🧊 Stay cool, stay up late, and enjoy summer in the Valley.

Welcome to your bite-sized Valley update for Thursday, July 4, 2024.

On July 4, 1847, the first Independence Day in California was celebrated in Los Angeles.

At Fort Moore Hill, American troops raised a flag and fired a 13-gun salute to celebrate American independence and the end of the Mexican-American war.

Today, you can visit the larger-than-life Fort Moore Pioneer monument in Downtown LA, a memorial wall and waterfall to commemorate this historic event.

Here’s what’s happening:

News

• 🧊 Don’t have air conditioning at home? A free cooling center in San Fernando now offers air conditioning and cold water to anyone who needs it this summer.

• 💵 Starting in 2027, California students will now have to complete a financial literacy course to graduate from high school.

• 🚅 The last part of a train link connecting San Francisco with Los Angeles was approved.

Food

• 🍖 Sam’s Eatery—North Hollywood. Popular Armenian BBQ food truck finally gets a physical location. Shawarma, kebabs, and grilled veggies.

• 🍸️ Front Yard—North Hollywood. Late-night happy hour. Cool Californian up-scale restaurant and patio. $7-9 drinks and snacks. Friday & Saturday from 11 PM to 1 AM.

Things to do

• 🎆 July 4 Fireworks Show—Woodland Hills. 20-minute firework show. Space for 40k people. Food trucks and activities. - Free. July 4 @ 6 PM.

• 🎤 Weekly Open Mic—North Hollywood. Kulak’s Woodshed hosts a weekly music open mic. Donations welcome. All genres. 20-30+ performers. Free. July 8 @ 8 PM.

• 🐻 Kids Puppet Show—Studio City. ‘Kids Club’ summer events. Every Tuesday through July. Music, shows, and events for kids. Sportsmen’s Lodge. Free. Tuesday, July 9 @ 5 PM.

• 🎨 Watercolor Painting Classes—Tarzana. Explore the Tarzana community center and the beauty of watercolor painting. Weekly classes $20. Wednesday, July 10 @ 1:30 PM.