☀️ Block Party, Food Fests, and Comedy Nights

Welcome to your weekly San Fernando Valley update: June 26–July 2, 2025.

In this week’s NoHo Nick:

• 🎉 Valley Block Fest

• 🏳️‍🌈 SFV Pride

• 🚚 Food Truck Fest

• 🎭️ Shakespeare

Thank you for voting in last week’s poll about an upcoming meetup.

I’ll start planning a happy hour and board game night!

Hope you’re enjoying the extra sunshine this week.

The Nitecap is an intimate comedy club in Burbank. They feature the best comedians from HBO, Netflix, and Showtime.

NoHo Nick readers get 2-for-1 tickets with promo code SUMMER25 through the end of summer.

The Nitecap, founded in 2020, has become a beloved Burbank comedy club renowned for its intimate atmosphere and vibrant comedy community.

Want to know who’s performing each week? Follow their Instagram.

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Here’s what’s happening this week:

✈️ NASA aircraft study SoCal air quality. You might see NASA research planes flying low over LA from June 29 to July 2. The flights will measure air pollutants and greenhouse gases in urban and industrial zones. The mission trains STEM students in collecting airborne data. (NASA)

🏛️ LA City Council declares fiscal emergency. A 14-0 vote declared a fiscal emergency to tackle a $1 billion budget deficit. This paves the way for about 600+ layoffs. The city’s $14 billion budget includes spending cuts because of LAPD liability costs, new labor contracts, wildfire impacts, and reduced tourism revenues. (San Fernando Sun)

🎬 California approves $750M film and TV tax credit. State lawmakers have agreed to more than double California’s film and TV tax incentive program from $330M to $750M annually. The expansion could support up to 5,500 new jobs and raise the maximum credit to 40% for non-L.A. shoots. (Variety)

These are my favorite events happening this week:

🎬 Movies That Rock: E.T. (Burbank): Outdoor movie night featuring E.T., trivia, entertainment, and food trucks. Bring your blankets and chairs. Free. Friday, June 27, at 6 PM in the UMe Credit Union parking lot.

🎭 Shakespeare by the Sea: As You Like It (Encino) Outdoor performance of Shakespeare’s As You Like It. Pack a picnic, bring a blanket, and enjoy an evening of live theater. Donations are encouraged to this non-profit theater group. Free. Friday, June 27, at 7 PM at Sepulveda Garden Center.

🏳️‍🌈 SFV Pride Festival (Van Nuys): Pride march and festival with food trucks, entertainment, art, and healing spaces. The day kicks off with a rally. Saturday, June 28, at 11 AM at the Van Nuys Civic Center.

🎉 Valley BlockFest (Chatsworth): The West Valley’s biggest street fest is back with 200+ vendors, live wrestling, a carnival, and more. Free. Saturday, June 28, from 2 PM to 8 PM. 20914 Nordhoff St.

🎉 Bingo for Scouting (Glendale): Fun bingo night benefiting local youth scouting programs. Cash prizes (minimum $100 per game), great company, and a chance to support future leaders. $25 for 10 games. Saturday, June 28, 5 PM at American Legion Memorial War Hall.

🐾 Paws & Brews (North Hollywood): Franklin, the shop dog at Lawless Brewing, is turning fifteen! Celebrate his birthday at this neighborhood party. There will be dog treats and fun for both puppies and humans. Sunday, June 29, from 2 PM to 6 PM.

🎭 A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Topanga): Enjoy Shakespeare in an enchanting forest setting. Theater under the stars in the hills of Topanga. Pay-what-you-want night is Sunday, June 29.

🛍️ “Armenian-Style” Block Party (Glendale) Join Love You Latte Café and Glendale Vibe for a summer night block party. Food trucks, music, vendors, puppy petting, and more. Sunday, June 29, 5–9 PM at the Next on Lex apartment building.

🎮 Super Smash Bros. Tournament (North Hollywood): Brews Brothers has a monthly Super Smash Bros. Ultimate tournament. Fun and casual. Open to all skill levels with prizes, drinking games, and custom stages. Free. Wednesday, July 2, at 7 PM.

🕹️Vintage Clothes + Arcade Games (Burbank): Every Friday this summer, Yes Baby Vintage is staying open later. Shop vintage clothes and play retro arcade games in the back of the store. A cool local hangout. Free. Fridays through July, open until 8 PM.

🚚 Food Truck Friday (Burbank): Over 30 food trucks line Magnolia Blvd. There will be late shopping and in-store specials at local businesses along the street. It's a great way to kick off the weekend. Free. Friday, June 27, from 6 PM to 9 PM.

🍽️ EEEEEATSCON (Santa Monica): LA’s best food festival, hosted by The Infatuation, returns with great eats, guest chefs, and fun programming like mini golf, live music, and chef demonstrations. Only for Chase credit card customers. $25. June 28–29, from 12 PM to 6 PM.

🎤 Karaoke & Weekly Trivia (Sherman Oaks): Happy Rabbit Bar hosts karaoke nights, trivia nights, poker, and other fun events every week. Laid-back neighborhood bar vibes. They just celebrated their first anniversary. On Mondays, they serve $5 margaritas alongside karaoke.

🥙 A&V Grill Kitchen (Sherman Oaks) was founded by two friends, Artur and Virab, who wanted to bring authentic Armenian cuisine to Los Angeles.

Mediterranean restaurant dishing up shawarma, falafel, kebabs, burgers, and other comfort foods.

🎲 Gratitude Club Game Night (Echo Park): A wholesome Friday night of board games, word games, pizza, and mocktails. Priced as “Donate what you can.” Friday, June 27, 6–9 PM.

🕹️ SEGA Pop-Up Shop (Little Tokyo): Exclusive SEGA merch and gaming experiences. June 27–July 27.

🌿 Community Day at LA Arboretum (Arcadia): 127 acres of gardens, waterfalls, curiosity carts, scavenger hunts, and wildlife spotting. Free. Sunday, June 29, from 9 AM to 6:30 PM.

🎆 Fourth of July at the Hollywood Bowl: Three nights of music and fireworks. The LA Philharmonic will accompany nine-time Grammy winners Earth, Wind & Fire. The nights will close with fireworks over the Bowl. $55-250~. July 2, 3, and 4 at 7:30 PM.

🏫 A high school in New York has 500 graduating students, including 15 pairs of twins. (AP)

🐨 Sean “Diddy” Combs complains that the courtroom sketch artist makes him look like a koala bear. (Reuters)

❓️ In what year did Los Angeles get its first African American mayor?

Hint: He was the city’s longest-serving mayor.

Last week’s question: How many libraries are in Los Angeles?

Answer: There are 73 libraries in L.A.—72 branches and one central library managing nearly 3 million books.

Thank you for reading. See you next week!

PS Try to support immigrant-run businesses. Workers and shoppers are anxious about immigration raids and are afraid to go outside, affecting local shops. (KCRW)

PPS You can now reverse image search LAPD officers. Uncover the identity of police officers who refuse to share their badge numbers or names.

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