🪄 Magic Show, Volunteering, and Rent Hikes

Welcome to your weekly Valley update! Today is Thursday, January 16, 2025.

In this week’s NoHo Nick:

• 💁 Ways to help

• 🪄 Magic show

• 📈 Rising rents

• 🌕️ Lankershim block party

Last week, we all downloaded the Watch Duty app.

We found community in unexpected places.

We said, “…is that a leaf blower? Right now?”

We tried to build our own air purifiers.

We didn’t panic-buy toilet paper.

And we promised our neighbors we’ll help them rebuild.

🏡 Rents are Going Up (LAist) Higher rents are coming to LA. Some listings already exceed pre-wildfire rates by up to 75%. Despite emergency protections against price gouging, reports of inflated rents are widespread.

💰 California AG Warns Against Price Gouging (Attorney General): Price hikes over 10% on essentials like food, housing, and emergency supplies during the wildfire emergency are illegal—report violators here.

😷 N95 Masks Recommended (Cedars-Sinai): Air quality plummeted in certain areas this week. Sunny skies may still have harmful particles, experts warn. N95 masks are a good defense against pollution. KN95 masks are also effective if properly fitted. Try to stay indoors with sealed windows, use recirculating air systems, and avoid outdoor activities.

🔥 Gavin Newsom Debunks Fire Myths (Governor’s Office): Governor Newsom's team addresses wildfire misinformation by launching a new website emphasizing state efforts to combat fires. For instance, firefighting budgets have nearly doubled since 2019, and water reservoirs are at record levels.

Jackson Reed shared this photo of Canoga Billiards.

🚆 $10 Train Fares on Amtrak (Southern California): Until January 24, Amtrak’s Pacific Surfliner offers $10 one-way fares in SoCal. Go from San Diego to San Luis Obispo. Use promo code V505 when booking online or mention it at the station.

🎸 Blink-182 Battle of the Bands (Tarzana): Watch bands duke it out to see who performs Blink-182 hits the best. The audience picks the winner. $12. Friday, January 17, from 8 PM to 11 PM

🎩 Magic Night (Burbank): Experience mind-bending illusions and comedy magic at Brews Brothers Brewery! $30. Saturday, January 18, from 8 PM to 10 PM (Doors at 7:30 PM).

🛍️ 10:42 Flea Market (Downtown LA): Vibrant flea market featuring vintage finds, Y2K vibes, jewelry, drinks, and more! Everything is $25 and under. Accepting donations for fire relief. Free. Sunday, January 19, 1 PM to 6 PM.

🧘‍♀️ Yoga & Wine (North Hollywood): Flow into relaxation with Emily Phillips at Haley’s Wines. One-hour all-levels yoga session followed by a glass of wine, spritz, Paloma, or non-alcoholic beverage. $30. Sunday, January 19, at 11 AM.

🎳 Pinz Social Bowling League (Studio City): Grab three friends. Then, compete in a local bowling league every Tuesday or Wednesday for 10 weeks. Includes three games of bowling, shoes, and drink specials—$25 per week, per person. Begins Tuesday, January 21. Email [email protected] to participate.

💖 Community Walk (Location TBD): Join a ”Hot Girl Walk” community walk to support fire recovery. The walk encourages donations of gift cards and new clothes for fire victims. Donate a $25+ gift card and receive a free tote bag. Saturday, January 25, 9 AM to 11:30 AM. 

🌓 Lankershim Lunar Block Party (North Hollywood): Celebrate the Year of the Snake on Lankershim Blvd with food trucks, arts and crafts, cultural performances, and over 80+ Asian makers selling handmade goods. Free. RSVP required. Saturday, January 25, from 12 PM to 4 PM. 

🛠️ Tool Library Donations (Altadena) Help Altadena residents rebuild. Plant Material, a plant shop, is asking for donations for shovels, crowbars, gloves, and saws. They lend them to people to clear debris and assist recovery efforts after the fire. In collaboration with Altadena Seed Library.

🌿 Hiking Trail Restorations (Eaton Canyon): Help local hiking trails bounce back. Volunteer to clear paths, replant native species, and repair areas impacted by wildfires.

🌱 Vegan “Plant Butcher” (Highland Park): Maciel’s is a plant-based deli. They have classics like salami and pastrami as well as sandwiches. Founder Maciel Bañales Luna infuses Mexican-inspired flavors into chorizo and deli meats. Try the pastrami French dip or chicken pesto. Grab a dessert on your way out.

🍴 Pumpkin Gnocchi Cooking Class (Canoga Park): Roll up your sleeves and craft pumpkin gnocchi from scratch with Chef Amy in this small-group 2-hour culinary class. $65 per person. Saturday, January 18, 1–3 PM. 

🐉 Lunar New Year Baijiu Tasting (Lake Balboa): Toast to the Year of the Snake. Try tasting Ming River Baijiu, Sichuan’s iconic grain spirit. At Vintage Wine & Spirits. Free. Friday, January 17, from 4 PM to 7 PM.

🛍️ Self-checkout at grocery stores may be a failed experiment (Wharton School).

🐻 Four LA residents were arrested for dressing up in bear costumes to destroy their cars and collect insurance money (NPR).

❓️The name Cahuenga comes from a Tongva village name. What does it mean?

Last week’s question: What year was the Los Angeles Fire Department founded?

Answer: 1886

Thanks for reading, and see you next week!

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