🎅 Holiday markets, non-alcoholic drinks, and a lotto ticket.

Welcome to your weekly Valley update! Today is Thursday, December 5, 2024.

In this week’s NoHo Nick:

• 🎄 Holiday markets and shopping

• 🍲 New Persian restaurant

• 👿 Krampus cocktails

• 🍸️ Non-alcoholic bottle shop

My wife, dog and I drove from L.A. to Baltimore for Thanksgiving.

(Why are there no dog-friendly airlines yet?)

5,282 miles round trip. 9 days of driving.

But who’s counting?

We also visited New York to see some Broadway shows.

(Oh, Mary! and Stereophonic were the highlights.)

We got stuck in a tornado in Oklahoma City, got tickets to see Creed in Little Rock, drove through the snow in Nashville, and saw the Oscar Mayer Weinermobile in Amarillo.

Despite all the excitement, I’m ready to be home.

Remember, there are only two places in the world to live: New York or LA.

Here’s what’s happening this week:

LA News

🐺 California welcomes two new wolf packs. California’s gray wolf population is rebounding after facing extinction. Two new packs of wolves were seen near Lake Tahoe and Lassen Volcanic National Park. That brings the observed wolves to 70, up from 44 last year. Conservationists celebrate the wolves’ resurgence. (LA Times) I tend to think of myself as a one-man wolf pack.

🚗 Waymo’s robotaxi ridership surges. Waymo, the autonomous taxi service, doubled its passengers in California over the last 3 months to over 500,000 total riders. Waymo went public in Los Angeles in November. Book a ride. (SF Chronicle) Forget about Jake Paul and Mike Tyson. Let’s see the Coco food robots fight a Waymo taxi.

🚆 Luxury overnight trains from LA to SF are making progress. Dreamstar Lines is set to launch a high-end overnight train between Los Angeles and San Francisco by the summer of 2025. The train will feature first-class suites, lounge cars with bars, and standard seating. Last month, they started designing the train cars. (KTLA) Most importantly, will they allow dogs?

🎟️ Unclaimed $197M Mega Millions ticket set to expire. A winning Mega Millions ticket worth $197.5M, sold at an Encino Chevron, expires this Saturday. The California Lottery urges players to check for the Dec. 8, 2023 ticket with numbers 21, 26, 53, 66, 70, and Mega Ball 13. If unclaimed, the prize will go to California public schools. (KTLA) If you win, I only want a 2% finder’s fee.

Valley Weekend Weather

Yes, the smog sucks. It’s because of an “inversion layer.”

Food and Drinks

🍗 Complete Holiday Dinners (Burbank): Handy Market, a local grocer, offers ready-to-heat-and-serve holiday dinners. The menu features spiral ham, turkey, prime rib dinners for 8-10 people, and generous sides like mashed potatoes, green beans, yams, and dinner rolls. Call ahead to place an order before Christmas.

🍲 New Persian Restaurant (Sherman Oaks): Didar Kitchen offers authentic Persian cuisine, from sizzling kebabs to fresh stews, rice dishes, and mouthwatering appetizers. It’s a genuine taste of Persia in the Valley.

🍕 Pizza Night and Wine (North Hollywood): Wintery pizzas paired with Haley's natural wine selection. Pepperoni Polka with ricotta and pepper jelly, Funky Buffalo with brown butter buffalo sauce and pickled celery, and Winter Dederick with feta, olives, and rosemary. Celebrate the season with wine and cheese. Friday, December 6, from 5 PM to close.

🍸️ Burden of Proof (Pasadena): New non-alcoholic bottle shop. NA beer, wine, and spirits are offered, and a variety of snacks, groceries, specialty sodas, and seltzers are also available. They plan to expand their selection soon, too.

👹 Krampus' Cocktail Pop-Up (Downtown LA): Celebrate the dark side of Christmas. Immersive cocktail pop-up inspired by the legend of Krampus. Creative holiday-themed cocktails while mischievous elves and Krampus himself roam the room. Eerie decor, a macabre carol soundtrack, and festive mischief. Tickets include a welcome drink, with additional creepy cocktails available for purchase. $23 for a 90-minute experience.

Things to Do

☀️ Morning Holiday Market (Topanga) Handmade jewelry, ceramics, homewares, vintage treasures, clothing, and more. Shop small and find thoughtful holiday gifts while supporting local makers and businesses at the Topanga Community Center: hot drinks, live music, and free parking. They’re also seeking clothing donations to support local homeless youth and victims of assault. Friday, December 6th, from 9 AM to 1 PM.

📚 Indie Book Store Events (Woodland Hills): Celebrate December with events at The Open Book, an independent bookstore: store-wide discounts, book clubs, meetups, open mics, and author meet-and-greets. Every week has something new. Get lost in a great book this winter.

🎄 Valley Vibes Holiday Market (Griffith Park) 60+ local vendors outside the Autry Museum of the American West in Griffith Park. Enjoy festive shopping, live music, delicious food, and surprises to get you in the holiday spirit. Family friendly. Free. Saturday, December 7, from 10 AM to 5 PM.

🛍️ The York Manor Market (Highland Park): Clothing, accessories, ceramics, art, tattoos, home goods, jewelry, and food & beverages from local sellers. Pick up something for yourself or as a gift. There are only two more market days until the end of the year. Saturday, December 7, from 10 AM to 4 PM.

🎄 Holiday Tree Lighting (San Fernando) Join the City of San Fernando for their annual tree lighting celebration at the Downtown San Fernando Mall. Live music, dance performances, local artisans, food trucks, and Santa’s Workshop. Crafts, carnival games, train rides, and free photos with Santa. Don’t miss Santa’s grand entrance at 6:30 PM! Free. Saturday, December 7, from 6 PM to 10 PM.

🚴 Celebrating Car-Free Activities (Canoga Park): CicLAvia's final 2024 event transforms a street section into a vibrant public space, encouraging active transportation, good health, and community connection. Enjoy walking, biking, and exploring in a safe, vehicle-free environment—discounts at local businesses, giveaways, and activities. Sunday, December 8, from 9 AM to 3 PM.

Holiday Gift Guide

Are you trying to find small businesses to support this holiday?

Jumpin’ Jax Tavern is for Dungeons & Dragons fans.

Hand-crafted, curated gift boxes tailored for new players or those starting new campaigns. Each box has class-specific starter kits, potion tea samplers, and themed candles.

Volunteer Opportunity

Looking for ways to make a direct impact in your community?

Best Buddies creates friendships and employment opportunities for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Their annual holiday bowling event is Sunday, December 15th, in Studio City!

They’re seeking volunteers to help register guests and supervise activities.

Cute Home Alert

🏊️ Updated Pool Home (Reseda) Refreshed 3-bedroom, 1-bathroom home offers privacy and charm. Open-concept living and dining area with natural light, a cozy office nook, and a large laundry room with the potential for a second bathroom. 1,100+ square feet. Fresh paint and new flooring. The in-ground pool and newly seeded grassy areas create a private oasis. Tankless water heater, modern windows, and a newer roof. $825,000

Random

🧹 The ‘Wicked’ movie has become the highest-grossing musical adaptation of all time 8 days after release.

📈 A 24-hour stock market will launch in 2025, allowing traders to buy and sell around the clock.

Trivia

❓️Walmart was founded in 1962 in Arkansas. What year did Walmart first open in Los Angeles?

Hint: Walmart’s first LA location was in the Valley (Panorama City).

Last week’s question: Los Angeles has many theme parks, rides, and attractions. Which iconic ride in LA is the only one of its kind powered by solar energy?

Answer: Santa Monica Pier’s Ferris Wheel

See you next week!

NoHo Nick

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