridge. It’s a locally owned costume store that’s open all year.

🤖 LACMA is getting its first van Gogh and Manet paintings. (LAist)

❓️ What was the name of the first newspaper in Los Angeles?

Hint: It started publishing in May 1851.

Last week’s question: Originally, beach volleyball was played with teams of six. In what year did “Pablo” Johnson of the Santa Monica Athletic Club invent “two-man” beach volleyball?

Answer: The summer of 1930.

Thank you for reading. See you next week!

PS Many of you reached out to me to tell me that last week’s Burbank job fair was a bust. I’m going to try to look out for real job postings to share.

I love hearing from you. Let me know what you’d like to see more of in NoHo Nick. 👇️

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