🦃 Thanksgiving, Black Friday, and Toy Drives

Welcome to your weekly Valley update! Today is Thursday, November 28, 2024.

In this week’s NoHo Nick:

• 🎁 Toy drives

• 🌊 Moving to California

• 🦃 Thanksgiving

• 🌲 Holiday fun

You’re reading NoHo Nick on Thanksgiving?!

Shouldn’t you be cooking?

Or cleaning the bathroom before your in-laws arrive for dinner?

Whatever the reason, I’m thankful you’re here.

Really.

And I hope you have a safe and enjoyable Thanksgiving with your family, friends, coworkers, neighbors, pets, volunteer group, book club, or court-ordered community service organization.

Here’s what’s happening this week:

LA News

 🚚 California is still a popular place to live. Despite the chatter about Californians leaving in droves, the state ranked #2 for movers in 2024, just behind Florida. Nearly 10% of state-to-state moves were to California. (Newsweek) And because NoHo Nick lives here.

🚉 Metro ridership hits highs. LA Metro ridership continues to soar, averaging 1+ million daily rides for the last two months. Weekend ridership and expanded lines are leading the recovery. (LA Streets Blog) If everyone rode the Metro, could the 101 become a bike lane?

🏡 LA home prices near $1M milestone: The median home price in Los Angeles hit $956,210 in October 2024, a 7% jump from last year. Economists predict the $1 million mark will be crossed in 2025, even as mortgage rates remain high. (KTLA) How many lottery tickets do I need to buy…?

🏠 Huntington Park adopts rent control: Annual rent increases are capped at 3% starting December 19. 70% of residents are renters. This move aims to ease housing burdens while offering protections against retaliatory actions by landlords. (LAist)

🍽️ Norms Diner to become Raising Cane’s (West Hollywood). The historic Norms on La Cienega, a landmark of Googie architecture, will be replaced by Raising Cane’s. The structure will stay intact; the retro sawtooth neon sign will swap “Norms” for “Cane’s.” (LA Times) How many fried chicken places are we gonna’ get?

Valley Weekend Weather

It was 47 degrees, and it rained at the Macy’s Day Parade. Just sayin.’

Food and Drinks

🦃 Thanksgiving at a Bar (West Hollywood): Spend Thanksgiving with your chosen family at Gym Bar. Holiday vibes meet football and community. Thanksgiving feast, uplifting music, and football on TV. Enjoy Thanksgiving with new friends. Thursday, November 28 at 3 PM.

🌮 Thai Taco Tuesday (Sherman Oaks): TTT at Anjak Thai is a weekly event featuring a rotating menu of tacos, tostadas, and chef collaborations. In an alley outside the restaurant. Papaya salads, striped bass fish tacos, and Chinese sausage tostadas. Recently, Anjak Thai was featured as a restaurant that chefs love.

🌭 Vegan Hot Dog Guide (Around LA): Veg Out just published a guide to the best vegan hot dogs in LA. Find a new vegan hot dog to try from Crenshaw to Culver City to Downtown LA.

Things to Do

🖤 Black Friday Vintage Clothing Sale (North Hollywood, Sherman Oaks): Deals on vintage clothing and accessories at Iguana Vintage. Buy one piece, get one 50% off. Statement pieces to timeless classics. Grab one-of-a-kind clothes and refresh your wardrobe. Until Sunday, December 2.

🏐 Black Friday Volleyball (North Hollywood): Fun and friendly volleyball game at North Hollywood Park. Most players are at the intermediate level. All are welcome. Bring water, sunscreen, and a good attitude. Nets are provided. Help setting up is appreciated. Free. Friday, November 29 at 1 PM.

🎄 LA Christmas Market (Downtown LA): Experience the holiday spirit at the upcoming LA Christmas Market. Activities include letters to Santa, a scavenger hunt, light displays, outdoor movies, ornament painting, and chocolate dipping. Free on-site parking. $16. Open Friday, November 29 to December 24.

🎄 Christmas Tree Lighting (Burbank): Watch the lighting of a giant Christmas tree. Festive cheer with appearances from Santa Claus and the Burbank City Council. In front of Burbank City Hall. Saturday, December 7, at 6 PM.

🌬️ Breathwork Classes (General LA): Practice releasing stress and anxiety with focused breathwork. Intrabreath offers classes, meetups, and local events in Frogtown, Malibu, and around LA. Follow their class schedule and upcoming events.

🔫 Anonymous Gun Buyback (Burbank): The Burbank Police Department is hosting an anonymous gun buyback to reduce unwanted firearms in town. Receive $100 gift cards for handguns, rifles, or shotguns. $200 for assault-style weapons. Saturday, December 7, from 9 AM to 12 PM.

🎁 Records & Rides Toy Drive (San Fernando): Enjoy classic cars and vinyl records at San Fernando Brewing’s annual toy drive. Bring an unwrapped toy valued over $10 to support Toys for Tots. There’s a raffle for prizes, including a 6-ft pre-lit Christmas tree. Sunday, December 8, from 11 AM to close. Raffle at 5 PM.

🏓 Winter Adult Pickleball League (Glendale): Beginners and intermediate players. It's a fun winter pickleball league. Games are self-refereed. Up to 6 players per team. The league includes 7 season games and a playoff tournament. Every Tuesday. December 10 to February 4 at 7:30 PM.

🌿 Topanga Farmers Market Relaunch (Topanga): The Topanga Farmers Market reopened in March. It offers sustainable and local goods, fresh organic produce, vegan treats, and small-batch food. Great views, too! Every Friday from 9 AM to 1 PM.

🎄 Christmas Town (Solvang, California): Two hours from LA and north of Santa Barbara is California’s “Little Denmark.” It has Danish-inspired architecture and a town that feels like Christmas. Enjoy authentic pastries and explore museums. Relax in Hans Christian Andersen Park (There’s a slide!). Shop for holiday gifts and festive goodies.

Volunteer Opportunity

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

Walk, jog, run, and connect with people on their journey to long-term sobriety in Strides in Recovery. Be an exercise buddy.

Exercise can help with addiction recovery.

Volunteers must be 21+ and commit to regular exercise sessions.

Cute Home Alert

🏡 Unique A-frame 3-bedroom, 2-bathroom home (North Hills) with 2,019 sqft of living space. Built in 1962. Gated property with a downstairs primary suite, spacious upstairs bedrooms, and abundant natural light. New HVAC and electrical. Fenced pool, attached 2-car garage, and additional gated parking. Big lot. $875,000.

Random

🎥 Sequels dominate the 2024 box office. For the first time in 50 years, the top 10 highest-grossing movies are sequels: Deadpool, Inside Out 2, and more.

⚽️ This is a Japanese soccer game. 3 adults compete against 100 children.

Trivia

❓️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?

Last week’s question: Only two “megacities” worldwide have wild big cats, such as mountain lions, within city limits. Los Angeles is one of them. What’s the other one?

Answer: Mumbai.

See you next week!

NoHo Nick

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

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

Want to advertise?

Have a business? Learn how you can reach San Fernando Valley locals. Advertise in NoHo Nick.