🔮 Cellphone bans, psychics, and vegan tacos.

Welcome to your weekly Valley update! Today is Thursday, February 20, 2025.

In this week’s NoHo Nick:

• 🪴 Community gardens

• 🧘 Community classes

• 🌮 Vegan tacos

• 📽️ Filmmaking meetup

Have you ever noticed people in yellow shirts working around North Hollywood?

They're with the NoHo Business Improvement District (BID).

These neighborhood ambassadors sweep and pressure wash sidewalks, empty trash, save lost kittens, connect with neighbors and businesses, take down NoHo Nick posters, and keep the neighborhood clean.

The program started in 2007 and is paid for by local property taxes.

Learn more about the NoHo BID and how they enrich the neighborhood for pedestrians and businesses.

Here’s what’s happening this week:

🌊 Toxic ocean waters near Palisades fire. Avoid swimming in the ocean this week. Hazardous runoff from the fires has led to pollution from El Segundo to Ventura, carrying ash, debris, and toxic chemicals. Check these water quality warnings. (LA County)

📵 LA schools ban cell phones. LAUSD students must hide their phones, smartwatches, and earbuds out of sight during school hours. The district is spending $7M on storage solutions. Supporters say it will boost learning; critics call it a waste. A statewide ban will roll out in 2026. (KTLA)

🚉 Metro riders must TAP to exit. Starting this week, Metro passengers at Union Station must TAP their card or scan a valid fare to enter and exit the station. The policy was first tested at North Hollywood and Santa Monica stations. Metro reported a 50% drop in crime after implementing. The program will extend system-wide by 2026. (ABC7)

🎉 Glendale turns 119 years old: Founded in 1906, Glendale celebrated a birthday this week. Glendale is home to the Museum of Neon Art and some of LA’s best Armenian bakeries. (City of Glendale)

Spotted at Valley Village Park.

🏡 Free Community Center (East LA): Did you know there’s a community center where everything is free in East LA? Cooking, Zumba, parenting, and tech education classes. Just walk in—everyone is welcome. Check out their February calendar.

🎤 Weekend Comedy (Burbank): Every Friday and Saturday, The Nitecap hosts LA’s best new comedians from HBO, Netflix, Showtime, and more: $20 tickets and a one-drink minimum. Most drinks are only $8. See their most recent comedians.

🧘 Breathwork Class (Los Feliz): Two-hour guided breathwork session to release stress and trauma through meditation, sound healing, and heart visualizations. Each session ends with a closing circle and communal art. Arrive early for tea. Bring a yoga mat, blanket, and journal. $38.64. Friday, February 21 at 7:30 PM.

🕌 Friday Night Community Social (Canoga Park): Connect, unwind, and build community at this monthly gathering at the Islamic Society of West Valley. Join them for Maghrib prayers, followed by a welcoming social. Bring a dessert to share. Friday, February 21 at 7 PM.

🎨 Sketch x Sketkh Art Benefit Show (Burbank): Celebrate two years of art and community building. Drag performances, live drawing classes, a silent auction, tarot readings, and themed vendors ant Geeky Teas. All for artists. Proceeds support a new arts nonprofit. $35 GA, $50 VIP. Friday, February 21.

🌱 Burbank’s New Community Garden (Burbank): The City of Burbank and LA Community Garden Council are launching the Hollywood Way/Clark Community Garden—a new space for growing veggies, flowers, and native plants. Rent a small plot for your own garden. Meet your neighbors at the ribbon-cutting. Saturday, February 22, at 10 AM.

🎸 Free Kids Guitar Lessons (Malibu): Malibu Music, a local music store, offers free group guitar lessons for nearby students every Saturday in February. No experience is needed—bring yourself and your instrument, or borrow a guitar while you’re there. Free. Saturday, February 22 and 29th at 11 AM.

🔮 Healing Arts & Psychic Faire (Pasadena): Tap into cosmic energy with tarot readings, astrology sessions, crystal shops, and Reike at this all-day mystical gathering. Walk-ins welcome, insight guaranteed. Free. Saturday, February 22, from 11 AM to 7 PM.

🎬 Writers & Filmmakers Mixer (Studio City): Screenwriters, filmmakers, authors, and actors can connect at this monthly industry mixer at Laurel Tavern. Hosted by FilmCamp, ScriptCamp, and WordCamp, this casual meetup is a great place to network over drinks. Free. Thursday, February 27 at 6 PM.

🎷 Mardi Gras Dinner & Jazz Night (Canoga Park): New Orleans-style celebration with a big brass band and a four-course supper. Chicken gumbo, fried catfish, shrimp pasta, andouille sausages, and desserts. The band reinterprets hits from the 1920s and 1930s. Dress in a Mardi Gras mask. $120. March 1 from 6:30 PM to 10 PM.

🌮 Vegan Tacos (Van Nuys): Check out Cocina Vegana Mexicana, a vegan Mexican restaurant. Asada con napoles, menudo, al pastor, and more veggie meat substitutes. They also offer catering.

🍹 Tonga Hut Fundraiser (North Hollywood): Support wildfire recovery with a tiki-filled day featuring live bands, a cabaret, an aerial show, a raffle, and a silent auction. Grab a Pablo Monkey cocktail. All proceeds go to fire victims. $25. Sunday, February 23, from 2 PM to close.

🦞 Mardi Gras Crawfish Boil (North Hollywood): Risky Business brings New Orleans to NoHo with its legendary crawfish boil and specialty drinks like sazeracs and hurricanes. Fat Tuesday is coming to the Valley. Free. Tuesday, March 4, at 8 PM.

🍗 Chicken Parm Night (Highland Park): Wednesday nights are for chicken parm at Highly Likely. Stop by for golden-friend chicken parmesan, mozzarella fondue, and happy-hour wines all night—Wednesdays, from 5 PM to 10 PM.

🏡 Spacious Ranch Home (Mission Hills): 3 beds, 2 baths, and 1,600+ sqft of living space in a ranch-style house. Bright interior with large windows, a semi-open kitchen, and a cozy brick fireplace. Big backyard, plus a new roof, copper piping, and a 2-car garage. $880,000

🎸 Prince’s Purple Rain Returns. The 1984 film is back in AMC’s Dolby Cinemas for a one-night-only re-release. March 5.

🎬 Cheech & Chong Movie. A documentary on the legendary stoner comedy duo will be released on April 20.

🛍️ Vendor Applications Open for NoHo Market. Calling small businesses for a vibrant makers market in March.

⛽️ Costco extended their gas station hours.

❓️The oldest living tree in the San Fernando Valley is at West Hills’ Orcutt Ranch—how old is it?

Last week’s question: Pam finally breaks up with Roy in Season 3, Episode 19 of The Office. The scene was filmed at a North Hollywood diner. Which one?

Answer: Pam and Roy say their final goodbyes at Hungry Fox cafe in North Hollywood. Try the waffles.

Thanks for reading, and see you next week!

PS The temperatures are back in the 80s next week.

Do you have a suggestion of something I should feature? Submit it.

Want to get your business featured in NoHo Nick? Let’s talk.

Was this email forwarded to you? Sign up to get it.